Light minutes away.Ship spoke. “The aliens began launching their Paladins thirteen minutes and ten seconds ago. (The alien ship was still a long way... from Earth.) The Wing Commander’s tight-beam message said that she took only two other interceptors with her, and they are maintaining their shields at maximum in the hopes of remaining unseen while the alien fighters approach. She intends to lie in wait and will attack when her chances are optimum.”“Shit!” Jeff snarled as he came to his feet.. "You have to use your teeth," Marie lied with a most evil chuckle. "You want me to put my mouth, on your ass?" It was now Jimmy's turn to act incredulous. "That's how Jim first got it in there," Marie lied adding, "That's the only way I know he has approved for you to take it out". Marie could see the options Jimmy was exploring as they played across his worried brow. “Look," Marie began to again straighten, "Do you want the damn thing or not? Just open your mouth wide, clamp your lips. "Brianne nodded. "You're right. But usually guys make out with girls atparties. They don't make put on booty shorts and make out with otherguys."I lunged forward angrily. "You made me put on the shorts!" Mhm. And you kept them on until this morning. I also made you kiss him.But I didn't make you do it for almost twenty minutes and then do itagain at midnight."I sighed and felt tears coming to my eyes. "It didn't mean anything." I think something in you changed last night. You've never been. She was drinking him in. Her mind was a riot of a thousand multicoloured thoughts jostling for attention. He finished his story and she smiled and laughed with her mouth open, though she had not listened to anything he had said. A silence descended between them. Her mind had already raced ahead to how the evening would end. She had told herself to take it easy this time, but when she drank in his smile, she wanted to have him right there in the bar. In the silence, they both tuned in to the.