At twenty-two, Bulla Briefs had it all. Good looks, money, and a genius level IQ. The complete package. Any guy would be tripping over himself for her to so much as glance in their direction.

But only one that had left an impression on the heiress.

It was such a cliché, having a crush on your older brother's hunky friend. Bulla would definitely agree. She thought she'd left her silly infatuation with her fellow demi-Saiyan in the past.

But in the last year since he joined the Galactic Patrol and was assigned as her new partner, she realized that wasn't true at all.

Her thirteen-year-old self would have been doing cartwheels at the idea of getting so much time with the dark-haired halfling all to herself.

He'd gotten even more handsome since she was a girl, infuriatingly so, from his strong, sharp jaw, to those warm, dark eyes and that full mouth that always seemed to be curled in amusement. And he'd really filled out over the years. He was so tall, even more so than his elder brother, and every inch of that broad form cut with sinewy muscle. Sharing the community gravity simulator on the Galactic Patrol Station was a special kind of hell. She could only subject herself to so much of that big, gorgeous shirtless body, before she had to excuse herself lest his sensitive Saiyan nose picked up on the evidence of her sinful thoughts and things got really awkward.

Fate was a cruel bitch. Here they were, just the two of them, millions of light-years away from home. If there were ever a time to make a move, this would be it. Except for one minor detail.

His girlfriend.

Valese.

Bulla had never been jealous of anyone in her life. But fuck, that woman got under her skin. Just the thought of her stupid, adorable face filled Bulla with a visceral rage. of course, then she felt like an asshole, because Valese had been nothing but nice to her. Her and everyone else.

She was nothing like the strong-willed blunette who occasionally, was known to be somewhat bossy and maybe had a teeny, tiny bit of a temper, which, given who were parents were, wasn't surprising. Valese probably didn't have a single prickly bone in her body. A ray of fucking sunshine. She probably shit rainbows for all the Heiress knew. And apparently that was the kind of girl Goten was into.

The thought was certainly a depressing one.

But, guilt-tinged feelings of visceral rage or not, she wasn't about to try to steal the poor girl's boyfriend. So Bulla did her best to keep things professional, platonic. She'd been doing a pretty good job of it, too.

Until their last mission, anyway.


The Galactic Patrol launched an investigation after a series of high-profile fighters from various planets suddenly vanished without a trace, tied to whispers in the galaxy's underbelly of a mad scientist, Dr. Myuu and his plans to breed the perfect 'genetically engineered soldiers' to rival the fighting force of the long dead Cold Empire.

The Galactic Patrol spent weeks searching for the location of the doctor's lab, only to run into one dead end after another.

Until an informant tipped them off about a secret invitation-only auction on planet Saashi Mi, open to only the highest of the galaxy's Upper Crust, Politicians, royals. The sort of people who would want ties to such an event kept quiet.

They needed to infiltrate the auction house without arousing suspicion if they had any hope of finding those missing fighters and putting a stop to Dr. Myuu's plans

Bulla and Goten were assigned on their first undercover mission. Bulla enlisted the help of her mother to design special holographic watches, similar to what Gohan used for his Great Saiyaman persona, to disguise their features. To the world they would appear as a wealthy Makyan couple while they collected intel and rubbed shoulders with the right people to gain access to the auction.

Goten and Bulla had been on plenty of missions together in the past, and it'd been fine. Easy enough to keep things professional.

This mission was different.

Pretending to be Goten's wife was sheer torture. Being with him day and night, bombarded with his warm, intoxicating scent, all those easy, affectionate little touches he gave her in public to sell the fiction they were spinning.

A glimpse into what her life could be like if he saw her. Really saw her, the way she saw him.

Fuck, I'm pathetic. She thought night after night as they'd lain in the same bed, separated by a stupid makeshift pillow-wall.

Sometimes, she let herself pretend it wasn't an act.

One night, in particular, she almost forgot it was.

At a charity ball where they were gathering information vital to the success of their operation. When he'd led her onto the dance floor and he'd held her against him with those big powerful hands as they swayed to the slow, lilting melody. She'd rested her head against the hard wall of his chest, breathing in his scent, basking in it.

And for a moment, everything else fell away and nothing existed but the two of them.

And she remembered as she looked up at the elder halfling, wearing that stranger's face, that this wasn't real. This was a job. They were friends, co-workers. That's all they ever would be.


Bulla sighed as she uncorked one of the expensive looking, generously size bottles of wine that Jaco kept stashed away in his office for special occasions. He'd likely be displeased when he discovered it missing. Oh well, he can take it out of my paycheck. It wasn't as though she cared about the money.

The investigation had finally ended and she and Goten were en route to Earth for a short break from their duties.

At least, that was the plan.

Bulla contemplated whether she'd be coming back at all.

Maybe that was too extreme.

Maybe she could just ask to be assigned to a different partner instead? No. That would only raise questions. She could just imagine the look on Goten's face at her request to end their partnership. He'd want an explanation and what would she say? She couldn't tell him the truth, that she needed space from him, so that she could get her stupid, childish crush under control.

She could quit, she supposed.

She could always go back to earth to work at Capsule Corp. She loved the freedom of her new job. The work was exciting, every day a new adventure, but she missed her family from time to time. They'd be happy to have her home full-time again, she knew.

She sighed, pouring herself a glass of shimmering pink wine and taking a sip, and then nearly coughing it all right back up at the sharp, bitter taste. That was not what she was expecting. While it looked pretty enough in the glass, it smelled like paint thinner with a few faint floral notes, and it tasted even worse. Either Jaco had terrible taste or Bulla's half-human palate just wasn't refined enough to appreciate fine alien spirits.

She'd nearly polished off her third glass and had a nice warm buzz going when a smooth voice cut through the silence of the empty mess. "Good thing we aren't on call."

Goten stood leaning against the threshold, a lazy smile on his face. "Mind if I join you?"

Yes, the heiress thought but instead said, "Why not."

He joined her at the bar and poured himself a glass. She watched as he took a small drink and couldn't help but giggle at the sour look that crossed his face. "Wow… that is… not good."

She shrugged. "I don't think you drink it for the flavor."

"Well, waste not I guess." He snorted, bringing the glass back to his lips.

"What are you doing up so late?"

"We just wrapped up a big case. Hard to sleep after all that excitement." He nudged her playfully.

"You're not relieved that it's over? Having to pretend to be married to me of all people must have really freaked you out."

His brow quirked. "Why would it?"

I don't know, maybe because you had to hang all over me when you'd probably rather be hanging all over your perfect Girlfriend back home? But she didn't say that, instead she shrugged, taking another sip of her wine.

"Are you telling me you didn't have even a bit of fun pretending to be my wife?"

Oh, she had. She'd had entirely too much fun playing house with him, that was the problem, but she couldn't say that, so instead she said cooly, "I suppose… there are worse ways to spend my time."

He shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. Goten propped his elbows on the edge of the bar, leaning back against it and Bulla's attention was immediately drawn to those thick, muscled arms of his, straining against the tight material of his Patrol uniform. Kami, when did he get so beefy? A flush of heat swept through her as she remembered the way they'd felt wrapped around her that night on the dance floor.

She shook her head. Bad Bulla. Those are not things one thinks about their friend. No matter how glorious his arms are.

She forced her gaze away from the arm porn and back to his face. To find him studying her intently. Something unreadable shone in his eyes and his nostrils slightly flared.

She was about to ask if there was something on her face when he abruptly glanced away, clearing his throat. "You know as much fun as space is, sometimes I really miss Earth and all its creature comforts." He took another sip of wine and grimaced, "like drinks that don't taste like battery acid."

"S'not so bad after the first couple of glasses." Bulla giggled as she went to refill hers once more only to find that the bottle was, in fact, empty. Well, drat.

"And cheeseburgers." Goten sighed with pleasure at the thought, "and pizza, and those little churros at the mall, and my Mom's egg tarts."

"Always thinking with your stomach." Bulla snorted. Fuck, he's adorable. "You're my favorite, you know that?"

"I better be." He grinned and Bulla could have dissolved into a puddle of goo then and there. Damn that stupid, stupid face of his. She just wanted to sit on it. Except she couldn't. He had a Girlfriend and that would be wrong. She shook her head, mentally scolding herself for her wicked, wrong thoughts. Being a good person was such a drag.

"I bet Valese will be happy to have you back." Perhaps steering the conversation in that direction would help her attempt to keep her hormones in check and deter her from climbing him like a tree and straddling his face.

"Mmm." A strange look passed over his face for the smallest of moments, But Bulla caught it even in her tipsy state.

"What?" she asked with a hiccup. "What was that face you just made?"

"I didn't make a face." Her displeasure must have been apparent in her expression because he gave a deep, heavy sigh and said, "Valese and I broke up. A week or two before we started our mission on Saashi Mi"

What? Maybe that wine was stronger than she'd thought because she suspected she was actually hallucinating. Here she'd been, stewing in guilt over lusting after a taken man and he'd been single for months."Are you fucking with me?!" The words came out a touch louder than the blunette had intended.

"Nope." He abandoned his glass, standing from his stool, stretching his arms over his head and letting out a yawn.

"But you never said anything!" she exclaimed, unable to keep the accusatory tone out of her voice.

"You never asked." He said gently.

He'd been single, for months. Months!

"Why?" She had to know. Had he tired of her? Decided the whole sweet, innocent schtick wasn't for him after all? Or had Valese broken things off with him? Left him for another man and broken his heart?

"Things just ran their course." He gave an indifferent shrug.

"You're being vague on purpose." She leaned in before whispering conspiratorially, "was it because she was bad in bed? It was, wasn't it? You can tell me. It's okay. I'm the best at keeping secrets."

He quirked a brow at that, a mischievous grin spreading over his lips."You are?"

She giggled at that. What a stupid question. Didn't he know who she was? There were few things that she wasn't amazing at.

"Pshhhh. Yeah. The best there ever was." She waved a hand dramatically through the air. "I have a secret that would shock you."

"Really? What is it?" His dark eyes glimmered, and she almost considered telling him exactly what had been tormenting her for the last year. Almost.

"I can't tell you! If I told you, then it wouldn't be a secret you silly goose! Didn't anyone ever explain to you how secrets work!? Tch." She rolled her eyes, shaking her head incredulously. "You are something else you know that?"

She went to take a drink from her glass only to stop short, sighing sadly when she remembered that it was empty before placing it back on the counter with a little more force than necessary.

"And you're a little bit of a lightweight aren't you?" He asked carefully, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Apparently I am tonight!" She sighed throwing her hands up in the air dramatically before dropping her head against the metallic surface of the counter with a huff. A beat passed and she turned her head, peering over at her fellow demi-saiyan through her messy teal fringe."Do you… think you'll ever get back together?"

"I don't think so." He shook his head.

A not-so-small part of her wanted to climb up onto the bar and do a happy dance at his answer. Another part of her was still convinced that she was imagining this whole conversation."You promise?"

An incredulous laugh burst out of him,"what?"

She frowned at the dark-haired halfling. "Don't you play coy with me, Son Goten." She was in no mood for games.

Goten burst out laughing, "What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing lately!" She snapped glumly, regretting her words immediately when his eyes widened and his cheeks flushed with crimson. That wine was much stronger than she'd thought.

This evening was rapidly going downhill. Bulla gathered what was left of her senses, heaving herself up off of her stool intent on going straight to bed before she said or did something truly stupid.

But it seemed her feet and her brain weren't on the same page because she lost her footing and her body pitched forward, she braced herself for the impact that was sure to follow when a steely arm caught her around her middle.

"Woah, careful," he held her steady against him, and a warm, fuzzy feeling curled through her, "I think it's safe to say that it's probably time we get you to bed."

"Who's bed?" The ridiculous question was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"Your bed."He said with a chuckle.

"Fine." She pouted, snaking both of her arms around one of his big, irritatingly perfect biceps, her feet feeling entirely too big for her body as he led her out of the mess and into the hallway.

They made it halfway down the corridor before Bulla nearly tripped over her own feet again and he had to catch her once more.

"Do you need me to carry you?" He asked, his voice still warm and soft, all gentleness and patience, and she couldn't help herself, she threw her arms around his neck and nuzzled her face into his chest plate. Surprised when she felt his hands come to rest on her lower back.

"No." She whined against the armored plating.

"Are you sure..?"His voice was pitched lower than usual, and there was a strange shift in his scent that Bulla couldn't quite place. Weird. Probably the wine, playing more sneaky tricks on her mind.

"Yes." She said stubbornly. "Will you dance with me… like before? That was so nice." She breathed, lifting her head to look into his dark eyes, his handsome features illuminated by the glow of the various panels and screens built into the walls.

"There's no music." He said softly.

She scoffed. "Pshhh. Who needs music?"

"Do you want some water?"

"Don't need water, just this." She sighed running a gloved hand over his chest, luxuriating in the warm comforting feel of his solid form even through the layers separating them.

Kami she really wanted to kiss him. Just one time. Then she could die happy, or of mortification depending on his reaction.

But… what if he wanted to kiss her too? Even now he could push her away if he wanted to. But he didn't, he simply held her. Maybe these cloying, relentless feelings weren't so one-sided. And if they weren't, what was holding her back? It wasn't as though he had a Girlfriend anymore…

Fuck it. She was Bulla Briefs and she was doing this.

The hand at his chest glided up, caressing his neck before cupping his cheek. Goten sucked in a breath, his brows rose, his lips parted and Bulla threw caution to the wind and sealed her mouth over his. His lips were every bit as warm and soft as she imagined they would be, she swept her tongue over his bottom lip, seeking to deepen the kiss when he abruptly pulled away, removing his hands from her waist and angling his body slightly away from hers.

"We shouldn't."

The look on his face sobered her immediately.

He looked shocked, or was it horrified?

She didn't know which it was, but she knew she had to get out of this hallway, away from him. Away from this horribly awkward situation that she'd created. She had read him all wrong.

He was just doing his job, she was a fucking idiot. They were just partners, co-workers. They might have even been on their way to finally building a bond of friendship independent of her brother and then she'd gone and kissed him and completely fucked it all up! How was she ever supposed to look him in the eye again?

"Bulla…" He reached out to take one of her hands in his when she abruptly snatched it away as if his touch might burn her.

And before he could say anything else to make this any worse than it already was she turned away from him and hurried down the hall to lock herself in her quarters.