Kissed by the Sun Book 1: Tower of Babel

By Tiffany L. Warren

When a solar event (the surge) curses melanin-deficient humans with fatal burns or terminal skin cancer; but blesses melanin-rich humans with telepathy and increased intelligence, the world’s hierarchy is tilted on its axis. But for interracial couple and NASA doctors, Judah and Paige Cranston, there’s more on the line than ancient ideals. Now, due to Judah’s inability to tolerate verbal speech and Paige’s inability to understand telepathy, they must rely on sign language to communicate. But the chasm between them grows as Judah’s intelligence allows him to participate in an advanced warp space travel program with Paige’s work nemesis Zyan, who was Judah’s ‘work wife’ before the surge, but now is his confidante and maybe mistress. Paige can’t be sure, but Judah’s work hours are getting longer while no one seems to be interested in finding a solution that allows melanin-deficient people to come outside during the daylight hours. The only one who seems to care about the melanin-deficient is Ethan Wright, a former megachurch pastor turned underground activist with one mission, to save the remnant white race. After a catastrophic work function leaves Paige feeling distraught, she teams with Ethan to launch an underground movement behind Judah’s back, while he’s in Miami with Zyan researching a potential cure for the surge’s impacts. Will Paige’s betrayal push Judah into Zyan’s welcoming arms?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany L. Warren
• Release date: Apr 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798990446007

Tiffany L. Warren

Tiffany L. Warren is a novelist and screenwriter who has published over thirty full-length novels with Hachette Book Group, Kensington Books (Dafina), and Harper Collins (William Morrow). Her book to film projects Favorite Son, The Sound of Christmas, and Favorite Son Christmas, are a hit with viewers and readers alike.In addition to writing books, Tiffany has a love for theatre, especially musicals. She has used her songwriting talent to write and produce several stage plays: What a Sista Should Do, The Replacement Wife and Just Like Yo’ Daddy, which featured many familiar faces like the late Tommy Ford (Martin), Grammy winning Shirley Murdock, Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show) and Christian Keyes to name a few.In 2021 Tiffany ventured into book to film collaborations with BET. Her 2015 release, The Favorite Son, is now a movie produced by Swirl Films streaming on BET+ and airing on BET, starring Rotimi and Grammy winning gospel superstar Jonathan McReynolds and directed by Robin Givens. Her second film project was a holiday adaptation of The Replacement Wife called Sound of Christmas starring R&B stars Ne-Yo and Serayah and produced by MegaMind Media. Both films debuted as #1 on the platform at the time of their releases. During the 2023 holiday season, was a sequel to Favorite Son called A Favorite Son Christmas. Tiffany executive produced on all three films in addition to her writing credits.Tiffany’s latest project is a historical fiction novel, about the first black prima donna Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. Published by Harper Collins, the novel entitled The Unexpected Diva hits shelves in Januaryy 2025. You can reach Tiffany on Facebook (@AuthorTiffanyLWarren), Twitter/ Instagram (@tiffanylwarren), and online at www.tiffanylwarren.com.

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Copyright © 2024 by Tiffany L. Warren

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.1

2.2

3.3

4.4

5.5

6.6

7.7

8.8

9.9

10.10

11.11

12.12

13.13

14.14

15.15

16.16

17.17

18.18

19.19

20.20

21.21

22.22

23.23

24.24

25.25

To be continued

1

It had started with the ringing. A low tone, in Judah’s head, like the one folk used to hear when it was time for an Emergency Broadcast on television. And like that loud and obnoxious signal it had gotten Judah’s attention.

Judah stood in the mirror, examining his face, while his ears rang. He looked for signs of a stroke or some other brain condition that could’ve caused the ringing. His face was smooth and symmetrical. His eyes were clear, nostrils flared in unison, and his full lips pressed together tightly.

What are you doing? Paige asked as she aggressively pushed past Judah into their shared master bathroom.

Paige never entered a room or anywhere softly. She always barged, pushed, or demanded. A five-foot nothing bull in every China shop. Paige was off-putting to some, but it was her assertiveness that had attracted Judah. Among other things.

And where is the new toothpaste? she asked in a huff. I bought a new whitening brand.

You wouldn’t need the whitening toothpaste if you didn’t drink twelve cups of tea a day.

The thought popped into Judah’s head, and he chuckled to himself, breaking his facial symmetry. Paige drank too much tea. Green tea, herbal tea, dieter’s tea when she needed to lose a few pounds from overindulging, and recently vanilla chai tea.

What’s funny? Did you see the toothpaste? Paige asked, possibly annoyed at his mirth, which made Judah chuckle harder.

Check the bottom drawer.

Paige scrunched her nose, her way of frowning without frowning, and did a perfect squat in front of their bathroom vanity. The toothpaste was in the bottom drawer.

Toothpaste goes here, babe, Paige said after squeezing a blob on her toothbrush and placing it on the first shelf of the medicine cabinet.

I think I was just trying to put everything away, Judah apologized. My bad.

Paige’s eyes responded—by rolling—but she didn’t say anything due to the mouthful of toothpaste suds. Judah was glad her mouth was otherwise occupied. When she went on a tear about orderliness and the proper places for things, Judah’s eyes always glazed over. It wasn’t that he was bothered by Paige’s penchant for cleanliness and order. He loved that about her. Having grown up in complete disorder and disarray, Paige’s not-quite compulsions gave him comfort.

What made Judah’s mind exit the conversation was the tone of Paige’s voice when she complained. Her voice was like a song that got stuck in a person’s head, at first pleasant, then grating. An earworm. Like the ringing in Judah’s ears.

My ears have been ringing for like a week. I think I might get it checked out.

Judah’s tone was a nonchalant one, even though he was concerned, but Paige saw through it straight away. She spat out the toothpaste, rinsed her mouth, and went into doctor mode. She’d started her career with a therapy practice before she’d moved over to NASA. Judah was the physician, but that didn’t matter to Paige when her husband was sick.

Have you checked your blood pressure lately?

I don’t have high blood pressure, Paige.

Well, it runs in your family. It’s common in Black men as they hit middle age.

Except Judah hadn’t hit middle age yet. He was only thirty-four. And high blood pressure didn’t run in his family. He had one grandparent who was obese and had completed the trifecta with diabetes and high blood pressure. Judah worked out every day, was a pescatarian, and still ran a six-minute mile.

It’s not my blood pressure. This was his authoritative answer. Closing that matter.

You should have it checked, just to be sure. And as Paige always did when Judah wasn’t properly addressing something she deemed serious, she ignored him, and reopened the matter. Any other symptoms? Blurred vision?

No. It might just be an inner ear issue, but I don’t have any dizziness or vertigo.

Are you making an appointment? Or should I make it for you? Paige asked, although Judah knew these weren’t really questions, they were directives.

I’m just going to see Silas or Zyan. They’ll run some tests if necessary.

Again, Paige’s face did the talking. She’d bristled at the mention of Zyan. Zyan was Judah’s best friend at work, and they’d known each other since college.

It didn’t help that Zyan was gorgeous. Where Paige’s skin was pale and freckled, Zyan’s was smooth and a deep ebony. Paige’s hair was the color of flames, and Zyan’s was whatever color she was feeling at the moment. The two women were opposites that did not attract.

Speaking of Zyan, Paige said with her voice full of snark. I heard she was having a birthday party. Invited a few people in my division. Are we supposed to be going?

Judah had gotten the invitation along with everyone else, but he hadn’t mentioned it to Paige. Mostly because Zyan hadn’t addressed it to him and Paige. She’d addressed it to Judah and said he could bring a plus one.

I didn’t think you’d want to go, so I didn’t mention it, Judah said.

Were you planning to go without me?

This question felt like an accusation, but Judah didn’t bite. He found it best to not escalate conversations with Zyan as the subject.

I hadn’t planned on going. Her birthday is today. The team got her a card and we’re having cake at lunch. Would you like to come up?

No. But if you want to go to her party, we can. It’ll probably be fun, right?

It wouldn’t be fun, but there was no way Judah could say that. There was also no way they weren’t going. Paige had decided, and when it came to the delicate subject of the woman some jokingly called his work wife, Judah had chosen the path of zero resistance.

I think there’s some theme, Judah said. Cherry blossoms or something.

Oh, that’s cute. They’re in full bloom this weekend. Are we going to go see them? You can’t do it at lunch because of your team birthday party, but maybe when we get off.

The ringing got louder, just for a moment. Judah blinked and squeezed his fists.

What’s wrong? Paige asked.

The ringing. Just got loud and terrible for a moment.

Paige took Judah’s face in her hands. Baby. Are you in pain? Does it hurt anywhere?

In an instant, Zyan and her birthday party had been forgotten.

No pain. Just the sound, Judah said, but it’s gone now. It was very low and almost non-intrusive. It’s gone now.

As much as she gets on my nerves, let Zyan examine you instead of Silas. She’s a better doctor.

Okay.

I’m serious. Do it today. You scared me just then.

Judah smiled and kissed Paige’s hands. Then he kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her floral shampoo.

You’re not the boss of me.

I am. But you’re the boss of me, so we’re even, Paige’s smile was loving and concerned.

You know what? Since we’re going to Zyan’s party, I’m going to skip the team cake. Let’s go see the cherry blossoms at lunch. It’s supposed to be a beautiful day. I’ll let you know what Zyan found out then.

Sounds good. I love D.C. in the springtime. Paige looked at the clock on their bathroom wall. Shoot, it’s eight o’clock already. I’m going to be late, now.

You’re the boss, though, so no one will care.

Paige chuckled as Judah kissed her neck. It was his favorite spot for spontaneous kisses, and it usually made her want to do more than embrace.

Paige pulled away from their embrace. I have a meeting at nine.

Well, I can’t wait for you to get dressed, or I’ll be late too, Judah said. I’ll see you at lunch.

Paige blew Judah a kiss as she rushed out of the bathroom. He took another look in the mirror before heading out to the office himself. His face was still symmetrical.

But the ringing had returned.

2

D escribe the ringing, Zyan said as she looked in Judah’s eyes with an ophthalmoscope. Does it sound more like a buzzing sound or a hum?

Does that make a difference? Judah asked.

Hmmm…maybe.

Zyan exhaled sending her cinnamon-scented breath wafting into Judah’s face. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it reminded Judah that she was inside his personal space. Zyan ignored most boundaries, especially personal space.

And you say it got louder for a moment? How loud? Loud enough to disorient you?

Yes. Worried Paige for a second. She told me to come and see you.

Zyan tossed her head back and laughed. Oh, then you must’ve looked crazy when it happened. Cause I know good and damn well, Paige ain’t trying to have me play doctor with my bestie.

Zyan.

What?

What do you think the ringing is?

I think tinnitus. Let me check your blood pressure.

It’s not my blood pressure.

You’re the patient. Give me your arm.

Zyan slapped a pressure cuff around Judah’s arm. He opened his mouth to object, but Zyan pressed her index finger onto his lips.

Be quiet so I can get an accurate reading, Zyan said.

He relaxed and let her take the reading, because if it registered the least bit high, she was going to have the same theory as Paige about the ringing. The machine beeped and the cuff loosened on its own.

Your blood pressure is perfect, Zyan said.

I told you it was.

I’ll order a CT scan and draw some blood later. This is probably nothing, but we should do it out of the abundance of caution.

Okay, Judah said. He wished that she had a more concrete idea. This non-diagnosis was going to make Paige worry more.

I asked you about the buzzing because I’ve been hearing a buzzing sound. Low, steady, and not-quite, but almost annoying.

Judah lifted an eyebrow. Seriously? Tinnitus can be a buzzing sound too. Maybe it’s a virus. A cold strain, perhaps?

Hmmm. Could be. Do you have any other symptoms, though? Like headache, congestion, loss of taste or smell? I don’t.

No. Just the ringing. Other than that, I feel better than usual. Like I could go running.

Right now? In your suit and fancy Gucci shoes?

I would change my shoes, Zy.

Zyan hoisted herself on the examination table next to Judah. Her leg grazed his for a second, and he deftly scooted to the right. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—deny that he had chemistry with Zyan, and he didn’t think he could manage working in the division without her, but that was as far as it would go. Because he was married to the love of his life.

If we’re both sick at the same time, do you think that would be weird? Zyan asked. We’d both call in the same days and then everyone would assume we were playing hooky together.

Nope, because I would telework.

Ugh, you’re such an overachiever.

We’re not going to get to deep space without overachieving.

Zyan smiled. We’re getting to deep space because we’re brilliant. And my ass is going to be on the mission.

Sending a manned vessel into the deep recesses of the solar system was their team’s mission. They worked long hours and did countless experiments to make sure the human body could survive an extended amount of time in space. Technology hadn’t matched their dreams yet, but it didn’t stop them from going hard every day. Making the impossible possible was their mission statement.

Last time I checked it would take almost nine years to get to one of Saturn’s moons, Judah said. You’re leaving me for that long? Who’s gonna have my back with Silas?

"First of all, by the time we do a