Kissed by the Sun Book 2: Changing of the Guard

By Tiffany L. Warren

In a new world where melanin-deficient people cannot come outside during daylight hours without suffering severe burns or instant terminal cancer—there is one bright spot. A cure. Developed by NASA scientist Judah Cranston at the urging of his melanin-deficient wife Paige who wants to go to the beach, plant a garden, and try to regain the semblance of a normal life. Using government resources without the permission of his superiors, Judah risks his career, friendship with Zyan, and reputation; putting everything on the line for the woman he loves. But while the cure might provide protection from the sun, and possibly grant the gift of telepathy, it comes at a steep price. One that Paige may not be willing to pay, even if it means losing her dark knight in shining armor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany L. Warren
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798990446014

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.

Book preview

image-placeholder

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

Epilogue

1

Paige looked down at her tablet as Judah called her for the third time in a row. She’d hit ignore the first two times. She didn’t want to video chat with him because he’d be able to tell something was wrong just by looking at her. Would her face give away that she’d been kissed? Would Ethan’s lip prints show on hers as a fluorescent indictment, like a black light revealing forensic evidence at a crime scene?

But not answering was worse, so on the third ring of the third call, Paige slid her finger across the screen to accept the call.

I saw your video, Judah signed instead of hello.

Paige exhaled in relief. He wasn’t calling because the universe had whispered to Judah about Ethan kissing her. He was calling about the video. So much had happened since the recording that she’d pushed it to the back of her mind.

How? I didn’t think it would make it past the dark web.

No. You’re viral.

What did you think of it?

If anyone else had done it, I might have considered it inspirational. Might’ve even been moved to join the cause or give a few dollars to it.

Paige raised an eyebrow at Judah. His face didn’t look right. There wasn’t quite anger there, but something else.

Then it was successful. I was trying to reach people like you, Judah. Melanin-deficient people can’t do this alone. We no longer have the resources.

You’re just going to continue to ignore my request regarding Ethan?

Your request is irrational. You married an adult, not a child. I took your opinion under advisement, and I disagree. Just like you disagree with my opinion of Zyan.

Zyan is a colleague and a friend. You’ve known her for years. You’re jealous of her. I’m not jealous of Ethan. He is dangerous, and for some reason you don’t see it.

Bullshit. You are jealous. And it’s dumb. There is nothing dangerous about a man trying to survive.

Paige bit her lip. But he likes giving uninvited kisses too. She quickly shook that thought from her mind. Judah didn’t know about that, and he wasn’t going to know. But he was jealous anyway.

Have you found the doctor you’re looking for? Paige asked.

We have a good lead. Will hopefully see him tomorrow night. NASA business in the morning.

Your flight landed hours ago. What have you been doing between then and now?

Judah cocked his head back and let out a cackle that sounded nothing like him.

You don’t get to ask about my whereabouts when you’re out here volunteering for the resistance.

Resistance? I wish there was an organized effort that could be called a resistance. There is nothing like that. There are only disaster survivors. We used to have a whole federal agency to take care of those.

Hello? Can I speak to my wife?

You are talking to her.

No. I’m sick of these conversations about politics. I fucking get it. You don’t have to keep hammering this into the ground every time we speak. Shit.

You’re sick of hearing about my suffering.

Maybe if you peppered it with some, oh, I don’t know, freaky talk. We’re on video chat, can I see a breast or something? Do something sexy.

Really, Judah?

Yes. Really. You flipped out about Zyan’s perfume.

No, I didn’t.

You did. You brought it up for no fucking reason. I wish you would wear perfume. I wish you would flirt. I wish you’d do something other than be so fucking angry all the time.

You’re right. I’m one angry white woman.

Ha, ha. You keep trying to compare this to the atrocities white colonizers did to Africans. This is not the same.

Isn’t it? Are we not disenfranchised? Is this not a new Jim Crow, but worse? No one ever stopped Black people from having babies.

They did, though. Sterilized young women against their will. And your ancestors also stole our babies.

And now Black people are smuggling ours. Have you heard about that, Judah? People are selling melanin-deficient babies.

Judah’s silence and his trembling upper lip told Paige that he had heard about it. How could he not be as angry as she was?

You ever think it might be a little karma? The universe visiting the progeny regarding the sins of their fathers?

Paige nodded slowly. Believe it or not, I do think what’s happened is karma. But those of us who are left deserve a life. And that’s all the video was about.

I deserve a wife.

Paige scoffed. Any wife or me? Cause that was vague as hell.

I want the woman that I married. You know that.

Well, then leave me alone about this fight, Judah. It’s important even if it’s dangerous. I can’t sit on the sidelines of this one. Don’t make me choose between us and this.

What if I did? What if I put my foot down and asked that you choose our marriage.

Then I would know that you don’t love me, because if you loved me, you wouldn’t ask me to do that.

I love you more than life.

I love you too, husband. Let me do this. Let me find some purpose. I don’t feel whole, and you want me whole. I’m only a piece of the woman you married.

Judah sighed. There was weight to the sound. A heaviness that Paige hated to hear from her husband who was always optimistic, light, and fun. She wondered if he had thought of leaving her but was afraid to ask him. That truth was a bridge too far. That was one thing she would rather