Page 20 of Craving Stardust

“Yes.” Her eyes lit up. “I’d love to hear more about where you come from.”

Warmth flooded my chest. I smiled and began to weave a tale of my distant world, happy to lose myself in memories while also learning more about Iris through the questions she asked. I watched how she responded, embellishing my tales in the hope she’d be intrigued by my home, that she might even be excited about going there.

Though our time together wouldn’t last much longer, I was determined to enjoy each moment. And with her, that was easy to do. She brought light to what might otherwise be a dark, dark time. She was the twinkle of the brightest star in a sea of uncertainty.

She was stardust, exquisitely beautiful but just as elusive.

Eventually, we were both yawning.

“We should go to bed,” she finally said.

We rose and “did our teeth,” which involved rubbing them with brushes and a very odd tasting paste.

“We sanitize our teeth,” I said.

“How do you do that?” She tilted her head, spitting between her words, then rinsing her brush and spitting once more.

“We open our mouths and insert the sanitizer. Our teeth are then clean and our breath is fresh and sweet.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“I assume you never need to see a dentist, then?” she said.

“What’s a dentist?”

“Someone who takes care of your teeth.”

“You’re correct. Our teeth don’t need healers. The sanitizers keep them in perfect condition.”

“Painless dental care.” She closed one eye quickly and opened it once more. “Sign me up.”

Since I could tell she was joking and not serious, I just smiled and did the same with one of my eyes.

We made our way to the bedroom and she shut out the light.

I was hyperaware of her removing her clothing and dressing in yet another outfit, another thing I found strange about this world. Sathorians wore nothing to bed at night, but humans did. Or Iris did. A night of the gown, she called it, though when I suggested I wear one, she laughed and said that the box-hers she’d bought in town were enough for me.

How odd that she covered her body almost completely while I wore so little. Were human women more apt to get cold and thus needed to wear warmer clothing to bed at night? I didn’t ask.

We climbed beneath the blankets, and I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling while she did the same. Katie leaped up onto the bed and circled a number of times before settling between us. Her purr rang out, and all was nearly perfect in my world.

The next day after breakfast, Iris suggested we sit in her garden. After hearing and seeing no sign of anyone hunting me, we decided to take a chance to enjoy the sunshine. I was eager to get outside and explore a tiny bit of this strange world.

The crisp air and forest around the farmhouse brought a smile to my face.

As we sat, Iris told me more about her bookstore in town. "It's my happy place. There, I’m surrounded by stories, helping customers find their next adventure. I specialize in romance novels. They make up about sixty percent of the market. Did you know that?” Her low chuckle rang out. “Of course you don’t. You’re from a distant planet, not Earth.”

“I enjoy reading romance stories. You forget, I’m a blogger. I don’t just talk about the worlds I explore, I talk about people. Old couples who live to ripe ages together, plus young people falling in love.”

“You like romance?” Her eyes glowed. “Some guys on Earth do too, though many mock it, as if finding happiness and love is something to be scorned. Frankly, life’s dull without love.”

“Have you experienced love for a mate?” I watched her face, eager to hear what she had to say.

“I was married, but it ended. I don’t know if people end matings on Sathoria but it’s common here.”

“Sometimes. Rarely if the couple are fated mates. The fates would not put two beings together unless they were destined to love each other for this lifetime and any that might come after.”

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