Page 34 of Space for More

I suppose being out in a loud, crowded bar is better than sitting at home with my thoughts. Can’t spiral into despair while you have to put on a pleasant face for others. One of mother’s many lessons she drilled into me since adolescence, though she’s far more of an expert at feigning cheer in the face of despair and displeasure.

I wear my smile like a mask as I listen to Ghrest spout advice for my first meeting with my mate. The slightly grayingxalarhas been mated for four decades, so I suppose he’d know. His words slip off my mind as I sip my drink slowly. Drinking too much is a bad idea. That’s when it gets hard to keep up my facade. When thoughts of her come unbidden.

Goddess, how did I get here?

I didn’t want to find my mate. I’d already met a wonderfulxala. But Ristan was an alien and a “lower status” seladin at that, so Mother would’ve done anything to end our relationship. After months of jabs from the queen of subtle cruelty, Ristan finally had enough and ended our engagement.

I didn’t even have time to mourn the relationship before Mother revealed she’d found my mate, knowing it’d be the easiest way to force me into an “acceptable” relationship. What nexxit can turn away a Goddess-given gift of a true mate?

So here I am, spending my last night before meeting my mate in a futile attempt to forget what I’ve lost.

“And that’s why you should create an excuse to speak alone with your mate as soon as possible!” My coworkers all laugh at the story Ghrest was telling, and I pretend to laugh along with them, despite the pit in my stomach.

“Anyone else need drinks?” I offer, gesturing over toward the bar and the mostly empty glasses at our table. Mine is still mostly full, but after their kindness, buying my companions another round is the courteous thing to do. They all nod and give me their orders with thanks. I try to keep the distaste off my face when I approach the crowded, slightly sticky bar and place the drink orders. It’s dark, loud, and has the faint odor of cheapjefl’kaand desperation. Not a place I’d ever voluntarily choose to visit, but from the din and press of bodies, it’s obvious that plenty of others see an appeal.

Someone stumbles into me as I’m grabbing the drinks, and half the liquid inside the glasses sloshes over the rim and onto the bar.

“Oops!”

I turn around, ready to give whatever drunken imbecile that knocked into me my most withering glare, and freeze.

Goddess.The nexxit before me is shorter than me by at least two hands, with a slinky black dress that clings everywhere. I can see her nipples outlined through the fabric. Not that I’m looking intentionally, it just…damn, she’s stunning. She has the most sinful expression on her face, cheeks flushed as she gives me a lopsided smirk before turning back to her companion—a lithe nexxit with wavy dark hair and a skintight black jumpsuit cut down to her navel. Thexalain the jumpsuit orders them another round of drinks and when they arrive, the tipsy beauty unceremoniously downs both of them.

“Baby, slow down. We’ve got all night,” thexalain the jumpsuit purrs, leaning in to nip at the otherxala’sslender neck.

My eyes stay glued on the pair, though I know I shouldn’t stare. There’s nothing out of the ordinary aboutxalacouples—the Goddess herself was mated to the Divine Mother. There’s just something about the one in the dress that makes my blood feel heated in a way I’ve never experienced. Not even with Ristan. She has the most wicked expression on her face, her cheeks flushed from the drink and her arousal obvious as shedrapes herself over her companion and licks a stripe up her neck, letting out a hum of pleasure.

I tear my gaze away. I’ve got to get myself under control. Only perverts stare atxalaslike I am right now. As I walk back to my coworkers, the pair heads to the hygiene room and a wild part of me wants to follow. Instead, I down the rest of my drink, then make excuses to my coworkers about wanting to be fresh for tomorrow evening. I’m not in my right mind if I’m lusting after axalawho wouldn’t even be interested in me.

The same hum of pleasure I heard that night tugs me out of the past, and just like that night, my cocks threaten to extrude when I hear it. Mezli and Eden have returned. I take a deep breath and turn to look at my tormentors.

It’s unfair how lovely Mezli is. Her white bodysuit clings to the curve of her hips, which are more generous than the night I first saw her. Her cascade of jet black hair begs me to sweep it to the side and taste the long, elegant line of her neck and let her intoxicating mating pheromones claim me. She makes it far too easy to forget that she’s the one who ran from our mating. I want to fall to my knees and beg for her forgiveness for whatever I did to chase her away. I want to do everything I can to prove I’m worthy of basking in her radiance, though I knew from the moment I saw her how undeserving I am. She knew it, too—otherwise, why would she have literally gotten sick after being in my presence and then fled to the other side of the system?

And Eden? Unlike the night I first saw my mate, I can’t ignore thexalaat her side. She’s as compelling as Mezli, her soft, luscious body far too tempting in her tight purple dress. Her eyes sparkle with bright curiosity behind her glasses, and a depraved part of me wants to see her look at me like that as I cover them in my spend. It feels wrong to desire Eden with the same fire I have for myGoddess-chosen mate, but I can’t control it. The complimentary beauty of them together, appearances so different yet perfectly matched, makes it hard for me to think straight.

“Mmm, hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long,” Mezli says. She pulls out the stool next to mine and gestures for Eden to sit, sliding between them to grab one of the drinks I ordered. She takes a long sip of the iridescent cocktail, draining more than half the glass with ease.

I hold the other drink out to Eden, but she shakes her head. “I, uh, I’m already feeling a bit wobbly, so alcohol probably isn’t a great idea right now.”

Of course. I’m such an idiot. Here I am wrapped up in my lustful thoughts and forgetting she went through anaphylactic shock earlier. I can’t keep the flash of worry from crossing my face, but fortunately, humans seem to be much less judgmental of outward displays of emotion than my nexxit peers.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I say sternly, as fear for her safety slithers up my spine.

Eden blanches. “I can go. I’m sorry for bothering you.” Her words earn her a glare from Mezli, but she huffs back at her. “What? I’m allowed to apologize when it’s obvious I’m bothering someone!”

“I don’t think our dear Lord Nafar is bothered by your presence, sweet Eden,” Mezli purrs in a voice that’s better suited for the bedroom than this crowded bar.

If I were smart, I’d tell Eden she’s right. I can’t handle being near her, or Mezli for that matter. I should get up, go back to my hotel room, and shut myself in there until my meeting later this week. Being around thesexalasis dangerous. It has me letting my guard down, and hoping for things I can’t possibly have. Better tobe rude and be done with them so I can go back to the safety of solitude.

Ishouldsay that, but what comes out of my mouth is a soft chuckle. “You’re far from a bother, Dr. Mori.” My fingers twitch, wanting to reach out and caress her cheek like I did earlier. “I only worry about your health. You shouldn’t be out after what happened earlier. It could be dangerous.”

“Yeah, yeah, I told her the same thing, but she gave me averycompelling reason why I couldn’t keep her locked up at her hotel when she’s not at the conference. Why don’t you tell him why we’re out?” Mezli gives Eden a wicked smile, nudging her with an elbow.

Eden’s eyes grow as wide as an aespians, and her flush deepens. “Oh god, you can’t be serious!”

“You’re going to have to tell him at some point tonight,” Mezli replies with a shrug.

Their strange discussion feels like I’m the brunt of some unknown joke. “Tell me what?” I bristle internally, but keep my tone low and even. If they’re going to mock me, I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing it land like Mezli’s earlier insult did.

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