Page 13 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
Luna leads me over to a wall where she taps on a panel. A protective screen rises to reveal a panoramic window with an unfettered view of the universe.
“Oh, my freaking god,” I whisper. “This isn’t a dream. I’m actually in outer space.”
For some reason, the reality of the situation is only fully hitting me now. This truly is the opportunity of a lifetime.
Sasha comes to stand next to me. “It’s a trip, isn’t it? Never thought I’d get a chance to travel to outer space, and in far more style and comfort than those poor NASA astronauts. It never ceases to amaze.”
Luna scoffs. “Human space-exploration technology remains primitive at best. Several more millennia and your speciesmightbe able to get to where we’re at now.”
“Be nice, Luna,” Khephren chides her. “Humans can’t be good at everything. We must appreciate their special talents where they lie.”
They slap tentacles together.
“Like human movies!” they chime in unison.
“And Christmas,” Khephren adds with a contented sigh, and Luna follows with a similar noise.
I gaze around me again, taking in the veritable explosion of holiday decor here in what appears to be the bridge of the ship.
Sasha had told me Christmas was the reason he’d been kidnapped… abducted… I mean,invitedon an adventure two years ago. But I still can’t wrap my mind around why aliens from another world are so fascinated by a holiday celebrated on Earth.
However, Khephren immediately goes into raptures, enumerating all the things he enjoys about the season.
“It’s such a beautiful and wondrous time to share cozy comfort with your loved ones. The decorations! Eating specialty foods and beverages! Sharing gifts with one another! Cuddling under blankets in front of roaring fires.” He sighs dreamily. “It’s all just so romantic.”
Sasha wraps an arm around his waist and rises up on his tiptoes to kiss his husband on the cheek. “That’s right, babe. And now it’s even more romantic for us because it’s also our anniversary.”
Khephren’s eyes dance with obvious delight.
I experience a sudden and unexpected pang of envy watching this interspecies couple in front of me. They appear to share a deep bond and powerful love for one another. It reminds me a bit of my grandparents and their beautiful partnership.
Someday, I want to find a love like that.
Khephren and Sasha seem blissfully happy together, and I can’t help but wonder how it all works. I mean, between a human and an alien.
I’ve certainly fantasized about some interesting alien-on-human sexual scenarios in my fan fiction, but what’s the reality like?
Once again, my eyes stray over to Najar, who has a fond but slightly exasperated look on his gorgeous face. Everything about him is fascinating.
And inconveniently arousing.
Damn those tantalizing tentacles!
As if in a trance, I find myself moving closer to him.
“May I examine one of your tentacles?” I blurt out, practically gasping for breath.
Way to seem like a sketchy creep, Felix.
Najar startles, his eyes widening as he regards me.
Crap. Am I sweating?
I can’t exactly sniff my pits subtly here, but I pray I’m not a stinky mess right now.
I’m just shy of six feet tall, but Najar’s a good half a head taller than me. And quite a bit more muscular. I have a decent build—I need to for my job, especially when it comes to lifting larger animals—but he has me beat in all the right ways.
Am I being punished for writing tentacle porn fanfic?
