Page 42 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
Khephren and Sasha are worried about the cats back on the ship, but as Luna and I have reassured them, Rambo will feed them and clean their litter box per Luna’s pre-programmed orders. Anytime we are off-ship, Rambo is at the ready tocare for the cats and Howie. He will also keep the ship warm enough to sustain all life-forms aboard while waiting for our return.
My only concern right now is sharing a room with our human guest, Felix. We have established a tentative truce since I behaved like an insensitive jerk. Things are far more comfortable between us, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to share a bed.
I tried to play it cool, as Sasha says, and acted like I had no qualms about it. But inside I am sweating bullets.
I have a feeling this is going to be a very long night.
— Najar Mezdel, First Lieutenant and Voice of Reason on the Sleigh Belle
NAJAR
My training comes in handy as I keep my expression blank so that I don’t add fuel to the fire of Felix’s obvious anxiety about sharing a room with me.
I don’t think it’s because he hates me either.
Granted, I’m not sure that he likes me a whole lot at this point, but I do know that we have an obvious sexual chemistry, and as two single adult males in our prime, it’s understandable he might feel awkward about sharing a bed with me.
Especially in a room themed for kinky sexual escapades.
As the innkeeper said, we are indeed quite lucky to get it, but I’m not sure what to make of the fact that he assumed Felix and I were a couple—and one in need of rekindling our sexual spark, as well.
I heave an internal groan. Clearly, I have to set the tone to keep things platonic and comfortable between me and Felix, despite the awkward situation we’re in.
We head down to the tavern and join Luna, who’s already gotten us a booth in a far corner.
She arches a quizzical eyebrow and several of her tentacles wave questioningly in the air. “Where are the two lovebirds?”
“They’re getting room service in the… Honeymoon Suite,” I explain.
Luna grins. “The Honeymoon Suite?”
“Apparently, it was one of the two rooms still available. And the moment Khephren began gushing about his impending anniversary with Sasha to the innkeeper, which evidently he did within moments of meeting the man, he secured that room for the two of them.”
Luna chuckles and takes a gulp of her ice ale. “Good for them. No doubt they’ll be full of adorable but annoying smiles in the morning.”
I’m grateful when a server comes by and deposits two more mugs of ice ale on the table for me and Felix. The tavern has one set meal for the night, so we all order that.
Felix takes a sip of his ice ale and his eyes widen in surprise. “This is really good.” He licks his lips and takes another drink. “Mmm. It’s like a cross between a sweet cider and a pale ale.”
I take a hearty swig of mine, enjoying the crisp, refreshing flavor.
The server returns and sets down steaming bowls of stew along with a basket of fresh baked bread, homemade butter, and several cheeses.
Felix takes a moment to check with the server that everything in the meal is safe for human consumption, and once he’s satisfied, we all start digging into our meal.
We’re all quite a bit hungrier than we realized, and the hot stew is filling and comforting. It’s a simple recipe but well balanced and flavorful, with tender chunks of some kind of local meat and hearty winter root vegetables. It pairs well with the ice ale and the bread and cheese.
After we eat our fill, I lean back with a contented sigh.
Glancing out the window, all I can discern is a wall of white obscuring the world beyond the inn’s doors. Although snow squalls are common on this world and the local residents are well prepared for them, it’s still rather unsettling to be trapped in this inn until the elements subside.
Right now, there’s no telling quite how long that will take.
Luna flags down our server and gets herself a second pint of ice ale, settling in to chat.
“So what’s your room like?”
Felix, who was taking a sip of his ice ale, ends up doing an awkward spit take halfway across the table at Luna’s question.
