Page 75 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
I’ve started to realize tentacles often reveal the state of a Dravethian’s emotions. Najar keeps his tentacles close to the chest—or rather, technically, his back—than the others. But that fits his personality and the walls he has around his heart. For his tentacles to be moving around so much, something must be seriously bothering him.
“Are you okay?” I ask, worry growing inside me.
He startles, and one of his tentacles jerks a bit in the air. “Uh… yes. I just need to talk with you about something important.”
Well,thatdoesn’t sound ominous or anything. My stomach drops and I’m momentarily lightheaded.
We settle on the couch and I clutch Cosmo to me like a life preserver.
Cosmo gives a contented sigh as I start to pet him in an effort to soothe myself.
Najar’s body is rigid with tension and there’s a hint of wariness mingled with determined resolve in his eyes.
“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”
“I…” He swallows. “At the start of all of this, we agreed to a no-strings-attached, friends-with-benefits situation for the duration of this trip.”
Oh, God, does he not want to have sex with me anymore? Was I a bad lay? No, surely not.
He stalls for a moment, rearranging the pillow behind him until he continues, “The time we’ve spent together has been amazing, far more enjoyable even than I ever could have imagined. I’ve found profound joy in building our friendship, not just sharing our bodies.” Two of his tentacles begin to twitch nervously. “But in getting to know you better, and learning all your beautiful depths, I’ve also come to care for you more than I have for anyone in a long time.”
My heart thumps loudly in my chest, and there’s a strange ringing noise in my ears.
Najar cares for me. My feelings aren’t entirely one-sided.
He clears his throat and sits up straighter. “What I’m trying to say—poorly, I realize, probably because I’ve never said it to a partner before, but”—he fixes me with a steady gaze—“I’ve fallen in love with you, Felix.”
For a moment, I can’t breathe and I’m lightheaded again.
I want to jump for joy, cry, and scream all at once.
His tentacles sway in the air and he smiles. “I know the timing is horrible, and that it goes against what we promised one another. But I’ve discovered that, although there are many things in my life I can control, my feelings are not on that list when it comes to you.”
My heart aches. He has no idea how much harder he’s making all of this for me.
Najar’s voice grows hoarse. “I know we don’t have much time left together, and I hope me telling you this is not a burden, but I felt I needed to come clean and be honest—not only with you, but also with myself.” A trembling hand reaches out and cups my cheek. “When I think about my future, I see you in it, right beside me. Please, tell me truthfully, is there any chance that you could love me too?”
I carefully set Cosmo on a pillow and fling myself into Najar’s arms.
He catches me with a surprised grunt and has to steady himself so we don’t fall on the floor.
I don’t give him a chance to catch his breath before I kiss the daylights out of him, only pulling back when I need oxygen.
For the first time since I met him, Najar Mezdel looks stunned.
“Believe me, I love you, too. I’ve just been too scared to say anything. Considering how we first met, I didn’t think there was a chance in this universe that you might feel the same.”
His arms and two tentacles wrap around me, holding me tight as his features soften in awe. “You truly love me, too? I am not the only one who’s been made an emotional mess by all of this?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Are you kidding? I’ve been a wreck for days. I’ve been falling for you for quite a while and my heart decided early that there was no turning back. But I was prepared to stay silent and endure the heartbreak of leaving you all on my own.” Curled in his lap, I lay my head against his chest and let out a heavy sigh. “Najar, I want to be with you too. I’ve thought about my future a lot, and traveling the universe with you and all your friends seems so much more fulfilling than returning to my old life.”
“Then you should stay,” he whispers, squeezing me tight.
“I want to, I really do,” I reply, “but I can’t just leave my sister behind. We’re the only family we have left. If something terrible were to happen to Gemma while I was traveling light-years away, I’d never be able to forgive myself.”
He starts massaging my back with his hands and tentacles, and my tense posture gradually loosens. “This is indeed a complex conundrum, but not necessarily one that cannot be solved in a mutually beneficial manner.”
I lift my head. “What do you mean?”
