Page 35 of All You Need is Alien Love
“You betta werk, bitch,” I whisper under my breath, channeling my inner RuPaul.
Throughout it all, I notice that Kai’s eyes never leave mine.
A tender ache takes root in my chest at the sight. He’s giving me full-on, swoon-worthy, love-charged heart palpitations right now.
As much as preparing for this ceremony has stressed me out, I’m beginning to appreciate the deeper significance of it. Kai is utterly spellbinding during his performance, and despite our audience, I know that it’s all for me.
My boo may not be quite as vocal and demonstrative as I tend to be, especially in public, but he pulls out all the stops when it truly matters. Just like his epic proposal to me, complete with a Britney Spears dance number, right now he’s giving me Iyaran life materealness. Watching him, I instinctively know that this is a celebration of us and the special bond that we share.
It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed in my life.
If I’m totally honest with myself, despite my romantic tendencies, I had serious doubts that I’d ever find a love so powerful and profound as this before Kai and I met.
Sure, I always dreamed and fantasized. I mean, my obsession with rom-coms and romance novels wasn’t without purpose. Plus, I’ve done enough therapy over the years to know that my intense desire to be loved probably had a whole lot to do with losing my parents as a kid. I wanted to find someone special who was meant for me, and I for him. The idea of a partner who would always stand by my side through anything was a dream I craved more than almost anything else. But I was also self-aware enough to know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I can be a bit…extrafor some people.
That’s never bothered me because first and foremost, I’m true to who I am. I won’t pretend I’m something or someone I’m not just to please others. My philosophy has always been: If people don’t like me as I am, then fuck ’em.
But I understood that being my fierce and fabulous self would probably make it difficult for me to find a partner who could openly accept and embrace everything about me, let alone love all of those parts of me.
Did I ever expect it would take an extraterrestrial from another planet to be my person? No, but in retrospect, it makes total perfect sense.
I’m just so grateful the universe saw fit to bring us together because I couldn’t imagine my life without Kai in it.
After several minutes with everyone oohing and aahing, Kai’s performance comes to an end, and he emerges from the water like some fantasy water god from my immediately far too pornographic dreams.
I squirm under my robe and desperately try to curb my burgeoning erection. Curse this Sanctioning Ceremony abstinence nonsense!
Grandma Iris picks up her microphone again. “That was a truly spectacular aquatic mating dance. I’m sure everyone could feel the depth of feeling behind it.”
There’s much applauding and whistling in agreement.
My jaw hurts from smiling so hard at my utterly epic mate.
Kai comes back down the ladder and Mal hands him a towel. He quickly dries off, his tentacles having returned inside his abdominal pouch. Once suitably dry, Kai dons his robe again and flashes me the most beautiful and almost boyish grin.
“I love yousohard,” I mouth at him.
He gives me a ridiculously cute little bow and blows me a kiss.
“Evan, hold me back,” I whimper. “I want to climb—and maybe hump a little—my man like a stripper pole!”
My BFF takes a firm hold of my arm and keeps me where I am. “Compórtate. Save the humping for your honeymoon. It’s almost your turn.”
Fuck. I know it is.
I’ve been training for this for a while—and in secret from my boo—because I have so many surprises for him over the next few days. Now I just hope they all work out as planned.
During the next three days, I want him to know without a shadow of a doubt that our life together will never be dull and that I’ll always find ways to amaze and even astonish him.
River Sullivan knows how to keep a relationship full of love and laughter, dammit!
Grandma Iris gets everyone’s attention once again. “Now, for the second act.” She arches a challenging eyebrow at me.
I grin back at her just a smidge maniacally.
Game on, Grandma Iris!
Everyone in the audience cheers me on and luckily, my Tentacle Twin, Evan, is prepared.
