Page 54 of All You Need is Alien Love
I sniff back tears and give him a watery smile. “Kai Genaro, I vow to be the most kickass husband in the universe. I will make you happier than anyone else. With me, there will always be laughter, surprises, and plenty of hot sex.”
I hear some snickers in the crowd, but I know the best is yet to come. For my boo, I will always go above and beyond.
“I will always be there to support you and your dreams in the same way you support me and mine. I promise to keep writing you Tentacular Tales stories that make you smile.” My tongue darts out to lick my lips. “And I promise to read them aloud to you in bed anytime you want.” I waggle my eyebrows at him.“I will always satisfy your sweet tooth and indulge your dessert kink.”
I repeat his gesture and kiss his hands. “I will take good care of your hearts and your tentacles always because you are my life partner on this amazing ride. To infinity and beyond, babe!”
Totally swoon-worthy, amirite? Kai’s not the only romantic here!
“I now pronounce you life mates, starting now and forevermore,” Iris says.
We manage a quick kiss before we’re hauled out to the dance floor.
Music starts to play in the background and I’m already vibrating with excitement.
After all, I have one more special surprise for my man.
Iris addresses the audience. “The Tentacle Tango has two versions among our people. One that is used to court a mate and one that the couple performs together to close the Sanctioning Ceremony. The latter would normally involve both partners using their tentacles as part of the performance, but we’ll have to improvise since River does not possess additional appendages.”
I raise a hand to halt her. “Never fear, Nana Iris. It’s me, after all, and I came prepared.”
Time for my most epic of epic grand reveals.
I untie the fastenings on my cloak and, with a flourish, toss the garment aside to reveal the special belt around my waist.
Complete with two robotic tentacles attached.
When I tap the remote control Nirblob embedded in my smartwatch, the tentacles unfold and stretch out as if ready to take hold of my partner.
“Are you ready to Tentacle Tango for your life?” I ask, channeling my inner RuPaul.
Kai stares at me with so much adoration that it’s almost blinding.
“Am I the best hubby or what?” I give a little hula-hoop shake and make my tentacles sway in the air. They’re not as graceful and fluid as Kai’s, but they’re still pretty awesome.
“Just when I think there’s no way you could top your previous levels of amazingness, you somehow manage to do it,” Kai whispers, sounding more than a little choked up.
I grin at him. “Honey, you totally one-upped me with that incredible poem of yours. There was no way I was gonna let that slide unchallenged! Now, let’s do this thing and show everyone how unbeatable we are together.”
Two of his tentacles emerge from the flap in his dress shirt, reaching out to take hold of my robotic ones, and we mirror the movement of holding each other’s arms in the dance position we’ve been practicing.
“I didn’t have a clue that you were planning something as wonderful as this,” he murmurs as we twirl around the dance floor, limbs—real and robotic—moving to the beat.
“Darling, I’m an intergalactic man of mystery who knows how to keep things spicy.”
He laughs and the adoration in his eyes makes my heart flutter. “Well, at least I have no fears that I’ll ever get bored with you.”
“I’m chock full of surprises.” I grin widely. “Like a piñata!”
He throws his head back and laughs before pulling me closer in the dance.
I sigh happily. “We really did it. We’re finally legit life mates in the eyes of the universe.”
His tentacles then spin me out and pull me back, and we hear some impressed oohs and ahhs from the audience. We don’t pay much attention, though, since we only have eyes for each other as we move to the beat.
“We did. But even without this or any other ceremony, my commitment to you would remain the same.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. “Me too.”
