Page 25 of Right Next Door
The robe she chose was in the formal style, meaning it was completely off her shoulders. The sleeves flared out a bit at the top, revealing the blue lining of the otherwise white robe. It was tied on her body around the waist, the sash thick, black and blue. The white of the robe shimmered as it trailed slightly behind her. Open at the front, he could just barely see the bottom of the short black skirt she wore underneath. It didn't fully cover her thighs. Elegant embroidery, in black, blue, and silver, covered the skirt of the robe, depicting a beautiful bird flying through fellbud trees. It was so detailed and intricate, but he almost didn't even notice it because of her beautiful face.
She had sparkling diamonds on her eyebrow piercings, while the silver of the fang piercings glinted in the light, extra long and gorgeous. Her nasal ring had a chain that hooked onto one of her earrings, while pretty ear cuffs clung to her lobes, shining brightly. She had painted her lips blue, but her eyes were darker, making the color of her green irises just pop in her face. Her hair had been pulled up into a complicated, flower-like knot on her head, with a jeweled pin on one side that had chains on it that wrapped around the back of the bun.
She was stunning. An absolute vision. The combination of bright and dark colors created such a beautiful contrast, he couldn’t look away. The heel on her sandal clicked in the most satisfying way as she approached him, an aloof, untouchable expression on her face as she looked him over.
Tsok had chosen a yellow robe today, gold and white combining together with embroidery done in gleaming, gold thread, depicting a mythical beast that was birthed by the sun. It descended down his back, to the skirt of his robe, long claws reaching out, red eyes gleaming. The male formal robes didn'tcome off the shoulder like the female style, but he did have a jeweled shoulder piece, gold, mostly covered in diamonds, with only the occasional red gem to add more color.
Golden jewelry shined at his ears and over his muzzle, a golden chain around his waist, dangling down his front. He was the height of fashion for a male, but he felt absolutely slovenly next to the vision that came to stand beside him.
“You’re lovely,” he said, trying to keep himself calm. Not sure how well he was succeeding with most of his attention trying to keep his cock from extruding.
This was his mate. The most beautiful creature on this planet.
“Are you ready to go?” He asked, offering her his arm. Eager for her to take it.
She took it without a word, keeping her eyes forward. Not even gracing him with a glance. Maybe she was nervous.
“Don’t worry about anything,” he assured her as they walked out. “You only have to be polite and kind. I’ll handle everything else.”
“Alright,” she said, her tone as neutral as her expression.
Look at her control! Her class! He really had the most superior mate.
His pride only continued to grow as they flew to Boktare’s home – where the party was being hosted, as it was his own charity. Misty sat primly in the hover at his side, looking out at the city as they passed over, quiet wonder in her eyes.
Was she always this restrained, or was she behaving this way for the occasion? He genuinely didn’t know enough about her to guess, but the fact that she was so wonderfully proper only pleased him. She was beautiful, she was purposeful, not at all lazy. She was untouchable, but not so aloof that she couldn’t appreciate the simple beauty of Stutgora – the planet’s capital.
It was truly the greatest city on Kree. Serving as the seat of their government, possessing a bustling space port, and being more advanced and wealthy than any other city, it was a wonder. To an alien, it must truly be incredible.
But Misty looked on with impressed interest without it turning into overwhelmed excitement. She was the perfect female to stand beside the char. Tsok found himself just staring at her throughout the entire ride. She never once looked his way, allowing him to just admire the picture she made, seated and dressed like a queen.
Boktare lived on the outskirts on the other side of the city, in a beautiful, sprawling manor with a rounded dome in the center, right over the ballroom in which this event was being held. There was already a steady line of hovers arriving as they did, each taking their turns to descend on the landing pad at the front that could fit three hovers at once.
It didn’t take long for them to be summoned for their turn. Tsok exited first, turning and offering his hand to his female. She took it delicately, her slender, long fingers warm and soft against the rough pads of his palm as he helped her out. He knew there were others – important people that he should be talking to – but he couldn’t tear his eyes from her as they stepped away from the hover, allowing it to lift off so another could take its place.
He still didn’t look away as he followed a familiar path around to where Boktare was greeting his guests as they arrived.
Boktare was an older male, dull orange in coloration thanks to the abundance of gray dimming his once bright coat. He stood tall and proud, only a couple rings in his ears, but multiple necklaces hanging from his throat. He was taller than Tsok, broader in body, muscular even despite his advancing age.
“That is Boktare,” Tsok whispered to Misty as they stood in the line of those that were greeting him before heading inside.
Misty blinked, surprised. “He’s huge.”
“Of course. He’s a mated male.”
“Huh?” She gave him a look.
“See there? At his side? That female is his mate. Fia.”
The person talking stepped aside, granting his little female the space she needed to view Boktare’s mate. Comparing Fia to her mate was like comparing Misty’s height to his own. Males got bigger once mated. Females, in contrast, developed wider hips and a new softness to their belly. It was a very attractive feature, even as it felt wrong seeing such a thing. He was aware enough to know that it was a dissonance in his brain between what he, instinctively, found attractive and what society told him was wrong.
Notably, neither of them were wearing nasal filters. They were mated now; they didn't have to protect themselves from the scents of other people.
“You’re not huge,” Misty remarked, giving him a look. “I mean, you are compared to me, but you’re not huge like that.”
“I see your confusion. He is a properly mated male. He has scented his female and bonded to her. I am not bonded to you.”
“That’s an understatement.”
