Page 66 of May the Stars Have Mercy
She flopped her head back with a hard snort. He tossled her back to him. Aphrodite mixed her bubbly laughter with a surprised yelp as he cupped the back of her head with a hand. She pouted heavily, “Not fair, you know allmynaughty words.”
His trunk ached again, and he was trying his best to refrain frommisbehaving. Her eyes were hooded and there was a clarity in them as she scanned his face.She is too alluring, and I am weak for her.Xexis pincers curled as he tried his best to breathe steadily. And remind his mating trunk thatno matterthe pretty curl of her words, or the way she was arching into him, was he tomisbehave.
“My mate,” she hummed, leaning her face in closer.No, no!Her lips pressed against his skin and he felt his resolve waver. Aphrodite let out an airy chuckle, “You know, while everyone’s out here, we could—”
Xexis swallowed loudly, “Aphrodite, you’re intoxicated and very, very…wiggly. We need to get you and the crew sobered.”
“The fastest way to sober upis—”
He put an armored hand over her mouth and choked down the lusty growl forming in his chest. Theycouldtake up the lab while everyone was busy cleaning up. No one would stop him. He was Kannatch. She knew exactly where to press his buttons. But Xexis had his resolve.
“My mate will go to bed unclaimed tonight.”
Aphrodite huffed, letting out a low whine. “What? You never deny me.”
“Aphrodite Kerso will behave,” he warned affectionately, setting her down on her feet. Her eyes blew open wide, hands gripping onto his arms for support. “And when we return to the station, I will hunt my mate properly and claim her in the hall of our chambers.”
Aphrodite bit down onto her lower lip, cheeks red. “Can I fight you for it?”
“I expect you to fight harder than ever.”
She giggled, leaning into his chest. “Deal.”
Xexis had to think of many things to get his trunk in order. It was swollen and commanding, and he did his best to bring it down. Thoughts of rotting fruit, of dust, of decay; it took him a little longer than he’d like to admit to find his resolve again. Then he picked up his snoring pilot from the ground where he’d dropped him and held the hand of his mate to steer her back to the ship.
They were never allowed to be left alone with the Orv ever again!
As Aphrodite neared the ramp, she gasped and clapped to gather everyone's attention. “Let’s show Xexis the conga line we made!”
Everyone cheered, rushing to Aphrodite. Xexis stumbled back a step, baffled as everyone lined up behind his mate. She clapped,singing something goofy as they did a kick line into the ship. Xexis left his pincers twitch with amazement and irritation at the same time. He glanced around, finding Reevar and Kiefgr walking toward the ship from the opposite side of the trees as Grooug.
“Kannatch,” Reevar called out as they all gathered at the ramp.
“My mate has gotten the whole crew intoxicated with Orvian flora.”
“At least someone had a good time,” Grooug laughed, stopping as Aphrodite came twirling up to them. She giggled, her hair flowing behind her as she tugged on Xexis’ arm. Grooug eyed the Kannatch, bemused. “Averygood time.”
“Dance with me, Xexis! Human couples waltz on their wedding night, and we never got to have a wedding!” She tugged him into her body.
“Is that what my mate wants?” He smiled as she spun in his hands. She pulled him to the middle of the cargo hold where the two drones were playing music off the data pads perched inside metal bowls to amplify the sound.
“Buddy! Play a romantic waltz!”
Xexis had no frame of reference for how to move. But she put two of his hands on her side and took another in her hand. Aphrodite used her hips and arms to dictate which direction to move. He stepped with her.One two three, one two three, twist and one two three.She spun herself out then back in with a brilliant smile. He used his one free hand to cup her face. Repeating himself, he breathed heavily. “My mate, do you want a wedding?”
“Well…” She chewed on her lip, giggling more. “I never thought about it till just now, but I wouldn’t mind it. We got to do your tradition, but I would love to do mine.”
He continued to spin them steadily, keeping up with her foot work.One two three, one two three.Humming softly with approval. “I agree, we should.”
“Really?” She spun herself out then twirled in. Except, when he expected them to keep dancing, she bound up into his arms. He hugged her tight to his chest. Continuing to move, following the rhythm, they swayed with her legs and arms wrapped around him. Aphrodite exhaled heavily, “We don’t have to do everything, just the party part, that’s what I like most about it. A dance floor, lots of music and food, everyone you love and your friends all in their fanciest gowns, dancing. A ball.”
“I shall inform Xnasis of our impending wedding. I’m sure he’d enjoy a reason to open the western wing of the station. We only use it when holding court with large entities.”
“I’m actually about to be a space princess. Child me would be screaming right about now.”
Xexis set her on her feet, pressing their foreheads together. “How about when we return, we have the wedding?”
“That soon?”
