Page 67 of A Redemption for Ulrek

But this was different. Ulrek cupped her face in his palms, pulled it in, and kissed her reverently on the forehead. She let out a soft, happy giggle. Then he turned her around on his lap to face their friends, his arms never leaving her. A hand snaked under the high slit of her skirt to stroke her thigh. A feeling of safety and well-being filled her. Everything was perfect.

She was acutely aware of all the places their bodies touched and the half-hard cock pressing against her leg. She wiggled on Ulrek’s lap, and he groaned.

“Behave, my Star. If we start now, we’ll miss our own party,” he whispered into her ear. “Later. I promise.”

Ooh, a promise sounded good. She wiggled a little more for good measure.

Delaney surveyed the room. They were surrounded by their friends. The crew was all here, as were Kean and Zharor and their mates. The only people who would make it even better were Angie and her mates, but they were back in Reka 5. Delaney would have to be content to celebrate with them at the larger event.

They’d decided to do two separate mating celebrations. This one here in the private wing of Kean’s sprawling estate was something small and intimate with people they loved and trusted.

The other one, in a few months, would be the official one, a giant event where everyone who was anyone would receive a gilded invitation, even enemies. Kean was an old hand at ferreting out schemers and conspirators, and he assured them that a mating ceremony was the perfect occasion.

Delaney bit back a laugh as Tahra attempted to ply Gavin with more alcohol. She sat next to him and used every excuse she could to touch him. There were moments Delaney wondered if Gavin’s will would break right then and there, and he’d end up fucking her right on the table. But then Tuhror glared at them from his seat. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Roxy and Ckzarr sat as far from each other as possible, but every time they thought the other wasn’t looking, they stared at each other. Delaney wondered how long they were going to deny their attraction to each other.

Gavin had healed remarkably well, considering he too had had a giant hole in his body. He still favored one side, but the last she heard, he and Ulrek had been in the training simulator trying out the new missions released just this week by Hullean Visions.

The music changed, and the first notes of a new song started. Delaney recognized it. The group was from Reka 5, and they specialized in fusing distinctly Earth melodies with the driving, tribal-sounding beats found in Tallean music. This song was written using an Arabian maqam and had a definite Middle Eastern feel.

Delaney loved how humans had learned to share and appreciate each other’s cultures way out here on the other side of the galaxy. Was it a bastardized version of the real thing? Sure. It was about as authentic as deep-dish pizza was to Italian cuisine or General Tso’s chicken was to Chinese food. But these little bits and pieces were all they had left of Earth. The only other option was to lose them forever.

It didn’t matter that she’d never stepped foot in the Arabian desert, climbed the mountains of Mongolia, or gazed upon the river valleys of China. The moment she heard these songs, it was like her brain recognized home.

Maybe it was the Euphora messing with her head, making everything feel more intense, but Delaney had a sudden pang of homesickness. Ulrek sensed her change in mood immediately.

He turned her in his lap and, with his kisses, reminded her that she’d made a new home here in the outer planets. She was surrounded by friends, and more importantly, she had a mate who loved her.

Ulrek bounced her on his knee to the rhythm of the song, and soon she was dancing in his lap, and he was looking at her like she was the Stars themselves.

“Come dance!” Sarah extended a perfectly manicured hand to her.

She and Chrissy were tearing it up on the tiny dance floor. Chrissy had taken off her shoes, a gold and green pair that matched her dress. She had so many rings on Delaney wondered how she moved her hands at all.

“Go, my Star. Have fun with your friends.” Ulrek gave her leg an affectionate squeeze.

Delaney laughed and made her way to the dance floor.

Ulrek

Ulrek watched as the love of his life wiggled and shimmied to the beat. He’d felt the change come over Delaney the second the song had started and understood perfectly. Hearing, tasting, or smelling something from his home world always made him nostalgic too.

It was both a blessing and a curse for many who took to space for work and ended up settling far from home. It could bring many happy thoughts but could quickly devolve into something darker if left unchecked. The key was to strike a balance between remembering the past, appreciating the present, and looking forward to the future.

He didn’t think his past would ever stop haunting him, but now that he’d found his mate in Delaney, his present and future were bright. He couldn’t wait to start every day with her. Life was an adventure that they would take together.

She was ravishing in the dress he’d commissioned for the event, and Ulrek couldn’t take his eyes off her. The dressmaker had managed to capture and display every curve of her body in the best way. Delaney had insisted on wearing white since she never had a real wedding dress the first time around.

White or not, Ulrek wasn’t sure this dress would be acceptable at most Earth ceremonies. The neckline was cut very low to showcase her breasts, which were pushed up and together to form a generous cleavage. The slit was cut so high that every time she moved, it showed the matching crotch covering she wore underneath, just the way he liked it.

As a song with a slow beat came on, her movements slowed, becoming sexy and sultry. Ulrek resisted the temptation to stride over, pick her up, and toss her over the nearest couch with everyone watching. The night might well end that way anyhow, but the party had only just started, and there was no rush.

The food arrived, and Delaney returned to his side to eat. The Euphora still shone in her eyes, and she had that relaxed look on her face that he loved so much. He was glad she was able to enjoy the substance with him after her first less-than-ideal experience with it. She could rub up against him all she wanted; she might end up bent over the table, but he’d never laugh at her.

They’d opted to save the Tallean-style entertainment—bloody fights, knife-throwing competitions, and sex performances—for the official celebration they were hosting when he was fully healed. But they’d gone all out with the menu today. His friends, crew, and mate deserved the very best.

Problem was, it was hard to concentrate on all the wonderful flavors with Delaney eating from his fingers. All he could do was focus on the way her lips wrapped around every little morsel. She closed her eyes and hummed at the myriad of flavors paraded in front of them and wiggled her hips at the ones she loved the best, as if she had to express her enjoyment physically.

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