Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
The Tranathian piece of space garbage hitting on Vardox hightailed it and Starblade smirked with satisfaction, then re-holstered his supersonic pistol.
“I’ve never seen this side of you, my dear captain. Why, it seemed almost as if you were… jealous.” Vardox drawled the words with relish.
Starblade’s cheeks burned and he reclaimed his seat with a grunt. Damn and blast, but he couldn’t deny that he was jealous.
Vardox lounged back in his seat with an air of unhurriedness as he studied Starblade. “How does it feel to be on the other end of things?”
“What the devil are you talking about?”
Vardox sighed and shook his head. “I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to endure the same sentiment when audacious rogues swarmed around you like flies. By the galactic gods, I never thought I’d see that emotion from you toward me. I found it incredibly… arousing.”
Starblade crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “Well, I hated the feeling. That creep was all over you and not taking no for an answer.” It still made his blood boil.
Vardox held a hand over his chest. “Why, darling, were you protecting my virtue?”
Starblade snorted. “What virtue?”
“Touché,” Vardox murmured.
—The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, Ch. 170
River
After the supercool but weird mud bath experience, where I did, in fact, get my happy ending, Kai and I are whisked off for our next treatment, a lengthy couple’s massage.
The two masseuses working on us have six arms each.
Let me tell you, having that many hands kneading your muscles and working out all the kinks in your body is pure bliss.
By the time we’re done, I’m half asleep and drooling on the massage table. When I blink my eyes open, I see Kai on the table opposite me, smirking at me with obvious amusement. I surreptitiously wipe my mouth and give him a sheepish look.
“What can I say? These folks are good. I don’t think I’ve ever had a massage that amazing in my entire life.”
He narrows his eyes, and I hasten to add, “Except for your tentacle massages, of course.”
Phew, that was a close one.
We are led to a sauna for our final treatment of the day. We hang our robes on hooks outside and Kai opens the door, letting out a huge waft of steam that envelops us as we head inside with just our towels wrapped around our waists.
Once again, Kai appears to have arranged a private one for just the two of us. It’s not dissimilar to ones I’ve tried out on Earth, and I settle in, leaning my back against the warm stone wall as I let the heat wash over me.
“This is the life,” I say.
Eyes closed, Kai murmurs his agreement.
I’m more mellow than I’ve been in weeks, and although he doesn’t show it quite as much as I do, I can tell Kai has also loosened up a lot.
Once more, I’m truly touched and grateful for the work he put into planning all of this.
Even I didn’t realize just how much I needed this getaway, and I make a mental note to myself to find a spa back in Vegas where Kai and I can go at least once a month to get some pampering and much-needed stress relief.
Granted, I’m also hoping that work at the Alliance will be a little less intense and nowhere near as stressful as it has been over the last few months.
By its very nature as a covert organization operating incognito on Earth, the Alliance can never fully predict what new crisis we might have to deal with, but a boy can dream.
Once both Kai and I are panting from the heat, we decide we’ve had enough of the sauna and head back to our lockers to get changed.
“Do we need to tip the staff who worked on us today?” I ask. “How does that work here?”
Kai smiles, pulling on his shirt. “That’s more of an Earth custom, and one a lot more specific to North America.
Here, staff have a livable base salary, but they also earn an automatic percentage from each service they provide.
Unlike tipping, it’s guaranteed and factored into the price beforehand. ”
“Look at aliens being so much more intelligent and equitable about these things.”
He smiles. “It is standard at all space stations that are part of the Intergalactic Alliance, but there are other places in the universe that are not so enlightened.”
“Duly noted.”
I’ll have to factor this into our future space travel plans.
We say our goodbyes, with many gracious thanks included, to the staff who worked with us during our visit. I hope we can find time to go back at least once before this trip is over.
For the next few hours, Kai and I wander around the expansive resort grounds, basking in the peace and tranquility. I’m sure our stay here is going to heal what ails us, as they say. We’re going to be bright-eyed and glowing when we get back home.
I’ll make damned sure of it.
As the artificial afternoon sun begins to set, we mosey back to our suite and take some time to finally unpack our bags.
I excitedly rehash the coolest details of the day while Kai nods and smiles, indulging me and my tendencies.
Just when we finish putting away our things, there’s a knock, and I shoot Kai a questioning look.
He blushes and scurries to answer the door, and I’m left gaping after him.
What exactly is that all about?
I skip after him, eager to find out what new surprise he has in store for me because it’s making him be so stinking adorable.
A resort employee in the equivalent of a catering uniform steers in a hover cart full of covered dishes that smell positively divine.
My stomach makes an embarrassingly loud growling noise, totally on board with whatever meal Kai had prepared for us.
Our server sets the table in our suite, lights some candles, and removes the dish covers with a flourish before bowing and leaving on quiet feet, the door softly clicking closed behind them.
Kai opens a bottle of what I’m guessing is the extraterrestrial equivalent of champagne and pours us each a glass. The color is a vivid purple that makes me blink.
My hubby-boo raises his glass for a toast, and I hurry to join him.
“To a lifetime of wedded bliss. You and me always and forever together,” he declares softly, his expression sweetly serious.
We clink glasses and sip the bright, bubbly spirit, which is less dry than champagne and a whole lot sweeter, just the way I like.
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Did you pick out this specific wine for me?”
He blushes temptingly again and clears his throat. “Ahem. I knew it would be one you’d enjoy.”
I raise my glass to him in salute. “You were right on the money, honey.”
We tuck into our food, and I savor the different dishes with pleasure.
I’ve had some extraterrestrial cuisine on Earth, courtesy of Kai’s family, but this is a whole new experience.
However, once again, everything Kai’s chosen suits my palate perfectly.
My heart swells in my chest at the fact that my husband knows me so much better than anyone else and, like always, has taken my preferences into account in planning our honeymoon.
Hold on to your britches, Kai Genaro. I’m going to wow the pants off you when I plan our first anniversary!
Once our bellies are full, I’m recharged and ready to give Kai the happy ending for him that we didn’t have time for earlier.
With a seductive smile, I pull him toward the bathroom and start up the Jacuzzi-style tub, adding some of the resort’s complimentary bubble bath.
I inhale deeply. “Ooh, it smells like an ice cream sundae.”
“Mmm,” Kai murmurs. “Now you’re trying to seduce me with the mention of dessert.”
I laugh but then gasp when I get a good look at the water. “Holy shit, the water looks like rainbow sherbert.”
As the tub fills, I take my time undressing Kai so I can enjoy the view. If you ask me, my man is a fucking masterpiece. Tall, lean, muscular—not to mention those magical tentacles of his.
Per-fucking-fection.
“Remember how I told you that you were gonna get laid aplenty on this trip?” I ask coyly.
His mouth quirks in amusement. “How could I possibly forget, darling?”
I lick my lips. “Good. Consider this round two of our Busting Our Nuts Extravaganza. The BONE scoreboard needs some evening up.”
Kai coughs to hide a laugh. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
I grin. “You bet your sweet ass we are.”
“Duly noted,” he offers with mock seriousness.
I shed my own clothes and put my hands on my hips. “This is very serious business, husband o’ mine.” I turn off the steaming-hot water and stalk toward him until his bare back’s pressed up against the wall.
Then, when I have him right where I want him, I drop to my knees like a smooth-ass motherfucker, and Kai’s already interested cock wastes no time in rising to the occasion.
At this moment, I kind of feel like the theme song to Shaft should be playing right now because I’m such a sexy badass.
I lick my lips and bat my eyes up at Kai. “It’s time for me to return your blow job volley from earlier.”
Kai swallows so loudly I can hear it. “You don’t have to do that,” he says, his voice ragged.
I lean closer and trail feather-light kisses along his hip bone, moving lower and lower, only to pull back before reaching his rock-solid erection.
“Oh, but I want to,” I purr with satisfaction. “I’m a fifty-fifty partner all the way.” I wink. “You should thank my Gender and Sexuality Studies professor from college for that.”
Kai’s leg muscles tremble where he stands as I trail my fingers lightly up the inside of one thigh and then the next. I have to wonder if he’ll be able to stay standing while I work my oral magic on him.
“You’ve spent so much of your life taking care of and protecting others, but you need someone to do the same for you, my love. Fortunately for you, I’m your super awesome husband who’s up for the job. You deserve it and I want to.”
A complex array of emotions washes over his face before he smiles. “Far be it from me to deprive my super awesome husband of what he desires.”