Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
“It has been far too long since we last did this, darling,” Vardox drawled. He pulled Starblade closer until his bare ass was at the edge of the mattress.
Two of his tentacles curled around Starblade’s thighs then splayed them wide, leaving Starblade open and vulnerable.
“I see your cock does not lie, my dear.” Another one of Vardox’s tentacles encircled his shaft and squeezed, making Starblade cry out in pleasure.
“Tell me what you want, my mate.” Vardox’s voice was sweet yet dangerous—and damn if Starblade didn’t love it.
“Please,” he begged. “I need your cock inside me.”
A loud, rumbling noise of satisfaction came from the back of Vardox’s throat. “I like this newfound honesty from you.”
One of Vardox’s self-lubricating tentacles took up residence between Starblade’s thighs and teased his achingly empty hole, circling and stroking. Just when Starblade feared he might lose his mind, the naughty tentacle finally pressed inside him and he welcomed it readily.
Before Vardox, he’d never had a lover with tentacles before.
Starblade did not know how exactly to describe the sensation of one filling his ass like Vardox’s was doing at this very moment.
It was different from a cock but no less pleasurable.
The wily appendage could move in more fluid ways and was quite talented at finding Starblade’s prostate.
Like now.
“Ahh!” Starblade cried as the slick tip of Vardox’s tentacle stroked his prostate with unerring precision.
“That’s it, darling,” Vardox purred. “Take my tentacle like a man.” He grinned. “And then later, you’ll take my cock along with it.”
Starblade swooned at the thought.
—The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, Ch. 171
Kai
“Is it weird that I’m nervous?”
I study River, who’s biting his bottom lip and pacing. It’s rare to see him not brimming with full and total confidence. Then again, he’s never done a signing at a convention based entirely on his stories.
“This is a big occasion,” I say. “Although you’ve had some interactions with small groups of fans back on Earth, this is going to be your first meet and greet with a massive audience of megafans.”
He lets out a nervous laugh. “In other words, no pressure, right?”
River starts wringing his hands, and I gently take hold of them and press kisses along his knuckles.
“They’re going to love you,” I assure him. “In fact, I’m quite certain they already do. This is your moment to shine as your bright and beautiful self. Enjoy it and show them your charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.”
River’s mouth drops open. “Where did that come from?”
I smirk. “You and all those episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race must be rubbing off on me.”
He leers. “I like it. Maybe later I can do some specialty rubbing on you in private.”
“That can be arranged.”
River damn near blinds me with his brightest smile. “As usual, you’re totally right. I am super fucking awesome, and I need to strut myself like I’m ready to lip-sync for my life!”
I cough to cover a laugh. River wouldn’t be River if he dimmed his light for others. “Just be yourself. That’s how you won my hearts.”
He sniffles. “Aww, boo. You’re giving me all the feels right now.”
“Just fulfilling some of my husbandly responsibilities.” I clear my throat. “Ahem. Remember, none of them are expecting you to be here, so it’s going to be a surprise of—as you would say—epic proportions.”
I let go of his hands and he starts bouncing on the balls of his feet, something he does when he’s excited. “When you put it that way, I’m the star of the hour. Like a K-Pop boy band of one!”
I fight back another laugh. “A most interesting analogy.”
River rubs his hands together. “You know, I’ve been looking forward to a moment like this for a long time, probably ever since I learned that my story was a smashing success on an intergalactic level.
That really boosted my self-confidence, especially when I only had a very small niche group of followers on Earth. ”
“You’re definitely not niche here, darling.”
He raises his chin with pride. “I’m totally going to own it, babe.” Then he spreads his arms wide. “How do I look?”
River’s wearing a bright green button-down shirt dotted with shimmery gold flecks that brings out his gorgeous eyes, paired with skinny jeans and dark brown ankle boots. His blond curls are fresh and springy from after we cleaned up in the shower.
In other words, he’s utterly gorgeous.
“You’re devastatingly handsome. I’m worried I may have to fight off overzealous fans awestruck by you.”
“You smooth talker, you.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Although that’d be rather entertaining to witness.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Let’s not ask for any unnecessary trouble tonight.”
He gives me a jaunty little salute. “Aye, aye, Captain.” Then he looks me up and down with appreciation in his eyes. “Don’t worry, babe. You’re suitably intimidating enough to make any fools think twice. You’re rocking your whole Men in Black Agent K outfit tonight.”
“It’s just a standard black suit and tie. My usual attire at work.”
“You in a suit has always been megahot to me. It gives you an imposing air, and when you’re by my side it screams, don’t mess with me or my man.” He shrugs. “Like I said, megahot.”
Inside my abdomen, my tentacles coil and uncoil happily at his words.
River then grabs a cloak he’s borrowed from Nirblob for the occasion. “We need stealth while I make my entrance, so I’m giving Obi-Wan Kenobi realness with my temporary disguise,” he says, pulling the hood over his head with a flourish.
I fight back a laugh. Almost everything for River has a corollary, explanation, or connection to some sci-fi franchise he adores.
At first, I was mystified by most of them, but over the last few months, I’ve begun to better identify his examples.
Mostly because he’s taken it upon himself to educate me about his favorite things.
While I don’t share his level of zeal when it comes to films and television, I cherish watching them with him because he gets so happy and excited to share them with me. I often spend most of the time enjoying his reactions, which is time well spent in my book.
There’s a knock at our door, and we open it to find Nirblob standing there in his ever-present roller skates and Lord Vardox mini cape.
“Oh, good, you’re both ready. We must hurry. The VIP guests are already lining up and eager to learn what surprise event we have in store for them!”
“They still don’t know it’s me coming?” River asks.
Nirblob shakes his head. “My fellow organizers and I thought it would have more impact to wow them in the moment.”
River nods. “I hear that. Who doesn’t love a bit of theatricality?
Besides, I can tell you now, if I was at a Star Trek convention and went to a supersecret special event only to discover Patrick Stewart was there, ready to greet all of us and give autographs, I’d lose my ever-loving mind.
I’d be in nerdtastic fan heaven and floating on air the whole time.
” He sighs dreamily. “If I say it enough times, do you suppose I could actually manifest that fantasy into reality?”
I instantly make a mental note to myself to see if there’s any way I can make this happen for River.
We follow Nirblob as he leads us down several back halls that head toward the signing room. As we get closer, I see a line of VIP ticket holders waiting to enter the reserved room that winds through the building and outside. The excitement in the air is palpable even from here.
“I love the smell of fired-up fans in the morning!” River says in a weird voice.
“What?”
He waves a hand dismissively. “Sorry. It’s a riff on a famous movie line. I’ll explain later.”
Nirblob guides us down a secret staff corridor that takes us to the back door entrance into River’s impromptu signing space. I’m relieved to see security stationed outside the door as we approach. They check Nirblob’s organizer badge and let us in.
The room is much like any generic conference room, filled with standard chairs and tables, but they’ve decked it out in style for River.
A red satin table runner adorns the signing table, along with a beautifully painted sign hanging in front of it that has River’s name in big letters surrounded by stars and tentacles.
Behind the table are easels displaying the winning fan art pieces from the exhibit we saw the other day, and in front of it by about ten feet is a red walkway carpet surrounded by pillions that goes all the way to the door, creating a clear place for folks to wait in line in an orderly fashion once inside the room.
Once we’re situated at the signing table, several of the hired security personnel stationed inside the room move to the door where Nirblob is preparing to unveil the event and admit the first dozen people into the room.
He steps through the door, clearly using something to project his voice because we hear him loud and clear when he addresses the VIP fans outside.
“Good evening, my friends. Tentacular Tales Con’s VIP superfans are in for the surprise of your life this evening!”
Voices outside quiet down.
Nirblob continues. “It is my supreme honor and pleasure to welcome you to our event tonight—a surprise once-in-a-lifetime signing with none other than River Sullivan, aka KirklovesSpock4eva!”
There’s a brief moment of stunned silence before the line explodes with noise.
Nirblob’s voice resounds loud and clear again, quieting the fans again.
“Our MVP of the night is eager to meet you all too. Please demonstrate patience. No pushing, shoving, or other inappropriate behavior is allowed. You’ll all get your turn to meet River as long as you wait courteously.
We’ll be admitting you a dozen at a time.
Have whatever item you would like our favorite author to sign ready to go.
Now, let’s get this special event started! ”