Epilogue
Starblade was shocked to realize that Vardox was right. They were making love—and it was so much more intense than any of the times before.
Right now, it wasn’t only Starblade’s body that was connected to Vardox, it was also his heart.
He was overwhelmed by the symphony of sensations coursing throughout his body and deep in his soul.
For so long he’d fought his attraction to Vardox, but perhaps the tentacled troublemaker who’d turned his universe upside down had been right.
At this moment, he could believe that they were in fact predestined mates.
The orgasm building in Starblade already seemed bigger and more powerful than any he’d ever experienced. When Vardox’s cock slammed into him at just the right angle and one tentacle milked his cock with tenacity, Starblade tipped over the edge into white hot bliss.
Starblade wasn’t sure if he passed out or simply lost time, but he finally came back to his senses and realized that Vardox had also reached his climax and now lay beside him, cradling Starblade in his arms and several of his tentacles.
Frustrated tears welled in Starblade’s eyes, and he reached up to grab firm hold of Vardox’s face. “Now that you’ve made me love you, you better never leave me, you bastard,” he growled.
Vardox damn near purred with happiness. “Darling, as I told you before, I love you and no other. Thus it shall be until the day I die. Masnoks mate for life, and I staked my claim on you long ago. I was willing to wait as long as it took. Now that I finally have you, I’ll fulfill my duties as your mate for the rest of our lives. ”
Starblade harrumphed a little but was secretly pleased by Vardox’s words. “Good. Now hold me tighter.”
“With pleasure, my dear captain.”
—The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, Ch. 171
River
“I can’t believe it’s almost over,” I whine.
Kai runs a hand through my hair. “We had a wonderful time though, didn’t we?”
“Yeah,” I grumble, “but the time flew by too fast. It’s not fair.”
“Isn’t that always the case when it comes to vacation?” Kai asks with an amused quirk of his lips.
I roll my eyes and poke him in his tickle spot, making him jolt. “Look at you, being all sensible and logical.” I harrumph. “Nope, I’m convinced time is fucking with me, and I don’t like it.”
Kai chuckles at that. “Whatever you say, my dear.”
I give him my best puppy-dog look. “Is it wrong that I don’t want our honeymoon to ever end?”
He fixes me with a heated gaze and pulls me close. “Between us, the honeymoon won’t ever end. This is just the beginning of more blissful days ahead with each other.”
That makes me smile. “Such a smooth talker. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”
Nirblob comes rolling up to our outdoor patio table where we’ve just finished breakfast. I smile at him from where I decided to plonk my juicy little ass in Kai’s lap earlier—because I can and because I know he loves it.
“Ah, it’s inspiring to watch you two loveworms,” Nirblob says cheerily.
I blink a few times. “Uh… Do you mean lovebirds?”
“Aha! Forgive my slip of the tongue. I’m still learning human idioms.” He thrusts his fabric-filled hand at us. “These are for you, in honor of your first Tentacular Tales Con.”
I wriggle with excitement in Kai’s lap. “Look, babe! Our very own Tentacular Tales Con 2 T-shirts.” I hug mine to my chest. “I’m going to cherish it forever.”
Nirblob looks quite pleased with himself. What a stand-up friend. He knows how much I’ve wanted one of these.
“In fact,” I announce, hopping off Kai’s lap and tearing off my shirt, “I’m going to wear it right now.”
I shimmy into it and do a little twirl. “How does it look?”
Nirblob gives me two thumbs up.
Kai smiles fondly. “You look as gorgeous as ever.”
“Thank you, boo.” I lean down and give him a kiss on the cheek.
Nirblob clears his throat. “Far be it from me to disturb your precious romantic time together, but on behalf of all the convention organizers, I have come to ask if you will give a few closing remarks to our guests.”
I stare at him. “Really?”
He nods. “We believe it most fitting and appropriate for you to help us send off our enthusiastic attendees in style.”
I give him my biggest, brightest smile. “As if I could say no to that. Come,” I say with all the theatricality I possess. “My adoring fans await!”
Kai laughs and, arm in arm, we follow Nirblob back to the main ballroom one last time.
The decorations from last night’s costume ball have been taken down and the room has been returned to its more generic appearance.
Convention goers mill about, eagerly waiting for the closing remarks.
I give Kai another quick kiss and then skip over to the stage, where I climb up and grab the mic for the final time.
“Good morning, everyone. Our wonderful event organizers have been so kind as to ask me to say a few words before we call a close to the second annual Tentacular Tales Con.”
I’m inundated with cheers and applause.
I take a little bow. “Thank you, thank you. But really, let’s all give a hand—or whatever appendage is most appropriate—to our tireless organizers for all of their hard work and dedication. Without them, events like this wouldn’t happen.”
More clapping ensues.
I hold my hands up. “The con organizers and I hear you all, loud and clear, and thank you for your enthusiastic appreciation. Ever since I learned that my incredible fans had created a convention around my series, I knew I had to attend it someday. The stars aligned for me this time by dovetailing with my temporary off-world clearance for my honeymoon. Talk about sweet! Even better, my amazing hubby-boo planned this trip just for me so we could visit the con and spend lovey-dovey time together. Isn’t he fucking epic?
Anyway, let me just say, my time here at the resort and Tentacular Tales Con has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
” Getting a bit choked up, I clear my throat.
“I know many of you have come from far away just to be here with like-minded fans who share a love for The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade. As the author, it warms my heart to be bringing people together to celebrate my tentacle porn space opera and hopefully make lifelong connections. When I began writing this series, it was a way to cope with the stagnation of my boring technical-writing day job. I needed an outlet for my quirky, geeky mind—and I honestly never thought very many people would read it, so I indulged in all my zaniest ideas and fantasies.” I chuckle.
“No one was more shocked than me when I learned that even though humans had not understood my work or appreciated it very much—they’re totally missing out, by the way—loads of folks across the universe did.
Ever since then, I’ve had the pleasure of receiving fan mail and advice column questions from many of you, and I freaking love it! Keep ’em coming!”
The crowd suddenly hold up, en masse, the equivalent of foam fingers used at sports games—foam tentacles. They wave them vigorously.
“We love you, River!” some folks scream, foam tentacles swirling about. That’s followed by more enthusiastic applause.
“I love all of you too,” I say. “I’m not sure if I’d still be writing this story if I hadn’t met the love of my life, my husband Kai Genaro, or received such a warm welcome from many of you.
As long as ideas keep coming to me, I plan to continue writing.
There are many more adventures ahead for Captain Starblade and Lord Vardox, and who knows, I may even start another series someday.
For now, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support.
Although our time here together is coming to a close, many of us may meet again one day.
I want you to know this won’t be the last time I attend a Tentacular Tales Con.
I don’t know when, but in the famous words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I’ll be back! ”
That gets me a standing ovation and more foam tentacle waving. I use both arms to wave back. “Safe travels home, everyone, and we hope to see you all next time!”
Once I step down from the stage, making my way back to Kai is a much slower process since I have to wade through a thick crowd of conference goers, many still wanting to say hi or have me sign something for them.
By the time I manage to make it back to Kai’s side, I’m exhausted but smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. That’s where the organizers soon find us, and I’m surprised when they give me a poster tube with a big bow on it.
“The artist of the winning fan painting asked us to gift it to you.”
I blink and vividly recall that piece of art. I’d looked at it for quite a while. It was a rather lovely but super erotic painting of Vardox and Starblade in flagrante delicto, so to speak.
“OMG, that is so sweet! Did they not want to give it to me themselves?”
Nirblob shakes his head. “They’re rather shy.”
Maybe, but their painting most certainly isn’t!
“Please thank them big time on my behalf,” I tell the organizers, then I grin at Kai. “I’m hanging this in my writing cave. Talk about an amazing source of inspiration.”
We finally say our goodbyes to the organizers and then follow Nirblob after checking out. Resort staff took our luggage to the docking bay for us earlier, so we’re able to wander through the space station unencumbered.
“You know, I’m sort of kicking myself for not finding time to explore more of the station. I was so immersed in the resort and the convention that it kind of slipped my mind.” I can’t help but pout. “Now I feel like a failure as a tried-and-true sci-fi nerd.”
Kai wraps an arm and a tentacle around me as we walk. “As you told your adoring fans, this won’t be your last time at the convention. We’ll find a way to come back and make extra time to visit other parts of the space station, I promise.”
“Now you’re talking, husband o’ mine!” I grin up at him. “At least I remembered to get our matching robes from the spa to take back with us. Those babies are packed safely in our luggage.”
He laughs.
Nirblob does a little figure-eight move on his skates. “I am ready and willing to convey you across the universe anytime you wish.”
I reach down and high-five him. “Thanks, my friend. I just might hold you to that.”
All too soon, we’re back at the docking bay and settling onto the ship. Kai and I strap into our seats while Nirblob readies us for takeoff.
Kai reaches out and takes my hand. “Are you sad to say goodbye?”
“A little,” I admit, “but I’m also looking forward to going home. We’ve got a nursery to put together and so much to get done before our mini-mes arrive.”
“Nearly five years should be plenty of time, darling,” Kai replies in a droll tone.
“Look at how fast our honeymoon went by! Trust me, five years will fly by quicker than we think. Not only do we have tons to do at home, but we also still have all sorts of loose ends to wrap up back at the Alliance. We have to give intergalactic streaming video testimony at the upcoming trials for Thilgar—Shilgar the Deadly’s brother and coerced accomplice—Layne Madison, and Adeline.
We’re still in limbo about poor Wilder and Zamir’s a mess because of it, and Roxy’s off in lovey-dovey Lala-land with Lu-Ren.
I have a feeling that wedding bells might be ringing for them before long, and you know she’s going to want me to officiate. ”
Kai fights a smile and nods. “I see what you mean.”
I heave a dramatic sigh. “Plus, I’ve got my advice column to run, my stories to write, and fan mail to answer.
Nirblob’s also making progress on some state-of-the-art technology to help extraterrestrials pass as human out in public, especially our Vroknu friends.
The Alliance is getting more and more requests from refugees and others wishing to relocate to Earth. We’re going to be super fucking busy.”
“When you put it that way, it does sound rather daunting,” Kai agrees.
“Ready for takeoff,” Nirblob announces. “Hold on to your butts, as they say.” He finishes that off with a merry little chortle and then we’re leaving the docking bay and streaking through the universe once again.
I turn my attention back to Kai. “I know I’ve said this many times already, and I probably will continue saying it for a long time, but thank you. For planning our honeymoon and making it absolutely epic and unforgettable.”
Kai holds my hand to his lips, giving the back of it a gentlemanly kiss.
He’s such a romantic like that, and I freaking love it.
“It was my pleasure. I would do just about anything for you, my love.”
I kiss his hand in return. “I know.” Then I grin. “But get ready. You’ve ignited my competitive romantic spirit, and I’m going all out for our first anniversary, just you watch. I’m gonna knock your tentacle socks off, boo.”
He gives that slow, sexy grin of his that always makes me swoon.
“I can’t wait.”
This concludes River and Kai’s first main arc. The next few books in the series will focus on side characters finding their HEAs. Then we’ll return to River and Kai nearly five years later when they’re getting ready for a momentous and life-changing event!