Chapter 36
An outing to remember.
This wasn’t my first outing with Monqilcolnen, not even close, and yet my gut fluttered and I kept smoothing my clothes.
I’d wanted to wear my casual clothes, but this outing would start in an official capacity, so my uniform it was.
I didn’t hate it by any means, but I wished to show my best aspect to Monqilcolnen.
With every day that passed, I was growing more attached to him.
It was becoming inconceivable to even contemplate leaving Monqilcolnen for a small stretch.
Sometimes it felt as if our work hours were too long to be apart.
Contemplating the months on the Vvekian ship was nearly impossible without being in pain, and that in itself was terrifying.
How could I have become so… attached to him in such a short amount of time?
I pushed the thought out of my head. My attachment to Monqilcolnen wasn’t permanent, and I wasn’t going to think about it right now.
Besides, as much as his parents seemed to like me, Monqilcolnen was never going to choose me.
Too many pressures existed around us. Once he was able to see everything against us outside of the Admiral Ven, he would leave.
“Wyn,” a warm voice said, and I turned around. Monqilcolnen stood in the docking ring corridor behind me. We were the only people going aboard. I was excited, regardless of the coiling pit of emotions I didn’t like to think about gurgling most insistently.
I moved toward him, and my tail quaked with the need to curl around his.
I held back, though. We didn’t usually touch when on duty, to maintain boundaries, but we were alone.
Not that it truly mattered if people were around.
I simply wanted to touch him all the time.
However, duty, regulations, and all of that stood between us.
Without any hesitation, Monqilcolnen wrapped his tail around mine and drew me closer until his hands rested on my narrow hips.
His expression was the fake serene one, and I didn’t like it.
I put my pointer fingers in the corners of his mouth and pushed up.
He laughed, making me grin, then gave me a huge smile, which made my fingers obsolete.
“Much better,” I said.
His smile turned to something warm and sent delicious flutters beating in my stomach.
Monqilcolnen dragged me closer until we were pressed together.
Slowly, he slid his arms around my waist, and my soul pounded loudly in my ears.
My gaze was locked to his, and he stared back at me with darkened eyes.
“Monqilcolnen,” I breathed, my chest heaving.
He tightened his fingers, claws digging into my uniform. “I am very much looking forward to this outing.”
“Just the outing?” I teased.
Monqilcolnen laughed softly and bent his head closer. His breath rushed over me as he said, “Not the outing, Peace. The outing with you and only you.”
A whine escaped before I could swallow it. He gave me a smirk, then captured my lips in a claiming kiss. I moaned into the touch, and Monqilcolnen took advantage, slipping his tongue against mine. The kiss, while desperate, was tender, as was the way he held me to him. I felt safe. Completely safe.
“Mon—” I didn’t even get his whole name out before he took me again. I fell into his embrace and surrendered to the kiss and the havoc Monqilcolnen was wrecking on my soul.
With one last gentle kiss, he pulled back. I cupped his check, brushing his scales. “What was that for?”
“I’m supremely happy right now.”
Heat poured through my veins. “So am I.”
He didn’t say anything else but continued to gently stare at me.
We needed to go, and yet it seemed as if neither of us was in a hurry to move.
Monqilcolnen lowered his head until his forehead butted against mine.
My breath caught. He didn’t scent mark me, though, nor did he pull away.
We stayed right where we were, existing with one another.
In no rush. Not bothered by questions of where this was going or even the excitement of the coming day. No, we breathed one another in.
“Commander,” someone interjected.
I shot out of Monqilcolnen’s arms with a squeal, whipping toward the intruder. It was an ensign, not one I knew. They stood in front of us and stared at the vines above as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Unlike me, Monqilcolnen faced the young ensign without any flinching or embarrassment. “Yes?”
“I’m scheduled to work on this terminal,” they replied, still looking anywhere but at us.
The terminal Monqilcolnen and I were blocking—blocking in a completely inappropriate way. I squeaked and rushed to the dock. I could hear the humor lingering in Monqilcolnen's voice as he said, “Right. Continue, Ensign.”
Without missing a step, Monqilcolnen took my tail in his and led me to the door of the station. Was it odd I wanted to faint? Or press against him? Or grin like a fool? What was he doing to me?
After the door behind us closed, the one to the station rolled open.
My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open. Monqilcolnen breathed a laugh against my ear, tickling me, and said, “I’m glad you like it.”
From the outside, the station looked like a gray sphere, nothing else, which was odd to me because the kanxan’si species was known for their architecture. I’d expected an elaborate station, not a ball floating in space. But this… this was lovely.
Panels covered the entirety of the skyline, and they showed the purple swirling galaxies that were always visible on their home planet.
All of the buildings were space-black and formed like spires, which nearly pierced the dome above me.
Pinpricks of light were among the spires—rooms. They had built a whole city of spires filled with rooms, making everything look like space with stars glinting.
The kanxan’si moved about, unhurried. They were a deep purple, with round, bald heads that were topped with spiral horns, massive black eyes, and very rotund bodies.
I took a step forward, and the floor crunched beneath my boots. It was sandy dirt which was nearly as dark as the spires, though it did have a grayish tinge. Monqilcolnen stepped up behind me, and I leaned back against him, moaning in contentment when he slid his arms around my waist.
“It’s lovely,” I said.
“Indeed,” he replied. “They rebuilt their home here.”
“Have you been?” I glanced over my shoulder at him.
“I have.”
I thought of all the trinkets, rugs, and art in his office and quarters. “You have been everywhere.”
His chest rumbled, the vibration soothing me. “Not everywhere, Peace, but yes, I have traveled a great deal.”
“I haven’t.” I looked forward. I hadn’t been to that many places at all.
He grabbed my chin and forced me to look back at him. “I do not care about that. I care about you.”
Before I could respond with some sickeningly soft sentiment, he seized my lips.
I groaned into the touch. It was difficult to kiss from this position, but I had no inclination to move, especially when he gripped my hip and yanked me even tighter against him.
The long length of his erection pressed into me, and I whined. Why were we not back in his quarters?
When he pulled away, I tried to chase his lips, but I couldn’t. “Monqilcolnen.”
Chuckling, he brushed his fingers over my jaw. “We are not here for that, Peace.”
“Not at first, at least.”
Monqilcolnen burst into even louder laughter, and the sound made me grin. No one else ever made him sound like this, just me, and I adored that. I reached back to thread my fingers through his starlight hair. He leaned into my touch, and my eyes fell closed as I relished him being so open with me.
“So this is the reason I can’t stay in your quarters, Monqilcolnen,” a rumbly voice said.
I jerked forward, my tail lashing.
The drakcol in front of us smirked and crossed his arms. He had short dark blue hair, shaved on one side.
His exposed ear had a black chain threaded through the cartilage and down to the lobe, obvious against his silver scales.
He wasn’t as tall as Monqilcolnen, but he was easily as broad and well-muscled.
His clothes were nothing like drakcol usually wore—a leather jacket, thick trousers, shirt tucked into his trousers with collar that shot down to his sternum, boots that went up his calves, and a blaster strapped to his thigh.
But it was his eyes that drew attention—they were an intense red. Said eyes were fixed on Monqilcolnen and I. His smirk deepened, twisting his lovely features. He was attractive, which I hated, with his full lips, deep set eyes, and strong jaw.
I didn’t know who this person was, but I wouldn’t surrender Monqilcolnen without a fight. A growl started to build in my throat. “Mine.”
The stranger’s expression turned empty.
Monqilcolnen rested his chin on my shoulder. “You heard him, Vorjyn.”
“That I did. My ears still work well. Shocking. I know.”
My tail gripped Monqilcolnen’s, and I stayed right in front of him. My wings twitched and fought against the harness containing them. Monqilcolnen pressed a gentle kiss against my neck, and some of the tension eased in my limbs.
“Vorjyn, this is Wyn,” Monqilcolnen said, remaining tucked behind me.
Vorjyn grunted, "Feisty little fellow.”
I growled. “I’m not little.”
He ran his red eyes from the top of my head to my feet. “Yes, you are.”
Before I could respond, Monqilcolnen interjected, “Leave him alone, Vorjyn.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s a fact. He’s short. But sure. Whatever you say, Monqilcolnen.”