Chapter 5
Now that you’re communicating like a pro with your love interest, it’s time to step things up a notch!
Of course, consent is essential, but if your lovely lady is amenable to some physical contact, that’s a great way to deepen your connection.
You’ve already begun working on wooing her mind, now you need to woo her body too.
You and your prospective partner should mutually decide on what pacing suits you both best. Do you want to take it slow, with tender kisses and sweet caresses?
Or do you want to get down and dirty right away?
Perhaps you need to aim for something in between these poles?
Make sure you’re both in agreement and paying attention to what you each do and do not like when it comes to varying degrees of physical intimacy.
One week until Christmas…
Gemma
Christmas is fast approaching and all I can think about is Luna.
Messaging with her for the last few weeks has been the most fun I’ve had in years.
Our conversations range from flirty and ridiculous to cute and cozy.
We’ve even gotten into some more serious topics too.
Yet through it all, I’ve never once been bored.
No, I’ve been full of butterflies and girlish fantasies.
At night, my dreams are populated with far more adult scenarios featuring me and Luna getting intimate on a physical level.
In other words, I’m kind of fucked because I’m already in pretty damn deep with her and have no idea what to do about it. The one shining light about my situation is that I’m about ninety-nine percent sure Luna’s in the same boat—or spaceship—too.
Today’s one of my precious days off and I really ought to run some errands and do a few loads of laundry, but I can’t muster the motivation.
Nope, I want to roll around in all the amorous vibes Luna and I have.
So, rather than adulting like I should, I lie down on my couch and wrap myself in a cozy blanket as I unlock my phone to study our last text exchange.
I’m not being obsessive. Much. I’m simply chasing that dreamy feeling they bring every damn time.
Me: I know you’re a total Christmas fan. So that begs the question, what’s your favorite Christmas movie?
Luna: Gah! Of course you’d ask me that when I’m not ready.
Me: *laughing face emoji* Quit stalling. Inquiring minds want to know.
Luna: But there are so many good ones! I don’t even know where to begin.
Me: [Insert final Jeopardy song here]
Luna: Oh shit, not Jeopardy. Talk about pressure! Sasha got me into that show to learn more about human history and culture. Now I know how the contestants on that show must feel!
Me: The clock is ticking.
Luna: Okay, okay. At this very moment, I’d say my favorite is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Me: You mean that really old, cheesy stop-motion one?
Luna: Hey! It’s not cheesy. It’s a classic. Bumbles bounce!
Me: You’re revealing so many things about yourself right now…
Luna: Quid pro quo. What’s YOUR favorite Christmas movie. *grinning emoji* Mwahahaha! See how I turned the tables like a smooth criminal. (Yes, I love old-school Michael Jackson)
Me: *laughing face emoji* You totally crack me up. And I like that about you. Since you asked, my favorite Christmas movie for the last few years has been the lesbian holiday rom-com Happiest Season. Kristen Stewart is smokin’ hot.
Luna: Oh? Would you say she’s your “type”?
Me: Not sure that I have any one type. I’m often attracted to women with a more athletic physique and feminine to androgynous features.
I’ve dated a few masc lesbians too. More than appearance, I’m drawn to personality and character.
Who you are and how you behave toward me and others is what will or won’t win me over.
Luna: Ahem. So, um, how am I doing so far?
Me: Ten out of ten.
Luna: How many days until we finally get to meet in person?
Me: I’m marking them off on my calendar.
Luna: *heart eyes emoji* Same.
Me: Not to throw a cynical voice of reason into things, but do you think we’re so hard up that we’ve latched on to one another in desperation? I haven’t had chemistry like this with anyone… ever, but I still wonder.
Luna: We’re too smart and fabulous to ever be desperate. The spark we felt that first time we met via the videochat was real. And it hasn’t gone away for me. If anything, talking with you like this every day has made it stronger.
Me: Glad I wasn’t imagining that. I guess I was having a hard time believing this is all real.
Maybe I’m trying to prepare myself for the worst, so I don’t end up wrecked if things don’t work out.
It could also be because I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.
I’ve had to wrap my brain around aliens being real and the fact that my brother is off gallivanting with them across the universe.
I met a woman I’m attracted to and want to get to know better, but she’s light-years away at the moment.
Work isn’t enough for me lately. My life is at a weird crossroads, and I have to make some hard choices.
Luna: That’s a lot to take in. I wish I could give you a hug right now. Remember, I’m here anytime if you need to talk.
Me: I appreciate that. When it rains, it pours, amirite?
Luna: No shit! You’re not alone though. I’m scared too.
I don’t want to fuck this up. Texting you is the highlight of my day.
But I have my own fears. For instance, you’ve never experienced interspecies dating, so I can imagine that following where this chemistry could take us might be intimidating or even frightening.
Me: That’s the weirdest part, though. I don’t feel like that at all. Rather, all I can think about these days is kissing you… and other stuff.
Luna: Sweet Goddess Thekmis. I’ve been having dreams about us in bed together every damn night!
Me: Just so you know, that made me giggle like I’m some starry-eyed teenager with her first crush.
Luna: This waiting is KILLING ME!
Me: I’m so happy you guys are planning to return on Christmas Eve. I have a feeling this is going to be a Christmas I’ll never forget.
Luna: Me too. But we’re keeping it a secret from Felix. We want it to be a holiday surprise.
Me: My lips are sealed! *blowing kiss emoji*
My heart still flutters whenever I read this exchange and all of our others for what feels like the hundredth time. Our texting flirtations are seriously giving me life.
My phone pings, and I see I have a new message from Luna. My heart starts pounding in overdrive and I fight back a squee.
Luna: Hello, gorgeous. What are you up to right now?
Grinning from ear to ear, I immediately type out my response.
Me: Lazing around on my day off. Can’t rouse myself to do anything but chill out. Work’s been kind of brutal these past few days, it always is around this time of year.
Luna: Poor baby. If I were there, I’d give you all of Luna’s Tender Loving Care (trademark pending).
I can’t hold back a snort of laughter.
Me: Why does that feel like a line…?
Luna: Gasp! I would never!
Me: *laughing face emoji* Tell me more about what this tender, loving care would involve.
Luna: Oh it’s a whole process, but first I’d give you the best damn full-body massage of your life.
Me: Go on…
Luna: What can I say? Having eight mega talented appendages has many advantages.
My heart pounds in my chest and my cheeks flush.
Me: Your tentacles can provide massage therapy?
Luna: That and soooo much more.
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself. I cross my legs but am unable to stop the pulsing throb between them.
Ever since my first conversation with Luna, I’ve been ridiculously horny. My lady bits doth overfloweth on the regular!
Me: I’d be happy to test out and rate your massage skills anytime.
Luna: Excellent! I’m adding it to The Lists.
Me: What lists?
Luna: The lists of all the naughty and nice things I want to do to and with you. *winky face emoji* I’m festive like that.
I try not to moan. Fucking hell. We haven’t even touched each other yet, and Luna can get me so aroused from these messages alone. I have to wonder—will I be able to handle the real thing once we meet?
Me: It seems I need to make my own lists for you too. Because I can give as good as I get, darling.
Luna: *waving tentacle emoji* By all means. I can’t wait to check off all those naughty and nice items with you.
Me: Quit turning me on when you can’t do anything about it!
Luna: *smirking devil face emoji*
The dots dance across my screen for several long moments, as if Luna is writing something and then deleting and rewriting it. Finally, a new message comes through.
Luna: Not to kill the vibe we’ve got going right now, but can I ask you a serious question?
Me: Of course. I prefer when folks are honest and direct with me.
Luna: I want to preface this by saying this isn’t a certainty by any means. But what if Felix decides he doesn’t want to return to Earth? What would you do?
My heart lurches in my chest, and for a moment it feels like I can’t breathe. With cold, tingling fingers I type an answer.
Me: Is it that serious between him and that Najar guy already? I’m guessing you wouldn’t ask me something like this without reason.
Luna: They finally got their heads out of their asses, and now they’re all lovey-dovey with one another. I’m not a mind reader, but it seems like the real deal with them. Knowing Najar the way I do, I’m sure he’s going to want Felix to stay.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had been wondering about this very issue, and not simply because my brother has evidently found himself an alien boyfriend.
When Felix told me he was going on this intergalactic adventure during that one videochat, I could see a light come on behind his eyes.
And from the brief follow-up messages we’ve exchanged since then, I can tell he’s so much happier and full of life than I’ve seen him in years.
It’s like he’s shed his old skin. His most beautiful and vibrant self has emerged and is fully embracing this new journey he’s on.
My stomach drops. I know Felix, and he’s definitely going to make me a deciding factor in all this.
No matter how much Felix might want to stay with his new alien boyfriend and the others on the Sleigh Belle, he won’t want to leave me here on Earth all alone while he goes gallivanting across the universe for who knows how long.
Could I handle living here on Earth without my brother?
The very thought sends an icy-cold chill through my body, and I shiver. For a long moment, I stare at the screen of my cell phone, then slowly type a response.
Me: Honestly, I’m not sure. It would break Felix to leave me alone here without any family, but I want him to follow his heart and not feel guilty. Now I need to figure out how to respond to all of this in a way that will support that.
Luna: You’re an amazing sister and a truly incredible woman. He’s lucky to have you.
I blink back tears.
Me: Thanks. You’re pretty awesome too.
Luna: I’m sorry to dump this in your lap, but I figured you’d rather know beforehand than not.
Me: I appreciate that. It’s good for me to know where things stand because you’re right. This gives me time to think about everything, not only for my brother’s sake, but for my own.
Luna: Gemma, we haven’t known each other long, and we have no fucking clue what the future holds for us, but if nothing else, we do still have that open position for a medical officer on the Sleigh Belle. I can speak for myself and the rest of the crew in saying we’d love to have you join us.
Me: That’s certainly tempting, but I don’t know anything about extraterrestrial biology. My training applied to humans only. I’m not sure how useful I could even be, but I will definitely think about it. Also, who the hell came up with that name for the ship?
Luna: Take one guess.
Me: Khephren.
Luna: Bingo!
I can’t hold back a grin.
Me: He seems like a real character.
Luna: He is, but he’s also a loyal and honest friend—almost to a fault. Kheph’s also the one who lured me into the cult-like obsession with Christmas and human movies. I blame it all entirely on him.
Me: *laughing face emoji* I’m looking forward to meeting him in person too.
Luna: I can hardly wait! It won’t be much longer now.
Me: I know. Thanks again for giving me a heads-up about Felix and Najar. I’m going to think about all of this very seriously so I can decide what to do.
Luna: I’m here anytime you want to talk. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.
I swallow back a lump in my throat, fighting tears.
Me: That means a lot, thanks. I need to sign off for now, but let’s talk again soon.
Luna: *blowing kiss emoji* Take care of yourself, gorgeous, and don’t be a stranger.
I pocket my phone and mull over our conversation, including Luna’s impromptu job offer. After a good twenty minutes of contemplation, the beginnings of a plan are already forming in my mind.
Now I have to figure out how I’m going to pull it all off.