Chapter 14
Luna: Hey, beautiful. Whatcha doing?
Gemma: Trying to figure my life out and maybe solve the mysteries of the universe. You know, nothing much.
Luna: I totally snorted at that one.
Gemma: *takes a bow* My work is done here.
Luna: I know I’ve said it before, but I seriously never get tired of talking to you.
Gemma: Same. It’s pretty great.
Luna: I’ve never felt that way with anyone I dated in the past. How about you?
Gemma: Me neither. Until now, I’ve never met another woman who could keep up with me in the banter department.
Luna: For shame! That’s half the fun.
Gemma: Precisely. But to get back to people we’ve dated. Have you always dated women?
Luna: In Earthling terms, yes. Female or feminine-presenting folks.
Gemma: Same. I knew I was only interested in girls since I was a kid. How about you?
Luna: Yet another similarity we share! As a Dravethian youth, I would daydream about other girls in my class but never the boys.
Many of them would talk about males and show an interest in partnering with them when they grew up.
But for me, that held zero appeal. When I thought about the future, it always involved me and a woman partner.
Gemma: That’s really cool. Thanks for sharing that with me.
Luna: Tell me more about when you knew as a child.
Gemma: My story’s pretty similar. I think I was about eight years old when my grandma introduced me to old reruns of Xena: Warrior Princess. Have you seen that one?
Luna: Can’t say I have, sorry.
Gemma: *gasp* I cannot let that travesty continue!
All lesbians, no matter where they’re from, have to watch Xena.
It’s a rule I’m creating right now. Anyway, to make a long story short, I developed an immediate and massive crush on Xena.
Who wouldn’t? She was strong, smart, and seriously hot.
I was also convinced that she and Gabrielle were totally in love with each other and gave Nana a whole speech on why this was true.
That’s when she explained what lesbian means and reassured me that liking girls was equally as valid as liking guys.
Luna: You’ve already sold me on watching this show with you. Also, it sounds like your Nana was really supportive and awesome.
Gemma: She was, and so was Gramps. Neither of them batted an eye when both Felix and I came out.
They marched in Pride parades with us and always had a rainbow flag flying at their house.
We couldn’t have asked for better parents.
They raised me and Felix like we were their own.
We were damn lucky. But fuck do I ever miss them.
I wish I’d had more time with them than we got in the end.
—Sent via FLIRTT (Frequency Link for Interstellar Real-Time Transmission)
Luna
It’s so hard not to do a full-on happy dance complete with the Tentacle Vortex Spin—and yes, that move is totally as awesome as it sounds—when Gemma agrees to join me on the Spacewalk Skyway.
Sure, I had a lot of fun on the Lightspeed MegaCoaster earlier, but it was clear that the ride was way too intense for Gemma.
So as much as I would love to race around Cosmic Kingdom like a sugared-up kid trying out every insane park ride with maniacal glee, I have bigger and better priorities.
I am here to woo the fuck out of Gemma.
I have to admit, Khephren chose well in bringing us to the Cosmic Kingdom, one of the most famous intergalactic theme parks on this side of the universe.
Although the park is primarily geared toward family-friendly fun, it nevertheless also features several romantic attractions.
When Khephren announced where we were going, I stealthily looked up everything I could find about the park.
The Spacewalk Skyway quickly became a prime choice on my list of places to set the romantic mood with Gemma.
Sure, I’ve enjoyed myself with a lot of different females from a variety of species over the years, both back home and since we started traveling the universe, but I’ve never wanted to pull out all the romantic stops with any of them the way I do with Gemma.
And fuck if that doesn’t make me equal parts nervous and full of anticipation.
I’m no poet, and I sure as shit can’t put it in the smoothest or most sophisticated terms, but Gemma is unique, a rare, exquisite gem that I never want to lose her shine.
Every moment with her has me falling deeper, and I want to keep plummeting headfirst. All I want, all I pray to Thekmis for, is that Gemma’s feelings will eventually catch up with mine.
Falling so deeply, so fast, usually isn’t my style.
Life has taught me to safeguard my more tender emotions, and trust on my part takes time.
Gemma blew all that crap out of the water the moment we met and I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
And I haven’t stopped. I know it’s not logical or rational—which is okay since I’m not Najar—but my gut and my tentacles are all telling me my hearts are safe with her.
They’re also expressing loudly and on repeat that she’s the one.
The one I’ve been longing for and dreaming of for as long as I can remember.
With Gemma, I can be fully and authentically myself.
I have no fear that she won’t accept my own unique and somewhat quirky personality.
Not to be too nerdy, but we gel like two perfectly synced engine stabilizers—no wobble, no dangerous drift, only smooth sailing among the stars.
So, I’m choosing to trust in my instincts and throw my normal caution to the solar winds. Is it scary? Fuck yeah, it is. Does it have me angsting and overthinking things like I’ve reverted to my former hormonal and emotional teenage self? Yep. But is it all worth it? You bet your sweet ass it is!
Accepting that truth is bringing me a newfound sense of peace and unwavering certainty. My course is set, my thrusters primed, and I’ll cross any and every galaxy to win Gemma’s heart.
When Gemma latches on to my arm and agrees to accompany me to the Spacewalk Skyway, I’m practically floating while we make our way there.
No one’s ever made my whole universe spin the way she has.
I can’t wait to see what will happen next when I’m with Gemma.
Every moment is delightfully surprising while also making me swoon from the tips of my tentacles to all three of my hearts.
I genuinely don’t see myself ever getting bored—an issue that has been a problem for me with past lovers. Our banter is hot like fire and our deeper conversations are always stimulating. We keep one another on our toes—or tentacles.
I’ve been with women who simply wanted to have a fun fling with me.
Women who preferred no-commitment, friends-with-benefits situations.
And, a few times, women who wanted me to be their whole world—expecting me to take care of them and fulfill all their needs.
However, I was never allowed to be vulnerable or in need of their emotional support.
No shocker that those kinds of dynamics never worked out.
With Gemma, it’s completely different. She always meets me halfway as an equal.
I don’t want to let that go.
Fuck, I don’t want to let her go.
It might sound a bit sappy, but with Gemma, I can see our future written in the stars and damn it’s beautiful. That’s why I’ll do everything in my power to win her love.
When we reach the Spacewalk Skyway, I’m pleased to see that it’s not overly crowded at this time of day.
While it’s not empty by any means, at least we’re not crammed in like cargo crates on a shuttle run.
At the threshold of entering the skyway, Gemma pauses under the archway, peers ahead, and gulps three times. I squeeze her arm.
“There’s no rush. Take your time. If you think this is too much, tell me. I’m sure there are other attractions we can visit that we’ll enjoy.”
Gemma turns her attention back to me and gives me a soft smile that makes my hearts do a little improvisational dance in my chest. “I appreciate your concern, but I don’t want to let fear hold me back from experiencing something as epically cool as this.
I’m following a new path among the stars with all of you, and I need to go all in.
” She quirks her lips. “Although let’s skip the super intense coaster rides.
While my first one was certainly memorable, it’s not something I want to repeat anytime soon. ”
I fight back a laugh but am secretly pleased that I was indeed correct in reading how she had felt about that experience. I try to be an attentive partner who pays attention to my lover. It’s probably the engineer in me that tends to be very detail oriented when it comes to how things work.
“I like how you think, beautiful. But we can leave if it gets to be too much, all you have to do is let me know. Sometimes, bravery is about baby steps, not cosmic leaps.”
She arches an eyebrow at me. “I appreciate that, but don’t forget that I’m a competitive bitch at my core and I rarely turn my back on a challenge.”
My tentacles give a giddy quiver. “So freaking hot.”
Gemma’s bright blue eyes twinkle with mischief and she grins at me. “Now that’s all settled, show me what’s so romantic about this Spacewalk thing.”
I offer her a courtly and rather exaggerated bow, which ends up a little awkward in my execution since Gemma’s still holding on to my arm like a mechanized vise.
“Your wish is my command, sweetheart.”
Guiding us into the skyway, I take things slow and keep a watchful eye on Gemma. In seconds, we’re walking on transparent, reinforced glass that hovers over part of the Rainbow Nebula.
Gemma stops for a moment and, breathing fast, stares down at her feet. “Holy fucking shit. This is like a bottomless boat on a whole other trippy intergalactic level.”
I’m not entirely sure what she’s talking about, but I roll with it. “Are you doing okay? Should we go back?”
She closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths.
I’m relieved when I feel her pulse slow to a more relaxed rate.
Gemma opens her eyes and smiles at me a little awkwardly.
“Admittedly, I’m for sure freaking the fuck out, but I’m also in total awe and want to keep going.
I may need to take it slow though, if that’s cool. ”
My hearts swell in my chest as I stare at her, feeling so incredibly amazed by how badass my girlfriend is.
Hell, I remember what it was like for me when Kheph, Naj, and I all left Draveth to travel aboard the Sleigh Belle.
It was not a seamless and uncomplicated transition.
There were some challenges along the way for all of us, and we had the added benefit of prior experience, having gone off world for short vacations with our families.
Gemma hasn’t had anything like that, but she’s adapted to traveling the universe with us like a fucking pro—and I’m honestly in awe.
Mad respect, as the Earthlings like to say.
In all seriousness though, I genuinely admire so many facets of this wonderful woman that I’m falling deeply in love with.
Sigh. Who am I kidding? It’s a done deal.
Galactic gods, I crash-landed in love like a motherfucking meteor, and I don’t think that would have happened with anyone except Gemma Taylor.
As we stroll along, we can’t tear our eyes away from the spectacular vista all around us.
When we reach an area with a comfy lookout lounge, complete with several soft chairs and love seats, we snag one of the latter.
Then we cuddle and gaze out at the colorful nebula gasses putting on a spectacular light display for us.
They swirl and sparkle in a constant flow of undulating movement that’s extraordinary.
But no matter how compelling the view is, my eyes are drawn back to Gemma, and I watch the reflection of the nebula’s colorful lights dance across her face.
At this moment, I’m utterly entranced by her beauty and can’t shake the conviction that this is no ordinary love and that Gemma’s in fact my celestial soulmate.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispers, her own gaze fixed on the Rainbow Nebula’s impressive performance.
I pull her closer on the love seat, and she rests her head on my shoulder with a dreamy little sigh that has my tentacles fluttering with satisfaction.
We stay like that for a long time, and Gemma even takes the opportunity to use the tablet device I gave her, taking photos to commemorate the occasion.
When she joins me back on the love seat, she holds up the device so she can take a couple selfie.
My whole body warms with happiness, and I swear I don’t think this moment could get much more perfect than it already is.
She slays me—oh, my hearts—with her biggest, brightest smile.
“Thank you for helping me conquer my fears. Missing out on this would have been a huge mistake. I’ve never witnessed anything that can remotely compare.
It’s completely humbling. My life on Earth was so cloistered and uninformed about what exists beyond the reaches of my home planet.
The universe is full of so many marvels and wonders, and I want to experience them all. ” She leans closer. “With you.”
My hearts start pounding like they’re revving up to enter warp speed. Could she be feeling the same as I am?
I open my mouth, ready to take a leap of faith and ask her that very question, but before I get a chance, a scream rings out farther down the skyway, and Gemma jumps to her feet.
“Help!” a panicked voice cries. “It’s a medical emergency!”
I’m left in the proverbial space dust, staring after Gemma, a bit dumbfounded as she races toward the source of the cries.