Chapter 30 #2
The stranger was a handsome specimen of the species, with a chiseled face that wouldn't have looked out of place being carved into white marble.
An effect enhanced by the pale cream of his skin matching the long sleeved, tight shirt he wore that opened in a deep 'V' at his chest complimented by the gold bands and rings adorning his body.
His long hair was kept in a braid at the back of his head.
The brightness of his coloring was contrasted by the black of his three eyes as they roamed over her curiously, a harmless smile on his face.
“Peony,” Atem gestured to him. “Please meet First Guardian Havali.”
“Honored Vora Vakara,” he saluted her formally. “It is a pleasure.”
“First Guardian,” Peony inclined her head to him in turn as she stepped closer to Atem's side. “You're in charge of protecting and providing for the citizens, correct?”
“That's quite correct. Vi Dominani has told you of me, has he?”
“I asked around before the party. I didn't want to be totally clueless,” she confessed, smiling as Atem slipped an arm around her waist.
Approval flashed in Havali's gaze. “I am in charge of the planet overall, but I also see to the running of Calvitorum specifically. If there's anything you need, if there's anything I can help you or the others with, please don't hesitate to let me know.”
Peony nodded once, accepting the offer as graciously as she could.
“Shall we dance?” Atem asked, smiling down at her.
“I don't know this dance.”
He laughed. “Hasn't stopped Alanna. She's both learning and making up her own steps at the same time. It's not so rigid. Just follow me.”
Wishing Havali farewell, the two of them left the wall and moved to the side of the room where the dancers were gathered.
The room was split into three unequal sections – not including the balcony overlooking it all.
The largest piece belonged to the dancers, then beside them, people were gathering, chatting, and watching the dancers, and the smallest group was by the long buffet style tables laden with more drinks and tons of finger foods.
The dancers were moving in patterns that she didn't recognize.
They were paired off in couples, facing each other, but not touching.
It almost seemed that the point of the dance was getting as close as possible without touching.
A feat made difficult by the complicated, near acrobatic, moves.
The better dancers made it look like choreographed art.
Atem and Peony took up places near the edge of the dance floor as he talked her through a few basic steps and maneuvers. The whole 'no touching' goal was confirmed when he told her about the origin of dancing being from warriors sparring together evolving into beautiful displays.
It had come a long way since then, because there wasn't anything about what they were doing that could be mistaken for fighting moves, but it retained the need to avoid letting your partner actually touch you.
Peony thought it would be awkward and lonely, but she very quickly saw the appeal when it turned into a fun game of cat and mouse with her always keeping just out of Atem's reach.
The way Atem's gaze heated told her that he appreciated her spin on it, even if she wasn't reaching back for him like the other partners.
She was also very much aware that he could end this game the moment he wished.
She had no doubts that he was holding back, and all that restrained power was unexpectedly arousing as she continued to tempt and tease him.
Almost daring him to lose control and grab her right there on the dance floor in front of everyone.
As much as Peony had been dreading the party, afraid of what it would mean to meet Atem's people, the hours passed in absolute joy.
They danced until she was breathless. They took a break and sampled the incredible food.
They became lost in conversation with throngs of interesting aliens that Peony couldn't help but want to get to know.
Then, they'd start the cycle all over again.
Holly left so early, Peony never saw her go.
Scarlet left after Donivi did, still rather early, though both of them had made sure to wish them a goodnight before leaving.
Hattie tried to work up the courage to talk to Tuvo, but he left early as well, and after he was gone, she instead focused on having a great time with Alanna until the late hour finally forced them to leave.
Peony and Atem stayed until the last of the guests were trickling out. She waved them off with him like she had anything to do with putting this party together. It was definitely late enough to be technically early, but Peony was amped up and energized.
Atem read her mood easily and, instead of taking her directly to bed, they took a walk along the paths that surrounded the tier of the palace right on top of the canopy.
Peony finally got a chance to see the two moons – both glowing a pale blue, one heavily scarred and far larger than the other.
She also got to hear the night bugs singing their rattling songs while pale night flowers bloomed across the vines that decorated the railing of the paths.
“This place is so beautiful,” she whispered, holding onto Atem's arm as they meandered slowly down the path.
He smiled, covering her hand with his. “I'm glad you think so. I was worried.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “About?”
“Well... I know that, no matter how beautiful a place may be, it's not a replacement for home.”
“That's true.” She nodded along sagely. “It's a good thing I didn't really have one.”
He pulled them to a stop, turning her so she faced him. He looked worried. “Do not try to spare my feelings. Do you have family waiting for you on your Earth?”
Peony smiled, shaking her head. “I was an only child and my parents died in a car crash – er, an accident – a few years ago. I didn't really have a dream to chase like Scarlet. I didn't have a big family like Holly. It's just me.”
Atem gave her a strange look. “And no mate?”
Peony laughed. “No. No mate.”
He made a sound, eyes narrowed distrustfully.
“What?” She pulled back from him with a grin. “You don't believe me?”
“Believe that a female as lovely as you had no one trying to catch her heart? No, I do not.”
She would have laughed, but he looked so very serious. Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly hanging off him as she rested her chin on his chest.
“I'm only so lovely to you because I'm exotic. You've only met five humans, so you can't tell, but I'm exceedingly ordinary for my species. Brown hair, brown eyes, plain body. I'm as average as it gets. No one was lining up to catch my eye.”
“I do not believe that.” He smiled, pushing her hair back with a gentle finger. “But I won't accuse you of lying and ruin this good night.”
Peony chuckled. “Good, because such a blatant lack of trust might hurt my feelings.”
He said nothing, just stared down at her with an unreadable expression. Her smile dimmed as she realized that he wasn't playing around. He was actually serious.
Before she could figure out what to say, he took her face gently in hand and lowered his lips over hers, kissing her sweetly. Her hands moved down to his shoulders, giving her something to grab to lift herself up to increase the pressure.
He kissed her until she forgot that she should be worried about that remark. Until she was gasping for breath as her body ached in anticipation of more. Until she forgot that she was in no way an equal for an alien king.
“Back to my room,” he whispered against her lips, pulling on her hips.
She didn't fight him as he pulled through the palace, up the slowly rotating stairs that brought them to their floor.
Like escalators, but they went up in a circle.
All the while, his eyes never left hers.
He kept their hands together as he moved back, not needing to look to navigate the familiar halls.
The strength of his gaze, the directness of it, kept her from looking away either.
“Peony,” he whispered her name as he brought her to the edge of his bed. “Are you mine?”
She was breathless when she replied, “You know I am.”
He made that sound again. That slightly disbelieving sound. Her head cocked.
“You don't believe me?”
“It seems rather impossible that you truly had no one else waiting for you. You don't need you to lie to me. I will accept the truth if you give it to me now.”
Peony smiled, but there wasn't any real mirth in the action. “I don't know how you're being both complimentary and insulting at the same time, but I'm not lying to you, Atem. There really is no one else. Do you have someone else?”
“I do not.”
“And I'm just supposed to believe you when you won't believe me?”
“I can prove it to you. I have no proof of your words.”
Peony frowned, pulling back from him. His expression was strange. Carefully blank. His eyes burning not with aggression or desire, but a strange hope. He didn't believe her, but he wanted to. Her frown eased as her head cocked, trying to read his emotions.
“You've got some trust issues, huh?” She asked quietly.
The moment the words left her lips, the insult faded from her mind.
Because this wasn't about her; it was about him.
These were his trust issues. She had no idea what brought them on, but she had seen similar things from people who had been cheated on or never appreciated enough or emotionally abused by their partners.
Things like that left scars and, often, those scars were turned on the next person who irritated them.
Atem didn't respond, but his jaw tightened. Chuckling, she ran her fingers down the hardened line to poke at his chin.
“Even if I did have someone, which I do not, there's a big chance I never see them again. And I'm clearly not heartbroken over it, so they obviously weren't that important to me.”