Chapter 37
Atem
Preparations for the Hortii Kristivar were well underway.
It had taken Atem longer than he anticipated to finish his work this morning for the Coalition.
The datawork was boring, mind numbing, but still vital for the domini's part involved in the greater universe.
Afterwards, he finally got out to the arena to check on the festival preparations.
And now, he was a bit late in returning to Peony.
He had already sent a message asking Temnavi to bring her out so he could put her in his hover immediately.
Once again, he was left thinking how much more free time he could have if he just trusted his Firsts.
Technically, all the festival prep he was overseeing were Havali’s tasks.
In accordance with the first date traditions of Peony’s people, they had to share a meal. It seemed rather a small thing, but she insisted it was an important part of the dating process. The rest, she said, could be whatever they wanted.
Well, since she wanted to eat with him, he had made a reservation at the most popular restaurant in the city.
It was likely unnecessary. He was Dominani, he could probably just walk in.
Therefore, he likely didn't have to worry about being late for the reservation.
That seemed rude and presumptuous though, and he didn't want to stress anyone for his convenience.
After they ate, he was going to take Peony to one of his favorite places in Calvitorum. It worked out well, because it was most beautiful at sunset.
As he was landing his hover, he was very nearly distracted from the simple, familiar task by the beauty that waited for him.
The breeze was playing with her skirt, molding it to her delicious legs.
The pattern, which would have exhausted his skin trying to maintain, made her look like a fantasy made real.
She beamed up at him as he left the hover running to rush back and open the door.
“Ah, vi Peony,” he moaned, holding out his hands for her to take so he could pull her up onto the hover and right into his arms. “I've truly made a mistake not being with you this morning to see you drape yourself in this.”
She chuckled, running her hands up his arms, appreciating the muscles that he flexed for her benefit, enjoying the heat that filled her eyes when he did so. “Kind of ruins the impact of seeing it for the first time if you watch me put it all on. Besides, you get to be there when I take it all off.”
His hands lowered, cupping her bottom and jerking her against his hardened cock.
“Come. You have plenty of time to tease me.”
She chuckled as he guided her to a seat before returning to the controls.
She was so beautiful. She had dressed up like that for him.
How was he such a fortunate male to have such a female?
There was the strange problem of her people having no proper mating rituals or instincts, but other than that, he wasn't actually seeing a difference between loving her and loving a female of his own species.
However, he still wanted to honor her expectations and culture. That was why he was so focused on making sure their outing was perfect.
This date would be everything she wished and, when they were done, he was going to ask her to be his mate.
The restaurant he was taking her to had been built right into the canopy itself.
The clear, domed ceiling was made of the same material as the hover roof, and vines from the trees nearby had been laid atop it and allowed to grow into a lattice that beautiful birds perched upon.
Gentle music floated through the air with the sweetly savory scents of cooking food.
But Atem could only focus on Peony as she walked at his side, her arm wrapped through his. The females were stunned by her fashion choices. The males were stunned by her appearance. They were all envious of him because of her.
He walked with his head high as an employee brought them to their table.