Chapter 52
Tuvo
The central dome of the moon base was the first, and currently only, part of the structure that was complete.
It still needed to be furnished and outfitted, but the doors and walls were all sealed.
Air had been pumped inside to prove it was airtight, and now it could provide a place for workers to go to relax or plan while building.
It was also, for today, the place where he and Hattie were going to become the first couple ever married on the human moon.
The females had sent him and the other males here early, with strict instructions on how they wanted the space decorated. Unlike Alanna’s wedding, which had been predominantly floral in style, Hattie had opted to fully lean into the space theme.
Overhead, a light display of the human galaxy was swirling and twinkling.
Tuvo stood beneath the glimmering lights of a tall arch, while the white draped chairs trailed their own lights.
The aisle that the females were walking down in their black bridesmaid dresses was lined the entire way with flickering combots.
Tuvo and the other males were wearing suits of a deep, galactic blue, trimmed in glittering gems and sparkling silver. Human style suits, since the females seemed to appreciate what the tight, slick lines did for their figure.
However, the females were all wearing domini style dresses.
They were black, with similar sparkling silver and gem décor, but they all wore them differently.
Peony had a two-piece dress, bearing her belly fully, while Holly’s covered her from the neck down with billowing, sheer bell sleeves.
Scarlet’s was a flowing romper pantsuit with a sheer cape, while Alanna wore a short dress, tight around her body, with a fluttering, longer, sheer skirt.
They were all beautiful. Each female smiling at her mate as she took her place on the other side of the arch carrying crystal flowers in the shape of Earth roses.
None of them could compare to Hattie.
The screen that had been hiding her from him pulled away, revealing his female in all her glory. She had chosen a domini style dress as well.
White, as was traditional for human mating dresses.
It shimmered and shined with each step she took towards him, evoking the sense of crystal and fractals, along with the blue crystal roses that sparkled in her hands.
The deep, wide neckline gave him an unencumbered view of her glorious breasts, while sheer, sparkling sleeves hung wide and loose from the straps that came off her shoulders.
The bodice of the dress was tight, but the skirt flared around her legs.
A long slit up the front gave him flashes of her thick, scrumptious thigh with each step.
She wasn’t wearing proper shoes, but glittering stones on a silver chain wrapped from her ankle to her cute little toes.
She was beautiful. Untouchable.
All his.
He was so focused on her, he barely even noticed her father guiding her down the aisle – another ancient human tradition.
The two of them reached the arch and her father kissed her cheek before taking Tuvo’s hand and placing hers inside it. Just as he had sought his permission to claim Hattie, he was now giving her over to him.
Tuvo pulled her in close and kissed her. Prompting laughter from the human guests. Hattie smiled when he pulled back.
“You’re supposed to wait until we’re actually married.”
“I’m never going to deny myself the chance to kiss you,” he assured her. He knew he said the right thing when she smiled, her face pink.
First Healer Donivi – who was acting as their officiant – smiled between them before starting in on his speech.
Tuvo tried to pay attention. He really did.
But how could a boring male’s words hold his attention when he compared them to his female?
To the sweep of her dark lashes over her wide, sparkling eyes.
The curve of her plump lips as she smiled at him.
The sparkle and shine of her dress, enhancing the glow of her skin.
His stunning female, leaving him struck dumb just with just a look. She held him trapped in her eyes so completely he didn’t hear Donivi ask him to swear by his human vows. Not until Atem cleared his throat, jabbing him in the back, returning him to the present.
“I do!” He announced, sincerely hoping that was the right time.
Hattie giggled, squeezing his hands reassuringly as Donivi repeated the lines to her.
“I do,” she agreed, her voice much softer, dreamier than his.
Happy. A feeling that he had brought her by giving her a meaningful, one-of-a-kind wedding. No other human would ever get to say they were the first to wed on the moon. His Hattie was the only one, and that was a gift he had given her.
Donivi declared them domini and wife and, before he had even finished and given him permission to do so, Tuvo was gathering her up and kissing her deeply.
Everyone cheered. They yelled. Hattie melted in his arms. When he lowered her back to her feet, she was looking at him, eyes sparkling, like he hung the stars in the sky.
From the dome of the Lunar Base, they climbed into the shuttle that would bring them back up to the Stor, everyone talking and laughing and celebrating around them. Alanna and Survii were already locking lips while Romival lovingly stroked Holly’s belly.
On the Stor, in one of the recreation rooms, they had everything prepared for a large party. A reception to celebrate their mating.
It had human traditions.
Tuvo and Hattie danced. They cut into a cake made with nut flour of Hattie’s own creation that tasted delicious.
He retrieved her garter from under her skirt, but all the other females were already mated.
So, when they tossed it, they declared that the person who caught it would be having the next pup – they couldn’t throw her bouquet on account of it being made of crystal.
Peony caught the garter. Atem asked if it was okay. He clearly wanted more pups, but he had been scared of asking for them after watching her give birth. She laughed and assured him that she didn’t want it to happen tomorrow, but she did want it to happen.
They also had domini traditions.
Tuvo and Atem shed their suit coats and had another fight. Not exactly the claiming fight, but it served to simulate it. The girls whooped and hollered, cheering them on in turn. Hattie and Peony unashamedly admired their bodies as they battled.
When the food came out, Tuvo gorged Hattie. He had her sitting on his lap, and they took turns feeding each other from the hand. They weren’t the only ones either. The other pairs were doing the same. All of them smiling, lost in their own world.
Tomorrow, the Jutiron Stor would be returning to Turv. The construction ship would be left alone to continue building the base. The ambassador team was going to be working on building their own orbital station, but they had their own ship to stay in while they did so.
But for them? Their job here was done.
It was time for their return to their usual duties. Take their females home where they could nest properly. Alanna and Survii were already talking about the places they were going to go. Scarlet and Havali had decided that they wanted to move, so they were going to be looking for new a home.
Tuvo was eager to bring Hattie to his own home. She had already given him a list of things that she wanted for their kitchen – including items she said that she was going to use to make her coffee. A drink that she already started making for him.
When it was black and straight from the beans, it was bitter.
But when she played with it, adding creams and sugars and sometimes various spices, it actually wasn’t bad.
He didn’t want to become addicted to it like his female, but the sheer joy on her face when she enjoyed the small cup that Scarlet allowed her while pregnant couldn’t be denied.
He could easily imagine enjoying a couple sips from her daily cup while eating the morning meal that she made for him before going off to complete his duties for the day. Their pup would be sleeping, but she would be up and ready to play when he returned later.
And it was the most perfect thing he could imagine.
He was genuinely looking forward to the future. Eager for those days.
Dancing with her in the human style, he kissed her gently.
“I love you, kyrya,” he said, holding her close.
She smiled. “I love you, Tuvy-bear.”
“You know, it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“How much the other females giggle when you call me that. Are you sure you aren’t lying to me about what a bear is?”
“Not at all,” she assured him, eyes wide and innocent.
He yanked her up against his chest while she laughed. “I don’t believe you. But I also love you too much to care.”
She giggled, clinging to him.