Chapter 7
Alanna
The girls giggled around her as they helped her dress.
For her date. She had a date with her mate. Didn't want to be late. Couldn’t wait. And other words that rhymed.
He was going to be here soon to take her to a private dinner in one of the smaller meeting rooms. There wasn’t an abundance of date spots on the Jutiron Stor.
The city sized ship had everything they needed to live comfortably for a long time, including recreation areas.
But the domini didn't really romance their mates in public and so, as a compromise, Alanna had suggested that they have a private dinner in a small meeting room. Still out, but away from prying eyes.
She couldn’t lie. She did want some private time with her mate. To get to know him. To explore what might happen between them.
Did he want to consummate tonight? She might be willing. She wouldn’t have with a human man, but there was a sense of freedom knowing that this was The One. Alanna was already quick to lower her inhibitions anyway, so this really was perfect for her.
No one would judge her for jumping her mate’s bones on the first date. No one would doubt their immediate and total need for each other. She didn’t have to worry about this ending or whether she needed to think about making it a long-term thing.
All those worries were already laid to rest.
This was the start of her happily ever after.
“I’m so happy for you!" Hattie declared, hugging her eagerly.
“Thanks,” Alanna smiled brightly as she returned the embrace. They were all excited for her because they all understood what this meant. Even Hattie, who didn't even have a mate yet – Alanna was sure that was going to happen sooner or later.
A gentle chime from the door alerted her to his arrival and all the girls squealed. Alanna joined them, nervously patting her hair as she twisted her hips for no other reason than to feel her skirts swish around her legs.
Alanna was never shy about wearing what she wanted, and now, as the sister of a planet ruler, she could give into her inner space princess completely.
For her date, she had gone all out. Her floor length A-line dress faded from white to yellow to pink in a way that made her think of a sunrise.
It was gathered at the bust and had an elaborately beaded belt around her waist. Sheer fabric, sparkling like the stars, covered the skirt, the bust. Elegant cape sleeves trailed to the floor.
Rough cut pink crystals decorated bright, rose gold jewelry that was draped over her body.
Her hair had been pulled back in a high tail; the rounded curls then decorated with crystal pins.
Domini style make up was thick and worn more like war paint.
She embraced that completely and had a strip of shimmering gold across her eyes, and pink and yellow, like a starburst, painted over her lips.
She loved it. It was strange and beautiful and so her.
The door slid open, revealing Survii, and she had the same thoughts again.
Survii, in contrast to before, wore tight clothing today.
A pair of tight, deep midnight blue pants were tucked into slate gray boots that brought her eyes not just to his thick, muscular thighs but also to the impressive bulge in his groin.
A bulge that was only emphasized by the thick belt that sat crooked on his waist, his hip pouch hanging on one end, silver chains on the other.
His shirt was just as tight, highlighting the broadness and definition of his chest. The sleeveless tunic style top revealed his strong, sculpted arms and she had the urge to grab his biceps and squeeze.
The tunic was silver, like starlight, and plunged from his neck, showcasing his pecs.
Perfect for a girl to rest her head on. He was also wearing jewelry, but his was silver – or maybe platinum, judging by the color – encrusted with shining, shimmering black opal.
His skin shared the same colors, the solid demarcations between them seeming not to bother him at all.
Pure decadence. He looked alien and exotic.
A funny thought considering that she was surrounded by aliens all the time.
But she was accustomed to the domini – with their three eyes, long tails, and sharply pointed ears that stretched nearly behind their heads.
But there was just something about Survii, the way he dressed and carried himself, that was different.
It was probably the hair. She wasn’t used to seeing any domini with curls.
Survii’s gently curled hair definitely messed with the smoothness of his camouflage, but the way it was pulled back on top but left to fall around his shoulders was so sexy.
She wanted to run her fingers through the waves to see if she could feel any product or if they were as soft as they looked.
And he’d probably let her. Eventually. They were mates after all.
“Hey, Survii,” she greeted, smiling.
He just stared at her. She grinned, swaying her hips a bit to let him enjoy the sight and to, once again, feel the skirt swish around her legs. It really was the little things in life that were the best.
She let him look his fill without interference. The heat of his gaze felt good. She was enjoying the sight he made as well, so she couldn’t begrudge him anything.
He seemed to realize what he was doing with a start and jerked his gaze back up to meet hers. She smiled peaceably.
“Ready to go?” She asked, eager to get this date started.
Wordlessly, he stepped aside, gesturing for her to leave the room. He didn’t even glance at the other girls.
Alanna briefly considered grabbing his hand but decided not to after a moment.
Hand holding was more meaningful for the domini than humans – it was a whole trust thing since holding hands meant that not only were you within striking range but also that you were allowing one of your own hands to be disabled.
They were mates, but it was still early in their relationship. Just because they knew they were going to be together didn’t mean that trust and love came so easily. She was excited about this, but she shouldn’t rush ahead.
This was something to savor, after all. Something good that she knew would turn out wonderfully, so there was no need to run straight to the end.
That was why she wasn’t bothered by the silence as they walked through the elegant but simple halls of the ship.
It was a far cry from the rustic, practically industrial, aesthetic of the vessel that had originally abducted her.
The Jutiron Stor was what she expected based on massive, futuristic spaceships she was used to seeing on TV and in movies.
Lovely, brightly lit, sleek, and modern.
It wasn’t all like this, of course. Rooms could be individualized, and there were certainly parts that were more comfortable than others.
But the quarters for all the high ranked people were impeccable. It really lent to Alanna’s space princess vibe as she followed Survii.
She had made the suggestion to have a date in a private location, but she left it up to him to choose what they would be eating. She wanted to see what he planned for her. She wasn’t going to be unhappy with his choices. The point was that he was trying and that’s all she cared about.
The door they came to was the same as any other. A blank, metal rectangle with a golden tinge. On a ship, they were all capable of sealing completely in case of hull breach, so they were bigger, bulkier than the ones back on Turv, but they hadn’t sacrificed form for function.
Survii unlocked the door by placing his two longest fingers on the control panel beside it and, immediately, they whooshed open.
Curious, Alanna stepped inside.
The room was completely dark. Shadows extending as far as she could see.
“A surprise?” She guessed, looking back as Survii followed her in.
The door shut behind them and they were encased in complete blackness. She grinned, her head turning this way and that. But with the door closed, there was absolutely no light at all.
Gently, almost hesitatingly, Survii’s hands came down on her shoulders from behind.
She felt his fingers curl into her skin as his nose pressed into her hair.
He took in a deep breath, savoring her scent as she leaned back, just a bit, into his strong torso and brought up one of her hands to cover his.
The long claws she knew could extend at will were fully retracted.
For a long minute, they said nothing as they just stood there, luxuriating in the heat and scent of each other while their sense of sight was gone.
Survii smelled like rich sandalwood and something soft but unmistakably floral. It was a scent that she wouldn’t call feminine or masculine, but it was addicting.
She stood there for a moment, losing herself in that scent. Completely losing track of everything else as her entire world narrowed down to only him.