Chapter 46
Survii
Humans were odd.
Alanna clearly did not want the small, weak chinned human male at their reception, but she wouldn’t allow him to be ejected. Not even quietly through security so that the others in the party didn’t notice.
Hattie clearly did not want to be dancing or talking to him either, yet she was doing both. Whispering furtively to him, but he just shrugged, careless and unconcerned about her disquiet. Both of them completely oblivious to Tuvo’s distant hovering.
Survii was willing to remove him anyway, just because both females would have preferred it even though they were too sweet to ask for it, but Alanna distracted him.
The song changed again, but this time it was faster, the melody more upbeat. The people dancing let out a whoop of excitement.
And all of their movements immediately changed.
Survii had thought the waltzing was typical human dancing. But no, that was just formal human dancing. This casual movement of bodies was obviously more common.
And so blatantly sexual, for a moment, he couldn’t even breathe.
Humans already were such a sensuous and seductive species. Females and males alike were so adorable and feminine. That was reflected in their bodies and the seemingly thoughtless grace of their movements. Even just walking made their hips move.
But dancing exaggerated that movement to the extreme.
Alanna let out a whoop of excitement, her arms going up, her hips immediately rocking and turning as her body twisted in the air. The smile lit her up from the inside as the joy made her body come alive and respond to the beat.
His cock was hard and aching in his pants. He wasn’t supposed to sneak away with her? Even when she moved like that? Was the human reception actually some kind of trial to make him earn this night when he would mate her?
Survii quickly found himself getting swept up in her energy. He looked to the males dancing to figure out how they moved and very quickly realized that the male’s job as the females danced was to be a support for them. To admire them. To assist them.
He was only too happy to oblige as he moved with Alanna. He enjoyed the vision of his white clad bride as she moved her body against his in a delightful facsimile of fucking. Not obvious enough to be lewd, but just hinting and teasing at what could be.
And that wasn’t the end of his surprises for the sheer sexuality of humans.
Sometime later, after they had been dancing and chatting for a while, it was declared that it was now time to cut the wedding cake.
The massive, tiered, wheat based sweet had been standing in a tower over a buffet of small, delicate finger foods that had been put out for their enjoyment even after the main meal.
Apparently, the cutting of the cake was traditional.
He was given a knife and instructed to hold it with Alanna as everyone watched them slice into the bottom of the massive structure.
Why? He did not know, but everyone cheered for the accomplishment.
He had to assume, since no one could tell him why they had done it, that the purpose was to remind them that they needed to work together to provide for each other equally during their mating.
And then, they had to take the two pieces that they carved out and feed it to each other.
Just like the gorging during the claim – though on a much smaller scale.
He was only feeding her a single bite instead of making sure she got full off the entire cake, but it was similar enough to, once again, let him feel that shadow of a reminder of the real thing.
He fed his mate from his own hands, then accepted a bite of the overly sweet, awfully chewy confection from her in return.
He could appreciate human alcohol, and even human coffee – to an extent – but bread was something he simply could not stomach.
They made him, and the other domini, nauseated every time they tried it.
But for Alanna, he could tolerate that single bite – though it sat heavy and uncomfortable in his gut long after a professional came forward to continue cutting the cake.
They also cut off the highest tier and took it away to preserve.
Apparently, he and Alanna were supposed to keep that and eat it at the first anniversary of the ceremony.
He was already not looking forward to that.
Though, he would enjoy, once again, seeing Alanna’s face as she ate her favorite cake flavor a year from now.
She was fully lost in the flavor as she ate it off the tiny tines of her small fork with a huge smile on her face.
He hadn’t even bothered to accept a slice, he only watched as she enjoyed hers, getting his satisfaction out of that alone.
Then, after that, came the garter belt.
Survii understood what garter belts were. Such things were in fashion on certain planets – he was even certain he had some for himself somewhere in his collection from said planets. But on Earth, apparently, they were considered undergarments.
And there was a point during the festivities, as the alcohol made everyone just a bit intoxicated, that it was declared it was time for him to remove the garter.
Giggling, once again, Alanna’s bridesmaids swept her away and he was pushed towards his groomsmales.
“What’s happening now?” Tuvo asked as the dance floor was cleared. Everyone was suddenly giving him lascivious grins.
“A garter belt removal?” Survii said, confused, as a chair was produced and set in the middle of the floor. Everyone cheered just for that.
“I feel like we were deliberately not told about this,” Atem said, arms crossed, confused.
Across the dance floor, Peony saw them. She laughed, said something to the others, then rushed across the space.
“You ready?” She asked Survii, beaming.
“Any time. But for what?”
She giggled and the sound was full of wicked amusement. “Okay, so the garter belt removal is traditional and fun and scandalous. So, Alanna is wearing a garter on one of her thighs. Your job is to remove it, without letting anyone see under her skirt, with your teeth.”
Survii stilled and he felt the others behind him do the same.
Peony snickered. “And then, you have to toss the garter to the bachelors. The unmated males.”
Survii growled. “Garters are undergarments among your people, are they not? Why would I give my mate’s undergarments to any male, mated or not?”
Peony threw back her head, laughing. “It’s not like that. It’s only touched her thigh.”
“I don’t like it.”
“And it’s for luck. You toss the garter to the unmated males as a wish that they will be able to find their mates soon. Or, at least, so the one who catches it might.”
Survii frowned, some of his anger faded, but not fully dissipating. “I thought humans were not open to public displays such as this.”
“Your head goes under her skirt, but all you’re going for is the garter. It’s quick and simple. And it’s for the guys. Afterwards, Alanna is going to toss her bouquet to the unmated females, for the same reason. It’s an important part of the ceremony.”
Survii sighed. “I’ve never understood the fascination other species’ have with the concept of fortune and luck. It’s ridiculous. If they want their own mates, they should go find them, not take our things from us as if that will help them somehow.”
Peony’s grin faded and she cocked her head. “Do you really not want to do this? I mean, it’s traditional, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine. We’re not trying to make you do something that makes you uncomfortable. We just thought it would be funny to surprise you.”
Survii shook his head. “No. I’ll do it. But all they get from my mate is the garter. Nothing else?”
“No. Her panties remain hers.”
“No.” Survii smirked. “Her panties are mine.”
Peony’s entire face flushed in surprise before she turned and jogged back across the floor to where the other females were waiting. No doubt making sure that Survii was all right with this.
Growling, he loosened his tie and yanked it away. Pulling at the buttons of his shirt as he kept eye contact with Alanna.
She shivered, still staring at him as she was pushed forward and put in her seat.
The music came back on. This time, it was slow and sensual. Overtly sexual. The crowd made long, low sounds of appreciation and encouragement.
Survii stalked forward. Tail lashing. All three eyes on his mate.