Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Fiona
I shepherd my two alien husbands to the bar, then shoot off a text message to Amara and Marguerite to let them know we’re here. The bartender approaches us with her eyebrows raised.
“Haven’t gotten to serve an alien yet,” she remarks, leaning forward over the bar toward Shathar. “What would you like to drink?”
Shathar gives me a pleading look at this question, so I quickly hop in.
“Three vodka cranberries,” I say, deciding on something we might all like. The juice is strong, so hopefully the flavor of the alcohol isn’t overwhelming for first-timers.
The bartender winks. “Coming right up.”
Khesan observes everything around us like a bodyguard, while Shathar focuses on what the bartender is doing. When our drinks arrive a few moments later, I quickly pass over my credit card and keep the tab open. Who knows how tonight will go?
I get a text from Marguerite saying she’s already found a table, so I gesture for Khesan and Shathar to follow. Eventually, we come across where Marguerite has planted herself, along with Amara and Roth’kar.
“Hey!” Amara claps as we find seats across from her. “You made it. You three sure look good.”
“I’ve got excellent arm candy,” I say.
“What is this arm candy?” asks Shathar, leaning closer. “Candy shaped like arms?”
I snort. “Just means the two of you are hot.”
Khesan cocks his head. “My temperature feels normal.”
Amara bursts out into a laugh, and even Roth’kar smiles. It wasn’t long ago that he was brand new to Earth slang, too.
On my left, Shathar sips his drink enthusiastically. “This is delicious.”
“Don’t drink it too fast,” I caution him. “It tastes good, which is what makes it dangerous.”
Marguerite crosses her arms, and I think the interrogation is coming. I should have warned Khesan and Shathar about Marguerite, but I didn’t remember. Now it’s too late.
“So,” she says, glancing between them with a fierce look in her eye, “which of you is going to win?”
I gape at her. What kind of question is that to start with?
Khesan answers immediately. “I will. Fiona is my fated mate, as destined by the gods.”
It’s about the answer I would expect from him. But Shathar simply scoffs.
“What?” asks Marguerite, her gaze focusing on Shathar. “You disagree?”
“I will not fight this fight again,” he says instead of answering. “When the time comes, Fiona will make the decision that feels right to her, and I’ll abide by it.”
By the look on Marguerite’s face, this might have been the right thing to say.
But Khesan has not gotten the message, and claps a hand over his chest. “I am happy to fight for Fiona’s heart. I will do anything for it.”
Marguerite arches a brow. “Anything?”
He nods fervently. “Anything she asked.”
“What if she asked you to go home?”
He freezes, and I massage my temples. Really coming out of the gate with the hard questions.
“I suppose… if she asked me to go, I would.” Khesan deflates at the idea, and I put a hand on his shoulder. “But it would be a great blow.”
“Hmm,” says Marguerite as I hastily drink more of my drink. I want to get away from this awkward conversation. “What would happen if you had to go home, Shathar?”
“It would rend my heart in half.” He dips his head. “To live the rest of my life without my fated mate.”
Marguerite crosses her arms. “But one of you must go home at the end. At least, on Earth, a person can only be married to one other person. That’s the law.”
I’ve been trying my hardest not to think about this, and I glare at her for bringing it up again.
“All right, I think that’s enough,” I say, slapping my empty cup down on the table.
I don’t want to spend any more time mulling over the decision I’ll eventually have to make.
Just have fun and get to know them, I tell myself, taking Khesan’s hand, and then Shathar’s. “Should we go out there and dance?”
Khesan nods. “I am amenable to dancing. Though all I know are Arshurian dances.”
“That’s fine.” I hop out of my chair and tug both my husbands along toward the dance floor. Amara and Roth’kar are quick to follow, and Marguerite finally brings up the rear as we descend into the throng.
I did not realize exactly what an Arshurian dance entailed until we are surrounded by other people, and they start doing it.
I can’t quite put it in words, this dance.
They both move their bodies wildly, stretching their arms out and then spinning before putting them down again.
It’s more like a series of fast yoga poses than a dance, and it’s so bizarre that I want to cover my face and back away.
It’s not long before the other dancers notice two aliens among them, and make room, giving them the floor.
Now Khesan and Shathar speed up their eccentric dance, moving with the frantic beat of the music. Everyone is frozen, all of us humans watching in disbelief but entranced nonetheless. It is, perhaps, the most alien thing they’ve done since arriving on Earth.
“What the fuck?” whispers Marguerite as she watches them spinning in wild circles.
I shrug helplessly as they eat up the dance floor. I suppose I did ask for it.
Finally, the song ends, and many of the humans standing around awkwardly clap. Shathar and Khesan snap their claws at one another, then they return to my side, both of them looking mighty pleased with themselves.
“It is a pleasure to dance again,” says Shathar. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
“Um, you’re welcome?”
“Did you like it?” asks Khesan, curling an arm around me. “It is a mating dance. To show you I am a worthy mate.”
I swallow. So that’s what it was.
“Heh, well…” I’m not sure what to say. “It was very, um, sweet of you.”
When the next song starts, I lead them off the dance floor to obtain more drinks. I’m not sure I can handle another Arshurian dance number.
We sit with Amara, Roth’kar, and Marguerite once more, and Roth’kar has lots of questions for Khesan and Shathar about where they come from. I think everyone can agree that maybe dancing isn’t for us.
After some time, I can see the alcohol having an effect. Shathar laughs more, which makes me laugh, too. Khesan has an immense amount to say about the planet Arshur, and it’s clear he has a lot of affection for his former home. I love seeing them like this, talking together without arguing.
As it gets late and the drinks flow, Roth’kar can’t take his eyes off his wife, and I think he would be undressing her right now if he could. I suppose it’s about time for us to go, too. I don’t want Shathar and Khesan drinking too much their first time out and getting sick.
When I get to my feet, the two of them hurry to follow. We say goodbye to everyone at the table, then I call up a car while we head to the exit.
Out on the street, we all take a deep breath of fresh air, even though it’s frigid out. When I start shivering, Shathar curls an arm around me. Khesan, too, comes in closer to keep the breeze off of me. For a moment, everything feels right with the two of them at my side.
When we finally get back home, Khesan is nearly dead on his feet.
“This alcohol is quite strong,” he mumbles, slightly slurring.
I take his arm in mine and guide him up the stairs to his room, where he pushes the door open and stumbles inside.
I bring him a fresh glass of water, but by the time I’ve returned with it, he’s lying on the bed in his clothes, fast asleep.
After turning off his light and closing the door, I head back downstairs. Shathar is still in the kitchen, guzzling water like I told him. He grins widely when I appear and extends his hand to me. I take it in mine, and he draws me in against him until both his arms are around me.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmurs, peering down into my eyes. “It was a joy to spend the evening with you and meeting your friends.”
The sincerity in his gaze makes my knees wobble. Shathar looked so good tonight in his new clothes, even when he was dancing like a possessed puppet, that I find myself wanting to see him without them. What does an Arshurian look like under there?
Shathar tilts his head down to mine, and I’m quick to rise onto my tiptoes to kiss him. It’s exactly what I needed, tasting his lips again, and his hands slide down my body, roaming over my hips to my ass, where he squeezes and groans against my mouth.
“Fiona,” he manages between kisses. “Would you like to come downstairs with me?”
Oh. Oh. Instantly, my body is awake. I think he’s propositioning me. Which I would absolutely accept if we weren’t both drunk as skunks.
“I would,” I begin, “but I don’t know if I should. Can we revisit it tomorrow when we’re sober?”
Shathar’s smile falls, but he nods anyway.
“I understand.” He kisses me once more, fiercely this time, and I fall completely into it. This time, his clawed fingers find their way to my breasts, and he explores them hungrily. But after a while, we both pull away, panting.
“Tomorrow,” Shathar says firmly, and I nod in agreement. With that assurance, he lets me go.
“Goodnight.” I squeeze his hand in mine.
“Goodnight, Fiona.”
With that, he retreats to the stairs and closes the door behind him. I’m disappointed not to go down with him tonight, but it’s for the best.
When I finally make it back to my room, I barely get my clothes off and into bed before I’m fast asleep.
The next morning, I’m awoken by a loud noise. When I squint, I can just make it out—Khesan and Shathar’s voices, raised and angry. They’re arguing about something.
Great.
I drag myself out of bed, my head aching a little, but nothing serious. I throw on some sweats and jog down the stairs to find out what’s going on.
Entering the kitchen, I smell bacon. There are plates of bacon, eggs, and toast on the table, but Shathar and Khesan are paying no attention as they shout at each other.
“You are a liar!” Khesan snarls. “I wish you would simply admit it.”
“You are the liar,” snaps Shathar. “I have the nalopo. She is my fated one.”
I groan in annoyance. I thought we’d gotten past this, but I suppose not.
“What the hell, guys?” I ask miserably as I sit down at the table. Both of them spin toward me at the sound of my voice. “Can’t you get along for one day?”
“I’m sorry,” says Shathar, exhaling deeply. “But I simply can’t tolerate his deception anymore.”
Khesan’s fans rise even higher on his head. “You mean your deception. You do not have the nalopo.”
“Stop it!” I shout. Both of them freeze, and I take a deep breath. “There’s an easy way to solve this. Why don’t you both show me?”
Khesan’s mouth falls open. Shathar, though, looks as though I’ve discovered the secret of the universe.
“Yes,” he says, turning back to Khesan. “She’s right. It is simple to prove who is telling the truth.”
I get to my feet and stand between them.
“Pull them out,” I say in a commanding voice, “and let’s see.”