Luna:Take one guess.
Me:Khephren.
Luna:Bingo!
I can’t hold back a grin.
Me:He seems like a real character.
Luna:He is, but he’s also a loyal and honest friend—almost to a fault. Kheph’s also the one who lured me into the cult-like obsession with Christmas and human movies. I blame it all entirely on him.
Me:*laughing face emoji* I’m looking forward to meeting him in person too.
Luna:I can hardly wait! It won’t be much longer now.
Me:I know. Thanks again for giving me a heads-up about Felix and Najar. I’m going to think about all of this very seriously so I can decide what to do.
Luna:I’m here anytime you want to talk. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.
I swallow back a lump in my throat, fighting tears.
Me:That means a lot, thanks. I need to sign off for now, but let’s talk again soon.
Luna:*blowing kiss emoji* Take care of yourself, gorgeous, and don’t be a stranger.
I pocket my phone and mull over our conversation, including Luna’s impromptu job offer. After a good twenty minutes of contemplation, the beginnings of a plan are already forming in my mind.
Now I have to figure out how I’m going to pull it all off.
CHAPTER 6
Gemma:I want us to be transparent and real with each other. Let’s talk about our bodies.
Luna:Ooh! I think I like where this is going! Also, talk bluntly to me, baby. I fucking love it.
Gemma:*snort* Ahem. Good to know. First of all, I’m a full-figured woman. Not everyone I meet is down with that. But I’m healthy and happy just the way I am and refuse to participate in Diet Culture for anyone or anything. That shit is toxic.
Luna:Honey, I prefer luscious women with plenty of curves. It’s sexy as hell and the cuddling is so much better. Besides, I’d never ask you to change who you are.
Gemma:Excellent. Glad we got that out of the way. Now, what do I need to know about any potential physiological differences between your species and mine? Particularly anything that could prove relevant in the sexy times department.
Luna:My people are similar to humans on a lot of levels. However, we do have some unique differences that are—heh—out of this world. First and foremost, I have eight extra appendages to pleasure you with. Bow chika wow wow!
Gemma:I’m fanning myself right now. Do tell me more.
Luna:*waving tentacle emoji* Absolutely. Tentacles on female Dravethians do differ slightly from those on males. Ours are designed to vibrate for our mutual pleasure.
Gemma:Shut the front door.
Luna:That’s not the only part of me that vibrates either. *grinning face emoji* But you’ll have to wait to find out about that up close and personally.
—Sent via FLIRTT (Frequency Link for Interstellar Real-Time Transmission)
One day until Christmas…
Luna
When we enter Earth’s atmosphere again, I’m equal parts excited and scared shitless. I have no idea what Gemma’s going to do about the whole Najar and Felix situation. As I predicted, those two are now a permanent item, but there’s no way any of us can live on Earth safely. In contrast to some other species that can retract them into their bodies, our tentacles are extruding appendages at all times. Granted, there are some species who live incognito among Earthlings and can pass as human. Some even have hidden tentacles, like the Iyarans. My people could never pass, alas.
