“Jingle Bells” plays over the ship’s comm system as part of the nonstop Christmas music playlist Kheph and I put together. Kheph hums along as he navigates the ship in preparation for landing.
“Felix still doesn’t know we’re returning early, right?” I ask.
Sasha, who’s lounging sprawled out on a cushioned bench, snorts. “Nope. He’s oblivious to everything but Najar right now.”
“And Najar is super skilled at keeping a secret when necessary,” Kheph adds cheerfully.
My tentacles twitch. Gemma knows we’re coming back today so we can all spend Christmas together tomorrow. But beyond that, I have no idea what’s going to happen.
“It’s time,” Kheph announces, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Let’s get this party started, babe,” Sasha agrees.
Kheph cuts the music and uses the PA function on our comm system. “Attention, crew. Ho, ho, ho, and Merry Christmas Eve to you all. Tonight, we have a very special surprise in store for our very own Felix Taylor. Felix, please report to the bridge ASAP.”
A few minutes later, the elevator doors to the ship’s bridge open, and Najar and Felix step out arm in arm. In his free arm, Felix cradles their new pet, an adorable blue-haired little foxhound. Felix rescued the poor abandoned creature when he found it scavenging for food on the last space station we visited.
Kheph beams at them. “Good, you’re here. Strap in. We’re going to be landing momentarily.”
Najar studies the ceiling in a poor attempt to convey his lack of awareness about this whole situation.
I roll my eyes at him, and he scowls.
Felix frowns, still looking confused. “Landing where? I didn’t think we had any stops on our route back to Earth.”
Khephren waves a finger and a tentacle in admonishment. “Uh-uh. That’s part of The Surprise. You’ll see very soon. Have some patience.”
In minutes, we’re on solid ground again, and I’m sweating bullets. I practically catapult out of my seat and head to our cargo hold, adjusting my fun and festive Santa hat on my head on the way.
Kheph follows and activates the ship’s ramp, then Najar takes the lead and guides Felix out into the cold desert night air, the rest of us trailing behind them.
Felix glances around in clear bewilderment. “Uh… wait. Are we back on Earth?” He frowns. “I thought we weren’t arriving until closer to New Year’s. What’s going on?”
We’re lucky he still doesn’t know how to read the ship’s navigation system or else he would have figured out our secret plan already. No doubt Naj has been keeping Felix a bit… preoccupied. In bed.
Kheph and I high-tentacle one another. Mission accomplished!
“Fuck, it’s cold out here,” Sasha grumbles.
He’s wearing a bright green and red Grinch T-shirt, one of many in the Christmas apparel collection Kheph bought him, and being his usual slightly surly self. Kheph softens him a whole hell of a lot—and it’s so fun to watch. To be fair though, there are few who can resist Kheph’s sweet nature and happy-go-lucky personality. It’s his superpower, for sure.
“I’ll warm you up, my love,” Kheph offers, wrapping Sasha in his arms and several of his tentacles.
Dear Goddess Thekmis, I want to do the same to Gemma.
Felix stares off into the distance and squints. “Wait, what is that?”
We all turn in that direction in time to see, in the distance, a pair of headlights coming ever closer.
My hearts pound double-time and the butterflies in my stomach go wild.
The automobile comes to a stop a short distance away from us, and the lights go off. Then the driver’s door opens and out steps a vision, the one woman I’ve been dreaming about every night for the past three weeks. Her curly auburn hair cascades over her shoulders, and I hope I’m not drooling as I take in her stunning figure. Green leggings cling to her thick thighs and sweetly rounded hips, while a snug fuzzy white sweater showcases Gemma’s prodigious bosom. But it’s the enormous smile on her face that turns her from beautiful to utterly stunning.
Oh fuck.
I am seriously in trouble. The tips of my tentacles are tingling and every cell in my body screams at me to take Gemma into my arms and make her mine. At the same time, I’m somehow rooted to the spot, entranced and barely able to breathe.
Kheph moves closer and whispers, “Love at first sight? Well, at first in-person sight?”
