“Serves you right.”
Najar leans over and says something in Felix’s ear that I can’t hear.
My brother blushes and squirms in his seat in a way that suggests he likes whatever his boyfriend told him.
We all settle down, and Sasha plays the special Christmas episode Luna tells me they recently finished producing.
The show is campy and over-the-top in all the best ways possible. Luna actually does the voice of Jonesy’s character and is quite talented, giving the feline a snarky diva attitude that proves pretty hilarious at key moments. Najar plays the stoic “straight man” sidekick to Jonesy, and they complement eachother perfectly. I find myself laughing along with everyone and grinning from ear to ear. The crew of the Sleigh Belle are a whole lot of fun, and I’m happy to be joining their inner circle. I’m getting the sense that this group shares the kind of found-family bonds I’ve always dreamed of. With them, Felix and I might be able to have family we can rely on again besides only one another. It’s a beautiful thought that I hold close to my heart for now.
After the screening, Najar and Felix and Khephren and Sasha disappear awfully fast, leaving Luna and me behind. My pulse races and my heart thumps in my chest as I stare at her, unable to look away.
“How about you give me a tour of my quarters?” I suggest.
Luna’s hooded gaze turns sultry and full of promise. “I would love nothing better.”
In an anticipatory silence that practically crackles with sexual tension, she leads me down the corridor of the ship and back to the crew’s living quarters. Could I retrace my steps anytime soon? Hell no. I’m too focused on her the entire time.
When we arrive outside my room, she gestures a tentacle toward the door to the right. “My room’s right next door. In case you need anything. And I mean anything.”
I lick my lips. “Did you plan it that way?”
She grins. “Of course. I’m no fool.”
I struggle to concentrate as she shows me how to use the digital keypad beside the door. My brain is mostly pondering whether she wants to get naked with me tonight.
Please, Santa, let her want to get naked and naughty with me tonight!
The pressurized door to my quarters unlocks and opens with a whooshing noise, and we both step inside. Luna taps a panel on the wall, and the door closes firmly behind us.
I’m breathing hard now, even though I haven’t done anything remotely strenuous enough to warrant it. Well, maybe restraining my lust does in fact count…
Luna eyes me intensely, her tentacles twitching at her sides almost as if they want to touch me but aren’t sure if they can.
“I want to kiss you,” she growls.
“Yes, please,” I say, falling into her arms and pressing every inch of myself against her firm, toned physique.
When our lips meet, it sends a zing throughout my entire body. Her tongue sweeps inside and I moan, devouring her mouth with equal gusto. Luna tastes vaguely of candy canes and all my deepest, most secret dreams. A fluttering sensation fills my chest and makes me tingle with awareness all over. This euphoria feels a whole hell of a lot like love, not simply lust, but I’m not ready to face that possibility quite yet. I don’t want to jinx things.
I don’t know how long we stay kissing one another until we both have to come up for air, panting heavily.
“Okay, so our chemistry wasn’t a fluke,” I manage to say shakily.
Luna’s tentacles tremble, and she brushes her fingers against her lips. “Yeah, I think we’ve proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.” She moves closer again. “Can I touch you with my tentacles?”
Her voice is hopeful, but her expression remains uncertain.
“Yes,” I reply hoarsely. “I want to feel all of you.”
She pulls me into her embrace again, and I wrap my arms around her neck while she runs her hands through my hair with reverence. One of her tentacles moves to the bottom hem of my shirt and then slips underneath, going straight for my breasts.
“Ahhh!” I cry out into Luna’s mouth as her tentacle cups my left breast and then curls around it, squeezing and massaging in a manner that pings all my buttons.
A rush of liquid heat pools between my legs, and I can’t hold back a whimper of need.
“Fuck, you feel good, Gemma,” Luna says, nuzzling my ear and trailing kisses down the side of my sensitive neck.
I gasp and shudder. “I gotta be real honest right now. I don’t think I’m going to be able to stand much longer.”
