So, I’m choosing to trust in my instincts and throw my normal caution to the solar winds. Is it scary? Fuck yeah, it is. Does it have me angsting and overthinking things like I’vereverted to my former hormonal and emotional teenage self? Yep. But is it all worth it? You bet your sweet ass it is!
Accepting that truth is bringing me a newfound sense of peace and unwavering certainty. My course is set, my thrusters primed, and I’ll cross any and every galaxy to win Gemma’s heart.
When Gemma latches on to my arm and agrees to accompany me to the Spacewalk Skyway, I’m practically floating while we make our way there. No one’s ever made my whole universe spin the way she has. I can’t wait to see what will happen next when I’m with Gemma. Every moment is delightfully surprising while also making me swoon from the tips of my tentacles to all three of my hearts.
I genuinely don’t see myself ever getting bored—an issue that has been a problem for me with past lovers. Our banter is hot like fire and our deeper conversations are always stimulating. We keep one another on our toes—or tentacles.
I’ve been with women who simply wanted to have a fun fling with me. Women who preferred no-commitment, friends-with-benefits situations. And, a few times, women who wanted me to be their whole world—expecting me to take care of them and fulfill all their needs. However, I was never allowed to be vulnerable or in need of their emotional support. No shocker that those kinds of dynamics never worked out.
With Gemma, it’s completely different. She always meets me halfway as an equal.
I don’t want to let that go.
Fuck, I don’t want to lethergo.
It might sound a bit sappy, but with Gemma, I can see our future written in the stars and damn it’s beautiful. That’s why I’ll do everything in my power to win her love.
When we reach the Spacewalk Skyway, I’m pleased to see that it’s not overly crowded at this time of day. While it’s notempty by any means, at least we’re not crammed in like cargo crates on a shuttle run. At the threshold of entering the skyway, Gemma pauses under the archway, peers ahead, and gulps three times. I squeeze her arm.
“There’s no rush. Take your time. If you think this is too much, tell me. I’m sure there are other attractions we can visit that we’ll enjoy.”
Gemma turns her attention back to me and gives me a soft smile that makes my hearts do a little improvisational dance in my chest. “I appreciate your concern, but I don’t want to let fear hold me back from experiencing something as epically cool as this. I’m following a new path among the stars with all of you, and I need to go all in.” She quirks her lips. “Although let’s skip the super intense coaster rides. While my first one was certainly memorable, it’s not something I want to repeat anytime soon.”
I fight back a laugh but am secretly pleased that I was indeed correct in reading how she had felt about that experience. I try to be an attentive partner who pays attention to my lover. It’s probably the engineer in me that tends to be very detail oriented when it comes to how things work.
“I like how you think, beautiful. But we can leave if it gets to be too much, all you have to do is let me know. Sometimes, bravery is about baby steps, not cosmic leaps.”
She arches an eyebrow at me. “I appreciate that, but don’t forget that I’m a competitive bitch at my core and I rarely turn my back on a challenge.”
My tentacles give a giddy quiver. “So freaking hot.”
Gemma’s bright blue eyes twinkle with mischief and she grins at me. “Now that’s all settled, show me what’s so romantic about this Spacewalk thing.”
I offer her a courtly and rather exaggerated bow, which ends up a little awkward in my execution since Gemma’s still holding on to my arm like a mechanized vise.
“Your wish is my command, sweetheart.”
Guiding us into the skyway, I take things slow and keep a watchful eye on Gemma. In seconds, we’re walking on transparent, reinforced glass that hovers over part of the Rainbow Nebula.
Gemma stops for a moment and, breathing fast, stares down at her feet. “Holy fucking shit. This is like a bottomless boat on a whole other trippy intergalactic level.”
I’m not entirely sure what she’s talking about, but I roll with it. “Are you doing okay? Should we go back?”
She closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths. I’m relieved when I feel her pulse slow to a more relaxed rate. Gemma opens her eyes and smiles at me a little awkwardly. “Admittedly, I’m for sure freaking the fuck out, but I’m also in total awe and want to keep going. I may need to take it slow though, if that’s cool.”
My hearts swell in my chest as I stare at her, feeling so incredibly amazed by how badass my girlfriend is. Hell, I remember what it was like for me when Kheph, Naj, and I all left Draveth to travel aboard the Sleigh Belle. It was not a seamless and uncomplicated transition. There were some challenges along the way for all of us, and we had the added benefit of prior experience, having gone off world for short vacations with our families. Gemma hasn’t had anything like that, but she’s adapted to traveling the universe with us like a fucking pro—and I’m honestly in awe. Mad respect, as the Earthlings like to say.
In all seriousness though, I genuinely admire so many facets of this wonderful woman that I’m falling deeply in love with.
Sigh. Who am I kidding? It’s a done deal.
Galactic gods, I crash-landed in love like a motherfucking meteor, and I don’t think that would have happened with anyone except Gemma Taylor.
As we stroll along, we can’t tear our eyes away from the spectacular vista all around us. When we reach an area with acomfy lookout lounge, complete with several soft chairs and love seats, we snag one of the latter. Then we cuddle and gaze out at the colorful nebula gasses putting on a spectacular light display for us. They swirl and sparkle in a constant flow of undulating movement that’s extraordinary.
But no matter how compelling the view is, my eyes are drawn back to Gemma, and I watch the reflection of the nebula’s colorful lights dance across her face. At this moment, I’m utterly entranced by her beauty and can’t shake the conviction that this is no ordinary love and that Gemma’s in fact my celestial soulmate.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispers, her own gaze fixed on the Rainbow Nebula’s impressive performance.
