"Please," I whispered, the word barely audible, a prayer and a plea all at once.
He pushed inside slowly, torturously, inch by inch, and I had to press my hand over my mouth to muffle my cry. He felt so good, filling me completely, stretching me perfectly. When he started to move, I thought I might die from trying to stay silent.
"Look at you," he breathed, his voice strained. "Taking me so well. So perfect. Made for me."
I dug my nails into his shoulders, biting down hard on my lip as he thrust deeper, harder. The angle was perfect, hitting that spot inside me that made stars burst behind my eyelids, pleasure radiating through every nerve, building and building until I thought I might shatter from the intensity of it.
"Cristox," I whimpered, my body trembling, teetering on the edge. "I can't—I'm going to—"
"I know, sweetheart. I've got you. Let go for me." His hand slipped between us, fingers finding my clit, and I shattered.
I buried my face in his neck, muffling my cries against his skin as waves of pleasure crashed over me, drowning me in sensation, pulling me under into blissful oblivion. He followed moments later, his own release shuddering through him as hepressed his mouth to my shoulder to stay quiet, his groan vibrating against my skin, his body pulsing inside mine.
We lay there afterward, tangled together and breathing hard, our hearts racing in tandem. After a moment, he started to laugh.
"What?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath, my body still tingling with aftershocks of pleasure.
"In the new house," he said, grinning down at me with that mischievous look I'd come to love, "our bedroom is downstairs. Teddy's will be upstairs."
I blinked at him, my pleasure-fogged brain trying to process the implications. "So?"
"So you can make all the noise you want." His grin turned absolutely filthy, which sent heat rushing through my already satisfied body. "And I plan to make you scream, Ruby. Every single night."
Desire flooded through me again despite having just come, my body already responding to the promise in his words, desire already stirring anew. "That's very presumptuous of you."
"Is it?" He rolled his hips, still inside me, and I gasped. "Because I think you like that idea."
"I love you," I said instead of answering, pulling him down for another kiss, soft and deep and filled with everything I couldn't put into words.
"I love you too," he murmured against my lips, his voice tender now, all teasing set aside. "Both of you. My whole world."
Epilogue
Cristox
I stood near the entrance of Space Pearls, my chest swelling with pride as I watched Ruby move gracefully between tables, her smile radiant as she greeted guests. My tail twitched with pleasure at the sight of her in her element. The restaurant was packed—standing room only—and the air hummed with excited chatter and the clinking of glasses. Warm light spilled from the fixtures overhead, casting everything in a golden glow that made the polished tables gleam.
Space Pearls was everything Ruby had dreamed of and more. The interior was elegant yet welcoming, with plush seating in deep burgundy and cream, and decorative touches that spoke to Earth's culture. Framed vintage photographs, delicate ceramic vases with fresh flowers, and soft textiles that invited guests to linger and lose themselves in conversation. Thanks to Buck and Lula's farm, the meat and produce were fresh—something everyone could tell by scent and taste. The aroma alone was intoxicating: roasted herbs, caramelized vegetables, perfectly seared meats that made mouths water from across the room.
Almost half of the new arrivals from Theta-9 found work here, either in the kitchen, serving, or helping with day-to-dayoperations. Ruby had given them purpose, community, and a place to belong.
My jaw tightened slightly as I thought of that temperamental Framaddi chef, Kokki. Talented, yes—the little bastard could work magic with spices—but he had an attitude that grated on my last nerve. I'd walked into the kitchen one day to find him berating Ruby over some minor issue with a vegetable shipment, his voice shrill and his gestures wild, his short blue arms flailing dramatically as he questioned her judgment.
That had been a mistake.
I'd made it crystal clear, in terms even a hot-headed Framaddi couldn't misunderstand, that Ruby was not to be spoken to that way. Ever. I'd backed him into the walk-in cooler, and explained in excruciating detail what would happen if he ever disrespected my mate again. Kokki had gone pale—well, as pale as his blue-tinted skin could manage—stammered an apology, and hadn't raised his voice since. Problem solved.
The whole village had turned out for the opening. I recognized faces from every corner of our community, all dressed in their finest, all eager to celebrate with my mate. I caught sight of Buck raising a glass toward Ruby, Lula beaming beside him, her round face creased with genuine joy.
I adjusted my peacekeeper's uniform, the familiar weight of the badge grounding me. The dark fabric was crisp, the insignia polished to a mirror shine. I was off duty tonight, here only as Ruby's mate and biggest supporter, but I knew what the uniform represented. Safety. Order. Protection. I'd caught more than a few grateful glances from the villagers, their shoulders relaxing when they saw me, their conversations flowing more freely knowing Tau Ceti was safe again.
Chef Pearl had flown in for the opening with her Vaktaire mate Jutuk and their baby son Titus. Pearl hadbeen instrumental in helping Ruby refine her vision for the restaurant, spending hours on comm discussing menu design, kitchen workflow, and the delicate balance of serving both human and alien palates. Her presence tonight meant the world to Ruby.
My cousin Tarrick was here too, with his mate Isabella, who currently occupied the small stage up front, her voice ringing out in dulcet tones that wrapped around the room like silk. I would've made fun of my cousin for the completely besotted expression on his face as he watched his mate, but I knew my own expression mirrored his every time I gazed at Ruby.
While Pearl disappeared into the kitchen to oversee operations and ensure everything met her exacting standards, I found myself standing with Jutuk near one of the tall windows overlooking the village square. He cradled little Titus against his chest, the baby fast asleep despite the noise and celebration around us. The kid was a perfect blend of his parents—human features softened by Jutuk's golden pelt, and those striking blue-gold eyes that marked him as part Vaktaire. Even sleeping, his tiny fingers clutched at his father's shirt with surprising strength.
"He's going to be a big boy," I observed, watching the gentle rise and fall of the infant's chest. My own son was in the back with Mei and Bartholomeus's kids in the makeshift playroom Ruby set up, complete with enough toys to occupy a small army.
