Page 20 of All You Need is Alien Love (Tentacular Tales #4)

Thankfully, Grandma Iris comes to the rescue this time, getting to her feet and clinking her glass with a fork. “Ahem. If I can have everyone’s attention, please? Our lunch break will end in ten minutes. Please finish your meals and get ready for our next event!”

The second half of today’s ceremony is what has me the most nervous. I’ve been dreading what I have to share with everyone this time around.

In contrast, River is bright-eyed and raring to go, which I suppose makes sense since he’ll be in his milieu with this task.

I, on the other hand, can’t hold a candle to him when it comes to what’s ahead. But I have spent the last few weeks fine-tuning my contribution, and I can only hope that River appreciates all the hard work and personal humiliation I’ve undergone for him.

Who am I kidding? I’d do far more for him in a heartbeat. River’s worth it.

That puts the foolish grin back on my face.

Once the food and banquet tables are cleared away, our family and guests move to the far end of the hangar, where seats are set up in a wide circle around two chairs that face each other. That’s where River and I are going to have to sit.

I gulp.

We all take our places, and Grandma Iris, our MC for the day, steps between River and me, mic in hand.

“As I mentioned earlier, the first day of the Sanctioning Ceremony is known as the ‘languages of love’ trials. Earlier, you had the pleasure of witnessing the body language of love in the performances of our grooms. Now we shift gears to focus on the written language of love. It is customary for each partner to pen something romantic for their life mate. Some choose to write and sing a song. Others recite original poetry or tell a story of romantic triumph. Today, we will start with River’s composition first.”

My husband beams and grabs the mic from my grandmother.

“Thanks for that super amazing introduction, Nana Iris.”

My grandmother narrows her eyes at Nana , and he unabashedly flutters his eyelashes back at her.

Galactic gods, how I love this cheeky man.

River clears his throat and speaks into the mic. “Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for being here today to witness the tort—I mean trials of love and commitment Kai and I are navigating like we’re contestants on Ultimate Beastmaster .”

I grin at him. Now that’s one show I actually enjoy watching with him. It sparks the competitive streak in me.

River winks at me knowingly. “I want to dedicate my composition for this special occasion to my boo, Kai Genaro. He’s my soulmate, my sexy, tentacled, love master, and he’s also my number one fan.” He blows me a kiss. “This one’s for you, sugar-boo.”

He begins to read from his tablet and immediately I’m grinning from ear to ear.

Because of course River would write me a Vardox and Starblade story. He knows just how to make me swoon. River strikes a pose, pauses for dramatic effect, and then starts to read.

“What do you mean, you’ve kidnapped the galaxy’s most preeminent pastry chef?” Starblade demanded.

Lord Vardox prodded the diminutive Tonok in question, who was currently trussed up like a sacrificial offering. The hairy and pink little chef’s wide, fearful eyes looked ready to pop out of his head.

Perhaps abducting him while he slept was a tad inappropriate. But it was all for a greater purpose, so Vardox dismissed the faint flicker of concern.

“Darling, I heard today is what you Earthlings call a birthday .” Vardox couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement.

“Your species is so delightfully entertaining. Commemorating the occasion of one’s birth on an annual basis is highly illogical and ridiculously nostalgic.

” He shook his head. “But never fear. I am a worldly, intergalactic supervillain, and I’m more than willing to follow the customs of my sweet captain’s people on such a special occasion. ”

Starblade ran a hand over his face. “And what was the point of kidnapping this poor… individual?”

Vardox grinned, flashing his razor-sharp teeth and flicking out his forked tongue with obvious pleasure. “I thought you’d never ask, my sweet captain!” Vardox twirled a tentacle in the air with a flourish. “He’s here to make you an exquisite birthday cake.”

Starblade gaped at him.

Vardox smiled smugly. He’d thought of everything to make this day perfect. Wooing his sweet captain by celebrating this unusual human holiday could be quite ideal, and as soon as Vardox had learned of it, he jumped on the opportunity with alacrity.

Starblade hurried over to the trembling Tonok pastry chef and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m terribly sorry about this, but my—” he darted a glance at Vardox “—acquaintance appears to have gone a little bit overboard. I promise we won’t hurt you.”

Vardox scoffed. “Acquaintance? Oh, my dear captain, that’s not what you were calling me last night when I had my tentacle in your ? —”

Starblade lunged forward and covered his mouth with his hand. “Not one more word,” he growled.

Vardox couldn’t help but shiver in anticipation. He rather liked it when his captain tried to get bossy with him. He could be quite charming when he was like this. Vardox would be sure to reward him for that later with an exquisitely painful but pleasurable punishment.

Starblade untied Vardox’s captive and the diminutive furry pink chef studied them both with obvious uncertainty as he stepped back.

Vardox sighed, pulling a slim card out of his cloak pocket and handing it to the Tonok. “Never fear. You’ll be paid quite handsomely for your work today and then transported home again.”

The chef gave him a dubious look until Vardox added, “There are 50,000 cosmic credits on this card.”

At that, the little man leaped into the air and snatched the card out of Vardox’s hand. After he quickly scanned the card with a device on his wrist, he smiled to himself in satisfaction, and his attitude immediately changed.

He bowed. “My esteemed sir. Please show me the way to your ship’s kitchen, and we’ll discuss the type of cake you’d like me to make. I am entirely at your service.”

With eager strides, Vardox led him down the corridor of his ship and began to detail his vision for the extravagant cake. After all, his sweet captain deserved the very best and Vardox would make sure he got it.

Starblade trailed helplessly in their wake, unable to stop the space freight train that was Lord Loki Vardox.

While the chef began to work on the cake, Vardox stealthily procured some freshly made whipped cream and dragged his sweet Starblade back to his quarters. After all, they had at least two hours before the cake would be complete, and Vardox did not intend to waste such precious time.

With the greatest of ease, he picked up his delectable captain and tossed him on the enormous bed that dominated the center of the room.

Tentacles swaying in the air, Vardox prowled toward the sexy man sprawled on his bed, pulling off his clothing as he went until he stood proudly nude and aching with need in front of him.

Starblade studied him, his eyes drifting to Vardox’s erect cock.

He swallowed audibly.

Vardox sent one of his tentacles down to wrap around his erection, stroking himself, while the other took hold of Starblade and deftly ripped his clothing off until he was gloriously naked too.

“I believe it’s quite fitting that you wear only your ‘birthday suit’ today,” he said with an impertinent leer.

Starblade narrowed his eyes at him. “How do you know that expression?”

Vardox knew everything there was to know about his sweet captain, and he’d devoted considerable time to learning everything he could find about humans and their home world, as well.

He moved closer and knelt over Starblade. “That’s a secret you’ll have to work to earn.”

Starblade scowled.

Vardox grinned and grabbed the bowl of whipped cream in one hand, then he dipped a free tentacle into it, scooping up a glistening dollop.

“Now open your mouth like a good boy and let me feed you,” Vardox purred, a dark note of demand underlying his sweet tone.

Starblade’s cheeks flushed as the tentacle moved to his mouth.

For an instant, he resisted.

But Vardox had anticipated that.

When one of his other tentacles wrapped around Starblade’s erection, squeezing him tight, Starblade opened his mouth in a shout of pleasure and Vardox’s questing tentacle used the opportunity to shove cream into his mouth.

Starblade moaned.

Vardox dipped a clawed finger into the whipped cream and brought some to his lips, tasting the unfamiliar food substance. He found it far more enjoyable than he expected.

He sucked the cream off his finger while Starblade stared at him with a heated gaze.

Vardox licked his lips. “Mmm. I think I want to cover you in this cream and then lick all of it off of you.”

Starblade whimpered and his hips thrust into the air, clearly liking the idea.

Vardox leaned down and flicked his forked tongue in Starblade’s ear, making him shudder with need.

“I’m going to start with your nipples and then work all the way down your body until you’re writhing in need.

Then I’ll cover your cock in cream and suck it off you until you come so hard you can’t formulate words. ”

Starblade let out a high-pitched sound of need.

“Oh, yes. And then I’ll fuck you with my cock and one of my tentacles.” Vardox leered. “Happy birthday, darling.”

River stops and gives me a far too knowing look.

Damn and blast. At this moment, I want nothing more than to toss him over my shoulder and haul him off to a dark corner where I can have my wicked way with him.

The smirk on River’s face says he knows exactly what I’m thinking too.

I cross my legs to shield my erection. Galactic gods, but that was hot.

“I’ll share the rest with you on our honeymoon,” River promises with a sassy wink.

Then he directs his attention to the crowd.

“Now that I’ve got you all hot and bothered with no payoff, you can understand exactly how Kai and I are feeling right now since we can’t board the train to pound town for two more long and torturous days! ”

He pulls out a folded document from inside his jacket and opens it up before holding it aloft for all to see.

I can’t help it.

My laughter echoes loud and clear throughout the base as I struggle to catch my breath, wiping at tears.

The sign reads in large, glittery multicolored letters:

One day down, two more to go,

I’m so horny, I’m about to blow!

I know we can do this, and I don’t mean to brag,

But we’ve got this ceremony in the bag!

There’s no one in the universe who can hold a candle to River Sullivan.

And he’s all mine.