Page 25 of All You Need is Alien Love (Tentacular Tales #4)

I know my ensemble is going to drive Kai absolutely wild, just as I intended. Mwahahaha.

Channeling all the Lord Vardox vibes I possess, I strut out into the main hangar of the base with my cloak billowing around me, one hundred percent certain I look like a total badass.

Ignoring everyone else around me, I lock my gaze on Kai, whose eyes go wide and mouth hangs open.

I am the king of husbands.

I add more swagger to my walk, thrilling at the spark I watch ignite in Kai’s gaze. Captain Jack Sparrow hasn’t got anything on me!

When I join him before the dais where his grandmother stands, my whole body is tingling in anticipation.

“Congratulations to our loving couple, who have made it to the third and final day of the Iyaran Sanctioning Ceremony. First, they will make their vows to one another. Then, they will partake in the Closing Ceremony dance.”

We turn to face one another, and I’m pleased with how sexy my hubby-boo looks. He’s wearing a special Iyaran version of a tuxedo that has a Velcro flap he can pull open to release his tentacles during our dance.

Kai takes hold of my hands and his touch alone grounds me and puts me at ease.

“River Sullivan, I swear to love and cherish you until the end of my days. I will be an equal partner to you through the good times and the bad.” His lips twitch into a faint smile. “Although I fully intend for there to be more good than bad if I have anything to say about it.”

Our audience chuckles.

“I will uplift you and celebrate you at every opportunity. For you, I will strive to be an even better version of myself as we both continue to grow and evolve over the years. We will build a life together that allows us to share boundless joy, fulfillment, and passion for as long as the universe will give us.”

He lifts my hands and kisses the backs of them tenderly.

I sniff back tears and give him a watery smile. “Kai Genaro, I vow to be the most kickass husband in the universe. I will make you happier than anyone else. With me, there will always be laughter, surprises, and plenty of hot sex.”

I hear some snickers in the crowd, but I know the best is yet to come. For my boo, I will always go above and beyond.

“I will always be there to support you and your dreams in the same way you support me and mine. I promise to keep writing you Tentacular Tales stories that make you smile.” My tongue darts out to lick my lips.

“And I promise to read them aloud to you in bed anytime you want.” I waggle my eyebrows at him.

“I will always satisfy your sweet tooth and indulge your dessert kink.”

I repeat his gesture and kiss his hands. “I will take good care of your hearts and your tentacles always because you are my life partner on this amazing ride. To infinity and beyond, babe!”

Totally swoon-worthy, amirite? Kai’s not the only romantic here!

“I now pronounce you life mates, starting now and forevermore,” Iris says.

We manage a quick kiss before we’re hauled out to the dance floor.

Music starts to play in the background and I’m already vibrating with excitement.

After all, I have one more special surprise for my man.

Iris addresses the audience. “The Tentacle Tango has two versions among our people. One that is used to court a mate and one that the couple performs together to close the Sanctioning Ceremony. The latter would normally involve both partners using their tentacles as part of the performance, but we’ll have to improvise since River does not possess additional appendages. ”

I raise a hand to halt her. “Never fear, Nana Iris. It’s me, after all, and I came prepared.”

Time for my most epic of epic grand reveals.

I untie the fastenings on my cloak and, with a flourish, toss the garment aside to reveal the special belt around my waist.

Complete with two robotic tentacles attached.

When I tap the remote control Nirblob embedded in my smartwatch, the tentacles unfold and stretch out as if ready to take hold of my partner.

“Are you ready to Tentacle Tango for your life?” I ask, channeling my inner RuPaul.

Kai stares at me with so much adoration that it’s almost blinding.

“Am I the best hubby or what?” I give a little hula-hoop shake and make my tentacles sway in the air. They’re not as graceful and fluid as Kai’s, but they’re still pretty awesome.

“Just when I think there’s no way you could top your previous levels of amazingness, you somehow manage to do it,” Kai whispers, sounding more than a little choked up.

I grin at him. “Honey, you totally one-upped me with that incredible poem of yours. There was no way I was gonna let that slide unchallenged! Now, let’s do this thing and show everyone how unbeatable we are together.”

Two of his tentacles emerge from the flap in his dress shirt, reaching out to take hold of my robotic ones, and we mirror the movement of holding each other’s arms in the dance position we’ve been practicing.

“I didn’t have a clue that you were planning something as wonderful as this,” he murmurs as we twirl around the dance floor, limbs—real and robotic—moving to the beat.

“Darling, I’m an intergalactic man of mystery who knows how to keep things spicy.”

He laughs and the adoration in his eyes makes my heart flutter. “Well, at least I have no fears that I’ll ever get bored with you.”

“I’m chock full of surprises.” I grin widely. “Like a pinata!”

He throws his head back and laughs before pulling me closer in the dance.

I sigh happily. “We really did it. We’re finally legit life mates in the eyes of the universe.”

His tentacles then spin me out and pull me back, and we hear some impressed oohs and ahhs from the audience. We don’t pay much attention, though, since we only have eyes for each other as we move to the beat.

“We did. But even without this or any other ceremony, my commitment to you would remain the same.”

My heart squeezes in my chest. “Me too.”

His answering smile is soft and sweet. “All of this has mainly been for our families, but I’ve enjoyed sharing the beauty of our love with them. When it comes to you, I want everyone to know how happy we are together. How perfect we are for one another.”

“When did you become such a big softie?” I murmur, overwhelmed by so many feels.

“Duhhhh,” he drawls just like me— and who knew my hubby-boo can be an uncanny mimic ? “I learned it from you.”

I wrap my arms around his neck as we continue to move. “Tell me more about how fabulous and life-changing I am.”

He chuckles in my ear, making me shiver. “Let me count the ways, my darling.”

“I might be wearing my supersexy Vardox cloak, but you’re the one channeling his character right now. I hope you know that I fully expect you to fuck me senseless tonight—and I want you to bring your best Vardox game!”

“As you wish,” he purrs, Princess Bride -ing me again.

Fuck yeah. He knows what gets me hot too. That sexy, movie-quoting motherfucker.

I beam at him. “Do you think we’ll always be like this?

I mean, most people I read about or see on television who’ve been in long-term relationships settle into a comfortable kind of status quo, the initial lust-fueled passion phase morphing into something softer and less intense.

” I pause and then give him a sheepish grin.

“Of course, I’ve seen your parents and grandparents in action, so I suppose when it comes to Iyarans, human media shouldn’t be my litmus test.”

He chuckles. “I’m surprised it took you this long to figure that out, darling.”

“My therapist would tell me I probably have some lingering insecurities. Not about you,” I hasten to assure him. “Just stuff from childhood messing with my brain a little.”

He pulls me closer, his embrace warm and secure.

“Trauma never fully goes away. But I will always be here to prove that I’m not going anywhere and that my love for you will forever burn strong and bright.

Iyarans are a very passionate and devoted species.

We mate for life, and as a result, we channel all our desire exclusively to our partners.

The fact that we age much slower than some other species also means we have much longer sex drives that persist well into our elder years.

” He shakes his head. “Even my great-grandparents are still quite frisky with one another.”

My eyes widen. “No shit? I didn’t know they were still around.”

“They are. They just don’t tend to leave the home world anymore. Instead, they’re on call and ready to take charge of things for the rest of the family when folks travel off planet.”

“I want to meet them someday. Hell, I want to meet all your family and visit your home world. It’s been a long time for you as well, hasn’t it?”

“Not since before I was a teenager. After that, my studies took up a lot of my time. Then I started working for the Alliance and began establishing myself in my career. It made it difficult to find the time for such a trip.”

“But we can go together one day, right?” I ask, a faint note of cute pleading in my voice.

Hey, I’m going to use whatever skills I can here to get there as soon as possible. I’m so freaking ready to boldly go where no River Sullivan has ever gone before!

Kai’s expression softens and he twirls me again, dipping me back and then pulling me up all super-suave—like he’s Tuxedo Mask and I’m Sailor Moon.

Swoon!

I can’t help but sigh.

“Watch it, buddy, or I might jump you right here and right now.”

He laughs again. “Let’s save that for this evening when we’re alone and I have you all to myself again. And yes, I promise one day we’ll go to my home world.”

“I’ll hold you to it! And hey, in the meantime, we’re going to Tentacular Tales Con for our honeymoon, right?”

He nods emphatically. “We are. I’ve already gotten the necessary clearances, and everything’s been approved.” His expression darkens. “The only wild card in this situation is Layne Madison and his invasion plans.”

I growl with irritation. By now, I am so over having to deal with these fuckers.

“We’re going to take them down and save the day so we can enjoy our epic honeymoon without any worries!” I declare with a touch more confidence than I actually feel.

Fake it to make it, River!

“Damn straight,” he concurs.

After a few more graceful twirls with me using the opportunity to show off my epic robotic tentacle moves that would make even Michael Jackson jealous, the dance finally comes to an end.

We both bow to the audience and they cheer loudly. Everyone swarms us to offer congratulations for a hectic ten minutes before music starts playing again, with Tom Jones DJ-ing for us.

Our friends and family join us on the dance floor and amp up the celebratory fun.

While we boogie and let loose, there’s still a lingering sense of uncertainty among us all that creates an almost frenetic energy in the air.

Each of us knows what’s coming, but for tonight, the booze is flowing, the dance floor is jumping, and we all indulge in letting go.

We bask in the safety and serenity of this brief happiness-filled moment.

All the while knowing, time is running out and danger is getting ever closer.