Page 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Amara

Roth’kar got me a cat. So I wouldn’t be lonely without him.

How fucked up is that? He’s looking out for me even when he won’t be around. It’s just like him, too, in the most painful way possible. He has accepted where we are, and what I want, but worries about me still.

He’s not concerned about how he’ll continue, but how I will.

I squeeze sweet Bernard, and he doesn’t seem to mind. His purring feels calming against my chest as my heart beats wildly.

“Roth’kar.” The word comes out strangled. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know how much it hurt when you lost Elvis,” he says. “I don’t want you to be by yourself.”

The tears are rolling in fat drops down my cheeks. Oh, my alien husband. I love him so much that it’s physically painful.

Could I really just watch him walk away? I might die inside.

“You have to tell me…” I can barely speak, but I try anyway. “You have to tell me things are different now. That you’re not just using me because it sucks too much to go home.”

Roth’kar gently takes Bernard from my arms and sets him on the couch. Measured and even, as always, my husband takes my hands in his lower ones, then sets the upper pair on my shoulders.

“Amara.”

Just his touch makes me shiver all over. I’ve needed him so badly, it feels like delicious fire on my skin.

“I have seen many romantic movies now,” he says, looking into me with those deep blue eyes as he speaks.

“And the thing that fixes things is when one of them says, ‘I love you,’ and then everything is right again. As true as it is—that I do love you—I know that will not fix things here. It won’t change what I did or how I came into this marriage. ”

I nod weakly. It won’t be solved like that, but hearing the words sparks joy inside me, too.

“What I can promise you is that I will always, always be at your side, Amara, as long as you want me there. I did not know what I’d find on Earth, and you are beyond my most beautiful dream. All I desire is to see you happy, whether that is with or without me. But if I may speak the truth…”

The tears are coming so fast that all I can do is nod and try not to sob. That is what I’ve always wanted—someone at my side, someone to grow old with me.

“I think you would be happier with me,” Roth’kar says, pushing some hair back behind my ear. “I think that over many years, I will prove to you I was the right choice, regardless of how we began. That the little alien had some sense when he put us together.”

I know that he’s right, that the matchmaker did one thing correctly. Gazargo must have known I needed someone steadfast, someone who would hold me down to Earth in a warm embrace.

“Yeah,” is all I can manage. “I know I would be sadder without you.”

“Then please, don’t ask me to leave.” Roth’kar gently takes my chin and tilts my face up, so his lips are only inches from mine. “Let me take care of you. Let me cook meals and rub your feet and go dancing with you. Let me be your husband, and I promise I will never let you down again.”

It’s everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’d ever dreamed of having for myself. And Roth’kar wants to give all of it to me.

When I stumble forward into his arms, he catches me easily. All four of his hands wrap around me, drawing me in close, cradling me against his chest. One strokes the back of my head as I cry against him, letting out everything I’ve been holding in.

“Please, stay with me,” I whimper into his wet shirt. Roth’kar squeezes me tighter, kissing the top of my head over and over.

“I will. Always.”

I sniffle, lifting my head to glance around him at where Bernard is sleeping again on the couch. “I still want the cat, though. He’s staying.”

My alien smiles down at me. “Deal.”

Then the oven timer beeps. Roth’kar gently releases me and offers me a tentative smile.

“Dinner?”

The food is incredible, which is shocking given Roth’kar wasn’t following a recipe, nor imitating the way I’ve cooked in the past. The meal is something all his own, and he seems proud as I devour it. But that’s also because I just cried so hard I’m starving.

We feed Bernard his wet food, and Roth’kar shows me where he stationed the litter box.

I’m excited to have a cat again—and I’m glad we can share the experience.

Roth’kar clearly adores Bernard, and I feel like our little family is complete when the cat crawls up his chest and falls asleep there while we talk.

And we do talk through everything, from when Roth’kar first learned about the Galactic Matching Program to the call he had with Zono.

“I should have said something to you then,” he says. “But I didn’t want to lose what I had with you.”

He twines our fingers together while he pets Bernard with his other hand, the one that’s not cradling the cat like a baby. Still amazing to me how he can be so many places at once.

“I hope we can tell each other everything from now on.” I look down at our linked hands, his purple-blue fingers interlaced with my brown ones. “Even the stuff that sucks.”

Roth’kar nods. “Most assuredly.”

Then he puts the cat to bed, and I lead him along behind me to the bedroom.

I missed him too much to wait. The moment we’re in the door, I have him pushed up against it, grabbing the bottom hem of his shirt and pulling it up over his arms. He helps me until his big chest is bare, and I’m enamored with him all over again.

I nearly tear off my own shirt and then stumble over my jeans as I try to pull them down.

Roth’kar reaches out and steadies me, all while he takes off his belt and pants.

Then we’re standing there, naked, and his culans are reaching out to me.

I return the touch, and they clasp around my fingers.

Roth’kar groans when I wrap my other hand around the base and squeeze.

But I know what I want, and I want it now. Those lovely little ridges will feel exquisite. And I want to be close to him again, to feel consumed by him, to merge ourselves once more.

As if he can read my mind, Roth’kar reaches under my ass with his lower arms and lifts me up, propping my back against the door.

While he’s holding me that way, one of his other hands wanders downward, between my legs.

He teases my clit and plucks at my nipple at the same time, and I’ll never get tired of how dexterous he is with all four appendages.

“I need to be inside you,” Roth’kar murmurs into my ear, adjusting his lower arms so I’m perched right where I need to be for his cock to slide in.

“Please.”

His culans snap together, tines interlocking, and the tapered tip pushes through. And oh fuck, how good it feels to be spread open again. I cling to him, arms wrapped around his neck as he halts partway in, breathing heavily.

“You are divine.” He captures my chin with one hand and presses his lips to mine. His tongue comes out to play while he pulls out slightly, then slides in even farther.

Being together again, like this—there is no greater pleasure. And my husband, who cares for me like no one ever has, who comes along on all my adventures with me, who lets me be what I am. I’m eternally grateful for him.

Roth’kar grunts as he seats himself fully, and I sense when the tines along his culans shudder and tremble.

He withdraws only a fraction, then sinks in again, searching for where to best tease me.

He is as attentive of a partner as he is a lover, seeking out what I like most and then pursuing it with determination.

Soon I’m trembling, crying his name, arms curled tight around his neck to hold him close to me as he rhythmically pumps his hips, the door creaking with every thrust. Within only a few moments I can’t hold it in any longer, and when my orgasm hits me, my legs clamp tight around his waist and my vision goes white.

Roth’kar’s culans flutter inside me, and he lets out a shout of his own as he shoves himself deep.

Eventually, Roth’kar stumbles back to the bed with me in his lap, his cock still inside me. He nuzzles my face, then lies back while holding me tight against him.

“Please sleep with me,” I say, stroking his cheek. “Here in our bed.”

He nods, smiling as he traces the shape of my hip. “Of course. I would like nothing more.”

The following day is our official wedding, and I wake up with butterflies in my belly. I ask Fiona if she’ll be our witness, and she happily agrees to come along.

Fiona waits patiently in a folding chair while Gazargo draws up the agreements to sign. A tablet rests on the chair beside her with a video feed of my mother at a cruise ship bar, a drink in her hand.

“Hey, Amara!” Mom calls, lifting her cup. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it, but I’m so proud of you! Even though you’re not wearing a wedding dress!”

I roll my eyes and wave at her.

“Love you, Mom.”

There are no more vows to make, but Roth’kar surprises everyone by saying, “I want to say my commitments.”

Gazargo frowns. “You already did those a month ago.”

“They were not true to my heart.”

Roth’kar takes my hands in his, and with a grunt of annoyance, the little Frahma gets out of the way.

“Amara,” Roth’kar begins, holding my gaze. “I promise to always be honest with you. To open my heart to you and hold yours tight in my hands. I promise to care for you, to protect you, to share my life with you until death do us part.”

I’m surprised at the last bit.

“Even then,” he says with a chuckle, “I will probably still be watching over you, just to make sure you don’t trip on a crack or wander down a dark alley.”

I can’t help it. I throw my arms around him, and he embraces me in return, squeezing me tight. Then he leans back so he can kiss me on the lips.

“Ahem,” Gazargo says after we’ve been making out a little too long. “Can we get on to the signatures? Then I can file the paperwork for Roth’kar’s permanent visa.”

We finally pull apart, and Gazargo sets the tablet down in front of us. We each sign our names, and then the deal is done.

We’re married.

Fiona stands up, clapping wildly as we kiss again. Gazargo rolls his eyes as he takes the tablet away, but I think the little wrinkly alien is smiling.

“Another successful match,” he says to himself as he waves goodbye to us.

We’re done. All the Ts have been crossed, the Is dotted, and we’re ready for our happily ever after together.