Page 9 of Tis the Season for Tentacles (Tinsel and Tentacles 2.0)

Chapter Nine

Chronicles of Chaos: An Informal Record of Life Aboard the Sleigh Belle

Stardate: 78391.9

Origin: Glacius Major

Status: Grounded due to weather

The crew of the Sleigh Belle is currently taking refuge in Glaciala, a town on Glacius Major, due to an unexpected snow squall that descended with fast and ferocious intent.

Fortunately, we were able to secure the last available lodging at a local inn that appears to be well prepared to deal with the weather. From what we’ve been told, such storms are common occurrences on Glacius Major and the residents here are appropriately equipped to withstand days of being stuck inside until such weather passes.

Khephren and Sasha are worried about the cats back on the ship, but as Luna and I have reassured them, Rambo will feed them and clean their litter box per Luna’s pre-programmed orders. Anytime we are off-ship, Rambo is at the ready to care for the cats and Howie. He will also keep the ship warm enough to sustain all life-forms aboard while waiting for our return.

My only concern right now is sharing a room with our human guest, Felix. We have established a tentative truce since I behaved like an insensitive jerk. Things are far more comfortable between us, but that doesn’t mean we’re ready to share a bed.

I tried to play it cool, as Sasha says, and acted like I had no qualms about it. But inside I am sweating bullets.

I have a feeling this is going to be a very long night.

— Najar Mezdel, First Lieutenant and Voice of Reason on the Sleigh Belle

NAJAR

M y training comes in handy as I keep my expression blank so that I don’t add fuel to the fire of Felix’s obvious anxiety about sharing a room with me.

I don’t think it’s because he hates me either.

Granted, I’m not sure that he likes me a whole lot at this point, but I do know that we have an obvious sexual chemistry, and as two single adult males in our prime, it’s understandable he might feel awkward about sharing a bed with me.

Especially in a room themed for kinky sexual escapades.

As the innkeeper said, we are indeed quite lucky to get it, but I’m not sure what to make of the fact that he assumed Felix and I were a couple—and one in need of rekindling our sexual spark, as well.

I heave an internal groan. Clearly, I have to set the tone to keep things platonic and comfortable between me and Felix, despite the awkward situation we’re in.

We head down to the tavern and join Luna, who’s already gotten us a booth in a far corner.

She arches a quizzical eyebrow and several of her tentacles wave questioningly in the air. “Where are the two lovebirds?”

“They’re getting room service in the… Honeymoon Suite,” I explain.

Luna grins. “The Honeymoon Suite?”

“Apparently, it was one of the two rooms still available. And the moment Khephren began gushing about his impending anniversary with Sasha to the innkeeper, which evidently he did within moments of meeting the man, he secured that room for the two of them.”

Luna chuckles and takes a gulp of her ice ale. “Good for them. No doubt they’ll be full of adorable but annoying smiles in the morning.”

I’m grateful when a server comes by and deposits two more mugs of ice ale on the table for me and Felix. The tavern has one set meal for the night, so we all order that.

Felix takes a sip of his ice ale and his eyes widen in surprise. “This is really good.” He licks his lips and takes another drink. “Mmm. It’s like a cross between a sweet cider and a pale ale.”

I take a hearty swig of mine, enjoying the crisp, refreshing flavor.

The server returns and sets down steaming bowls of stew along with a basket of fresh baked bread, homemade butter, and several cheeses.

Felix takes a moment to check with the server that everything in the meal is safe for human consumption, and once he’s satisfied, we all start digging into our meal.

We’re all quite a bit hungrier than we realized, and the hot stew is filling and comforting. It’s a simple recipe but well balanced and flavorful, with tender chunks of some kind of local meat and hearty winter root vegetables. It pairs well with the ice ale and the bread and cheese.

After we eat our fill, I lean back with a contented sigh.

Glancing out the window, all I can discern is a wall of white obscuring the world beyond the inn’s doors. Although snow squalls are common on this world and the local residents are well prepared for them, it’s still rather unsettling to be trapped in this inn until the elements subside.

Right now, there’s no telling quite how long that will take.

Luna flags down our server and gets herself a second pint of ice ale, settling in to chat.

“So what’s your room like?”

Felix, who was taking a sip of his ice ale, ends up doing an awkward spit take halfway across the table at Luna’s question.

Her eyes sharpen with interest. “Oh, do tell me all about it.”

Felix coughs. “It’s like some kind of alien sex dungeon meets porn set.”

“Say what?”

Felix starts regaling her with a detailed description of the room, and within moments, Luna is slapping the table and howling with laughter.

“Oh, my galactic gods,” she wheezes, “that’s epic. You’ve got to show it to me.”

I scowl at her. “Hell no.”

“Party pooper. You’re no fun.” She shrugs it off and rubs several tentacles together. “Whatever. I’ve got a whole bevy of beautiful ladies to talk to in the dormitory tonight. If I’m lucky, I’ll be getting lucky, if you catch my drift.”

I send her a withering glare and then deadpan, “We have plenty of sex toys we could lend you if you need them.”

Luna bares her teeth. “Honey, my tentacles and my tongue are all I need to make the ladies scream.”

Felix snickers and shakes his head. “Oh, my God. You and my sister might be meant for each other. A match made in intergalactic heaven.”

Luna rests her elbows on the table and cups her chin in her hands, eyes sparkling. “Tell me more about your sister. I liked what I saw. She’s absolutely luscious and lovely.”

Felix considers this for a moment. “Well, she’s super smart. Graduated top of her class from med school. She’s tough as hell and way more adventurous than me. Hasn’t had a steady girlfriend in a couple of years. Her work schedule makes it pretty hard to maintain a romantic relationship.” He sighs. “I don’t have it much better. As a veterinarian, I work insane hours, and there are parts of the job that can get really depressing.”

I cock my head, a twinge of worry in my gut. “Like what?”

“Well, I work primarily with exotic animals. Species that, in general, ought not to be held in captivity, but for a wide range of reasons, some of them end up there. Sometimes, animals can’t survive on their own in the wild due to injury, abandonment, or health complications, and need to be kept in captivity for their own safety. Some wildlife refuges, sanctuaries, and zoos can also provide critical interventions with regard to breeding and rebuilding populations of animals that might have otherwise been leaning toward extinction. There are lots of places doing good work for the animals.”

“But not all places are like that?” Luna asks.

He frowns and stares into his mug of ice ale. “No. Some exotic animals have been acquired for use as human entertainment in circuses and other shows. Vegas has a lot of them. The conditions for the animals can vary greatly, and some situations are not always ideal, let alone humane.” He shakes his head. “It can be hard to see, and there aren’t always simple or easy answers for what to do instead since these animals have been raised in captivity and can’t be released back into the wild.”

“Human encroachment on natural habitats probably further complicates matters,” I muse.

Felix nods. “That’s a major problem for sure. Humanity is destroying the planet at an alarming rate, and wildlife are some of the first casualties of such widespread environmental and ecological devastation.”

Luna’s expression turns serious. “Unfortunately, humanity is far too reliant on fossil fuels and other energy sources that cause pollution. Developing clean energy sources, as most other species in the universe already have, will be critical to humanity’s long-term survival.”

“Politicians and lobbyists with less than ethical agendas dictate much of what goes on in that arena,” Felix replies, looking into his ale glass. “It’s frustrating. I just want to help animals, you know? When I started out, I was so enthusiastic and optimistic, but these days, I feel conflicted. I’m not always able to reconcile my ethical beliefs with the circumstances I’m called into and asked to treat animals in. On top of that, sometimes I can’t save them. Animals die, and it takes a toll that gets harder to deal with over time.” He looks up and flashes a faint smile. “When you all picked me up, I was at a bit of a crossroads in my life, trying to figure out what I want to do—if I want to continue being a veterinarian or pursue something else entirely.”

Luna studies him for a moment. “Didn’t you study for a long time to become an expert in this field? Could you really leave it?”

“I did. And I’m not sure if I could leave the whole field behind. I’ve considered looking for positions with wildlife refuges or sanctuaries, but most of those would require me to move far away, maybe even to another country. Not sure I could leave Gemma behind, and I certainly wouldn’t want to make her feel like she had to follow me.”

“Families are complicated,” Luna agrees. “I’m the misfit in my household. My two older siblings followed the traditional Dravethian path, but I wanted something different. I wasn’t going to be a housewife to a Dravethian warrior, even if she ended up being smoking hot. I want adventure and excitement in my life, not domestic monotony.”

Felix studies me. “You mentioned you aren’t like most warriors on your home world either.”

I drain the last of my ice ale. “No. I was trained in the same way all those in my cohort were, but I didn’t feel the sense of duty to protect the planet that most do. For me, I always considered what I was learning to be intended for protecting those few, precious friends in my life that I care about.”

“In other words, me and Kheph,” Luna says with a grin. “And now Sasha.”

A wistful smile plays on Felix’s lips. “You all are incredibly close. Found family at its finest. Honestly, I’m rather envious.”

Luna’s brow scrunches up. “Don’t you have friends back home?”

To my surprise, Felix shrugs. “No one I keep in regular contact with these days. Because I was raised by my grandparents, a lot of my free time over the last few years of their lives was spent helping them out as they got older. While my peers were out partying and dating, I was taking care of Gramps and Nana, as well as Gemma before she went to college.” His lips quirk into a wry grin. “It didn’t exactly lend itself to a bustling social life. And school was really demanding on top of the part-time jobs I worked. I ended up in my own little bubble for a really long time. When I went to grad school, I did make a few friends, but after graduating, we all went off to wherever we could find jobs. Some moved far away, others I simply lost contact with.”

Luna bites her bottom lip, her eyes sad. “Sounds really lonely.”

A strange ache has me rubbing at my chest and frowning. I don’t like seeing Felix so dejected.

“For too long, I’ve made school and then my job my whole life. I’m passionate about caring for animals, but I realize I’ve lost out on other things. And the job can be brutal. There is an incredibly high rate of suicide among professionals in my field.”

I jolt at his words. “Why?”

His melancholy smile makes the ache in my chest even worse. “There’s a lot of pressure and stress. For most of us who went into this profession, we did it because we love animals and always have. But the reality is that typically, when a veterinarian is needed, it’s not for the happier and healthier moments in an animal’s life. It’s more often when they’re injured, ill, or dying. That can get hard to handle, especially when you have very minimal control over such things. It’s incredibly difficult for most of us to see an animal in pain.”

Luna’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she reaches out to take hold of Felix’s hand. “Thank you for sharing that with us. I had no idea what all you have to deal with. It all sounds incredibly challenging. I hope you can figure out a happier but still fulfilling path when you go home.”

Felix wipes at his wet eyes. “Me too. Thanks for listening. Not gonna lie, it feels kind of good to get that off my chest. Haven’t really had a lot of people I could talk to about this stuff in a long time.”

I study his profile, my worry mounting. “You have not experienced thoughts of ending your life, have you?”

For a moment I stop breathing as I wait for him to respond.

“Not at all. I just think I need to do something new going forward. Now I have to figure out what that is.”

His words send relief rushing through me.

Luna drains the rest of her ale and gets to her feet. “Well, friends, I’m off to bed. This has been real, but I need my beauty sleep. I’ll catch up with you in the morning.” She gives us a sassy wink. “Enjoy that kinky sex room of yours. I can’t wait to hear all about it tomorrow.”

Felix lets out a nervous laugh, and I scowl at her as she saunters away with a little swing to her hips.

I love Luna, but she is a troublemaker with a capital T.

Felix and I accept the inevitable and quit stalling. We make our way back to our room in the first uncomfortable silence we’ve had together all day.

Damn and blast.

When we get inside the room, I try to ignore the suggestive decor all around us and clear my throat. “Would you like to take a shower before bed?”

Felix’s eyes widen.

“Alone, of course,” I hasten to add.

Felix blushes a little, and it’s charming.

Quit that , I tell myself.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Sounds good.”

“Why don’t you go first? I’ll take my shower after you.”

He goes to the wardrobe and looks inside for a long moment.

I recall the various clothing choices in there and wince.

Finally, he pulls out a warm pair of sleep garments and a fluffy robe then heads into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

The room is pleasantly warm, but I have discovered that humans seem to have a lower natural body temperature and are more sensitive to heat and cold than my kind.

I sit on the end of the bed, which is covered with soft and fluffy pillows and blankets. It’s the most normal thing in the whole room, thank the galactic gods.

Settling my elbows on my knees, I lean forward and rest my head in my hands.

It’s not like I’m going to lose my mind and ravish Felix tonight. Or vice versa.

I rub my temples with the tips of two tentacles and focus on regulating my breathing.

Felix and I can share this bed platonically without any issue.

I continue repeating this mantra over and over again in my head as I meditate to find inner serenity. Although I don’t know that I actually achieve it. However, by the time Felix comes out of the bathroom followed by a waft of steam, I am more settled and calm.

That is, until I get a whiff of his fresh, clean scent straight out of the shower. The citrusy tang from the body wash he used and the underlying aroma that is his own unique scent tantalize my senses.

Perhaps I really have gone too long without finding a temporary partner to help fulfill mutual sexual needs. Because normally, I’m not like this.

Fuck.

Felix’s hair is damp and tousled, and he’s still running a towel over it to dry it.

Thankfully, he’s covered up well in the sleep garments and bathrobe, but somehow, he still manages to make them look sexy.

Galactic gods. I’m losing my damn mind.

I hastily grab some sleep garments of my own and fly into the bathroom like I’m being chased by an intergalactic Alliance patrol cruiser.

As I shower, I studiously avoid thinking about how sweet and vulnerable Felix looked—and how much I want to see what he looks like without anything on.

I’m not very successful though. Flashes of him from throughout the day keep flitting through my mind, and I fight to ignore my half-erect cock, which is quite eager for me to pay it attention.

No, I am not going to jack off in the shower while Felix is in the other room and I’m thinking about how fucking good he smells.

Nope. That would just make me kind of creepy.

I get out of the shower and towel myself off angrily, my cock still at half-mast. My tentacles help me comb and braid part of my hair again. Sasha tells me it’s my “hot Viking hair,” whatever that means.

Donning the pair of sleep pants I grabbed, I’m brought to a halt when I realize I did not grab the matching top in my hurry to get away from Felix and his tempting aroma.

I study myself in the mirror. My torso is not as badly scarred as the average warrior my age, but remembrances of my training and the battles I have fought are etched in my skin forever. Hopefully, it will not be too off-putting to Felix.

I step out of the bathroom and Felix, who’s sitting on the bed, stares up at me wide-eyed.

“Do not be alarmed,” I start to say.

He scrambles off the bed and backs away from me.

I frown, attempting to read the situation and failing miserably. Is Felix afraid of me?

He gulps. “Forget the nutcracker. You could crack walnuts with those abs.”

I stare down at my torso in confusion. “What?”

“Chris Hemsworth wishes he was you. Holy shit,” Felix mutters, still unable to look away from my chest.

My tentacles twitch with uncertainty. Who is this Chris Hemsworth? “I hope you do not find my body… offensive. I will cover it up.”

“That’s not a body, that’s a whole temple—and boy, do I want to kneel and worship,” he whispers, almost in a daze.

That’s when it clicks that Felix actually likes what he’s seeing.

And damn if I don’t grin with smug satisfaction, flexing my pecs a little.

Felix licks his lips, his cheeks flushed.

Oh .

I like him like this.

Very much.

I strut a little bit closer, wanting to see what other reactions I can elicit.

But to my dismay, Felix loses his balance and stumbles back into the wall.

And right into a big red button.

Instantly, the lights turn down low and take on a red tint as an artificial voice intones, “Activating room intimacy mode. Enjoy!”