Page 78 of Ahelno
“Yep. I’m going to miss this when I leave,” he said. “It’s been so much fun.”
“Me, too,” I said. “Not just the dancing, but playing music together too.”
“I’ll sing you some more Latin songs on my video messages,” he said. “I’m taking the bongos with me. I’ve never really sung for my partners, but I think they’ll like it with the drums.”
“I love it!” I said. “Play for them and record it so I can see their reactions. And I’d love for us to record some more songs together. We can do the tracks separately and put themtogether.”
“Ooooh, I like that idea. We could put out a whole album of Earth songs,” he suggested.
“Let’s do it! Ok, I need to get home and take care of the animals. I’ll see you tomorrow about an hour before the performance, so we can rehearse. You’ve got your costume?” I asked. I was a little nervous about mine. The dress had an open back. I loved the way it looked on me, but I was unsure about having Dakleth’s mating mark on display. I didn’t want him to read too much into it. I didn’t want to think about how muchImight be reading into it.
“Yes, Robnar dropped it off. First alien drag queen I’ve seen, by the way.”
“Shut up, he’s fabulous. I love that he’s willing to wear more than those boring skirts that you see on all the Ptexari men.”
“Boring? You’re spending too much time looking at the skirts and not the bare torsos and powerful thighs on display. This whole planet is full of eye candy, honey,” he batted his lashes at me.
I giggled. “All right, calm your hormones. You’ve got Aldrin and Gafand back in your suite.”
“Thank God!” he exclaimed. “I neeeeed to get laid.”
“And, I’m out!” I said, before the conversation could devolve further. “See you tomorrow!”
“Bye, brighteyes,” he said, giving me a quick hug.
CHAPTER 57
Dakleth
I looked forward to any opportunity to see my mate, but watching her dance with that human male was a special kind of torture.
It started innocently enough. My family and I circulated among the dignitaries who were pleased to attend. None of us had ever seen human dancing before, so this would be a new cultural experience for all of us. For the wealthy elite of this sector, and the Charonu who we were still negotiating with, such a novelty was coveted. Gossip about Andie’s piano recital and singing had already reached the ears of the highest echelons of intergalactic society, and this performance was the most sought-after ticket of the year.
Aside from the excellent public relations this afforded my father, this also led to a spark of interest in Kashtinela’s prospects from higher-tiered species that we had not expected. Aligning with a Tier 7 or 8 species through marriage might bring more advanced technologies to Ptekennan that would enable us to expand our reach through space, bringing about increased trade and diplomatic opportunities. I could see how pleased Father was with the candidates in attendance. Kashtinela seemed more guarded. To be expected, I supposed.
I was glad that I was not to suffer a parade of princesses myself. Mating Andie without prior permission from my father had been a point of contention. A mating beneficial to our House and to our society had been expected, and I completely ruined my father’s plans on that score. I had no regrets. Fortunately, Father was nearly as enchanted with her as I was, even if he did not say so. And now, he could not deny the boost in popularity, both onplanet and offplanet, that our family was enjoying thanks to her alliance with our House.
After they were announced, Leo and Andie took the stage. Leo was dressed in tight black pants and an orange short-sleeved shirt open to the waist. The orange complemented his dark brown skin. Andie was absolutely breathtaking. The front of her golden hair was pulled back in a hair tie, but the back was left long and flowing. She wore a skin-tight black halter-style dress with orange and red ruffles along the bottom. She took Leo’s hand, and twirled in his arms and then dipped in a curtsy while he bowed. I could see when she twirled that her dress was completely backless.
My mating claw marks were visible on her back, and my cock practically flew out of its sheath. I hardened so fast that my knees buckled. Fortunately, I was wearing my loin wrap, so my erection was not visible through my skirt, but the pressure from the wrap was very uncomfortable. I straightened, hopefully before anyone saw my stumble. Then, the humans began to dance.
The music was unlike anything I’d ever heard. They had layered the piano, guitar, and drums together, creating a sensual beat. Unlike the grinolara or other Ptexari court dances, the humans touched each other constantly. I found myself growling, even though I knew Leo was mated and thathe and my mate were nothing more than “friends.”
“Peace, brother,” Kashtinela said. “You know the humans need constant touch. I swear, they are so clingy. We are fortunate that Andie has adapted so well here. Leo is constantly draped over his mates. It is most unseemly.”
I would not mind if Andie wished to drape herself over me. In fact, I found that I craved it. Perhaps this was part of the mate bond. I would never have entertained the idea of touching a Ptexari female in public. But I was driven to provide my mate with whatever she needed. And the idea of her in my arms at all times sounded like heaven.
Andie and Leo kept their hands together as they danced close, bodies pressing, then he spun her out, and she twirled around him. They executed complicated turns, never faltering, with at least two of their hands always connected. Andie’s voice sang over the music, and while it produced a wonderful buzz along my skin, something about the recording medium kept it from paralyzing me and the other Ptexari the way her live singing did.
Her skirts flared as she twirled, revealing more of the orange and red fabric underneath. They were visually stunning, moving in and out of each other’s space with flawless, sensual grace. Leo’s hips were suggestively undulating as he pulled her back into his arms, and I found myself growling again, crest rising as I felt the sexual tension between them.
The movement of Andie’s hips nearly brought me to my knees. My body always wanted her, but seeing her dance in this manner, back arched, buttocks swaying, was almost more than I could handle. My cock was throbbing in time to the music, and in my mind’s eye, she and I were doing a different dance. I needed herin my bed.
They moved to a faster number that was more flirty than sensual, and I was able to breathe again. It was entertaining, and everyone in the room was moving in time to the music. Interestingly, Leo and Andie were singing in a language that wasn’t able to be translated. While I could not understand the words, it was undeniably happy, and I was enchanted by the smile on Andie’s face. She was light embodied. Watching her dance with such joy was a true pleasure. It was infectious, and I could feel the mood brighten throughout the room. She did this. She shared that joy with everyone she encountered. I had never met any being capable of impacting others’ emotions to the extent that she did, simply by existing.
I pulled out of my reverie for the final number. It was the most suggestive yet, and the crowd gasped when Leo lifted her up and spun around with her in the air. It was a testament to male power, which I could appreciate, but I hated him for it. I did not like the way he slid his hands seductively down her body. How he stared deeply into her eyes as he spun her out of a turn and brought her back in.
In the final moments, she jumped up and straddled his waist, then dropped dramatically backwards from the waist with her head to the floor, back beautifully arched. The stage lights went out, and the audience enthusiastically hissed. I could admit that it was artistically impressive and beautiful, but the way their groins were nearly touching, and the way his hands roved her body throughout the dance were driving me insane.
