2. Predicaments

CHAPTER 2

Moss

Propositioning a human to come to my bed had not been on my list of things to do today—or ever. The way my blood burned for him was almost unbearable as I breathed in his scent.

When we touched, something primal within me snapped. It was almost so fierce that it was audible. A moment, a mistake, and now I was cornering a burlesque dancer in his dressing room, begging him to let me mate with him.

I knew this could happen to Arborians. It was a somewhat common occurrence, however, it usually meant that you'd found your mate. A few days of sexual release followed by knowing that you'd probably found the one the universe deemed to belong with you.

But a human…a human wouldn't understand the implications, right? I stared at Max, wondering how the universe could do this to us. And yet, the part of my being that craved him like he was a basic need, a breath of fresh air or a sip of cold water…it was different.

Max made an expression I couldn't quite understand. His lips pressed together, his brows drawing close. He stared and then shook his head.

"The only way to overcome this heat is by having sex with me?"

"Yes," I said. "It will be the same for you. My pheromones have taken yours. Even as a human, your body has already decided that it wants mine. That doesn't mean we have to."

"What happens if we don't?"

Suffering. Months and months of suffering until it waned, but I wouldn't be satisfied for a long time, and neither would Max.

He seemed to read into my silence and sighed. He raked his fingers through his bright orange hair. "Madam Moonie is going to be furious."

Madam Moonie. The leader of the Galactic Gems, who was very protective of her crew. I understood her, because I was the same with my own.

It was a predicament. One that I had not foreseen or even considered might happen. And yet… "I'll pay for the damages to the equipment if you help me solve this heat," I whispered.

Max raised a brow and then crossed his arms. "If we're going to have sex, it doesn't need to be transactional. Either choose to pay for the damages and then we'll take care of our problem or don't."

I winced. I hadn't meant for this to sound that way. I cursed our languages and the translators we each had, not sure how to clarify.

"I didn't mean it that way," I said.

Max stared for a moment longer and then crossed the small room to a bench that was covered in clothing. He slid off his suspenders and then grabbed the edge of his shorts. He pulled them down, revealing another swath of clothing that he also pulled free.

My mouth watered at the sight of his ass. A human's body was not so different from an Arborian's in some ways, but I still found myself studying and appreciating every part of him.

"Are your pronouns he?" I asked.

Max nodded. "Yes. Are yours they and them? Everyone had referred to you as they or them."

"It's a little different, but I found that they or them are easiest for humans."

"Oh. I'll use whatever they are," he said as he dressed.

He pulled on a sleek pair of pants and a billowing shirt with an open V neck, and then a pair of boots. He turned to face me.

"Truly," he said. "What are your pronouns?"

"Xe, xem, xyr."

"Some humans use xe as well," he said. He continued to study me warily. "I'll let others know too, if you'd like. I think you'll find our entire crew won't find it hard to use your correct pronouns."

I breathed out. Perhaps there was more to humans than I realized. Aside from the tourists that graced our planet, I rarely met humans. And the burlesque show tonight was my first one.

I didn't get out of the tree enough, it seemed. Too busy at work and trying to keep everything from falling apart. In fact, the only extracurricular activities I ever took part in were sexual…and now all I could think about was applying my knowledge to the little human in front of me.

Max offered me a genuine smile. I felt myself relax, even if desire and need engulfed my entire body. I was walking on a knife-edge, but I'd suffer the pain for now.

"I'm sorry for being brusque," I mumbled. "And I'm sorry I let you fall. Are you okay?"

Max wrinkled his nose. "I have taken way worse. I'm fine. If we have to deal with this…predicament, we'll need to talk to Madam Moonie first."

"Are you not able to do as you please?" I asked.

"I am, but I don't want to worry my boss. Tonight was my first performance and disappearing after it to sleep with the alien she's trying to get to agree to something isn't an impressive look."

He had a point. First performance. Do I gift him something for such an event? I felt a flood of panic, followed by the two tentacles throbbing beneath my robes.

"The show runs for another twenty minutes and then there is an intermission. We can try to talk to her then, I guess…I don't even know how to phrase it."

"Leave it to me," I said decidedly, straightening my shoulder. "Wait here. I shall return."

I was out of the room before he could argue, flying down the hall of one of our great H?rne trees and out into the open. I could see the performer at the center of the oasis, along with the crowd beyond them that cheered wildly for her performance. Her voice rose up, a smooth, beautiful melody that made me pause.

All the performers were talented. Even if this predicament with Max hadn't happened, I would have felt persuaded to cover costs for the damaged equipment. It didn't help that our transportation system was outdated. There were some council members that were stuck in their old ways and wanted to focus funds onto other projects. Dio, a transportation agent whom Madam had spoken to first, worsened the whole situation. Being new to the field, he did not take her words kindly and escalated the entire situation to me to handle. If Madam Moonie had talked to me first, everything would have gone smoother. Because now, not only were we going to cover the damages, I had to punish Dio for the way he handled everything.

That was tomorrow's problem, though.

The more the worlds became connected, the more visitors we saw. Eventually, we would have to change things. This planet was no longer just our own.

The song ended, and Madam Moonie's voice rose above the venue again. I slipped through the bustling area, avoiding running into any of the humans. Like Max, most of them were a few hands shorter than me, and I worried about knocking into one by accident.

I saw a Lazulian waiting and approached him and then froze when I saw his floating crown. He turned slightly and raised a brow.

"Yes?"

"I'm looking for Madam Moonie. Are you here for the show?"

"Yes. Stella is my mate. Madam Moonie is over there," he said, pointing towards a group of bustling humans. I could see her now, her eyes focused on the stage.

"Thank you," I said. I studied him for a moment longer, not sure if I was supposed to bow. I wasn't sure about their customs. In our world, royalty would never be seen out without protection.

"You seem worried," he said. "My name is Zin."

"You are royalty," I said.

"I am. Are you concerned?"

"No," I breathed out. I had other problems. "The human has caused a predicament. Well, perhaps it was me. The universe? I have to go."

Zin snorted. "Which human?"

"Max," I said.

He gave me a small smile. "Good luck. They'll steal your heart, these little beautiful beings." His gaze swept out towards the stage as the crowd cheered to the woman that ended her song. "I must go. My other mate is retrieving water and we will meet her when she arrives in this area."

I gave him a curt nod and then went towards Madam Moonie. Her eyes met mine and her gaze was razor sharp. She held up a hand as she tapped a mic, her voice rising again.

"Give it up again for Stella Starz and her out-of-this-world Solar Strip!"

Their cheers thundered through the oasis. I waited patiently as she introduced the next star, someone that went by Milky Maid. As soon as the music started, Madam Moonie moved her mic and gave me a look that could kill.

"I am working," she said. "Do you have an emergency?"

"Yes, actually. I will cover the costs of the damage, but I need your performer named Max for three earth days."

Her lips parted, and then she let out a low, sultry laugh. "I'm sorry—what? You can't just have one of my performers."

"He is my?—"

"Madam!"

I was startled as Max appeared next to me. He looked up at me, giving me a pinched expression, and then focused on Madam Moonie. If there was communication in his look to me, I did not know what it meant.

"I will still be at rehearsals," Max said. "I'd like to spend some time with Moss…I just didn't want you to worry about my absence."

She looked at him, then me, then back to him. "Gods damn it," she sighed. She pressed her fingers to her temples, her long nails glittering in the light coming off the crystals that grew around us. "It's happening again. Listen—if the two of you end up mated, married, pregnant—whatever—Max still has to work in my troupe. I can't give him up. He's a star and just now starting his career."

The two of us made a series of sputtering noises at her abruptness, but she held up a hand, silencing us both.

"I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know. Be safe, have fun, show up to rehearsal or I'll skewer your lover…." She gave me a very pointed look that I managed to understand. She trailed off and then smirked at Max. "Arborians are fun in bed. Drink some water so you can walk at rehearsal."

Max's mouth fell open, and then she made a hissing noise.

"Both of you go. I have a job to do. And damn it, Max, we were going to celebrate you tonight."

"You still can," I insisted. "I don't want to interrupt anything. I'll come after."

Madam smirked suggestively. "Good. Go away."

Max surprised me by slipping his hand into mine, or trying to, and tugging me to the side. I grabbed his wrist gently and pressed my palm against his, seeing how much smaller his hand was than mine. And to think that I'd seen him turn himself upside down and in various positions using these hands…his palms were rough in places and I couldn't help but think about how they would feel against my skin.

"Moss," Max whispered hoarsely.

I sucked in a breath, which was a mistake. Max's arousal was apparent in his scent, which reminded me of the sweet tarax that bloomed every few years in certain oases. A bright orange flower with a long stamen, that produced a scent so intoxicating, so…

"Get a fucking room," Madam Moonie hissed at us.

Max made a noise and grabbed my wrist with both hands, marching me away from the backstage area. We received curious glances again as he pulled me back to his dressing room, tugging me inside and slamming the door shut.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked.

"No," he huffed, still pushing me.

I let him guide me to the bench. He grabbed onto the lapels of my robes and gave me a very demanding command.

"Sit."

I narrowed my gaze at him. He didn't realize yet that in the bedroom, I'd be the one commanding him. So I'd let him have this firm tone for now.

I sat on the bench, which put my face at the same height as his.

"The show has about forty minutes left. I still have a curtain call. And then we'll have to pick up everything, and then there will be whatever Madam planned."

"Do you want me to leave?" I whispered.

"No." He swallowed hard, his eyes shifting down my robes. "I can lock the door in here."

I stared at him and he stared at me until his cheeks were practically radiating heat.

"You don't do well with insinuations, do you?" he mumbled.

"It's difficult with our translators," I said.

He nodded. "May I touch you?"

"Yes."

He reached up and cupped my face. "I want you to fuck me before the show ends so I don't die of horniness between now and midnight."

It was my turn to be completely shocked. My tentacles writhed, aching for him, aching to be inside him. Or to have him inside me…

"We don't need to rush," I whispered, although I could feel the heat radiating from my body.

He leaned in closer, his lips almost touching mine. "Do you want me?"

"More than you can possibly imagine," I said.

"Then are you scared?"

His taunt made me growl. "May I touch you?"

"Yes."

The moment he consented, I grabbed his hips and lifted him, seating him directly on my lap with his legs straddling me. He gasped, his eyes widening as I grabbed his wrist and tugged them behind his back, holding them in place with one hand.

"If we were not in a dire emergency, I would spend weeks courting you," I snapped. "Even if I don't understand you all that well yet, I promise I will by the end of our heat. Tell me, what kind of things please you, Max? What makes you want to submit?"

His eyes widened again. "Submit?"

I raised a brow. "You didn't think I would be the one submitting, did you?"

"Maybe I did."

"And now?"

I could feel his cock against me.

"Now, I think it's clear you like to be in control..." He licked his lips. "I enjoy being told what to do. Nicely, of course."

"How much do you know about my kind?" I asked.

"Well, I know your planet is beautiful and that you're all very tall and…"

"And of my genitalia? I know about humans. It's been awhile since I've read up on human anatomy, but I certainly…" I trailed off as I unbuttoned his pants. "…haven't…" I slid my hand in and gripped his cock. "…forgotten."

He moaned, his head falling back. A silent curse left his lips, his hips rocking against me.

I released him and enjoyed the sharp look I received for toying with him.

"Show me," he whispered. "If you'd like…"

I let him stand up and reached around my robes, unlatching part of it so that I could pull the fabrics back. He fell to his knees in front of me as I revealed myself.

Two dark purple tentacles with orange tips, like my horns. Small suckers ran along the bottoms of each one, and between them…

I reached down, pulling the top tentacle up and revealing an opening and a small nub that was similar to a human clit.

"Wow," he whispered.

"Touch me," I murmured. "If you'd like to explore."

The tentacles moved by themselves, writhing as I released the top one, only to be replaced by his hand. Again, just a touch shared between us was enough to make me groan. I gripped the edge of the bench as he explored me.

He gently circled the small nub at the base of the tentacle, and I whimpered.

"Is this like a clit?" he asked.

"Yes," I breathed out.

"And then your…tentacles…"

"Are like cocks. When I orgasm, fluid will leave their tips as well."

Max licked his lips. "And then this opening…"

"Is it similar to a vagina in human terms…"

He let out a soft hum. "Your body is like what humans dream about and then turn into sex toys."

I chuckled as he gripped the upper tentacle, sliding his hand up and down. Pleasure rolled through me, my breaths shortening as I fought the urge to take things further.

I was hanging on by a thread.

"If we start, we won't stop," I rasped. "We should wait until your evening is finished. I can leave if needed."

"You can join us if you want," he murmured. He held my tentacle for a moment longer and then released it carefully, biting his lower lip. "Somehow, we'll wait a few hours."

"And then I hope you don't plan to sleep."

"I certainly don't…"

"I'll bring you to my home," I said. "The Crystal Oasis is nice, but I think the privacy of my space would be beneficial." I pulled my robe around and adjusted my clothing.

He breathed out and smiled up at me. A piece of hair loosened, curling against his warm ochre skin. I reached up, brushing it back gently.

This evening had truly taken a turn for the two of us.

"Can we even be in public together, or will we both just be horny messes?" he teased.

"Horny messes. My tentacles are easier to hide than your own member."

"Member," he teased. He stood up and brushed his hands down his body. "I think we'll live. Let's try to enjoy the rest of the show."