18. Bonus Epilogue 2

Eight Months Later

Ifinished my day's work in the field, tilling the crops I hoped to bring to market in the fall. I didn't necessarily have to grow things like this to sell them. Not for money, that is. I'd saved while I traveled and Iris and I were comfortable enough financially, I could sit back and relax with my feet up.

I couldn't imagine living like that. I enjoyed planting my feet and my hands in the soil. I loved watching seeds take root and grow, adored seeing the tiny sprigs of life shoot up from the dirt, and I savored nurturing the tiny seedling into a tall, healthy plant that would produce food for those living in the city.

After gazing at my thriving field long enough the suns had hitched farther down toward the horizon, I grinned and strode over to my hover vehicle and climbed inside. It was a short ride to the home I shared with my lovely mate, Iris.

My family had welcomed us with open arms. They were skeptical of my human mate at first, but they soon grew to love her. She looked different from us, but they soon celebrated that fact. How could they not love her? She was amazing. She'd opened a small bookstore with books we purchased from neighboring planets, and while business was slow, she grinned every time she spoke of her shop. We'd find more customers and more books, and someday, people would stop here while traveling and they'd seek out her shop.

My family also loved the fact that Iris wanted to settle with me on the land we owned not far from the estates my family had built. They adored her for who she was, but they were delighted that my traveling days were over. While they knew I'd thrived living that way, they'd worried about me, and with good reason. Look what happened on Earth. Although, I had no regrets about crashing on Iris's planet.

One of my brothers was talking about traveling to that quadrant and approaching Earth using the new cloaking device he'd developed. He adored Iris and hoped he might find his own mate among those of her kind.

He'd have to take care if he did it, but Iris had already laughingly offered to coach him on Earthling ways to help him "blend in," whatever that was. I wasn't sure how a male with our skin color could ever blend with humans, but I wished him all the best. He deserved to find love as much as me.

That was for the future. My time was now.

As I drove toward the large barn I'd built a short distance from our home, I slowed my hover vehicle and gently swooped it inside the open doorway, bringing it to a halt and lowering it to the hard surface laid across the ground. It shut off on its own as I opened the hatch and slid out.

Anticipation coiled around my bones, a sweet ached that had nothing to do with discomfort. Soon, I'd hold Iris again. I'd never get used to the idea that she was with me, that no one would ever tear us apart, and that we had a wonderful future to look forward to together.

With my steps light and eager, I left the barn and took the path that passed the side of the house and approached the front. As always, she knew I was home, though the hover vehicle made no sound. It was like that between us. We sensed when the other was in pain or happy or even when the other needed to be held.

Right now, I could tell she was excited to see me, which made me pick up my pace to a light jog as I rounded the corner of our home.

The door was open, and she stood on the top step, a big smile on her face and her arms stretched toward me as if by holding them this way would bring me closer to her faster.

It did. I leaped and landed on the wide landing beside her, grinning down at her.

"Mate," I breathed. "It's nice to see you after a long hard day in the field." I stroked her cheek.

She laughed. "You're covered in dirt!" But she didn't brush my hand away. She leaned into it.

Katie meowed from where she sat beside Iris, and I stroked her quickly. We'd given away all her young, finding each an amazing home. Everyone clambered to possess such an amazing pet, although I wasn't sure anyone possessed cats. It appeared to be the other way around. If my brother went to Earth, he planned to bring back other cats to ensure healthy breeding. Katie might like to have her own mate around.

I swept Iris up and kissed her, backing her against the door and supporting her with her belly between us. Our child would be born soon, and we couldn't wait to meet them. We'd built our home to accommodate as many as we'd might have, and we'd already explored ways I could prevent Iris from getting pregnant until we were ready for other young, assuming we chose to have them. For now, one was enough.

She clung to my shoulders, and there was no better feeling than holding my mate with the suns warming my back and Katie purring beside us.

I carried Iris inside with Katie following, and kicked the door shut.

Iris slid down my front and when her feet were securely on the floor, she stroked my face. "Welcome home. I love you."

"I love you too."

She took my hand, leading me toward the kitchen where I suspected our dinner waited. Later, we'd sit in our living area and play a game or she'd read to me from one of the books she'd selected from her shop. Then we'd go to bed and make love and snuggled close through the night.

Our life could not be more complete. Who would've thought I'd ever find such a thing in my travels? I was lonely back then, but now, I was not.

I'd never dreamed I would one day reach out and capture the very stars from the heavens above. But with this woman and in this time, I had, and I'd never stop giving thanks.

I'd found a way to claim starlight, and I was never letting it go.

I hope you enjoyed Craving Stardust!

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