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“It’s the night before our wedding,” Martini grumbled.
“Yeah. You know, in the olden days, I’d have her under lock and key because you still wouldn’t have scored a tongue-kiss, let alone anything else.”
“Thank God for modern times.” Martini carried me into the elevator, waited for the door to close, then pushed every button at hyperspeed. “Let ’em worry.” He put me up against the side of the car, and we proceeded to make out like mad.
The positive on stopping at every floor was that we got to make out a lot longer. The negative was that we couldn’t do anything more because, well, we were stopping at every floor, and this was Vegas—people were up at any and all hours. We knew there were people on some of the floors because we heard them. All but one guy were nice and didn’t try to join us in the elevator. The one guy came in, made a comment, Martini reached out, grabbed him, and threw him out, all while continuing to ravage my mouth and grind against me. I found this so awesome I almost ripped his clothes off.
We finally got to the top floor.
“You know, some of us have to sleep and get up tomorrow,” Christopher snapped.
“I expected you to go up and down a few times,” Chuckie said. “You’re slipping, Martini.”
“Good idea.” Martini moved for the “door close” button, but Christopher was faster and got his body blocking the doors just in time.
“Out.” We didn’t move. “Now.” Still didn’t move. “Or I get Renata.”
We moved.
Martini put me down and walked me to the door. I could hear the girls in there, shrieking with laughter. He leaned against the wall and stroked my face. “I don’t want to sleep apart tonight.”
“Me, either. But James has rules.”
“Humans have silly rules.”
“And aliens are weird. What’s your point?” I’d unbuttoned his shirt while we were in the elevator. I ran my fingers over his chest.
“You really liked the concert?”
“You know I did. Especially the encore.”
He smiled. “Then it’s all worth it.” He bent and kissed me. “I feel like we’re on a date.”
“And you’re taking me back to my sorority. Yeah.”
“What’re you going to tell the girls when they ask you how the date went?”
“That I just went out with the guy I’m going to marry.”
Martini gri
I leaned up. “The best ever.”
He kissed me again, then opened the door, handed me the key, and walked back to Christopher and the elevators. Chuckie was already in his room. I watched Martini walk away, turn around, and watch me until the elevator came and Christopher dragged him inside it.
Heaved a sigh, closed the door.
“So?” Lorraine shouted. “Did you two do it in the elevator?” All the girls were giggling—it was a slumber party.
“No, but we hit the buttons to stop it on every floor. And made out the whole way.”
“Wow, total restraint,” Claudia said. “I’m impressed.” She looked at Lorraine. “Pay up.”
Lorraine sighed and slapped a bill in Claudia’s hand. My grandmothers had clearly rubbed off on everyone.
A lot more bantering, laughing, and joking went on while I worked my way to the bedroom. Everyone had loved the concert, even Jareen, Renata, Wahoa, and Felicia. Apparently Princess Victoria had been in the audience as well, though I’d missed her. Alexander was also on the premises.
“They left their world unattended? Just to show up for all our wedding stuff?”
Renata nodded. “This is an important diplomatic mission. Earth has shown its power, and our solar system must ensure we remain on friendly terms.”
“Diplomacy and marketing have a lot in common. Both use a lot of fancy words to lie really impressively.”
She laughed. “True. But the result is the same—this will solidify relationships. Victoria said they were most impressed that you asked representatives from each of the loyal worlds to be a part of the prince’s wedding.”
“I really don’t think of him as a prince. I mean a royal prince. And I know Jeff doesn’t think of himself that way.” For which I was very thankful.
“No. But it is better for all of us if he is presented as such. I assure you, his reasons for refusing the throne will filter down to the idea that he rules here already, or soon will, and that he chose Earth over Alpha Four because Earth is stronger.”
“But Alexander was just made king. Shouldn’t he be there, reassuring his people he’s on top of things and ready to rule?”
Renata shrugged. “Chief Councillor Leonidas is there. His presence is more vital right now than the royal family’s.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Charles said that, should you ask, to mention the Churchill and royal family of England relationship. He felt you would ask, I must add.”
“He does know me well.” Guilt tried to muscle in, but I kicked it to the curb. Fine, so Leonidas was the glue and the real leader and Alexander was the figurehead with power. I decided I’d ask Chuckie about the ramifications. Later. After honeymoon later. “Okay, well, good.”
Renata chuckled. “You need to get some sleep.” She mother-he
I didn’t argue. I was wiped. Undressed and looked for nightclothes. No A-C Elves here, but what seemed like ages but was only a couple of days ago, I’d unpacked our stuff and put it somewhere. Couldn’t remember where. Went to hang my clothes up and discovered a cute shortie nightgown hanging there. Wasn’t mine, but I assumed Reader had left it for me. Didn’t argue; put it on, and crawled into bed.
I was almost asleep when I heard some soft mewling. “Come on.” I had Poofs on me immediately. Harlie and Poofikins, but there was a third one. “Are you Fluffy?” No reaction. “Fuzzball?” Again, nothing. “Gatita?” Nada. Called Christopher on the house phone. “Is your Poof with me?”
“Yeah. Jeff’s got the jealousy thing, you might remember? Wanted it there just in case Reynolds tried to slip past seven women, including the Amazon Queen, in order to steal you away in the night.”
I snorted. “Sweet. So, what’s your Poof’s name?”
Silence.
“Christopher, I know everyone else’s, and I don’t want to say, ‘hey you,’ to it.”
More silence.
“How bad could it be? Chuckie’s is named Fluffy, for God’s sake.”
“Fine. Toby.” I heard Martini start laughing in the background.
“Toby?”
“Yes, Toby.” Christopher sounded really a
“Why is Toby such a fu
He heaved a sigh. “It was the name of my stuffed toy when I was little, okay?”
“Awww, that’s sweet.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He didn’t sound thankful. Martini was still laughing.
“Did Jeff have a stuffed toy when he was little, too?”
“Yes, he did,” Christopher shouted this. Didn’t slow down Martini’s laughter. “His was named Murphy.”
“Also sweet. There’s nothing embarrassing about naming your Poof Toby, you know. I think it’s cute.”
“Wonderful. Jeff’s Poof came named. Have I mentioned that we look like idiots with those things?”
“Oh, no! Toby! Don’t touch that!”
“What? Is it hurt? What happened?” He sounded totally freaked.
“Toby’s fine. I think you can stop pretending you don’t like it now.”
“I hate you.”
“Yeah, yeah, just stop trying to be all Mister Macho about them. They’re adorable, and you know it.”
“Fine. Can we hang up now?”
“Sure, I’m tired. See you in the morning.”
“Doubt it. Our drill sergeant has views on when any of us will see you again.”
I yawned. “Fine. Well, whenever. Night, Christopher. Love to Jeff.”
“Goodnight, Kitty. Enjoy your last night as a single woman.”
We hung up, and I snuggled into the bed. It seemed huge without Martini in it. The three Poofs cuddled up around my head and started purring quietly. Heard the girls out in the other room—they were still wide awake and having fun. Me, all I wanted was to be cuddled up next to Martini. I wondered if I should get up and work on the enjoying some more but realized I didn’t want to. Maybe marriage wasn’t going to be all that different, after all. Possibly Martini’s jealousy might abate somewhat, that would be a good thing. Of course, maybe he’d want me to cook, too. Then again, maybe he would just want things the way they’d been. On the other hand, I knew he wanted kids, and as soon as possible, though he had said when I was ready. What if I was never ready? What if we couldn’t get pregnant? What if he got bored with me?