Stars Dancing [Dreams-To-Lovers Romance]

EURI

I woke to bright daylight, tangled in Shah, happy and deeply peaceful. I could sense my friend the wind outside, only a light breeze ruffling the leaves of the tree in which we were housed.

My arm was falling asleep, so I shifted Portia's head a bit. She stirred and climbed on top of me, kissing my neck, then my mouth. I groaned. I didn't want to be quiet with her naked, on top of me, tongue thrusting into my mouth, reminding me of everything she'd done to me last night.

I sighed against her mouth, and she moaned into mine, and I felt it. She was as wild and hungry as I was. I pushed her back and drove into her. She was still sloppy wet from last night, and on fire with need. That need called to me, and I moved, both of us panting with desperation.

I felt her rising, and I didn't let her crest. I withdrew. Her eyes flew open, and she threw a telepathic dagger into my brain, Don't you dare, Euridyne. You get back here, right now.

Make me.

She pounced. It was broad daylight, but my girl didn't care anymore. Everything from the past was over. She tore into me like she was starving and I was the only thing she'd ever wanted. I let her have what she wanted, and we both screamed as the world tore. Neither of us cared who heard.

"I think I want that Taste of the Sea pie," I told Shah when we both came to again. "Can we make it? Get the ingredients? I don't want to go anywhere. How about we have a domestic day?"

"Day? It's practically evening. But, yeah, let's order everything delivered. We might have to do several renditions to get it right. You up for peeling a gazillion potatoes? I think I can get the seasonings worked out, and the seafood should steam up quickly."

We ordered ingredients and made three batches before we got the flavors just right. Then we baked up the most delicious creamy, potoatoey seafood pie you could imagine: tarragon, and lemon, and spicy white pepper.

We checked in with Ronnie, but he and Frank had gone back to the city to see the Li-sounge show again. If you got a different seat, then you saw a different show every time you went. The perspective changed depending on which lounger you were in.

So, Shah and I ate pie and made love again on the sofa and forgot about the rest of the Cosmos for awhile. We fell asleep while it was still light, and I woke up to a dark tree house, moonlight softly filtering in the windows.

The wind was what had awakened me; rustling the tree branches, and pelting leaves against the walls. A stout nighttime wind. I could sense it, rising, from far off. It was growing stronger and had something to say. But what it's message was, was lost to me. I just knew it was there, and knew it had something to say.

My attention turned to a presence that was familiar. Ronnie. He was awake and working. Drawing, but he didn't let me see what. It wasn't lost on me that Ronnie had brought us to the edge of Andromeda. We were as far out as you could go and still be within our home galaxy. Next stop: Milky Way, two days away.

What are we doing next, Ronnie?

Earth.

SHAH

"Earth? Ronnie wants to go to Earth next?" I asked Euri, swallowing my oatmeal.

"Well, it's fifteen days to Earth from here, so I think he's planning on us stopping along the way and touring Milky Way Galaxy, but yeah, he wants to go to Earth."

"That's basically where your ancestors are from, right Euri?"

"Enh, well, kinda? Maybe? Yeah, Shurwinn was settled by migrants from Earth, and so were a bunch of other spheres in Andromeda. A lot of separatists. But I have no idea about my actual ancestors. I guess it's safe to assume that we're cousins of a sort, but that was 400 years ago, so does it even still count as ancestors?"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I don't think that's why Ronnie wants to go to Earth, but I don't know. Maybe it's 'cuz of the Known Cosmos Earth Press? I mean, it's hilarious that my dad started an Earthen business, but really, none of us knows anything about Earth. Except English, and that's mostly because we learned to cuss really good."

We dissolved into giggles. "Fuck me so good, Euri, you fucking asshole dick head. I said 'fuck me,' you bastard."

Euri couldn't breathe. He doubled over in stitches.

"So, I'm guessing Ronnie doesn't want to go to Earth for the quality curses. Did he tell you why, Euri? He's been so tightlipped for weeks. I've barely gotten anything from him lately. And not just because of our bedroom activities."

"Bedroom, sofa, shower . . ."

I laughed at him, yeah, we'd been pretty crazy all over the treehouse.

"Have you ever done any hallucinogens, Euri? Like psychedelics? Or anything like that? I mean, I feel like I'm high as a kite. Like I have been for more than a day. Was there something in that Li-sounge show? Something more than just light and music? I mean, I'm all floaty, and we can't stop just going at it, and what is even going on with us?"

Euri cackled. "I don't think they drugged us, and even if they had, wouldn't it have worn off by now? Oh hey, remember that episode of Slide Like Slenderanne when they went to that sphere and part of the atmosphere was psychedelic? Maybe. . . nah, I don't think this is a sphere of hallucinogenic air. Wait— did you try hallucinogens? I never saw the need. My life is weird enough as it is."

I snorted, "Yeah, misguided though. When I was gonna write my first book. To research for Drop of Desire. Oh, it was so bad, Euri. If Ronnie hadn't been there to shield my mind, I think I would've required hospitalization. I had no control, none at all. It was awful. So, everything I wrote in the book is totally made up. Psychedelic jizz sounds like the WORST idea in the Cosmos to me!" I laughed at the memories.

"But, what is going on, Euri. I mean, everything is so weird. Is it 'cuz we're out here, so far away from everything we've ever known? Doesn't it feel like we're on the brink of something? Literally because we're at the galactic edge, but also, I dunno, like something has turned?"

"Well, there's the whole you being Friend of the Wind, so that's something. Then Ronnie's wanting to leave Andromeda for the first time. It just seems like we've left everything we've ever known behind, but I have no idea what's next."

"And it's good. I mean, I feel so different. I feel like I don't care about anything anymore. If people found out I was Psy Ling, I don't think I'd care. All of that just seems so small right now. Like there's so much more that's so big and grande, and none of that old stupid stuff really matters. But what is it all, Euri? What is all of this about?"

"I dunno, Shah. I haven't the foggiest. Ronnie's been up to something for a while, but he hasn't let on about much. Just art and wind. Something about art and wind. But, that's vague and rather obvious, isn't it? I mean, Ronnie's an artist, of course he's going to be thinking about art."

"And I figured out my connection to the wind, but I don't really understand what that's for either. And then there's you and me. I mean, Shah, we keep leaving reality every time we make love. What is that about? Is that what you were like before you met me? By yourself? Did that happen?"

I nodded, "Yes, but no. Yeah, the heart-opening climaxes, yeah. Intense. Always, but still nothing like what they're like with you. There was usually lights in my brain, but not scenery. Not oceans and songs and grass and ferns. That's all new. I thought it was you, Euri."

He shook his head, "Nuh uh. No, definitely not me. I've never done anything like that. Heart-opening, yes. Not always, just sometimes. Lights? Sometimes, but not often. Never with a person. Just by myself, if I took a really long time. Prostate, yeah, most likely to be intense, heart-opening, and lights, but never scenery or songs. That's just been with you, Shah."

I scratched my head. "Well, I doubt we're gonna figure it out. Is it really something we're meant to understand? Do you want to? Should we try doing anything with it? Try going somewhere or picking out the scenery? Something like that? Is it something we need to work out?"

He hugged me to him, lips against my forehead. "We could maybe try and see. Wouldn't hurt, I guess, but wow. It's just so good to let things unfold, isn't it?" He chuckled softly against my skin.

"When you bought that blue dress, I loved the ties, and I couldn't wait to untie them and watch it slip off your body. But, sands below, I'd had no idea what would happen once I'd gotten you out of it. I mean, how could we have planned or predicted that?"

I slid my tongue over his upper lip. I didn't need words to respond. I just keep lapping at his mouth as he pulled my body closer to him, pushing me against the kitchen cabinet. I slid off my shorts and top and sat on the counter as he undressed. And then we were at it again. Nipping, sucking, licking, teasing, tasting until our bodies slid against each other, and we fucked on the kitchen counter.

It wasn't our best effort, if I'm being honest. There was a knife block to avoid, and it was high off the ground, and hard for crying out loud. But Euri volunteered to be on the bottom, and he took it like a man.

I rode us both to happy town, but I had to put the dish towels under my knees so I wouldn't get bruises. And I think we were both kinda glad when it was over. We didn't leave the Known Cosmos that time; we stayed ourselves and laughed at how dumb it is to fuck in the kitchen when there's a perfectly good bed a few steps away.

"Check that one off," Euri laughed. "Let's never do that again, okay?"

I laughed my agreement.