Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,48

asks. “Does she ever get tired of leading the way in the entirely perfect direction?”

“Star is fine. Happy. Tired. Boneless. How’s my Ar’Tok?”

“Lucky.” His cirr are stroking me gently. “So lucky. The day I stumbled onto your signal on comms should be declared a galaxy-wide holiday.”

“Yes. They’ll celebrate Lucky Day far and wide. It will be second in importance only to Blessed Peace Day,” I joke.

Chapter Nine

Star

We dozed for a while last night after we made love, then grazed on the mystery food sitting under shiny domes near the door. After that, we laid in bed and drank blanquard out of our loving cup. Mom had taught me about toasts, which Ar’Tok had never heard of. He loved the idea and gave me endless toasts between endless kisses.

He told me his favorite spot on my body to kiss, although he made certain to warn me I couldn’t hold him to it—he might find a place he loved more. This he said while waggling both eyebrows and giving the V of my legs a searing look. But thus far, he tells me the sensitive spot behind my ear is his favorite.

Out of the dozens of toasts we made, my favorite was, ‘To my personal North Star, who will forever be a beacon to follow’.

When I roll out of bed, I’m immediately reminded of all the books I’ve read where a character gets a hangover. I’d never drunk liquor before, so this is another ‘first’ to add to the long list of firsts I’ve experienced in the last week.

Many of them are amazing— ‘stellar’ as it were. This hangover, on the other hand, goes on the bottom of the list.

“Ouch,” I moan as I tiptoe to the bathroom. My head pounds harder with every step I take.

Ladies, I comm them all, certainly there has to be an antidote for the swirling, drumming pain in my head. That blanquard will be the death of me. What makes the throbbing stop?

Water, says Anya.

How could anything as simple as water fix this level of agony?

Breakfast, says Brianna.

Ugh. She wants me to put food in my mouth? Is she crazy?

Axxios and Braxxus suggest you get some grunno brand analgesic, Brianna adds.

Chocolate, says Aerie. I heard antioxidants help. If not dark chocolate, try fruit, especially berries.

Chocolate might not help, but it couldn’t hurt. I eye the huge chocolate cake on the food cart. It’s still covered with flowers so perfect they could be real.

Tea, says Dahlia. I’ll order some up to your room. Tea, chocolate, berries, and grunno powder.

I ease onto the bed, not wanting the pounding to escalate, nor do I want to wake the handsome male drooling on the pillow. Why do I think everything he does is adorable?

His eyes flash open, he takes one look at me, then groans.

“Did you get mad at me in the middle of the night?” he murmurs through parched lips. “Did you beat my head with a chair leg?” His cirr cringe from his palms as he presses them to his head, as if they, too, can’t bear to be touched.

“On Earth, it’s called a hangover. It means you drank too much last night.”

“Gods! I think I need a doctor.”

“My head is pounding, too. I comm’d the other females, they recommended some home remedies. Someone should be knocking on the door any minute to administer the antidote. In the meantime, they said chocolate would help.”

We both eye the food cart longingly, but it’s five, maybe six feet away. Here it is, the moment of truth. After all those lovely toasts he made to me last night, does my male have what it takes to actually heave himself out of bed and make his way to get the cake?

Yes! He rolls, and lands on his feet, moaning as he goes. His cirr are stroking his head, trying to provide comfort as he steps gingerly to the cake. He snags it and two forks, pivots, and sets it in the middle of the bed.

Sweet! Room service chooses this moment to knock, so he only has to walk a few more steps to grab the delivery. A moment later, we’re toasting each other with grunno powder fizzing in glasses of water.

Ten minutes later, the pounding is down to a dull roar and I think I’m up for a little chocolate.

Those flowers weren’t real after all. They were just luscious piles of deliciousness in the form of the most gorgeous blooms from all over the galaxy.

I may have met my first member of