KILO'S POV
All the attendees stand and applaud as the director walks up to the platform to give the welcoming speech. My attention quickly leaves the director and travels to the beautiful star beside me. We are both being promoted to captains tonight. I realize the speech is over when Castyr respectfully stands and claps as the director exits the stage.
We remain seated until Colonel Ilios is called to the stage and promoted to general. We stand and applaud as he exits the stage with his new medals.
The evening slowly goes by as numerous generals and officers receive awards and recognitions, until, finally, we are called upon. Alpha Team stands and enters the stage. We stand in a straight line and salute Ilios, who will be presenting our awards.
"Alpha Team has shown incredible valor in securing Heaven's bridge to Earth. A promotion and Recognition of Valor will be given to each member for his accomplishments," Ilios says before giving us our new medals and awards.
We each stand proudly as we accept our awards. Beta Team is called as we exit the stage and return to our seats. I look over at Castyr to see him beaming at me. He looks way too excited.
Castyr smiles quirkily in response and returns his attention to the current announcer on the central stage. The star hums in excitement through the link as the ceremony ends. We say goodbye to our teammates before going to congratulate Ilios. We join the officers surrounding the general and make our way to him.
"Congratulations, General!" Castyr says.
Ilios pulls the star into a short embrace and shakes my hand. "Thank you, Captains. Congratulations on your promotions, and, Kilo, your installment to Alpha Team."
"Thank you, General," I bow my head respectfully.
"Take this time to rest. We appreciate your efforts," Ilios says before he is bombarded with congratulations from other officers and reporters.
Castyr and I weave out of the small crowd and head to the door. Castyr stops as he spies reporters stopping our teammates for interviews. He takes my hand and leads me out a side door where we enter a hallway and bypass the reporters. Castyr practically drags me to the transfer center and back into his residence right as we transfer to Ithyos.
"I'll be right back. I'm gonna go change!" Castyr calls as he dashes off to the bedroom.
I watch the star run off happily before letting out a breath and sitting on a chair positioned on the outskirts of the covered atrium. The silver lines fall off my head easily as I run my fingers through my hair. I take off the ceremonial jacket, revealing a plain white tee beneath, and hang it on the back of the chair. After a few minutes, I hear Castyr walk out of the bathroom slowly.
I turn around in the chair to see the star walking up to me leisurely. His face is freshly washed; his silver hair is soft and dangling in his face. He is dressed in an oversized, long-sleeved shirt. The shirt drapes off a shoulder and covers most of his body so I cannot tell if he is wearing shorts or not.
I gulp as Castyr comes up to me and straddles my lap.
"So...I bet you've been wondering why I've been so hyper today," Castyr begins.
"Mm hmm. What has made my glow stick so excited?" I place my hands on Castyr's thighs. There are no shorts.
The star giggles at the pet name. "Well, there's something I've been wanting to tell you," he reveals.
"What's that?" I ask, my curiosity rising.
"Remember when I asked you to look into my eyes?" He wraps his arms around my neck.
"Mmm hmm," I think back to when we were on Devyn's ship.
"Well....there's something I didn't tell you then."
By this time, Castyr is stroking the back of my neck with his thumb, sending exciting shivers down my spine.
"What?" I look up at his big eyes.
"Only people who stars mean the most to can see the stars in our eyes."
This makes me smile. "What about people who love the star?"
Castyr's face lights up, and a faint glow appears. "I think that counts," he smiles. "There's another thing I didn't mention."
"Oh?"
Castyr leans in and whispers, "Stars only reveal their true eyes to the person they love."
My heart skips a beat. "Oh really?" I try to stay calm.
Castyr nods.
I look into his star-filled eyes and melt. Castyr moves in slowly and kisses my lips. My lips part as I look at him, wanting more.
"I love you, Kilo," Castyr says softly.
This is the happiest moment of my life. "I love you, Castyr."
I place my hand under the star's chin and kiss his lips. Castyr returns the kiss, and his glow brightens. I wrap my arms around Castyr and lift him up as I stand. He straddles my waist as I walk to the bedroom.
Castyr is radiant as I gently lay him down. I go in for a deep kiss before moving back on my knees. Castyr sits up underneath me as I take off my shirt. He runs his hand up my chest and cradles my neck. He goes in for a kiss as I slip my hands under his shirt. Tingles rush down Castyr as I run my hands over his back.
We break away only long enough for me to slip Castyr's shirt over his head. Our lips meet again and interlock with each other lovingly. I hear a moan from Castyr as I run my hand down his bare body. He breaks away for air before kissing my neck. His soft lips send tingles down my spine. My hand cradles the star's head as his lips kiss along my collarbone.
I move my hand to his chest and gently press him down into the bed. I bring my face close to Castyr and stare into his sky-dark eyes, letting his star-filled gaze engulf me. My star smiles and slips his hands in my hair. He pulls me close to him, our bodies skin to skin. I smile as I go in for a kiss. A beautiful light fills the room as we become enveloped in each other's arms.