Fortunately, Arcanthus’s voice, as smug as ever, chimed in from the back of Drakkal’s mind.Don’t be stupid, Drak.
Seemed like it was too late for that.
TWENTY-ONE
“So Urgand finally give you the okay?” Samantha asked as she sat down beside Shay on the couch.
Shay lifted her head and grinned. “Yes. Finally. I’ve been dying, Sam.Dying.”
It’d been a month since Leah’s birth, and Shay was so done waiting. While she’d felt healed and ready to go for at least a week now, Urgand had urged her to wait, to be cautious, just in case. Terrans and their physiology were still new territory for the vorgal, and Shay was basically his test subject.
It’d been torture to do nothing but lie next to Drakkal every night as he kissed her, held her, and lovingly explored her body with his hands. And that body had changed; Shay was still getting used to it herself. Her hips were a little wider, and there were stretch marks and some loose skin on her belly, but Drakkal worshipped those changes, telling her she was beautiful with words and kisses. She saw the truth of it in his eyes every time they settled on her. So, she embraced those changes. And why shouldn’t she? Her body had createdlife. It had sheltered, nurtured, and birthed their daughter.
As much as Drakkal had wanted release, he’d adhered strictly to Urgand’s orders, sticking to loving caresses and kisses—and had stood by his vow to go without release until he could pleasure her fully, as well. Even when she tried to instigate it, he’d refused. Shay wanted to feel him inside her again. She wanted to feel his girth, his length, to feel him filling her completely, to have her body locked with his. She wanted that physical, bonding connection again.
She’d been horny as hell these last couple weeks. Whether it was caused by some pheromone from Drakkal that was driving her wild, her hormones still being out of whack, or his raw sex appeal, it didn’t matter. She’d turned that pent-up energy toward her training, working off the baby weight and pushing to regain the strength she’d had before she was taken from Earth.
Samantha laughed and reached out to brush a finger over Leah’s tiny rounded ear. “I wonder if Arcanthus would change his mind if he knew how long he’d have to wait for sex after I gave birth.”
Shay grinned and looked down at her daughter, who was cuddled against her chest, nursing contently. Though Leah had a healthy appetite and fed often, Shay seemed to be producing an overabundance of milk. She’d often had to express a little milk before each feeding, or it’d be too much, too fast for Leah.
Shay hadn’t bothered with a blanket since it was only her and Samantha in the break room, but she had one on standby just in case one of the males walked in—not for the sake of modesty, but to avoid a potential fist fight if Drakkal found out someone saw some nip.
She gently ran her fingers through the dark hair on Leah’s head. Leah’s eyes fluttered open and stared up at her. They were blue, a few shades darker than Shay’s, surrounded by long, dark eyelashes.
“I’m sure he already knows. I don’t see Drakkal being quiet about it,” Shay said, easing back and returning her gaze to Sam. “Is Arc considering it?”
Samantha lifted her feet off the floor curled her legs beside her on the cushion. “It’s like…an inner battle with himself. He’s always had these instincts to reproduce—it comes from his tretin side—but neither of us were really ready for that yet when we first met. But now, seeing the baby, seeingmewith her, it’s like his mind and body are finally aligning with those instincts.”
“What about you? What do you want?”
Sam dropped her gaze to Leah and smiled. “I’ve always wondered what our baby would look like. If it’d have horns, claws, and a tail. Even that extra eye. And how beautiful it’d be. And when I saw Arc holding Leah, I understood how he felt seeing me hold her.” She looked at Shay again, her smile widening into a grin. “Why is it such a turn-on to see men holding babies?”
“Beats me. But it is fucking hot watching Drakkal hold Leah. Like ovary explosion hot. Seeing that big, rough male being so gentle and careful with something so small and fragile, with such adoration in his eyes…” Shay groaned and let her head tilt back as that familiar spark of arousal bloomed low in her belly. “I’m telling you, Sam. It’s beentorture.”
Samantha laughed and patted Shay’s leg. “Not for much longer. Now you can claim your man at your earliest convenience.”
Shay lifted her head and smiled, but there was something on Samantha’s face that gave Shay pause. “What’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking about what happened last year. With…Vaund, and Arc’s old place.”
“That’s in the past now, Sam. You guys took care of him.”
Samantha met Shay’s gaze. “What if something like thathappens again? What if it happens after Arc and I have a baby? That’s two innocent little lives caught in the crossfire. This life… I’ve never been so happy as I am here with Arcanthus. Everyone here has become my family. But it’s still dangerous. They’re still criminals working with other criminals.”
Leah unlatched from Shay’s nipple and turned her head away. Shay pulled her bra up, tugged her shirt down, and rested Leah over her shoulder, gently patting the baby’s back.
Samantha was voicing the same concerns Shay had harbored from the beginning. Drakkal, Arcanthus, and the rest of the crew were good people, but they were still criminals working a dangerous job, always toeing the line, always taking risks. At heart, it was still the sort of life Shay had wanted to escape. Drakkal himself had talked to Shay about it a few times over the last couple weeks. He was conflicted, but he was starting to see things the same way. They were making good money, but Arc and Drak already had more money than they could spend—though Arc sure seemed keen on trying to sometimes.
Shay hadn’t pressed Drakkal on it. Gears were turning in his mind, and she was fine with letting him sort it all out on his own for now. He already knew where she stood. If there was a way for them to go legit, she’d support it wholeheartedly. She wanted Leah’s life to start outright.
“Have you talked to Arcanthus about it?” Shay asked.
Samantha frowned. “I haven’t, but I think it’s on his mind, too, when he looks at Leah and me.Especiallywhen he looks at me.”
Shay was just about to tell her it’d all be okay when the door opened and Thargen entered, followed by Drakkal. Drakkal’s gaze met Shay’s; her heart fluttered, and her pussy clenched in immediate want.
Down,girl. I know you’ve been thirsty, and you’ll drink your fill soon.