Page 43 of Possessed By the Leonid King

“You need medical attention! You are bleeding out.”

“Ru, stop!” Layla tugged his ear. “Bleeding where? Why?”

“From your insides! There, on your thighs! I injured you last night. I am so sorry, my Layla. I never—”

“I think I got my period. I’m sure your medical bay will have feminine hygiene supplies—or don’t Queens—”

“They do! But they don’t if they’re...”

“Pregnant? Yeah. I know. I guess I’m not.”

If she was, I probably injured her with such roughness. We’ll be more careful. I can be gentle. She never complained. Rupex opened the bay door and held Layla tightly to him, keeping her pressed to his chest and encircled in his broad arms. If Marcus stumbled out, he would see a few inches of skin, but nothing private. “I’ll get you to your quarters to clean up and find you supplies.”

“Thanks.” Layla looked up at him, her eyes free of their normal fire. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry. I was a thoughtless partner. Rough mating and—”

“Whoa, whoa there.” Layla shook her head emphatically, features scrunching in indignation. “You’re not too rough with me. Nothing is ever painful with you. Well—stretchy, but then it’s okay. This isn’t injury-related bleeding. This is ‘body getting ready to try again’ bleeding. If you still want to?”

“Oh, I do. I do! Even if you could never— That is to say, if I caused you some injury and you were unable to pursue other careers or fulfill this contract, I would—I would make amends. I would...” Rupex put her down outside her quarters, his paw pressing the keypad.

She covered her chest with her arms as she left his side, hurrying to the bathroom. “You would what?”

“I would... buy your contract. In perpetuity. It would be my fault that you couldn’t work as a surrogate.”

Layla emerged, wrapped in a towel. Rupex could hear the tapping of the water on the hard antimicrobial surfaces of the shower walls.

“You what?” Her face was blank, held halfway away from him.

He found a similar problem. Suddenly, he could hardly bear to meet her eyes. This is not how a King behaves.

Yet, he kept his face averted, hiding in the forest of his mane. “I said I would buy your contract. In perpetuity. It would be my fault if you couldn’t work any longer.”

“As a surrogate, maybe. But not all jobs.”

“But I would have ruined your chances of having a family. And...” His chest was tight. I would be your family.

“And what, Ru? What were you going to say?” She stepped closer to him, her hand coming to rest on his furry bicep. Her fingers sank in, completely buried in the plush pelt. She massaged him with her fingers as her soft voice and her pleading eyes captured his.

I would possess her so fully—and she already owns me. She doesn’t even know how much I would devote myself to her... Words stuck in his throat and he growled softly.

Layla didn’t retreat. “You can tell me things, you know? If you would be willing to—to let me live on your ship for the rest of my life, you ought to be able to tell me anything that’s on your mind.”

Words were a snarl, an angry rush.

How can you risk losing another woman? Another woman you love?

His eyes glaring and his voice furious, he hissed, “I would be your family. Not much of one, but still.”

Her hand fell away. Layla stumbled back, face as white as the towel, and eyes perfectly round.

Rupex sniffed at her, his ears swiveling forward. Layla’s breath was coming out in short jumps, and her blood was racing. Blood... blood mixed with sweet womanly juices... Rupex knew he wasn’t supposed to be tempted by her scent, especially not that scent.

We do not hunt our mates.

But I have been hunting for her for so long without knowing it.

Now I’ve scared her away.

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