Page 68 of Possessed By the Leonid King

“They’re twitching!”

“That’s the heart. The cardiac muscle flexes incredibly fast at this young age. On humans, I believe you can’t detect it until the fifth or sixth week, but Leonids are on a shorter timetable. Five months. Hm.”

“We figured on seven. An average of seven.” Layla’s voice was faint.

“Oh, I know. We figured on lots of things. Hm.”

“Stop saying ‘hm’, Marcus. You’re making us nervous,” Rupex growled, pacing behind Marcus while trying to send reassuring smiles to Layla. He had a feeling his face was not cooperating.

“I’m going to guess we skew closer to the Leonid side based on gestational comparison. To put it in simple terms, if this were a human pregnancy, I wouldn’t have much more than a dot in a sea of darkness. Instead, I’ve got about what I’d expect for a healthy Leonid litter. Still, I’m not certain of the date of conception, so I’m going to say you might expect two bundles of joy between five and six months, not seven to nine.”

Rupex hurried over to support Layla, who suddenly seemed to sag against the scanner. “Layla!”

“That’s so soon. That’s really soon.”

“Did I mention that since you’re already well into the first month, it’s more like four-and-a-half to five?”

Layla squeaked.

“I would very much like you to stop speaking,” Rupex snarled, all of his teeth on display.

Marcus ignored him. “The good news is that the chance of pregnancy loss after a visible heartbeat goes down to 10%. Now, you do have a few dozen wildcards thrown in, but still... I’d give these two a great chance of arriving safely—even if their parents decide to do some bedroom activities. Mind you, I said bedroom. Not command deck. Not my lab. Not in public places, for Bastet’s sake!”

Layla recovered in his arms, a wilted plant receiving life-giving water. “Sex? It’s safe?”

“Just don’t go wild. Here.” Marcus moved to the side of the scanner and retrieved two sheets of glossy paper. “Cub A. Cub B. There you go, Mommy and Daddy.”

I’m a father. I’m a father. My cubs. Rupex stared at the indistinct photo. He blinked and two wet splashes marred the border of the photo. “Look, Layla,” he whispered reverently, a paw tracing the blobby shapes.

“They’ll get prettier,” Layla whispered, taking his elbow.

RUPEX WATCHED LAYLA with hungry eyes, marveling silently. She is my mate. My temple. The home of my unborn young. My goddess.

And then his madonna, this pure beacon of light and life, turned to him with a sinful smile and tossed him medical-grade lubricant. “Swiped it while Marcus was lecturing you about having sex in public places. This seems to be pretty private.” Layla dropped her dress on the floor and kicked it away.

“You minx.”

“You’re not going to turn into one of those guys who won’t sleep with his wife because she’s also someone’s mother, are you?” Layla stopped mid-sashay, worry in her eyes.

With a bound, Rupex sprang at her and picked up her naked form, holding her tight, but not too tight, mindful of her growing bulge. “Have I not been giving you enough attention of another variety, my Layla?” he asked in a low ripple that made her tremble in his arms, her nipples turning into dark, tight marbles of flesh begging for him to suck on them.

Since the discovery of her condition, they had never stopped pleasuring each other, using hands, lips, mouths, and even his tail.

“I just need more attention. I thought Queen heats lasted for weeks.” Layla launched one eyebrow at him as she hooked her heels together in the small of her back.

“I’m beginning to think ‘pregnant human heat’ lasts for months. Not that I’m complaining.”

“Hmm. Maybe it’s not the boosters or the hormones. Maybe it’s just you.” Layla gripped his mane just behind his ears and kissed him hard, her little human tongue dancing around his sharp teeth, teasing the sensitive lines of his lips. Her wet mound pressed to his middle, overwhelming his senses. The feel, the taste, the scent of her... topped off with the soft, needy noises she was making.

“I’m aching to be inside you, too, don’t you know that? If I didn’t care so much about hurting you or the little ones, there’s nothing in this world that would stop me from burying myself in your glorious little slit,” he moaned in return, carrying her to the bed.

“Pregnant Queens have sex, don’t they?”

“Yes, but—”

“Butt. Operative word.” Layla rolled from his paws and positioned herself on her hands and knees, looking back over her shoulder at him. She pointedly pushed her rear out and spread her knees far apart, revealing a sweet little pucker of flesh above her puffy pink folds.

Rupex’s cock seemed to blot out any more words. He thought in snaps and flashes.

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