Page 50 of The Safest Place She Knows

“That issomething that is never said about my clothing.” She grinned. “Iget everything dirty and destroy things, so denim and leather aremy preference.”

“I will make anote of it. Snakeskin pattern?”

“Oh, yes,please.” She looked up at him and smiled.

He got up andpulled on a black shirt, leaving it unbuttoned.

She patteredacross the space and looked at Smudge and then found Snowflake.“Aw, my babies. I am so glad that you landed in a good home.Smudge, you are looking a little chunky.”

Noh came upbehind her. “I believe they locked the moment they arrived. We areon egg watch.”

“Well, I amglad they are getting some. They just got up to breeding size lastyear, and I had them in brumation until a week before I had to sellthem.”

“You took goodcare of them.”

“I like tothink so. I certainly cared for them.” She pressed her palm to theglass slowly, and Smudge came over and pressed her muzzle to theglass. “Hey, darling. You are looking robust.”

Smudge movedside to side happily, bragging.

“You stillcomfortable?”

She movedslowly past the window and showed off her stretched scales.

“Stop bragging,Smudge. You make a lovely mom-to-be. Let me know when you have youreggies.”

Smudgemajestically cruised to the back of her enclosure and climbed to abasking spot. Lya smiled and patted the window again as her friendsettled in for a nap.

She lookedover, and Snowflake was sitting, facing her. His dark scalesgleamed, and she moved over to him. “You are smug. Get laid for thefirst time, and you get all arrogant. Are you enjoying ithere?”

He pressed hismuzzle to the imprint of her hand on the glass. She chuckled. “Noh,did he give you trouble?”

“He refused tosettle. Turned down a number of arrangements in his habitat.”

“And now youknow why he’s Snowflake.”

Noh chuckled.“Got it.”

Venka spokesoftly. “It’s time for her medication.”

Lya smiled andstraightened, turning to look at her other alpha. “Thank you. Now,where did the dress come from? If I had anything like this, itwould still be on the hanger.”

Venka stared ather, and her eyes went to the neckline. “I knew your height, so Iasked my aunts for something comfortable and suitable for aninvalid. You are more... more than I thought.”

Lya chuckled.“My eyes are up a bit.”

Venka smiled.“I have made my choice.”

Noh put a handon her back and said, “Perhaps we should get those meds intoyou.”

She flexed herhand and looked at her arm in the scaled cast. “Something isworking. Maybe it is me just not using my arm for a change. There’ssomething to be said for having alphas doing all the heavylifting.”

“Maybe it wasbeing plastered against Noh for three hours.” Venka grinned. Sheheld out her hand, and Lya stepped toward her.

Venka kissedher fingers and sighed. “So soft. Silken warrior. We have beenwatching your videos with Tamara as they come loose. Who was thatother beta in the contest?”

“Zelle. She’sgreat. She and I ran into each other two days before the firstshoot, and she told me she picked up an alpha who turned out to beone of the investors on the show.”

Venka smiled.“Sounds interesting.”

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