Page 53 of Scars & Starlight
Her hands begin to tremble against me where she’s holding on and pulling me closer, and I know she’s climbing up to that peak. It’s a path I’ll always follow. The thought of spilling inside her triggers my most primal needs, ones that scream at me to mark her, to tie her to me by creating new life.
REPRODUCTIVE STATUS: OPTIMAL. DOMINANT REPRODUCTIVE HORMONE LEVELS PEAKING.
I hiss through my teeth and pull out before my body forces us to lock together.
Tara’s big brown eyes widen with concern. “Kairen? What is it? Did I do something wrong?”
“By Seris, no, my love,” I hasten to reassure her. “You could never be anything but perfect. My nanites just informed me you are now fertile.”
Her cheeks turn red at the proclamation. “Oh. So, if you… we would…”
I nod at her, caressing her warm face with my thumbs. “First conception between matches is almost a guarantee.” The thought makes me twitch against her, a reaction she doesn’t miss, her eyes widening further. “Every consecutive pregnancy is less easy to achieve, but still far from a struggle.”
Tara swallows heavily and looks down at my chest, avoiding my gaze. “I… I never thought I wanted babies… until I met you.” She looks up at me. “I think you would be an amazing father.” My hearts skip a beat as she continues. “Patient and loving, but firm with guidance.”
It’s my turn to clear the lump from my throat. “Youalready know I think you will be an incredible mother, Tara.” I smile, my tips twitching at the corners. “I want enough children with you to populate a small planet.”
Her eyes sparkle as she pulls me down for a kiss. “Let’s start with one,” she whispers against my lips.
I pull back, surprised. “Are you certain?” I press my lower body against hers without meaning to and groan at the welcome pressure. “You want to start now? We could synthesize a fertility regulation protocol for you.”
“I want to start now,” she says more firmly and takes me into her hand. My head tilts back as she joins us again, backing her words with actions that can’t be misunderstood.
Growling with a sudden surge of possessiveness, I pull her against me and climb on top. Our bodies meet over and over as we share breaths in the dwindling space between our faces. “You want me to give you a child now, Tara?” I ask quietly but savagely.
She tries to speak, but only a little hiccup comes out, so she nods frantically instead. I moan as the base of my spine tingles, the fluttering of her inner walls telling me we’re about to jump off into the abyss together. I use a hand to tilt her pelvis up, my body following instincts written in my blood.
“Then take every last drop,” I growl, slamming our bodies together one last, powerful time as we both erupt, our cries rising together into the quiet of the night. “Tara, Tara, Tara,” I whisper into her ear with every surge in the long moments after, my body going through the motions to ensure conception.
“I love you,” we say in the same breath as our lips meet in another passionate joining, our tongues battling for dominance in a fight we’re both happy to lose. It’s not long before we’re both eager for another round, though I know the first one sufficed: by this time next cycle, our little vanguard will be stronger by one.
27
TARA
Feldman gives me sad puppy eyes that look ridiculous on a man his age. “Are you sure you can’t take me with you?”
I wince and avoid his gaze. “I’m sorry, doctor, but there’s only one bed and Kairen says it’ll take a few days of travel.”
“I could sleep on the floor, I don’t care!” the astrophysicist says with exuberance.
“Well… There is a medical cot…”
Before I can finish my sentence, Patricia smacks Feldman upside the head. “I’m not sleeping on the floor or a medical cot,” she hisses. “And if you think I’m going to let you go alone, your brain is starting to sour.” Our part-time medic and part-time minister crosses her arms and gives her partner a narrow-eyed look. “You’ll be so enamored you’ll never want to come home to me again.”
Feldman rushes to embrace her. “I could never forget you, my little lotus flower!”
And that’s my cue to get the hell out of Dodge.
“Assistive units don’t require a bed,” Kiko chimes in from beside me, his voice overly bright.
I lean down to help him climb up my arm and onto my shoulders. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’d never do intergalactic travel without you.”
I spot Kai near the Talon, talking with his men, Zane and Jorik, while Sorin loads some crates they brought down from the Sovereign.
“Are you sure you don’t want to check on your ship?” I ask my malien as I wrap my arms around him from behind. His hands immediately cover mine, like he too can’t go a moment without skin-to-skin contact when we’re near each other. These last weeks with him have been incredible, despite the constant danger.
“I’m sure, my love,” he replies gently. “I discussed everything with Caden over comms, and it’s far from the first time that he takes command for an extended period.” He turns in my arms until we’re face to face. “Do you have everything you need?”
