Page 68 of Whoops-A-Mate From Outer Space
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
He nodded and walked back to his apartment.
I was sure there were a couple of mementos I could give him, plus I had non-perishables I could give to his mom.
I was saying goodbye, but I hoped that I was leaving him with a solid love of learning.
∞∞∞
If I’d thought that the first two months of my life on base were busy, they were nothing when compared to those that followed Eashai’s and my mating. Between the research changing as they anticipated the arrival of volunteers, preparing for my adjusted classes, moving into our townhouse, and fucking—lots of fucking—it felt like we’d been working constantly for weeks.
It was going to be a rare day off, and I’d just flopped onto the couch when Eashai came downstairs looking green around the gills.
I frowned, set my coffee on an end table, stood, and walked over to him.
“Again?” I asked, reaching up and sliding my hand along his jaw.
He nodded. “I had thought it had ended.”
“Did you eat any of the same things as the other day? Do you maybe have a food allergy we need to consider?”
He shook his head. “I do not believe I ate any of the same foods. Perhaps I should consult with a doctor to test for allergies.”
I frowned and tugged him to the couch. “I don’t know if cuddles will make it better, but no harm in trying.”
“They could be an effective treatment if it is stress-related,” he replied.
That made me frown more. “Are you stressed? Is there anything I can do?”
He stopped before we could sit and gave me a soft smile. “I am not consciously aware of additional stress. But we have been busy. My body may be stressed in ways my mind is not.”
“That’s true,” I said as I sat and tugged him down beside me.
We settled into a comfortable cuddling position, with my back against the arm of the couch and one leg against the back cushions. My mate reclined in the V between my legs.
I trailed my fingers up and down his arm, loving the quiet moment but worried about his bouts of nausea over the previous few days.
“Should you put off your trip to Lyll?” I asked. “I won’t be able to come this time to cuddle you through the worst of your spacesickness. And you’re already nauseous. I think that could be a bad combination.”
He sighed. “I could send another person. My presence is not as crucial this time. But I had promised Tolai and Veeshen that I would watch Naduq for an evening so that they could have some alone time before…”
“Before?” I prodded after several seconds.
Eashai sat bolt upright. “I… I…”
His eyes were wide and mouth agape.
“E?”
He turned to me. “I… we…” He swallowed. “We have done nothing to prevent pregnancy.”
I blinked. “Are you still fertile?”
He considered the question, then nodded slowly. “I am at the upper age range of Lalyllte fertility. So I did not think…”
I swallowed, then took his hands. “I’m here, no matter what. Is this something you want?”
He blinked several times, liquid pooling at the corners of his eyes. “Very much so. I have long wished to be a bapi.”
