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“Mm.”
Ardol shifted. He could hear all the questions the medical officer wasn’t asking, all the things he wasn’t saying. “You must be thrilled. Another couple to help with your reproductive technology.”
“Multiple couples. From what I hear, over a dozen human Queens arrived there over the past year. Most of them are making new lives and finding partners. Some want children. I’m happy to help. Nice to give others a shot that I didn’t get myself.” Marcus stared straight ahead.
Ardol did the same, nodding. Any second, the rest of the crew would be streaming in, waiting for the bay doors to open and the walkway to extend, connecting their docked ship with solid Lynxian turf. If the medical officer was going to make any scathing remarks, Ardol wanted him to get them over with now, without an audience.
“Don’t blow it, cub.” Marcus fluffed his mane and straightened his uniform, eyes still locked forward, gazing at the bay doors.
“We’re ready!” Layla’s voice burst into the tense silence.
Ardol didn’t care if they were all in place or not. They were docked. “Here we go.”
The first sight that met him was a purple-blue sky and a crimson sun streaking down on a dusty landscape that had shining streaks among the rocks and scrubby grass, probably from the mithrium mines.
A large crowd of Lynxians, mostly cubs and males, were cheering. Interspersed among them were human Queens, leaning on the arms of their partners, shepherding cubs back from the walkway as it extended, waving with their peculiarly pretty fur-less arms.
“I see Dane!” Talos bellowed, his deep roaring voice making the air vibrate.
“There’s Cherie! And their cubs, oh my God, Ru! Is that what our cubs will look like when they get bigger? They’re adorable!”
Layla pushed past him, nearly knocking him over.
Ardol bit back a curse and quickened his pace, eyes roving.
Jade. Where is she?
With that bright red mane—hair, he supposed human Queens wouldn’t use the term mane—she would stand out.
“Jade! There he is. That’s your Leopardine.” A Lynxian in the crowd was pointing at him.
Ardol followed the voice back to its owner and saw her, sandwiched between an elderly Queen and this half-grown Knight.
There she is. Mine.
Act like a King, the King you were born to be, the King she will make you.
Strut. Swagger. Smile. You could buy and sell this planet and everyone on it with the money you have coming to you.
“You must be Jade.” Ardol made his way to the woman as the crowd parted and reformed in new knots of clamoring, hugging people. He ignored the way the rest of the residents were cooing and cheering over Rupex, Layla, and their cubs. He didn’t need their attention, nor did he want it. As long as Jade gave him attention, that was all he needed.
“Ardol. My darling!”
Ardol found himself at a loss for words as the pretty stranger moved toward him, eyes locked on his, her long legs (well, long for a human) making her hips sway with every step. Her skirt swayed around the contours of her hips and her bust—well, it was currently pressed against him.
He didn’t know why the woman was acting like they were lovers, not simply two people who’d made arrangements for the sake of convenience, but it was certainly the facade he wanted to cultivate.
Or maybe she’s just hot for Felids after living among them for a year. I mean, if I were a human Queen and my choices were those short, hairless humans or superior Felids, I’d feel the same. She obviously recognizes a good thing when she sees it.
“My love!” he purred, giving her his best seductive smile, picking her up and swinging her in a circle. “Thank you for the lovely welcome.” He bent his flexible spine to press his forehead to hers.
“So glad you’re here at last,” she whispered back, her slender fingers stroking up his biceps and landing on his shoulders.
Her touch was heaven, everything he imagined Cala’s would be, just smoother and lighter. “At last? You’ve hardly had time to miss me,” he pointed out, licking his lips.
“Oh, I’ve had time enough,” she breathed against him, her scent dancing across his sensitive nose and over his tongue.
He’d never had Cala’s scent in his nose, never had her touch or her nearness. Jade was permeating every sense. The soft skin, the teasing touch, her strange alluring appearance, and her scent... Parts of him turned hard at once, and his tail betrayed him, seeking out her smooth, cream-colored legs as they protruded under her skirt.
