Page 31 of The Dalgur’s Pet

Giselle held her breath, her mind whirling with the information whispered in her ear.

“Our species craves order above all else. What we have done is wrong, unnatural. But once we started using living hosts, it was impossible to go back. The machines… they’re so cold, sterile. They don’t properly hold reverence for the beauty of the act. The act of creation. Life. I believe many Dalgurs feel the way we do, but they are taught to resist, to deny themselves the pleasure they crave. Or perhaps they are just more clever than Vrix and I. Perhaps they just didn’t get caught.”

She squirmed in his lap, maneuvering so she straddled his hips, needing to fully see his face. She rested her hands on his shoulders, searching for something that would save her, any bit of morality within him.

“Please don’t give me the surgery. I will stay with you, but please don’t force me to be your host. I don’t want that.”

Her body trembled, her lip quivering as she scrutinized him for a reaction.

Thase nodded, not saying a word. She couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad sign.

“For me, the pleasure of filling you is more than enough. We have already sent many broodlings into the world. It was why were exiled, for having a connection beyond what is acceptable for Dalgur society. We are meant to mix our genes with as many other Dalgurs as we can, not devote ourselves to one.”

“You really can never go back?”

“We cannot. The sovereign’s decree is irreversible. We had been careless with the way we utilized natural hosts, reproduced together.”

A knot balled in Giselle’s throat, one she tried hard to swallow.

What they did… it was objectively horrifying, at least from a human’s viewpoint. Using unwilling hosts for their broods. The sick gratification they got from the spreading of pain and pleasure. But there was love between them, palpable in how he spoke of Vrix with such affection, even when he tried to hide it.

They’d been willing to risk everything for each other.

Thase brought her attention back to him, his gaze soft.

“We will not force you to have surgery.”

The shock of his statement froze her for a moment, but then her heart soared like an eagle in the sky. She had no reason to believe him, but she did.

On an impulse, she took his face in her hands, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. They were hard, as solid as the rest of his skin, tasting of salt and sea. She breathed in a sigh, then pulled away, his wide eyes staring at her.

“Are you trying to… bite me?”

She snorted a laugh, a laugh that turned into a giggle that she couldn’t quite suppress, the absurdity over all that had happened bubbling over.

“What is so funny?” he asked, the look of utter confusion on his face making her laughter start up again.

When she could finally breathe, she smiled, resting her hands on his shoulders.

“It’s a kiss. It’s a way that humans show intimacy.”

Thase nodded, his eyes narrowed like he didn’t quite believe her, but before she could break the awkward silence, he pulled her face to his, their lips connecting once more.

She flicked her tongue, enjoying the way he jolted, his claws tangling in her hair, bringing her closer to him. Another hand was at her ass, squeezing, stoking her arousal. His tongue pressed into her mouth, any gentleness gone, his mewling whimpers doing nothing to quell her lust.

There was a whoosh as the door opened, Vrix entering with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?” he asked, as Giselle pulled herself away.

Thase spun the chair to face him.

“We are kissing. It is how humans show intimacy.”

Vrix’s eyes went wide, hurrying to stand next to them.

“I would like to kiss too!”

Anticipation hummed on the surface of her skin, a smile pulling at her mouth. She reached up, knotting her fingers in his hair and pulling him down to her. Their lips met, a bit clumsy at first, but Vrix got the hang of it quickly, his rubbery tongue sliding into her mouth, flicking against her own. His hand glided over her body as electricity filled her, silencing some of the anxiety floating through her.