Chapter 38
Romival
Feeling his female relax in his arms finally eased Romival’s fear.
He had made a serious error. One that he could see very nearly ruined his entire relationship, just judging by the heat that had been in his Holly’s eyes. The redness of her face. That vibrant, vicious red of rage that he had only seen rise for the sake of Hattie before.
That alone told him he had done something just as bad if not worse than the comment that Tuvo had made. And while he didn’t understand exactly what Tuvo had done wrong, he feared what had just almost happened on a visceral level.
Apparently, humans put much more weight on the concept of medical confidentiality than the domini did.
While it was considered poor form for a healer to disclose private information to just anyone, it was not frowned upon, and in fact was actively encouraged, for them to disclose it to someone’s mate or their clan.
Such a thing wasn’t considered wrong in the least.
But judging by Holly’s reaction, it was very wrong by human standards. A high insult that he and Donivi had unintentionally paid her that nearly destroyed his mating before it began.
“Forgive me, vi Vakara,” he repeated, stroking her back. “I truly did not…”
She nodded as his voice trailed off. “I know. I… get it.”
Romival wasn’t sure what to say. He had been ecstatic when she asked for his knot, eager not just to feel the tightness of her sheath around it, but also because of what it might mean.
He didn’t think he’d be successful the first time.
He hadn’t even really considered that he might be breeding her.
It certainly was an afterthought, but he had been more excited about the idea of her finally being ready to take that step with him.
But seeing her dismay at the idea of carrying his pup cut deep.
He didn’t want her to do something she wasn’t ready for, but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t ready for it.
It was a hot, sinking disappointment combined with the fear of the misstep he had made and the despair at the thought of her rejecting the pregnancy.
If there even was a pregnancy. By her own admission, she didn’t have the standard cycle length of other females. She might still be safe.
But that meant…
“Romi?”
Her soft voice turned his distant gaze back onto her.
“What is it? You got all tense all of a sudden. What’s wrong?”
“We cannot… We cannot mate at all any longer.”
“What?” She looked shocked and dismayed at the decision. “Why?”
“If the sperm in precum is enough to get you pregnant before you’re ready, then there is no safe time or way to penetrate you.”
“Romi-”
“It’s all right.” He gave her a smile. “There are still plenty of ways I can pleasure you without being inside you. And when you’re ready, I’ll be eager to join with you again-”
“Romi.” She cut him off, voice hard. “We’re not going to stop having sex.”
“But you-”
“It’s fine,” she rushed to say, her face delightfully pink again. “We’ve already… I mean, I’m scared of being pregnant, but it’s not like I don’t want to have your kids. And if you want a big family like I do, you have to start early, right?”
Romival stared at her, unsure if he should rejoice or refuse her words. He opted for something in the middle, finally saying-
“If you don’t want to do this now, we do not have to. I know that Donivi is attempting to create a safe method of conception control with Scarlet for human females. We can wait until that is done and I can please you with my hands and mouth until then.”
Instead of being reassured, his Holly frowned, her brow furrowing. “Did you change your mind about having kids with me?”
“Of course, not! I want it more than anything.”
“Then, why are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“Because I want you to want it more than anything. You are my mate, Holly. Even if we haven’t completed the steps yet. I want your happiness as much, if not more than, my own. If you don’t want pups now, or ever, then I will not force them upon you.”
To his surprise, Holly’s expression melted into a dreamy smile, her eyes practically sparkling with joy at his words. She breathed his name as she embraced him.
“That’s so sweet, Romi. I love you, too.”
He chuckled, petting her hair with his claws gently scratching at her scalp, pulling a soft noise of contentment from her throat.
“I want to look after your happiness too, you know,” she said into his chest. “I like that you want a big family. The guys I tried dating on Earth never did. It’s kind of a turn off for a guy when you tell him you want to make your own ball team.”
“It is? Why? Oh.” His mind supplied the answer to his own question before she could. “Of course. Your species has no problems reproducing. It would make sense that you then don’t have the same strong urge to procreate as the domini do.”
“I mean, some of us do. But for most, it’s not really the big family thing like I want.
And I want that family with you, Romi. I do.
It’s just…” She hesitated, looking up at him uncertainly.
“Can you keep a really close eye on me? Like, I know Donivi scans Peony every three days to track her baby’s growth.
And I don’t mind letting him study me too.
But I really want you to keep track of it.
Scan me as often as you can. Just to make sure that we’re both all right. ”
It was like she asked if it would be too much trouble for him to enjoy his favorite meal before giving her his knot again and finishing the day by getting results on all of his experiments. Was it all right for all his desires to be given to him all at once?
“Do not give me permission to scan you whenever I like or my scanner shall never leave my hand,” he warned, nuzzling into the top of her head.
She laughed. “I mean, I don’t hate the idea.”
“Can I fuck you in my big scanner?”
She trembled at the question. His own body heated at the idea of seeing him claiming her in glorious, full, penetrative holo display.
Knotting her. Seeding her. Seeing every aspect of her pleasure and his combined in one magnificent scan.
Knowing her so deeply and perfectly like no one else ever could or would.
“You’re not allowed to let anyone see that scan,” Holly said, cutting through his fantasy.
He growled at the very idea. “No one will ever set their eyes on your body in that way. It is for me alone.”
A strange look came over her bright pink face. “I can’t believe I just gave you permission to make a science porno of us.”
He smirked, growling with pleasure.