Chapter 49
Alanna
Grumbling, Alanna struggled to walk normally as she crossed the large, formal assembly hall in the UN building.
There were cameras everywhere, and she did not want to see articles like – ‘Alanna: bowlegged, can’t stand up straight and falls at UN building, wearing no panties!
’ – for the rest of the time she was on Earth.
It would, unfortunately, be a completely true article.
She had worn panties to this event. A thong to keep the lines from showing through her fitted, royal purple dress.
She was still wearing her wedding colors since this was, technically, a wedding event.
But they had barely arrived when Survii had shoved her in a corner, lifted her skirt, and clawed them off.
He hid them in his pocket, smiled, then escorted her into the hall like her pussy wasn’t out in a dress that only went halfway down her thigh. If she bent over, the entire world would know if she went au naturale or full Brazilian.
Or if she fell. Which was highly likely because Survii had fucked her so hard, she hadn’t been able to stand up straight this morning.
She had to exchange the heels she had originally planned to wear for flats because it took all her power just to stand up straight and try to keep her thighs together and not bowed out.
He looked so damn smug about it too. Every time he put his arm around her waist, surreptitiously helping to hold her up, or ran his hand down her hip, enjoying the lack of panty lines on her dress, his aura was filled with such primal, smug, masculine satisfaction, she almost wanted to smack him.
And probably would have if her body wasn’t still singing.
As sore as she was, the endless orgasms he had given her really made up for it. Some of the weakness was just from her body suffering repetitive climaxes well into the morning, her brain still a bit fuck drunk. It made it impossible for her to actually be mad at him.
And at least he was always there to hold her up.
Smug he might be, but he did help her stand and assist her in walking.
When she dropped her purse – after stumbling a bit – he was the one who bent to grab it, making sure that she didn’t have to try.
Of course, he also eyed her thighs all the way up, but the point was, he had done the damage, but he was also handling clean up.
And really, could she ask for anything more?
The big party was like a secondary reception.
There was another table laden with gifts – various traditional gifts from the different cultures in attendance – another cake that was more for decoration than for actual eating, and another dance floor.
Though no one was likely to start drunk twerking on this one – thank goodness.
Most of the attendants would probably break a hip if they tried.
The others had no ass to twerk with anyway.
Not that it wouldn’t be hilarious to watch stiff, formal, conservative, older people suddenly pop, lock, and drop it, but she highly doubted it was going to happen.
Maybe the stiffness of the event was why she had chosen a short, tight dress.
It wasn’t low cut. She had the jeweled shoulder piece from her wedding cape on her shoulders, leaving her with only a boob window.
It definitely wasn’t the normal fashion constraints this crowd would demand.
But she and Survii were so important that no one in the room, even the stuffiest of them, would dare say that they weren’t dressed appropriately.
The two of them were making rounds. Greeting everyone, thanking them for attending, for their gifts, for their well wishes.
But every time she stopped, she had to remember how to stand with her thighs together – and it was a strain.
Every time she took a step after standing, it was like her legs locked up and that first step almost took her out.
That was where Survii had to keep taking hold of her waist, keeping her up with ease and a smirk.
Alanna thought she was maybe doing a decent job of hiding her troubles with his help. But the grin Peony kept sending her told her that she might be wrong.
A guess that was confirmed when, while waiting for Survii to return from the bathroom, Peony and the others approached. Scarlet and Holly looked at her knowingly. Hattie was there too, but she didn’t have the same look on her face.
“It happens to all of us from time to time,” Peony said without preamble in Domtri – so the roaming cameras and microphones couldn’t understand – patting her shoulder companionably. “Sometimes, they just get a little… feral.”
“Huh?” Hattie, clueless, looked between them.
“Usually for important things like this,” Scarlet agreed. “Or when the breeding kink kicks in.”
“Has that kicked in yet?” Holly asked, resting a hand on her rounded belly.
“Oh,” realization crossed Hattie’s face and she quickly pasted a smile over her face. Not so quick that Alanna didn’t see the hurt in her eyes though. “Survii being a little too, er, demanding?”
Alanna grimaced. “I was trying to hide it.”
Peony laughed. “No hiding that particular walk. I mean, you’re doing well. I don’t think I walked at all the first time Atem did that to me.”
“He got excited,” Alanna smiled. “I guess the wedding night meant more to him than he expected. And I think the breeding kink is starting to kick in. He hasn’t said anything yet, but he sometimes stares at my stomach or, when we’re having sex, he pushes in really… er, sorry. TMI.”
Scarlet grimaced. “A bit, yeah. But understandable. The mating bond will trigger that desire in domini. Actually, pretty much all sapient species.”
“Really?” Holly looked surprised. “What if they don’t want kids before bonding? Will it still do it then?”
Scarlet hummed thoughtfully. “I haven’t really made a study of mating reflexes and instincts.
At least, not beyond what I needed for my medical training.
That’s a whole branch of study on its own.
But the short answer is no. Not every mating bond is going to result in a breeding urge.
Usually, if someone really doesn’t want kids, that feeds into the mating bond choice and their partner will almost always feel the same.
And in those cases, a breeding urge doesn’t always develop.
And when it does, it’s usually just a kink. Not an actual desire. Like roleplay.”
“How does that work?” Peony asked, head tilting.
“I told you, that’s not my area of training. Romival might know something. The study of mating and bonds and how they form is a huge area of research, but, on Turv, it’s something scholars learn. Not healers. I just know that it happens.”
Alanna stared thoughtfully. She had done a basic look into the topic, but not very deep. She knew breeding urges developed after the mating – even if they weren’t there beforehand. She didn’t know they wouldn’t form if the couple in question truly did not want children.
Hearing that, some part of her she hadn’t realized was tense relaxed.
If Survii was getting breeding urges, then he really was okay with kids?
Warmth flooded her. Joy and relief and excitement.
Because she wanted kids, but had been afraid, despite his reassurances, that he would only have kids with her because she wanted them.
And that maybe having kids when he didn’t want them would foster feelings of resentment and spoil their mating.
A rare but possible outcome of matings. And neither person in the bond was ever okay if that happened.
“Earth to Alanna.”
“Huh?” She started, looking around to find everyone staring at her. She realized that she had completely zoned out and the conversation had continued without her.
“Did you hear?” Holly asked, voice soft with understanding.
“Erm,” she cast her mind back, trying to rewind the conversation in her head, but getting absolutely nothing. She was aware they had been talking around her but couldn’t actually remember anything that was said.
“I was asking if you minded if I went home,” Hattie said patiently.
“Huh? Home? How are you going to get back to Turv from here?”
Hattie laughed. “No. Not home home. I mean, home as in my parent’s house. They had to leave a couple weeks ago because they couldn’t keep taking time off.”
“Should have taken Keith with them,” Holly growled with surprising vehemence, crossing her arms and glaring around like he might be here. He hadn’t come to this reception though.
Hattie didn’t seem upset by Holly’s anger. “His boss is letting him work from home, so it’s okay.”
Holly scoffed, her expression hardening further. Her aura was bristling with anger and disgust. And while Alanna didn’t like Keith – or his vibe – it didn’t feel personal like this.
“I’d be taking Keith with me,” Hattie said.
“I figured since you and Survii are going off on your honeymoon, it would be a good chance for me to go home and visit with my family for a while. I’m not involved in any of the negotiations or mingling.
And the negotiations are over anyway. So, it won’t be a problem for me to take Keith home and be with my parents before we leave, right? ”
“You’re going to tell that loser it’s definitely over, right?” Holly asked, eyes narrowed.
“What’s with you?” Peony asked, chuckling.
Hattie smiled. “Yes. I’m definitely done with Keith. He only came because he wanted the chance to be famous. He got a lot of followers on his socials for this. So, mission accomplished.”
“Skeeze,” Holly sneered.
“Yeah. But I told him we’re done, and I just want to make sure that he gets home safe.
And see my parents before we have to go.
I know we’re going to set up communications first thing between Earth and the rest of the universe, but phone calls won’t replace actually being with them, you know? So, you don’t mind, right?”
“You’re asking me?” Alanna pointed to herself.