He placed it against my bicep and pushed the plunger. I jolted, even though it didn’t hurt that bad. In time, I’d get used to it.
Mindy growled low in his throat, chest rumbling. He nuzzled me, and I pressed into him. He hated hurting me, but there was so much damn pollen, and I was so highly allergic to the plants that Klars worried my throat would swell to the point it would stop my breathing.
After Mindy pulled the injector away, he stared at my arm with rapt attention, and I knew it was because his instinct demanded he lick the tiny puncture. I lifted my shoulder in invitation, and he grabbed my arm, fingers easily circling it, and licked me.
I swallowed at the feel of his scaled tongue dragging over my skin, and Mindy groaned lewdly. I swore he did this on purpose. Whether true or not, we wouldn’t be fucking again. I doubted I could get hard, and Pookie needed a walk.
Once he was satisfied the tiny injection site was clean, he snagged my hand. Pookie bolted out, snorting and squealing with happiness. The drakcol who had gotten used to her calmly moved aside; everyone else skittered away with gasps as she raced on the wall, tongue lolling.
Pookie never left our sight, though that made her backtrack a few times, which in my opinion wasn’t a bad thing, because she needed all the exercise she could get to burn her excess energy. I kept my hand within Serlotminden’s grasp, and his tail was coiled around my ankle as we wandered without a destination.
Pookie wasn’t the only one who needed exercise. Klars had lectured me about how important it was to rebuild my muscles, and sex wasn’t what he had in mind, hence walking. When we reached Mindy’s home, I imagined the doctors would prescribe different exercises, but right now, this was fine.
When I started to lag, Mindy insisted we go back to the apartment. Pookie wasn’t as amicable. She stayed on the ceiling, snorting and tossing her head. Staring at her with my hands on my hips, I wondered if she was only an animal. She showed a certain level of intelligence that made me wonder. I didn’t think she was sentient like Mindy and I were, but I was fairly certain she was smarter than the typical animal.
“Pookie,” I called.
She gave me her furry butt, feet digging into the vines. Pookie liked to roam, but she also liked us and needed the cold, or we thought she did. We hadn’t tested it yet. When we did leave her with other people, she would try to get back to us after a short while, even with Caleb, who was definitely her next favorite.
But, ultimately, she was a giant baby who wanted what she wanted.
“Come on, Pookie,” I said. “We need to go back.”
She didn’t move more than to flick her tail at me.
Serlotminden ordered, “Come, Daughter.”
Slowly, she crept down the wall, and I frowned. She always listened to him, but not me.
Mindy brushed the back of his finger over my cheek. “No need to be jealous because she loves me more than you.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.” He grinned.
Frowning, I glanced at Pookie, then at the elevator. A revenge plan formed, and without thought, I decided to follow it. I pointed in the opposite direction and asked, “Who’s that?”
Serlotminden turned, and I dashed toward the lift. Pookie tore after me, clearly excited to play. It took Mindy a second to understand what was happening, but it was too late, and the elevator door was closing.
He snarled.
“Catch me, and I’ll let you fuck me again,” I called.
The door slammed shut, and I smirked. I was going to make it to the room before him. Served him right for teasing me. Why did Pookie like him better? I was the one who’d rescued her… though he had fed her. A lot. I snagged Pookie, who scuttled around the walls, and kissed her fluffy face. She snorted, rooting against me. When the door opened with a low whoosh, I stepped out, putting her on the floor, and started back.
On the icy planet, Serlotminden had enjoyed chasing me, so why not here? I wasn’t into exhibitionism like supposedly Caleb and Fyn were, but I had no issues with public affection. We could play, kiss, and hug around other people. As far as I could tell, drakcol were queer-normative, so we weren’t in any danger if we were romantic with each other. Also, I’d seen other drakcol couples doing similar in my time on Don’s ship, so we weren’t breaking any rules or social norms, at least I didn’t think so.
Arms wrapped around me and teeth latched onto my neck, making me leap. A low voice said in my ear, “I caught you. You did not make the chase that hard, Mate.”
My heart pounded as desire flooded me. “I didn't, did I?”
“No.” He licked my neck, then whispered, “Now, I am going to fuck my mate again.”
I replied, keeping my voice even, “I did say you could.” I wiggled and felt something hard pressing into my ass. “And you seem like you want to.”
He cupped the front of my pants, and I gasped, looking around. Thankfully, we were alone.
“So do you, Flower.”
