Their first stop was not, in fact, to the police.

The Everton police were competent at handling human matters, and even mild disputes between humans and Karuvar. But this went beyond what they could handle. She and Kor'ven both agreed there was only one person who could properly determine how to proceed, and he was currently at least a day's travel away.

Kor'ven was confident they could reach him, though, and so they made their way back to Waystation Helios and booted up the terminal in the conference room. The connection faltered twice, but on the third time, they were finally patched through and able to explain just what had happened to Drol'gan.

Addison spoke of the note, something that made Kor'ven tense beside her. She also relayed everything Dallas had said, and Kor'ven provided the location of the factory, since she had not been awake to see it and was still in a slight amount of shock when they fled.

When it came time to discuss the next steps, Addison felt a cold wave of dread wash over her. Her opinion had not changed. If anything, she believed more strongly than ever that they should alter the master code.

But thankfully that was not mentioned. Drol'gan noted that he would speak to the authorities he had direct control over and send them to the scene. He advised the two of them to rest, offered them one of his bodyguards, and said he would see them the next day to discuss security and retaliation.

Some part of her hated leaving so much unsaid, yet she was utterly exhausted, and she needed a chance to tend to Kor'ven's wounds before he hated her again.

"I'm going to grab some supplies. Meet me in my office," she said, her voice sounding more tired than even she realized.

"No," Kor'ven answered. "I have no intention of leaving your side tonight. Not after what happened."

Her heart did a ridiculous little flip at that, a glimmer of hope blossoming within her.

"Drol'gan did offer a bodyguard," she pointed out.

But Kor'ven shook his head. "That is not his job. It is mine."

God help her, that was the answer she'd been hoping for. She smiled a secret smile and led him to the supply closet, grabbing what she needed to clean and dress his wounds. She might not be a medical doctor, but she could handle the basics of first aid.

When they made it to her office, Addison had him sit down and undo his harness so that she was free to work on his torso. Wetting a clean cloth, she wiped away blood that had started to dry, her gaze casting up to him after a few quiet moments.

"I know what I did was…"

"Incredibly reckless?" he asked, violet eyes narrowing at her.

"Yes. That. But not without justification. I just wish it hadn't come at such a cost."

"You are safe now," he assured her, and Addison gave him a sad smile.

"That's not what I meant."

She continued cleaning his wounds, an act through which Kor'ven did not look at her. Maybe she was wrong about what he'd said. Maybe he didn't want her. Maybe he just felt guilty.

"You should not be doing this," he said firmly. "I can find a doctor."

God, he really had a way of inciting her temper. Addison's fingers curled harder around the cloth as she dipped it back into the basin.

"I think I can manage basic first aid," she snapped.

"That is not what I meant." He met her gaze, and she noticed he wasn't angry, but… sad. "It is not your job to care for me. You are not my mate."

Addison looked away and swallowed, making a few more gentle passes over his side. "By that same token, it's not your job to protect me."

"There is no choice for me," he said with a small smile. "My heart recognized yours the moment I saw you."

Her lips parted and she looked up at him, searching for any sign that he was being untruthful. But of course he wasn't. Kor'ven was many aggravating things, but he was not duplicitous.

"Why would you possibly think it's any different for me?" she asked, her hand stilling.

She realized the answer as soon as he began to speak.

"Because you--"

"I altered the genetic code that proves you and I are mates. But that doesn't change how I feel. I… I was scared," she admitted. "Terrified, actually. I watched my mother go from brilliant scientist to housewife, and I never wanted that for myself. I was afraid if I gave in to you--to this--that I would end up as she did."

She wasn't able to look at him, but she saw his large hand as he lifted it to cradle her cheek.

"I would not do that to you. I would never ask you to hide your brilliance."

"I know," she said softly, finally looking up at him. "And I'm starting to realize maybe my father didn't want that for my mother, either. That maybe she made a choice, and she was happy with it."

"You will not give up your career for me," he said firmly.

"No. I won't," she agreed. "But I can compromise." A wry smile touched her lips. "I can learn to compromise."

A slow, cautious smile spread across Kor'ven's face, his ears perking up just slightly. Setting the rag aside, she lifted her own hands to his face, tracing the definition of his cheekbones and the ridge of scales that followed them. Lifting up onto her knees, she pressed her lips to his. Soft at first, but with a slow-building conviction meant to tell him exactly how she felt.

Some small part of her was afraid he would still say she'd lost her chance, but Kor'ven kissed her back with an adoration that took her breath away.

She drew back, and because she was not one to do anything halfway, she said, "I don't care what my implant says. I love you, and I want you in my life."

That cautious smile of his slid into something far more joyful, and without much warning, he pulled her up onto his lap, her knees resting on either side of him on the couch.

"You are my mate. I do not need an implant to tell me that. My heart is yours, and I will love you through this life and into the next."

Addison's eyes shimmered with tears, but she didn't have much of a chance to respond before Kor'ven's lips were skimming the underside of her jaw. He kissed down to her neck, painting a reverent path along her throat as he pulled her closer, and Addison had a hard time finding it in herself to stop him.

"I need to finish dressing your wounds," she cautioned half-heartedly.

"They can wait."

She supposed they could. Especially when he spoke to her in that deep, sexy voice. Her hands moved over his shoulders and she let herself enjoy his attentions, noting with some amusement that he actually unbuttoned her blouse properly this time.

Once the blouse was discarded, a little smirk tugged at her lips. "I can help with the--"

But his hands moved behind her and he undid the clasps in one try. His own smirk overtook hers with a smugness that sent a shot of desire through her.

"I learn quickly."

He kissed her then, and Addison poured that desire into the kiss, earning an appreciative growl for her efforts, especially when she rocked gently on his lap.

Feeling him beneath her, hard and ready, made her wish she was already naked so she could take him inside of her with one smooth action. But it also gave her another idea, and mischief glinted in her eyes as she pulled away from him, climbing off his lap despite his sound of protest.

She knelt down on the floor and spread his legs apart, reaching for the ties of his pants. Kor'ven looked down at her with a confused expression.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"You'll see," was all she said before she pulled his cock free from his pants and stroked over his length.

He leaned back, lips parted, eyes closed, and Addison knew she'd been given the perfect opportunity. Without any preamble, she leaned over his lap and took the head of his cock into her mouth.

Kor'ven let out a startled moan, one of his hands moving reflexively to her hair, though he did not attempt to control her. His hips rose of their own accord, pushing him deeper into her mouth, but she took that as an opportunity to challenge herself, taking even more of him, until she had to pull back to let her throat relax.

Settling into a rhythm, she worked his cock with her lips and tongue, using her hand to stroke what she couldn't reach with her mouth. He responded better than she could have ever hoped, his sounds loud and vibrating and completely unashamed.

After a time, she could feel him getting close. She could see it in his eyes as she looked up at him, could feel it in the shudder that laced through him when she pressed her tongue against one of the ridges of his cock. She knew he would try to pull back, but she was ready for that. Her hands came up, arms resting on his thighs, nails digging into his hips. She took him as deep as she could manage and felt no small amount of satisfaction when he came in her mouth.

When she finally pulled away from him, he immediately drew her into a hungry kiss. Before she could even get her bearings, he picked her up and moved her so that she was laying on the couch again, her back pressed to the arm of it.

"Very demanding, aren't you?" she asked.

Not that she was complaining. Karuvar had impressive stamina, and if he could recover that quickly, she would gladly take him.

But as he tugged off her pants and panties, it seemed he had other plans. Her legs were hoisted over his shoulders, and he lay down on the couch in what must have been an awkward position for him.

"I wish to do for you as you have done for me," he said, his breath warm against her slick lips.

She certainly wasn't going to argue with that. Even if he had never done it before, he'd proven himself to be a quick study. And when his tongue made that first stroke over her slit, she wasn't entirely sure it would matter.

Addison gasped, pleasure shooting through her at the attention. His tongue was long and thick, and he parted her lips almost effortlessly, licking over her folds, teasing her clit and cunt. She arched off of the couch, whimpering with need, and reached for something to grab onto. Her hand closed around one of his horns, and oh, that was a fantastic idea, because it drove him to plunge his tongue into her in one smooth thrust.

She hooked her legs more tightly around him and grabbed on to the other horn, urging him on. He fucked her with his tongue for a time, and Addison could feel herself getting closer, but there was one last thing she wanted before she came.

"Higher," she gasped, tugging on his horns to bring his head up some.

Kor'ven took her instruction and ran with it, his tongue stroking her swollen clit before he closed his lips around it and sucked. She came apart then, her hips bucking violently, held in place only by Kor'ven's strength as he helped her ride through the intense waves of pleasure that wracked her entire body.

The tremors hadn't even subsided yet when she found herself begging for more. "Fuck me. Please."

He rose over her, and she could feel the flared head of his cock pressing against her still spasming core. Her arms went to his shoulders, her nails scraping against his scales. Her body was still sensitive, but she wanted this. Needed it.

Kor’ven’s eyes met hers as he sank into her with one strong thrust.

Addison’s body was rocked by pure bliss, by the rightness of that connection. Emotion flared within her, making her chest ache, and she clung harder to her mate even as he began to move within her.

His hands were braced on the arm of the couch and he fell into a strong, steady rhythm, never taking his eyes off of hers. She felt every thrust, every time his body met hers, her mouth open in silent plea.

It didn’t take long for Kor’ven to reach his peak again, even at this unhurried pace. Addison understood it completely. Something passed between them, something that was deep and emotional. Something that bound their souls together, regardless of what their implants now said.

She felt it, too, and as he came, she was brought to a second climax of her own, a sob of sheer joy getting caught in her throat as she buried her face against his shoulder.

He held her tight, the two of them breathing together, his body still joined with hers. Nothing needed to be said. In that moment, everything was clear to her, as if she’d finally solved something she’d been working on all her life.

Kor’ven made her better. He made her feel complete in a way her work never could.

She wasn’t giving up a part of herself to accept him into her heart. She was gaining something she never realized she was missing.