CHAPTER TWELVE

 

The words seemed to echo around the room. Madison stared dumbly at Zazora. Carrying a pup? Did that mean… she was pregnant?

Xar lifted her up and spun her around, whooping and laughing. She remained limp in his arms. He hastily placed her down. “Madison? Are you all right?”

“Am I all right? Am I all right? Of course I’m not all right, Xar!” She could feel panic rising up inside her. She was only twenty-two years old. She had no idea how to raise a child. She hadn’t even been ready to have children on Earth, let alone while stranded on an alien planet with a list of dangers so long she couldn’t even begin to count them.

“Pregnant? How can I even be pregnant? We’re not even the same species! I can’t do this, Xar! I can’t have a child, I don’t know how.”

“Madison—”

She pulled out of his grip, pacing as she frantically tried to think her way out of this.

At Xar’s urging, Zazora came forward with a cup. “Drink this, it is a calming tea…”

“You think a calming tea is going to fix this?” She was aware her shrieking was disturbing people. Most of them were already sitting up and watching her with worried eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to lower her voice. She didn’t want to mess up anyone’s healing or rest and quickly strode out, heading for her and Xar’s room.

Once they were inside, Xar took her shoulders firmly, stopping her pacing. “My mate, talk to me. You are carrying our pup. Is this not a cause for celebration among your people?”

She stared at him. How could she explain? Xar sat her down, holding her tightly. Almost against her will, Madison felt herself calming down. It was impossible not to be calm when Xar was holding her like that, looking at her in that way that told her he’d do anything and everything for her.

“I can’t be pregnant,” she whispered.

“Why not?”

“I’m not ready to be a mother. Not even on Earth, but here? I can’t even do the most basic things for myself! I know nothing about this planet. I’m going to be terrible. I’m going to scar our child with my useless parenting…”

“Stop.” Xar pressed a hand to her mouth, putting a halt to her rambling. “My mate, my Madison, I know you. You will be a wonderful mother, I promise you.”

She so wanted to believe him. “What if I’m not?”

He shrugged. “Then you will learn. We won’t be alone in this. The entire clan will help.” He made it sound so simple. A look of worry crossed his face. “Do you not want a pup?”

Madison leaned close to him as she thought about it. She’d always wanted kids someday. Certainly not before she was thirty, but what in her life was certain nowadays?

“It’s not that. I do want a—a pup. I’m just not sure I’m ready. I had planned to wait years.”

“You are healthy and fertile. Surely, this is the perfect time to have a pup?”

Whether it was the perfect time or not, it didn’t seem like she was being given a choice in the matter. Whether or not she wanted a child, she was having one.

“I’m not sure I can cope with this.”

Xar laughed.

Madison hit him on the arm. “Don’t laugh at me!”

“I’m sorry.” He hid his smile with apparent difficulty. “It’s just that you’re being very strange, my mate. You think you will not cope? I have seen you cope with more than most people have to in a lifetime. You have risen to every challenge put to you. The other humans all look to you as an inspiration.”

“Thanks, I guess.” Maybe he was right. Maybe she could do this.

“In four turns of the moon, they will look to you as the first mother the clan has had in many years.”

“Wait, what? FOUR MONTHS?” The panic was back, with a vengeance.

“Yes. Four turns of the moon, and you will have our pup. Is it different for humans?”

“You only get four months? We get nine! How can we prepare for a baby in four months?”

“Four months is plenty of time.” Xar rubbed soothing circles on her palms as he spoke. “You learn fast. You will be adept at living on Xenshar in no time. There are those of us who are old enough to remember the things young pups need. The clan will help us. I suspect many of the things for our pup will help the humans too, such as fencing to stop young ones from falling out of the home tree before they learn to climb.”

How was it that he could make it feel like everything was going to be all right? Madison looked down at her stomach. There was a baby in there, at least, a growing baby. She wondered if it would be a boy or girl. Would it look like her, or Xar? She hoped it had his four arms. Climbing would be a lot easier that way.

When she looked back up at him, Xar’s eyes were positively glowing. “You will be the best mother.”

“You’ll be an awesome father.” She wasn’t just saying that. She really meant it. Madison could just imagine Xar bouncing a little four-armed baby on his lap, teaching it about climbing and herbs and everything else.

She realized she was smiling, a smile to match Xar’s.

“That’s what I wanted to see.”

“We’re having a baby.” Her tone, now, was filled with wonder. Her worries were by no means banished, but as Xar put a gentle hand on her stomach, she felt a flutter of excitement. Even if she’d had a choice to return to Earth, she wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to have a child with. There was no one better.

When she looked up, Xar’s eyes were burning with that thing they’d not spoken yet. The words were out before she could rethink them. “I love you.”

“I love you, my mate, my Madison.”

She threw her arms around him. “If you think we can do it, I believe you. I believe in you, in us.”

 

* * *

 

It took her time, but as the news sunk in and the shock wore off, the joy he’d expected to see from the first suffused his mate. Though he knew it was too soon to feel anything, Xar kept his hand pressed to her stomach, imagining the little life growing inside.

It was equal to the joy he felt at hearing her say she loved him.

Madison’s mouth met his, and he gasped into the kiss. Her touch was fierce and bold, and he liked it. Madison pushed him onto his back. Xar stared up at her, confused but willing.

With his help, they were soon both naked. His cock was already hard, straining up into the space between them. She ran her hands up his legs, cupping his sack, before lightly brushing over his cock. Xar groaned and struggled to keep still.

Madison straddled him, pressing herself up against his body. She made a noise of satisfaction as she came up for another kiss. Xar’s hands were everywhere on her, trying to show her by his touch just how much he cared, just how much she meant to him.

By the way she responded, with gentle, reverent touches of her own, he knew she understood. He made to flip her over so that he could properly pleasure her, but Madison spread her legs, keeping him from doing it.

“My mate?” he asked, cocking his head and looking into her eyes.

“Don’t women go on top here? We may just have to change that.”

“I have never heard of it, but it has been a long time since we’ve had many women here.”

“Well, I love being on top. We’re going to be doing a lot more of this, so I want to show you how much fun it is.”

Xar felt a wave of desire that corresponded with a twitch in his cock, which was already leaking from the tip. The feeling of her on top of him was different, but so, so good.

“Do as you wish,” he growled, smiling at her. “I have spent much time educating you. Perhaps it is now my turn to be taught.”

Her eyes flashed with heat. “Mhmm, I like that idea.”

After that, neither of them was free to talk, due to their lips being locked, their tongues dancing together. Xar managed to slide a hand between their bodies and brush against Madison’s pussy. She whimpered and pushed eagerly against his hand.

He soon had her writhing on top of him as his fingers explored her wet folds. The pressure on his cock was divine, but he needed more. He sternly told himself to wait, to pleasure his mate first.

Madison was having none of it. She broke their kiss and moved down, kissing his chest, his stomach, and finally, his cock. The light kiss she planted on the tip felt like a bolt of lightning. The next kiss wasn’t light. It was slow and wet and so good that he didn’t think he could stand much more of it.

“You OK?” Her voice was breathy, and she looked up at him as he pulled away.

“I have only so much control,” he said, his voice roughened with need.

He didn’t need to explain any further. “I guess we’ll save the blowjob for another day.”

Xar did not know this word, but he was eager to find out what it entailed.

She gave his cock one last sucking kiss before positioning her entrance over his cock. But Xar pulled her away, closer up onto his chest, intending to make her feel as good as she’d made him feel.

“I have not yet pleasured you properly.”

“I need you inside me, Xar,” she replied, her voice almost a whimper.

He obliged her with a finger, lifting her bottom up with one hand so that he could reach into her. At the same time, with another hand, he found her clit and touched it as she had taught him. Madison bounced urgently up and down on his finger, making small, frustrated noises.

It seemed she was aching for his cock just as much as his cock ached to be inside her. How could he resist such sweet temptation? Xar vowed to pleasure her many times this day. Making ladders could wait. He’d just found out his mate was carrying their pup, and he was going to pamper her as completely as she deserved. The whole clan would hear her cries of pleasure, he would make sure of that. Everyone would know exactly how much he loved her.

He took Madison’s hips and helped her sink down onto his rigid cock. Her tight, wet heat embraced his dick, sucking him with irresistible force. She moved experimentally and groaned at the feeling. He lifted her body, and they moved together, the sound of their bodies slapping together mingled with their moans and cries of pleasure.

Stars burst before his eyes as Xar came with a roar, his seed flooding Madison’s tight pussy. With a finger, he pressed her clit firmly, rubbing over it with a quick touch. In seconds, she was coming too, her cry even louder than his. Xar held her steady as her movements slowed before she finally collapsed forward onto his chest.

It felt so natural, now, to wrap her in his arms. For a while, they didn’t move, still connected by his cock inside her. It was soft for now, but if she kept wriggling like that, it wouldn’t be for long.

Finally, Madison reluctantly rolled off him. “We should go.”

“My mate will not be making ladders or mixing healing poultices today. Today, we celebrate.”

She laughed and shoved him playfully. “Yes, I know that, genius. I figure I’m lucky you’re even letting my feet touch the ground.”

It was a good idea. Xar considered carrying her everywhere for the rest of the day. Madison narrowed her eyes, but she was still smiling.

“I mean, as part of our celebration, I want to tell the others. I haven’t gotten to know the humans that well yet, but we’ve been through a lot together. I consider them friends. Your clan should also know. I guess they’re my family too, now.”

“You speak sense. Come, we will tell them.”

Madison let him help her up and hand her a damp cloth to clean herself up. He loved her with his seed dripping down her thighs, but he knew enough about humans to realize that she’d never allow anyone else to see this. The thought that this sight was for him alone didn’t displease him.

“What will they think?” Madison pulled her top on. Xar would have to see to getting her some new clothes that fit her better, not just old things of his.

“The clan will be overjoyed. Some will have heard, but Zazora wouldn’t reveal it to anyone who asked, not before speaking with us. Torox, too, will tell anyone who knows to keep quiet. It is our news to reveal.”

“Again, so much better than humans.” Madison sighed but didn’t explain. It didn’t matter. She seemed to have accepted that she wouldn’t return home. Now, this was her home.

Madison took his hand. “I wonder what the humans will think. They already think we’re a bit strange.”

“If they make you uncomfortable, I will see to it that they regret it.”

“Right. I have your number. You may clobber one of the Xenshi men, but you’d never touch a woman.”

She did indeed “have his number,” whatever that meant. “I can still growl at them. I can be fierce when I want to, you know.”

“I know.” She seemed to be humoring him. Xar liked it that she couldn’t even remember the fear she’d had for him when they’d first met. She was right about this too. As much as he might want to defend her, Torox would skin him alive if he deliberately scared any of the humans. Well, maybe not skin him alive, but certainly put him on toilet-cleaning duty until their pup was born.

“They will be happy for you. If not for you, we’d all be slaves right now. They’re grateful to you, as they should be.”

“It was you who got us out of that slave ship.”

“Only because of you, my mate. Without my mating claws, I would still be stuck in that cage, the same as you. But let’s not talk of that now. We have an announcement to make.”

Perhaps his Madison wouldn’t have to learn to climb after all, because she seemed to float as they walked hand-in-hand to the common area. Most of the clan was waiting for them, knowing something was up. A few looked worried, others excited. More of the humans were out of Zazora’s healing space now, most looking on eagerly.

Madison glanced at Xar, and he nodded to her, letting her take the lead. She looked around at all the faces turned to her. “We have something to tell you.”

 

End