Coral

The human quarters are filled with noise and laughter as I enter.

"Hey Coral," Opal calls out to me from the counter, a massive smile on her face.

Sat around are all the other human women who are mated to Sarkarnii, in various stages of pregnancy, save for Amber, mated to the fearsome Draco. She has her baby in her arms and she's rocking him gently as she sips from a cup.

"I hope that's not alcoholic," I snap at her.

Amber looks at me for a beat. "Not only am I breastfeeding, Doctor, but I've lost any taste for alcohol since I gave birth anyway." She looks around at the others with a wry smile. "Draco keeps me plenty busy when I'm not looking after this little one."

There are numerous snorts of laughter and my stomach dips.

"Come and have some kolade and we can catch up. I feel like I've hardly seen you since Daeos gave all that blood," Opal says happily, pushing a cup towards me. "He's very proud of himself," she adds to the assembly. "I have to confirm how well he did just about every day."

A smile tugs at my mouth, even though I don't want it to, even though I don't feel like smiling because my head is in turmoil and I can still taste Drasus.

Damn it! I can still feel his lips on mine.

"Are you okay, Coral?" Jade twists her head around from where she's sitting on the couch.

The only other human in this place not mated to a Sarkarnii. I wish it was simply her and me right now, rather than the entire coven.

"Tired," I say, walking over to the counter and picking up the hot drink Opal has poured for me.

"You're in that clinic day in, day out," Jade grumbles. "At least Mistress Kiki doesn't give a shit if I turn up or not."

"You only go there because she has the Kirakos' equivalent of chocolate squirreled away in her workshop." Ruby laughs.

Jade shrugs. "I am only human, and if there is chocolate, I am going to seek it out."

"Chocolate seeking missile." Jem chortles, holding her big pregnancy belly.

"I'm only in the clinic because someone is always managing to get hurt or pregnant," I say pointedly.

"Pregnancy is pretty hard to avoid around the Sarkarnii," Opal says with a very dirty wink.

"Daeos is rubbing off on you," I reply. The big red Sarkarnii has an unerring ability to say whatever comes into his head, most of it not fit for polite society.

"Not the only thing he's done to her." Ruby snorts into her drink as Opal proudly smooths her hand over her little bump.

I shake my head at all of them, attempting to maintain an air of professionalism.

When I just kissed Drasus. Or rather he just kissed me.

And I liked it far too much.

And no one else knows.

And no one else can know. This cannot continue. He is my patient. There are so many ethical considerations my head is spinning with them all.

Because the kiss was like nothing I've ever experienced. I might not have had sex, but I've fooled around. Kissing has always been wet, sloppy, and unpleasant.

Until now.

The way Drasus' forked tongue swept my mouth, tangling with mine, dominating me, his clawed hand on my chin, lifting my head. Making sure I was in the moment with his kiss.

His kiss.

My hand is subconsciously at my mouth.

"Are you sure you're okay, Coral?" Opal says with some concern. "You're very pale."

"There's something I forgot to do," I garble out, putting the cup back on the counter and some of the liquid sloshing out. "I'll be back later."

And then I'm running up the stairs, out of the human quarters, leaving behind a cacophony of questions I don't want to answer.

Because I'm not some little girl in the bloom of youth, starstruck by the male who shows her a little interest. I've seen relationships in all their forms. Including those who needed help because love turned to hate and hate to violence.

Not the Sarkarnii. They hold honor above all and the way the huge creatures treat their human mates could be tear jerking if I was so inclined.

Above me, a big blue shape passes. Drega is looking for his mate, Ruby. With unerring accuracy, he lands next to me, his dragon form resolving into his biped one.

"She's with the others in the human quarters," I say quickly.

"I know." His eyes flash with fire, an amused burst of smoke coming from his mouth.

"How?" I glare at him because today I am annoyed at the physiological differences between humans and Sarkarnii I'm not sure I'll ever understand.

He nods over my shoulder. Behind me, Ruby is waiting, hand on her hip, the one with the ray gun she still insists on wearing, despite her baby bump. She grins at Drega.

Maybe there's no mystery at all.

"I'll get back to the clinic," I mutter, dropping my head and hurrying past him.

"Drasus is doing well," Drega calls out. "He could do with being taken to the aquium though. I believe he might be starting to shed, which will be beneficial."

I want to growl at him but think better of it. I have a patient and that's all Drasus can ever be. It doesn't matter if Mr. Grumpy-Pants can kiss like a bloody angel and looks like a movie star. And has abs which go on for days in a way no human man could ever have. And who smells like woodsmoke and patchouli which simply isn't possible.

And who has eyes I could drown in.

And who caught me and stopped me from falling.

One kiss. That's the end of it. I have to put my thoughts and feelings to one side. Drasus is a warrior. He is needed by Draco. He has to get fit and well, for them.

The clinic is quiet when I enter. I make my way to Drasus' side room where he is sat up in bed, arms crossed over his huge chest, scales zipping with the little neon lights all the Sarkarnii have.

"We need to talk," I say.

In an instant, he's out of bed, next to me in a single stride, his body hot next to mine, his size and his scent dominating every aspect.

"No, we don't."

His hand is under my chin and his lips are on mine before I can even breathe, or protest, or say anything. Tongue sweeping my mouth, the forked tips doing things which have to be illegal somewhere.

As much as I should resist, I can't, and I melt into him instead.

I have no control and this is really not good.