Epilogue

Three months later…

Cronan foundUnity in the small turret off of the library that she had claimed as an office. He had tried to convince her that he could simply share his study but she had informed him - with some justification - that neither of them would get any work done if they shared a space. Since her mere presence had a tendency to distract him, he"d reluctantly conceded her point.

She was scowling down at the lines of numbers on her datapad.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not exactly, but I still haven't been able to trace xxx."

"You will," he said confidently, leaning over and brushing her hair aside so that he could kiss her neck. She hummed approvingly and put the device down, tilting her neck to allow him better access.

"Have I mentioned how delicious you smell recently?" he murmured, nipping at the delicate flesh.

She shivered but smiled up at him over her shoulder.

"Only twice so far this morning."

"Not often enough."

He pressed his lips to her mating mark and sucked gently, delighted when she shivered again, her nipples peaking beneath her gown, and took a deep breath. Mmm. Even richer and sweeter than usual. He cupped a heavy breast and tugged lightly on a tempting peak and she squeaked.

"Is something wrong?"

He started to pull his hand away but she put her small fingers over his, holding him in place.

"Not at all. I"m just sensitive today. Do it again, please, just a little lighter."

He immediately obeyed, barely applying any pressure, and she wiggled happily.

"Like this?"

"Yes," she sighed and covered his hand again. "Just a little firmer now."

Her voice went high and breathy when he obeyed, her nipple stiffening beneath his fingers as she arched her back. He continued the gentle plucking motion as he sucked a little harder on her mating mark. Her scent increased until he was almost dizzy with it and his codix was an iron bar throbbing desperately against his pants.

"I need you," he growled.

"Yes."

She twisted in his grip and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips opened eagerly under his and their tongues danced and dueled. She tasted sweeter too and he wanted more. He lifted her up onto her desk, hastily shoving the piles of papers aside as he urged her onto her back. She gasped as he flipped her skirt up and pressed the palm of his hand against her mound as his fingers teased their way down between her folds.

Fuck, she was hot and slick, her tight little channel clinging to his finger as he began pumping it in and out. She quivered around him and then moaned, long and low and hungry as he added a second finger and began thrusting harder. He used his thumb to toy with her clit, already throbbing beneath his touch. She was so wet the squelching sounds of her greedy pussy sucking at his fingers as he drove them in and out were almost as loud as her moans.

"I love how hot you get for me," he growled as she tightened convulsively around him. She was always receptive to his touch, but this was something else - hotter, sweeter, wetter, hungrier, almost like-

He froze as the answer swept over him. She was pregnant. With his child. She mumbled a protest and he resumed his strokes as he tried desperately to decide if it could be true. The information they"d received indicated that all of the females were given a fertility restrictor - but what if Ulmat had wanted something more?

Her sweet scent flooded his senses as she began pulsing around his fingers and his codix throbbed wildly in response. He growled again and began to fumble with his pants, desperate to be buried inside her. She gasped and shuddered as he stroked her hard and fast as she exploded around him, flooding his hand and his cock with her essence as she bucked against his hand. The sight of her climax only added to his desperation and he yanked his fingers and replaced them with his codix, pushing into her in one long, hard stroke.

"You"re so fucking perfect."

"More," she breathed as she writhed on his codix, her silky heat clutching him tightly as he started moving. His control was already fraying and he grabbed her ass, holding her in place as he thrust into her, the wet sounds of his cock hammering into her joining her increasingly urgent moans as he moved faster and faster.

When her inner muscles flexed around him, he groaned helplessly and buried himself inside her, as he emptied himself into her. She sighed happily and put her arms around his neck as he collapsed down over her.

"That was even more amazing than normal. I feel so... alive."

He didn"t reply, still coming to terms with what he"d suspected, but after a moment she stirred and he pushed himself upright, then sat down in the desk chair keeping his codix embedded inside her. She wiggled, then snuggled against him as he stroked her hair and tried to decide how to tell her.

"Unity, we need to talk."

"Mmm? About what?"

"You."

She stilled in his arms but he kept stroking her hair as he continued.

"Something has changed."

"I beg your pardon?"

She sounded politely confused and he shook his head.

"No. Something has changed within you."

"What are you talking about?"

She pushed away a little so she could look up at his face and they both groaned as his codix flexed.

"Do human females have a monthly cycle?" he asked finally.

"Of course we do. Why-" Her eyes went wide as the realization crossed her face. "Which I haven"t had since I arrived. Do you think that means..."

Her eyes filled with tears and his chest ached as he drew her close again.

"I"m so sorry, xxx, I -"

"Sorry?" She pushed back again and glared at him. "You mean you don"t want a baby?"

"Not want our child? Of course I want our child." He slid his hand down between them and placed it over her soft little stomach. "I meant I was sorry that you were not allowed the choice, especially when we have been so busy."

She shrugged, then smiled up at him.

"There"s never going to be a perfect time. But you"re sure?"

He slid his fingers down further, lightly circling her clit as his codix stiffened and grew.

"Of course I"m sure. Nothing could make me happier."

"Or harder?" she teased, even as she started to rock against him.

He laughed, a rumbling purr of pure delight as he continued to caress her, but his laughter faded as he met her eyes.

"We will make sure that our child will always know that they are loved and wanted."

"Always." She touched her fingers lightly to his cheek, then gave him a wicked smile as her sweet little cunt tightened around him. "But right now your mate is the one who needs to know she"s wanted."

"Always," he echoed, and proceeded to prove it.