Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
These scenes from his home planet filled Sev’s head as the unmistakable scent of a female in heat filled his nose. Gods—was Mia all right?
“Mia?” he called again. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Just a minute—I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be right out,” came the muffled reply. Well, at least she was still in her right mind, Sev thought.
Then he reminded himself that Mia was human—not Dae’mon. She wasn’t going into heat, no matter what the scent in the air was trying to tell him. And she wasn’t going to die if she didn’t get bred. Was she?
Of course not—don’t be stupid, Sev told himself. He sniffed the air again.
Under the heat smell was a lighter, more subtle aroma. It was a sweet scent—almost like honey, he thought, frowning. He wondered what in the Seven Hells was going on around here? Where were the two scents coming from?
“Mia?” he called again. He was beginning to get worried now—he was prepared to break down the fresher door if he had to!
But at that moment, the door opened and Mia came out into the living area. Her long hair had come out of its braid and hung in little curls and tendrils around her flushed face. Also, the top of her dress was completely see-through. After a moment, he realized why—it was soaking wet.
“Mia?” he asked, frowning at his partner. “What happened to you?”
“Oh, I just…I spilled something on myself.” She motioned at her wet top distractedly. “I was trying to get it off with a washcloth but I got myself all wet in the process. And of course they only give you one set of clothes around here, so I guess I’m stuck like this until it dries.”
She made an irritated face and shrugged expressively. A “what can you do?” gesture, Sev thought.
“So…you’re all right?” he said uncertainly. “I was told to come home early from work because you, uh, needed help.”
“Help with what?” She frowned. “I thought they didn’t let men do housework around here?”
“No, not help with the housework,” Sev said. “They said something about…milking?”
“Milking?” She laughed. “Sorry, Sev, but I don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s not like I was assigned to work in the dairy or something. I mean, if they even have a dairy around here.”
She seemed perfectly normal and ordinary and Sev would have been fooled by her little act if it weren’t for two things. First, the hot scent of a female in heat and the sweet scent of honey had both gotten stronger when she came out and both scents were coming from her—from Mia herself, he realized.
And second, the flat white entertainment screen over the fireplace chose that moment to come to life with a hiss and a crackle, showing an Elder with his face hidden in the depths of a black hooded robe.
“Ah, Brother Severith,” the Elder said in a deep voice that was becoming familiar. “I’m glad to see you’re home. Our sensors have indicated that the Nutritional Crème has done its job and your wife is ready for her first milking session.” He nodded at Mia, who was standing as though frozen to the spot with her arms crossed protectively over her breasts.
“Milking session?” Sev frowned. “What in the Seven Hells is that?”
“Have no fear—all your questions will be answered by the Informational vid I’m about to send you,” the Elder said. “I’ll pop back in for a moment after it’s over to be sure you understand your duty.”
Then, before either of them could say anything else, the screen went blank again—but only for a moment.
Suddenly a hearty male voice said,
“So it’s time for your wife’s first milking! Never fear, we at the PPP are here to help!”
“Fuck,” Sev muttered. “They sure love their Informational vids here, huh?”
But Mia didn’t answer. And when he turned his head, he saw that his partner was edging away from him—actually heading for the front door.
Sev frowned.
“Hey—where do you think you’re going? We have to watch this.”
“I think I know what it’s going to say and I don’t want to hear it!” Mia’s eyes were huge and her voice quivered. “Sorry, Sev—I need to go.”
“Oh no you don’t!” Sev reached for her and reeled her in, pulling her close to his side.
“Let me go!” Mia pleaded. “I don’t want to see it—don’t want to hear it!”
“Hey, Mia…baby…stop it. It’s all right.” Sev took her by the shoulders and bent down to look into her eyes. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together,” he murmured in a low voice. “You know the Elders will be expecting us to watch this—you know we’ll get into trouble if we don’t,” he added.
“I…I guess you’re right.” Mia’s eyes were still wide. “It’s just…I can’t. It’s too…too much, Sev.”
“Nothing is too much to deal with when we’re together,” he said firmly.