by Grace, Viola
* * * *
Tirra swallowed and looked at the tea. She was cold and thirsty. She checked her watch, and she had fifteen minutes before she had to return to the resort. New arrivals still freaked Stillnar out when they started demanding sex the moment they showed up. Most of them didn’t actually need it.
She walked toward the table when she felt Gorith nearby. She took the cup of tea and nodded. “Thank you.”
She didn’t make a face at the tea with milk. It was Khytten’s favourite way to drink black tea, so she must have just fixed it for herself in her agitation.
Khytten smiled. “Gorith?”
He stepped out of the shadows. “Yes?”
“Catch her.”
The tentacles rushed toward her as she collapsed. Fucking milk in the tea.
She woke up, and they were at her place at the resort.
He had her semi-reclining in bed and a compress to her head. He nodded soberly and said, “So, I hear we are going to be parents?”
She blinked. “Maybe, if it goes to term.”
“Okay. You are upset?”
“Stunned. I don’t have a basis for judging how things are going to go. I don’t know if I am going to be a good parent. I have no neonatal information. I don’t know. This is all new to me.”
“What about your mom? I know you don’t mention her, but did she ever mention anything while you were growing up?”
She got dizzy again. “She didn’t survive having me. It’s why dad was so happy to get rid of me. I never met her.”
He frowned. “What did Torenne say?”
“That I was fine, but I was pregnant. Her bedside manner borders on blunt.” She wove her fingers together. “So, are you mad?”
“No. Why would I be?”
“When I was with the family, a few guys got girls pregnant, and the things that were said were not pleasant. It always ended up being her fault, but I honestly didn’t know I could even do that or what I should have been doing.”
He gathered him to her and held her. “I am so very happy that this has happened, and I am just used to the women that I am with being on some kind of birth control that I didn’t think of actually talking about it.”
“I haven’t ever felt a cycle, so it never occurred to me, and everyone assumes that a woman my age knows all about this stuff.”
“You are a special case, angel. You have been through stuff that no one knows about and probably a bit more than you have been willing to tell me. The fact that you came out the other side relatively sane is a miracle or just your own luck.”
She sniffled and said, “The sanity comes and goes.”
He stroked her back, and she leaned against him. It was nice.
“Gorith?”
“Yes?”
“Why did you bring me back to the resort?”
“Because you need to be here to deal with new arrivals, and you would be agitated if you couldn’t.”
She chuckled. “Wow. You pay attention.”
“I do. Oh, the ad campaign that you were in goes live today.”
“Your family went ahead with it?”
“Yeah. My mom loves the idea and can’t wait to see the response.”
“I can’t believe I agreed to that.”
“It was in a distracted moment, but until you develop more self-control, you will just have to deal with what you agree to.”
She sighed and relaxed against him. “So, what do we do about the baby?”
“Contact Zera and find out what your options are. I will be here if you want me to be.”
“Please. I will call her now and see if she can take my call.” She lifted her arm and made the call.
It went over better than she had expected. She could keep her job, but she needed to wear an engagement ring or some other indicator of being in a singular relationship.
Gorith smiled, and when she was off the com, he reached into his suit jacket and said, “Just so you know, I just got this today, and I was not thinking that you were pregnant. Got it?”
She stared at him in surprise. “Got it.”
He went down on one knee at the side of the bed. The gold of the tentacles was waving softly. “Tirra, since the moment we met, you have been in my heart and soul. I want to be with you all day, every day, but I will settle for outside business hours. Will you marry me?”
She sat up and bent her legs to one side. “Can it be quiet and quick?”
He sighed and shook his head. “No. I am afraid that it will be a largeish wedding.”
“I don’t have anyone to invite for my side.” She blinked the tears away. “I will say yes if the wedding can be quiet.”
He looked at her and wiped her tear with his thumb. “Fine. The wedding can be quiet. I would like my family to have the option of throwing us a large reception, though.”
She nodded. “Agreed. I will need about forty places, though, for the escorts. I am going to invite every escort who can get a weekend pass into Aksalla. But, I want it done in the next five months before I get huge. I don’t think you make small babies.”
He grinned and put a hand on her abdomen. “There is a tiny person taking shape in there.”
“Yup. And a fifty-fifty chance that it will be an active.” She sighed.
He opened the ring box, and she blinked and then teared up. The ring had a blue stone and feathers and tendrils twisted around it to make the stone look like an egg guarded by wings and tentacles. “I have been designing this since the wedding.”
She smiled. “It’s perfect. I just hope I can wear it for a while before I get puffy.”
“So, you have done some research.”
“I started analyzing the situation and what to expect.” She sat still while he put the ring on her finger. Just as she was about to kiss him, her com chimed, and a panicked Stillnar started to send her messages about incoming patrons.
She kissed Gorith softly. “While I would love to pull you into bed, I have to attend to my work.”
He grinned. “Can I come with you?”
“That would be a nice change. You usually make me go first.” She had to climb off the bed over him. He held her while she was straddling his lap, his grin still in place.
“Is this position accidental?”
“Nope, sort of a promise of things go come if we can sort the patrons. They are a little cranky when they arrive.”
He raised his brows. “Cranky?”
“Horny.”
“Ah. I can see how you would confuse the two.”
She dismounted from his lap, and she stepped into her shoes. She still looked perfectly normal and respectable as she left her bedroom, passed through her living area, and exited her quarters, heading for the welcome area. Gorith was right behind her.
Fremar was there, his mane fluffed and his claws flexing as Stillnar tried to calm him.
“What is the issue?”
“He has booked Seventeen, but she won’t be here for an hour, and he has an immediate need.”
Fremar scowled at her. “Manager, I have booked an escort, and I expect her to be here when I am available.”
She nodded, flared her wings, and grabbed his ear. She dropped back to the ground and walked several metres away, and faced him. “Agent Fremar. Your demands have nothing to do with the actual schedule. Seventeen is on the way. She is not free until her day job is done with her; she then had to get transport out here on the commuter flight, declaring her occupation to the customs agent. She has to do all that before she can even arrive here in an hour. And your date isn’t scheduled for another three. So, either go jerk off or stop whining.”
He growled and grabbed her around the waist. She pulled back her fist, and her blade extended. “Let go of me. This is not the day. I have just found out I am pregnant and have gotten engaged. I will remove your arm, and then, you will have to work on jerking off with your left hand.”
His eyes widened, and he set her down. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yeah. M
y birth control installation fell between my administrative status and active escort status, and Gorith slipped into the gap, so to speak.” She smiled. “So, you can understand that for this one moment, helping a patron who is throwing a tantrum because his scheduled escort is running on time is not at the top of my focus.”
He grinned. “How far along are you? My sister is having a child, and she is five months along. She is not handling it well.”
She guessed. “Six weeks? People started telling me that I tasted different after that.”
He blinked. “So, you still allowed others who weren’t your fiancé to...”
She chuckled. “I can’t believe this next sentence, but I didn’t have sex with them; I just let them go down on me to take the edge off.”
Fremor laughed. “That is a sentence that only makes sense here. Very well, I will wait until my appointment. I see that Gorith is waiting for you.”
“He is. We need to seal the engagement, and my research on that topic indicates that sex is a necessity.” She smiled brightly. “We have a good start to the erotic sculpture garden. There are three contributions now. Go, have a look, and figure out what you could have done differently. Now, for your escort, could you skip any of her grooming regimens?”
He ducked his head. “No, I like the way she feels when the oils have been rubbed into her skin.”
“Right. Then, zip it. Enjoy the sculpture gardens, have a cup of tea, make a list of all the things you want to do, and before you know it, she will be there.”
He nodded. “Oh, by the way, you are striking in the advertising for Tomorrow’s Jewels and Silversmithing.”
She blushed. “You saw that?”
“It is being played in the city square. Half of Aksalla has seen it by now. Very discrete though. Despite staring and drooling, nary a nipple appeared.”
She groaned. “Oh, dear. Well, glad you liked it.”
“Now, where do I complain about being led around by my ear.”
“Report it to management.”
He laughed and wandered off in the direction of the sculptures.
She skipped over toward Gorith, where he was talking with Erodo. She smiled. “Don’t tell me I have to smack you around, too.”
Erodo bowed. “Gorith has just been sharing the good news. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. How is your situation today?”
He made a huffing noise. “I am well. You two run off and complete your union. I can manage myself today. My escort is only forty-five minutes away, and she has a simple prep.”
Tirra looked to Gorith and asked, “Did you want me to do any prep?”
He sighed and lifted her in his arms. “You take off your shoes, and I will manage the rest.”
Erodo laughed. “Have fun. I guess that one is on management?”
She called out, “I will be on him, but thanks for the encouragement.”
There was more barking laughter, and she was carried back to her room. The shoes came off, and he carefully removed all the other layers. He removed his tie and looped it around her, pinning her arms to her sides as he pulled her astride his lap.
He worked his hand between her thighs until she was twisting against his fingers. He smiled with his lips half a centimetre from hers. “So, we are going to be parents.”
“Yup.”
He grinned. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
“Yup.”
He laughed. “When can we tell my parents?”
“Whenever you like.” She gasped as his slick fingers circled her clit. “Wait, I have to be there?”
Gorith kissed her. “You are the lynchpin of the entire announcement.”
She gasped, and he trailed his kiss down her neck, his tentacles lifting and leaning her back as they carefully moved over her, waking and stroking all of her sensitive places.
She shuddered. “I don’t know if I want to tell people yet.”
He chuckled against her breasts as he tongued her nipple. “You told Fremor.”
“I was trying to have a reason for him not using that sandpaper tongue on me. When you say pregnant to an agent or team member, they treat you like glass.”
He grinned. “It is having the opposite effect for me. I want to wrestle around with you until I don’t know where I end and you begin.”
She gasped and then said, “Isn’t that what the baby is?”
He paused and looked down at her, and his golden skin glowed. “Yes, I guess it is.”
She giggled. “Then, your work is done here.”
“Oh, no. It is just starting. Pregnancies are difficult for actives. I need to keep close and be here if you need me.”
She gasped as his caresses caused her to twist against him in a slow writhe that lit his eyes. “You just became an agent again; you are going to be busy.”
“I will ask Khytten and Torenne to be on standby.”
She groaned when he slid two tentacles into her and began to move them carefully. She grunted and winced. “She drugged my tea.”
“It was a mild sedative, and you were back up and running in twenty-three minutes, but she only did it because we needed to talk.”
“Not a good reason. She’s getting a spanking.” She shuddered and gasped as her orgasm heralded its arrival.
“Oh, she will enjoy that.”
She grunted and moaned as her arms were restrained, and he was with her, and he was inside her. He shifted around while he held her, and she felt the heat of his cock moving into her as she continued to contract around him.
She groaned. “That is what started this.”
He laughed, and he released her arms, draping his tie around her neck as he thrust up and into her. She put her hands around his neck and rocked with him as he thrust upward and cupped her hips. She rode him slowly, and they kissed, touched, and stroked each other as they sealed their agreement to be together in the most basic way. His tentacles caressed her lightly, and she sighed happily as they continued until they shuddered together, his cock flexing deep and her body holding him tightly.
She kissed him and gave him as much luck as she could spare. His eyes widened. “What was that for?”
“You are going to be a dad in a few months, and I am going to need to find a new place to live. I might be able to get away with a pregnancy as manager, but I don’t know if I can manage a baby.”
He smiled. “You can discuss options with Khytten. I will ask Salat a few pointed questions. I think things will be fine.”
“That is very flippant.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry about it. They have created a family plan. I am sure that we can learn a few things from them.”
“Fine. How long do I have you today?”
“All night, angel.”
She sighed. “I just want to curl up with you again. A have a thousand thoughts in my head, and I need some cuddling to process it, but I want you to stay inside me while I do.”
“I can do that.” He grinned and kissed her.
They separated, and she felt the trickle of cum. “And that is what caused the issue.”
He chuckled. “Amazing that something I think about all day every day finally had a purpose.”
“What’s that?”
“Being inside you.” He kissed her neck. “Sorry that we didn’t have the talk earlier.”
She sighed. “Anytime after our first date would have been too late. Something felt different, but I didn’t know what, and then, folks started telling me I tasted different, and I am guessing that is while conception was taking place.”
He stared at her in surprise. “So, you are at six weeks?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I am guessing that that is when it happened, strictly because I never even started to feel a menstrual cycle. So you had to be there when the egg arrived.”
“I guess I got lucky.”
She stared at him and remembered all the luck she had been pouring into him at the time, and she blushed. “Damn it.”
He laugh
ed, and they settled with her in his arms and his body wrapped around her, spooning her and deep inside. It was a very nice way to plan out what was going to happen next.
Chapter Twenty-Four
She brought her hand down again on Khytten’s butt. “That’s three. Only two more to go.”
“Ow. You are surprisingly strong, Tirra.”
Tirra brought down the last two strikes in quick succession, and Khytten twisted and moaned in surprise as her orgasm hit. “God, you are easy.”
Torenne tried to help Khytten up, but the woman turned toward Tirra and cuddled in her lap. Tirra sighed and wrapped her arms around her.
Tirra murmured, “Are you going to drug me again?”
“No. Sorry. I didn’t want you to hurt yourself by flying away again.”
“Sensible but still not a good reason.”
Khytten bit her lip. “Pregnancy brain?”
“That doesn’t kick in yet.”
“Damn. You have done the research.”
“Yeah, it didn’t take as long as I had thought. I have the gestation symptoms down for humans and actives. Now, I just have to figure out my job and housing.”
Khytten blinked and straightened. “What are you talking about?”
“I work at the resort. I might be able to get away with being pregnant, but I don’t think a baby would encourage sexy times.” She chuckled. “Too bad. I was getting good at being management.”
Khytten cocked her head slightly. “Salat says he is going to talk to Gorith.”
“About what?”
“About lodgings and babies. If Gorith is an agent, then he is going to come and go quite a bit. You don’t need to be alone, but you can’t stay with his family in the city. You won’t be close enough to work.” Khytten leaned her head on Tirra’s shoulder.
“Uh-huh. I could fly in.”
“But it isn’t the same as living on the property or very near it.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Plus, you will need childcare, and I am an excellent wet nurse.”
Tirra snorted. “You will be feeding five by the time mine shows up.”
“The two older ones will be weaned by then. I will have room for more. I can feed dozens if I need to.” She grinned. “I still send shipments out daily.”
