“It’s a female?”
“That’s what he said. The protectors took her out to one of the meadows where dragons feed. Meksaj said they sometimes adopt orphans. Even though she cried and cried, the other dragons just sniffed her and left her.”
“Aw,” Carly groaned. “Poor thing. Did they take her back?”
“The protectors took her back to the refuge. She will have to be hand raised. Returning her to the wild will be more difficult than if they found her mother or another dragon adopted her. And the longer they keep her, the less likely she will adapt to life in the wild,” he explained between bites.
“Do you think they would let me come learn how to take care of her?”
“I asked Meksaj because I knew you would want to…”
“Yes, of course!”
Joven deliberately pause for dramatic affect. “But that would be a lot of flying back and forth. The refuge is not near the public access. It’s on the far side of the preserve.”
“And I don’t know how to use a flyer. But can’t you teach me?” She looked at him hopefully.
He didn’t say anything right away.
“I can and I will, but I told him it would be a lot simpler for you to care for her here,” he said.
Carly clicked her tongue impatiently. “Come on Joven, just tell me.”
“We can go get her tomorrow. They will show you how to feed and care for her. The parents both feed the young by regurgitation, but they have a prepared mix,” Joven finally gave it up.
“What made them change their mind?”
“I… suggested since you risked your life to save it that they should let you have her.”
“Suggested or strong armed?” Carly smirked at his innocent expression.
“What do you mean strong armed?”
“Threatened. Coerced.”
“No, nothing like that. Meksaj was going to recommend they should euthanize the dragon rather than raise it in captivity.”
“Like hell!” Carly blurted. “I will raise her, but she will not be a captive. When she is bigger, we can take her out where we saw those dragons, and she will at least know her kind.”
“Remember the raptor…”
“You wouldn’t let one hurt her… Couldn’t you shift and scare it away?”
“I could, meomee. But I can’t fly.”
“What about a forcefield or something?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “The raptors are protected, too.”
“I don’t want to hurt them either; I just don’t want them to hurt the baby.”
Joven leaned toward her and lightly kissed her mouth.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Just because I love you, meomee.
The Selkeres Wildlife Refuge was located on a high plateau about 300 klicks from the Glasica Star System Security settlement. It was barely a twenty-minute flit by hover flyer.
Before they took off, Joven went through the preflight sequence with Carly. The multipurpose vehicle could safely operate on voice command on autopilot, but he wanted Carly to learn how to fly it manually as well.
The refuge consisted of a large building that housed offices and a veterinary hospital, but there were no cages or even fencing around the property outside. There were dragons of various ages romping and playing in a meadow with some even flying around overhead.
Carly gasped when the call of a raptor flying higher above the adolescent dragons drew her attention as they were getting out of the vehicle. Joven came to her side, resting his hand at the small of her back as they started toward the building.
“Don’t worry, meomee. There is a forcefield in place so the raptor can’t get to them.”
They were greeted at the reception counter by a humanoid android who directed them to Dr. Meksaj’s infirmary. He dipped his head as he greeted them when they stepped in to the large room. There were about a dozen glassed habitats with dragons at various stages of growth lining three walls of the room.
Carly gazed around until she found the baby she’d rescued. She was walking back and forth crying. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s hungry. I was waiting for you to arrive so I could demonstrate how to feed her. It’s only a few minutes past her feeding time.” The vet when to the cubicle and the glass front raised up and the little dragon raised up on its hind legs for Meksaj to pick her up.
She was about the size of a domestic cat from Earth. Since she’d rescued the baby dragon, Carly had called up every bit of information she could find on them. Full grown, she would be about the size of a large dog. They lived in herds or flicks with a hierarchy similar to wolves on Earth. These dragons could be just as fierce. They would have to be to take on those huge raptors.
The animals mated for life and their young were born live on outcroppings on the side of mountain cliffs. It took the equivalent of two years for them to fledge and learn to hunt for their food. Even before she learned that she would be raising the baby she found, Carly decided to compile a learning module devoted to dragons in the courses she planned.
The baby dragon called out to her when it saw Carly though she only had her for a short time.
“There is nothing complicated about feeding her,” said Dr. Meksaj. “We will give you a refillable canister of the powdered food. You mix it with warm water to make a thick gruel and feed her from the large syringe.”
He gestured at everything laid out on the table in front of them. As the little dragon struggled, trying to get to Carly, the veterinarian handed it to her. The small reptilian settled down immediately making little purring sounds.
While she and Joven watched, Dr. Meksaj opened the canister and used the scoop inside to measure out two scoops into a metal dish. He added water from the spigot of the sink built into the table. Using a small paddle, he mixed it until it was the consistency of pudding then drew it into a large syringe.
As soon as the dragon saw the syringe she started bleating again and opened her mouth like a baby bird. Dr. Meksaj put the tip of the syringe into its mouth and squeezed the plunger slowly squirting the contents into the dragon’s mouth. The little head bobbed as it steadily swallowed the contents of the syringe.
“Right now, she is taking two filled syringes of the mixture every four hours around the clock. Basically, like a humanoid baby,” he said, refilling the syringe. “Now you try it.”
Carly had no trouble feeding her new charge, and soon after she finished it the dragon fell asleep in her arms. “Do you know why the other dragons wouldn’t take her back?”
“She must not be from their flock.”
“Maybe she is from the dragon flock on our side of the Preserve,” Joven said.
“The Selkeres mountains stretch out for 2000 klicks and there are hundreds of flocks. But it’s likely she is from a radius of about 100 klicks from where you found her.”
“Do you think she could be released into the wild when she is older?”
“You may have no choice when she comes into heat.”
“If she wants to go, then we will let her,” said Carly.
“By then, she will be big enough that the raptors will probably leave her alone,” Dr. Meksaj said. “I’ve sent all the instructions to your home AI. If you have any questions or problems, just call me. She is fully healed and healthy. And it seems pretty clear she has bonded with you.”
“Yes, I think so. But I know she is not a pet.”
“I see dragons on our land frequently. When she is bigger, we will take her out to the meadow they frequent. Perhaps one of the flocks will accept her when she is old enough to mate.”
“In the meantime, we will be her flock.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The dinner party was originally planned for about twelve people, but Rader Knight, head of Glasica Law Enforcement, called Joven to suggest he invite the officers in charge of the other communities to the gathering to meet his team members. By the time he finished, there were over thirty peopl
e coming to what started to be a cozy little dinner party. They had to borrow tables from two of Joven’s team members to accommodate everyone.
Carly wore her new purple outfit for the event while Joven donned the new suit she’d convinced him to order when she got her new clothes. He was gorgeous to begin with but the new outfit made him look utterly scrumptious. Enough to make Carly think about taking it off him.
The sexy smirk he gave her told her he was having the same ideas about her. She grinned at him and sighed. It was way too late to do anything about it. Joven came to her and took her face between his hands. “You look beautiful,” he murmured and pressed his lips to hers.
What started as a casual caress turned quickly into a hot passionate tongue tangling kiss that left them both panting with arousal by the time their lips parted.
“Ah, Joven, no fair, doing that to me when we have a house full of guests arriving any moment.”
“Waiting until they have all left will make it that much sweeter when we are finally alone,” he whispered and gave her a peck on the lips just before he released her; said the man who could make her wet with a look. He was so going to get it later.
The house AI signaled the arrival of their first guests, and they walked out of their bedroom to the entryway to greet them. Rader Knight and Makus Driza arrived together with their spouses Skye and Jhenre. Skye hugged Carly enthusiastically when they were introduced.
“It’s so good to see someone from the old homeworld,” Skye said. “Love the new outfit.”
“Nice to finally meet you,” Joven said bowing his head briefly in greeting. “I just learned that my second in command Kelbor Refkid has been matched with an Earth woman. She has accepted his proposal.”
“Wonderful!” Carly and Skye said almost in unison.
“Did he tell you who, and where she’s from?” Carly asked.
“Alicia Fox from Virginia, about 200 klicks from our base there. “She is tall with brown skin, blue eyes and black hair. He will probably show her picture on his com when he gets here. He’s showing everyone who will look.”
“I hope they don’t get intercepted by pirates,” Carly grumbled.
“She will be arriving in just over three months on the Be’Kal Zephyr. His ship is smaller and faster than the Star Traveler. He is a fine Captain.”
“And they are really nice people, too,” Skye added.
As more guests arrived, Carly invited them to get drinks and appetizers in the dining room while they welcomed the rest of the guests.
When everyone arrived, the men and the women gathered in separate groups initially while they were having drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Joven was having a short official meeting to introduce his teams to Rader Knight and Makus Driza, who headed planetary Law Enforcement, and representatives of most of the other teams.
“I got the baby dragon,” Carly said when the men had gone to the living room for their meeting. “They couldn’t find a pack that would take her back, so I am going to raise her.”
“Can we see it?” Vres asked.
“She is not used to people, but we can take a peek at her. I have her in my den. I fed her just a little while ago so she is probably sleeping.” Carly led them to her den which was quite spacious and softly lit. The little dragon was asleep on a pillow beneath the work table. “Let’s try not to wake her,” Carly whispered.
Each woman paused in front of the desk and stooped to get a look then filed out to the hallway to rejoin Carly.
“No wonder they have people poaching them and trying to smuggle them off planet. She is just adorable,” said Deja. “Did you give her a name?”
“Issa, but mostly I call her baby. If I do well with her, Dr. Meksaj said I may be able to raise more if needed.”
“You’re not going to keep her?” Hezzi asked.
“When she is old enough, it will be up to her. We will introduce her to some local dragons when she is big enough to see if they will accept her. As much as I love her already, she is not meant to be held in captivity. When she is grown, she can defend herself against the raptors. Hopefully, she will find a mate that can help her.”
“Skye said you were going to do a series on the Selkeres dragons as one of your courses,” Jhenre said, “I know my kids would enjoy it.”
“I will make it available to everyone. But I will make it very clear that they are wild animals. I don’t want to encourage anyone to come and capture them.
The women re-integrated with the when Joven finished discussing coordination with ground side enforcement and star system security. Dinner was served promptly afterward, and Carly thought the android performed remarkably well. All of the food was delicious and served to the table efficiently.
When everyone finished eating, the droid served drinks of a slightly sweetened wine like beverage. After conferring with Joven, Carly stood up and called everyone’s attention.
“I am so glad you could all join us tonight and I want to share an Earth custom with you. Commander Refkid has been matched with a woman from my world, Alicia Stone. She has accepted his proposal to come to Glasica and be his mate. I raise my glass to salute his marriage and wish him love and happiness.”
The guests all followed suit and sipped their drinks as she did. “And I hope you will make her feel as welcome as you have made me.”
Afterward, they drifted away a few at a time until Carly and Joven were alone. As the last of them departed, Joven’s smoldering look told her as clearly as words that he hadn’t forgotten where they had left off before their guests arrived.
He came and lifted her easily into his arms so her face was even with his and her breasts were crushed against his hard chest. She sighed and wound her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. He didn’t have to say anything as she stared into his eyes. She was his mate, his love, his soulmate. That was meomee.
She gave him a tender smile and parted her lips for his kiss, moaning softly when his lips pressed to hers and his tongue slipped into her mouth. With one hand around her back and one on her ass, he turned and headed toward their bedroom without breaking the kiss.
Carly’s core throbbed as she pressed it against his erection through their clothing. Despite the urgency of their desire, Joven took great care in divesting her of her lovely outfit, alternating with taking off his own.
When they were both naked, standing at the end of the bed, Joven approached her from behind, reaching under her arms and cupping her breasts, pulling her against him. She hummed her pleasure as he kneaded them and squeezed her nipples. The length of his hard cock was pressed between the cheeks of her ass.
Carly closed her eyes and sighed, loving the feel of him and his hands roaming her body. She moaned aloud when he slid his hand over her mound, brushing his finger slowly over her clit and dipping it between her wet folds. “I’m ready for you,” she murmured.
She leaned over the end of the bed and climbed onto it and posed on her hands knees for him to take her from behind. Joven had teased her all evening with smoldering looks that told her he wanted to fuck her senseless. Carly had been in a state of arousal all evening and she wanted him to take her then and there.
“As you wish, meomee,” he said as he pressed the tip of his cock against her entrance. Then he gripped her hips and pushed all the way into her.
Carly gasped and groaned in relief, “More.” All her attention was on Joven and the sensation of his cock sliding in and out of her. He was everything taking and giving, carrying them together to that point of ecstasy that seemed to put them in a universe of their own.
She knew when he was close because he reached around and rubbed her clit to push her over the edge with him. She screamed as the first shudders of her orgasm racked her body.
Joven redeemed himself for teasing her all evening by nursing her through her climax after pouring his essence into her womb. After he pulled out of her, they collapsed on the bed together and he held her in his arms kissing and caressing her until he could take her
again.
He held her afterward until she fell asleep, then the AI alerted him that the little dragon baby was calling to be fed. Joven slipped out of bed without waking her. He pulled on his pants and went to feed little Issa. He had to admit the little dragon was appealing. It was good practice for when he and Carly had their own children.
If his hunch was right, it would be sooner than later since Carly should have been ovulating the last few times, they’d had sex. He had just put the little dragon back on is bed when Carly padded into the room barefoot wearing a thin robe.
“I woke up and you weren’t there then I remembered I hadn’t fed her.”
“I took care of it,” he said taking her into his arms.
“Thank you.” Carly put her arms around him and rested her cheek against his chest. “I had a wonderful time tonight. I think we have a nice little community here. It will be a good place to raise our children.”
“And a little dragon,” he said and kissed the top of her head.
“Yes, and a little dragon.”
Epilogue
Carly eased the runabout wheeler into the parking place beside the landing pad minutes after the Sentry Hawk landed. In the back seat were three-year-old twins Averil and Lacey and one baby dragon. Three more runabouts were parked in a row beside hers. Each of the other women driving them were mated to members of Joven’s crew. Two had babies riding in the back.
A shiver of excitement echoed through Carly as the hatchway of the starship opened. Joven had only been gone for ten rotations, yet each one seemed an eternity for Carly. The four and a half sun orbits, they had been together hadn’t dampened their passion for each other in the least.
Carly got out of the vehicle as the first of the crew came down the exit ramps, waiting patiently for Joven who came down last carrying his duffle. He paused at the hatchway scanning the line of runabouts for his family until his gaze landed on Carly. The last ten rotations had been one of the rare stretches that Joven took a patrol. One of his crew member’s bride had arrived only a few days before his patrol was scheduled to leave.
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