by Alana Serra
“Which is my area of expertise,” she said quickly, obviously annoyed. After a moment, she amended, “I’m sorry. That’s not helpful now.”
“Yet it is true,” he admitted.
She looked at him as if he’d suddenly sprouted a second set of horns. Kor’ven was not so dense as to misunderstand it. He had been nothing but unkind to her since arriving. She could never understand why. He had a duty to his people, and being around the woman his blood called out for would only distract him from that duty.
Still, if they were to find a solution quickly, it would be best to give credit where credit was due. Helios was one of the most successful Waystations. Much of that was Adi’sun’s doing.
“You have theories of your own?” he asked.
She nodded, but did not answer immediately. Instead, she moved to the shelf where several reference books were arranged. Newly arranged by Kor’ven--something he hadn’t done to vex her, but that seemed to do so nonetheless. His keen sense of hearing picked up a few colorful human curses, and a smirk touched his lips.
She finally found whatever she was looking for and brought the reference over to the table, opening the book to show him something. He wanted to pay attention, but the scent of her hair, of her skin was too overwhelming. He breathed her in, and even that action made his loins tighten. Kor’ven was forced to grip the edge of the table to keep from nuzzling into the soft warmth of her neck and breathing more deeply.
“…considers the implant to be a foreign object. Of course we use tissue from the patient’s own body to circumvent the possibility of a rejection, but Vazik is only half human. Perhaps his body requires something different.”
It took Kor’ven a moment to catch up to what she was saying. He hated being distracted, and he made a great effort to focus his attention so he could understand. She was speaking of the implant process for humans. Karuvar had already adapted to recognize the composition of the implant as a part of their body. Humans had not. Yet.
And with any luck, they never would.
“You think the genes passed on from his father are clashing with those from his mother,” Kor’ven supplied. “That does not bode well.”
“No,” she admitted with a frown. “And I hope I’m wrong. But I think there are tests we can do to see if his body is rejecting the tissue.”
That was not a terrible idea. In fact, it was one of the more actionable ones Kor’ven had heard. And while his work lay more with the genetic coding of the implants than the biological and chemical composition, he could appreciate her adeptness.
They spent the rest of that day planning out a variety of experiments. The tissue Adi’sun had grown from Vazik’s own body was to be put through a variety of tests. Time flew as they readied everything, neither of them leaving the lab. Adi’sun’s assistant, Azh’lee, brought them food, but outside of that, they paid little mind to anything else.
Anything outside of that room, at least. Part of the reason it took much of the day to even prepare the experiments was because Kor’ven was distracted, and he could only assume the same was true of Adi’sun. He could not imagine her strength, because it took every ounce of his willpower to keep from approaching her, touching her, claiming her. And all through this, his implant protested. He felt ill, as if he’d contracted some manner of human flu. His muscles ached, sweat beaded on his brow, and his brain fogged significantly.
They should have both taken it as a sign, but evidently stubbornness was not a trait unique to Karuvar. He knew such stubbornness would cost them. Being distracted in the lab was a terrible thing, and while Adi’sun insisted she would have her assistant check the work afterward, there was still room for catastrophe.
It came late in the evening, when they were in the process of mixing chemical compounds for a simulation test. He was uncertain what went wrong, precisely, but he knew the exact moment it did. There was an acrid scent in the air that had not been there before. His long, sensitive ears picked up on the faintest reaction as liquid began to foam, and he knew there was little time to act.
Instinct surged within him as he looked at Adi’sun. He had never truly understood the Karuvar who processed the world only in terms of threats, but he certainly did now. The swiftly rising chemicals were a threat, and his mate their target.
He would not allow any harm to come to his mate, from any source. He would protect her with his own life.
“Get down!” he warned, but that was not enough.
Instinct drove him again, and he leapt at her, all but tackling her to the ground, his body covering hers. He could hear the instant the breath was knocked from her, felt the hard floor jar through her, and guilt nipped at him--until an explosion sounded above them.
Kor’ven covered his own head, using his massive frame to protect his small human mate, as well.
When the heat of the reaction faded, when the acrid smell no longer burned his nose, Kor’ven finally relented some, pushing himself up with his arms.
Adi’sun lay beneath him, her blue eyes wide. He had felt her anger when he handled her so aggressively, then her surprise at the explosion. Now her pale cheeks reddened with something else, and Kor’ven recognized all too well what it was.
His body was pressed to the length of hers, and though he’d lifted his torso away, his hips still covered hers, his legs pinning her in place. It would have been impossible not to react to her, and he could feel his cock growing firm. No doubt she could feel him, too.
Adi’sun’s chest rose and fell in rapid time with the effort of her breathing. Kor’ven had never been as transfixed by breasts as some of his colleagues, but hers were lusciously tempting, and he wanted very badly to touch the soft, pliant flesh. More than that, though, he wanted to taste her. He would start with her lips, but he ached to taste every inch of her, from her creamy skin to the arousal that grew slick between her thighs.
He let out a growl, and he was unsure if it was a growl of frustration, or merely a warning of the inevitable. Adi’sun’s eyes darkened to the color of the ocean, and that was all the encouragement he needed.
Kor’ven moved to close the distance between them, but before he could claim her mouth, the door to the lab was thrown open.
“What the fuck happ--whoa.”
Azh’lee’s voice was like being hit with a stream of glacial water. Kor’ven’s ardor faded, even if his body still demanded he take his mate. Karuvar were not terribly shy about mating in public, after all, but Kor’ven had no plans to do so.
Not just in public, he reminded himself. You cannot have her anywhere.
He pushed himself to his feet, trying to regain his dignity. There was no need to help Adi’sun--she followed him in a scramble of limbs.
“So was there actually an explosion, or did you guys just set off some sort of chemical reaction on your way down to the floor?” Adi’sun’s assistant asked with a smirk.
“Azh’lee.” She spoke the youngling’s name through gritted teeth, her cheeks still aflame.
“An unfortunate reaction,” he explained, his voice still somewhat hoarse. “I sensed the explosion, and I am afraid in my haste I could think of no better solution than to hurry Doctor Mun’roh to the ground.”
“I bet,” she muttered, still amused by this entire situation.
Adi’sun asked the youngling to help them clean up, as chemicals had overflowed onto the workstation. Kor’ven suspected she was there to act as a buffer, as well, and he was grateful for it.
It was foolish to say he was unsure what would have happened had Azh’lee not walked in. No doubt his cock would be buried in his mate’s welcoming cunt right now. Her legs would wrap around him, her nails would scratch against his scale plating, and she would writhe beneath him as he pumped her full of his seed.
Their implants would calm. They would be able to work without as much distraction, and that was certainly a benefit. But the risks were too great. He had work to do, and it did not involve staying at Waystation Helios.
8
Addison would’ve gladly done so. She didn’t need to be in the same room with him. Not when she could remember the hard contours of his body, the scalding heat that radiated off of him, and the pure need that vibrated through her entire being. Not when she very clearly understood what would have happened if Ash hadn’t walked in when she did.
She’d spent so much of her life focused on her work. Even her formative years as a teenager were dedicated to academia and scientific pursuits. She’d had no time for boys, and very little time for sex. But when Kor’ven was around, all she could think about was… fucking.
Not making love. Not tender, gentle caresses from a lover who whispered sweet nothings in her ear. No, what she wanted--what she ached for--was to be fucked. Taken by a man who knew how to use what he had; by a man who would bring her to climax effortlessly.
Kor’ven had a biological advantage at that, and she knew it was the implant making her want such things to begin with. Biology didn’t have time for soft assurances and deeper feelings. Biology just wanted him to knock her up as quickly as possible. Even if that wasn’t what the Karuvar believed was at work, every imperative the implant exacerbated was strictly related to procreation.
Addison’s feelings on the matter were… complicated, but either way, it wasn’t something she could think about right now. Kor’ven scarcely factored into the equation. There were just larger things at stake, and he thankfully seemed to get that. If he’d pursued her the way Verkiir pursued Meg, she would never get anything done.
Though even without Kor’ven actively pursuing her, Addison had an awful time staying focused. Once Ash left, they made an unspoken pact to work on separate sides of the lab, testing different theories and sharing results from as far away as reasonably possible. That worked. Somewhat. Except for every time Kor’ven glanced over at her. All she had to do was catch his violet gaze for the barest of seconds and she felt her heart seize in her chest, her body overheating as all blood flowed southward.
It was worse when he needed to get something on her side of the room. In the time it took him to retrieve a beaker, she could almost feel the heat rolling off his body. She could smell him, too. An intoxicating mix of old books and stardust, which was quite possibly the most foolish description she’d ever had for anything, but it was true.
Late that night, when she realized they were getting nowhere, Addison was forced to call upon a lab assistant. Ashley would have been her preference, but she wasn’t about to call the Cauthrans’ home to summon a teenager out of bed. Especially on a school night.
And that wasn’t even mentioning the fact that Ash would tease her mercilessly.
The assistant provided a buffer though, and with no sleep and little to no food, Addison and Kor’ven were able to come to a consensus that did not, in fact, involve fucking. They both believed the problem was that the implant had been designed for a human’s body, but Vazik was not human. So rather than remove the implant and create unnecessary work for everyone, they created a cocktail of drugs that would hopefully level out Vazik’s reaction and allow the implant to take.
It was nearly five in the morning by that point, and sunlight was just beginning to stain the horizon. Addison’s limbs felt heavy, her body sluggish even if her mind was still racing. One look at Kor’ven told her he was in much the same state, and their assistant had checked out as soon as an agreeable solution was found.
“Meg and Verkiir won’t be here for another three hours,” she told him, stifling a yawn. “You should get some sleep.”
“I am fine.”
There wasn’t anything that arrogant in his tone, but still Addison bristled. More of this? Really? The macho science posturing was so not attractive. But then, maybe she should wish for him to do more of that.
“As much as I appreciate your dedication, Kor’ven, you and I both know how dangerous it is to go without sleep for so long.”
“I have not yet been assigned temporary housing,” he said simply.
She blinked at that. That seemed… a gross oversight. Surely Drol’gan had offered. But then, perhaps he had assumed someone else would handle it, and Kor’ven certainly would not have said anything.
“There are a few pull-out beds in storage,” she said. “I can help you bring one… in here, if you like, or one of the classrooms that won’t see use ‘til the morning.”
Some terrible, awful part of her almost volunteered her own office, where she’d spent many a night sleeping on the pullout couch. There was not room for two there, but then she supposed they wouldn’t be doing much sleeping.
No. Addison squeezed her eyes shut and banished the image from her mind. God. She was so tired. How could her body still think of fucking at a time like this?
“Are there not cots available?” he asked, unbuttoning his coat. “I shall be fine in one of those.”
Addison watched as his long, deft fingers undid the buttons, her mouth growing drier and drier. She had assumed he might have a shirt on underneath, but no. He wore what the other Karuvar males wore. A harness made of leather, the straps criss-crossing over his chest. His muscles weren’t as pronounced as a warrior’s, but they were still very much defined.
And so enticingly touchable.
She shook her head, hoping to force the thoughts away. Maybe he should sleep on a cot. He’d be in the medical wing, far from her. And she wouldn’t have to worry about going with him to retrieve something comfier.
“Whatever is easiest for you,” she demurred with an unsteady smile.
Kor’ven merely nodded, and Addison took the chance to excuse herself. As she headed to her office, she already knew it was going to be impossible to sleep. Her mind was still wide awake and now, thanks to Kor’ven’s little striptease, her body was, too.
So long as the injection worked, it would all be worth it. Vazik would be able to adapt as he should, they could send the update out to the other Waystations and then… what? She’d assumed Kor’ven would return to Selene, but deep down, Addison knew that was going to cause her problems--ones she might not be able to recover from.
As she settled down on the couch, the portrait of her mother caught her eye. Like her mother, Addison had dedicated her life to science. But unlike her, she had no plans to give that up for a man. It didn’t matter if Kor’ven was her mate. It didn’t matter if he turned out to be incredibly tolerable--or even likable, beyond the strong sexual attraction she had to him.
When this was over, he would return to Selene, and Addison would do whatever she had to do to stay productive.
Addison was able to doze for about a half hour. Long enough to at least work some of that deep ache out of her muscles. Ash had fixed up a timer from the old civilization and given it to her as a birthday gift last year, and she had never hated it more than the moment it rang incessantly just as she was falling into a deeper sleep.
But she turned the thing off and rose, heading over to the bathroom to splash some water on her face. God, she looked awful. Dark bags under her eyes, the hint of wrinkles etched in her face, her hair dull and coming undone from her ponytail. A bit of makeup only did so much, and she told herself the same lie she always told: once this was done, she would get some decent rest.
Changing into fresh clothes--because she always kept a change of clothes in her office--Addison made her way to the entrance of Waystation Helios, greeting the Cauthrans and Verkiir as they arrived.
“Ash said you had a very interesting night,” Meg said, her voice low enough so that only Addison could hear.
A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she refused to rise to the bait.
“It was interesting. I may even tell you about it, if you think you can contain yourself while I’m at work.”
Meg snorted. Their friendship had grown over the past couple of years, and Addison knew the woman understood just when she was aggravated with her… and when she wasn’t.
>
“Hey, I’ve already been through that whole song and dance, thank you very much. And if I had to deal with a very demanding alien at my workplace, so do you.”
As if on cue, Kor’ven made his presence known. He wore his lab coat again--buttoned to the collar--and Addison was torn between a feeling of disappointment, and being pleased that no one else would get to see him the way she had. Mostly she felt envious of the fact that Kor’ven looked fresh-faced and ready to work.
Just one more thing to annoy her about him.
“I’d like to get started as soon as possible,” Addison told them, gesturing toward a more private exam room. “Kor’ven and I made a real breakthrough, and we believe Vazik’s implant will activate after a simple injection.”
She led them to the quiet room, flipping on the lights. She and Kor’ven took turns explaining what they had done and what it all meant, as if they hadn’t been at each other’s throats less than twenty-four hours earlier. When the Pathfinder came to bear witness, she could feel the tension in the air. But as they summarized once more for his benefit, some of it seemed to ease.
“He just needs an injection then?” Drann asked, once again accompanying his father.
“That is the hope,” Kor’ven said.
“If it works, will you go in and alter his implant? As a more permanent fix?”
That was a valid question, and one Addison had planned on addressing as soon as they determined the validity of the injection. She had never edited the internal structure of an implant before--she didn’t deal with the intersection between the implant and the genes of its host. But Kor’ven did, and she assumed he would take point on that when the time came.
“I would prefer to avoid altering the implant further if we do not have to,” he said, and there was something in his voice that caught Addison off-guard.
He was more than just firm on that point. It sounded like a deep conviction. Her brow furrowed and she tucked that bit of information away for later. Maybe he had some other method. Perhaps he was right about human science being outdated.