Talking Dog II: Never Send a Dog To Do a Woman's Job

by Shelley Munro

  “A baby? Our baby?”

  Lily nodded.

  “How? Why?” His mouth worked and nothing came out.

  “Sex can and does produce babies,” she said wryly, “although it shouldn’t have with me being on the contraceptive pill.”

  “My anti-bonding pills didn’t work either. Perhaps it was something in the spell the old crone sold me.”

  “Maybe. Alex, the baby?”

  “Our baby,” he mused. To Lily’s astonishment, a lone tear trickled down one tanned cheek. “A baby sounds wonderful. Perfect. We’re going to have a baby!” he shouted, his golden eyes glowing with excitement and such pleasure that Lily grinned and felt her own eyes mist over.

  “Will your father disown you?”

  “Moon heart, I think you’ve managed the one thing that will make him come ‘round.” He grinned. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. For years, he’s wanted a grandundergrown to dangle on his knee. I’ll call him from Janaya’s ship tomorrow. I’m fairly sure he’ll forgive me if it means a royal undergrown in the family. A baby,” he murmured. He tugged the blankets from her bare belly and leaned closer. “You’re beautiful now, moon heart. But I can’t wait to see you ripe and swollen with our undergrown.” Alex pressed a kiss to her belly than licked and kissed a trail up over to her breasts to her smiling mouth. “You make me whole,” he whispered. “I couldn’t be happier.”

  A scratch sounded at the bedroom door. “Lily, Lily! You tell Alex ‘bout baby yet?”

  “Baby!” a masculine voice roared from the other room.

  “Oops,” Lily said in a small voice.

  The door crashed open, smashing into the doorstop and shuddering to a stop with a solid thud.

  “Hi, Dad,” Lily said, clutching the white sheet to her chest. This bedroom was like a railway station. It was only the solid feel of Alex’s arm around her shoulders that kept her from ducking under the blankets to hide.

  Hinekiri, Luke and Janaya crowded into the bedroom, too.

  “Did that dog say baby?” Richard Morgan demanded. “Who the bloody hell are you?”

  “No,” barked Killer, peering around the corner of the door.

  “Yes,” said Alex. “Prince Alexandre Bellangere at your service.”

  Her father ignored the royal announcement and cut to the important part. “Well, which is it? Get your stories straight. Did you get my daughter pregnant?”

  “Richard, there’s no need to shout. We can all hear you perfectly well,” Hinekiri chirped. “I’m sure they can hear you on Dalcon. They won’t need to make a royal announcement. You’ve already done it.”

  “Lily and I are having a baby,” Alex stated in a clear, firm voice. “And we are joining.”

  “A baby,” Richard said. He whirled on Killer. “What sort of a spy dog are you? You were meant to stop this very thing from happening!”

  Killer stepped into full view and puffed up indignantly. Her fur lifted along the back of her neck. “I did excellent job. Janaya already pay me. Too late now. Not give back.”

  Lily bit her bottom lip. Now was not the time to laugh. Alex squeezed her shoulder under the cover of the blankets, and Lily felt the silent laughter in him as they both gazed at Killer’s shiny, new collar. It was made from black leather and had red stitching running down both sides with a row of silver studs in the middle. There was no doubt the collar was a work of art.

  “It’s a beautiful collar,” Lily said. Joy bubbled up inside her as she cuddled up to Alex.

  “I go show Maxwell.” Killer trotted to the door then turned and winked. “I have hot date. Don’t wait up.”

  “I don’t believe my ears,” her father muttered. “Finding out that dogs talked was a shock but they have a love life?”

  Hinekiri shunted Janaya and Luke from the room before turning her attention to Richard. “Perhaps we could leave Lily and Prince Alexandre to their privacy,” she suggested.

  “But…but…” her father spluttered.

  “The damage is done,” Hinekiri chirped with a wink at Lily. “We can plan the wedding tomorrow.”

  “But he’s an alien,” Richard said.

  “I’m an alien,” Hinekiri said with a distinct snap in her voice.

  “Oh, yeah. Right. Sorry.” He allowed himself to be directed from the room.

  “Congratulations,” Hinekiri said and she too left the room, closing the door firmly after her.

  “You have a great family,” Alex said. “They care about you.”

  Lily pushed Alex back against the pillows and leaned over him, letting her breasts rub against his chest in a suggestive manner. “They’ll be your family, too. I’ll remind you of this moment when they start telling you what to do.”

  “But they love you.”

  “Yeah,” Lily said. “Enough chatter. I think we’re guaranteed privacy for the rest of the night. What say we make use of it? Maybe you can explain this mark. It sounds intriguing.”

  “A good plan.” Alex wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Lily melted inside, feeling so happy she wanted to cry. Dreams really did come true if you believed hard enough. Lily believed with all her heart.

  The kiss changed in a subtle manner, the pressure increased and something sharp pressed against her lips. She jerked away in surprise. At the same time, a pulse sprang to life against her breast. It felt like the wings of a butterfly flapping between them.

  “What’s wrong?” Alex murmured, his voice husky and notes lower than normal.

  The vibration increased.

  “Eek, it feels like there’s an insect in the bed with us.” Lily tugged away from Alex’s grasp and brushed a hand over her breast. She glanced down and stilled. “Um, Alex?”

  “Yesss?”

  Lily’s head jerked up to see his face. “Holy moly!” She scrambled away from Alex and stared, her disconcerted gaze alternating between the mobile bruise that now rested over his heart and his—no other word for it—his fangs. “Um…Alex… I’m warning you now. If you say, all the better to eat you with, I’m gonna pitch a screaming fit and run.” Her voice shook, and Lily didn’t mind admitting she was slightly freaked. She shifted her legs toward the edge of the bed, ready to scramble to safety if he so much as pointed his fangs in her direction.

  “Lily. Trust me.”

  Lily’s eyes were drawn to his fangs. They extended downward past his bottom lip, looking sharp enough to draw blood. Her blood. As she watched, a brilliant blue flooded the milky white fangs, and gradually the white faded entirely. Black humor bloomed up inside Lily. The big blue strikes again.

  “Lily.” His words sounded different, but then why wouldn’t they with those bloody huge daggers poking from his mouth?

  Lily swallowed and backed further away. Her legs tangled with the bed linen, and suddenly she ran out of bed. An undignified shriek escaped as her arms clutched at empty air. But before she hit the ground, Alex caught her securely in his arms. Tenderness filled his golden eyes, and he smiled at her as he placed her safely in the middle of the bed. Lily frowned. At least, she thought it was a smile. It was a bit difficult to tell with the sharp objects in the way ruining the line of his beautiful mouth.

  “Love you, Lily.” Alex held her gently in his arms, rubbing his hands up and down her naked back until her startled heartbeat calmed. “Always love you.”

  “Are you going to…?” Lily swallowed. “Bite me.”

  “Yesss.”

  Lily’s eyes widened. Not quite the answer she’d expected even though the evidence was right in front of her eyes. “You could have lied!” she mumbled, unable to take her eyes off his brilliant blue teeth. Slowly, she reached out an unsteady hand to touch one fang.

  The heat from the fang seared her fingers. Then, he hissed, his startled reaction making Lily jerk her hand away in a hurry. Surreptitiously, she checked her fingers. Okay. All present and accounted for.

  “What’s happening?” she demanded in a terse whisper.

  “Mark. Pleasure. T
rust. Lily.”

  The fangs seemed to have reduced him to single words. A shiver racked his muscular body, and worry replaced her fear. “Are you going to be all right? Should I call Janaya?”

  “Need you,” he forced out with a groan. He writhed on the bed, and Lily saw to her horror that the blue from the bruise over his heart was spreading outward at a rapid pace.

  “You’re turning blue all over.” Curiosity bloomed in her. “Does it hurt?”

  “Need you. Now. Kiss me.”

  Lily cast a doubtful look at his mouth. It didn’t look quite so sexy and tempting as usual with the sharp protrusions.

  “Lily.” The heartfelt groan that followed his plea galvanized her to action. She leaned over his shaking body and pressed a cautious kiss to a flat, blue, masculine nipple. When he didn’t attack her with his teeth, she relaxed a little and trailed kisses across his broad chest. The contact soothed both of them. Lily let the uncertainty about his fangs float away and concentrated on giving them both pleasure.

  She trailed her fingers across his pastel blue skin in fascination. Her tongue flicked out to tease the circumference of his belly button, dipping inside then lightly nipping his muscular belly with her teeth.

  Alex’s tortured groan throbbed in the air between them. “Again. Please.”

  Lily scored her teeth across his flesh then tugged the cotton sheet away from his body. A grin escaped. “The big blue is bluer than normal.”

  Alex snorted his amusement and reached out to caress her breasts, cupping one plump globe in each hand. His thumbs massaged both nipples, and Lily felt a liquid gush between her legs.

  “Trust. Me?”

  Lily’s eyes drifted to his fangs. She loved him. He was the father of her baby. Her gaze traveled upward to meet his eyes. The silent pleading she saw made up her mind. “I trust you, Alex. You are my love. I trust you with my heart and soul.”

  The worry in his golden eyes faded, and his lips curved up in a positive, definite smile. She was certain this time since she glimpsed the whole fang from root to tip. Lily squeezed her eyes shut. She trusted him, but they were two big suckers.

  Alex leaned over her body, his chest brushing sensitive nipples. She felt his erection brushing the entrance to her womb and shifted to allow him better access. Her body trembled, but it was no longer fear and she opened her eyes again. Alex kissed one breast. The scrape of a fang across her skin brought pleasure instead of pain. A repeat of the caress doubled the exquisite sensation. Lily’s heart thundered while each of Alex’s kisses made her hotter than she’d ever felt before. The lap of his tongue across her breast made a pulsating ache spring to life deep in her pussy. She ached for Alex’s possession. Her hips shifted. A groan emerged.

  “Please, Alex. I need you inside me.”

  “Frightened?”

  She shook her head. The strange thing was that the fear had left her as soon as Alex started to pet and stroke her skin. A shudder drifted through her as he kissed his way down her body. The sight of his golden head between her legs brought a gush of juices. She stirred restlessly, yearning, seeking Alex’s touch. His possession.

  “Ready?” he asked in his fang-altered voice.

  Lily nodded. As ready as she’d ever be. She only hoped it didn’t hurt too much.

  Alex grinned up at her, apparently enjoying her apprehension. Then he parted her legs and blew across her clit. The moist air sent a rush of pleasure shuddering through Lily. He scrapped the fangs across the soft skin of her inner thigh then soothed the bite with a lash of his wet tongue.

  “Lily.” Her name came out on a sigh.

  Alex moved back up her body and kissed her gently. The fangs pushed against her lips, the heat from them immense and startling.

  “Lily,” he said again. His cock surged past the wet entrance of her womb, filling her completely and totally. His eyes glowed with an unholy blue light as he pulled from her vagina then thrust home again.

  Lily sucked in a tiny breath, the ripple of her orgasm almost on her with just two thrusts. She trembled, moving with Alex, fighting for release. He felt impossibly big inside her, larger than he had ever felt before. He lowered his head and sucked on one taut nipple.

  The pull at her breast pushed her over the edge. Pleasure, immense and satisfying, surfed through her body. Lily felt the dig of his fangs on the slope of her breast.

  Alex cried out. Deep in her womb, his seed spurted long and hard. Pleasure hummed in a never-ending stream through her body.

  And then he bit her.

  His fangs sank deep into the slope of her breast. A drawing, swooping sensation shot the length of her body. Her clit convulsed, her womb clamping at Alex’s cock. White-hot pleasure hurled her from her body into a place where the present didn’t exist. But she wasn’t alone. Alex soared beside her, his tom hard and thick inside her pussy. On and on the pleasure went, building, increasing until she didn’t think she could bear it. Starbursts flickered behind her eyes. Alex held her tight, safe, and they rode the storm together until the lightning and thunder calmed and the world was right again.

  Lily came to herself slowly, feeling Alex’s heart thudding against her breasts. Her eyes flickered open even though she didn’t remember closing them. She smoothed a lazy hand across his mouth.

  “Your fangs are gone.”

  “Yes.” Alex lifted away from her upper body. A slow smile curled across his handsome face.

  “What?” Lily whispered, quietly pleased that the forbidding fangs had disappeared.

  “The mark.” Supreme male satisfaction coated his purr. “We are mates for life.”

  Lily glanced down at her breast. On the upper slope where he’d bitten her, a blue mark glowed. When she studied it more closely, she saw it was the size of a fifty-cent piece. The swirly pattern reminded her of a Celtic design.

  “I have one, too.”

  And he did, on his chest in the same place she did. It was the exact size and color of the one that decorated her breast. “A matching pair of bookends,” Lily said dryly. To her relief, his skin had returned to a more normal color, and he didn’t look like a character out of a children’s storybook any more.

  Alex shook his head in silent denial. “Mates.”

  “Is it always like that?” The pleasure still rippled through her womb like a series of fireworks in a display.

  “No idea,” Alex said in a cheerful tone. “It’s never happened to me before. Never will again,” he said with a careless shrug right before he pressed a lingering kiss to her open lips.

  “Explain,” Lily said as soon as he lifted his head.

  “Marking is a once in a lifetime thing. I will never mark another female. Physically, it’s impossible while we both live. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

  Which wasn’t such a bad thing, Lily thought with a rush of pleasure. Suddenly, the idea of growing older seemed less daunting. With Alex at her side, she could face anything.

  Her hands drifted over his chest to finger the blue mark that glowed on his pectoral muscle. It felt rough beneath her fingers and a little hot to the touch. It reminded her of a brand.

  “So, you’ll never go blue like that again?” Her gaze wandered down to where their bodies were still joined. His skin appeared normal again, golden against the blue of the mark.

  Alex brushed the hair off her face and grinned. “Moon heart, I’m afraid you’re stuck with my blue tom and the mark.” His hand drifted down to touch the blue mark on her breast. The trail of his fingers across the mark made her clit pulse in a startled leap of enjoyment.

  Lily sighed, and the sigh was based in happiness. She could think of worse things than living with Alex and the big blue.

  About the author:

  Shelley lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and a small, bossy dog named Scotty.

  Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand-speak: big overseas experience). A year-long adv
enture lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland, and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.

  While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love—that of writing stories of romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby and rugby league (strictly for research purposes *grin*), being walked by the dog, and curling up with a good book.

  Shelley Munro welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1337 Commerce Drive, #13, Stow, OH 44224.

  Also by Shelley Munro:

  Talking Dogs, Aliens, and Purple People Eaters

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

  www.ellorascave.com