Page 12 of Healing the Leonid Doctor’s Heart (Felix Orbus Galaxy #6)

“What makes you think I never—”

“I know you never, because if you had, they must not have gone far, or someone would have been looking for you, someone would be waiting for you. You wouldn’t be trying to decide between going back or staying here, because you go to where your loved ones are.

I don’t have loved ones. I mean, I have you.

You’re the closest thing I have to family,” Kaylie’s voice slowly faded, “and that’s just because we got kidnapped together.

You wouldn’t have to stay with me if you didn’t want to. I mean, stay. Here.”

Abigail swallowed and reached under Kaylie’s chin to bring it up. “Well, seeing as we both had to meet to be able to adopt one another, I suppose God had to do whatever was handy at the moment to throw us together, Little Sis. I’m not going back—not if you want to stay.”

Kaylie’s tearful eyes brightened. “I want to stay here, at least for now. Maybe we’ll really like Lynx-Nineteen when we dock there for a week or two.

Ardol and Jade really love the town and already have friends there.

There would be lots of work, and it’s the biggest human-Felid community in this galaxy. ”

“Yeah! That’s right, we might love it. Or we might both find that we belong right here on the Comet Stalker after all.”

“The job isn’t really the important part, is it?” Kaylie patted her hand with a sigh. “It’s the family—or whatever passes for it. I’ve got you and Jax. Just as a friend, of course. And you have Marcus. Maybe as a friend or more?” Kaylie arched one eyebrow as she concluded, her smile shaky.

It’d be smarter to keep things friendly.

Pleasure shared can be friendly, can’t it? Kaylie and I split sweets, the best I’ve ever had, and we’re friends.

She remembered Marcus’ body behind hers, pressing against hers, cock against her soaking folds, pistoning between slick, drenched thighs, and the moment his hot speed splattered against her pussy as they frantically rubbed together.

Making love to Marcus and splitting a cocoa cream bar with Kaylie aren’t the same thing. Not even close.

But to Kaylie, she murmured, “We do have such wonderful friends aboard, and I’m not foolish enough to ruin that for either of us. Now, come on and finish your half before I do it.” She pushed the candy back towards Kaylie.

“My appetite is back. Mmm.” Kaylie popped the last bit of the bar into her mouth and moaned. “I’d stay just for the food. Wouldn’t you?”

“That’s a good reason.”

Just not the only one.

“YOU... YOU USED AN entire shampoo cartridge, didn’t you?” Rupex sat down next to Marcus, a cup of hot tea in his paw.

Marcus shrugged. He had bathed himself in perfumed lather to erase the scent of sex, particularly the scent of Abigail. “I’m a doctor. It’s important to be clean. I have a number of calls today—one to the obstetrics and gynecology department at Bastet Mercy. I have to look presentable.”

“Hm. What are the calls about?”

“I updated them on Wendy and Talos’ little Queen being born, and they were thrilled.

This is big news in the scientific community, and I believe.

.. I’m not sure, but I believe they’ll ask me to resign my commission here and take a position in a new specialty—Hybrid Reproductive and Chromosomal Medicine. ”

Rupex’s eyes widened. “Oh. Marcus...”

“I’m sure they’ll have some hoops to jump through first, Ru. Most likely a program of candidates—wealthy donors or some sort of lottery system—healthy Leonid males who will apply to be matched with a human surrogate.”

“Who came up with that idea?”

“I did, idiot. You and Layla!”

“Oh. Right,” Rupex chuckled. “Funny how it started out as a contract, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t it?” Marcus parroted, his mind rewinding to the first fiery looks between the couple, the noises and scents he bore witness to.

Could it be that way with Abigail and me? There’s still fire in her veins, and in mine, too...

“How would you propose this system work, Marcus?”

“They place a contract offer up for human Queens in a specific location. I was thinking... I was thinking of the Milky Way Inter Galactic Port and surrounding shuttle points. Abigail and Nessa are from that area. They might have insider knowledge, and Abigail could potentially help me interview some candidates. She doesn’t have another assigned task yet. Perhaps Kaylie might assist, as well.”

“So those two would help you search for a pool of surrogates, and you and Bastet Mercy would supply the male candidates? My ship is to become a floating love nest?”

“Isn’t it already? And it doesn’t need to be love. It needs to be enjoyable and acceptable to both parties, but if I remember how Wendy, Jade, and Layla acted when they received the injections to create their ‘heats,’ that wouldn’t be much of a problem.”

Abigail in heat. Desperate for him. Clawing him as she rode him, wrapping her legs around his waist as she begged him to bury his cock deeper inside of her straining pussy... Again and again and again...

“Marcus, you have a huge heart under that somewhat stoic exterior, but you mustn’t let your desire to help others take away your health. I can already see you’re wrapped up in this—”

“You can’t begrudge me that? Not after what it’s given you!” Marcus hissed, a flicker of anger in his tone.

“No! Not at all. I only meant that I can see your mind is light-years away this morning. You skipped breakfast. I didn’t see you at lunch.

You must take time to care for yourself, to do things for your own well-being.

That’s an order. Remember, without you, so many hopes will be dashed.

Isn’t that enough of a reason to make you stop and bask in all of your dreams coming true?

” Rupex clapped him on the shoulder. “Your research is accepted, there are pregnant couples here and on Lynx-Nineteen, there are cubs... There is hope!”

“I like that, Ru. I really do. Good advice,” Marcus nodded as if this was a deep revelation.

And perhaps it was, but it had begun working its way into his thoughts a day or two ago.

He deserved some happiness for himself. He deserved dreams to come true, and not just medical research dreams, or dreams for his people.

Dreams for love. Family. A Queen, a mate of his own.

“Tell me how the call goes, Marcus. This trial of candidates and surrogates—do you expect them to start soon?”

“It would be several cycles, even though I imagine this will receive a tremendous amount of push-through from the suits at the top. I’ll tell them that we can prepare quarters, expand the med bay, take on a grant for my assistants—” Marcus smirked.

Rupex shook his head, “All things I’m already paying for or am willing to pay for!”

“Ah, yes, but now I will ask for discretionary funds to run a clinic on the Comet Stalker and request a share of Dax and Skyla’s contracts, and all the costs for expanding the med bay, all the extra equipment—that won’t be out of your credit account.

This could be a nice fat contract for us, Rupex.

Freight and passengers...” Marcus raised his cup.

“Doesn’t matter what kind.” Rupex clinked his to it.

They parted company with chuckles and waves, but Marcus’ head was spinning.

He had to think clearly for this meeting—and all he wanted to do was to conduct a professional exam on his friend, the woman who had given him the most passion he’d experienced in seven lonely years, and the woman he wanted to bear his child.

If I’m falling in love with my potential surrogate, should I tell her not to go through with it?

The selfish part of him answered no at once.

You’ll deprive her of a child and a person to parent with. Others might not be right for her—others might be better for her.

The unselfish part of him gave a limp, “Maybe.”

His head went back to spinning.