Page 37 of Healing the Leonid Doctor's Heart
Marcus gave a lazy smile, his paw kneading her hip. “Maybe not. Sometimes you fall in love with someone from another species. Can’t help it. Might still need help building a family.”
“Kaylie and Jaxson. Or Skyla and Dax,” she murmured sleepily.
“Dax and Skyla, yes, definitely.” Marcus leaned over and kissed her. “Sleep a little longer. I’ll see you for our team meeting soon?”
“It’s exciting. I’m sorry I overreacted yesterday. You know, I had a comfortable life on Sapien-Three, far better than many others around me, but here... With you,” she ducked her head, “I suddenly had so much that... When I thought you were pulling away from me for some reason, or only choosing me out of pity, or just because I was what you had available, I.... What I thought didn’t match the way you acted, and I’m sorry.”
Marcus stopped scooting away, preparing to dress for the day. “Did anything I’ve done or said make you think I’d pull away?” He pulled her closer, flush against his chest, head resting on hers so that she was lost in the solid weight of his jaw, the silky fuzz of his mane, and all those fur-covered muscles.
She remembered last night. The long hours of being joined together, sleeping safe in his arms... “No, you didn’t. The way my brain reads things... Maybe. I’m glad you’re smart enough to talk and not just go along with things without asking what’s wrong.”
“I had people in my life to talk to. I get the feeling that communication in your life wasn’t much of a priority.”
“Working ten-hour days and living alone? You’re right. I’ll work on it.” She shifted restlessly. “Is it just me, or is it hot in here?”
“I’m snuggling you too tight. I don’t want to let you go,” Marcus laughed and reluctantly released her. “You rest, I’ll go to my shift, and we’ll see each other at the meeting with Kaylie, Dax, and Skyla. And don’t worry about people finding out. Even if they do, it won’t change my mind about what we’re doing.”
“Good. Me, either.” Abigail propped herself up on one elbow and kissed him goodbye.
KAYLIE CROSSED HERlegs and rested her elbows on her topmost knee, hands holding up her chin as she spoke. “I’ve been thinking about this all day, guys. I think we should plan to reach out to girls who’ve had a contract bought by Metro Labs or those who are exiting government care programs. Most of them have no other options, no training, and no family. A lot of them would choose to work in Pleasure Parks or the labs, and in both cases, they could end up impregnated for far worse compensation. They might find love and a family here. Ifnot, what are they supposed to do for the five months they’re pregnant and sitting around on this vessel?”
“You should see if there are any Felid programs that would offer them a discounted price for training. Some of the online academies must offer at least a base certification over the course of five or six months?” Skyla suggested.
Marcus took notes on his tablet as Kaylie and Skyla spoke. “I’m absolutely certain Bastet Mercy would. There’s a critical nursing shortage. Hell, everywhere there are critical staff shortages—except in the government. How do they always seem to have an overabundance of workers?” he muttered, tapping away.
Everyone chuckled—except Abi. She was looking at him with an odd expression.
“Abigail?”
“Hm? Oh! I was going to say, you might see if there’s some sort of... I don’t know what you’d call it. A resettlement opportunity? A colonization plan? Something like that—on Lynx-Nineteen or Leonid-One. A place where human Queens would have human communities.”
Dax spoke up, “I’m betting at least half of these people end up married to whoever they’re partnered with. I don’t think you can resist the chemistry of being with someone day after day for months at a time. The little moments you share. Watching her do this amazing thing for you. Helping her. Learning from her...” he trailed off with a dreamy sigh.
“I need water. Would anyone else like something?” Skyla got up and shot out of the med bay, tail absolutely flying, whipping around like a cloud of red and white silk.
Marcus looked at the young man over his glasses. “Well, we’ll all just pretend that Dax didn’t confess his adoration for Skyla, shall we?”
Dax looked stunned. “Huh? I never said I—”
“There are things you don’t have to say, Dax. And things she doesn’t have to say. There are ways a female Canid acts. That high-flying tail is a clear invitation. There are scents—” Marcus sniffed in, expecting to catch a whiff of Skyla’s unique pheromones.
Instead, Abigail’s scent, somehow deeper and more floral than ever before, suckerpunched him in the nose, making his chest tighten, his trousers tighten, and his ability to make words vanish.
“Uh... I...”
“Shh, she’s coming back,” Dax begged, blushing bright pink.
“I think we should start with a few selected contacts, not just put this notice out to every young human Queen in a Pleasure Park or Metro Labs,” Skyla put down a tray with a pitcher and glasses on it. “Dax, you must have someone you know at the branch of Metro Labs you were housed in? I’d say we should ask Wendy, but I don’t want to bring up bad memories.”
“And I can reach out to the matron at my old residence,” Kaylie said eagerly.
“It’d definitely sound like a better pitch coming from someone you know, someone who’s seen happy, successful pairings and healthy cubs come out of this whole thing,” Dax agreed. “But, if we cast a wide net, do we get better fish?”
“Maybe, but we’d also have to weed out a lot of bad ones,” Abigail said, her usual sensible side on display. “Go for the personal connections first, at least until the program is off the ground. What do you think, Marcus?”
“I think these are all excellent suggestions, and I’d like to put the plan into action. Abigail and I will finish up completing a profile in here. Skyla, would you make a ‘house call’ on Wendy, Talos, and Chandra for the daily postpartum check-in? Dax, I want you to go bother Elio for a few minutes, pick his brain about who would be a trustworthy contact. Kaylie, why don’t youget in touch with the matron at your old residence? Most of the young women wouldn’t be of the right age, but perhaps some of the ones who have remained as carers and cleaners would like to learn about this potential opportunity.” Marcus stood, his tablet carefully dangling in front of his waist. “Good meeting, team. I’m proud of us. Abi, you don’t mind staying, do you?”
“That’s what I’m here for.” She beamed.
