Page 108 of Alpha Dragon's Mating Contract
Walren didn’t usually have an aversion to zucchini, but suddenly it was the most revolting thing he had ever smelled.
He gagged, clapping his hand over his nose and mouth.
“Sweetheart?” Raptor looked at him worriedly.
Hassel had stopped in the kitchen doorway, watching them in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
The mansion’s central air kicked on then, sending a burst of zucchini scent straight at Walren.
Walren’s stomachrebelled.
Wretchedly, he wrenched himself away from Raptor, hobbling as quickly as he could to the hallway bathroom.
He barely made it in time to heave into the toilet.
“Walry!” Raptor yelped, rushing in after him. He dropped to his knees next to Walren, rubbing Walren’s back as he continued to throw up. “Hass, get me a glass of water.”
Walren wasn’t aware of much. Just the large hands brushing hair away from his face, Raptor murmuring soothing words next to him.
“Don’t look,” Walren moaned. “This is disgusting.”
“This is your morning sickness, isn’t it?” Raptor’s eyes grew round. “In any case, I’m sticking with you, sweetheart. It’s not nice to feel terrible and alone.”
How was he so perfect? Walren tucked away the thought, glad that Zebbie was in Go Cart’s cargo basket and safely out of trouble. He tried not to think about Raptor watching him puke.
When he was finally done, Walren accepted the glass of water from Raptor, rinsing out his mouth. “I don’t know why it had to be zucchini,” he mumbled. “The smell made me puke.”
Raptor winced. “As long as it’s not the one in my pants?”
Walren huffed. He was feeling better, though. “Thanks. For being here, I mean. I was living with my friends when I was pregnant with Zebbie, but we were all busy working to afford rent, so I mostly puked alone.”
“What about the alpha who knocked you up?”
Walren shrugged. “It was a one-night stand. I don’t even know his name.”
“If he didn’t use a condom, he should’ve at least followed up with you,” Raptor growled. “What kind of alpha shoots his load and walks away?”
Another shrug. “I told him I couldn’t get pregnant. And it was true! I had been trying for a long time—all my heats, different alphas, everything. And no baby. Until Zebbie, who was an accident. It was why I told you not to get your hopes up.”
For a moment, Raptor wore a conflicted expression. Then he grinned. “Do you think it was the dragon jizz that knocked you up? Is your body unresponsive to all jizz but dragon jizz?”
Walren opened and closed his mouth. “I... don’t know. You’re only the second dragon shifter that I’ve slept with, to my knowledge.”
Raptor’s smile turned sly. “How about we test this theory with your next heat?”
“Not when we already have one infant and one toddler to care for! That’s too many at once,” Walren spluttered.
“Mm. An alpha can dream.” Raptor’s gaze went unfocused for a while. “Do you think I can put a second baby in you? Ace and Ivo had twins; maybe ours will be, too.”
Sheer longing filled Raptor’s face. Walren wasn’t sure it was a good idea. “Two babies plus Zebbie is a lot,” he said doubtfully. “It probably won’t happen.”
Raptor gave him another of those looks, like he knew something Walren didn’t. Walren wasn’t sure he liked it.
“What?” Walren grumbled.
“You’ll just tell me it’s impossible again,” Raptor said dryly. “C’mon, let me show you your nest.”
Walren’s eyes grew wide. “It’s ready?”
