Page 60 of Pulled By the Tail
Sometimes he did not understand how his mate’s mind worked.
“I will not.” Belith inserted the needle with practiced ease. “You will tense up and the jab will be more painful. There. Did you notice anything?”
“I noticed being manhandled by a doctor.” Georgia rubbed her arm at the site of the injection.
“Manhandled. That is clever. Now, open your mouth.” The medic conducted the examination. Every device filled him with worry. He demanded to know the results of every reading and what it meant for his mate.
Tired of his foolishness, Belith snapped at him. “If you do not stop, I will remove you from this room. I am not inclined to tolerate witless males.”
“She called you witless, Talen. It’s like she knows you,” Georgia said with a grin. The return of his mate’s humor bolstered him.
“Now, I suggest you use this particular soap to soothe your skin,” Belith said, writing on a notepad. “Clean any surface themeyenoil touched and launder your bed linens. Do not expose yourself to the oil again. I will prescribe an oral and topical steroid to reduce the itching and help with healing. Do not worry. The steroid will not adversely affect the baby.”
Chapter 13
Georgia
Humans are remarkably fertile. Females have a fertile cycle once a month and males continually produce viable sperm well into old age. Humans are also genetically compatible with many alien species.
Redundant forms of contraception are recommended unless the reader wants a human hybrid child.
-So You Want to Mate a Human
Hold the phone. Pregnant? Impossible.
“I’m sorry. I’m not pregnant,” Georgia said. The swelling had reduced around her eyes enough that she could see, even if her field of vision was squinty.
Talen gripped her hand. He practically vibrated with excitement. Or rage. She twisted on the exam table, trying to see more with her squinty vision. His tail danced madly behind him. She had no idea what that meant.
“You are. Approximately three months.” The blue-skinned giant of a doctor wore a white lab coat. Amazing how that white lab coat was universal.
“But that’s not possible. I had the birth control shot. That’s good for two years.”
The doctor gave a patient smile and looked from Georgia to Talen, still gripping her hand. “It very much is possible between mates.”
“But—”
“You’re certain it is Tal-human?” Talen asked.
Georgia turned back to Talen, yanking her hand out of his grip. “What the hell kind of question is that? How many people do you think I’ve been sleeping with? Of course, it’s your baby, fuzzy britches.”
He looked suitably embarrassed, but wow, that question. They were going to have a serious talk about what he thought she got up to.
“The birth control shot is very reliable but certain medications can alter its effectiveness,” Belith said, ignoring the tension between Georgia and Talen. “Do you take any maintenance medications?”
“No. There was a bug on the ship before I got to Corra, though. I took a course of antibiotics but that was weeks before, you know—”
“Yes, you and fuzzy britches,” Belith said with a nod.
“That moniker is never going away,” Talen grumbled.
“Antibiotics can impact the effectiveness of birth control. Did the medic fail to give you a list of potential side effects?”
Georgia found herself reluctant to admit that the ship’s medic may have given her such a document, but it had been written in Corravian. Talen placed his large hand on the back of her neck, which soothed her.
“Even if I had read it, I had an upper respiratory infection. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t sleep. I would have taken the meds anyway,” she said.
Belith rolled a cart over with a large scanner and screen. “Lift your shirt. Let’s examine the child.”
