His confident attitude eased my shaky nerves. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“I believe Zat’tor’s pollen altered your physiology,” Jaeyoung stated. “My theory is that it awakened a makeshift womb inside your body. Somehow, against all odds, it avoided rejection from your system. In layman’s terms, it’s possible the pollen copied your DNA and created a womb-like construct from it.”
My head spun. This was so much information to take in. It sounded unbelievable, but Jaeyoung said it with a straight face. Could that all be true? We didn’t have our high-tech Earth technology to scan my body and check. All I had was Jaeyoung’s theory.
“Okay,” I said, nodding slowly. “But what about the, uh... exit strategy?”
“I’ve been thinking about that, too,” Jaeyoung stated. “Again, all I have are theories. I have no way of knowing until I see it for myself.”
“Real helpful, Doc,” I mumbled.
Jaeyoung smiled gently. “I’m not concerned, Levi. I doubt Zat’tor’s pollen would go through all that effort of creating a womb without also prompting creation of a channel for the fetus to breach.”
I wrinkled my nose at his unpleasant terminology. “So, what you’re saying is, the baby’s coming out one way or the other?”
“Plainly, yes.”
“And that way might be... my butt.”
“Anything is possible,” Jaeyoung said.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I had no choice. I glanced at Zat’tor. “How are Maeleons usually born?” I asked.
Zat’tor curled his tentacle around my arm thoughtfully. “I have never witnessed a birth with my own eyes, but I hear it is a magical experience.”
“That’s evenlesshelpful,” I grumbled.
He smiled blissfully at me. It was hard to stay in a bad mood when he did that.
“Guess that’s it, then,” I said. “Any other weird pre-natal juices I should drink, or can I go now?”
Jaeyoung nodded. “You’re all good for today, Levi. Get plenty of rest, light exercise if you’re up for it, eat well, and drink water. There’s nothing more we can do until it’s time for the birth.”
“Whenever that is,” I murmured, glancing at my swollen, beach-ball body. It just seemed to get bigger and bigger.
Was it ever going to stop, or was I going to end up floating around as one of Eukaria’s moons?
* * *
“You are too anxious, Levi,” Zat’tor murmured in my ear after we left the den. “Let me take care of you.”
I smiled, leaning into him. It had become a habit since we’d gotten together. His tall, broad frame comforted me, and I liked using him as my own personal support—both literally and emotionally.
“You already take care of me every second of every day,” I commented.
“So, let me do it now.”
Zat’tor didn’t wait for my waffling response. He looped his tentacles around my midsection and chest, feeling me up in the middle of the village. I blushed and half-heartedly swatted them, even though I knew Maeleons had no qualms about PDA.
“Hey, c’mon, at least wait until we’re back in the den,” I said through a grin.
“I can barely contain myself,” Zat’tor growled in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. He buried the tip of his snout in my neck, sniffing it deeply. “Your body is irresistible.”
A jolt of arousal ignited in my blood. I blew out a shaky breath. Zat’tor thoughtIwas irresistible, and yet he did things like this to me, right in front of everybody. He gave me no choice but to react. Dirty alien perv.
I dragged him back to the den before we engaged in public indecency acts that would get us arrested back on Earth. As soon as we were in private, we crashed together. Zat’tor kissed me hard. He wrapped his arms around my lower back while his tentacles slipped beneath my armpits, holding me upright. I melted into his grasp and let him carry my weight.
I yelped as Zat’tor picked me up bridal-style. Even with my additional pregnancy weight, Zat’tor never faltered. Warmth filled me. I’d never felt as comfortable and safe as I did in his arms.
