Venomous

Oh no,” I breathed. “Oh no, oh no, oh no.” My hands flapped as I bounced from foot to foot. I imagined something exploding from my ribcage. Something with tentacles and acid spit. “Babe, I should not have drank that water.” Venomous moved to stand just out of reach on the other side of the haze. Tremors wracked his frame, and he looked desperately like he wanted to snatch me up then run. “Fix her,” Fiercely snapped as he loomed over the a’Rä. “Fix her now.” I clutched my chest. “I feel it moving.” Venomous paled. “Oh, no, that’s a necklace, but it’s only a matter of time.

I like your hair. It smells good.” Venomous buried his nose in it and sniffed. “I like how it feels against my scales when we are snug in our nest. It makes you look bigger than you are, and is a frightening threat display when you wake.” “Maybe if you found me a brush the situation would be less frightful.

True leaders serve the people. They have no power but what we lend, and what I give in good faith can be taken away.” “The wealthy own my world.” “Then it is broken.

Yes, yes,” the Premier interrupted. “You harness the atom. Crudely and without finesse. So far you’ve managed to blow yourselves up.” He paused. “Several times. After you accomplish worldwide peace, deep space travel, stop poisoning your own air, bodies, and repair your ozone, planet 2276549, known to its native inhabitants as Earth will be considered for membership.

I refuse to cut the joy from the lives of others in fear I might lose my own. Only the former is definite, and may be controlled. The latter is up to fate.

There is a lot of talking in human culture,” Venomous told the other male in a low aside. “They debate everything and need words to calm them. I wager there is much talking during this custom. Watch me as I make our mate happy with words.

An alien was an alien was an alien.

Now would be a good time to reveal your princely status to my angst and hidden joy.

Your tongue was in my mouth.” Breathless, I jerked my head. “So it was.” “It licked me.” “You licked back.” “It seemed rude not to.” “Well....

Yes, she is ugly, but she is mine. She deserves the best of me as I do of her.

You do not like me to rub your chest lumps?

Never doubt you were meant to be mine.