Addison slowly came back to her senses gasping, trembling, and grinning from ear to ear. She hadn’t felt like this since… ever.

Letting herself go with Shane had been both thrilling and frightening. It hadn’t been like this with other lovers. Those who could shield their minds, did. Yet Shane came willingly and openly to Addison, as she did to him. Why she’d let her defenses down she didn’t know.

Shane sighed, stretched, then curled up behind her again. The drowsy happiness rolling off of him matched hers. This… cuddling felt right somehow. The realization was a bit frightening. That way lay the possibility of weakness and exploitation. But how could something that felt so good be dangerous?

Stop thinking. Just accept it. It’s good. It’s all right, Addison told herself. The motions of sex had lulled Jacob to sleep and Ashlynn was resting, so there was no need to rush back to quarters. Plus, Shane wanted her here. As did she.

She stayed.

***

Addison awoke before Shane again. She lay quietly enjoying his arm around her and Jacob stirring inside of her. The baby radiated contentment and joy, and it was contagious.

After indulging for a few minutes, Addison willed herself to get moving. First, though, she wanted to say goodbye to Shane. To wake him she brushed lightly against his mind. For an instant his body tensed and mental shields raised. Good morning, Addison purred.

Shane relaxed mentally and physically. You’re here. She felt his delight as his hand slid down her side.

Addison resisted the urge to return the favor. Instead she rolled on her back. Her sleep-tousled lover propped his head on one arm and grinned at her. Mustering her willpower, Addison said, I need to go.

Shane’s grin turned mischievous. His hand moved up her thigh as his hardening cock pressed hot against her. Stay.

Addison hesitated for an instant, then stopped Shane’s hand with hers. I can’t. I need to get back to Ashlynn. She’s with Svetlana right now, but she’s been having a bad time of it. If she wakes up and I’m not there… Shane’s smile disappeared, and he pulled his hand back. My children come first, Shane. Both of them. It was weakness to admit such a thing, but it had to be said. Whatever was happening between her and Shane, boundaries needed to be set.

Shane frowned, then nodded. Addison was relieved to feel only disappointment and resignation from him. And randiness. Before the latter sapped her willpower, Addison brushed her lips against his and teleported to her quarters.

***

Going through the motions of the workday should have been easier, Addison thought. Now that she and Shane–Myers, Dr. Myers.–had given into their desires, she shouldn’t have been crawling out of her skin. Yet she was.

The morning staff meeting hadn’t gone well. Her head assistant Koral discreetly nudged Addison back on track when she repeated or skipped agenda items. After the fourth instance, Addison turned the meeting over to the woman and excused herself. She caught fleeting thoughts about pregnancy and hormones, but didn’t have the energy to turn back and rip anyone a new one. Plus, she was grateful to have the pregnancy as an excuse.

In the solitude of her office Addison resumed work on the Taupee translations. Normally the ornate script captured her attention, but today time crawled. Twice she considered stopping by Shane’s office. Fortunately reason prevailed. She was thinking like a teenager and it was embarrassing. Hormones and Jacob’s encouragement had her wanting to seek the man out in the middle of the day, she told herself. And he’s not coming rapping on your door, so quit it, all right? He’s probably not thought about you since you left this morning.

Addison waited until 1:30 to venture to the commissary. She didn’t want to run into Shane because she didn’t know how her bloody hormones would affect her behavior. Happily, the commissary was mostly empty, and Shane elsewhere. Addison purchased a sandwich, seedless grapes, and soup without incident.

Two young women entered the commissary as Addison exited. The shorter of the two–lithe, Asian, and unusually well-endowed–brushed against Addison. The girl’s unshielded thoughts washed over Addison. Prominent among them was a memory of shagging Shane!

Addison stopped in her tracks. The urge to throttle the woman was so strong that it was all she could do to not chase after her. I’m not jealous. I’m not jealous. He’s not mine, Addison told herself. It’s not my business. I’m not jealous. She repeated the mantra until she was safely back in her office.

At 3:00 Addison decided to call it a day. She teleported back to her quarters and dismissed Svetlana. Some quality, quiet time with her children was what she needed. She read stories to Ashlynn. They worked on puzzles and watched the latest Pixar movie. The distraction worked for the most part.

Ashlynn struggled to stay awake when Addison tucked her into bed. “Will you sleep here tonight, Mummy?” she asked sleepily. “I don’t like it when you sleep with Jacob’s daddy. I get lonely.”

Addison blinked at her daughter. The girl was far more perceptive than Addison had been as a four year-old. She kissed Ashlynn on the forehead. “If I go, you know that I’ll call Svetlana.”

Ashlynn shook her head. “I don’t want Svetlana. She doesn’t sing like you do and she doesn’t feel like you do. Stay here.” Ashlynn’s brown eyes were pleading. “Please, Mummy, stay here? Can’t Jacob’s daddy come here?”

As if that would happen. Addison carefully shielded the thought from her daughter. Shane wouldn’t seek her out. The only reason she’d been with him at all was because she’d teleported into his quarters. “I’ll stay home,” Addison promised.

Once her daughter had settled down, Addison found herself staring at the videophone screen. She felt the need to call Shane.

Twice she dialed his ID and hung up. On the third try she completed the call. Thankfully she got voicemail. After disabling video she said, “Hallo, I’m going to be… I’m going to be staying in tonight. Ashlynn requested that I stay in… at home. I’ll be here all night and she’s asleep and… ” Addison shook her head in frustration. “Good night.” She switched off the videophone, wishing she could switch off her hormones as easily.