Martinez had a long day at work. The entire day was filled with a nonstop influx of patients who did not need to be at a trauma center. Most of them had sat on a minor complaint for days until they randomly decided it needed to be treated right that moment. Too bad the patients were wasting their time. Each required an extensive work-up; it could take weeks to diagnose their unprovable pain, and that was before treatment was ever considered.

Martinez, Shiksie, Ivorn, Harnsis, and Therin did believe the patient felt the pain they were at the shop for, but they were workers at a trauma center; if the patient's life was not in immediate danger or suffered some other grievous injury, they should not be bogging down the system—general medical practices were for that.

Martinez never would have guessed that malingerers, crazed hypochondriacs, and unnecessary patients would be problems on the far end of the galaxy. According to Shiksie and Dr. Harnsis, they were an issue no matter where you went in the Galactic Union.

Never in his life did Martinez think he would want to be treating Human Marines again. Those animals never wanted to see the doctor. Mainly because others would see them as a pussy and never stop berating them, but at least they generally did not malinger.

The patients who did not understand the trauma center's role in the GU's extensive medical systems were annoying for the shop. But they were not today's primary issue; That horrible glory was given to a Suulintal tweaking off their mind on some new drug sweeping across the planets and moons of the Rentix system.

This was Martinez’s first time dealing with someone losing their mind on a drug called Visage. Not that their violent and paranoid outbursts were the patient's fault, at least for this specific drug.

Visage was a powerful broad-spectrum hallucinogen that, according to the police that escorted the poor patient in, was favored heavily by traffickers and other criminals. It was given the street name of Visage because of the nasty effects it initially showed and the side effects the victim would suffer for weeks.

Once it enters your system through inhalation, blood, or glandular contact, you will forget all faces that your mind has not committed to long-term memory and won't be able to recall any you do see for several days. It's a genuinely horrible drug, used for even worse practices.

However, the worst part was how it functions similarly to nerve agents and other chemical-based weapons. Mear skin contact is often enough to have someone be affected by them. Similar to ancient VX compounds used in the trenches hundreds of years ago in World War One.

Today's victim was tough on everyone mentally, especially Shiksie.

Apparently, from what the police were able to piece together, the woman recently had a clutch of eggs hatch, and her mate left the system for a week on work. She was the prime candidate for whatever ghouls decided to target her.

She was found in a panic, wandering the streets, clutching an empty swaddle in her wings, screaming that she could not find her young. She could not relax until the Draun Police sedated her.

By the time she was in the Trauma Center, the doctors had already decided she would be moved to the ICU(Intensive Care Unit) and kept under sedation until regular brain activity resumed—however many weeks that might be. The shop could not even reach her poor husband. The poor thing must have been horrified when she awoke from Visage's initial effects to an empty nest.

Martinez could not imagine the pain and suffering that family would go through once she was stable. Fuck—their kids were stolen from under their noses.

It was a shame that her story was not original; according to the GU, the police, and the hospital services recently, a massive spike in child trafficking occurred in the system and showed no signs of slowing down.

But none of that was his concern right now; Martinez was already on the way home. Spotting Lysa’s bright, fanged smile next to his apartment and her happily waving at him was enough to push any of those looming dark thoughts away.

“Hey, Ruh'ah, how was your day?” Martinez smiled as he rounded the corner to the third floor, and she walked toward him.

Lysa, the woman he loved. Though it took him a few months to understand how genuinely he cared for her down to every last detail. Her cute accent when she spoke standard, her curvaceous but equally sporty figure, and her gothic way of dressing. Nothing was wrong as far as he was concerned.

She thought similarly to him despite them being different species.

Lysa did not fault him for his PTSD dreams caused by his time as a Corpsman in the Human Navy. She was always forward with him about her desires, something he needed because he was as dense as tungsten. She even found the extensive scarring covering his body attractive—something he doubted anyone would ever do.

Lysa draped her arms over Martinez’s shoulders and gently brought her lips to his while he pulled her waist close, their warmth spreading to the other. After holding the kiss for several longing moments, they rested their foreheads together and briefly got lost in the eyes of the other. She had four beautiful red jewels, whereas he sported eyes as dark as tree bark, fitting for his deep pine cologne.

“My day was quite long. I am not yet used to being out and about during daylight hours,” Lysa giggled while crawling her hand beneath his jacket to move it to the side.

It was time for the second half of their daily cross-species ritual. Something Martinez and Lysa adored beyond anything in the universe.

Mordain.

Martinez had initially thought the idea of letting her bite and drink his blood was insane, but after it happened once, he understood why Aveix did this. It was intimate and something unique to their species. Well, now it was also a tiny part of Humanity.

They both gently kissed the other's shoulder before biting down. While for Martinez, electric arcs of pleasure coursed through his chest while Lysa’s sharp teeth sunk in, he could only leave a hickey and a few teeth marks on her shoulder, not that she minded. It was all he could do to reciprocate the gesture for his lady love.

After several months of doing this daily, both had scars left on their right shoulders. According to Lysa, that is essentially one of the reasons it was done daily. The scar was a quirky status symbol they both could show off. Lysa tended to wear clothes that left her pale shoulders open to view, while Martinez generally wore more conservative garb. Thankfully Lyusa understood he was not rejecting the idea, he just preferred long sleeves.

After wiping blood and saliva off their Ruh'ah’s tender shoulder, they quickly entered Martinez’s humble apartment.

The inside of the apartment was something that Martinez had grown to love. Doctor Harnsis, his direct boss, was a Humanphile and decorated it before Martinez arrived at his current assignment to Draun. His obsession with Human culture but a general lack of understanding of it led him to decorate the apartment in a way that could be called eccentric in the politest terms. Still, Martinez described it as a knick-knack shop that had exploded inside and painted the walls with items from all over Earth, spanning thousands of years of Human history.

Martinez appreciated the insectoid doctor's effort. He did manage to get some things that Martinez adored: a massive collection of movies that were likely bootleg, a couple of plush bean bag chairs that Martinez and the few Aliens who swung by liked to lounge in, and a silk bedspread from Japan. He and Lysa definitely appreciated how soft, warm, and inviting the green silken sheets were.

Lysa tended to describe the small single-bedroom apartment as garish but quaint. That was not surprising for her, she was the daughter of an author and had a far more expansive lexicon of words in Galactic Standard. She also tended to speak formally compared to most aliens and definitely when compared to Martinez.

“Would you care to tell me about your day while I prepare dinner?” Lysa questioned while she tossed her jacket onto the back of one of the dining room chairs.

“Sure,” Martinez replied after tossing his bag down and going to pull out the basics to set the table.

The two of them nearly always had this routine: One cooked while the other set the table, be it here or at Lysa’s house across town. They really had no preference for whose home they stayed at; it usually came down to whether one of them had to go to work in the morning, with them splitting the difference if they both did.

The only days they did not sleep together was when Martinez had to study late and crashed at his mentor Shiksie's house, but that had not happened in nearly a month. Ever since Marinez got used to the routine of going to college while also having a full-time job.

Martinez was glad that was the case. Shiksie confessed her affection to him several weeks ago, and he utterly failed to let her down easily. Ever since then, the air between them was slightly awkward; she still seemed to be waiting for him to leave Lysa and run to her, confessing his undying love.

But that was not going to happen.

So Martinez still had to broach his denial of her feelings with the tall, athletic feline. Much to Lysa’s chagrin, at least his Ruh'ah understood why he was trying to be tactful and that Shiksie seemed to be maintaining a comfortable and professional relationship—for now.

Lysa made Martinez well aware she would kill Shiksie if she tried to overstep with him. When he explained what happened between them, Martinez nearly had to hold her back from rushing to the trauma center and killing Shiksie. Thankfully, she was letting him handle the issue for the time being. Shiksie would not survive that encounter if Lysa had her way.

“So, where to begin,” Martinez grumbled as he began to explain the day and its events.

They were both very used to recounting everything that happened to each other. They did so at least every day or two, especially when something eventful happened to either. By the time Martinez had walked Lysa through what went on at work, they were already settling down next to one another to eat dinner.

“Well, that sounds atrocious. I do hope the police manage to find that Suulintal woman's children. I honestly cannot understand what kind of monster would whisk away someone's young,” Lysa growled while she lowered into her chair.

Martinez wished he did not understand why Aliens might do that. While Slavery was illegal in the entire GU, plenty of smaller conglomerates and independent systems out in the universe refused to abolish the concept. Along with the general areas within the GU, the government could not entirely keep them under their thumb.

Wherever there is a demand for some product, there will be a market. And with thousands of species in the Universe, each with unique traits and conditions they were adapted to, undoubtedly, some unsavory individuals would be perfectly willing to commit horrible crimes to snatch them up into trafficking.

Lord knew Martinez had seen enough examples of that type of thought while working with the Human Marines. It seemed wherever war went, child soldiers, slaves, drug runners, and merchants of war followed or led; he was never sure which came first after his dozens of combat deployments and thousands of battles and preferred not knowing what led people to such horrible acts.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Yeah, hopefully they do find those kids,” Martinez replied. “What is this meal anyway? Another Aviex dish?”

The meal was something Lysa had never made for him before. Usually, her meals were chock full of Iron and meat. This one was similar and looked like a large slab of red meat, slathered in one of the blood sauces she usually had with it. But unlike usual, there was what reminded Matinez of beans, but they were the size of Brussels sprouts spattering their plates, soaking up the sauce.

“It is. My mother made it regularly around this time of year. The tubers are called Irt’lin. They last an extremely long time when dried. We may use them in stews or anything else that could use starch,” Lysa smiled, poking his side playfully. “Did you not witness me placing them in our shopping cart the other day?”

“I guess I didn’t,” Martinez shrugged. “Any particular reason why you wanted this?”

“I assumed eating more traditional Aveix food might be beneficial before we travel to my parent's abode. I would not wish for you to detest what my mother would likely prepare,” Lysa replied.

“Makes sense,” Martinez replied.”But if her cooking is anything like yours, I will like it.”

“If my cooking is what you wish to compare my mother’s against, I'm certain you will adore her meals. Although I fear you won’t enjoy mine once you spend a few weeks with mother plumping you up with extravagant dining,” Lysa jokingly said.

“Oh come on it can’t be that good,” Martinez replied as he started to dig into the meal.

“Believe me, my abilities cannot compare to her prowess as a chef,” Lysa assured.

Martinez shrugged his mouth already full of the succulent fatty food. If that was true or not it did not matter. He loved Lysa’s cooking as is.

—

“There we go,” Martinez said after cleaning the kitchen after dinner.

“Do you wish to join me, Ruh'ah?” Lysa purred, gesturing to the black bean bag chair she had settled into, before sipping some Lorian wine they had picked up the other day.

“In a second, I have something I want to open with you,” Martinez replied, wiping his wet hand with a dishrag and tossing it onto the table.

“Should I be excited?” Lysa questioned.

“Definitely,” Martinez whispered into her ear, eliciting the cutest shudder as his warm breath caressed her neck. “Let me go get the care package the Marines sent us.”

“Oh, it arrived?” Lysa excitedly replied.

“It did,” Martinez said, heading toward the bedroom.

Lysa felt her heart pounding as excitement filled her. She could recall when they were cuddled up in bed and watched the video Martinez’s old unit had sent explaining they mailed a care package filled with gifts for Martinez and his “Hot goth.”

Ruh'ah and her decided to send one in response that same day.

That was an enjoyable project for them. Martinez selected specific items for individuals and regaled her with tales explaining why the item was either a joke or something they would genuinely enjoy. She had been charged with selecting treats and other items she might want or could eat. Humans' and Aveix's tastes were generally very similar, which was perfect for her, mainly because she was not intimately familiar with his old friends.

The standout tales Martinez told involved Dee, Johnson, and Raleigh. His genuine smile when telling her of their misadventures together was heartwarming and the most childlike she had ever seen her Ruh'ah.

A part of her wondered if he still could be that way after all he had been through. But seeing Martinez settle into the seat next to her with a large box in hand and a brimming smile assured her that Martinez definitely still had a bit of his inner child in his heart.

“Hopefully, they sent two specific items and not too many dick pictures,” Martinez said, clicking open his pocket knife, slicing the package open, and digging through the items.

“Oh, come now, would they genuinely send pictures of their cocks?” Lysa genuinely questioned.

“They would, so be careful opening any letters,” Martinez laughed deeply.

Martinez rummaged through the package further while Lysa scooted closer to peek inside. The Marines indeed went no holds bar when filling Martinez’s gift. The box was overflowing with candies, treats, and various knickknacks. Spattered amidst them were several closed envelopes.

Lysa was surprised that Humans still sent letters at all. Most Aliens relied on video messaging or Email because they did not have to wait weeks or months for a response. But who was she to judge? Lysa still preferred to write using pen and paper instead of a datapad; too bad she could not lug around the supplies effectively.

“May I?” Lysa questioned, leaning against his shoulder.

“Of course, they did say it was for both of us,” Martinez assured, shifting the box onto both of their laps.

Martinez was not worried about Lysa eating anything the Marines could have sent him. After Ezol had an adverse reaction to the hot sauce Martinez had negligently gifted him, Martinez screened her species thoroughly and ensured every bit of food he bought could not hurt her. These treats could only hurt his beloved if Lysa had some unknown allergy that neither knew about.

That doesn’t mean he didn't have a twinge of fear. If Lysa was hurt by something he gave or did to her, he would never be able to forgive himself. The mere thought of hurting Lysa caused him heartache.

Lysa joined him and pulled out a smaller candy and one of the letters. Lysa opened the candy and popped it into her mouth without asking questions. It looked like crystalized green-dyed sugar covered in more sugar crystals.

When the round ball hit her tongue, Lysa knew it was nothing like the sweet treats she usually had at work and instantly regretted her decision.

“Baahh!” Lysa groaned, nearly coughing out the incredibly sour candy, but her mouth clenched, locking the ball in her maw.

Martinez dropped his search instantly and turned his full attention to her, fearing the worst. He grabbed her hand tightly, worry clear as day in his bark-colored eyes.

“Are you alright?” He questioned frantically.

“By the stars, it is incredibly sour,” Lysa squeaked through her grimace.

Martinez paused momentarily before laughing so hard he was nearly crying. Seeing Lysa’s scrunched-up face was adorable. He wrapped his arm around her and playfully jostled her. At least he thought it was funny, but that was not what she expected. Her entire body tensed up moments later as the taste overwhelmed her. It was foul.

“I'm sorry. I should have warned you,” Martinez said, grabbing the wrapper from her lap. Oh, you had a Neutron drop. Don’t worry, Ruh'ah. It’s only sour for a few moments, then tastes like fruit.”

She tried to reply, but her face refused to move from a tight clench. So only a light squeak escaped her while she nodded, trusting his judgment.

Why would Humans make this?

Candy should be enjoyable for whoever is eating it, not for someone watching. Then she remembered who sent them the package and their relationship with Martinez—Marines.

Fucking Human Marines.

Of course, the Humans he considered his brothers would have no issue sending off items that would momentarily be cruel to the other. They thought of each other as family, after all. Small, offensive jokes should have been expected.

“Here, watch,” Martines said softly before he popped a similar candy between his lips.

It took a few moments, but Lysa started to chuckle, watching his face squeeze into contorted pain. Too bad she could not laugh as hard as her body was trying. The effects of the Neutron drop were still making it difficult to breathe, much less emote.

Lysa knew if she looked half as messed up as he did. She could somewhat understand why they would pass out these joke candy. Martinez’s eyes were watering, and cheeks looked like he was trying to swallow them. He looked like a goof. Her goof, but a goof nonetheless.

“You look ridiculous,” Lysa painfully squeaked through pursed lips.

Martinez chuckled and rubbed his head against hers, fully understanding the feeling. She looked ridiculous, too.

After a few minutes of sour candy hell, they both relaxed as the now unbelievably sweet flavors of the fruity candy overtook them, pressing away the tart taste. Although neither candy was as marvelous as fruit, it tasted like it was meant to resemble fruit—vaguely.

“Feeling better?” Martinez asked, placing a small kiss on her cheek.

“Indeed, however, I would much rather not be surprised like that again this evening,” Lysa replied, sticking her now green-stained tongue at him.

“I will warn you next time,” Martinez assured.

Following that surprise, the next bit of their exploration of the gifts did not have any more shocking revelations, other than Martinez quickly tucked away some pictures before Lysa had seen them. Most she saw, and they were expected. But Martinez assured her it was just the Marines sending him pictures of their cocks, or bare asses.

He had told her they would likely do that, but that they actually did was still unbelievable. But the slight blush on his face when she tried to steal them was cute. Not that she was too curious about them. She was well acquainted with Human anatomy, to put it lightly. Lysa just wanted to mess with her Ruh'ah after he failed to warn her.

“So, what did you wish for me to try?” Lysa asked, leaning against his shoulder and snaking her arm around his back playfully.

“This,” Martinez said, pulling some of the final items out.

One was a small bar wrapped in foil, not much larger than Martinez’s rough hands; the other was a bag filled with tiny green tubes about the size of her pinky finger.

“Coffee and chocolate,” Martinez smiled while tossing the bag of tubes to the side. “We can have the coffee in the morning.”

He opened the chocolate and smelled it deeply. His anticipation was palpable.

“Close your eyes and open wide,” Martinez requested.

“Is this another trick?” Lysa asked, raising a brow.

“No trick, I just want to see what you think,” Martinez smiled. “I can take a bite first if you really want.”

The reassuring, soft look in his gorgeous dark brown eyes always got to her and rested her woes. Lysa swears Martinez, without a doubt, knew how weak she was to puppy dog eyes.

“Very well,” Lysa said, doing as Martinez requested.

Lysa waited with bated breath, holding her tongue out. While Martinez was usually very close and more than willing to share, he never fed her. Hell, no one had fed her since she was a toddler. She knew this was going to be interesting.

Martinez placed a small chunk of chocolate on her waiting tongue. She involuntarily moaned when her taste buds registered the delightful, full-bodied, and rich morsel. It was surprisingly loud, so loud she would think it was only possible in their bedroom.

The delicious taste melted in her mouth and filled it with velvety sugar. Every muscle in her body melted with the chocolate while Martinez pulled her relaxing body close.

Human candy was terrific. The flavor was as complex as Martinez, nutty, bitter, sweet; all these flavors washed over Lysa’s palette, gently bidding for dominance of the overall profile. She had never had anything this good, save for Martinez’s Ichor-like blood.

“Oh, by the stars,” Lysa moaned, her eyes fluttering open and peaking up at him. “Please inform me there is more?”

“Don’t worry, we have more, but I wanted to savor it. There are only three bars, and that taste was a solid bit of one,” Martinez replied, holding up two more sealed bars with the one he opened.

“May I have a bit more now?” Lysa pleaded, fluttering her eyes.

He gently smiled and took a small piece between his lips. He leaned in close and kissed Lysa, letting the piece slide from his lips. Lysa reached up and pulled his head tight, savoring him and the chocolate at once.

Now, this is how you kiss.

Lysa adored Marrtinez’s usual salty, savory lips, but this set Lysa’s body alight. Her panties soaked nearly instantly. There was no way Chocolate was just a candy. Lysa pressed her tongue into his maw, twisting it against his own. Both moaned as the succulent chocolate finished melting between their writhing appendages.

Once the kiss broke, the flavors of each other gripping their minds, Lysa sucked in a needed breath.

“Thank you,” Lysa whispered, scratching the back of his head with her long nails.

“I’m glad you enjoyed the chocolate,” he replied

“The chocolate was marvelous, however,” Lysa smirked with a bestial hunger in her eyes. She dragged her hand down his abs and gripped his belt, claiming it and what lies beneath as hers. “I think I wish for another bit of desert tonight.”

Martinez smiled, her favorite look overtaking his vision. It was a primal desire, the same one a hunter would use seeing their prized game caught in a trap.

“I think we can do that,” Martinez whispered, tempting Lysa to rip his shirt off.

Before Lysa realized it, she yelped in surprise while his hand slipped beneath her muscular rump, pulled her out of the chair, and tightly cradled her in his arms. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders while she nuzzled into his neck. Taking in his deep pine scent, mixed with the lingering scent of his blood from his shoulder. Lysa’s mouth watered, ready to bite into her dear Human.

“Let’s go do that then,” Martinez replied, carrying her toward the bedroom, leaving the remnants of the care package in the living room.

Lysa was ready for another beautiful night with Martinez. They did carnally enjoy each other every day they could. Each time was a blissful dance; their hearts intertwined as their bodies and minds were lost in bliss. She knew tonight would be no different— and Lysa could not wait for him to press her into the lush silken sheets.

“I love you, Ruh'ah,” Lysa breathily moaned.

“I love you too—my Ruh'ah,” Martinez replied as he pressed the bedroom door open, eager to spend more intimate time with the only woman he had ever loved.