Laurann Dohner

Brawn

Chapter One

Becca Oberto glared at her father, resisting the urge to yell. “You what?”

Tim shrugged. “I need you to move in with me right now. In less than an hour someone else will be moving into your house. I put clean sheets on your old bed.”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently and leaned against her car. He’d just announced he had agreed to allow some man to move into her home but it was hers. “You can’t just order me to live with you or give permission for someone else to take my home. Grandpa left the main house to you and the guesthouse to me. He’s your guy so make him stay in your house.”

“That won’t work. He’s, uh, different. He needs his own space, Rebecca.”

“So do I. I don’t care how different he is or what the situation may be. He is not getting my home. I love you dearly but I’m twenty-nine years old, a widow and way too old to live with my daddy again.” She took a breath. “Plus, you drive me nuts. You treat me as though I’m ten years old and I’ve lived on my own for far too long to revert to that. No way in hell. Is that clear enough? Give him my old room.”

Her father shifted his stance. “He’s New Species, Rebecca. He needs his own space and he’d have a problem with how close the main house is to the street. I was told he needs quiet living accommodations or the sound of traffic will keep him awake. The guesthouse is all the way at the back of the property and it’s got all those trees to make it secluded. He’d love it there. I swore to the NSO that I’d give him safe, quiet living and your place is perfect. It won’t be for that long. Please?”

Stunned, Becca just glared at her father. He headed some secret task force that directly worked with the New Species Organization—NSO for short. She’d never met a New Species but she’d seen a few of them on television and featured in newspapers. Her father kept her fuzzy on what he did at work but she guessed it probably was dangerous. Her father had been with the military for twenty-five years, had retired nearly two years before and was an adrenaline junky. He lived for being shot at or to shoot at shit. He found and saved New Species who were still being held captive. That’s about all she knew.

“Why would one of them need to be here? All of them either live here at the NSO Homeland or they live up north at the NSO Reservation. I’m not stupid, Dad. I read the papers and none of them ever live outside those gates. It would be too dangerous with all the morons who bug them.”

Tim frowned. “I don’t have to explain this to you, baby.”

“You do if you want me to let someone live in my house for awhile.”

A curse broke from his lips. “Fine. Do you remember Jessie Dupree?”

“The wild redhead? Sure. She’s the only woman on your team and I met her a few times when you had them over for drinks for team morale. What does she have to do with some guy wanting to live in my house?”

“She was hurt on the job and had to be replaced. The NSO offered us one of their people to fill her position. Jessie did the first contact stuff for us when we recovered a New Species POW alive. We thought—I thought—that since we don’t have Jessie then we should have a New Species do first contact. The thing is that he’ll have to live here or we’d have to send our only helicopter to get him for every mission. It’d waste funds and resources when we have few to spare. This way he’s on the spot when we need him and have to move fast.”

Becca let that all that information sink in. “POWs? You call them prisoners of war?”

“What would you call them? My job is to find imprisoned New Species and free them. They aren’t there for fun and games. They are prisoners and it’s usually a fight to get them free.” He shifted his weight again. “Anyway, now that you know the situation, I expect you to get with the program. I’m going to go change my clothes while you pack your belongings. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes to help you move. He should be arriving within the hour.” He paused and his eyes narrowed. “I want you to stay away from him. That’s an order, Rebecca Marie Oberto.”

“This is why Mom left you and why you’re still single eight years after the divorce.” Becca was pissed. “Do not tell me what to do. I’m a grown woman. You get with the program. I can talk to whoever I want, even hang out with him and I don’t take orders from you.”

“You will not.” His voice deepened and took on a stern tone. “I am your father and you will do what you’re told. I have spoken.”

Her eyes widened in astonishment. Her hands fisted as she shoved them against her hips. “Wow! Really? You’ve spoken? I’m having flashbacks of my teens and we both know that didn’t go so well for you. I sneaked out of the house plenty of times when you refused to allow me to have a life. It didn’t work then and it sure as hell won’t get you what you want now. I’ve spoken.”

“Damn it, Rebecca Marie. Stop being childish.”

“Listen up, Dad. I’ve been married and I survived burying a husband. I grew up. I’m not the kid whose diapers you sometimes changed when you were home on those rare occasions between the wars you couldn’t wait to go fight. Do not treat me as though I’m still a child. I love you but I swear to God, I’ll stop speaking to you if you continue with this line of bullshit. I’m not one of your military guys who jump when you say boo. Yes, you have spoken but so have I. Deal with that!”

“You’re still mad that I wasn’t around much when you were a kid? I was working.”

“You were always volunteering! Don’t think I didn’t know you asked for the toughest assignments that would keep you out of the house the longest just because you and Mom didn’t get along. You were hardly there. I am not angry anymore because I grew up and got over it. What makes me mad is that you were hardly there to tell me what to do as a kid so what makes you think you can pull this crap now? I would rethink it. Stop telling me what to do, where I can live, or who I can talk to.”

“He’s New Species, Rebecca. You’ve learned enough about them to know why I don’t want you near him. They were locked up all their lives as test subjects and they were prisoners who suffered physical and emotional abuse. No one could be completely right in the head after that. They are all big and were shoved full of altered shit. He’s going to be part man and animal. You’re a good-looking girl and he will notice that. I don’t want you near him and that’s an order you will follow. You are not to talk to him or hang out with him.”

That did it. Becca laughed. “You don’t give me orders. I still haven’t said he could stay in my home. I get why he needs to but that doesn’t mean you have the right to lend out my home or make me move back in with you. It’s not happening.”

“You will do as I say.”

Her good humor fled. “That’s it. I’m done. Here’s the program you’d better get with. He can stay in my guest room—there are two. I’ll give him the one down the hall from my bedroom. I’d hate to live in your house so I would never subject anyone else to that. While he is here, I can talk to him if I want. Hell, I can hang out with him. I can do anything I want with him and you can’t do a thing about it.”

“What would you like to do with me?” The voice behind her was a deep rumble.

Becca started and turned to gape at the owner of that masculine voice. He was really tall and his straight black hair fell over his broad shoulders to his waist in a silky curtain of hotness. He had to be a good foot taller than her five-foot-five height. His catlike blue eyes met her shocked ones. His cheekbones were prominent, his nose flatter than normal and a set of full lips were curved downward in contemplation. Overall, he was strangely good-looking and really big. The hair was just sexy as could be—a bonus.

His skin was a golden tone and she could see a lot of it since he wore a red tank top stretched tightly over a broad chest. Thick, muscular arms were displayed to her appreciative eyes. The guy was built like a body builder or a male stripper. Becca instantly imagined him moving to music and her stomach clenched. She’d definitely put some bills in his G-string.

Her focus lowered to a trim waist and the black cargo pants that molded to bulked-up thighs on those long legs. They were the type of pants a lot of her father’s men wore and she’d have pegged him as military if it weren’t for the fact that he was obviously New Species. She silently wondered if her father or a member of his team had handpicked the guy’s attire. Oh yeah, she decided. I’d definitely want to see him strip out of his clothes.

“You’ve arrived already.” Her father didn’t try to hide his annoyance. “This is my daughter, Rebecca. She’s moving out of the guesthouse that you’ll be staying in while you’re here.” He moved forward and held out his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I’m Brawn.” The large man’s gaze flicked away from Becca’s and he dropped his navy-blue duffel bag to the ground and shook hands with her father.

“I remember,” her father admitted gruffly. “You’re one of the council members and we were introduced recently at a meeting. I just didn’t want to be forward by calling you by your first name without permission. I wasn’t informed if you’d taken a last one.”

“I didn’t. I’m just Brawn.”

Boy, is he. Becca swallowed and stepped forward, smiling at the large male and decided he was totally hot. It might take some time getting used to his strange features but his attractiveness captivated her. She held out her hand. “I’m Becca Oberto. It’s nice to meet you.”

Brawn turned his attention her way again and she stared up into the darkest blue eyes she’d ever seen. They reminded her of a night sky, so dark, but with just a hint enough of blue to be striking. His eyelashes were extraordinarily long and black, matching his hair. The feline shape of his eyes was remarkable and beautiful. His irises weren’t round like a human’s. They were oval, similar to a cat’s and they were breathtaking. She was so caught up in studying his features that she didn’t notice anything was wrong until he smiled and amusement sparked in his gaze before he glanced down.

Becca followed where he looked and heat warmed her cheeks. She’d forgotten they were supposed to shake hands, too caught up in gawking at him. A laugh bubbled up as she gripped his large palm, taking note of how warm his skin felt and the rough texture of calluses on his palms and fingers. Her gaze jerked up to his again as their hands clasped.

“Sorry. Your eyes are amazing.”

His smile widened. “I take it I’m the first of my kind you’ve met? You seem…fascinated.”

“Yes and yes, I am. You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.” She refrained from wincing, realized she probably sounded idiotic and had babbled about his eyes twice.

The grip tightened on hers as his fingers curled to encase her entire hand and some unknown emotion flickered in his eyes. “Thank you for saying so.”

“You can release her now.” Her father ground out the order through clenched teeth. “You’re supposed to shake, not hold hands.”

Becca laughed and released the guy. “Sorry.” She took a step back, still peering into his eyes, unable to stop.

“It’s fine. I am grateful that I do not frighten you. Some human females are terrified when they meet us or they freeze up and just stare.”

She stared. Damn. Becca laughed lightly. “I admit I’m guilty of it. I’m sorry.” She forced herself to glance at her father. He looked livid as he glared back.

“Go pack up your things and move into your old room now, Rebecca.”

Her smile faded. “Dad, back off. I’m not ten anymore. Let’s not yell in front of Mr. Brawn. It wouldn’t make a good first impression of us, now would it? We should at least allow the man to get settled in before he realizes we’re a dysfunctional family.”

“You have to move because of me?” Brawn’s shock sounded in his voice.

“It’s not a problem,” Tim assured, sounding less angry. “The guesthouse my daughter owns is located at the back of the property and is more remote from the street traffic. There are a lot of trees and it’s quieter. I’m having groceries delivered to you and I know someone asked your clothing sizes. Your new uniforms will be here within a few hours. Nothing is planned for today to give you time to unpack and adjust to your new living quarters before you start the job. You’ll be riding with me every day. I’ll pick you up in the morning at eight o’clock and I’ll give you my number in case you have any questions or need help.”

Brawn nodded. “Fine. Thank you but I’m sure I can manage.”

Tim jerked his thumb in the direction of the larger house. “You can come home with me while my daughter goes to the guesthouse to pack her clothes. It shouldn’t take her long.”

Becca glared at her father as she fully faced him. “I have a better idea. I’ll take Mr. Brawn to the guesthouse and show him around. He can start moving into the guestroom immediately.”

“Now, Rebecca—”

Her spine stiffened when she recognized his temper flare and knew they were about to argue again but his cell phone rang. Saved by the bell. She blew out a relieved breath as he dug the phone from his pocket, glanced at the front of it to see who called and softly cursed.

“It’s work.”

Becca waved, all the tension leaving her. “Bye. I know you have to rush off to answer it. Classified shit and all that so we don’t overhear you say yes and no to someone.” She turned and smiled at Brawn. “Let’s go. I’ll give you the tour and show you which room will be yours.”

Brawn hesitated before he bent to lift his duffel bag. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that very much. Please just call me Brawn. I’m not a mister.”

Becca grinned over how polite his manners were as she walked down the path with Brawn following close behind. Her father would have her believe the guy was dangerous but she didn’t feel threatened in the least. She led him through a gate that separated the properties and grinned when her home came into view. It was her pride and joy.

“This is it. It’s two stories, as you can see, a little big for a guesthouse but my grandfather had a lot of family money. He had it built twenty years ago after his brother suffered a stroke.” She paused, feeling a little similar to a real tour guide but Brawn’s keen, interested look urged her on. “He didn’t want him to live in a convalescent hospital so he had men working around the clock to build it in record time. They put it up in five months which is pretty fast but it’s a great house. There are three bedrooms, three and a half baths and there’s even an elevator.”

Black eyebrows lifted as they paused in the front yard.

“I never use the elevator but my great uncle was in a wheelchair and he needed constant care. Two nurses lived here with him to cover different shifts. That’s why it has the extra bedroom when most guesthouses only have two. He was here for six years before his health took a turn for the worse and they hospitalized him. He died a few weeks later and the home sat empty until my grandfather died four years ago. He left it to me and the main house belongs to my father.”

She started walking again, fished out the keys from her purse and unlocked the front door to push it wide open and wave Brawn inside first. He shook his head and indicated she should precede him. It made her like him even more and she entered the house, glanced back and noted he barely cleared the doorway. It made her grateful that the entire house had high, vaulted ceilings so he wouldn’t feel closed in with his taller-than-average height.

He stepped inside and paused. His gaze traveled slowly over the living room and she wondered what he thought of her home. She glanced around too, happy she’d cleaned recently and that everything looked tidy. His gaze finally met hers and he smiled.

“It will do nicely. Thank you. You have a lovely home and it smells good. I can pick up the scent of wood and some unknown pleasant lemon scent.”

She remembered then that Species had keener senses. “There’s a lot of wood flooring and carved details in the house. My grandfather might have wanted it built quickly but he wasn’t willing to cut corners on craftsmanship. The lemon you smell is from the oil I use when I mop the floors. It keeps them clean and shiny without being slippery. Twice a year I have someone come in and actually do the stair railings and the built-in shelving in the family room. It’s too much for me to keep up with on my own.”

He just peered at her, saying nothing.

She nodded. “Let me show you the rest of the house.”

He followed her as she walked through the kitchen and dining room. There was also a half bath and the laundry room on the first floor. The family room came last. She led him upstairs to the first door on the right, the smallest bedroom and bath. Becca opened the door to show him her office.

“This is mine but you’re welcome to use the computer.”

“I hardly use the things. I’m still learning but thank you.”

She turned, almost brushed against him and noticed how good he smelled. He carried a spicy, masculine scent, perhaps his aftershave. She inched around his big bulk to open the door across the hallway.

“This will be your room and it has a private bathroom too.” Her focus drifted to the bed before she looked at him with a frown as her gaze raked up and down his body. “We’re probably going to have to switch the beds. That’s just a full size and I think you’re going to have problems with it since you’re so tall. I have a California King in my room.” Her gaze roamed over his body one more time. She nodded and met his stare. “You’re definitely going to have to sleep in my bed.”

His gaze narrowed and a small sound came from his throat. It surprised her. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he had just softly growled at her. Of course she had to have heard wrong because he was so polite.

“What was that?”

“Clearing my throat,” he explained softly. “Sorry. So we need to exchange the beds?”

“Definitely, unless you want your feet dangling over the mattress.”

“We can change the beds.”

“Drop your bag and follow me. We’ll make sure you fit on it first. If not, I’m sorry. Maybe Dad can order you a longer bed.” She walked out of the room and led him to the last bedroom, down the hallway. She walked inside and was glad she’d remembered to make her bed before leaving for work, a habit she’d formed from having a military father. “Here we are. Do you think you can fit in my bed?”

Brawn stared at the huge mattress. “That will be fine. Thank you.”

She smiled, amused at his stiff stance and it was obvious that he wasn’t comfortable inside her feminine room. “You might want to lie down first to make sure. I’d hate to move them and then realize it won’t work.”

Brawn kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed without protest. It was low to the floor. He seemed at odds with how to get on at first but as he stretched out on his back his feet didn’t fall off the end—just barely. If he angled himself a little across it, he could sleep comfortably. His gaze met hers and he gave her a sexy smile.

Damn. Becca swallowed hard, thinking how incredibly appealing he looked on her rose-colored bedspread, the reddish-pink hue of it making him seem even more masculine if that were possible. The sight of that big, impressive body of his stretched out made her wish he wasn’t wearing clothes.

The urge to climb onto the bed naked with him arose and she clenched her teeth to avoid sighing. She really needed to get laid since a stranger had her body tied in knots. She’d tried to be intimate with the few guys she’d dated but had always ended up thinking of her late husband, Bradley, and the guilt had eaten her up. As her attention wandered across the man’s body the only thing that ate at her was the desire to test out her new mattress with him.

“It’s great.”

She had to remember he was talking about the size of her bed, not her wanting to jump his bones. “Terrific. Let’s get to it then.”

He rolled gracefully and stood. Between the two of them, it didn’t take long to switch the beds. Becca glanced at the king-size bed in the guestroom when they were done. It was a little too big for the space but there was a small walkway at the end of the mattress to allow access to the bathroom.

She bent over to remove the sheets from the bed, wanting to give him fresh, clean sheets. “It’s going to be a tight fit but I think you can squeeze in without too much effort.”

Brawn growled loudly, an animalistic sound that surprised her.

Becca jerked her head around to stare at Brawn, only to find him a few feet behind her with his legs planted apart and his hands fisted at his sides. His gorgeous eyes were fixed on her ass as she bent in front of him. Her last sentence replayed in her head and she laughed, straightening.

“I was talking about you being able walk between the end of the bed and the wall and squeeze through the bathroom door.” She grinned.

Brawn met her gaze. “What else would you have been talking about?” He arched an eyebrow at her and hid his hands behind his back in a relaxed stance that seemed forced.

She laughed. “I didn’t realize you were right behind me when I said that. You growled, which made me aware of how that sounded and looked. I assumed I needed to expand on what I was talking about since otherwise it just sounded like an invitation of a sexual nature.”

His gaze narrowed. “You’re very direct.”

“I am. I appreciate that in people. It cuts down the bullshit.”

“I like directness too. I did take it wrong at first and mentally agreed it would be a tight fit. You’re small. For a second, as I admired your bent form, I forgot why I’d never touch a human female and I growled in appreciation. My kind do that when we’re aroused. You have a nice form.” He glanced at the dresser in the corner. “May I use those to store my clothes?”

“Of course. The closet is empty too. This is your room while you’re here and please feel free to make yourself at home.” She paused. “May I ask you something personal? I am curious.”

His gaze returned to her. “Ask.”

“Why wouldn’t you ever touch a human female?”

“Do you want a polite answer or a direct one?”

“I like direct.”

He hesitated, seeming unsure.

“I won’t take offense.” She reached up to cross her finger over her heart and smiled. “You can’t say something like that without me wanting to know why. I’m a bit nosey and with my father being who he is, there are enough secrets I’m not allowed to know. You don’t have to answer but I’d appreciate it if you would.”

“I’m bigger and stronger than human males. I like rougher sex than human females could handle. I’d end up hurting her without meaning to.”

She let that sink in. “I see. Well, it’s kind of muddled but I think I have the idea. Thanks for answering.”

“What part is muddled?”

“The rough-sex part. There are a lot of ways to take that.”

He nodded. “I do not hit, nor am I into bondage or toys. I’ve seen some of your human pornographic videos. I like to bend my females over and take them from behind. I do not like to be gentle during the sex, the way your males are, but I am not into choking or harming them the way I’ve seen your males do in those films.

“I just like to take a female hard, fast and deep. Species females are bigger and more durable than most human females and I would hurt a human since they are fragile. There is no pleasure for me in that. It would be pointless to have sex with a female like you because I’d end up accidentally bruising her or taking her too rough. As I said, I’m larger and stronger than your males. When I say large, I am not just talking about my height and weight. I’ve seen your males naked and I’m thicker and longer.” He glanced down his body before meeting her gaze again. “Do you understand or do I need to specify the body part I’m referring to?”

Becca was shocked at how blunt the man had been with his answer but she’d asked for it. She let all that information sink in and hid a shiver of fear. Yeah, he could definitely hurt a woman if he didn’t restrain himself at all. All the sexual attraction she felt for him died a quick death on that note. She wasn’t into pain and that put him off the hot list for her.

“Now I totally understand. Thank you for the clarification.”

“You are welcome. Do you need help stripping?”

Becca laughed suddenly. “I thought you said I wasn’t your type?” She wiggled her eyebrows at him, unable not to tease him a bit. “You opened yourself up to that one.”

He sighed. “Stripping the bed.”

“We’re a pair, aren’t we? We keep saying things that just sound wrong.” She laughed again. “I’d love for you to help me strip.”

“What the hell?” her father shouted, his heavy footfalls rushing down the hallway closer to the guestroom. “You’d damn well better not.”

Becca watched her father barrel through the door and come to a screeching halt when his shoulder slammed into the frame. She knew he’d obviously just entered her house and heard the last part of their conversation. “Oh, so you’re going to help me strip? Great, Dad. You go on the other side of the bed and yank out the sheets over there.”

“Sheets? I thought…” He frowned.

Becca arched her eyebrows. “You thought what?” She blinked at him innocently.

“Nothing. Proceed. I just came to check…I mean help you move your things. I’ll go in your room and pull your suitcases out of the closet.” He fled.

Becca winked at Brawn when they were alone. “I love to mess with him. It’s so easy.”

“Why?”

“He is bossy and always treats me like I’m a kid. I have some fun at his expense whenever given the chance. It evens us up a little.”

He nodded but didn’t comment. He helped her strip and redress the bed with white-and-black bedding, the only semi masculine set she had and then she left his room to allow him to unpack.

Her father paced inside her room but paused when she entered. His green eyes narrowed and a frown twisted his features, creating lines around his mouth.

“Close the door.”

She did it and crossed her arms over her chest. “What is your problem now?”

“Were you flirting with him?”

She grabbed her heart. “Me? Flirt? Never.”

“Damn it, Rebecca. This is not a man you want to tease. He’s not anything similar to your husband or any other men you’ve known. Bradley was a pansy. He let you walk all over him and asked for more. The man down the hall would eat you for breakfast and I mean that. He’s half animal and can’t be trusted not to act on ingrained instincts. They look like us but never doubt he’s got a predatory side.”

Rage burned bright, hot and fast. “Don’t you ever,” she ground out, “EVER speak about Bradley that way. Just because he didn’t kiss your ass or join the military right out of high school doesn’t mean he was a pansy. He was kind, gentle and sweet. He was intelligent and soft spoken. He—”

“Was weak.” He spat the words. “And not good enough for my girl. I raised you to be a strong woman and he couldn’t handle that.”

“Get out of my house right now.” She yanked open her bedroom door.

Her father paled. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. I’m just worried, baby. That male down the hall isn’t a house kitten. I think he’s a lion mix or perhaps mixed with panther DNA with his black hair. I know more about them than you ever will and if you tease him, he might not understand that it’s just that. He could attack you.”

“Stop it. The only person in this house in danger of being attacked is you, by me. You always hated my husband because he wasn’t cut from the same cloth as you. I used to be thankful for that every day I had with him. Now get out of my house and if you ever just walk inside it again without my express permission first, I’ll shoot your ass. You taught me how and I still have the gun you bought me. Get out now.”

“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to help you take your things to the main house.” He stepped closer to the door.

“Don’t bother.”

He eased past her. “Fine but it’s going to take you a few trips to carry all the crap you think you need. I’ve seen you pack and I’m betting you’ll need at least three bags.”

“I refuse to live with you ever again. I’m staying right here with Brawn. He’s a nice man who isn’t interested in me and never will be. He’s fine where he is. You’re the one I want to leave.”

Her father frowned. “You can’t stay here with him.”

“Watch me.” She glared. “Get out of my house. I mean it. I told you to never bring up Bradley but you never listen.”

“I’ll let you calm down. You know where the spare key is. I have a date tonight and won’t be home until late. I’ll be at a meeting in the morning when you wake but we’ll talk after I get home. I’m sorry, Rebecca. It’s just been a stressful day and I let my temper get the better of me. I wanted the best for my baby and you know I had issues with Bradley. I think you made a martyr out of him. Everyone has flaws.”

Becca closed her bedroom door in his face and locked it. She heard her father talking to Brawn for a few minutes before the house grew silent. She was pissed and worse, hurt. She waited another five minutes and then eased her door open.

Chapter Two

Becca paused at Brawn’s closed door, heard the sound of running water and knew he showered. She had calmed after the argument with her father and now wanted a stiff drink. That always helped her get over hurt feelings after they had a verbal spat and there was the fact that she had a sexy, yet off-limits stranger living in her home.

The family room contained a fully stocked bar, something she’d appreciated when she’d taken possession of the house and had replaced every bottle of liquor, not sure of how old they’d been. She poured herself straight vodka and guzzled the shot. It burned down her throat all the way to her belly. A breath hissed out when she set the shot glass on the bar, straddled the chair and poured another.

Her father drove her crazy and living on the same estate was a really bad idea. It wasn’t as though she were stuck there though. She had the money to move but the idea of giving up her oasis on the property left her feeling a bit fearful. She’d lived in the outside world with Bradley and that hadn’t gone well. She poured and downed a few more shots when the sound of the doorbell pulled her from her depression.

She yanked open the door expecting her father but instead someone else stood on her doorstep. She gave him a genuine smile. “Well, if it isn’t Trey Roberts. Don’t you look good!”

He grinned. “I brought groceries and uniforms for the new guy.” He held two large bags and had a thick garment bag draped over his shoulder. “Point me to the kitchen. Is he here yet?”

She nodded and led Trey into the kitchen. She assessed the man who was her father’s favorite. If her dad had ever had a son, she knew he’d wish Trey were it and he’d shoved her at Trey for years hoping she’d marry the guy. She flirted with him but wasn’t interested. He was too similar to her father, except Trey was nice and had a sense of humor.

“He’s actually upstairs showering.”

Trey glanced up at the ceiling before studying Becca. “What is he like?”

“His name is Brawn. He’s huge, has gorgeous eyes and he’s nice. He looks like he’ll fit right in with you guys. I wouldn’t arm wrestle him though. He’d kick ass.”

Trey nodded and started to unload the bags. “Where’d your old man go?”

“He has a date.”

Trey laughed. “Uh-oh. I wonder how long this one will last.”

“Probably two weeks. That’s about the limit. He starts barking orders at them and they run for the hills. I’m waiting to see what kind of idiot stepmother he eventually finds. She’s going to have to be a first-place winner of the total-moron championship contest if she thinks his bossiness is cute.”

“Now I see why you won’t date me. I like giving orders.”

“I’m too smart.” She helped him unload the groceries until she took notice of what was going into her fridge and freezer. “What the hell?”

He grinned. “We were told by the NSO to make sure he’s stocked with a hell of a lot of red meat.”

“I think he’ll be happy then. You must have bought fifty pounds of steaks and roasts.”

“I’m just following the list we were given. I was supposed to find out if you have any cast-iron skillets. They like to sear their meat in one.”

She pointed. “Right there.”

He opened the lower cupboard and peered at the set. “That should do.” He set the largest one on top of the stove to make it impossible to miss.

“Anything else?”

“No. If he needs anything, he’ll tell us. Let me grab the sodas from my truck.”

Becca held the front door open and her mouth dropped open. Trey brought in three cases of soda. “Were they having a sale?”

“New Species have a fondness for caffeine.” Trey unloaded it all and leaned against the counter. “So, who are you dating right now?”

“I’m not.”

“Do you want to go out to dinner with me?” He smiled.

She smiled back. “Nope. But thanks for the offer.”

He winked. “Do you want to at least have awesome, mind-blowing sex?”

She laughed. “I’ll pass.”

His smile faded. “Have you gotten past it? It’s been over a year since his death.”

Her grin died too. “I went out a few weeks ago with a guy I met through work and I had fun. He kissed me but all I could think about was how it wasn’t the way Bradley did it. That kind of killed the moment and I sent him home. I refused a second date. He was a nice guy and I didn’t want to string him along.”

“I won’t kiss you.” He suddenly grinned again. “I could do you right here.” He pointed to the wall. “I bet that wouldn’t remind you of him. I can’t see him lifting and holding you in place while he screwed you blind.”

“Go home.” She shook her head at him, laughing. “That kind of talk is probably why you’re still single. Does that work with women?”

“Sometimes. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Right. You want to help me right out of my clothes.”

All humor faded from his intense brown eyes. “It might be the kind of help you need. You have heard that saying that to get over someone, you need to get under someone, haven’t you? It really works. I worry about you, honey.” He reached up and brushed back a lock of her auburn hair. “I’m here any time you want to talk, if you need someone to hold you or just a really great fuck.” He smiled. “My body is at your disposal.”

“Go home.” She gave him a nod. “But thanks.”

“Do you want to talk?”

“Not about that.”

“Are you sure? It might help.”

“I appreciate it but I’m doing well. I promise to call you though if that ever changes.”

“You can call me any time.” He leaned closer to brush a soft kiss on her forehead. “If you change your mind you know my number. I’m not opposed to a two a.m. booty call.”

Becca laughed. “I bet you aren’t.”

“I’m good at it.” His hand dropped away from her and he wiggled his eyebrows in a comical way. “At least that’s what I’ve been told. You could take me for a test drive and rate my performance.”

“Not a chance! Don’t you have somewhere else to be and someone else to annoy? Move it, soldier. You’ve been given your marching orders.”

He walked away. “I keep trying to move, damn it, but you aren’t letting me show you the motion of the ocean.” He chuckled, waved and closed the door behind him. His truck started a moment later and he drove away.

Becca put her hands on the counter and stared out the kitchen window toward the large tree, enjoying the sight of birds flittering around the thick branches. She appreciated Trey’s concern, he’d known her for a lot of years, but she would never take him up on his offers of having sex or getting too close to her. He had enough stress in his life without adding her burdens on his broad shoulders.

“What is a booty call?”

She grabbed her heart and spun to face her houseguest. “You scared me. I didn’t hear you come down the stairs. They creak a little.”

Brawn stood in the doorway of the kitchen. His hair was wet, pulled back in a ponytail, and he’d changed clothes. He wore faded, snug jeans with a black, heavy metal band T-shirt. His feet were bare.

“What is a booty call? I’ve never heard that before.”

She grinned. “It is a term for calling someone to just come have sex with you and they leave afterward. There’s no attachment or emotional involvement in the sex.”

He nodded. “I’ll remember. Is that a normal human custom?”

“For some but not me. He was just joking.”

“That man who was here is your lover?”

She shook her head. “He’s my friend. He will be working with you on the task force. He’ll be your team leader if you are replacing Jessie Dupree. You should like him. He’s got a good sense of humor so hopefully you appreciate that in a person. I know I do. Your food and uniforms are here. He also brought you lots of soda.”

“Thank you. Human friends offer booty calls to each other? I’m trying to learn about human interaction. I’ll be working with them and need to try to understand your customs.”

“No. Most friends don’t offer booty calls. Trey offers because he is trying to talk me into sleeping with a man again and he’s partly teasing, trying to cheer me up. He thinks if he gets me into bed that I’ll find it easier to do when I go out on a date with someone, that it will result in sex.”

“He wants to share sex with you so you will have sex with another male? Is the male a good friend of his? I have seen those kind of situations in the pornographic videos but didn’t believe they were real representations of human sexual habits. Is this a common practice amongst human males? I don’t want to make friends if it means they will offer to share their women.” He grimaced. “I don’t mean to offend you but that is disgusting. I don’t want to see another male mount someone. It wouldn’t make me desire her and the last thing I want to see or smell is another male while sharing sex with a female. It would kill my arousal and I don’t want a human woman.”

Becca laughed hard at his interpretation. It cracked her up and she hugged her stomach.

“I apologize if I’ve insulted your sexual preferences but I’m Species and it doesn’t take two of our males to satisfy a female’s sex drive. Your males don’t have our stamina during sex. I’m afraid one of your females may be overwhelmed by one of us, if she could even handle the roughness of sharing sex.”

Those bits of information killed her sense of humor and she sobered. “It’s complicated but don’t believe what you see in the skin flicks. Those are actors with really bad scripts for the most part, not true situations and that’s not his motive. He doesn’t want to talk me into having a threesome with him and one of his friends. I was married but I’m a widow now. I kind of stopped dating after that and Trey thinks I’ll stop being hung up on my husband if he gets me into bed. He thinks if I just have sex with someone—anyone—that I’ll be more likely to get on with my life. You can make friends and they won’t ask you to sleep with their girlfriends or wives.”

“What is a widow?”

“My husband had a defective heart. A widow is a woman whose husband died.”

Brawn leaned against the wall. “I am sorry. Our people were put down too if they were found to be defective physically by Mercile Industries.”

She felt punched in the gut. “They did that? Those assholes killed anyone with physical defects? Jesus. No. My husband wasn’t murdered. We don’t just end someone’s life if they aren’t healthy. He had a heart defect and died when a large vessel inside his heart ruptured. It happened very quickly. He just grabbed his chest, gasped and passed out. He probably didn’t know what happened before it was over. The doctor I spoke to assured me that he wouldn’t have suffered and death happened within minutes.”

“The doctors could not fix his defect before his death?”

“We didn’t know about it. It was a rare defect they only discovered afterward when they performed the autopsy.” She took a deep breath to prevent getting choked up. She usually did that when she remembered Bradley and avoided discussing the grim details. A change in subject was needed to avoid tears. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I’ll get out of the kitchen and let you fix your meal. Trey said you needed cast-iron skillets and he put one on the stove for you to use. There are more under that cabinet there.” She pointed. “Make yourself at home.”

He nodded. “Are you leaving now?”

She inwardly flinched, realizing he didn’t understand the situation. “Actually, about that…” She took a breath. “I’m not moving into the main house with my father. He’d drive me nuts and trust me when I tell you that you’re better off here than living with him. He’s kind of a jerk sometimes and tends to be super controlling. I am staying here. You’ll hardly see me and I keep a pretty busy schedule.” She pulled air into her lungs. “It’s a big house and we’ll make it work. It will almost be as if I’m not here.”

He gawked at her. “I’m to live with you?” A frown dipped his lips.

“I’m really sorry that this isn’t what you expected but no one asked me before your living arrangements were made. My father had no right to offer you my house but I’m willing to share it with you. There’s a spare house key hanging from a peg on the right side of the front door. Take it and use it.”

His chin lifted and his shoulders braced back enough to puff out that massive chest of his. “I understand. I’m here to learn about humans and to adjust to being around them. This will be a good experience to share a house with one. You’ve taught me a lot in such a short time and I look forward to learning more. Thank you.”

She had to give him a lot of credit for taking the news better than she expected. “Good. I’ll leave you to cook your meal now. I’m going to return to the family room and get shit-face drunk. You’ll discover that I do that after I have a blowout with my dad. He drives me to drink.”

She spun and walked away before he could question her further. All that talk about her husband left her feeling sad and vulnerable. Intense pain squeezed her heart as she walked into the family room, sat at the bar and poured another drink.

The shit part was that her father had been right about Bradley but she couldn’t ever admit that aloud because her dad would never allow her to forget it. He’d rub it in and use it as an example in every argument they had. That would be so often that it wasn’t funny. She downed another shot, closed her eyes and hissed from the burn of the booze sliding down into her belly.

Brawn watched Becca leave the kitchen and sighed. He knew what shit-faced drunk meant. She planned to drink to excess, get completely inebriated and he hoped his new house mate wasn’t one of those humans who did it often. He hated the smell of alcohol and he’d seen movies of drunk people enough to wish to avoid them.

This was not going the way he had thought it would. Not at all. He’d been promised a secluded home, privacy, yet instead he lived with a human woman. Worse, he found her attractive. The memory of her bent over the bed he’d sleep in later would stick with him for a while. She had a curved, lush body, very unlike Species women. She appeared supple, fragile and would probably scream if he ever unleashed his desire on her.

Her hand had been small and very soft when he’d held it after their introduction. The idea of having her touch him with them made his cock twitch. Of course the thought of pinning her under him only made it worse. He’d probably crush her under his weight or accidentally break her somehow.

He softly growled as he moved around the kitchen to familiarize himself with it. He pulled out a few steaks, heated the skillet and found a plate, then got the tongs to turn his steaks as he seared them.

He sat at the island eating while thoughts of Becca Oberto plagued him. She was a complication he wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with. He could ask her father to allow him to live in the bigger house near the road. It would simplify things but that would be cowardly. He lifted his gaze to the fridge, studying the photos that were stuck on it—Becca with different humans. She smiled in all of them and appeared happy. It was a confusing contradiction if she had turned to drinking a lot of alcohol. He wasn’t too sure of his human facts but it implied she had serious issues. Her mate dying would do it.

He finished his dinner, cleaned up the mess and washed his dishes. He heard music when he turned off the water and dried his hands. It was too early to go to bed and his room didn’t have a television. He’d need to ask for one, he missed his cable channels already and regretted volunteering to take the mission for his people.

Someone needed to work with the human task force though. A Species female would have been perfect for the job but he hadn’t wanted to expose any of them to human males. Everything he’d learned so far about them made him believe they’d harass her. It was a man’s world outside the NSO gates, or so he’d been told. Females were to be protected at all costs. The idea of allowing one to go into danger made his entire body stiffen. He’d tough it out and would deal with whatever came his way. Better him than one of the females.

He worried about Becca as he put his foot on the bottom step to return to his room. She wasn’t a big female and a memory of a movie he’d watched made him turn back. She could drink enough to become violently ill and he wanted to check on her health.

He followed the rock music and paused in the archway to the family room. Becca sat at the bar with a bottle and a tiny glass in front of her. She seemed to sense him and turned her head. The wide grin she gave him and her overly bright, blue eyes assured him that she’d drunk too much. She waved him over, her movements clumsy.

“Hello, handsome. Wanna drink?”

Her voice slurred a little and it shocked him that she’d called him that. “My name is Brawn. I don’t know of any Species who chose to be called that.”

A giggle made her shoulders shake and she snorted softly. “I know your name. You’re good-looking but you know that, right?”

She found him attractive. That fact left him speechless.

She patted the seat next to her. “Wanna drink? It doesn’t burn going down anymore.”

He inched into the room. “I don’t drink alcohol but thank you for the offer. How many have you had?”

“I don’t know.” She nearly slipped off the chair as she adjusted on the seat. “Not enough. I’m still conscious.”

“Drinking alcohol inebriates you, slows your response time and makes logic difficult to practice.”

She laughed. “You are so cute.”

His eyebrows lifted. No one had ever called him that before. Ferocious, a bastard and other choice names but never something that implied that definition. Worry ate at him more over her mental state.

“Perhaps you should go to bed and sleep. I’ve heard a saying that things always look better in the morning.”

“It’s early.” She patted the barstool next to her. “Come over here. I won’t bite.”

“Aren’t you afraid I will?” He couldn’t resist opening his mouth and showing her his canines, curious why she didn’t seem to fear him. Human women always did.

“Nope.” She patted the barstool again. “Come closer.” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re kind of blurry.” She giggled. “I don’t drink often but when I do, wow boy, do I do it right.”

He’d never heard that phrasing before and approached her cautiously. It was a bad idea, he should go to his room, but worry kept him there. She needed someone to look out for her. Her mate wasn’t around anymore to do it and her father wasn’t living inside her home. It was up to him to make certain she didn’t have any misadventures in her defenseless state.

He sat on the barstool, too close to her in his estimation—and hoped she didn’t throw up the way he’d seen women do in movies. “I don’t understand why you would purposely do this to your body.”

“You mean the calories?” She glanced down. “I could lose some weight. I sit on my butt too much at work but it’s not as though I have to impress anyone anymore.”

“Calories?”

“You know, because I’m a little overweight.”

He studied her body. “You’re very small. You can’t weigh much.”

“I’m a hundred-and-sixty pounds.” She laughed then clasped a hand over her mouth and giggled before lowering it. “I usually lie.” She leaned closer to him. “I say I weigh twenty pounds less than I really do.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Lie?” She reached out and pressed her palm to his chest. “It’s what women do. We lie about our weight, our age and our sexual history.”

Confusion gripped him again and he tried to ignore the warmth of her hand soaking through the thin cotton of his shirt. “Why would you do that?”

“You want to know about humans? They lie. We’re sneaky bastards or bitches sometimes. If our mouths are moving, well, expect some bullshit. It’s just human nature. In my case, I hate admitting that I’ve only slept with two men. It sounds pathetic and I lie about my age because I’m coming up on the big three-o. Thirty. That’s a bad thing to women. As for the weight, we wear stuff, trying to hide the flab.”

“Flab?”

“You know, those extra little unsightly bulges.”

He glanced down her body, paused on her breasts and frowned. His gaze lifted. “There is nothing unsightly about you.”

Her free hand reached for his and he allowed her to move it to her side. She pressed it against her waist. “Squeeze.”

He gently did as she bid, amazed at how soft she felt through her clothes and the give in her skin. She smiled at him.

“Feel that? Love handles. I’ve got them.”

He opened his hand and released her. “You feel nice.”

“It doesn’t look so hot.” She patted his chest. “You’re so nice. I hope the guys on my dad’s team don’t rub off on you. Men can be real lying jerks but you’re different.”

“I’m honest.”

Her eyes narrowed and she licked her lips—her pink tongue darted out to wet the lower one and her hand slid a little lower to press over his heart. “Stay that way.”

“I don’t like deceit.”

“Me neither.” She inhaled deeply, leaned back, removed her hand and faced the bar. “But it’s necessary.”

“I don’t understand. You have secrets you need to protect?”

She wrapped her hand around the glass, lifted it and took a sip. A grimace twisted her features and she put it down. “The burn is gone but it tastes like shit.”

He inhaled, the vile smell of alcohol there, but nothing to indicate it would taste of excrement. “Don’t drink it.”

“It helps.” She stared at the bar. “Sometimes I want to forget stuff and when I’m hurting it helps numb me.”

Worry gripped him. “You need medical attention?” He sniffed again, leaned a little closer and tried to get an in-depth take on her scent. She smelled of strawberries, oatmeal and laundry detergent but he didn’t pick up any trace of illness.

She turned her head and smiled. “What are you doing?”

“You don’t have the chemical smell of humans who take medications. It sweats out of the pores. You’re ill?”

“No. I just had horrible taste in men and my father drives me nuts. I think my grandfather left me the guesthouse because he knew I’d never talk to my dad otherwise. We don’t get along.”

“Is having a parent challenging?”

She released her drink and turned to face him. “You have no idea! He drives me nuts.” She put her hand on his thigh near his knee and he glanced down to see it curved over his jeans. “He’s such a dick sometimes, so controlling and judgmental. I always had to be perfect or he lectured me about it. He’s not, but I’m supposed to be.”

His gaze lifted. “Are humans always so into touching people when they talk?”

She looked down, laughed and squeezed his leg. “Sorry.” She lifted her hand and peered up at his face. “Your eyes are really amazing. Did I tell you that? I think they are so beautiful. Can you see colors and everything?”

“Yes. My vision is perfect.”

“My dad thinks you’re mixed with a lion or a panther. Do you have a tail?”

It shocked him that she’d ask. His lips parted but nothing came out.

“It’s okay if you have one. I’d still think you were hot.”

“My skin is warmer than yours naturally but I don’t have a tail.”

That set her off into giggles. He liked the sound and the way dimples appeared in her cheeks. She licked her lips again. “You are so funny. Do you dance?”

“Yes.”

“I bet you do.” She openly stared at his chest, taking him in, and sighed. “Off-limits. It figures. I’ve got really shitty luck. Did I mention that?”

“Would you like to dance?” The alcohol had affected her logic since she wasn’t making much sense. “You asked if I can and I enjoy it.”

“I don’t have any dollar bills.” That set her off into a fit of laughter and she nearly slid off her barstool.

He reached out and gently wrapped a hand around her waist to make certain she didn’t lose her balance. “Dance with me.” He stood and gently eased her to her feet. She swayed on unsteady, bare feet, her shoes on the floor under her barstool, which he hadn’t noticed until that second. “The slow motion might lure you to sleep. I won’t allow you to fall.”

“You want me to go to sleep?” She leaned in to him, her body lax against his and she felt small in his arms. “That figures too. Most guys would want to strip a woman and fuck her blind if she were blitzed.”

“You’re inebriated and not logical. I would never engage in shared sex with you.”

“Damn shame,” she muttered and turned her head, resting it against his chest. She gripped his biceps. “Show me what you’ve got, hot stuff.”

He ignored the fast beat of the rock song and adjusted his hold to make sure she wouldn’t fall if she passed out. He moved his body just enough to keep her swaying on her feet.

“You smell really good.” Her fingers brushed his skin. “And you’re really big.”

“Thank you. I’m not a danger to you.”

She snuggled closer and as he looked down, he noticed her eyes closed as they danced. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Her fingernails raked his outer arms and he bit back a growl as his cock stiffened even more at the light caresses. It was a really bad idea to share a house, especially with a woman who drank alcohol and admitted to being deceptive.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Brawn?”

“No.”

“Someone is missing out. You’re a sweetheart to dance with me.”

“That’s another term I’ve never heard when I’m discussed.” He smiled. “You are amusing when you drink, Becca.”

“Thanks.” She released his arms and stretched up to grip the top of his shoulders. “Did I insult you when I asked if you have a tail or could see colors? I didn’t mean to ask that. It just blurted out of my mouth. Were those taboo questions?”

“Not at all. You’re curious about me and I’m curious about humans.”

She lifted her head and her eyes opened. She stopped moving against him so he held still, holding her gaze. “Are you a lion or a panther mix?”

“I don’t know. My records weren’t recovered.”

“Can I touch your hair? It’s so long and beautiful that I wanted to ask earlier. It’s a shame you pull it back.”

The request surprised him. “It keeps it out of the way. Go ahead. It grows really fast. I need to cut it again soon.”

She leaned into him and he flipped it over his shoulder to trail down his chest. Her fingers brushed his long ponytail and she smiled. “Please don’t. It’s as silky as it looks and it would be a crime if you hacked it off.”

The urge to ask her if he could touch her side again, minus her shirt, to feel her soft skin struck him, but he resisted it. It would be inappropriate, he knew. He held his tongue.

“I should go to bed.” She let go of his hair and slid her hands down his chest next to it. “Yeah. I should.”

“I’ll escort you to your door to make sure you don’t trip. You’re a little unsteady on your feet.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

She stepped back and he released her hips. She wobbled a little but turned of her own accord and walked toward the archway. He followed closely and worried when she climbed the stairs. She didn’t fall though and made it all the way to her room. She paused, peered at him over her shoulder and stared into his eyes.

“Good night, Brawn. Sweet dreams.”

He nodded, refused to admit that when he had dreams, they were unpleasant memories of his past captivity. He didn’t want to tell her about the nightmares that sometimes woke him in the middle of the night. He’d be in a cold sweat, sure that being freed had just been wishful thinking.

She closed the door but he waited, listening to her move around her room, in case she passed out. The whisper of her clothes being removed reached his keen hearing and he closed his eyes, trying to think about something else. He was more than curious about what she’d look like bare. The bed took her weight and he still remained until her breathing slowed to assure him she had fallen asleep.

He blew out a deep breath, opened his eyes and returned downstairs to turn off the music and make certain the lower floor was secure. He felt out of place in Becca’s home, away from his people, living in the out world with humans.

Chapter Three

Becca woke with a start, confused at first about where she was, before memory surfaced. She winced, remembered most of her drunken discussion with her houseguest and promised to apologize to Brawn first thing in the morning. She glanced at her nightstand clock and took note it was nearing three in the morning. The reason she had jerked awake sounded again.

She frowned, listening to the persistent barking from Boomer, her neighbor’s beloved pooch. It wasn’t normal for the little dog to be noisy, especially in the middle of the night. She shoved off the covers to get out of bed. She crossed the room, gripped the curtain and pulled it back a few inches to stare over the wall that separated her property from the one behind it.

She could see Mel and Tina’s house from the second floor of her bedroom and frowned at the sight that met her sleepy gaze. The house was lit up brightly, every room illuminated and that wasn’t normal either. They were in their late forties, worked nine-to-five jobs during the week and she usually only saw a few lights on at any given time. It was highly doubtful they’d throw a huge party mid-week, if ever.

Boomer barked rapidly, a shriek came from him and it grew eerily silent. Becca’s heart dropped and she spun, rushed for her closet and jerked it open. Her fingers traced the upper shelf, found the drawstring, silky material and dragged it down. She rushed to her window with Bradley’s beloved opera glasses and lifted them to her eyes as she pulled back the curtain with her elbow. A quick manipulation of the glasses brought her neighbor’s house into sharp focus.

At first she didn’t see anything unusual. Mel and Tina didn’t have curtains or blinds on the back of their house. The houses were too far apart for them to ever worry about needing them. All the house lots were large so people who lived in the neighborhood naturally had privacy, unless someone directed binoculars their way.

The living room was empty. She moved the glasses until the kitchen came into view, still not spotting any movement. She moved on to the family room where Tina sat in a chair. The woman’s platinum-blonde hair was hard to miss, as was her frantically shaking head and the sight of something silver over her lower face.

“What the hell?” Becca was confused by what she saw over the other woman’s face and then it sank in. “Oh my God!” Someone had covered her neighbor’s mouth with duct tape. She needed to call 9-1-1. They were being robbed!

As she started to turn away to lung for the phone, someone large, dressed in black, stepped into the room with Tina. Though his back was to her, she knew it was a man by his size. His hand lifted. A slight popping sound reached her ears right as Tina jerked backward in the chair.

“Oh fuck,” Becca hissed. Tina’s face was destroyed. Blood, gore and a misshapen mass with platinum blonde hair was all that remained. The burglar had murdered her neighbor, shot her in the face.

Becca spun, threw the opera glasses aside and ran for her bedside table. Her leg hit the bed and she nearly fell in the dark room but found the phone on her bedside table. Silence met her ear instead of a dial tone when she yanked the receiver up. She was afraid to turn on a light, didn’t want to risk the burglar being alerted if he happened to look out into the backyard when it came on. She tapped the cradle. The damn thing was dead.

Don’t panic and think! My cell phone! She’d left her purse downstairs somewhere near the front door. She eased open the drawer first, her fingers searched and found cold metal and she grabbed the gun. It felt heavy in her hand but she’d be damned if she let that asshole get away with killing Mel too. She could still be alive and might not have but a few minutes for the cops to arrive.

She stumbled for the door, hit the wall next to it and yanked it open. Becca ignored the hallway light switch, knowing the burglar would see the lights come on if he were looking out those curtainless windows toward her yard. A sob tore from her throat.

She tried to hold it together as she rushed down the dark hallway, misjudged the table and slammed into it. Becca cursed softly and gripped her knee. She hopped a few steps and clutched the gun tighter to avoid dropping the damn thing.

Motion made her gasp as a dark shape moved ahead of her. She opened her mouth to scream but remembered Brawn was in her house. The dark shadow stood in front of his room. Relief hit her big-time as she limped closer.

“I just saw my neighbor being murdered,” she whispered. “Don’t turn on the lights. The guy might see them and take off. I’m calling the police.”

“Are you sure?”

“He shot her in the face.” Becca gulped in air and felt hot tears streaming down her face. “Didn’t you hear that sound of…” She made a sobbing sound. “She’s dead. Her face was mush and there was blood. My cell phone is in my purse downstairs. The phone line is down in my bedroom. I don’t want the guy to get away.” She edged around him toward the stairs.

A pair of hands suddenly gripped her upper arms. “The phone line is down?”

“Yes.”

He growled.

“Let me go. I have to get my cell phone and be careful, I have my gun. That asshole isn’t going to get away if I have to shoot the fucker to keep him there for the cops to arrest.”

“How many men did you see?”

“One. Let go. I have to call the police and get over there before the guy gets away.”

“Don’t you think it’s alarming that your lines are down and your neighbor was just murdered?” His voice was soft. “Stay here. I have a cell phone in my room. Do not move.”

She leaned against the wall, realized her emotions were scrambled from sleep and shock and it probably wasn’t a bright idea to go climb the wall to face a burglar with a gun. As long as he didn’t realize someone had seen him, he’d take his time stealing from the house and she hadn’t seen Mel. She’d have been with Tina or she was already dead.

“Okay.”

His hands released her and he backed into his room. She stood there gripping the gun, trying to pull herself together. She wiped at tears, calmed enough to realize she was still a little drunk and Brawn was right. Calling the police was paramount. Brawn’s soft voice soothed her frayed nerves as he approached her. His dark shape halted inches from her.

“Send the police and help,” he ordered then the faint light of his cell phone died as he closed it.

“I contacted my people and they will have help to us soon.”

“Give me your phone. We need to dial 9-1-1.”

“They are doing it now. They are sending us help.”

“We don’t need help. You need to give me the phone. The police need to get to Tina’s house. Mel is there and she might still be alive. Give me the cell phone. He can’t get away with this. They need to catch him and I’m still a little drunk. I want to go over there to blow the bastard to hell the way he did Tina but I’d probably go to prison for killing him while inebriated. I can’t believe this is happ—”

“Be quiet,” Brawn suddenly hissed softly.

“I know I—”

A hand clamped over her mouth and he spun her around, just yanking her body tightly against his. One of his arms looped around her waist and his breath fanned her ear. His long hair tickled her arm.

“Someone is downstairs,” he whispered.

Terror slammed into her…but it might be her father. Maybe he’d heard Boomer bark or the sound of the gun going off. Boomer never barked at night and while the gunshot had sounded faint, unlike anything she’d ever heard, her dad was an expert with weapons. He’d know how all of them sounded when fired and would have identified it instantly.

He’d check on her first and come armed, since he slept with weapons in his nightstand drawer. Hell, he’d put the gun in Becca’s in case anyone ever broke in the house. It was always loaded, the safety off, ready to fire. She wanted to tell Brawn who it could be but his hand over her mouth prevented that.

Becca jumped when a noise came from below, a weird one that she’d never heard before and she had no idea what would cause it. It was kind of a soft motor sound and then there was a squishy sound, not a good one. Her father would have pounded up the stairs, searching for her. He would be worried sick and come after her like a charging bull to protect her.

Her heart hammered harder when it sank it that it wasn’t her father down there making the noises. Brawn’s hand over her mouth tightened and so did his arm around her waist. Her toes left the floor as he hoisted her higher up his tall body, backing them both inside his room.

“Don’t make a sound,” he breathed.

Becca kept her lips tightly sealed when the hand released her mouth. He used it to very quietly close the bedroom door and twisted the lock. He moved then, spun fast enough to make her dizzy and lifted her even higher as her legs brushed the side of his bed when he maneuvered them into the small bathroom.

“I smell four males inside your house.” He kept his voice low so that only she would hear him. “I smell blood too but I think it’s from an animal. I want you to sit on the floor in the corner and be very quiet. Do not make a sound. Do you understand me? Nod if you do. Do not speak or shoot me by accident.” He paused, one hand wrapped around hers and he tore the gun from her fingers. “I’ll keep this. You are still inebriated.”

She nodded, not sure how he knew that but couldn’t protest.

He eased her down his body and metal clinked when he set the gun down. Both his hands clutched at her, twisted her to face him, before he let go to grip the top of her head. He gently pushed, urging her to get down.

Her hands brushed hot, naked chest when she used his body to steady her trembling one. Adrenaline and the alcohol still in her system made her movements unsteady. She lowered, her hands sliding on his skin until she hit the cotton of his sweats and she realized that in any other circumstances this would probably be indecent as she crouched before him until her face was even with his groin.

Her back brushed the walls, it made her realize he’d cornered her near the sink and wall rack for towels. He released her scalp as he backed away. She lifted her chin and barely detected his dark shadow move until he reached the doorway where faint light from the main house’s floodlights, which her father always kept on, made him easier to see, illuminated somewhat even through the closed bedroom curtains in his room.

She crouched there, realized her nightshirt was wadded at her waist and her bare legs were exposed. If a light was on Brawn would be able to see her underwear and it was an undignified position with her legs spread apart. She didn’t move though, afraid she’d fall over or make a sound. Help was coming and Brawn was close. She wasn’t alone.

New Species had amazing hearing and night vision. Her father had told her that once. The other thing he’d told her was that they had bloodhound scent capability. That’s what he called it. He said most of them could smell things that others couldn’t. Brawn had said he’d smelled four men inside her house.

How does he know they are male? She bit her lip to prevent her from whispering the question to him. He had said he’d also smelled animal blood. Boomer. He’d made that horrible sound before the barking had halted. Does he smell Boomer’s blood? That thought sobered her a lot.

She kept her gaze locked on the shadowy form of Brawn while he bent over, grabbed something from under his bed and backed into the bathroom. He remained there, as if he guarded her and it made her feel better until a creaking noise reached her ears. She knew it was the third step from the top. It always made that sound when stepped on and that meant someone was coming up the stairs.

Nothing made sense. Why would the man who killed Tina be inside her house? Brawn said he’d smelled four. If he said it, it was probably true. The man who’d killed Tina couldn’t have broken into her house that fast, which meant there were at least five of them. It might be a burglary ring targeting the neighborhood. She wanted to warn Brawn but feared making a sound.

The bedroom door suddenly exploded open with a loud crash as something struck it hard. Wood splintered and Becca threw her hand over her mouth to stifle the scream. She did jump, pressed her back tightly to the wall and managed to keep her terrified gaze locked on Brawn.

He didn’t move, the sound didn’t seem to startle him but then something dropped on the wood floor. Whatever it was sounded metal and it rolled—a distinctive sound. That got the big Species to move. He reared up to his feet, spun and her eyes widened as his body hit hers before she realized what was happening.

The air was shoved from her lungs by the force of his heavy body slamming into hers. She hit the floor on her side and his weight crushed her mercilessly when he covered her. A blast of painful, earsplitting proportions stabbed through her head and bright light blinded her even though her eyelids were closed. The floor even shook under her back and thighs from the force of whatever had exploded.

A roar tore from Brawn, further deafening her since his mouth was inches from her ear, and he rolled away. The weight was gone from her body, her eyes jerked open and she fought to suck air back into her lungs. She caught sight of him rushing out the bathroom door as the lights in the room were turned on and smoke hovered near the ceiling. It was white and billowed fast.

Brawn opened fire, the sound of the shots made her flinch and she gaped at the sight of him in just a pair of dark-gray sweats, a Berretta clasped in his hand. The muzzle flashed as bullets were discharged. Someone screamed, barely distinguishable in the melee. Brawn roared again, a fierce, terrifying sound, and threw his body backward into the bathroom.

Weird metal things slammed into the bathroom door inches from him. At least six of them, a few inches long, dug into the thin wood. Brawn lunged out of the bathroom, threw his big body at the bed and opened fire again. He only got off two shots before the gun either jammed or ran out of bullets.

Becca panted, too shocked to move and her eyes widened as three men in all black suddenly threw themselves on top of the New Species. He used his legs to throw one of them up off his body as she watched in horrified shock. The man hit the ceiling hard enough to make it rain plaster before he crashed to the bed, hit the side of it and bounced to the floor.

Move! Her mind screamed and she somehow scrambled to roll over. Her limbs felt heavy, disjointed from her brain and her ears rang from the loud noises. She was dizzy as she pushed up and slammed her palm painfully on the sink countertop. Metal brushed her fingertips and propelled her to struggle harder to rise to her knees. She turned her head to stare at Brawn.

Another of the attackers was thrown off him toward the bedroom door and the hallway. Brawn twisted his body, flipped his legs and sprang off the bed in the blink of an eye with the bed now between him and the bedroom door. He backed up, growled viciously and roared. His fingers curled clawlike at his sides and he bared sharp teeth. The man who’d hit the ceiling sat up and struggled to his feet.

Becca gripped the gun, swayed on her feet and stumbled closer to the bathroom door as she put her finger on the trigger. Brawn was defenseless without a gun, trapped between the bed and the windows and faced danger. She knew how to shoot and damn well would. Her father had raised her to never fire a gun unless she was ready to kill with it. She was.

She nearly reached the door when the stupid bastard who’d just risen from the floor tried to tackle Brawn. She froze as she watched the Species swipe his big hand at the guy in black, hit his throat then shoved hard with his other. The guy flew her way.

Something warm and wet sprinkled her face as the man Brawn had slashed collapsed on to the floor between the bed and the bathroom door. The attacker’s face was turned her way and there was no missing the horrifying sight of his slashed open face, from his ear to his mouth. The stranger’s eyes were wide open, terrified and he blinked. Blood flowed from the horrible wound, pooled on the floor under his mouth and he made a hissing sound. Lifeless eyes stared at Becca after he took his last breath.

Time froze. It was surreal, too shocking for her mind and her responses shut down until the blood slowly spreading across the floor nearly touched her toes. That yanked her to the present. Only seconds had passed, but she realized the wetness on her face was blood too.

Something metal hit the wood floor in the next room and rolled. She twisted away, hunched, trying to protect herself from the stun grenade. She was sure that was what made the sound. Brawn roared again but then she couldn’t hear anything over the loud explosion that tore through the bedroom and seemed to pierce her brain. Even with her eyes tightly closed and her back to it, she was blinded for a second by the white, searing light.

She managed to stay on her feet, recovered fast and spun back around as she straightened. The gun in her numb hands jerked up to point at the doorway and she gaped at the sight of Brawn sprawled motionless over part of the bed. He’d just fallen to his knees, his upper body rested on the mattress and his hair was spilled over the sheets. He didn’t move but she did notice his chest moving slightly and was assured he breathed.

Someone stepped in front of the doorway, obscuring her view of Brawn and she stumbled back. The guy wore all black, his face covered in a mask and goggles even hid his eyes. They were round tinted ones, not night vision gear, but smaller. Her hand shook as she remembered to keep the gun aimed at him.

“Easy,” he demanded gruffly. His hands slowly lifted away from his side, straight out, and she saw a strange, weapon in his hand. It wasn’t anything she’d ever seen before. It was bulky with a wide barrel, a longer version of a handgun, with a round cylinder at the base of it. She glanced at the metal things sticking in the door before her attention jerked to his covered face and eyes. That thing shot those. She knew it, though not what they were.

“Don’t move.” Her voice shook. “I will fire.”

“Easy,” he repeated, not moving a muscle. “You have no chance of survival if you kill me. Pull that trigger and my men will take you out. Do you understand me?”

Terror gripped her. She knew there were more of them, that he wasn’t bullshitting, but they’d killed Tina. They’d kill her too. They weren’t burglars. That fact sank in fast and hard. They dressed the way her father’s men did for covert operations. She’d seen enough of her dad’s laundry to know military issue when she saw it. What the fuck is going on?

“We came for the New Species.” He kept his voice low and calm. “That’s all. Lower the gun, miss. You’re not our target.”

“You can’t have him.” Her voice came out a little stronger. “I’m not stupid and I’m not lowering this gun. I won’t miss you.” She adjusted the aim to make sure he knew she pointed it at the center of his skull. “Tell your men to get the fuck out or I’ll be cleaning your brains off the walls for weeks. I called 9-1-1. The police should be here any second.”

“Fuck,” a male voice hissed from the other side of the wall, telling her that another man was inches from the door and within reach of the asshole who filled the bathroom door.

“Tell your guy to back off.” Her finger tightened on the trigger. “I’m scared, freaked the hell out, and I might shoot you if I see the slightest movement.”

“Back off,” the guy who seemed in charge ordered. “She’s got a Berretta pointed straight at my head.”

“And I know how to use it,” she said for good measure. She glanced at the space between the guy’s head and the doorway and spotted Brawn still motionless. Her attention focused on the threat. “Move real slow and drop your weapon.”

His hand opened and the weird weapon landed on the dead guy on the floor. “Are you a cop?”

“No, but I won’t miss you.”

He cleared his throat. “Are you his security detail?”

“No but I’ll kill you to protect him. You aren’t taking him. Order your men to leave my house but you don’t move. You’re my insurance that they don’t try anything stupid. They do and you’re dead.”

“Your house? He lives with you?”

“Shut up and do what I said. Order your men out.”

He hesitated. “Fine.” The fingers of his open hand jerked at his side in a wave motion.

She relaxed slightly, a mistake on her part, thinking he’d silently ordered his men to leave with the hand signal. Instead bullets blasted through the walls. She pulled the trigger and threw her body to the floor.

Weight slammed down on her back. She couldn’t even scream from the pain of being crushed and the gun was torn from her fingers. Whoever had slammed into her shifted his weight and a hand fisted painfully in her hair, forcing her head back. She gasped in air and screamed then.

An elbow nailed her in the back, cutting the sound off from the fresh pain and the body lifted. She spotted her gun near the toilet, too far to grab before she was hauled up by the vicious grip fisting her hair at the base of her neck. She swayed on her feet, clutched at the gloved hand and realized she’d missed killing the son of a bitch when he spoke.

“A couple inches off your mark but you clocked my cheek.” He sounded pissed. “You’ll pay for that, bitch.”

He shoved her hard. She slammed into the wall and groaned. She turned, knew she would die and prayed her father had gotten lucky with his date. He’d have heard the explosions and gunfire from the main house. The bastards had either killed her dad before they’d attacked her house or he was spending the night elsewhere. Otherwise he’d have come after her by now.

She glared at the son of a bitch who had her trapped. It was satisfying to see the tear in the black material near his ear, red showed from the bloody wound the bullet had inflicted and she hoped it left a hell of a scar. Her chin rose as she glared at him and her fingers fisted at her sides.

“Fuck you.”

Two more black-clad figures entered the bathroom, weird weapons drawn and they pointed them at her. One of them spoke. “You okay, Randy?”

“Fine,” their leader sighed. “She nicked my cheek but I dodged for the most part.”

She looked up and realized they’d shot through the wall separating the bedroom and bathroom too high to have hit where she’d been standing. It was confusing since she’d been sure they were trying to kill her.

“Who are you?”

Randy reached out suddenly and grabbed her by her throat, yanked her away from the wall and fisted her hair again. He pulled hard enough to jerk her head back as he pulled her tight against him. She could detect cigarettes on his breath, which fanned through the material over his mouth.

“Is she one of them?” One of his men stepped to the side of her.

“Nope. Human. I’m sure. She’s not a New Species. Her eyes are normal.”

Someone else entered the bathroom. “We’re picking up chatter. Our second team just intercepted the cops. They are coming. We’ve got four minutes.”

“Fuck,” Randy hissed. He let go and shoved her against the wall. He grabbed his uninjured ear and tapped it.

“This is alpha dog. We have a female inside the male’s bathroom. She’s obviously screwing him since she admitted it’s her house and they are both locked in his room.” He paused for seconds. “She’s alive. I checked and she’s not one of them—she’s human.” He paused again. “Understood. I’ll bring her in with him.” He tapped his ear to cut the transmission.

He grabbed her hair, jerked her away from the wall and fisted the back of her shirt too as he spun her around. “It’s your lucky damn day. You get to live. Move. You try anything and I’ll hurt you bad. My orders are to bring you in breathing but nobody said I couldn’t make you suffer.”

He stopped her at the bathroom door. The dead guy was inches from her bare feet. She felt wet heat on the floor like warm syrup. She didn’t look down to verify she stood in blood. She didn’t need to see it to know. Nausea roiled up and she made a gagging sound.

The hand tightened on her shirt and the man jerked her. “You puke and I’ll break your damn jaw.”

Becca frantically fought to thwart the urge. She watched helplessly as two men lifted Brawn off the bed. They gripped him under his armpits and dragged him toward the door.

Who are these assholes? She was terrified. Any law-enforcement agency would have identified themselves before attacking. That left the opposite of law enforcement. Maybe mercenaries? Becca quaked at the thought. Her father said the difference between one of them and a soldier was that his men would only kill when issued orders.

Three more black-clad men, their faces and hair concealed, walked into the room. One of them pulled another of the unusual weapons, aimed at Brawn’s leg and fired. The dart embedded in Brawn’s upper thigh but he didn’t flinch, still unconscious.

“That’s two,” the man who had shot him sighed. “Let’s keep track. We don’t want to kill him. In fifteen minutes we’ll dose him again.”

“Fuck,” another man softly swore. “That won’t kill him? That’s a hell of lot.”

“They have high drug tolerances from all those years of testing and they have a fast metabolism. You don’t want this bastard to wake up until we get him in a cage. It would be the last mistake you ever made.”

“It wasn’t so hard getting him.” Randy chuckled. “It was easier than I thought.”

The man who’d shot Brawn with the dart shook his head. “It was the female. He couldn’t flee so he had to fight. If it wasn’t for her we wouldn’t have caught him. He would have been out the window and miles from here before we reached the room. He locked the door and was waiting for us when we attacked, to protect her. He heard us coming.”

Becca felt bad. Brawn wouldn’t have been captured if she had spent the night at her dad’s house. Shit.

“Let’s move out. The police will be here soon.” Randy shoved her from behind. “Walk.”

The shooter holstered his bulky gun against his thigh, moved forward and grabbed Brawn’s legs. The three of them carried him out and Becca was forced to walk behind the trio. Randy kept a tight hold on her and she didn’t bother to fight. There were too many of them for her to win. They were obviously well trained and while her father had made her take martial arts, she was a realist. They exited out of the back of her house where the entire slider doorframe had been totally removed in one piece from the wall.

They carried Brawn to the back wall at Tina and Mel’s yard. One man released Brawn’s legs and climbed the wall, while the other two lifted Brawn’s limp body up. The sound of a distant siren made Becca fight back the urge to attack Randy. She could take him by surprise, maybe and flee into the darkness. They wouldn’t have much time to find her before the cops arrived but they also might just shoot her in the back. Kill her.

Brawn had been caught because he’d refused to leave her behind to flee. She clenched her teeth as the asshole shoved her at the wall. The three carrying Brawn had already made it over with him, out of sight. She raised her arms to grip the top of the wall. She wasn’t leaving Brawn. He was helpless, drugged and she might see an opportunity to save him.

Never leave a man behind. That was one of her dad’s favorite mottos. Fuck! She wasn’t about to abandon Brawn.

Chapter Four

Becca felt hope that perhaps the cops would arrive and save the day until she was pushed into a waiting black van parked in Mel and Tina’s driveway. She saw a white logo sticker across the side of it advertising security. They were smart, the cops probably wouldn’t stop them, figuring they were there to respond to a silent alarm. Her optimism died.

Randy shoved her inside the back of the well-lit interior of the van and straight into a large cage. She landed on something warm. Brawn was sprawled under her, not moving, his eyes closed. A loud sound behind her made her jump as the cage door slammed closed, locking them inside together.

Becca watched men pile into the front half of the commercial-sized van. The front driver door and passenger door opened to admit two more men. There were seven in all. The driver’s face wasn’t covered and she was pretty sure from the back of his head that it was the prick who’d shot Tina. He turned to glance at the back.

“Let’s roll, people.” He chuckled. “That was some easy money.” The van engine started and it rolled forward, taking her away.

Laughter sounded around the van after one of the men closed a curtain partition from the front so they could keep the lights on without anyone seeing them. “Well, not for Smitty.”

More laughter. “He was a prick anyway.”

“Maybe we should have taken his body with us.”

“Naw. It will confuse the cops. He’s got a list of burglary raps.”

Becca couldn’t tell who was talking with their mouths covered. She shifted her body to ease her weight off Brawn. The cage was large, designed for a big animal, but not big enough to keep her from having to press against him a little. She settled on the cage floor on her butt and leaned against his chest. She studied his face with concern and touched two fingers to his neck to feel a weak but steady pulse.

“Look? It must be love. She’s touching him.”

Another one snickered. “I wouldn’t mind her touching me.”

“Me neither.”

Becca ignored them as she brushed Brawn’s hair back from his forehead after spotting a scratch above his eyebrow. It wasn’t deep, didn’t bleed much and she slid her fingers through his tresses to feel for any hidden lumps. She noticed the silky texture as she examined him but she didn’t find any signs of head trauma.

“Think she’s going to get it on with him?”

A few of them laughed.

“Well, if not him, maybe one of them.”

More laughs.

“I think I’m going to volunteer monitor duty when we get back. I want to see this if the Doc wants them to fuck.”

More laughs.

Becca gritted her teeth and looked up. She glared at the heads turned her way and met the eyes of the men watching her since they’d removed their goggles while she tended Brawn.

“You’ve made the worst mistake of your lives. My father is going to hunt down and kill everyone involved so I hope you spend your money fast.”

One of them snickered. “And who’s your daddy, piece of ass?”

“He lives in the big house on the property you just invaded and hates mercenaries.” She said it to see if they’d respond. She needed answers and every word might clue her in to what kind of mess she was dealing with.

“I hate to break this to you but no one is going to find you in the hole you’re going to. Your daddy was probably cowering under his bed when he heard those gunshots. Assholes are all talk to their kids.”

More laughter.

Becca didn’t know why these men wanted Brawn and she wasn’t sure why they hadn’t just killed her. They obviously had no qualms about killing innocent people since Tina was dead. Relief washed through her because she’d learned one thing for sure. Her father would arrive at her house at eight in the morning to pick up Brawn. He was alive.

Tim Oberto would move heaven and hell to find his only daughter. It might take time but it’s what he did. He tracked down and found New Species who were being held captive. Her gaze lowered to stare at Brawn. He looked different asleep—vulnerable and less intimidating. Her father and his team would come for her and Brawn. She just had to keep them alive long enough.

Will it take hours? Days? Weeks? She fought tears, refused to give the assholes watching her the satisfaction, but it wasn’t easy. She could survive hours but days or weeks? What if Dad never finds us?

She pushed that thought away. He was good at what he did. There was a dead body in her guestroom and while the men who’d kidnapped them might think leaving it would confuse the cops, it would be a clue for her dad. He’d do more than a background check. He’d tear the dead guy’s history apart to find every single asshole in that van and make them talk and reveal what had happened to her.

“Has anyone called the bitch to let her know we have the male and we got his girlfriend? Maybe we’ll get a bonus.”

“I did,” Randy’s voice was recognizable. “She’s excited. She really wants a test subject without the drugs. She thinks the drugs will ruin the experiment. She believes it might be the key to success. It was the happiest I’ve ever heard her.”

“Maybe she should climb into one of the cages with one of the males. She’s such a horrifying bitch he’d be too terrified not to do what she wanted from him.”

“She’s too dried up to do anything wet,” one of them laughed. “Or she might have thought of that. I know if she glared at me and told me to drop my pants I might want to eat my gun but I’d be too terrified to refuse. I’d be stiff with fear.”

Laughter erupted from the van. One guy hit the van wall.

“Image that bitch bending over.” He roared with laughter.

“How about imagining her bent over in front of 358? Who would be more terrifying a sight? Him going at her or her face?”

“Forget Doctor Elsa’s face. How’d you like to see her stripped naked? Good thing I skipped dinner.”

They laughed. “Imagine her talking dirty. Or worse, her having a brat? I don’t care who knocks that bitch up, that will be the ugliest damn baby ever if it looks like her.”

They were all laughing but Becca felt dread. Whoever this Doctor Elsa was, she wasn’t liked by the men she controlled. The things they said were giving her information though, she kept her gaze on Brawn, hoping they’d keep talking. The more they said, the more she learned.

Number 358 was a person. All New Species had been given numbers instead of names when they’d been experiments at Mercile testing facilities. She guessed that number used to be assigned to Brawn, which meant the assholes had come after him.

If they know his lab number then…shit. They must work for Mercile Industries for sure. That kind of information was highly classified. Her father couldn’t even get clearance. He’d also told her Mercile staff had set fire to their medical records and had destroyed the computers by the time the assault teams had penetrated those areas when they’d served search warrants to find New Species.

Why does Mercile want Brawn alive? It made more sense if they’d just wanted to kill him. The NSO slammed the company with lawsuits almost monthly trying to destroy them financially. For every New Species found and recovered, another lawsuit and criminal charges were filed against them and more arrests made. The New Species Organization was smart that way. They were making sure Mercile never recovered enough to restart their research.

“Hey!” one of the men yelled.

Becca jerked from her thoughts to glance up. One of them scooted closer, staring at her with narrowed blue eyes.

“You might want to move away. We have to shoot him again. Doc Elsa wants you awake and alert when we get there. Besides, one hit of this shit and you’d die from an overdose.”

The man pointed the gun and Becca edged away as far from Brawn as she could get. She yanked the dart out of him and dropped it behind her the second that she hid the area with her body when she leaned against him again on the off chance it prevented him from getting a full dose of the obvious tranquilizer.

They shot him a few more times as time passed. She removed them as quickly as possible without rousing suspicion and worry set in. They were going to kill him with an overdose. She tried to talk them out of it but they refused to listen. His pulse remained steady and she pressed her ear to his heart, reassured when it continued to beat strongly under her ear. His big body kept her warm as the miles passed, taking her far from home.

Fear was instantaneous when the van finally stopped and the engine died. She sat up and felt pain. The thick bars of the cage under her ass made her backside hurt after no movement for an extended time. The feeling of pins and needles spread across one side of her ass and up her hip. The men exited the van to leave her alone with Brawn.

She reached for his face, cupped it and rubbed. “Brawn? Can you hear me? Wake up!” She made sure she kept her voice low.

He didn’t stir at all and she started when the van doors were thrown open behind her. Her hands left Brawn’s face as she turned to glare at the five men who stepped close to the back of the cage door. One unlocked and yanked it open. He withdrew one a dart gun and pointed it at her chest.

“Get out,” he ordered.

She had to fight the stiffness in her body to move. She climbed out and her bare feet touched cold, hard concrete. She peered at the large room that reminded her of a warehouse with the super-high ceiling and exposed metal beams. There were a few large windows near the ceiling along the sides. A hand grabbed her arm and led her away from the van.

She turned her head to watch the four men lift Brawn by each of his limbs. He dangled in their hold, his long hair brushed the floor and they carried him toward a stairwell across the room. To see Brawn, a man his size, that helpless, drove fear right back into Becca. She swallowed and wondered what kind of hell she would face.

The man gripping her arm jerked hard, forcing her to follow Brawn and she hurried her step. She didn’t want to lose sight of him. The stairs were wide and metal, leading down into a near darkness below. Her gaze flashed upward to the windows. The sight of sunshine assured her they’d traveled for at least three and a half hours.

Claustrophobia batted at her as they traveled down at least three dark flights of stairs, going deeper into the bowels of the warehouse. Only a few light bulbs illuminated the way for her to see the steps. The air grew noticeably cooler at each landing. She hated that—it notched up her fear but Brawn remained in sight.

The bottom level ended in two big metal doors that the men pushed open while carrying Brawn between them. The sight that met Becca’s fearful gaze made her halt in her tracks. The room was large but bright, long lights hung from the ceiling. They showed two large cages clearly in the center of the room, set about ten feet apart. The things were massive, something that should be found in a zoo instead of the basement of a warehouse and the guy gripping her arm yanked hard.

“Move.”

She got a better view of the room as she entered the double doors. Other cages were set up along the walls and it horrified her to see a few inhabitants inside them. Someone lay on a bunk while another man paced the length of the bars. His head whipped around and she gasped, identifying a New Species face.

They had more of them. That realization left her cold. Concrete walls separated those cells along the walls—they were bigger than the ones in the middle of the room and much longer. The guy holding her led her to a cage, opened the door and shoved her inside. He let go to slam the door and lock her in.

Brawn was dumped inside the second cage to her right, his body made the cot creak when it took his weight and the four men fled. They not only locked the door but used chains to wrap around a few sections with chunky locks securing them.

The kidnappers removed their masks as they walked out of her sight through a twin set of double doors near the ones she’d entered. The silence in the huge room was spooky, absolute and she turned to study her prison.

A cot had been set up, a camp toilet placed in the corner and folded blankets had been left on the long bed. She stared at the metal floor under her feet, lifted her chin to look up at the bars overhead and fought tears. Think. Remain calm. Those silent orders helped as she carefully took stock of her surroundings past the bars.

It wasn’t hard to spot the cameras aimed in her direction once she scanned the ceiling. They were larger models, geared for outdoor security and a concrete wall blocked her view of whatever was behind her prison. It wasn’t that high, maybe ten feet of divider, but more than enough to keep her curious about what she couldn’t see.

Her hands gripped the thick, cool bars and she studied them. No signs of rust showed at the joints and she doubted they’d ever seen the outside to be exposed to the elements. She inched to the door, saw the gap was nearly nonexistent and it had been well built. A metal plate covered the section far enough to make it impossible for her to reach around and attempt to pick the lock. The inside part of the door lock was totally sealed, without any key access. It told her one thing for sure. They hadn’t been designed to hold animals. A shiver sliced down her spine.

Becca got as close to Brawn’s cage as she could, staring at his facedown form. His chest rose and fell, assuring her that he still lived. The drugs they’d dosed him with worried her. She couldn’t see how anyone wouldn’t overdose on all those tranquilizers.

“Brawn?” She cleared her throat. “Please wake up! Can you hear me?”

A growl from across the room jerked her head in that direction to see the pacing male had moved to the corner of his cell, gripped the bars and glared at her. He had really long black hair to his waist—a wild mass of tangled, silky strands—but she couldn’t make out the color of his eyes. Just the shape of them and those pronounced full lips and wide cheekbones assured her of his altered DNA.

“I’m Becca,” she got out, hoping he’d talk to her. “How long have you been here?”

He growled again, a scary, deep sound. He wasn’t exactly the talkative type, she decided. Not real friendly either. She wasn’t about to give up though. The more information she gained the better the chances of figuring a way out of the nightmare she was living.

“Can you talk?” She released the bars and touched her chest. “Becca.” She pointed to him. “What is your name?”

He spun away, snarled and kept pacing. She gave up instantly on trying to learn anything from him. She did study his clothes—white pants with wide, thick seams running down the sides and that’s all he wore. His chest was massive, his arms thickly muscled and his fingers were clawed at his side. Something seemed to have agitated him from the way he stalked back and forth. Her focus returned to Brawn.

“Brawn!” Her voice rose sharply. “Wake up, damn it!”

His arm twitched, gave her hope and she pressed tightly to the bars. “Brawn? Open your eyes right now! I’m worried about you. You’ve been heavily drugged and need to fight it. Can you hear me? It’s Becca. Remember me? We live together. Brawn!”

He was sluggish as he rolled, fell right off the cot and she winced when his big body sprawled onto the metal floor. That seemed to rouse him though as he snarled, pushed up with his arms and his eyes opened. Fury twisted his normally handsome features as he stared at the bars and lifted his chin to take in the cage roof. Every muscle appeared to tighten with strain.

“Brawn?” Becca softened her voice. “Are you okay?”

His head jerked in her direction, confusion crossed his face. The anger receded and he paled. “No.”

“We were attacked. Do you remember?”

He rose to his feet slowly, rubbed at some of the marks from the darts he’d taken to his thighs and stared around them. His gaze stayed on the cages across the room where the two other prisoners were kept. He moved fast though, hit the side of the bars and growled at the pacing male.

The other guy ignored him, kept walking the length of his cage and Brawn sniffed loudly. “Fuck.”

“What?”

He turned his head. “We’re in a lot of trouble.”

“No shit!” She bit her lip and glanced at the cameras. “They are watching us.”

He followed her gaze and turned her way, came to the corner closest to her cage and studied her body slowly. “Are you harmed? Did they drug you too?”

“No. I think they are from Mercile.” She whispered that part. “I overhead enough to know they are working for some woman doctor and they know your number. That’s classified, right?”

“My number?”

“358.”

“That’s not me.”

She stared at the Species pacing. “Maybe it’s him.”

Brawn glanced at the other male before staring at Becca. “I can smell drugs heavily in the room and suspect he’s drugged. I’ve smelled those chemicals before and he’s mentally gone if it’s coming from him. Has he talked to you at all?”

“No. He growled a bit but no actual words. I tried to ask him how long he’s been here but he just began pacing again. He’s done that since we came in.”

“How long have I been out?”

“About four hours, best guess, but it could have been longer. I saw sunlight before they brought us down here. We were in that van for at least three and a half hours because that’s how long it would have been until the sun rose when we were attacked. They drove us here in a commercial van with a home security logo on it but I’m pretty sure they don’t work for that company. I got a good enough look at it to see it was one of those magnet signs affixed to it and a real company would have them painted.”

“We are in serious trouble.”

“You think?” She gaped at him a little. “What I can’t figure out is why they wanted us alive. Wouldn’t Mercile employees want you dead? You guys sue the shit out of the company and my dad said that they are tracking down anyone who worked at that company to show the victims pictures to try to identify the ones who abused your people.”

He sniffed the air. “Hope my memory is wrong.”

“What does that mean?”

He hesitated. “I smell the drug they used on us for breeding experiments.”

Her knees weakened. “What does that mean?”

“They developed a highly stimulating drug to force us to desire sex and dosed us when we refused to mount our women sometimes when they were trying to figure out why we weren’t able to get our females to conceive. The room reeks of it and that is very bad.”

No shit. “I don’t see any of your women. There’s the guy sleeping on the cot and him.” She glanced at the pacer who hadn’t slowed inside his cell.

“I smell another Species male, at least twelve different human males and two human females. You are one of them.”

That was seriously disturbing. Becca knew the doctor the mercenaries worked for was a woman so that just left her on the wrong side of the cage bars. The blood drained from her face at the implications.

“You don’t think they brought me here to…you know.” She slowly mouthed the next words she hoped he’d understand after lifting her hands to cover her profile from the cameras. “They think I’m your girlfriend.”

Brawn spun away with a snarl, obviously able to read lips. He walked to the cage door, studied it and gave it a kick with his bare foot. Becca winced, knew that had to hurt and the metal didn’t budge. He lifted his leg, rubbed his toes and snarled again. He dropped the leg, spun and stormed back to the corner closest to her.

“I will do everything I can to protect you,” he swore softly. “You need to trust me.”

“I do.” She meant it. She hadn’t known him for long but he was a good guy. “We’ll be found.” She didn’t want to tell him about the dead body or how her father would use it to tear into the man’s past, too afraid the cameras would pick up her words. She didn’t want these assholes to be warned. “Nothing will stop them.”

He nodded. “Watch what you say.”

That bit of advice was useless since she already had surmised that. Brawn stared at her and took deep breaths. “I was not drugged with the breeding drug. This is good news.”

The double doors the men had left through suddenly were thrown open. The sound echoed in the big room and Becca gaped at the sight of four men pushing a gurney through the opening. A large New Species male was strapped down on it. His eyes were closed but his heritage was apparent from his muscular size. It became more apparent as the jerks pushed him closer. His cheekbones and full lips were a dead giveaway and Brawn sniffed loudly as they passed their cages and moved out of sight behind the concrete wall behind them. The wheels of the gurney stopped shortly after.

A good minute passed before a cage door slammed closed. The sound was distinctive enough for Becca to be sure and chains rattled. They were obviously securing his door the way they had Brawn’s. The four guys returned minus the Species and the gurney. One of them stopped to glare at Brawn.

“You’re next, asshole.”

She knew that voice. It was Randy, the one she’d winged in her house, the leader of the mercenaries. She saw the bandage near his ear as he turned his attention to her. “Then you, bitch. I’m going to take great pleasure watching you suffer.”

“Why are we here?” Brawn kept his voice low.

A smile curved the bastard’s lips and he gripped his hips. “The doctor wanted fresh meat but your girlfriend was a bonus.” Randy took a step closer but remained a good ten feet from the edge of Brawn’s cage. “You know what’s going to happen. We don’t have any females, weren’t able to grab any of them when we were raided, so she’s it.” His grin widened. “I hope she likes pussies as much as you do.” He lifted his hand and jerked it toward the pacing New Species. “He’ll be first and you’ll get her second.”

Brawn roared, lunged at the side of the cage and grabbed it. “He’ll kill her.”

“Even better.” Randy touched his bandage. “That cunt tried to blow my brains out. I’ll enjoy hearing her screams.” He spun, marched away and his three goons followed him.

Becca trembled. She wasn’t an idiot and could fill in the blanks. Brawn refused to glance at her and instead glared at the double doors that closed behind the men. She backed away from the side of the cage to sit heavily on her cot. Her legs didn’t want to hold her weight anymore.

Her gaze traveled across the room to the still agitated Species male. Terror gripped her. The guy couldn’t even talk and didn’t seem friendly in the least. He’d kill her for sure if she were thrown into his cage for some breeding experiment.

“Becca?”

She turned her head at Brawn’s raspy tone. He watched her, his beautiful gaze grim.

“I know. Breeding drugs, I’m the only woman and that guy over there is out of his head, right?”

“Listen to me.” Brawn took a deep breath and gripped the bars. “Do not fight if they put you in there with the male. He will be aggressive to begin with but if you resist, he will…” His voice trailed off.

“Kill me?”

Brawn refused to look away from her. “Yes.”

Hot tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back.

“He is drugged and it is painful. His body is on fire, the need to mount a female has taken his sanity and he will be sorry when it passes.” A sad note filled his voice. “I know this.”

Becca hugged her chest. “You’ve taken it before, haven’t you?”

“I was not given a choice. They used me for breeding tests. Only two of the five facilities that have been discovered used this drug.” He crouched. “I do not remember anything but knew I had shared sex with a female when the drugs passed from my system. I never smelled blood on my body and hope I never hurt one of our women. None of them ever told me I had after we were freed but they might have wanted to spare me any guilt if I had.”

Memories of their conversation about how he enjoyed sex made her shiver. She wasn’t a New Species female, tough, or designed to be stronger than average. She was plain ole human, not even one who was in shape and she doubted she’d survive a round of sex with a drugged Species guy even if she didn’t put up a fight.

“Becca?”

She realized she’d glanced down when she had to lift her gaze to Brawn.

“I’m tough. I’m a survivor.” She sucked in air. “And we are going to be found.” Anger made her voice stronger. “Someone is going to die.” She glanced at the double doors. “A lot of them.”

“The male will not mean to hurt or force you.”

She glanced back at him, avoided staring at the guy who still paced his cell and terrified her. “He’s a victim too. I get that. Don’t worry. It’s not his blood I’m hoping to see spilled.”

“They will find us.” His voice deepened into a snarl. “Trust me.”

She appreciated his optimism. Her dad was good at his job and they’d left a dead body behind to investigate. She had faith in her father and his team. They liked her and would do whatever it took to rescue her.

“Dibs on the guy with the bandage. I want to kill that motherfucker myself.”

Brawn’s eyebrows arched.

“When we’re found,” she clarified, “you hold that piece of shit and I get to beat on him for a while, okay? I’ll borrow one of the team’s guns and shoot him after I hear him scream enough to make me feel better about whatever happens to me.”

“You are violent.” Brawn’s lips twitched. “I like that.”

“Extreme circumstances. It’s either plot to kick that dickhead in the nuts or curl into a ball and cry. I prefer the first option.”

“Becca?”

She stared into his eyes.

“We will be found.” Sincerity shone there. “I swear this to you.”

She nodded, hoping it would be before they started any breeding tests.

Chapter Five

“Stay away from her,” Brawn snarled.

Becca jerked awake on the cot, knew where she was and sat up. She’d somehow fallen asleep. Two men, neither one of them Randy, unlocked her cage door. Brawn snarled at them again and she glanced his way to see how he clutched at the bars. He shook them hard, his biceps strained from the effort of trying to break them but it was a wasted effort.

One of the men stepped inside and frowned. “Get up and come with us. You will get hurt if you fight us.”

“Leave her alone. Take me,” Brawn roared. “Don’t touch the female. I will kill you, tear you apart, if you hurt her.”

The guy in her cage ignored the threat. “Get up, Becca. That’s your name, isn’t it? There’s no point in fighting unless you want to feel some pain.”

She stood on shaky legs and glanced at Brawn. His eyes were narrowed with rage as their gazes held.

“I’ll be okay. Calm down and save your energy.”

Brawn shook the bars again. “Take me. Don’t harm her.”

The jerk inside her cage finally shot him an annoyed stare. “It’s not a big deal. The doctor wants to examine your girlfriend and give her a little shot. Stop making that racket. I hate you large cat mixes. I forgot how damn annoying you can be.”

The guy outside the cage snorted. “The howlers aren’t any easier on the ears.” He glanced at the far cage with the still-sleeping male on the cot. “I’m so damn glad that one finally crashed. My ears were bleeding, I swear.”

The guard grabbed her arm to jerk her out of the cage and she stumbled forward. She was afraid as the two men made her walk toward the double doors. She dreaded whatever waited behind them.

A long hallway stretched ahead as they entered the unknown section of the basement and stopped three doors down on the right where one had been left wide open. The room reminded Becca of a doctor’s office when she spotted the exam table in the center of the room, one big light attached to it, and her head turned. A desk was in the corner, covered in papers, files and two computers. One of the monitors showed the room with the cages. A female doctor turned her chair away from that view to openly study her victim.

“Put her on the table and strap her down.”

“Who are you?” Becca didn’t fight as the men shoved her at the table. “What do you want?”

“Sure thing, Doctor Elsa.” One of the men nodded.

The woman refused to answer, instead just stood and crossed her arms over her chest. Becca memorized the gaunt face, the black hair pulled into a tight bun and the woman’s long, thin nose. She glanced down to note the doctor was rail thin, perhaps five foot nine in her flat shoes and wore a white lab coat. No rings adorned her fingers, no scars or tattoos were visible. She had no distinguishable marks besides a few wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, which pegged her age at around fifty. She stared long enough to make sure she’d be able to pick the bitch out of a lineup if the need arose after her rescue.

The two men suddenly adjusted their holds, lifted her off her feet and slammed her back on the table. It was padded, no paper had been laid down the way real doctors did for exams and the cheap, fake leather was cracked from age. Panic struck when they began to use Velcro straps to pin her arms down and she kicked at one of the men who grabbed an ankle, nailed him in the arm and he glared.

“Put your feet at the end of the table.”

She locked them together bent up. No way was she going to allow them to strap her flat and leave her totally helpless. The jerk leered at her. He suddenly reached out and grabbed her thigh to dig his fingers into her flesh deep enough that it really hurt. She screamed. It felt as though he was tearing the skin from the inside of her thigh. She opened her thighs and his hand released.

A faint roar sounded but she heard it. Brawn. He must have heard her scream. The doctor laughed.

“He is pissed. Make her scream again and see if he reacts, Dean.”

Dean grabbed her thigh and dug his fingers in again. This time Becca expected it. She gasped and tensed through the horrible pain but the asshole dug in deeper until she couldn't take the agony anymore. His hand released her thigh when she screamed. Another faint roar sounded a second later.

Doctor Elsa chuckled. “I never expected them to bond so well.” Her cold gaze examined Becca. “Thank you. Now I have a way of controlling one of them. I think he’ll do anything I want if I use you against him.” She smiled widely at her two goons. “Look at the monitor. He’s going nuts.”

Dean turned his head and Becca stared at the monitor too. It was a live shot of the cages from high above, where she’d spotted those cameras. Brawn paced and attacked the bars but they didn’t break. He roared again, spun and began pacing furiously.

The doctor walked to a microphone system by the monitor. “Stop it or I’ll hurt the female,” she warned. “Sit down and be quiet.”

Brawn paused, lifted his head and glared at the camera. His rage was evident. He backed up until he reached the cot, sat hard and his hands gripped the edges of it. He kept glaring at the camera. The Doctor moved away from the microphone and laughed.

“I’ll be damned. I bet that cat would bark if I told him I’d hurt her if he didn’t. This is intriguing.” She waved her hand as she faced Becca. “You men can leave us alone.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Dean hesitated. “We should stay in case you need us. Her legs aren’t strapped down.”

She shrugged and walked around the exam table, studying Becca. “What’s your name?”

“Rebecca.”

“Well, Rebecca, I’m going to take a swab of your mouth to test you for drugs and get a sample of your DNA. Open up and if you bite me one of these guys will knock out your teeth. Do you understand? I’m also going to draw blood and give you a shot. I’m trying to figure out what is different about you that attracted him to you. Leave those feet down and don’t kick at me either. I have no sense of humor.”

Becca didn’t fight and opened her mouth for the swab against her cheek. She flinched when the bitch drew blood from her arm. The shot to her hip hurt but the doctor finally backed away.

“Are you on any form of birth control? IUD? Do you have breast implants? Take any medications? Do you have any diseases?”

She clamped her lips together.

“Do you want a full body exam?” The woman reached into her front pocket to withdraw gloves. “I don’t have an ultrasound here to see if you have implants but I could feel my way around. It won’t be comfortable but the men might enjoy holding you down, tearing off your clothes—and the view.”

“Fuck you,” Becca hissed. “No. No breast implants or anything else added. I don’t have any diseases or take drugs.” She paused. “I’m totally healthy and I am not on any medications.”

“What about birth-control pills?” Dean stepped closer. “Or those shots. My girlfriend takes those.”

“Are you on any form of birth control?” The doctor suddenly grabbed Becca’s nightshirt and jerked it up to her ribs, exposing her stomach.

Becca gasped but the woman’s hands were on her skin before she could react. She held still, afraid one of the men would hurt her since they lunged forward, ready to grab her if she fought the doctor’s touch.

“No scars from surgeries.” The hands were cold as the woman lowered the waistband of her underwear a few inches. “No stretch marks from pregnancies.” She glanced up at Becca. “I take it you don’t have any children? You haven’t answered me about the birth control.”

“No children and I’m not on anything like that either.”

Brawn stayed seated but fumed and worried about Becca. Horrible images of the things being done to her filled his imagination. Memories surfaced of what Species women had endured at the hands of Mercile staff during the breeding tests. They’d examined the women, sometimes performed exploratory surgeries on them and didn’t even have the decency to drug them first to alleviate the pain.

A snarl built in the back of his throat at the idea of Becca suffering that way. She hadn’t had years to build up tolerance to pain. She was gentle, sweet, and he worried about her mental state. He might be able to keep her alive if given the chance but their captors might kill her outright. He definitely couldn’t protect her mind from the atrocities she might have to endure.

He fingered the coin inside his pocket and worried that it was useless since help hadn’t arrived. The second he’d placed the emergency distress call to Homeland they should have activated the tracking device hidden inside the metal. A team should have already shown up and attacked, or better yet, reached them before they were secured inside the underground prison. Becca had been certain hours had passed since they’d been taken and that meant help probably wouldn’t come.

His eyes closed as he thought of the reasons why his coin had failed. It had been tested before he’d left Homeland so it wasn’t defective but the assault team could have had something to jam the signal. The walls around him appeared to be thick concrete and they could block the signal too.

Fuck! He jerked his eyes open as two men opened the doors where they’d taken Becca but they weren’t escorting her. He shot to his feet.

“Where is she?”

“Calm down, beasty boy,” one of them sighed. “Your girlfriend is with the doctor. We’re here for him.”

They edged toward the cage with the pacing male who refused to calm or speak. Panic gripped Brawn as he lunged for the cage wall. “Take me instead. I’ll breed with the human. Don’t allow him to touch her. He’d end up killing her.”

Both men paused and glanced at each other. The one who spoke finally stared at Brawn. “919 isn’t going to mount your girlfriend. He’s got one of his own.”

His male companion chuckled loudly. “She’s a real sucker too.”

The joke Brawn didn’t understand made both men laugh.

“Where is Becca? Why did she scream? What have you done to her? Tell the human in charge I have the authority to pay a ransom for our return to Homeland. All of us, including Becca.”

They stopped laughing and the dark-haired one bit his lip. “How much money are you talking about?”

The redhead slapped his companion’s arm. “Shut up,” he hissed. “That isn’t even funny.” His gaze lifted to the camera. “She’ll hear you, might take it serious and you’ll end up with a bullet in your brain, numb nuts.” His voice rose. “Real funny, Greg. Don’t play with the fucker. I know you’re bored but false hope is the last thing he needs right now. Let’s do our job.”

The dark-haired guy lowered his voice. “She’s busy and I doubt she’s watching those cameras right now. We could at least hear him out.”

“Randy will kill us both. They can’t pick up whispers on the audio but I’m telling you now not to talk to him about that shit. We’re all in this way too deep and the only way he’ll ever leave here alive is on a cargo plane bound for some hellish third-world laboratory where they make us look like amateurs.”

“Name your price,” Brawn hissed softly. “I could gain access to millions.”

The redhead glared. “Shut the fuck up. We’re all screwed.”

“He might mean it. They got money,” his friend whispered again. “I don’t trust any of them, Mike. You’re the only friend I have left. They don’t give a shit about us.”

Mike spun on Greg and grabbed his shirt. He spoke low but Brawn’s hearing picked up the words easily.

“Do you want to get us both killed? We’re wanted by the police, they are going to stick a needle in our damn arm or lock us up for life if we get caught and the only way out of this mess is to do what Doc Elsa says. She’s the brains, she’s making us money and she has the connections to get us the fuck out of here. We’re going to live in Russia with new identities, find us some sweet brides and drink vodka, damn it.”

“Money we don’t see. They control everything, Mike. We’re as fucked as those animals are but we aren’t locked in cages. For all we know, they could put a bullet in our brains when we’re not useful anymore or just take off without us.”

“They wouldn’t dare. We know too much to leave behind and Randy isn’t going to kill one of his men unless he thinks he can’t trust someone. I worked with him far longer than you have. He might be a prick but he’s a stand-up guy for his crew. He’s all about loyalty. You fuck that up and you will be dead.”

“Shit.” The dark-haired guy shoved his fingers through his close-cropped curls. “Okay. I’m just sick of this shit. I just want to get to Russia and start my life over.”

“Me too and we’re so damn close. We just need to capture a primate. You heard Doc Elsa. They want a complete set, they’ll pay enough for them and we’ll finally get out of this shithole.”

“Right.” The guy nodded. “I used to clean floors, damn it. How the hell did this happen?”

“We worked for the wrong damn place,” Mike muttered. “Let’s worry about getting this bastard to the other room without him killing us and take it one day at a time. We’ll get to Russia and hell, we’ll buy us a few of those hot brides we see on the internet all the time.”

“Yeah.” Greg reached behind him and pulled out a Taser gun from his waist. “Let’s get him.”

Brawn didn’t speak as he watched the two humans approach the cage. He’d heard enough to know they were too afraid to be lured by the promise of money. They wanted to capture a primate Species and he worried about the officers mixed with that DNA who traveled between Homeland and Reservation. He watched with rage as they shot the drugged male, hit him with enough volts between the two guns to make him lose consciousness and entered 919’s cell. They lifted the limp male and carried him away.

They said they weren’t taking the male to mount Becca. They could have lied but he doubted it. Humans were cruel, enjoyed inflicting emotional pain and they would have taunted him with the knowledge if it were true. A growl tore from his throat as he began to pace the confines of the cage. Where is she? What are they doing to her? Why hasn’t the task force located us?

“Why isn’t she on something if she’s his girlfriend?” Dean looked confused.

“Because they can’t get a female pregnant yet, moron.” Doctor Elsa glanced at Becca and shook her head. “See what kind of idiots I deal with? Get her up, Dean.”

He wasn’t gentle as he helped Becca sit and pulled her off the exam table. She shivered, inched away from the guy and watched the doctor walk back to her desk to stare at the monitor.

“Do you know why he chose you? Did he ever say why he was attracted to you specifically?”

“No.” Becca hugged her chest.

The bitch turned and smiled coldly. “Do you care about him?”

“Yes.” That wasn’t a lie. She didn’t want anything to happen to Brawn.

“Good. Follow me.”

The doctor strode out of the room and Becca followed, the goons right on her heels. They turned in the opposite direction from which she’d come and walked farther down the hallway to a closed door. The doctor paused and glanced at one of her men.

“Is he ready, Ray?”

“Yeah. They stunned the shit out of him, got him all tied up good and he’s shaking off the stun-gun effects.” He tapped his ear. “He’s secure. Mike said it’s all good.”

Becca didn’t like the sound of that or the way the doctor smirked, seeming amused at the news. The door swung open and Randy stood there. He looked surprised at finding anyone on the other side of the door and two more men stepped next to him.

“Move out of the way. I’m going to show our guest what we do here.”

All three men backed up to allow the doctor admittance and Becca hesitated long enough to get a hand shoved against her back to propel her forward. She turned her head long enough to see it had been Ray who had done it.

She turned back and halted again, her mouth fell open and a soft, horrified gasp passed her lips. The pacer, the New Species from the cage, had been moved. He’d also been totally stripped naked, was chained upright, spread-eagle, near the back wall and he snarled loudly at the sight of them.

The overhead light fixtures where what they’d attached restraints to. His ankles were locked to what appeared to be large concrete blocks with metal pins inside them. He was very muscular, didn’t have a lot of body hair and his cock was erect. Becca jerked her gaze to his face, refused to glance lower to see that sight again and wanted to set him free. Doctor Elsa turned, stepped to block Becca’s view and smiled coldly.

“It’s primitive but effective. We tried to move the equipment to their cages. It would have been easier to string them up from the bars but there aren’t any electrical outlets close enough. We’d have needed hundreds of feet of extension cords. It compromises the equipment if there’s a short and we can’t risk it.”

“Why are you hurting them?” Becca whispered. “What are you doing to him?”

A hand lifted and the doctor jerked her thumb at her prisoner. “Blame the people who interfered with my research and his kind. I wasn’t left with a choice once they were discovered. We were lucky to get out with three of them and that’s only because we got a little notice first. Your boyfriend is spliced with large cat DNA. I wasn’t able to get one of those. Oh hell no. I got stuck with only dogs.”

“Doc…” Randy stepped closer. “Why are you telling her anything at all?”

“Shut up.” She shot him a glare before her hand lowered and she peered at Becca. “I need your help.”

“No way.”

“You don’t even know what I want from you.”

“I don’t care. The answer is no.” Becca took a step back and bumped into Ray. Her body inched forward to avoid touching him any longer. “I won’t help you.”

“I’m wanted by the police and the FBI. I’ve lost everything.” Anger deepened the other woman’s voice. “They seized my home, my car, my bank accounts and even arrested my husband, thinking he knew what was going on. He wasn’t a big loss but it hurt that they hauled my parents in for questioning. I am not spending the rest of my life in prison for trying to make the world a better place.”

“Is that what you call working for Mercile?” Becca’s temper flared. “You tortured and abused New Species. You held them captive in prisons all their lives. How dare yo—”

“Oh shut up,” the doctor snapped. “Our research helped. That is the important factor in this. People benefited from the research we did before it ended. The test subjects aren’t really people, weren’t created to ever live outside the testing facilities and are no different from rats or mice used in experiments.”

“You’re nuts.” Rage poured through Becca. “And pathetic.”

“That might be but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re going to help me.”

“Never,” Becca swore vehemently. “You won’t get away with this.”

“Who is going to stop me? This warehouse was abandoned three years ago and nothing will link me to it. Randy’s cousin used to work here until it went out of business. I found buyers in Europe who are sure they can find a way to artificially inseminate women with the sperm from them.” Her thumb jerked over her shoulder at the restrained Species. “Their scientists believe they are so damn smart and can figure out what we couldn’t for years.”

Dean snorted. “They are never going to breed those things.”

Doctor Elsa rewarded him with a smile. “They are smart enough to know that the sperm dies quickly after leaving the canine-spliced subjects. It’s some kind of weird side effect with their mutated genetics. It isn’t viable for long after it’s released from them.” She pointed to a corner. “Do you know what those are?”

Becca turned her head to study some large, weird machine with small tanks attached to it. “No.”

“It’s a cryogenic freezer. Are you familiar with that?”

Becca stared at the woman.

She sighed. “Obviously you don’t work in the medical profession. I’ll use small words for you. The Europeans believe if they are given enough samples that they can find and fix what makes the sperm die so fast, use human surrogate mothers to birth half-breed New Species and profit from it. There seems to be a black market over there for rich people who want to own them.”

“Exotic pets,” Ray snickered. “They don’t know how mean the sons of bitches are when they get big.”

“The point is,” the doctor spoke louder, shot a glare at him and crossed her arms over her chest again. “We get the samples, freeze them immediately before the sperm dies and they pay us for each of those tanks. They offered to help us smuggle the subjects out of the country but I don’t trust them. They could kill us, or just steal them and I can’t afford to risk that. I figure in three more months they’ll have paid us enough money between the sperm samples and what they offered me to sell the subjects outright that we can all get the hell out of here to retire to a non-extradition country. We’ll live well somewhere else and never have to worry about being brought back to the States.”

“You’re a monster.” Becca fought the urge to attack the bitch just for the pleasure of punching her in the face. If there was ever a woman who needed a broken nose, Doctor Elsa was the one. “It’s morally wrong and didn’t you take an oath at some point to do no harm?”

That amused the doctor. “Probably but the point is, that’s what we’re doing here. The males have to be aroused for their sperm to be activated, the people we deal with test some of the samples despite the quick death once they are removed from the tanks and we don’t get paid unless it’s active sperm from an altered male.”

Bile rose in Becca’s throat but she swallowed it down. These people were twisted and sick. “You’re selling their sperm?” That piece of information finally sank in.

“Yes. The Europeans don’t think I will sell the actual subjects though. We’re haggling over prices and they want a full set when they do buy. Unfortunately I don’t have that yet but I will.”

“A full set?”

“At least one of each.”

“You have four including my…boyfriend.” Becca didn’t want to tell them Brawn’s name in case they didn’t know it yet.

Randy inched closer. “There are three types of subjects. Dogs, cats and monkeys. We only had dogs until we caught the kitty cat. They rarely leave their damn zoos and it cost us a fortune to locate the one with you. We had to bribe a guard at the gate to warn us when a pussy was leaving and hire a pilot to follow the vehicle he left in right to your house. We just need to capture us a monkey next. Then we can sell them to make even more money.”

That’s how they found Brawn. “What guard?” She wanted a name. The New Species had someone working for them who’d betrayed their trust. They needed to discover who it was to protect another Species from being kidnapped.

“Who gives a shit what his name is?” Randy glared at the doctor. “Why are you telling her anything? Just make her do what you want or we’ll beat her until she agrees.”

The doctor gave him an annoyed glare. “Marco is willing to pay triple if we can give him samples without the drugs present in them. One of the idiots he has working for him believes that’s the problem. I told him it’s not but he’s willing to fork over the money anyway. His ignorance is making us richer.”

“Shit.” That perked Randy’s mood up and he smiled. “That’s a lot of money.” He studied Becca closely. “Ah. You want her to turn him on and jack him off to get his goodies without having to dose him up.”

“Exactly.” The doctor focused on Becca. “That’s what you’re going to do.”

“Fuck no,” she hissed.

“Grab her,” the doctor ordered, dropped her arms to her sides and turned away.

Ray’s hands clamped around Becca’s elbows painfully and she didn’t struggle, knew it was useless with five men in the room and watched with dread as the doctor walked to another corner with a bunch of strange medical equipment stacked on carts and tables.

One of the men followed the doctor and held out his arms. He took a box and turned to approach the restrained Species male. Becca was afraid to see what they planned to do to him. It would be awful, she just knew and closed her eyes. She refused to watch his torture.

Minutes passed and a slight humming sound filled the room. Her eyelids parted out of curiosity and she really wished they hadn’t. She didn’t understand why they’d placed some weird helmet over his head with a black face shield that hid everything from his lips up. A strap had been secured under his chin, probably to prevent him from shaking the thing off and worse, she saw what the doctor was doing.

The cold-hearted bitch pushed some machine that looked similar to a vacuum canister with attachments in front of the restrained male, handed the cord to her assistant, who immediately walked to an outlet to plug it in. A thick, bulky attachment came off the machine and to Becca’s horror, the doctor attached it over the man’s stiff cock. Straps were secured around his hips to keep it in place and the male howled aloud in protest. His body tensed, muscles bulged as he fought the restraints but he couldn’t get away.

“Oh my God,” Becca pleaded. “Stop it!”

The asshole holding her leaned in closer, lowered his head and his breath fanned her ear. “It feels good. I tested it out myself. It’s some fancy jerk-off machine that simulates a pussy and sucks literally. As soon as he shoots his load it sends it into that clear cup at the base of the machine. We dump it into a cylinder and rush it to the tanks to be frozen. Pretty cool, huh?”

Her head whipped in Ray’s direction and she couldn’t resist anymore. Her hand clawed his crotch. She was horrified to feel he had a hard-on but dug her nails in viciously against his slacks. He yelled in pain and she twisted out of his hold.

She tried to reach the poor victim, to set him free, but Randy reached her first. She cried out from the pain when he fisted her hair and jerked back but turned and her fist shot out the way her dad had taught her, nailing him in the face. He reared back, taking her with him with his tight hold and his open palm flew at her. Pain exploded in the side of her face.

Becca’s knees gave way from the blow, she saw stars and barely heard the doctor yell for everyone to stop. Someone else grabbed her from behind and she opened her eyes. A dizzy spell hit as everything seemed to spin around her.

“Don’t hurt her!” Doctor Elsa shrieked the order. “We need her, damn it. I said hold her, not beat her.”

“She clawed my dick.” Ray cursed. “The bitch—”

“Shut up!” the doctor yelled. “Go put ice on your brain or better yet, shove it in one of the damn cryo tanks so it falls off. You’d be smarter. It’s not as if you use it much. Randy, hit her again and I’ll shoot you myself. He won’t get aroused if she’s all bloodied and fucked up. I control the damn money. Remember that unless you think you can avoid being arrested without me.”

A third guy hauled Becca to her feet and yanked her hands behind her back. His hand clamped down around her wrists as if they were cuffs and she swayed on her feet, still hurting from the blow she’d taken. Her left cheek throbbed and tears blinded her.

“We’re not hurting him,” the doctor snapped. “See the mask? It’s a top-of-the-line video system. He’s not seeing a game screen though. We have X-rated movies playing for him to get him in the mood. We’re showing him a woman masturbating. He’s just pissed because he knows we’re forcing a sample from him.”

“It’s rape,” Becca rasped. “You’re fucking sick.”

The other woman stormed forward and stood in Becca’s personal space, glaring at her. “This is what we’re going to do to your precious boyfriend if you don’t take the samples. I’ll drug him, string him up the way 919 is and hook him up to the vision goggles. I’m going to get samples from him one way or another.” She glared at the man restraining Becca. “Take her to the feline mix and let her think about that until we’re ready to freeze his samples when we’re done with 919.” She smirked at Becca. “You better do what I want so he doesn’t suffer the same fate as this one.”

The doctor stomped toward the Species and bent, flipped on a switch at the machine in front of him and another howl of rage came from the poor male. His body bucked as the machine started, his hips twisting to get away from it, but the straps around his waist secured it to him. The horror of what was being done was unthinkable.

“You’re all going to rot in hell,” Becca swore, struggling with the bastard who held her, but he refused to let go as he forced her to the door. “You’re the animals!”

Chapter Six

Becca meekly walked beside Randy. He took her through the double doors with two goons flanking her in case she put up a fight. She didn’t, happy to be taken to Brawn. The moment the doors opened into the other room, Brawn stood. His gaze fixed on her.

“Are you well?” He sounded and looked enraged.

“I’m fine.” Emotionally, she wasn’t but she knew he wondered if she’d been physically abused.

Brawn growled at Randy as he backed up inside his cell. “Bring her to me. I will turn and not move.”

“Nope, kitty cat. You don’t get your piece of ass yet. The doctor ordered me to put her in with 880 now. He’s going to mount her first. I bet that’s going to eat out your guts, watching him take her.”

Brawn roared and lunged at the front of the cage fast. Vicious growls tore from his throat.

“He’s lying,” Becca yelled. She had to shout to be heard over Brawn’s outrage. “He’s fucking with you. That woman said I’m to be put in with you.”

Brawn stopped pulling at the bars and released them. He took a few ragged, deep breaths as he backed away again. Randy laughed and slapped Becca painfully on the ass.

“You ruined my fun, bitch.” He paused before Brawn’s cage. “If I say jump, you better jump, kitty cat. Otherwise I am going to bend your bitch over in front of you and make you watch me mount her.”

Furious catlike eyes narrowed when Randy laughed. Becca could feel Brawn’s intense gaze on her and stopped glaring at the asshole who was intent on verbally torturing him.

Randy turned his head and his gaze roamed her body. “You want him bad, don’t you, bitch? You like it doggy style with the kitty cat?”

Becca didn’t say a word, knowing he baited her. She was outside her cell, helpless with the men around her if they decided to attack. She watched the goons draw those dart guns as they edged behind the back of Brawn’s cage. He saw them too and turned to track their movements with his heated glare. His hands rose to hold the bars along the back of the cage, giving his back to the cell door.

“I won’t fight or attack. You don’t need to stun me. I won’t move,” Brawn swore.

The two men looked at each other and frowned. Randy hesitated. “Nail him if he’s lying and take him down. He’ll wake up to find his girlfriend fucked and crying if he attempts to rush us.”

Brawn didn’t move as Randy unwrapped the chains and unlocked the cell door. Becca was tense, ready for an attack, but it didn’t happen. Randy opened the door a few feet and shoved Becca inside. She turned to face him, watched the bastard slam the door and secure the chains again. He backed away.

“Clear. He’s secure.” Randy grinned at her. “Enjoy your time with him.”

Becca resisted flipping him off. “There’s a special place in hell for you.”

He winked. “When I die, I’m going to take that fucking place over. Remember who is out here and who is in there, bitch. That’s all that matters.”

A big hand touched her shoulder, making her jump. She swiveled her head and peered up at Brawn. One arm wrapped around her waist, pulled her against his tall frame and tugged her away from the bars.

“In a few hours your girlfriend is going to do what we want.” Randy licked his lips and his voice lowered to avoid being picked up by the camera’s audio equipment. “Remember how you learned not to trust humans? Don’t forget she’s one.” His gaze fell to Becca. “Please make my day and refuse. I want to watch you suffer.” He brushed a finger over the bandaged injury on his cheek to make it clear he hadn’t forgotten who had put it there, then spun away. “Move out. Let’s go eat breakfast.”

The men disappeared through the double doors. Becca didn’t watch them go, instead stared up at Brawn’s handsome face. Anger still darkened his features, worry curved his mouth and he lowered his chin.

“You can trust me. He’s just trying to cause shit between us.” Those words were hard to get out, worried he’d believe that asshole. Becca turned in his arms, reached up and gripped his shoulders. He lowered when she pulled on him enough to get the message across that she wanted him closer to her mouth. She turned, her lips nearly brushed the shell of his ear and she whispered, “Do you think the cameras can hear us?”

He nuzzled her nose with his cheek. “Not if we speak this soft.”

“The woman doctor running this place is insane and wants sperm samples. They are freezing them to sell to some vile bastards in Europe. They took that Species who paced inside his cell, hung him upright by his limbs and hooked him to some fucked-up machines to…” Her voice broke and she shuddered against the large, warm body pressed close. “It was awful what they were doing but I couldn’t stop them.”

His body stiffened against hers and a low growl rumbled from his throat. It made her jerk her head back enough to stare into his eyes. He avoided her gaze and pulled her tightly into his embrace again.

“What else did you hear?”

“That doctor is wanted by the police, she’s stuck here and desperate for money. They offered her a lot of it to, um, hell, I don’t even know how to say this.”

“Just speak. Tell me.” His hands lightly brushed her back. “I need to know.”

“They want your sperm. They don’t have any Species like you and she was offered three times as much money if she could freeze and sell yours without any drugs in your system.” Her cheeks burned, telling him what those monsters planned. “They want me to help with that.”

He turned his head and so did she until inches separated their faces. He didn’t appear shocked but anger still burned in his gaze. “Give sperm without the need of breeding drugs?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m supposed to help you get turned-on and give a sample.”

His eyes closed and he tilted his head back. A sigh passed his lips and she stood there grimly watching him. It was a bad situation but she needed to make it clear so he had all the facts she knew.

“Some scientists want to figure out a way to make Species sperm live longer—I guess it dies fast from what I was told—and use human surrogate women to have Species babies. Rich sickos want to buy them. I’m sure a half New Species baby on the black market would raise a hell of a lot of bids.” She felt bad for even saying it. “You’re exotic and some people are just totally screwed up. She also plans to sell all of you when she doesn’t need you anymore. They have a guard at Homeland working for them, they paid him to say when you were leaving and followed you to my house. They need to kidnap a primate Species to have all DNA types—a complete ‘set’. She plans to sell you to the people who want to buy Species.”

“Exotic animal collectors.” His voice deepened.

“Yeah or other freaks.”

“Why were you screaming after they took you away?” He sniffed her and opened his eyes. “Where are you hurt?” One hand released her back to gently cup her injured face, avoided touching her cheek, but studied it. “You were stuck.” His hand dropped to her waist.

“One of the bastards bruised my thigh. They think they can use me to control you because it made you mad enough to roar the first time I screamed. I also kind of attacked one, trying to free the Species guy so I got nailed in the face.”

He wrapped both arms around her and lifted—surprised her with that move—and carried her to the cot. He adjusted his hold, sat down and put her across his lap. One arm remained behind her back but his other one gripped the hem of her nightshirt, tugging it up to expose her thighs.

She didn’t protest, saw he was intent on examining the red marks and he pulled the material down quickly. His gaze met hers and silence stretched between them.

He finally sighed and lowered his focus to her mouth. “We need to talk.”

Shit. “I know.” She whispered, hoping it was soft enough not to be overheard. “They think we’re sleeping together already and I didn’t tell them otherwise. I just let them keep assuming. It seemed the smart thing to do at the time but now they expect me to um, help you donate sperm.” She rushed on before she lost her nerve, “You should have seen what they did to that other Species guy. I would rather do whatever it takes than let them hurt you that way.”

“What did they do?”

She dropped her gaze to his bare chest, unable to look him in the eyes as she muttered a description of the machines and how they worked. His arm tightened around her waist but he remained silent until she stopped talking.

“Look at me.” He took a deep breath and peered into her eyes when she did.

“What?”

“You know what needs to happen if a rescue team hasn’t found us by the time they want those samples. I don’t want them to do that to me.” Anger tensed his jaw. “It’s too much to ask of you, isn’t it?”

A blush warmed her cheeks and it was her turn to study his mouth. It was a plush one, full and tempting. “Any other time I’d probably be happy to, um…yeah. This isn’t exactly romantic, is it?”

“Becca.”

She stared into his blue eyes. “I know. It was a sad attempt at a joke.”

“I won’t force you to agree to this. Say no and I’ll go with them willingly to avoid putting you in danger if I fight.”

She hesitated, her mind working and made a decision. “I was attracted to you the moment we met and I still am so touching you to help turn you on wouldn’t be a hardship. I just wish we weren’t here under these circumstances. I’m not an exhibitionist so that’s going to make it worse.”

“What is that?”

She grinned, glad for the humor. “It’s someone who enjoys having sex or committing sexual acts in front of other people. They get off on it. It arouses them more that other people can see what is being done to them.” She glanced at the camera and all her bravo disappeared. “There are probably cameras in that room too. I forgot to look, too horrified by what was happening. Shit. I hope they aren’t keeping recordings of any of the feeds. My dad is going to have a massive heart attack if I end up being featured on some porn site with you.”

He gripped her jaw, turned her face until their gaze met and kept hold of her. “I will make this up to you somehow and we will survive this.”

The sincerity in his voice assured her that whatever they had to face, they would do it together.

“You can trust me. I hate these bastards.”

Rage filled Brawn as he tried to console Rebecca Oberto. She tried to be brave but he couldn’t miss the fear lurking in her eyes as he stared into them. All the things he’d said to her about why he’d never touch a human replayed in his mind, he inwardly winced and knew he’d only made things worse with his candor.

“I won’t hurt you if there is physical contact involved between us,” he swore. “I do trust you.”

She relaxed a little on his lap and it encouraged him to continue.

“They are the enemy and we are a team.”

The small smile made him hope she feared him less. The human male had tried to cause contention with his warning not to trust Becca but he refused to fall for that. Tim Oberto was highly trusted by Justice, the Species leader.

Brawn wasn’t sure who at Homeland had betrayed his kind but he’d bet his life Becca wasn’t a part of it. She had expressive eyes he could read easily and would be lousy at deceit. She’d been a victim in this nightmare as well due to her exposure to Species through her father. Tim wouldn’t have endangered his only child.

He wanted to kill something desperately over the injures to her frail body and the obvious embarrassment she suffered at telling him things that didn’t surprise him in the least. Species were objects to Mercile, products to be used and sold as they saw fit, but he regretted that she’d have to endure worse soon. Her attempt to save the Species male could have gotten her killed instead of just a red cheek. That showed him how good a person she was as well.

He hesitated over telling her the true reason he didn’t want to be hooked to machines that forced seed from his dick. He’d gladly suffer any pain to spare her being a participant in gaining the samples but he worried she’d be killed if she wasn’t useful to their captors. The bastards murdered anything they deemed ineffectual. A plan to help her formed in his head. She needed hope and to feel comfortable that he wouldn’t harm her.

“I have a tracking device on me and they’ll find us,” he rasped, not saying he suspected that their captors had somehow blocked the signal and help wouldn’t be able to find them.

She nearly bumped his chin with her nose as her head whipped up and she gaped at him. Her lips parted but no words came out.

He took her hand and moved it to his side, pressed down until she could feel the coin-sized object inside his sweatpants pocket and brushed his lips against her ear again. “We keep them on us when we leave Homeland or Reservation in case we’re taken. They will find us, Becca. Just hold on.”

Tears filled her eyes when she looked at him and her arm lifted to wrap around his neck. She curled against his chest, her cheek softly pressed against his skin and tucked her head under his jaw.

“You have no idea how happy I am to hear that,” she breathed. “I was really worried and freaking out. I wish I’d known sooner. Maybe we’ll be found in time.”

He breathed her scent in, his arms held her yielding body and the thought of sexual contact wasn’t a hardship. Guilt swelled inside his chest because he half hoped rescue wouldn’t come before the deadline passed. She’d offered to touch him and the idea made his cock hard. It was trapped between his thighs where she wouldn’t feel how aroused he’d become. Shame came next.

His desire for her was stronger than the alarm of being captured and kidnapped. It gave him an excuse to hold her in his arms and if the rescue team didn’t show up soon, he’d have no choice but to do a lot more with her.

Thoughts of her had kept him up after he’d walked her to the bedroom the night before. Holding her in his arms, the fact that she admitted she found him attractive, had made him consider what it would have been like if they were still free and she’d come to him willingly.

A bad idea, a disaster in the making and wrong. He had taken the assignment to help his people, not harm them by making an enemy of Tim Oberto. It was clear that Tim didn’t want his daughter getting too close to a Species and he’d eavesdropped on the conversation held inside her bedroom yesterday with her father. They may have closed the door but that hadn’t done much to prevent his keen hearing from picking up most of the words. Tim believed he was dangerous to Becca, would attack her if she flirted and end up hurting her.

“It is going to be fine,” he bluffed, not sure of that outcome at all.

A hundred things could go wrong but he kept those thoughts to himself. His gaze traveled the roof, sought any signs of explosives and he sniffed. He didn’t glimpse or smell them but that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden somewhere. Their captors could blow up the building if the rescue teams were able to locate them and breached security.

“I know my dad will find us,” Becca whispered and clung to him a little tighter.

Every protective instinct inside him surged to life. She needed him to be strong, supportive and she wasn’t used to being at the mercy of others. He’d do whatever it took but the bottom line couldn’t be ignored. The human guards had dart guns that could render him unconscious. They could take Becca away while he was down, do anything to inflict pain upon her and he wouldn’t be able to protect her unless he made her necessary to them. They wanted her to help him give sperm and he’d give as much as they wanted to keep her safe.

He bit back a groan when his cock stiffened even more. You are becoming as sick as the ones who enslaved you. The human on his lap would be horrified and disgusted if she knew his thoughts or how aroused he was at that moment. He’d read the report about the humans who had grabbed Valiant’s woman. They’d wanted her to breed with a Species male. Would they order Becca to do breeding tests with him?

He bit back a growl of excitement at the thought of actually mounting her. The memory of her ass bent over the bed in front of him in the guestroom flashed through his brain and he furiously tried to get a handle on his desires. The stress brought out his animal side.

“Are you okay? Do your legs still hurt from where they shot you?”

His dick hurt, not his thighs, but he just shook his head. “I am well. I heal quickly.”

“Good.”

She petted his bare chest, her touch featherlight and he squeezed his eyes closed, knowing it wouldn’t take much from her to release his seed if she were to help him. It reminded him that he wanted her to feel at ease with him. He was a sick bastard, he acknowledged, when he decided how to do that.

“Becca?”

“Yes?”

“Look at me.” He pulled back enough to stare down at her upturned face. She was beautiful, even with her auburn hair flowing in disarray over her shoulders. “They will probably ask you to touch me.”

Her cheeks turned pink and her blue eyes widened. “I figured that.”

“I want you to feel comfortable with me. It might be a stressful situation. I don’t know if they will treat us the way they did inside the testing facilities. When they wanted us to breed they put us in a room alone but there was a camera. They’d monitor us.”

“Great.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Sarcasm. It’s how people react when they are trying to be brave about something.”

Her response made him smile. “I see. I won’t harm you if they don’t restrain me. I’m not sure if they will or not.”

“They restrained 919.”

“I know. You described in detail what they did to him.”

“Right. Yeah. I did.” She licked her lips. “I trust you. I really do. I know you’re not going to hurt me so you don’t need to keep saying it.”

“Good.” He paused. “I wish to be honest with you to lessen the horror of what might happen.”

She blinked a few times and just waited for him to continue.

“I heard that a lab technician once was ordered to take a sample from a male and she manipulated his dick with her hands to get it.” He didn’t want to mention Fury and Ellie by name. “It might be what they ask you to do.”

More heat rushed to her cheeks. “I figured that out on my own unless they want to hook you up to that machine without the goggles on and I’m supposed to do whatever it takes to turn you on.”

Brawn’s raging hard-on throbbed and it took everything to hold still to prevent him from shifting to ease the pain of keeping it trapped between his thighs. “They believe we are in a sex-sharing relationship and I am afraid if they learn the truth it will put you in danger.”

“Okay. Do you really think it matters?”

“It might. They brought you to control me. I agree with your assessment on that matter. As long as they continue to believe you are my female they will not harm you as long as I comply. I just want you to be as comfortable as possible with my body but I don’t want to upset you by sharing the only way I can think of to make that happen.”

“What are you thinking?”

He took a deep breath. “You could kiss me and become accustomed to my body while we are alone before they take us wherever they will.”

Becca let Brawn’s suggestion sink in and had to swallow hard. Kiss him? Oh shit. Her gaze widened as she stared at him before she glanced at his mouth. It sounded reasonable and she’d wondered what it would be like.

“I’m not very forward.” Her gaze lifted to his. “You kiss me. I wouldn’t know where to start.”

That made his eyebrows arch. “You are inexperienced with sharing sex?”

No hole opened up under her so she could disappear but she wished one would. “I’ve had it with a few guys but I’ve never initiated a kiss before. Guys always made the first move.”

“I understand but it is surprising. Your males seem so docile that I assumed the females were the aggressors during intercourse.”

“We’re just kissing, right?”

“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “Close your eyes and just focus on me. Pretend we’re alone in your bedroom or mine. I can see your nervousness and you need to relax.” Arms wrapped around her middle and Brawn tugged her against his chest more firmly, bent his head and nuzzled the side of her face with his own.

His beautiful gaze searched hers, she knew he had to see her hesitancy, but then his hands lifted to cup her face.

“Forget about everything but me,” he ordered. “There’s just us. Remember yesterday when we met?”

She nodded, happy for the distraction.

He smiled. “You like my eyes. You’ve never seen anything like me.” His palms slid from her jawline to her cheeks. “You’re strangely attractive even with your funny little face.”

She smiled back. “I have a funny face?”

“Your little pointy nose.” His thumb brushed over it. “Your small mouth.” His thumb lowered to caress her bottom lip. “The tiniest ears.” His fingertips traced the shell of them as he leaned in close enough for their breaths to mingle. “Kiss me.”

She relaxed, focused solely on Brawn and admitted that he did have amazing eyes. They were so blue and the oval shape of them was exotic. Yellow swirls were spread through some of the blue. Her trepidation faded and she closed her eyes as he inched closer, sure that she wanted it to happen.

His lips barely brushed hers, so soft and warm it amazed her that anyone so tough could be so tender. He opened her mouth under light pressure and his tongue delved inside. It was hot, teased her own and he deepened the kiss as her hands gripped his shoulders to keep steady, needing something to cling to.

All tenderness fled as his lips and tongue manipulated the kiss into something wild and passionate. Her eyes closed and she tilted her head to open up to him more, desperate to forget everything but Brawn.

Kissing him was like sticking her finger in a light socket—shocking and powerful. All-consuming. No one had ever made her respond the way he did. It was extremely passionate and he put everything he had into it. Her hands lowered to roam down the front of his broad chest, sought skin and found plenty of it. A soft purr rumbled between them.

Becca jerked away in astonishment. Brawn eased his hold on her face, dropped his hands to her sides and just smiled.

“I make noises. Sorry. Just try to ignore them. I don’t really control it.”

Hands cupped her face before she could turn her head away and held her still while he gazed at her deeply. Once again she was struck by the beauty of his compelling eyes. He inched his face closer. She knew he would kiss her again and welcomed it. He did wonderful things to her body, made her belly quiver and he had a real talent for distracting her with his mouth. The fact that they were locked inside a cage, held prisoner by monsters, was easy to ignore.

There was only Brawn, his mouth heating her up and his wonderful skin under her hands. He released her face to grip her hips, turned her more to face him and shifted under her. It was impossible to miss the hard ridge that pressed against the underside of her leg when his thighs parted slightly. She knew what it was, that he was turned-on and so was she.

She moaned and clawed at his abs, wanted to draw him even closer. It didn’t work with her sitting sideways across his lap so she reached up, gripped his shoulders and moved enough to press a foot on the cold concrete floor. She scooted a little off his lap and straddled him instead.

Firm hands cupped her ass, jerked her tight against his lap and his trapped cock rubbed against her underwear through the layers of their clothes. Becca ached painfully, her breasts were heavy and hurt and she just wanted to release him to yank her shirt over her head and rub her nipples against his skin.

He kneaded her ass, his fingers digging in to the soft flesh. He lifted her a little to adjust the angle of his cock to press against the seam of her pussy. Her fingernails dug into his skin as she tried to pull him even closer, the heat of him penetrated through her thin nightgown and she hated having anything between them.

She urged him on by rocking her hips, moaned louder and her fingers slid upward into his hair and held him closer to deepen the kiss even more. He bucked his hips, used his hold on her ass to shift her and they moved together. The slow rocking against each other made his cock incredibly hard, it notched up her pleasure and it felt so good she knew she’d come. Her clit seemed to swell painfully. She wanted him to move faster, take her over the edge of ecstasy.

Brawn suddenly twisted his head away, breathed hard and shoved his face against her throat. “We have to stop,” he growled.

It slowly sank in what she’d done. If he wasn’t wearing sweats and she didn’t have underwear on, he’d be inside her. She knew that as well as he did. They’d dry humped as though they were horny teenagers, in the worst possible place and the timing couldn’t have been more wrong.

She turned her head against his cheek, slid her hands out of his hair and hugged him around his neck. It was tough to try to slow her ragged breathing. Half of her wanted to ask him to keep going but the memory of the cameras along the ceiling had her silence that plea. Clinging to him helped but her body was on fire.

He inhaled loudly and a hot, wet tongue licked her throat. “You smell so good and taste it too. I wish I could strip you bare and explore every inch with my hands, nose and tongue. I’d lick every spot that would make you moan my name.”

“You’re not helping,” she said in a shaky tone. “I want you too.”

“You want me to help you calm or lick you?”

“Lick me.”

He growled viciously, a scary sound if she had the brains to be afraid, but her libido was in charge. He reached between them instead, his hand wiggled in the tight space between his lower belly and hers, until his fingers brushed over her underwear.

“Hold onto me,” he urged softly. “Scoot back a little.”

She had to concentrate to follow his orders, her arms tightened around his neck and she wiggled enough to give him more room with his hand. An image of him shoving her underwear to the side, jerking down his sweats and taking her filled her mind. Of course she remembered at that point what he’d said about being larger than human guys. It didn’t matter at that moment. She’d heard other woman had hooked up with Species. Obviously sex was possible and she was beyond fear, more into the take-me-now stage.

His deft fingers shoved the scrap of material way and he growled again at feeling how soaked with need she was for him, something that should have been embarrassing if she wasn’t beyond caring about anything but the fact that his broad fingertip located and pressed against her bare clit. Her face pressed against his chest, sucked in his masculine scent and it muffled her moan of pleasure.

“Easy,” he rasped. “I’ve got you.” His arm tightened around her waist and kept her in place as his finger teased the bundle of nerves. “Feel me.”

She’d have laughed if she could have. There was only him, nothing else and not only could she revel in his touch, his scent, but the way he pinned her over his lap so she couldn’t do anything but hurt to come.

He rubbed circles over the bud, his hand turned a little and his thumb—at least she thought it was—teased the opening of her pussy. She shoved her face harder against his chest, knew she needed to keep quiet for some reason, but forgot why. The feel of his thick digit pushing inside to part her vaginal walls made her bite down. He snarled in response and drove it into her deeper. He moved his hand, fucking her while rubbing against her clit and a purr rumbled through her ear as he tucked his head against hers.

The climax hit fast and hard, tore through her in harsh waves and the hand around her back was suddenly gone. Brawn cupped her head, shoved her face tighter against his chest and nearly suffocated her when she screamed out his name. She didn’t give a damn if she had air, she was too gripped by the ecstasy.

His thumb withdrew, his hand jerked away and he eased the hold that kept her face pressed against him. She swayed a little on his lap without him holding her but he didn’t let her slump to the side as her body turned lax. Brawn wrapped an arm around her waist again and she tilted her chin up to stare at him in wonder.

The sight of him shoving his thumb in his mouth to taste her stunned and aroused Becca at the same time. He didn’t look away as he growled at her. Desire made his eyes go from amazing-looking to nearly feral in a wild, passionate way that promised her he wanted to eat her alive in the best way possible.

He pulled his thumb slowly from between his lips and bared sharp teeth at her, jerked his hands up over his head as if someone pointed a weapon at him and snarled.

“Get away from me.”

The deep, brutal sound made terror grip her instantly as she scrambled off his lap, nearly fell on her ass in her haste and stumbled back until the bars of the cage slammed into her back. The pain that sliced through her made the physical blow she’d taken earlier seem tame in comparison to the emotional slap he dealt by rejecting her.

He stood abruptly, the cot almost tipped over in his haste and he stormed to the farthest edge of the cage to put space between them. His hands gripped the bars, he kept his back to her and his head was thrown back as he roared out in pure rage.

Chapter Seven

Brawn had a hard time slowing his breathing and getting control of his body. His knuckles were white from the death grip on the bars keeping him in place. The roar had helped him release some of the frustration while the scent of Becca’s fear in the air haunted him.

He’d caused that fear but he needed to. Two more seconds with her on his lap and he’d have done something horrible. He could have hurt her and he’d reacted by getting her the hell away from him before temptation turned into a physical act.

His dick hurt bad but he tried to ignore it. His eyes closed as he concentrated on breathing through his mouth instead, not that it helped since the taste of her release still lingered and he wanted to roar again.

The urge to turn, go after Becca, tear off her clothes and force her to her knees over the cot was unbearable. He shouldn’t have done more than kiss her but his best-laid plans had gone to hell quickly the second his mouth met hers. He panted harder and fought every instinct that screamed take her!

He’d thought the kiss would be sweet, tender and that he could handle that. Instead he’d experienced the strongest wave of arousal that had ever slammed through him. He’d barely remembered the damn cameras, her fear of them and how she’d hate him if he stripped her bare and buried his face where his fingers had played in her cream. The memory of how tight she’d been scared him into keeping a leash on his desires. He’d take her too hard, too fast and tear up that sweet damn pussy of hers. He wanted to make her scream his name but not from pain.

His chest throbbed from where she’d bitten him and the sharp sting of pain from her teeth drawing blood had nearly snapped his control. She wasn’t Species, it didn’t mean she was urging him to bite her back and mate her. He’d probably been too rough in his urgency to make her come but hoped that wasn’t the case. That concern helped douse some of his passion.

He never wanted to harm Becca. He’d rather suffer excruciating agony before he’d draw blood from her. She trusted him, needed his protection, yet he’d been more of a danger to her when she’d been on his lap than all the bastards who’d kidnapped them. The thought of what could have happened cooled his blood more.

Taking her as though she were Species would have been unforgivable. She wasn’t big, powerful, or strong enough to fight him off if she didn’t want him to do anything to her. She’d have been helpless to his lust and in his haze, he might not have realized until it was over. Sometimes a male needed a good punch or tussle to get his attention when passion ruled.

Brawn finally felt calm and stable enough to apologize to her. It would harm his pride a bit to admit he’d nearly come unhinged but the truth might take away her fear of him that he’d caused when he’d shown his untamed side. He turned and guilt ate at him all over again when he stared at her huddled form across the cage.

She’d sunk to the floor, drawn up her knees, arms hugging them loosely, and her slow breathing assured him that she slept. He couldn’t see her face since it was pressed against her legs. How she remained upright was something he couldn’t fathom but he slowly approached. Tender hands slid under her thighs and behind her back. He gently lifted and she didn’t rouse as he secured her in the cradle of his arms. Her head rolled against his chest, near the bite mark she’d left on him and he turned slowly. His step was light as he approached the cot, lifted his foot to kick off the blanket and gently laid her down on her side.

He didn’t want to release her, could have sat with her in his embrace, but thought better of it. His cock had just relaxed enough to go down and he wasn’t about to tempt fate. Brawn covered her with the blanket, tucked it in and studied her delicate face openly.

She did have a funny little nose but he liked it. Her mouth was small but plush and just right for kissing. Passion began to flare inside him again and he quickly stood, turned away and moved away from her.

The floor was hard and cold where he sat, his back to Becca, his gaze locked on the double doors where his enemy waited to come for him and his female.

My female? Damn. He closed his eyes, took even breaths and tried to remember she wasn’t his and never could be. Tim Oberto would never allow his daughter to be with a Species, feared they’d be dangerous to her well-being and Brawn couldn’t fault his reasoning. Human females who mated with Species ended up in danger. It wasn’t just from their mates.

The doors opened across the room. Brawn’s eyes opened and he watched four humans carry in the unconscious Species male and return him to his cage. He inhaled and grimaced. The scent of spent solitary passion, the breeding drugs and the stench of his enemy didn’t sit right with his empty stomach.

They hadn’t fed him or Becca. That worried him a lot. It implied they didn’t mean to keep them alive for long but it didn’t make sense if they planned to sell him to someone else when his use was over. Memories of his years in the testing facilities surfaced and he relaxed. These bastards had worked for Mercile and that meant they’d only give food if they got what they wanted.

The men left as quickly as they’d come and he relaxed again, turned his head to study Becca and hoped they wouldn’t come for them for a long time. She was probably very tired, she hadn’t been drugged, which meant she hadn’t slept the way he had. His gaze returned to the door to keep vigil. He really couldn’t protect Becca but it made him feel better to guard her all the same.

Becca jerked awake when booted feet echoed in the room. She had fallen asleep in the corner, huddled in a ball, watching Brawn try to calm down. He’d kept his back to her, refused to even glance her way and exhaustion had finally taken its toll. She woke on the cot with a blanket covering her.

Brawn stood next to the cot, close enough for her to touch the back of his sweatpants, and watched whoever made those sounds. She turned her head in time to see Randy and a few of his goons stomp their way. Dread pitted in her stomach and she figured time was up. One glance in the direction of the other cages verified that, since 919’s cage wasn’t empty anymore. A male body could be seen on the cot behind the bars. He was either drugged or sleeping since he didn’t move as far as she could tell.

“Becca? We just have to survive.” Brawn summed up their situation softly. “Do as they ask.”

She peered up at him but he still refused to glance at her, his sole focus on the four goons who stopped outside the cage door. All of them withdrew their Taser guns, checked them and Randy was the one who spoke.

“It’s time.” He glared at Brawn. “You twitch and we’ll light your ass up and your girlfriend.” He tapped his weapon. “These have been altered by one of our guys and he removed the safety on the voltage. Do you know what that means? It will kill her. You fight and she’s going to die.”

“I don’t like this,” Dean hissed. “Let’s knock him out the way we have the others and when he wakes, he’ll be chained up. It’s too dangerous to open that damn door to move him into the room with him awake.”

“Doctor Elsa gives the orders.” Randy obviously wasn’t thrilled since he looked as if he’d sucked on a lemon. “She doesn’t want him fucked up unless we have to. She thinks it might dampen his mood.”

“Fuck,” Ray muttered. “Let’s get the Doc’s ass out here and she can move the big bastard if she’s so sure he’ll protect the bitch he’s screwing. I think he’ll try to kill us. They aren’t real smart.”

Randy stepped closer, his gaze focused on Brawn and his eyebrows shot up. “Did you piss your girlfriend off? It looks like she bit you.”

“No.” Brawn reached back, gripped Becca’s hip and gently maneuvered her behind his body when she climbed to her feet next to him. “I will comply. Don’t harm her. I understand you are willing to kill her if I lie.” He turned his head in Ray’s direction. “I am not stupid.”

“This is nuts,” the fourth guy added. “He’s going to go ape shit once that door opens and he’ll try to take out as many of us as he can. I lost three of my security crew to bastards like that one. He can leap at us, move super fast and watch those damn fingernails. They are rougher than ours and can tear open skin.”

“I know,” Randy admitted. “We have our orders though.” His voice rose. “Your girlfriend dies if you even make me think you’re going to attack one of us.”

“I won’t.” Brawn hesitated. “I will carry her. I can’t fight with her in my arms. Will that make you feel safer?”

Surprise flickered on the men’s faces and Randy nodded sharply. “Yeah. Do that. Carry her with both arms so if you drop her, she hits hard enough to crack her damn skull open on the hard floor.” He lifted a leg and stomped down. “It would fuck her up.”

Brawn slowly turned to meet Becca’s worried gaze. She had made him mad somehow but he was offering not to attempt to escape to ensure her safety. He bent his knees a little and opened his arms. “Put your arms around my neck.”

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? This isn’t your fault. None of it is. Just do as they say and they won’t have a reason to try to harm you. I won’t fight them. Your safety comes first.”

“What are you saying to her?” Randy sounded pissed. “Come on and stop stalling.”

Brawn’s head whipped around and he growled low. “She’s frightened.” He stared at Becca again. “Hold on to me. I wasn’t angry with you. It was directed at me. Now is not the time to discuss it.”

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hooked one arm around her waist, lifted and his other arm caught her behind her knees, trapping the nightshirt to maintain her modesty as he hoisted her up. He slowly turned to study the men with narrowed eyes.

“I will move slowly. May I walk out now?”

Randy jerked his head at one of the guys and a very nervous Ray approached to unlock the chains and open the cage door. It did Becca’s heart good to see the sheer terror on those jerk’s faces over what Brawn could do to them. He was intimidating and a big, powerful guy. Without her, he probably could kick their asses.

“Come out,” Randy urged. “Nice and slow, kitty cat.” He raised his weapon, pointed it at Becca and frowned. “She will get hit first.”

“I won’t risk her life.” Brawn moved cautiously out of the cage, his steps slow and nonthreatening.

Fear and uncertainty battled inside Becca as they were led to a different room than the one where 919 had been chained. This one had a metal bunk and a camera mounted in the corner. A table had been set up in another corner. The door closed behind them and the goons kept their weapons pointed at them.

“Put her down and walk over to the cot,” Randy directed.

Brawn hesitated. “You don’t need to chain me. I said I wouldn’t fight.”

“Do as I say. That’s not up for debate. Strip off the clothes, lie down on your back and don’t fight when you are restrained. Got it?”

Brawn lowered her to her feet, released her and strode to the long, metal bed with bars for a headboard and a small bar for a footboard. A grimace flashed over his handsome features as he approached it and Becca purposely turned her back to spare him her stare as well. Ray rushed for Becca, aimed his gun at her face, while Randy tracked Brawn’s movements with his weapon. The other two men set theirs by the door and moved out of her line of sight to go after Brawn.

She heard the rustle of sweatpants being removed, the cot squeaked from his weight and chains rattled. Randy lowered his gun and stepped closer to her, gaining her full attention.

“Here’s what you’re going to do. You listening?”

“Yes.” She glared at him.

He spun, walked to the table where a tray of items had been laid out and held up a tube of something and a specimen cup. “Lube and a cup with a lid that you seal. Need I spell it out?” He glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “As soon as he gets off, you rush to that door and it will open. Ray will take the sample from you and Dean will shoot you if you try any shit.” His gaze lifted to the camera before giving her a warning glare. “I’m going to be viewing every damn thing you do. Don’t fuck with his chains or drag your feet from the time he gives it up until you take it to the door.” He turned fully to face her and walked closer with both items. “The doc wants at least eight samples this time.”

Becca’s eyebrows lifted. “Eight?”

Randy cocked his head and frowned. “Eight. You got a problem with that?”

“He might.” Heat warmed her cheeks. “That’s a lot.”

“Not for them.” Randy studied Brawn. “Been holding back from your girlfriend, huh? She a rotten lay or what?”

“She’s human,” Brawn answered with a deep, angry voice. “Not a Species female.”

A laugh escaped Randy and his frown disappeared. “Awe, isn’t that cute, guys?” He stepped closer to Becca. “Your boyfriend might be a kitty cat but they fuck like dogs in heat. The scent of a willing woman or one touching them will keep them hard and going for hours. He only needs about a twenty second recovery time and he’ll be good to stroke or suck off again.” He held out the tube and cup. “Don’t let him shoot in your mouth. Saliva mixed with sperm fucks up the sample. No spitting it into the cup.”

Becca woodenly accepted the items, hated Randy and hoped when her father arrived he’d lend her a gun. She’d like to shoot at Randy again and wouldn’t miss if given a second chance.

“Anything else?”

His gaze drifted down her. “Yeah. Maybe when you’re done with him, you could give me a hand.” He laughed as he turned away and strode to the door. “Hurry up if you want to eat or don’t want him hooked up to that machine. You’ve got two hours.”

The men left the room and Becca stood there with her back to the cot. Brawn was chained down naked. She stared at the tube and the sample cup, glanced at the table to see more cups set up and closed her eyes. This was going to be rough.

“Becca?” Brawn spoke softly. “It’s okay. I’m restrained and can’t hurt you.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Her eyes remained closed. “I’m so damn sorry about this.”

“It’s no hardship.” He softly growled. “I am the one who feels guilty.”

That made her almost turn to him. “Why? You didn’t kidnap us.”

He hesitated. “This is going to be much easier on me than it will be on you. I will somehow make this right between us.”

She took a deep breath. “Why were you mad?” It bothered her how violently he’d reacted inside the cage after he’d made out with her…and so much more. “Did I do something? Did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to bite you.”

“I wanted you and was too out of control to risk it.” Honesty sounded in his voice.

She turned, kept her eyes closed and knew she’d have to open them. “I feel like I’m about to rape you or something.”

“Becca? Look at me.”

She did and it was a sight she’d never forget. His long frame was stretched out over the cot, every inch of him bare. He lay on his back and his cock jutted upward, thick and hard. Her gaze lingered there for seconds before jerking her focus to his face. He watched her calmly.

“I want you to touch me. I can’t lose control now. I feel guilty for that but it’s the truth. Am I sick for this?”

She took a step closer to him without thinking about it. “No.”

“I’m turned-on and you’re not. This is traumatic for you, I’m aware of that, yet I still ache to feel your hands on me.”

He glanced away, stared at the ceiling and his mouth tensed into a tight, firm line. Becca suddenly didn’t feel as uncomfortable as before. He’d gotten her off, it had been amazing and she wanted to do the same for him. She couldn’t help but wince over the presence of the camera but as she darted a look at it and realized she could block most everything with her body if she sat on the edge of the cot by his hip.

She squared her shoulders. “We’re a team. We’re going to get through this together.”

Her words seemed to surprise him and he met her steady gaze as she sat on the space between his hip and the edge of the cot. It wasn’t very wide. She placed the cup down next to her thigh to keep it pinned between them after twisting the lid off, opened the cap to the lube and spread some on her fingers. She couldn’t meet his gaze though.

“You ready?”

“Yes.” His stomach muscles tensed. “I’m sorry, Becca,” he whispered.

She finally looked up. “Don’t be. Just tell me before, um, you know.”

He nodded.

“What do you prefer?” She felt feverish from her flushed cheeks as she whispered, remembering to keep her voice down to give them some privacy. This probably was the most awkward sexual encounter she’d ever had. They weren’t kissing or lost in the moment. The room was cold, sterile and the guy was chained down while a sick bastard watched from another room. “Fast? Slow? I should know this since we’re a couple.” Her hand reached for his cock but hesitated an inch away.

“Whatever you do will feel good.” His voice came out raspy.

“Are you sure I can do this? I mean…hell.”

“Yes. Just remember that I make sounds. Some might sound as if I’m angry but it’s normal. You can’t hurt me and I ache for your touch.”

She focused on his cock. It was thick, perfect and something she’d consider beautiful. A smile almost surfaced when she realized that, never believing she’d ever pin that term on a man’s penis. Her fingers stroked the shaft, explored the soft skin wrapped around a rock-hard erection. A rumbled purr filled the room and she lifted her gaze to watch Brawn’s face.

He had closed his eyes, probably to make her more comfortable and he bit his lower lip. He looked sexy as hell and he wasn’t the only one who worried about being perverted because it was a hot image having him chained down. She only wished they were at her house, in her bed and alone.

He shifted a little on the bed when she wrapped her other hand around the crown of his cock, stroked it and grasped his shaft firmly. She started slow, exploring while stroking him up and down and his breathing increased. It fascinated her, watching his muscles ripple as he began to slowly rock his hips. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his chest, his purrs increased in resonance and it was the hottest damn thing ever.

“I’m going to,” he growled, his voice harsh.

She released him with one hand, gripped the cup and wondered how the hell she was going to make that work. Brawn’s feet braced against the bottom bar of the cot he was chained to, he tilted his hips upward and she lowered his cock until it almost touched his belly. The cup caught his seed as he started to come.

He groaned loudly, shook with the force of his climax and she had to remember to hold the cup when she really wanted to just watch him. Hearing him caused her nipples to tighten. His body jerked a little with each stroke, filling the cup a little more as she milked him of every drop with her fingers. She released his shaft and he relaxed his muscles, his big body going lax, as he panted.

Becca remembered to cap the cup, stand and on shaky legs walked to the door. It opened before she reached it and Ray held out a gloved hand. His mouth opened but then snapped closed. He took it without comment and left, closing the door behind him. Becca rushed back to Brawn’s side after grabbing a new sample cup from the table.

His eyes were closed as he caught his breath and she stroked his chest after wiping off the lube with the edge of the blanket. “Are you okay?”

His incredible eyes opened to peer at her and the look in them was something she’d never forget as he smiled. The yellow had overtaken the blue, seemed nearly golden and took her breath away.

“I love your soft hands.”

Tears filled her eyes, unable to hold them back. “Good.”

Alarm killed his smile. “I’m sorry, Becca.”

“For what?”

“I’ve harmed you by association. You’re here doing this because you were living with me. I shouldn’t have left Homeland. You’d be home if I hadn’t.”

She leaned over him, her hair falling across his arm and chest, and got close enough to nearly touch her lips to his. “I’m just glad you’re okay. We have to do this seven more times.”

“You are crying. This hurts you.”

“It’s the stress, Brawn.” Her hand caressed his chest. “I’m not hurt. I’m more worried about you than me. You’re the one chained down who has to do this seven more times. I got the easy part, actually.”

He nodded sharply. “The faster this is over, the sooner they will return us to the cage to feed us. Let’s do this.”

Surprise shot through her. “Again? So soon?”

He gave her a grim look of determination. “I’m Species. I’m ready.”

Brawn refused to admit that her touching him had been a staggering experience and he already ached for her to begin again. He could have sworn he smelled her arousal but it was probably from earlier. Her tears tore him up inside and he knew once this was over, if they were rescued, this day would haunt her.

She leaned back from him and he missed her closeness instantly. He closed his eyes so she felt more comfortable not being watched, knew her aversion to that from her words about the cameras and hated the way his cock stiffened with need from knowing her hands would be on him again soon.

The light brush of her fingertips made him bite his lip to stifle a snarl. His heart raced, his arms strained against the chains and he wanted to break them. He was grateful they held. Otherwise he’d grab her, tear off her clothes and pin her under his body. He wanted inside her so bad it was killing him.

Just the mental image of her under him, her thighs spread and his cock driving into her pussy was enough to make him ready to come. Her hands were stoking him. They felt amazing but he just knew it would feel better with her vaginal walls squeezing him tighter than her current hold on him.

“Tighter,” he hissed through gritted teeth, hating himself just a little more for even asking.

Her hands gripped him more firmly, moved faster and he knew shame as he rasped out that she should grab the cup. The world became a white haze of pleasure as he came hard, tried to remember to breathe and it didn’t stop until she released his sex. He panted, caught his breath and knew pure hell. Not only would Becca never look at him again without being reminded of what the evil Mercile employees were capable of but she’d believe he was a pathetic male who couldn’t hold his seed long enough to give pleasure if they were to share sex.

Light caresses traced his skin and her hair tickled as she leaned against his side. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “We’re a team and we’re going to get through this. Six more times. That’s all.”

Rage gripped him. She was trying to comfort him, assure him that they’d somehow survive and he even failed her there. He nodded, not trusting himself to look at her in case she looked upon him with pity. He couldn’t take that.

“It will be.” He kept his voice firm, strong and hoped she didn’t lose all respect for him.

Chapter Eight

Brawn was so silent that Becca worried about him deeply. She finished her oatmeal, a horrible, overcooked bowl of cold mush and almost envied him the bloody steaks he’d been given. She sat on the cot inside their cage, he sat cross-legged in the far corner with the plate balanced on his lap and avoided even glancing her way. He’d been that way ever since she’d taken the last semen sample from him and the goon squad had returned to transfer them back to the cage.

“How are the steaks?” She tried a casual question to test his mood.

“Cold.” He took another bite, blood dripped onto the plate and he chewed. “They seared them but it was a while ago. I think they put them in a refrigerator afterward.”

“I’m sorry. Do you want some oatmeal?” She glanced at the half-eaten portion, more than willing to give him the rest. As hungry as she was, it was like eating pasty, tasteless glue.

He shook his head. “Keep up your strength. Eat it all.”

He didn’t offer her any of his steak and her shoulders sagged. She’d been hopeful he’d share. She’d take nearly raw and cold meat over tasteless crap any day. “Are you tired? We could share the cot.”

That got her a frowning look. “I’ll sleep on the floor. Lie down if you wish to rest.”

Anger and pain hit at the same time as she dropped her gaze. “I’m fine. I thought you might be tired. You can have the bed and I’ll sit on the floor. You need the rest.” He’d just given up eight samples, and he might not be human, but she figured any guy would want to sleep after that kind of activity.

“I am used to hardships. The bed is yours.”

Her eyes closed and she took a few shallow breaths to avoid the tears that threatened. Maybe he hated her just a bit for what he’d just endured. She’d resent being tied down and forced to climax eight times because someone wanted samples from her. Of course it wouldn’t be so awful if it were Brawn doing the touching. He wasn’t her though.

“Sleep, Becca.” He growled a little. “The oatmeal will keep.”

Of course it would. It wasn’t as if it could taste any worse. She leaned down, placed the bowl on the floor and lay on the cot with her back to Brawn. She curled into a ball, hugged her chest and fought tears.

Where the hell were her father and his team? Why were they taking so long if they could track Brawn? She knew they’d traveled for hours but the NSO had been warned when they’d received the call from Brawn. A team should have already been dispatched by the time they’d been taken from the property yet they hadn’t shown up.

What if the damn tracker is defective? She pushed that thought back, unwilling to even consider it. Hope of being rescued was all she had to keep her sanity. Otherwise at some point that bitch doctor would have enough money to flee the country, she’d sell Brawn and the three other New Species to some pricks in Europe after they kidnapped a primate and that would leave Becca shit out of luck. They’d either kill her outright or leave her to die inside the cage.

If abandoned, it would be a toss-up what killed her first. Starvation or the insanity caused by being left in the dark, locked up with no hope. It would be pure hell either way. She’d have water, thanks to the hose they’d dragged to the side of the cage to let her wash her hands and face. Of course they could take that away too if they decided to just abandon her when they left.

Hot tears seeped out and she muffled a sob. She was afraid and hated it. The fact that Brawn was acting so distant made it worse. He was being a shitty teammate.

“Becca?” A firm hand gripped her hip.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not. Look at me.”

“No.” She sniffed. “I’m just being emotional. I’m okay. Go eat.”

He softly growled and forced her to roll onto her back. She opened her eyes, had to blink a few times to see him through her tears and he leaned over her until his nose nearly brushed hers.

“What is wrong? Are you hurting? Still hungry? You should eat more.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted, whispering. “They should have found us by now and they haven’t. I don’t think they are going to.”

Shock didn’t register on his face and it sank in that he might have already considered that possibility. It just made the horrible possibility more real and fresh tears spilled out.

“I’m going to die here and you…” She reached up and cupped his face. “You could fight. You could get away if they weren’t using me to keep you in line, couldn’t you?”

Anger sparked in his eyes. “I won’t do anything to put you in danger.”

She rubbed his cheek. “We have to be realistic. I’m a military brat. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one life to save the rest. You have a real chance of escape if you take them by surprise. The next time they come for us, act like you’re not going to fight and take those fuckers down. Get out of here. You could save yourself and maybe those other New Species. It will take them some time to move your guys, they need to keep them alive for the money they are making, but I’m just a pawn with limited use.”

“Becca,” he snarled.

“It makes sense and my dad would totally get it. Tell him what I said if you get out of here. We’re fucked and we both know it. Do you really want to end up in Europe in some place that could be far worse than this hellhole? They want to use you and those other Species to make babies to sell on the black market. They are planning on kidnapping a primate Species and you have someone who works at Homeland who will set it up the way it happened when you left. You can’t allow that. I’m dead either way, Brawn. They aren’t going to ship me off with you. There’s nothing special about me once my use with you is done here. They’ll drug you, take you away and I’m dead. Period.”

He gripped her arms, his hold nearly bruising. “You are very special and I won’t allow you die just to gain my own freedom or that of those other males.”

“They are your kind, Brawn. Your men. You’ve got to save them. You’re the only one who can do this.”

“I don’t care.” He lowered his face until their noses pressed together and anger sparked in his eyes. “I won’t let you die.”

Fresh tears blinded her as she slid her fingers into his hair. “You’re a stand-up guy and terrific if anyone hasn’t ever told you that but you need to be smart.”

He jerked back and released her. “This conversation has ended.”

He stormed across the cage and gripped the bars, his back to her. Becca sat up, her own anger flared and she stood. Her gaze drifted to the camera, she remembered that she needed to keep her voice very low and marched after him.

“Brawn?” She tapped his shoulder.

He turned his head and glared down at her. “Go to sleep. You are tired and not rational.” He looked away.

“You know I’m right,” she whispered. “It’s fucked up but true nonetheless. Face me, damn it.”

He released the bars and slowly turned. Becca should have been afraid at seeing his rage but she knew she made sense. He had a real chance to escape by taking the goons by surprise the next time they tried to move them from the cell to get more samples from him. She stepped so close their bodies brushed.

“Here’s the plan. The next time they come, offer to hold me again. Pick me up and the second you’re free of the cage, throw my ass at them, attack and run. We’re at least three levels underground.” She swallowed. “It’s the double doors you haven’t seen them walk through. The ones to the left. A warehouse sits above us and that’s where the stairway leads. There are windows high up if the doors leading outside are locked. I didn’t see any bars over the glass. You can leap, right? I heard one of them say that. Break a window, get out and run until you find help.”

He leaned down. “That’s your plan?”

“Yes.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously and his voice came out soft but harsh. “What happens in your plan when I throw you?”

“They will shoot me, I’ll take at least one of them down when I hit him if you throw me hard enough for my weight to knock him on his ass and I swear that I’ll try to blind him or something before I die. I really want to scratch out someone’s eyes at the very least.”

Brawn snarled loudly. The sound startled her and his hands gripped her hips before she could even gasp. Her feet left the floor as he lifted, spun and her back hit the cage doors. He pinned her there with his body pressed tightly to hers, held her face-level to him and bared sharp teeth.

“No,” he rasped.

She gripped his shoulders, trying to ignore the cold, hard press of bars against her back and the way her feet dangled a foot from the floor. “Yes. It’s a good plan and one of us is going to survive this, damn it. I can’t leap up and break a window if that’s the only way out of the warehouse even if you were willing to take bullets to give me time to reach the door before they shot at me. I don’t have the strength you have either and I suck at running. I would probably pass out after jogging up three flights of stairs.” She hated to admit it but it was true. “I’m kind of out of shape if you haven’t noticed.”

“You’re perfect,” he hissed. “Shut up and stop talking.”

Why won’t he listen to me? Frustration rose. She didn’t want to die but he had a real chance of escape. Why couldn’t he see that the rescue team would have arrived if they’d been able to track his signal? They were looking at possible months of captivity, then he’d be shipped off somewhere else farther from the possibly of help finding him and she’d be dead anyway.

“You’re being stupid and stubborn. I’m not perfect but I also don’t want to die by starving to death or being shot like some rabid dog by these assholes. I’d rather go out fighting for a purpose. Now stop being so naWve and man up.” That line worked for her father when he tried to rile his men in training. She hoped it had the same effect with Brawn. “Do the smart thing and stop being so damn sweet,” she hissed.

He threw his head back and roared. Terror gripped Becca in a flash, her jaw dropped open and she realized she’d pushed him too far. His head lowered and his mouth sealed over hers. His tongue thrust between her parted lips and he kissed her.

The shock quickly faded as she realized he wasn’t going to kill her. It was worse. He was going to make her want him and his gift of manipulating her mouth was golden. She kissed him back, her arms wrapped around his neck and she barely noticed when he adjusted his hold from her hips to grip her thighs, which he spread apart. She wrapped them around his hips.

They were moving, the motion barely registered in her mind, too caught up in their dueling tongues. He promised all kinds of hot things with the passion he shared while fucking her with his tongue, making her body respond full force. Her breasts smashed against his solid chest, only the thin material of her nightshirt a barrier, as he walked. His hard shaft couldn’t be missed as it rubbed against her clit with her wrapped so tightly around him.

She gasped and pulled away when she realized he’d just slammed his knees on the floor when they’d either given way or he’d purposely dropped onto them. They were next to the cot, both out of breath and he released one of her thighs to fist her hair at the back of her head. She met his gaze when he forced her to look at him and he took possession of her mouth again with a burning kiss.

The world tilted and her back pressed against the mattress of the cot as he leaned over, pinned her under his bent form and his cock ground against her pussy. She moaned against his tongue. She wanted him, needed to forget where they were and her thighs tightened around his hips to urge him on.

He suddenly pulled back, broke the kiss and let her go as he straightened. His hands covered his face and a muffled snarl sounded. Becca watched him, her legs holding him against her and tried to come to grips with what had just almost happened. She wanted him to continue but he’d stopped.

“I’m sorry.”

She sat up, her hands splayed on his chest and his body quivered at her touch. “Brawn? Look at me.”

He shook his head, kept his hands over his face and turned his head away. “I could have hurt you. I’m sorry,” he repeated.

His rigid cock still pressed against her. It was obvious how much he wanted her and he was afraid he’d cause her pain. She licked her lips. They felt a little swollen from his fervent kisses but she liked the result. Her clit throbbed and her nipples were hard pebbles under her shirt. Her gaze lowered to his sweats, the bulge beneath, and she rubbed him more.

“Brawn? Please?” He lowered his hands slowly, his face flushed and his eyes filled with regret. She hated to see that look in them. “You’re sorry for what? Kissing me until I couldn’t think straight and enjoying it? Wanting me? I feel the same way about you. My only regret is that you stopped.”

Surprise quickly etched away regret and his lips parted. “What?”

Becca slid her hands to his shoulders, gripped him and pressed her chest against his. “Life is so short.” Damn short, she amended, since their outlook was so grim, hers especially. “We’re together. Let’s make the best of what time we have. Kiss me.”

He hesitated. “I’m afraid I might harm you. I want you too much.”

“You won’t hurt me. Have a little faith.” She smiled. “I’m tougher than you think and I’m not afraid. I can’t even think when you’re kissing me. You’re totally incredible.”

“So are you. It makes me forget you’re just a mere human.” He smiled, teasing.

She massaged his shoulders and glanced down. His arms were thick bands of muscle and he had the broadest chest. He could hurt her if he wanted to but she really had no fear of him. Their gazes met and he lowered his head. Becca closed her eyes, expected his kiss and he didn’t disappoint when his mouth took possession of hers.

She tensed a little when she felt Brawn’s hand slide up her thigh, wiggled enough to make her release his hips and pushed her nightshirt higher. His fingertips were textured with calluses when he shoved her underwear aside to stroke her clit. His mouth worked hers, turning her focus there.

Pleasure rolled through Becca as he teased her clit, drew little circles around the bud. She kissed him wildly, moaned against his tongue and her nails bit into his skin. He slowly withdrew from her mouth but his lips brushed hers as he spoke.

“Open your thighs wider for me, as much as you can. My hips are large.”

His arm hooked her gently behind her ass, tugging her closer to the edge of the bed. If it wasn’t for his body she knew she would have slid right to the floor. She did as he asked, wanted to give him as much access as he desired.

“They can’t see what I’m doing to you,” he rasped.

She realized he meant that stupid camera on the ceiling across the room. His body was big, he was on his knees and between her and it. She glanced to the side, saw both New Species in their cages were still on their cots and probably asleep. It was about as private as they were going to get. She met his gaze and nodded.

“Tell me if you want me to stop.”

“I don’t.”

He groaned, closed his eyes and kissed her. His mouth and tongue melted with hers as she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and hooked her legs around the back of his thighs just for something to cling to. His fingers tormented her, stroked her clit until she hurt to come and he seemed to sense how close she was. He eased off the bundle of nerves and one finger slid lower, tested the slit of her pussy and slowly pushed inside. She moaned at the feel of him slowly finger-fucking her, going in, sliding out, before going deeper.

Her hips rocked and she used her hold on him to press her pelvis closer to give him better access. His finger totally withdrew, she uttered a protest by groaning, but he responded by stretching her vaginal walls with two fingers. That made her cry out her enjoyment and hold onto him tighter.

He brushed her clit with his hand and rubbed a spot inside her pussy that made her moan. He zoned in on it, rubbed it again, finger-fucked her a little harder and she went a little wild from desperately needing to come. Brawn growled in response to her vocal pleas and withdrew his fingers.

Becca’s eyes opened. “Don’t stop.” She stared into his eyes. “Please, don’t!”

His face turned a little harsh as he growled, his beautiful eyes wild and he suddenly leaned back. “Let go.”

Shock washed through her that he was ending what was happening to them but she released him with her hands and unhooked her legs from the back of his. He didn’t move farther away from her though. Instead he stunned her by grabbing the pillow on the cot, threw it on the floor between her spread feet and grabbed her. Her ass left the bed and he used his strength to turn her in his arms. Her knees hit the pillow, a hand fisted the back of her nightshirt and pressed her down over the cot.

It happened so fast that it took her a second to realize he’d bent her over in front of him, pinned her over the bed and his hands gripped her thighs to shove them apart. Material tore, she felt a pinch at her hips from her underwear being ripped off and his grip on her shirt let go. He suddenly curved over her and his hot breath warmed her cheek and neck.

“Tell me ‘no’ if you want this to stop.”

She didn’t. He said he liked to mount a woman from behind. He’d warned her. She should have remembered that but had forgotten. Maybe it was the only position he liked.

He licked her neck, brushed a kiss there and made her shiver as his hands caressed her thighs. “I will be gentle even if it kills me.” His voice came out gruff, harsh and he breathed fast. “You’re so tight I fear I will cause you pain.”

Now that she’d adjusted to the shock of being flipped over and pinned to the cot, she was ready to finish what they had started. Her hands fisted the bedding and she turned her head enough to stare at him when he lifted away from kissing her neck. Their gazes locked.

“I want you, Brawn.”

“You’re so wet. I’ll make it good for you.” His head lowered to her ear. “Close your eyes, beautiful. It’s just us. Just feel.”

He put his knees on the outside of hers, his hands slid under her shirt, which he didn’t try to remove, and he caressed her sides until he reached her breasts. She lifted a little to give him room and his palms cupped both of them. His thumb and index finger rolled her nipples and gently pinched. She moaned.

Her eyes closed and his mouth opened so warm breath fanned her neck where his tongue and sharp teeth lightly scratched and nipped gently. She let out a shaky breath. Passion gripped her and she fisted the bedding tighter since it was all she could grab.

“Relax for me, beautiful. I’m going to enter you slowly and make you come hard for me.”

The raspy promise against her ear notched up her desire and she ground her ass against his sweats and the rigid length of his erection still trapped inside them. His finger and thumb left one breast and slowly slid down her side and around the curve of her bent ass. His hand left her and she knew he shoved at his sweats when his hips backed away. The thick, blunt tip of his cock brushed against her slick pussy, teased her when it rubbed against her clit, before he slowly pressed against the entrance.

Becca moaned softly at the feel of being taken, stretched and parted by his nudging sex. Brawn growled. It could have been a scary noise but it just turned her on more. He sounded more animal than man, reminding her he wasn’t fully human but she urged him on by wiggling her ass.

“You don’t know how good you feel, beautiful.” He growled the words. “So hot, tight and right.” He lightly nipped the sensitive column of her throat.

“Brawn,” she moaned.

“I’m right here.”

His mouth and tongue ran along the bottom of her ear. He pushed inside her pussy deeper, made her take more of his thick shaft but seemed careful not to go in too deep. His hips rocked against her ass, a steady, slow motion that drew pleasure from both of them.

“How does that feel?”

“Amazing,” she groaned.

“Fast or slow? You tell me what feels best.”

“Fast,” she answered in a heartbeat.

His hand slid back up her body and he gripped both breasts. His finger and thumb rolled her nipples, pinched and it drove her insane. Her body jerked and she moaned, shoving her hips back into his. He purred softly and growled while he thrust his cock into her pussy faster, going a little deeper and hit a spot that made her cry out in ecstasy.

Becca released the bedding and her hands slid to the edges of the cot. She wrapped her fingers there to get leverage and shoved her ass back at him, trying to urge him to stop holding back. She could sense he was and wanted to experience all he had to give.

His teeth suddenly gripped her shoulder through her shirt. It caused a sharp stab of pain when he bit down hard enough to hurt but not break the skin and both of them froze. His teeth opened and he let go. He moved inside her again, slow at first, gradually building in speed until he was moving fast.

One of his hands left her breast and he pulled her body a few inches away from the edge of the cot where he kept her pinned. His hand slid to her clit and rubbed fast, timed to the beat of his thrusting hips.

Becca moaned loudly, twisted her head to press her cheek against his upper chest and began to tense. Her sensitive bud slid between his fingers as he stoked it, tugged on it and pinched a little. She’d never experienced that amazing feeling before and moaned louder.

“You feel so good,” he rasped. “Can you take more of me?”

She nodded, moaning. Brawn thrust into her deeper, moved slowly at first, seeming to test if she could handle him and she could. His hips picked up the pace again and he squeezed her clit tighter between his fingers, rubbing faster to match the rhythm of his hips. Becca felt almost raw but she didn’t want Brawn to stop as the climax built.

Her body exploded around Brawn as pure bliss struck. He kept moving, worked his way in and out of her pussy as her vaginal muscles convulsed, fucking her harder. He eased off her clit but kept moving as he drew out her pleasure until she was sure she’d die.

“You’re killing me,” she whimpered. What a way to go.

“No.” He growled. “I’m going to make you come again.”

He continued to drive in and out of her rapidly, a sensation she’d never experienced before and it nearly caused pain but in a way that hurt so good. His finger returned to her clit and Becca thrashed under him, on sexual overload, driven beyond the limit of her pleasure threshold. She tensed around his cock again, muscles clenched hard and she screamed against the bedding as she came a second time.

“Yes,” Brawn snarled. His body trembled violently and she felt him inside her, so hot, thick and stone hard. He threw back his head and drove into her deeply one last time. A roar tore from his throat. He came so hard and hot that Becca could feel every warm blast of his semen filling her, every jerk of his pleasure as his hips ground against her ass until his body collapsed down on top of her, nearly crushing her under his weight.

Brawn recovered first and lifted off enough to allow her to catch her breath. He spread kisses over her neck as his tongue licked the skin between her ear and her shoulder.

Becca’s eyes were closed, recovering from the best sex she’d ever had in her life and she ignored the sweat that tickled her body. She wasn’t sure where she ended and he began with their bodies so tightly pressed together. She felt fused to him and didn’t even care that her ears still rang a little from the sound he’d made when he’d come. His weight felt solid and good on her.

“Becca?” he rasped softly.

“Um?”

“Did I hurt you?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“Are you a little sore?”

She hesitated. She felt a little hot and raw where they were connected. She nodded.

He kissed her shoulder. “Okay.”

She flinched a little when he withdrew his still-hard cock from her pussy slowly. He softly cursed. “I should have been gentler.”

“It wasn’t that. I’ve never come two times in a row and you’re a little impressive in size. You weren’t kidding about being bigger.”

His body eased totally off her and he backed a few inches away. She lifted up enough to turn her head to watch him pull up his sweats. Their gazes met and he blindly gripped her nightshirt, which had ridden up to her waist and jerked it down to cover her ass. He looked down, bent to retrieve something and lifted her destroyed underwear.

His cheeks darkened with a blush as he glanced up. “I’m sorry. I destroyed them.”

“It’s okay.” She wished she had them still but it was worth the loss. The nightshirt fell to her knees so she would be covered.

He used them to clean her and shoved them under a corner of the cot. She pushed off the mattress to straighten her body and felt a little shaky from the sex and lack of having a decent meal. Brawn reached out and cupped her cheek, stared deeply into her eyes and a tender expression softened his features.

“I—”

“She likes you, kitty cat. I guess if anyone knows pussy it would be you.” Randy’s voice startled them both.

Horror filled Becca as her head whipped toward the side of the cage to gawk at the vile man. He stood there smirking, his arms crossed over his chest. Two other men stood behind them. They all stared at her with expressions that assured her they’d been watching long enough to have gotten a show.

Brawn rose to his feet and snarled menacingly at them, reached down and grabbed her arm. She was pulled a little roughly to stand, too stunned to get up from her knees on her own and was shoved behind his big body to block her from the men’s view.

“I see why you like her.” Randy chuckled. “Tight, huh? I told you he was holding back on you, Becca. He gave it up eight times and could still bang you.”

“Don’t say her name,” Brawn threatened. “Don’t talk to her.”

“Possessive bastard, aren’t you? I guess I’d be protective of a fine piece of ass too. The doctor is real happy with the samples you gave up. Get some sleep because in seven hours, she wants more.”

Becca heard them walk away. Brawn turned, their gazes met and she leaned in to him. His arms wrapped around her and he lowered his chin to the top of her head as he pulled her tighter against his body.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear them.”

“We were kind of distracted.” Embarrassment and dismay still gripped her that those assholes had been watching her and Brawn together. “I didn’t hear them either.”

“I should have.” His voice deepened to reveal the extent of his rage. “I am so sorry.”

She hugged him tighter. “It’s not your fault.”

It is, Brawn disagreed silently. With his heightened senses, he should have been aware of every sound and smell. He inhaled, couldn’t miss the human-male stench of their captors and their lust. His arms tightened. Those men wanted his Becca. He turned his head, his gaze narrowed as he watched his enemy leave the room and realized how much danger he’d exposed her to, even if she didn’t.

Human males were the animals. They wouldn’t harm Becca as long as they could use her to keep him in line but once they didn’t need that anymore, he feared the men would plot to touch her. He held back a snarl of outrage.

He needed to get her out of there, to escape with her and he was still outraged that she’d even suggested he allow her to die so he might break free at her expense. She believed the Species males were his priority but she was wrong. He nuzzled the top of her head, breathed in her scent and held her tighter.

His gaze left the double doors once the threat was gone, glanced at the two cages containing the sleeping males and could still pick up the scent of the third. Worry ate at him for those three males and the smell of drugs in the air assured him that’s what kept them so docile and he knew that if he had to choose, the choice had already been made.

Becca was the most important thing to him. Without hesitation, he’d give his life and those of the males and kill every human who posed a threat to her. He adjusted his hold, lifted her gently in his arms and saw how pale she looked when she stared into his eyes. Tears made her blue eyes glimmer and he felt like a total bastard. He’d promised to shield her body yet he hadn’t. He’d selfishly taken her at a great expense.

She’d never forgive him regardless of her being generous enough to share the blame. He knew the truth. Even if they survived somehow, if they got out of this nightmare alive, their time together was tainted by the ugliness of being locked inside a cage by their captors. He laid her down on the cot, curled up tightly to her on the small bed and tucked her firmly against his body.

“Sleep,” he urged. “I am here and will protect you.” As much as I am able. Shame burned deeply that he felt so helpless. She deserved a better male. He’d failed her miserably.

Chapter Nine

Tim Oberto was fit to be tied. “What the fuck is taking so long?”

Tiger, head of security for the NSO, watched the man grimly. “We lost the signal.”

“How the hell could this happen?” Tim paced like a caged animal. “They took my daughter.”

Tiger knew what it was like to pace that way. He’d been caged. He watched the human male and could relate to his worry. Tiger felt that emotion too. He didn’t know the man’s daughter, Rebecca Oberto, but he did know Brawn.

“We have to search the area and it’s taking time. You have your men out here too, going to every building.” Tiger took a deep breath. “The signal was last active in this section and they have to be within a mile radius. It’s an industrial area and hundreds of buildings are close together.”

Tim spun. “You know this guy, right? This Brawn? I want you to tell me everything about him now. He’s with my daughter.”

“Brawn is a council member. He’s—”

"Explain the council to me."

Tiger took another breath. “Each of the four testing facilities that we were rescued from appointed a Species to represent them after we elected Justice to lead. We knew he would be busy dealing with the outside world and trying to handle our people as well. Some human suggested each set of survivors from the testing facilities have one spokesperson to represent their needs and issues. They keep track of all the Species from their labs and report to Justice if there is a problem. Brawn was chosen for his ability to remain calm under pressure, his fighting skills and his intelligence. He’s known among my people to have a good sense of humor and to be very reasonable.”

“His fighting skills didn’t save him and my daughter,” Tim raged. “If he was any good they’d never have been taken.”

Tiger immediately took offense. “He never would have been captured if he wasn’t protecting your daughter. He could have fled and left her. He’s feline. He could have easily leapt onto your roof from the window or to the ground below without injury on his own. We believe he was mixed with black leopard. I have hunted with him myself and he’s really fast. I told you that there were at least six men inside your daughter’s home and you saw the body. He fought but they had drugs. He didn’t flee because he stayed with your daughter. Do not dare insult him.”

Trey Roberts cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, everyone calm down, please. This isn’t helping.”

A man sitting in front of a laptop computer cursed suddenly. He turned to face his boss, Tim. “I’ve got really bad news.”

“What is it?” Tim tensed.

“It was tough but I have hacked into the dead guy’s financials. He’s been getting regular deposits from a shell company. I was able to trace that to the real source of money.” He held Tim’s gaze. “Mercile Industries is behind this. The money is coming from a slush fund they have. All the deposits in that account were made by their investors. The dead guy was getting paid by them.”

Tim fisted his hand and jerked his head to Tiger. “Why would they want my daughter when they killed my neighbors? Why keep her alive?”

Tiger tensed as he studied Tim, trying to judge if the man could handle the truth without coming completely unglued. Tiger took a deep breath. “You need to assign one of your men to handle the task force. You’re too emotionally invested.”

“No!” Tim yelled.

Trey suddenly reached out and gripped Tim’s arm. “He’s right. You can stay but you have to step down for this one. I know you are going out of your head. This is Becca, Tim. I understand but you need to let me take this one.”

Tim cursed viciously. “Why?”

Tiger hesitated. “Mercile Industries took another human once who had an association with a Species male. I am afraid if I tell you and you are heading this that you will be very unreasonable. I can’t inform you of facts without you being a father and becoming unstable.”

Tim tensed and rage swept through him. “What do you think they are going to do to my daughter?”

Tiger hesitated. “Give over command to your second and I will share the information we know.”

Tim turned and punched the inside of the van. He nodded at Trey. “You’re in charge.”

Trey nodded and stared at Tiger. “What do you think is going on?”

Tiger hesitated. “Are you very close to his daughter?”

Trey nodded. “Yes but I’m more rational and objective. Becca and I are friends but I can stay cool-headed.”

Tiger regarded him carefully and saw a calm control there. He nodded but he focused on the father of the missing female. “A human female was kidnapped by a Mercile doctor and his team recently. She is mated with one of my kind. Since this Rebecca was with Brawn they might have mistaken her for his mate. They don’t have our sense of smell, which would make it obvious to one of us that she slept in her bed alone. She only ended up in his room because of the attack. He put her inside his bathroom because they had to fight him to get to her there.”

Trey nodded. “Rebecca isn’t the type to jump into bed with someone.”

“Brawn wouldn’t touch a female human either. He likes our women and has been very clear that he holds no sexual interest in your females.”

“Just tell us what you think they took my daughter for and why I’m only hearing about this other woman being taken now. I’m supposed to be informed of all issues that arise and my team should have been called in if a mate was kidnapped.” Tim’s voice shook.

Tiger hesitated. “We handled the situation and didn’t want to call you unless we had to. They took the other human to breed with Species they’d stolen from Mercile before the testing facility they worked in was breached by your law enforcement. They wanted her because she was mated to a Species. The doctor assumed that since one Species would take her to bed that another of my kind would without killing her, perhaps believing that because she carried one of our male’s scents would make her irresistible. They probably took your daughter alive to breed her to a Species male. They want to see if a human female can get impregnated by my kind.”

Tim paled and leaned back against the inside of the van. He shook his head. “No.”

Tiger nodded grimly. “They shoved the other human female into a cell with a Species male who had never been freed but he didn’t touch her. He could smell her mate on her and protected her as if she were Species. We’re hoping Brawn is the only male they have and that’s why they came after him. She should be safe if that’s the case.”

“Should be?”

Tiger hesitated. “They forced us to breed with our females. When we refused they would harm the female until we agreed to breed or they used drugs to send the male into a mindless state where he was left without option.” Tiger hesitated again. “If that happens and they use the drugs, your daughter would not withstand it well, if she isn’t killed. Our females barely survived a forced breeding. The males lose the ability to control or to think. Afterward the male will not even remember what he has done. He would not be responsible for his actions. You have heard of a date rape drug? This is similar to one only the male gets aggressive and his body is in torturous pain unless he breeds with a female. The drugs strip him to the animal inside.”

“I’m going to kill the assholes,” Tim ground out through clenched teeth. “You’re saying you think they took both of them to force him to rape my daughter?”

Tiger nodded. “He will not harm her if they don’t use the drugs and he will refuse to have sex unless they threaten to kill or torture her. Brawn knows we are trying to track him if they didn’t find the device. He managed to hide the coin tracking device we gave him long enough to get us to this area. He will do anything to keep her alive if he can.”

Trey softly cursed. “You know this guy well?”

Tiger nodded. “Yes.”

“If he’s forced to, uh, touch her, he won’t hurt her?”

Tiger gave him a sincere look. “He wouldn’t. Brawn is very resistant to touching a human female. He doesn’t hold interest in them. I am more afraid that whoever took them will use drugs. That’s my biggest fear.”

“Will he kill her?”

Tiger shrugged. “It would depend on whether they use the drugs. I told you how they work. He wouldn’t be responsible for what happens if he’s out of his mind.” Tiger studied Tim. “If that’s the case, it would be an accident if he killed or seriously harmed your daughter. He is a victim in this too. That is why you had to step down.” He stared at Trey. “If you can’t guarantee his safety from your men if they drugged him and the worst has happened, you need to say so now. Your task force will be removed from this mission. That’s why we insisted upon coming here with our own team of males.”

Trey looked grim. “On the drugs he’d rape her, wouldn’t he?”

“On the drugs he wouldn’t be himself. He would be mindless and in agony. It would be like someone injecting you with drugs that made you so crazy you would have no recollection of what you’d done. You would be in so much pain that it would turn you into a mindless animal. When you woke later you would be horrified if you had harmed someone. Do you understand?”

Trey nodded. “He won’t be harmed, no matter what. I give my word.”

Tiger nodded. “What about your men? If we find the worst will they react and just kill him?”

Trey sighed. “I’ll talk to them now. I swear we won’t kill him, regardless of the circumstances.”

“There is one more thing.” Tiger paused. “You remember the raid in Colorado on that testing facility we took down? We have talked to our recovered people. We did not rescue all of them. There are about two dozen males and one female still unaccounted for and we might find them there. They may have taken Tim’s daughter to another Species male to breed. You cannot kill them either, even if you find his daughter’s body inside one their cells. But, if another of my kind has harmed his daughter or if she was killed without the male being drugged, I’ll put him down myself. Some Species were driven mad and may be beyond saving.”

Trey nodded grimly. “Understood. I’ll give my men the heads up that this might be a bigger recovery than we thought and that no matter what we find, you are in charge of your people who are inside.”

Trey left quietly to go talk to his teams still searching buildings alongside the twenty Species males who had shown up to help them look for the missing couple.

Tim stormed out of the van and started to hit the exterior of the vehicle with his fists. Tiger calmly watched the dents appear inside of the van and understood the father’s rage. He stepped out of the command van and waited for Tim to calm. Eventually he did and Tiger saw the grief in the human’s eyes.

“Brawn will do anything to protect her if he can.”

“This is my fault. I took him to her house. I did this.”

“Mercile Industries did this by hiring vicious humans who have no regard for life. Hate them, Tim.”

He nodded. “We have to find my daughter and your man.”

“We will. The signal was lost in this area. It’s just taking time because there are so many buildings where they could be hiding. By morning we will have searched every single one and we’re pretty sure they are here. They would have destroyed the tracking device long before it led to this area if they were aware of its existence.”

“You can’t smell them at all?”

Tiger shook his head. “I wouldn’t scent them from outside unless I am close to a building and there is a breeze coming from their direction. Our males are with your teams, they are some of the best hunters we have and I have faith we will locate them. The waiting is the hardest, I understand, but we’ll know by morning for sure. You just need to hang in there.”

“This is my fault.”

“We’ve been over this.”

“I should have made her leave her house or gone home after my date. I should have made sure she was sleeping in her old bedroom. I—”

Tiger gripped his shoulder. “You would have died too if you’d been home. They were well trained to take one of our males. I don’t mean to offend you but we’re stronger and faster. If Brawn didn’t stand a chance, you wouldn’t have either.”

Tim’s voice choked with emotion. “I just want to get my daughter back alive.”

Brawn jerked awake when he heard a noise. His hold instantly tightened around Becca, who was curled in his arms. She breathed slowly, sleeping soundly. Her hand rested around his arm and he studied her face as he sniffed the air. No stench of his enemy offended his nose. They were currently safe from harm.

She was beautiful. He’d never thought he’d find a human so appealing but she was. She was so different from his kind. Her nose wasn’t flattened, just a cute bump on her face. The bones in her face were softer, not dominant. She felt small and fragile in his arms and he could break her easily if he wasn’t careful.

His body responded instantly when she shifted a little and her thigh rubbed against him. They weren’t even naked but just being close was enough to make his dick harden and lengthen between their bodies. He wanted to mount her again. Sharing sex with her was different and wonderful. She was so soft and tight. So wet, hot and fragile. He bit back a groan.

The memory of the sounds Becca made while he’d mounted her made his desire to take her again grow stronger. He physically ached to be back inside her but she’d been sore afterward and probably still was. He should have been gentler but she’d taken him so well that he couldn’t stop the need to feel every inch of his dick buried in the soft, tight heat of her sex, which encased him perfectly.

His shoulders burned a little where her nails had dug into his skin during their passionate encounter. He glanced down at the bite she’d left on his chest and mourned that it wouldn’t scar. She had delicate, flat teeth but they’d felt good when she’d sunk them in enough to cause slight pain. No female had ever marked him and he was glad she had. He only regretted the reminder wouldn’t be permanent.

He suddenly understood how Justice and the other Species males could take a human mate. They were not as strong as Species females but their softness and kittenish responses gripped a man inside his chest. His gaze returned to study her face. He was unable to stop staring. He doubted he’d ever be able to look at her enough.

He lifted his hand to stroke her soft auburn hair and some of it curled around his finger. It was too short, only just past her shoulders and he wanted to see her grow it long, to her ass. He fantasized about winding his fingers through the long strands that could spread across his stomach when her head rested on his chest while she slept. His fingers brushed her cheek.

She’s so soft all over. Her body was not muscular the way their women were. Everything about her was unfamiliar and yet he wanted to hold her forever. Protect her. Keep her. His hand stopped tracing her skin and he closed his eyes.

He was Species and had no business thinking about a human female, wishing he could be with her long enough for her hair to grow to her waist. There would be no future with Becca because they were in hell, captured and confined by the monsters who’d tormented him for most of his life. Their ugliness had even touched the one beautiful, perfect thing in his life and he held her a little tighter.

He knew he should expect that they would be rescued but his hope had died. He’d never tell Becca, crush her spirit that way, but too much time had passed. Even if a miracle occurred twice in his lifetime and someone came to set him free from a cage, Becca would probably be lost to him forever. The memories they made would be overshadowed by the horror. She’d never be able to look at him without reliving their nightmare.

Another soft noise drew his attention, his eyes opened and he turned his head. The Species male in the other cage was off his cot and stood watching him silently. Brawn carefully extricated his body from Becca’s. He used the blanket to keep her warm, tucked her in and moved to the corner nearest the other cage.

“Are you well? I am Brawn.”

The male tilted his head, peered at him with confusion and he understood. “When I was freed from Mercile I chose the name.” He refused to say his old number, had sworn to never utter or hear it again and feared the male might try to address him as such. “Can you speak? You are 919, correct?”

“Yes,” the male rasped. His gaze lowered to stare at Becca, a soft snarl came from his throat and rage twisted his features.

Brawn moved, blocked his view of the cot and gripped the bars. “Easy. She is not the enemy.”

“They all are.”

“Not all. Some humans are good. They freed me and many others from the testing facilities.” He kept his voice low. The males who worked for the female doctor believed it was safe to talk softly so he figured it probably was. “How long have you been here? Do you know?”

The male shrugged his shoulders. “A while.”

Brawn understood. It was easy to lose track of time with no light to show the days pass. His gaze drifted to the other cage and the sleeping male who hadn’t woken since they’d been there.

“Who is he?”

919 glanced at the form. “358 is in bad shape. He breathes but he is weakened. They tested him for days straight with too many drugs too close together and in the insanity he harmed his body much by smashing into the walls.” He stared at Brawn. “He will be physically fine but when the drugs wear off I fear his mind will not fare well.”

“What about the other I smell?”

“880.” Rage tensed the male’s body. “He wasn’t known to me and there was a female with him.”

Alarm gripped Brawn. “Human?”

“One of us.” The male revealed his fangs as he snarled, showing off his canine traits. “They murdered her in front of him as punishment. They were here before we were brought. I never spoke to her and they kept them back there.” He pointed to the concrete wall blocking their view of the back of the room. “I could hear them softly talking and he cared for her. I think she was ill. When the humans killed her, he went insane.”

Brawn mourned the loss. He wondered if these were some of the missing Species from the Colorado testing facility who were unaccounted for. A female had been on the list. Their numbers were not known to him but he’d read the reports.

“He doesn’t speak?”

“Not to me but they killed her right after we arrived,” 919 growled. “He howled for days, tore up the cage and the stench of blood was strong. They had to drug him and tend to his severe injuries. I saw him pass out a few times. They have to go by when they drug and move him. I believe he tried to end his life by using the bars.” The man touched them. “His mind is gone. It happens.”

Brawn knew that well. “Were there any others?”

The male shook his head. “Not until you and her.”

“Have you ever heard the word Colorado?”

“No.”

The double doors opened and two humans stepped into the room. 919 snarled, backed away from the bars and began to pace. Brawn inched closer to Becca, watching the enemy with dread.

They approached the other cage and 919 snarled louder, backed up as far as he could get and the humans laughed as they pulled their weapons.

“What’s wrong?” The blond human snickered. “You have a problem getting sucked off by a machine? I wish my dick got as much action as yours does.”

The other one aimed the Taser. “They are fucking animals. What do you expect? He’s too stupid to appreciate his dick getting so much action. It’s not like any of us are allowed to leave here to hunt up some pussy. I’d take a toy any day compared to my hand.”

They targeted the male, he howled when the electric volts shot through his body and he fell to the floor. Brawn snarled, hated to watch the male taken down and a soft hand gripped his arm. He nearly hit Becca from pure reflex alone but his palm halted inches from her face.

Wide, terrified eyes peered at him and he cursed. He hadn’t known she’d woken. He dropped his hand and watched as the humans shot another Taser dart into the already suffering male. He jerked and twitched until he passed out. The men unwrapped the chains from the door, opened it and entered the cage. They just grabbed 919 by his arms, dragged him out and took him away. Brawn didn’t relax until the doors closed. He turned to apologize, staring at Becca and hated that he’d frightened her.

“I’m sorry. You startled me when I was stressed.”

Becca’s pounding heart slowed. “It’s okay. I should know better than that. My dad is military and yeah, never sneak up on someone with any kind of training.” She stepped closer and shivered. “That poor guy.”

“You’re cold.”

She smiled, touched that he was so concerned. “I was really warm until you got up. You put off a lot of body heat.”

“Lie down.” He tried to urge her to return to the bunk but she ducked around him, walked to the bars and stared at the double doors where they’d taken the other male.

“We need to get the hell out of here,” she whispered. “If you won’t go with my plan, we’ll think of something else. We all need to be saved.”

“Becca, it’s too dangerous.”

She spun to face him and crossed her arms over her chest. “Being here is dangerous. Those monsters need to be stopped.”

He approached her. “I agree but they’ll kill you and these bars are thick.” He reached around her with both hands, gripped them and pinned her loosely between his body and arms. “You won’t risk your life.”

Her gaze narrowed but she sealed her lips. He was determined to keep her safe but it was an illusion. It was a good one though, she silently admitted, staring up into his sexy gaze. She bit her lip, the memory of what they’d done before she’d slept fresh in her head and decided being held captive wasn’t totally horrible. Of course discovering they’d starred in a live-action porn flick for the benefit of the guards hadn’t been the high point.

It reminded her that it couldn’t happen again no matter how much she wanted him. They’d have to escape first and then…what? Would she ever see Brawn again? Would he remain at her house or return to Homeland?

The thought of never seeing him again was a bad one. She suddenly dropped her arms and stepped against him, tucked her head and rested her cheek against his hot skin. His heart pounded in her ear and she hugged him.

“I’m freezing,” she lied.

Solid, muscular arms wrapped around her and he curled his body tighter. “I’ll warm you.”

Becca wanted him to hold her for as long as it was possible. He’d do more than keep the chill away though. She was falling for him.

Chapter Ten

Tiger’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket and he lifted it. “Report.” He listened and grinned while he met Trey’s curious gaze.

“One of my males found their scent inside a warehouse. Let’s move all our teams to the area. They’ve pulled back to wait for a full assault.”

Tim jumped to his feet in an instant. “Let’s go.”

Tiger frowned. “You say here at command center. We’ll go.”

Tim wanted to argue but Trey spoke first.

“It’s for the best. I’ll go in and find Becca, Tim. We’ll bring her to you.”

Tim nodded, sat hard on the chair and his hands fisted in his lap. “I can handle anything that was done to her but just bring her back to me alive.”

“I’ll do my best,” Trey swore softly. He glanced at Tiger. “Let’s go.”

Tiger jumped down from the large van that had been their mobile command center. He jogged with Trey at his heels, the human kept up with him easily and it reminded him that the task force was made up of good males. They reached the building a few blocks away quickly to greet the waiting assault team. Twenty Species males and fifteen human task-force members were preparing for the worst. Tiger took the lead and commanded the teams.

“We’ll follow you,” Trey acknowledged. “Your people are better at tracking than mine.” He glanced at his men sternly. “Remember, no one harms the New Species no matter what you find. Are we clear? They could be heavily drugged. Just contain and hold him until the NSO team arrives if you find one on your own.”

Tiger glanced at his men. “Remember that there may be breeding drugs involved. Sedate Brawn if he’s not clear-headed. Talk to him first to make sure he is rational before you release him.”

The two teams studied each other and tension was palpable. Usually none of them minded working together but this was a special circumstance. All the humans on the task force knew Tim’s daughter and Tiger worried about their reactions if they found her harmed or worse. One moment of rage or grief could make a human take action and kill Brawn or another Species.

Tiger was tempted to have them hold back and send in Species only but he knew that would cause long-term issues. The task team needed their trust, they’d given their word to remain calm and he had to accept it. Of course he didn’t have to blindly trust either. An idea struck him.

“Let’s mix our teams.” Tiger glanced at Trey.

Trey nodded. “Sure.” He addressed his men. “NSO calls the shots. You listen up good, boys. Break into teams and one of them is in charge.”

The human males separated into small groups. Tiger quickly assigned a few of them to lead, dividing the rest so they were distributed to each team. “Let’s surround and go in.” He purposely located and stared at Brass.

“Are you sure you scented them?”

Brass checked his sidearm. “Positive. I didn’t follow the trail inside in case there were alarms or cameras but Brawn has been there. I backed away fast and was careful not to tip them off. I also didn’t smell explosives.”

“Let’s move,” Tiger commanded, motioning for Trey’s team to take the entry breach assignment with his own team while the other teams surrounded the building.

The moment Tiger stepped in the door of the warehouse he inhaled and nodded at Trey. “They were here but it’s very faint. If they’d left the doors open or there were any broken windows their scent wouldn’t have lingered but I’m picking up Brawn and your female.” He inhaled a few times. “Many human men. I think under ten but that could be off if they weren’t here recently. I smell…” He inhaled. “Another human female. It’s barely there but that’s what I’m picking up. It’s pretty stagnant in here.”

“Shit,” one of the humans sighed, pointing to the open van door. “See that big cage and someone left this behind.” He fingered an assault rifle. “Military issue, old school, so we’re looking at someone who was probably ex Army or Marines.”

“This may be a breeding facility,” Tiger reminded grimly. “Expect the worst. I’m worried since I’m picking up two female scents.”

“Damn,” Trey looked shocked. “They are really putting a lot of pressure on your man to perform if they brought him two women.”

Tiger shot him a frown, not amused with the grim humor. “It would not be enjoyable for either party involved.”

Trey nodded sharply. “You take point.”

Tiger took the lead. He inhaled and followed the faint scents to an archway that led to a stairwell. He looked down and held back a curse. He hated going underground and reached for the flashlight on his belt. His gaze scanned for cameras or sensors but spotted none.

“This is why we lost his signal. They are underground. There’s enough building to mask it.” His gaze roamed the assembled men. “Watch for surveillance cameras, sensors and don’t forget to keep inhaling for explosives. If one of my males raises a hand, halt! We go silent now to prevent them from hearing us coming. Take it damn slow. Better to creep in than let them now we’re here before we know what we’re facing.”

Trey turned and made hand motions to his men to make sure they understood their orders. Tiger didn’t signal his team. Species hearing was extremely sensitive and they would have heard every word spoken.

Tiger pulled his gun. He hated them but being shot at without one would be worse. He waited for Trey to turn after silently talking to his men before taking the first step downward. His body was tense, his gaze constantly moved and he hoped they weren’t walking into something horrible. Recovering dead bodies would be the worst scenario he could imagine, besides being blown to hell.

Brawn knew Becca had fallen back asleep as he held her. He was tired but he wasn’t ready to sleep after watching them bring 919 back to his cell. The male didn’t sleep this time, instead he paced his cell and acted insane. They’d over drugged him from the strong smell coming off him.

Other worries filled his mind, keeping him awake as he watched Becca doze. He could have gotten her pregnant when he’d mounted her. He didn’t dare ask if she was on some form of birth control because it was top secret that Species males could impregnate a healthy human female who was not taking preventative measures. He was certain it would be fine. Species sperm didn’t survive as long as it did with human men. His gaze lowered to her belly where his hand rested.

She’d hate him. Worse, Becca had gone into heat over the past few hours. He could pick up the faint scent but it had just started. She hadn’t been when he met her or even when they’d shared sex. He swore not to touch her again—he couldn’t risk it.

She was a female human in her late twenties, single and would be on birth control. He knew that about female humans since he loved to read. They were smart and took care of their bodies but he still wouldn’t risk it. No matter how much he wanted to take her again, to sheathe his dick inside her hot, welcoming body, he’d resist.

Just the thoughts of what it was like to touch Becca made him hard. He clenched his teeth and forced air through his mouth to avoid her tempting scent. A woman in heat strongly affected Species males, made them do wild, crazy things. Being aware of the problem was half the battle or so he’d heard. He was pretty sure that saying was correct.

919 growled and whined, drawing attention to his plight. Brawn turned his head to peer across the room, watched the male crouch and dig at the floor with his hands, testament that he wasn’t sane. He probably should try to talk him down but it wouldn’t work. Sadness gripped him as he watched one of his kind suffer.

A howl pierced the room and Becca jerked awake in his arms. He held onto her, met her frightened gaze and rubbed her back. “They returned him and he’s drugged.”

She lifted her head enough to peer around his body, which blocked her view. He hated to see her pained expression and the way tears filled her pretty eyes when they lifted to meet his gaze.

“He’s going to tear up his hands.”

“I know but he won’t listen. He will be irrational until the drug leaves his system.”

“I hate these bastards.”

He silently agreed. “Sleep.”

“I can’t.”

She put her hand on his chest as she turned on the narrow bed, bumped into him and rubbed his skin near his nipple. It hardened instantly and his dick did too. He was in a world of hurt when she curled into him tighter, faced him and her thigh brushed between his legs to make room for it.

“I want to get out of here so bad.”

“I do as well,” he agreed.

“What would you do first?”

He hesitated. Take her home with him, to his bed and mount her until they both couldn’t walk was the first thing that came up on his list. He wouldn’t mention that one though. “I’d cook a large meal.”

She smiled. “I want a bath.”

The image of her naked and submerged in water only made him want her more and the urge became so strong that he quickly released her, rolled off the bed and stood. He didn’t miss her stunned expression as he put space between them.

“Baths are good.” He looked anywhere but at her, focusing on the male instead.

The cot creaked as Becca adjusted on it and he breathed in her scent. His dick throbbed over her being in heat and he gripped the bars to grab them instead of her. She made it worse when she came up behind him, stood close and peered at 919 too.

“How long do you think he’s going to be high on that stuff? Last time he slept for a long time.”

“They gave him too much. He was probably gaining a resistance to it.”

“They could have killed him.”

He remained silent in agreement.

She rubbed his arm, her fingertips traced his biceps and he jerked away. A snarl tore from his throat before he could trap it and she backed away.

“Don’t touch me right now. I’m agitated.”

Pain flashed in her eyes and he felt like a bastard. He opened his mouth to explain that he didn’t mean to reject her that way but wasn’t sure how to tell her how he barely held onto his restraint and fought the urge to pin her over their cot and mount her again. The reasons for that replayed. She’s in heat and the humans could show up again to watch. Becca distracted him too much for him to stay on guard.

“Becca, I—”

A slight noise distracted him and he turned, listening intently. The sound had been faint, a squeak from across the room where the doors were and not something he’d heard before. His gaze lifted to the vents along the walls. He saw cobwebs blowing and figured it was just the air system until he inhaled deeply through his nose.

“We have company,” Brawn whispered.

Becca tensed, expecting the goons to step out from the double doors to haul her and Brawn back to the room where she’d have to take more sperm samples. She wondered why touching the Species had made him angry. He always sent her mixed signals and hoped his mood wouldn’t worsen once he was secured to the bed. Getting him turned-on would be rough if he didn’t want her to touch him.

Sorrow filtered through at the possibility that he might begin to hate her for being human. The guards and that crazy doctor weren’t exactly stellar examples of humanity as its finest. Of course if he was beginning to blame her, he might rethink her plan to at least try to escape. Maybe she’d survive. Sure, she would be shot but that didn’t necessarily mean death.

Brawn glanced her way with a grin on his face suddenly, surprising her once more with his sudden mood swing as he sniffed the air. “You might get hit up for another booty call offer from your friend at any moment.”

It took her a second for his words to have meaning and her knees weakened. Brawn smelled Trey Roberts, knew his scent from his visit to her house and she trusted his nose. Tears of relief and happiness blinded her. Her father’s team was coming for them.

Brawn moved fast, grabbed her around her waist and hauled her off her feet. He stormed for the cot, used one foot to hook a leg of it and yanked hard. The thing crashed over, he darted around it and took them to the floor. His body crushed hers against the cold concrete when he flattened over her.

“Don’t move,” he ordered. “There may be a gun battle.”

He was protecting her from stray bullets with his body and the cot. Her hands opened on his chest and her heart raced with excitement. “I can’t believe they found us.”

“They have,” he rasped in her ear. “The vents are pushing air and their scents are filling the room. It must be from the other doors. Just stay low and be safe. I scent your friend and other humans along with my own kind. Many come.”

He eased a little upward. She watched him turn his head to peer around the fallen cot and stare at the doors. She wished she could see what was going on but Brawn’s big body kept her still.

“Anything?” she whispered.

“Not yet but the smell is stronger.”

Seconds ticked by into at least a full minute and suddenly she heard a loud noise as metal hit a wall. Brawn tensed above her, sucked in air and shouted a warning.

“They are inside the double doors to your left. There’s a female doctor and several human males armed with guns, Taser darts and they have drug weapons.”

He moved, rolled off her and was gone so fast she had to struggle to follow him. She sat up to watch over the top of the cot as men filled the room. A New Species guy grinned, seemed in charge and rushed for the other set of double doors with men at his heels. Trey was a sight for sore eyes as he broke away from the others, rushed toward the cage and grinned as their gazes met.

“Open the door,” Brawn demanded.

Trey studied the chains and the lock. “Back up.”

Brawn moved to the side as Trey pointed his gun at the locks, fired twice and tore the chains away. Brawn shoved open the door quickly, stepped out of the cage and stormed toward where the men had disappeared.

“They’ve got it,” Trey called out as he walked into the cage.

Becca stood and walked to him. The second she was in range he grabbed her with one arm, hauled her against his body and holstered his weapon. He kissed the top of her head, hugged her tightly with both arms and chuckled.

“Goddamn are you in trouble. Your old man has been going off the wall with worry. Are you okay, kiddo?” He eased his hold enough to peer down to study her face closely. One of his arms released her and fingertips traced her cheek.

She flinched, had forgotten about being hit and she saw rage in Trey’s gaze. “I take it there’s a bruise?”

“Who’s the motherfucker who hit you?” He whipped his head around to glare at something.

Becca leaned enough to see that Brawn stood outside the cage watching them. She glanced up, followed the path of Trey’s anger and gripped his shirt to gain his attention. He met her gaze.

“One of the guards did this. Brawn would never hurt me.”

Trey wrapped his arms around her again, yanked her right off her feet and hugged her tight enough to be considered a bear hug.

“Are you okay, kiddo? Tell me the truth.”

“Put me down.” She squirmed to break free, more than aware that her nightgown rose dangerously high and she no longer had panties on. “I’m great besides you trying to break my ribs.”

He laughed as he eased her back onto her feet. “I’m just so glad you’re alive. We were so damn worried.”

“Stop mauling her,” a deep, harsh voice snarled. “We have Species males in need of medical care while you are flirting with that female.”

Becca was stunned over Brawn’s anger. Trey totally released her and turned to face him. “You’re Brawn?”

“I am.” His chest puffed out as he filled his lungs with air. “I want a weapon.” He threw out his hand.

Trey marched over to him—stood shorter by some inches—and lifted his chin. “No offense, sir, but no. How are you? Were you drugged?”

“No.”

Gunshots sounded and Trey spun, rushed for Becca and took her to the ground. She gasped as pain exploded in her back from hitting the floor and his weight crushed her down. A roar sounded and she knew without being able to see that it had come from Brawn.

The weight was jerked away and she stared at Brawn, crouched next to her. He bared his teeth, snarled at Trey who was sprawled feet away, and she realized what had happened. Brawn had thrown her friend away from her and now looked ready to attack him. She sat up quickly, ignored her throbbing head, which had smacked the concrete when she’d been tackled, and put her body between them. Her gaze met Brawn’s.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Rage glittered in his eyes as he glared back, snarled at her and he lifted. “Don’t touch her,” he warned, turned his back and stood there.

Trey shot her a what-the-hell look and she shrugged, not sure why Brawn had attacked him but no more gunshots were heard. Another team rushed into the room from above and some rushed through the double doors the first team had disappeared through while the rest approached the cages.

Brawn spoke softly to a few of the Species males. Becca left the cage and Trey followed closely, almost as if he didn’t want to let her more than a few feet away. She glanced at 919 and found him cowering in a corner of his cage, watching the strangers with dread. Pity welled up. He was drugged out of his head and probably thought more people had come to harm him.

Curiosity made her turn toward the back of the room where they’d taken the other New Species. She wanted to check on him since no one seemed aware of his existence. She passed the wall that divided the room and found another cage. The sight that greeted her brought tears to her eyes.

A male was strapped to a medical bed, his black hair matted so badly it was shocking and he was hooked up to tubes and machines. She walked to the bars and gripped them. The male didn’t move at all. She could see a heart monitor and read the numbers from where she stood. Trey paused beside her.

“Holy fuck,” he hissed.

“Open the door.”

He hesitated. “No. We’ll get a medical team in here.”

“Open the door,” she demanded again. “He’s not moving and his heart rate is really low. He’s unconscious.”

“He’ll probably be dangerous if we wake him. I’m sorry but that door isn’t opening until we’re sure it’s safe.”

She turned to meet his gaze. “Call for help.”

He nodded, reached for his radio but realized quickly that he couldn’t get a signal to the topside. “Let’s go. I’ll send one of the guys up to relay that we need medics pronto.”

Becca hated to leave the male alone so she offered to stay. Trey balked at first but she pointed out no one was there to hurt her and the Species was locked up and tied down. He stalked away and she turned her full attention back to the poor victim inside.

Humans sucked at times and seeing what he’d been reduced to nearly broke her heart. His heart beat but she wondered if he’d survive. He was big but his skin color was really pale, he looked half starved, judging by the way his ribs showed.

It didn’t take long for Trey to return with medics and get the cage door open. She stayed long enough to overhear them state that he was in critical condition. They planned to call in a life flight. Depression hit and she just wanted to find Brawn. Trey grabbed her hand as she tried to ease past him.

“We caught all the bastards and the area is secure. They are going to transport the New Species to Homeland. Do you want a paramedic to look at you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Your father is being kept topside. You really should go see him. He’s been pretty frantic and I think his patience is wearing thin.”

“I just want to talk to Brawn and then I’ll find him.”

“Just hurry. He’s fit to be tied.”

Becca walked to where she’d been caged in time to watch two New Species males unlocking 919’s cage. He was still huddled in the corner, snarling at his rescuers and the human members of the team hung far back. Brawn stood watching and she moved to stand at his side.

“Think he’ll be okay?” She didn’t touch him this time in case he was distracted and hadn’t heard her approach.

“I hope so. It’s his mental state that holds my worry.” He turned and met her gaze. “Becca, I—”

A howl sounded and someone shouted. Becca jerked her head in time to see 919 tackle one of the New Species males, throw him out of the way and slam a fist into the second one. He rushed out of the cage, a wild expression on his face and his gaze located her. Pure rage twisted his features and he barreled forward.

“No!” Brawn shouted and threw his body between them, nearly plowing into her as 919 attacked.

Becca scrambled to get out of the way but it was too late. The enraged, drugged-out New Species punched Brawn in the face. Brawn staggered and 919 howled again as he lunged her way. She didn’t even get a scream out before brutal hands grabbed her. One hand wrapped around her throat, cut off her air and the other one held her arm so tightly she was sure it would snap.

A roar was the only warning before Brawn attacked. All three of them went down in a tangle of bodies, the hand was torn off her throat and 919 screamed in pain. Becca tried to roll away but her legs were pinned under their combined weight as they exchanged blows.

Someone grabbed her arm, she looked up to see Trey’s pale face and he jerked hard enough to make her cry out when he dragged her free. He kept pulling her along the floor until a good ten feet separated her from Brawn. She stared at the sight of him fighting with 919. It was brutal and the sounds they made were flat-out terrifying.

“Get that human out of here,” Brawn snarled. “He is out of his mind.”

Trey cursed, bent and scooped Becca into his arms. She twisted when he lifted her up and jogged for the door. She watched in horror as Brawn and the male kept fighting while no one seemed to help him. Her mouth opened to yell that someone needed to pull them apart but by then Trey had taken her from the room and bounded up the stairs.

“Put me down.”

He panted, kept moving and ignored her order. He slowed as they neared the top and she was grateful for that because all that jostling wasn’t easy on her stomach or her bones.

“Rebecca!”

She’d know that shout anywhere as she turned her head, searched the crowded warehouse filled with team members, New Species and some of the teams medics. Trey halted and eased her down onto her feet.

Tim nearly slammed into her but he skidded to a stop before they crashed together, wrapped his arms around her and encased her in a hug. “Baby.” His voice broke. “Thank God you’re alive.” He rocked her in his arms. “Are you okay?”

Tears filled her eyes and she didn’t try to stop them as her face was smashed against her father’s shirt. “I’m going to be fine.”

“Get a medic!” he shouted, making her wince.

“I’m fine.”

“Sir,” a man reported, “let her go and let me see her injuries.”

Her dad eased his hold on her and she glanced at Bucky, one of the team medics, happy to see another familiar face. The redhead reached out, cupped her jaw and stared at her face.

“Let’s get her to a truck.”

“I’m fine.” She pulled away from his touch.

His gaze lowered down her body, seeming to take note of everything. “Are you sure?”

She stepped back from her dad, looked up at him and smiled. “I’m really okay, Dad. A few bumps and bruises but I’ll live.” Her shoulder ached and her head throbbed some from when she’d crashed to the floor but she wasn’t going to complain about that.

“Shit!” Bucky grabbed the back of her head. “You’re bleeding.”

She froze as his gloved hands touched something that made pain lance through her scalp. “Ouch!”

“We have helicopters about to land.” A New Species male stepped up to her father. “We’ll take your daughter to Homeland. Our doctors are standing by there to treat the injured.”

Tim shook his head. “I’ll take her to a hospital, Brass.”

The tall male frowned, glanced at Becca and addressed her dad. “That will involve your law enforcement. We’d prefer to keep this a Species matter.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you want.” Her dad’s temper showed.

Brass cringed. “They will want us to turn over those we’ve arrested here today. Do you really wish for them to face charges in your courts? They won’t be as harsh on the offenders, your daughter might have to go into a court to testify and we’ll have to explain why we breached this building without consulting them first.”

The idea of any of those monsters responsible for everything she’d survived getting a lighter sentence or a drawn-out trial had Becca’s temper flaring to life. She stared at the tall Species guy until he met her gaze.

“Your laws are harsher?”

“They worked for Mercile once from what we understand and they tortured New Species. They won’t walk away from that.”

That was good enough for her. “I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Tim gripped her arm. “I’m taking you to a hospital.”

She reached out and gripped his fingers. “I don’t want them to get away with what they did. I’m going with them to see their doctors. Let them handle this, Dad. Please?”

The loud sound of a helicopter came from outside and it seemed to land on the street or somewhere nearby. She tugged on her dad’s fingers to urge him to let her go.

“It will be fine.”

He opened his mouth but Brass held out his hand. “I’ll escort you myself and guard you. You’ll be perfectly safe, Miss Oberto.”

“I’m going too,” Tim demanded.

Brass took her hand. “Wouldn’t you rather transfer the prisoners to Homeland? Your daughter will be there when you arrive.”

The indecision on his face assured Becca that he was torn.

“Do that, Dad. Make sure they get there and are locked up.”

“I’ll be there within four hours.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Brass’ hold was gentle as he led her out of the warehouse. It was sunny outside, it blinded her a bit after being kept inside. The wind tore at her hair as they approached the helicopter.

“You will be fine!” Brass yelled to be heard over the engines of the helicopter.

He lifted her inside and helped buckle her into a seat and took the one next to hers. She watched them lift in the injured New Species who’d been hooked up to machines. He was still unconscious. She didn’t know the medic’s name—he was one of the newer members of the task force team she hadn’t met yet. Her gaze searched for Brawn but he didn’t join them when the doors closed and the helicopter lifted off.

Where is he? She hoped he was okay since he would have been flown to Homeland if he needed medical attention. The sound inside the helicopter was too loud for her to try to interrogate Brass. It would have to wait until they landed.

The big New Species next to her opened a blanket and turned in his seat, offering it to her. She gave him a grateful smile, wrapped the soft material around her body and leaned back against the seat. They’d been saved. She buried her face in it and let the tears fall. It had been a hell of an ordeal.

Chapter Eleven

It felt like a long ride to Becca but the helicopter finally landed. She’d never been to the NSO Homeland before. Her father had said it was a nice place when she’d bugged him about it out of curiosity. The engine cut off and the doors opened. They removed the gurney with the unconscious male first and shock tore through her when two large, tall females suddenly appeared.

They had to be at least six feet tall and had the altered New Species features with their well-defined cheekbones. One had catlike eyes that reminded her of Brawn but her hair was shocking—a mix of different colors. Both women wore black uniforms with NSO printed in white letters above their left breasts. They smiled timidly.

“It is safe,” Brass assured her. He stooped to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling and helped her unfasten her belt. “This is Rusty and Sunshine.”

He got out first and reached back to gently lift her down. The two women kept their smiles in place. The redheaded one had yellowish eyes—they were pretty, but eerie in a way. She waved to a Jeep.

“I’m Rusty. Sunshine doesn’t talk much. We welcome you to Homeland and promise you safety.”

The woman with the multicolored hair nodded but didn’t say a word. Becca kept the blanket wrapped around her and was given the passenger seat. Brass stayed behind with the injured male while they loaded him into a van. The Jeep took off and she tried not to stare at all the New Species they passed. Rusty drove.

“We’re taking you to Medical. We have excellent doctors,” Rusty said.

“I’m Becca. I’m Tim Oberto’s daughter.”

“We are aware of your name and who you are.” Rusty shot her a sympathetic look. “Tiger called ahead to tell us what happened and that you were on your way.”

Sunshine finally spoke from the backseat. “We know how it is to be locked up and under the control of others. We have lived it. We understand so you are not alone.”

Becca turned in her seat enough to give the other woman a grateful smile. “Thank you. It wasn’t so bad. Brawn was there so I wasn’t really alone.”

The drive to the Medical Center wasn’t a long one and they parked in front of it. It was a single-story building with large glass windows along the front but they were tinted to hide the interior. Inside were chairs and a small waiting room. A counter separated the room and behind it were a few desks. There were hallways that led to both the right and left of the reception area. A human guy waited by the door in scrubs and she assumed he was the doctor.

“I’m Paul, the nurse. Trisha is expecting you. She’s one of our doctors on staff here. Dr. Treadmont is handling the more severe case coming in.” He hesitated, glanced at the woman and pointed. “That way. Your escorts will be at your side, Miss Oberto. It’s standard procedure that you aren’t to be left alone with me.” He smiled. “I’m a dreaded male.”

Rusty snorted. “You’re a good one and we doubt you would molest her but our orders are to remain at her side to be supportive.”

“Just call me Becca,” she offered.

A short blonde woman wearing a white coat stepped into the doorway. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she smiled too. “Hello, Miss Oberto. I’m Trisha and I’ll be your doctor. Please follow me to an exam room.”

“It’s just Becca,” she repeated.

“Okay. Please come with me, Becca.”

The exam room was similar to every other doctor’s office one she’d ever visited and she sat on the paper-draped table as the door closed. It was just her and Trisha in the room. The doctor looked young, maybe thirty and her smile faded. “Where are you hurt?”

“I don’t need to be looked at,” Becca admitted. “I have some bruises and I think I may have a scratch on the back of my head.”

The doctor came forward, had her tilt her head and put on gloves. She touched her head, found the sore spot and stepped back. “It’s not bad. Any dizziness? Double vision? Let me see your cheek. I spoke to Brawn while you were being flown in and he told me you suffered a few falls and that one of the creeps who kidnapped you struck you in the face.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. He stayed behind to answer questions but he’ll be back here tonight. Please answer my questions.” She held up two fingers. “How many?”

“I don’t have a concussion. Two. I’m not dizzy and my vision is fine. To be honest, I kind of accepted the ride here just to get my dad to back off. He would have taken me to a hospital and raised hell for me to be seen. One of the New Species made it clear that it would be better if they handled this situation without having the cops notified. I appreciate your concern but I’ve felt worst after a trip to the gym than I do right now. I really am fine.”

“I was informed you were given a shot. Do you know what was in it? Did the doctor say? Brawn noticed the needle mark on your arm.”

That surprised her. “She took blood and swabbed my cheek. She wanted samples from me.”

“I hate those scientific freaks,” Trisha muttered while touching her arms, examining them. She lifted her nightshirt enough to check out her knees and finally the bottom of her feet before straightening. Her gaze held Becca’s. “Would you like to talk to someone? We could get you a therapist. You’ve been through an ordeal.”

“To be honest, I just want a shower, a hot meal and my own bed. That is what would do me a world of good.”

The doctor stripped off her gloves, tossed them at the counter and nodded. “I totally understand. I have some pills for you to take, just to prevent you from getting an infection. I don’t know if they used a sterile needle when blood was drawn but I’d rather not take the chance. Are you allergic to any medications? Are you currently taking any?”

“I don’t have any allergies and I’m not taking anything. I don’t do drugs and only drink once in a while.”

“Okay.” Trisha hesitated. “Um, Brawn spoke to me as I said. Whatever you say is confidential. Are you injured at all? Brawn told me the two of you had sex and he was concerned he may have been too rough. Do you want a pelvic exam just to make sure you’re okay? They don’t carry venereal diseases and I can assure you that he’s completely healthy.”

Becca blushed. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me and I’d really like to keep that a secret. You can assure him that I’m healthy too. I get regular checkups and I’m sure about that.” She wasn’t about to mention she didn’t have a sex life to expose her body to sexually transmitted diseases.

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Only myself, you and Brawn are aware of what happened as far as I know.”

“It’s my dad I’m worried about.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Have you met him?”

“Tim? Yes.”

“He’d have a cow.”

The doctor relaxed. “I see.”

“He’s protective as hell and he’d blow a fuse if he found out how close Brawn and I got inside that cage. He would make a big deal about it. Brawn is one of his new team members. Dad has this rule about how none of the guys are allowed to touch me. He’d just…” She sighed. “Be a dick about it. He treats me like I’m a little kid and he’d become a nightmare to Brawn since they have to work together.”

Trisha’s lips curved into a smile. “I understand. He seems pretty uptight.”

Becca slid off the exam table. “That’s being awfully polite. Dad is a tyrant when he’s angry about something.”

The door opened and Rusty stepped inside. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but my hearing is too good. Would you like me to take her to a room with a shower and have Sunshine get her some clothes? I already ordered food from the cafeteria. It will arrive in about fifteen minutes.” She held Becca’s gaze. “I’m the only one in the hallway who could hear what was being said and I won’t repeat that you shared sex with Brawn. I have met your father and I wouldn’t want him to know either. He yells at his men too much when they are holding meetings in security.”

Trisha laughed. “Welcome to my world. Their hearing is amplified about four times stronger than ours and the males have even better senses. Always whisper if any of them are around or run water to mute out the sound if you want to have a private conversation while you’re at Homeland.”

“Sorry, Doc Trisha.” Rusty chuckled. “I don’t mean to do it.”

“You can’t help it. Please take her down the hall to the nearest shower. I’m going to check on the incoming males.” Trisha reached out and brushed Becca’s arm. “I’m glad you’re okay and feel free to take us up on that offer to speak to someone if you struggle with anything. Just call Homeland and ask for me. Your father never has to know if we assign you a therapist. We have some great ones who work with us. I’ll have Paul bring you those pills. Just take them with water.”

“Thanks.” Becca meant it. “I’m fine though.”

She just wished she could talk to Brawn but knew he wasn’t there. It was still daylight. She had no idea what time it was, but suspected it would be a while before he arrived. She’d shower, eat something and maybe take a nap while she waited for him to find her.

Exhaustion made Brawn sluggish as he stood in the reception room at the Medical Center waiting for Tiger to return from checking on everyone. The male exited from a hallway and approached with a soda in hand, offering it to him.

“I figured you would enjoy this.”

He opened it and drank half of it in one swallow. “Thank you.” He glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. “Where is Becca?” He sniffed. “I smell her but the air-conditioning has me confused of the direction to take to find her room.”

Tiger frowned. “We sent her home.”

“What?” Anger deepened his voice. “I wanted to see her.”

“That’s not a good idea. She was kidnapped, held prisoner and I already informed Tim that having a Species live in the outside world was a failure. One of his team members will return your belongs in the morning. You’re staying here.”

“I want to see Becca.” He crushed the can in his hand and the contents spilled. He cursed, set it down on the counter and rubbed soda off his palm on his sweats.

“Brawn, be reasonable, my man. She doesn’t want to see you.”

“She said this?” His heart thundered and pain gripped him. “She refused to wait here for me? Was she informed I was coming and that I wished to see her?”

Tiger’s gaze narrowed. “You know it’s for the best. Tim noticed the bite mark on your chest and the scratches. He assumed they were from Becca. He told me that you aren’t allowed any contact with her and that he discussed it with her.”

“Did she refuse to see me?” The question came out in snarled fury. The idea of Becca leaving was bad enough but to refuse to speak to him was unthinkable.

“Calm down now. That’s an order.”

“I’m a council member and you don’t tell me what to do.” He spun and stormed for the door, but had no plan of how to find Becca. He’d think of one though, hopefully find a transport to take him to her home, and see her.

“Brawn? She doesn’t want to see you.”

That brought him to a jarring halt. He turned and Tiger nodded.

“I’m sorry, man. I wanted to spare you but Tim asked for a consult with a shrink before we arrived. I was just given the report he made when he took in all the facts.” He reached back into his pocket and withdrew the folded paper. “She was traumatized by the kidnapping, you were her only source of comfort and she only cared about you as a way of coping with the stress.”

He shook his head. “She is attracted to me. She admitted that.”

“It would only harm her if you forced this issue. Do you want to cause her more stress?”

“No.” Brawn’s knees weakened. He was hungry, tired and injured. His body only functioned on adrenaline and the need to seek out Becca. He locked his legs. “I would never hurt her.”

“I know. You don’t even like human women.”

“I like her.”

“You’ll cause her pain, my man. She needs time to heal and recover.”

“She’s injured?”

“Emotionally. The shrink recommended you make no contact with her at all. Let her come to you when she’s ready if she ever wants to discuss what happened.”

“She was well? The doctor checked her over completely?”

“Yes. Trisha personally took care of her.” Tiger hesitated. “She gave her the pills.”

“What pills?”

The hesitation in answering angered Brawn. “What pills? Was she sick?”

“You shared sex with her. It was decided to give her medication in case you got her pregnant. It will end any pregnancy that may have occurred.”

Brawn snarled, pure rage gripped him and stepped toward Tiger before he even meant to. Tiger stumbled back a few steps and lifted his arms.

“Stop!”

He did. “She wasn’t in heat when I mounted her. I told you this! You told her classified information? I understand now why she is angry. I couldn’t tell her that I could get her pregnant while we were locked up. It was too risky in that place. Is she angry with me? Is that why she refused to wait? I am sure she is on some kind of preventative drug to prevent being impregnated. Most human females are.”

“Not according to what she told Trisha. Becca wasn’t told what the pills really were. She thinks they are antibiotics to prevent infection from the needle used to draw blood from her arm. She isn’t angry or upset with you for not telling her the truth before you shared sex.”

“We shared more than sex.”

Tiger’s expression showed pity. “I’m sure you did but seeing you will only remind her of the trauma she suffered. She was locked inside a cage with you, forced to take your semen and it was a grim situation. She’s safe now and if she ever wants to see you, she’ll let you know. Give her time.”

His chest hurt and it had nothing to do with his bruised ribs, which had been injured when he’d fought with 919 to protect Becca from the drugged male. “We shared more than sex,” he stated more firmly. “I know it would be difficult but I want to spend more time with her. I have feelings.”

“She’s Tim Oberto’s daughter. He leads our task team and while he likes us, he sure as hell wouldn’t be down with you doing his daughter.”

“Where did you learn to speak that way?”

Tiger sighed. “I’m spending a lot of time with the task team. We’ve been training together and I’ve gotten to know them. Tim is very protective of his daughter. He wouldn’t welcome any kind of relationship between you and his daughter. He made that very clear.”

“It doesn’t matter what he likes. I have feelings for Becca.”

“It’s not just about you. It’s about her too and she needs to come to you if or when she wants to see you. Respect that, Brawn. You are a council member but this is about the best for all of us. We can’t make an enemy of the man who heads the task team. We need him.”

“I want her.” His fists clenched.

“She isn’t a pet you can collar and take home.”

“I know,” he snarled.

“You’re tired and hungry. You need ten hours of sleep and then we’ll discuss this, okay? Be rational.”

He fought his anger and tried to calm. “This discussion is not over.”

“I understand. We’ll have it tomorrow after you get some rest and good food.”

The door opened at the front of the Medical Center and Flame stepped inside. “I’ve come to take you home and someone is bringing you food, Brawn. We hope we timed it right to give you time to shower before it arrives. You ready?”

Brawn shot a glare at Tiger. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Becca sat inside her bedroom but the feeling of being safe inside her own home was gone. Her dad sat at the end of her bed watching her grimly. He’d shadowed her since some of his men had driven her from Homeland to the house. He’d been waiting in her living room.

“Are you hungry?”

“They fed me.”

His gaze studied her intently. “You’d tell me if they made one of those New Species touch you, wouldn’t you?”

“I swear none of them hurt me, Dad. How many times do I have to say it?”

“Tiger and Trey wouldn’t tell me much, no matter how much I threatened. What the hell was going on down there?”

“There was a woman doctor who used to work for Mercile and she had a bunch of goons working for her. They planned to sell the New Species to someone in Europe so they could earn enough money to flee the country. They knew they are wanted by the police. They have some buyer over there who wants a set of them. I guess there are three types of New Species and the doctor only had one so she had Brawn kidnapped and plans to kidnap another one.”

“Feline, canine and primate. I read the report and we’re trying to find the leak.”

“Good. Can I ask you something?”

He tensed but gave a firm jerk of his head. “You’ve earned some answers after what you’ve gone through. What do you want to know?”

“What is going to happen to them?”

“The males are under a doctor’s care. The New Species have a few specialists working for them and they’ll do whatever they can. They’ll call in consulting doctors if they think someone can help. Those guys will get the best care possible now that they are home.”

“I’m glad to hear that but I meant the ones who took Brawn and me. Are they going to pay for what they did? That’s what I want to know.”

He reached out and rubbed her foot through the blankets. “New Species law is brutal. You were right to leave on that helicopter. I wasn’t thinking straight or I would have sent you to Homeland myself. Those sons of bitches are never going to know freedom again.”

“The NSO can give them a trial and sentence them to life in prison?”

He hesitated.

“Tell me. Please?” Tears pricked her eyes. “I’ll sleep better at night. They killed Tina and Mel. They came into my home and—”

“We have a prison, baby. It’s not known, it’s not for general population, but one that only holds people who have committed crimes against New Species. Justice North is a damn smart man who negotiated some impressive deals.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Mercile was funded in part by the US. It’s not widely known but the public would be pissed if they knew where their tax dollars were being spent. Everyone involved wants to keep it that way. New Species could sue the United States and win in court the way they’ve gone after Mercile to be compensated for the years they were imprisoned. It was cheaper to settle and better for public relations to just keep it under wraps. They were given Homeland, the money to start it up, and my task team to hunt down Mercile employees who weren’t captured and to recover New Species still out there. We have found five testing facilities and there could be more. We don’t know but some New Species were given to investors.”

“Given to investors?”

He looked down. “Women, baby. The company traded money for flesh.” His gaze lifted and his mouth grimaced. “Sexual slaves. We try to find them.”

Tears fell. “Oh my God.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed her foot. “That’s what my team is mostly for. We hunt those sick bastards down who bought them and try to find out if the women are still alive.”

“Have you found any?” She hoped so.

“Some. Usually it turns out bad. I won’t lie. Justice demanded to have a task force put at his disposal with full resources to track them down and I was assigned to lead it. We can do what most law agencies can’t, don’t have as many rules as they do and that includes starting up our own prison. We take the ones we arrest there and they aren’t getting out. There’s no such thing as parole or time off for good behavior.”

“It’s at Homeland or Reservation?”

He shook his head. “No. It’s at another location and I’m not telling you where. Some of the people who used to run Homeland before New Species took control are now in charge of that facility. It’s not a resort, let me assure you. They aren’t mistreated but they sure aren’t watching cable or getting visitors.”

“New Species now get to hold the people prisoner who once kept them locked up. That seems fair.”

“No. Justice didn’t want to put any of his people in that uncomfortable situation. The prison is completely staffed by us.”

“Your team?”

“Humans.”

“They are human too, just not completely.”

“That’s true but they call us humans. It’s starting to rub off on me.” He smiled. “I’m going to sleep downstairs on the couch tonight unless you want me to sleep on the floor in here. I could.”

She was touched that he’d offer. Usually he drove her nuts but after what had happened, she didn’t really want to be alone. “You’re too old to sleep on the floor,” she joked. “You’d never get up. My couch pulls out into a king and the mattress is pretty comfy. Thanks, Dad.”

He released her and stood. “I’m just downstairs. Do you want me to leave the light on?”

Becca admitted to being tempted to do just that but she shook her head instead. He was being really sweet at the moment but she didn’t want him using her moment of weakness against her later. Her dad had a way of doing that. Before she knew it he’d be trying to talk her in to moving back into the main house.

“When is Brawn returning?” She really wanted to see him.

“He’s not.”

Shock struck, quickly chased by pain. “What? I was under the impression when I reached Homeland that they’d take his statements and afterward he’d be coming back to my house.”

Anger deepened Tim’s voice. “Tiger is in charge while Justice is on vacation and he deemed it a failure having one of their men live here. They were pretty helpful today getting you back but it’s just not safe for them to live outside those walls. It puts anyone they are with in danger.”

“It wasn’t his fault.”

“I know but I’m glad he’s not coming back. I have a meeting in the morning to go over different scenarios to get some of their guys to integrate with my team. I just have to figure out how to do it safely.”

“I’d like to talk to Brawn,” she braved, risking her father’s temper.

He paused by her door. “That’s not going to happen. I was assured that he’s done with humans. I know something happened between you, you refuse to tell me the details, but I was assured he wants nothing to do with humans ever again.” He flipped off the light and closed her door.

Tears fell. Brawn was done with humans? As in he never wanted to see her again? She remembered how he’d reacted when she’d touched his arm and yelled at Trey to get her out of there. Maybe he’d lied and he was angry at her.

It hurt. She’d fallen for him but should have remembered he didn’t want to get involved with her. He’d made it clear, yet she’d hoped. Becca turned her face into her pillow and clutched it. She missed Brawn and it tore her up a bit that it was over without even getting to say goodbye to him.

Chapter Twelve

Nine weeks later

Becca wandered around the cabin, bored and lonely. She finally settled on the couch, curled into a ball and used the arm of it for a pillow. She was due to contact her dad soon and she’d have to think up a new lie. He thought she was traveling through Europe and would be shocked if he knew she’d never left California. They kept in touch via her computer.

It was much easier to lie that way than to figure out how to route calls with her dad’s caller ID. She had friends and family who lived in France and Germany, they knew her dad was a tyrant and were sympathetic enough to send the occasional postcard his way to keep him fooled. They thought she just needed a break.

That part had been true up to a point. Her dad had driven her nuts after she’d come home and she’d needed a break from him charging into her home trying to draw her out. She’d been depressed after her kidnapping, had taken time from work and hated to admit she’d wanted to stick close to her phone in case he called.

The thought of Brawn made her sit up and clench her hands together over her thighs. She’d been sad at first when he hadn’t tried to contact her but as the weeks passed, it had turned to anger. How dare he not even check on her? It would have been polite to at least get in touch to see if she had recovered from their traumatic ordeal. The fact that he’d had sex with her made it twice as unforgivable not to make that effort. So much for being a team.

His belongings were taken away by one of her father’s men the day after she’d returned home. She’d had to deal with repairmen for two solid weeks, patching up her poor damaged house, and she’d closed the guest bedroom door after they’d left to avoid being reminded of him. It hadn’t worked though. Every single time she passed through the hallway to go to her bedroom, she caught her glance straying there.

Four weeks later she’d made a shocking discovery that had changed her life. She’d had to plot and plan, make up a bunch of lies and move to a cabin in Northern California. She’d worked quickly to make calls to set up an elaborate deception. She discovered she was good at it and believed she’d covered all her bases. Her dad would have tipped her off if he grew suspicious.

Worry struck hard and pitted inside her stomach at the thought of making a mistake. Even the memory of the dreaded phone call she’d made three weeks ago on her way to the cabin had her tense. I bought a disposable cell phone, paid cash, kept the call reasonably short and it was far from here. I even remembered to remove the battery from it and throw it in the trash in case someone tried to track the phone. She took deep breaths. You did it all right and no one knows it’s you. That calmed her a bit.

The phone had rung twice when she’d placed that call. The NSO operator had answered and she’d asked to speak to Doctor Trisha, had lied and said the woman was expecting her call. Becca had given a false name and even used a Texas accent. She’d lived in that state for five years when she’d been a kid while her father was stationed there as a combat instructor. She felt sure she could pull it off and believed she hadn’t forgotten to keep her voice altered.

Doctor Trisha had picked up after four rings. She would never forget the way her stomach heaved at hearing each ring, her heart had raced and fear had gripped her. It was too dangerous to make the call but she’d needed some answers to some important questions.

“This is Doctor Trisha.” The woman had a cheerful voice.

Becca knew that would change. “Hello,” she’d managed to get out. “I don’t have much time, I’m afraid you’ll trace the call, but we need to talk.”

“Um, okay.” The doctor’s happy tone changed to one of hesitancy.

“Is it true that some New Species are allergic to chocolate and it makes them really sick?”

The silence had stretched longer than Becca liked, every one of them counting since time was limited. They could try to track the phone but by the time someone got there, she’d have disabled the battery, been gone and planned to dump it somewhere else in a trash bin.

“You need to address all your questions to the public relations department of the NSO,” Trisha had finally responded. “Have a nice day.”

Panic gripped Becca. The doctor planned to hang up. “Wait! This is urgent.”

More seconds ticked but the line remained open. “It’s urgent that you know if they are allergic to chocolate? What kind of nut ball are you?” Anger altered her voice again.

“I’m pregnant,” Becca blurted, clenched her teeth in regret but knew she’d have to reveal that fact to get the answers she so desperately needed. She took a calming breath to remember to talk with the false accent. “I slept with a New Species and I’m pregnant. I’m afraid that if I eat chocolate that I’ll hurt the baby. I need to know if that’s a possibility.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not laughing.” Becca hesitated. “It’s true and I am afraid to go to a doctor, considering who the father is. Will a doctor be able to tell that right off? I know they take tests and give ultrasounds. Is it safe for me to go see someone or do I have to avoid that to prevent them from finding out?”

“Don’t you have better things to do than make prank phone calls? I do.” Trisha sighed. “I’m hanging up now.”

Panic gripped Becca again. She knew the doctor didn’t believe her but she needed to. “His sperm is noticeably hotter than other men. They are also well endowed, at least he was and he growls a lot during sex. He has sharp teeth, likes to grip skin with them and enjoys sex on the rough side.” She hesitated. “This isn’t a joke and he was circumcised.”

“Who is this?” Trisha’s voice came out soft. “Is this for real?”

“Yes.”

“You need to come to Homeland, just tell them you need to see me and they’ll escort you in. I’ll personally examine you. I don’t believe you since Species can’t breed but it will end this nonsense.”

“I am pregnant, the father is New Species and no way am I coming there. Just please answer my questions.” Becca hated the desperation she heard in her own voice. “Can it hurt the baby if I eat chocolate? I crave it but I’ve avoided having it. I’m taking over-the-counter prenatal vitamins but I’d like to see a doctor. Will he know if he examines me that something is off? It’s two questions, two answers and that’s all I need.”

The silence made Becca realize she’d wasted money on a disposable phone and making the call. No New Species baby had ever been conceived before, everyone knew it was impossible and the doctor didn’t believe her. She’d risked it though since she was on her own without medical help. It terrified her not knowing if the baby was okay.

Trisha finally spoke again. “That’s not possible.”

“Well, it is. I’m definitely pregnant and too afraid to go see a doctor. I didn’t want to risk a test coming back weird and them figuring out my baby is mixed race. Please just answer the question. I have to get off the phone soon. I don’t want you to trace the call. I know y’all can do that.”

“Why don’t you come to Homeland? I’ll personally examine you myself. It’s free if you’re worried about money.”

“I can’t do that.”

Trisha spoke fast. “This is a prank, right?”

Becca fought tears. “I wish it were but no. I’m scared,” she admitted. “I know about the hate groups and I’m the first woman to get pregnant by one of them, which would be huge news. I don’t want my baby to be the center of a freak show or to be targeted by idiots. I’ve rented a remote cabin. No one but you knows about this. I don’t trust anyone.”

“You need to see a doctor. Come to Homeland. It will be safe. No one will hurt you.” Trisha took a deep breath. “Or I’ll come to you if this is real. Just tell me where you are. No one has to know.”

“It’s not happening.” Becca hesitated. “I can’t let my family find out. It’s hard to explain and complicated but that’s how it is. The baby’s father is New Species. Is there anything special I can’t eat or drink besides the regular stuff? Do I need to consume more meat? I know they eat a lot of it.”

“Tell me something else so I know this is real.”

Becca bit her lip. “I’m gaining weight fast and showing already when I shouldn’t be. I had morning sickness within a few weeks of getting pregnant but I thought I caught the flu until I started gaining weight and my breasts grew tender. I’ve had friends who had babies and remembered them complaining about that when they were pregnant.”

“Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you. You need medical supervision immediately if you are pregnant and it’s a New Species. How far along are you?”

“I’d rather not say. You could ask who’s slept with a human woman and narrow it down to find me. I won’t take that risk.”

A soft curse issued from the doctor. “You don’t know how dangerous this could be if you are alone. Are you really going to a remote cabin? You can’t do that. You need medical help close by. I need to know how far along you are.”

“I have to go. Do I need to eat more meat or avoid any foods? Can I see a doctor safely without it ending up on the evening news? Just answer that. I don’t want to harm the baby by not giving it what it needs or eating something it can’t tolerate.”

The doctor softly swore. “Yes. Eat more red meat. Some New Species get sick on chocolate. I don’t know if it would affect a baby but it can make some of them really ill. Don’t chance it. A doctor would get odd results right away if it were a Species baby and think something was wrong with your pregnancy. He’d run more tests and they would figure it out quickly. Come to Homeland. You—”

“That’s never going to happen. I’m sorry but forget that. I won’t see you.”

“Can you at least call me every day? Do you have a pen? I’m going to give you my cell phone number. We’ll talk and you’ll get to know you can trust me.”

Becca hesitated. “You won’t try to trace the call or anything?”

“I swear.”

Becca reached into her purse, knew it was a bad idea, the doctor was probably lying, but she was desperate. “Give it to me.” She wrote down the number. “I’ll call you in a few days. This isn’t a prank. I really am pregnant and it really is by a New Species.”

“Please, I’m begging you,” Doctor Trisha urged softly. “Let me come to you or you come to Homeland. Just walk up to the gate and tell them to page me. No one but me needs to know right now. Please just—”

Becca had hung up the cell phone and slid the back off to remove the battery. Two miles later she’d ditched the phone in a trash can and continued on her drive to her rented cabin. She pulled her thoughts from that conversation and stood from the couch. She stretched and knew she needed to run errands soon. She had to make one more call first. Yesterday something had happened that left her no choice. She needed to talk to Doctor Trisha again.

The new disposable phone lay on the dining room table. She bit her lip, debated taking a long drive to hide her location better, but her father would know if something were up. He never said anything in his emails, she felt safe no one suspected her of anything and she probably was safe. Doctor Trisha might honestly be trustworthy when she said she’d never try to track the phone calls. Some people were.

The number she’d scribbled down lay next to the phone. Her hands trembled a little as she reached for both. I need to make this call. She bit her lip. Another flutter in her belly made her gasp. She dropped the paper and rested her hand over the curved mound of her belly. Hot tears surfaced, caused by worry and confusion. She could feel the baby move. How is that possible?

She stood there debating what to do. The smart thing would be to rush to Doctor Trisha and let the woman take care of her and the baby. Of course reality prevented that. Her dad would kill Brawn. He’d end up going to prison instead of leading the task team and she’d have to explain to her child why he didn’t have any family besides her. She couldn’t do that, no matter how terrified she was. Tim Oberto was a lot of things but rational and controlled weren’t two of them when it came to his daughter. He’d never believe Brawn hadn’t forced her and he’d see blood. Brawn’s.

Thinking about the big New Species made her feel guilty. He had a right to know he was going to be a father. She knew right from wrong but that was one hurdle she wasn’t ready to take on yet. After the baby was born, she’d face that issue. First she needed to have it, keep it safe and figure out a way to deal with her dad. Hopefully meeting his grandchild would go a long way toward muffling his murderous rage.

Guilt turned to anger in the next moment. She chalked it up to her hormones but if Brawn had called her he might know he was going to be a father. It took both of them to get her in the mess but it was up to her to try to contain the fallout. She’d been tempted plenty of times to try to reach him but had no idea how without having to go through the NSO switchboard. They’d ask why she wanted to talk to him, might investigate her to make sure she wasn’t a threat and that meant having her father and his team come after her. It was just too risky. Calling a human was one thing, they might figure she was a friend of Doctor Trisha’s, but a human woman calling a Species male would be odd.

The flutter happened again, more of a tiny kick and she closed her eyes, amazed at the feeling and frightened. Brawn was a big guy and she’d hoped she was gaining weight so fast because the baby might be as large as the father but she couldn’t forget he wasn’t totally human. She might not know much about pregnancy since she’d never experienced it before but she had friends who had children. She shouldn’t feel the baby stir for months. The baby might be growing faster than a purely human one, thanks to Brawn’s altered genes, and like it or not, she was in over her head. She needed to have a conversation with the New Species doctor to figure it out.

She opened her eyes and reached for the paper again. Her hands shook as she dialed the number. Her heart pounded as the phone rang. A woman’s voice answered on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Doctor Trisha?” Becca remembered to use the same Texas accent. “It’s me again. The pregnant lady.”

“You promised to call me and it’s been three weeks,” the doctor accused, sounding out of breath and maybe excited. “How are you?”

“Scared and alarmed. I’m feeling the baby move. How can that be? It’s way too early.”

“How far along are you?”

“We’ve been over this. I am not telling you that. Is it possible that the baby could be developing faster than normal? I mean, is that nuts to even consider? New Species are part animal and I’ve been researching on the internet. The gestation period is shorter in animals than in humans. I’m gaining weight too fast and now I’ve got movement. It’s not gas either.” She shorted a laugh at that one, glad for some humor. “It’s definitely the baby.”

“You need to come to Homeland. What is your name?”

“Pregnant lady.”

“Are you really living in a cabin by yourself?”

“Yes.” Becca figured that was safe information to give out.

“Do you have a friend or someone who checks on you at least?”

She hesitated. “What is the point of asking me this?”

“You’re alone, you told me you don’t trust anyone and you need help if you really are pregnant. What are you afraid of? No one is going to hurt you. You can walk right up to the gates, tell them you’re there to see me and I swear I’ll rush right out. If you don’t want anyone to see you, I can meet you anywhere you want. I’ll bring my bag and some equipment that is mobile. I can even come to your cabin.”

“That’s not going to happen. I got lost for a reason. I don’t want anyone to find me.”

“I can tell you if your baby is all right. Don’t you want to make sure? I have a son and I know I was worried sick about his health when I was pregnant. I swear I gave myself an ultrasound almost daily just to check on him. I could do that for you if you came here. I’ll come to you if you don’t want to be seen. I know there are protesters out there. We have a helicopter and could fly you in to prevent anyone from seeing you.”

“I appreciate that but as I said, I don’t trust anyone.”

Trisha hesitated. “Are you afraid of the father? Is that it? Do you think if you let him know that he’ll react badly?”

“I try not to think about him.” Becca leaned forward and sighed. “I know he has a right to know and I plan to tell him one day but not until it’s safe. You don’t know what is at stake.”

“Then tell me. Just tell me something.”

Becca hesitated. “My family would go insane if they found out and they would hurt the father. That’s all I can tell you.”

“So you are protecting the father of your baby? That’s why you won’t come in? Your family doesn’t have to know. Your family can’t get to him or you if you come here. I swear you will be safe. All of you will be.”

That might be the case for the average person but not for Becca. Her father had to know everything that happened at Homeland and Reservation. Having a pregnant woman show up would be a security risk. He’d be notified and she still winced over the memories of him asking her a hundred times if anyone had touched her when she’d been held prisoner. The rage that threatened in his eyes assured her he’d stop at nothing until Brawn was dead. It’s why she’d never told him about her marriage. He’d have murdered Bradley in a heartbeat. Her dad was a dick at times but he became downright insane when someone hurt her.

“Are you still there?”

Becca realized she’d drifted in her thoughts. “Yes. Do you think the baby is growing faster than normal? Is it possible? Just answer me that because that’s all I can figure and I’m worried.”

“Are you more than four months along?”

“No.”

“Good.” Trisha hesitated. “Don’t you want to know the sex of the baby? If you let me see you I could bring a portable ultrasound machine and tell you the sex.”

“That’s just mean. You know I’d love to know that but I can’t risk it. If you aren’t going to answer me, I need to go.”

“Wait! How are you feeling? Are you healthy? Any unusual symptoms or anything? I’m assuming you haven’t seen a doctor?”

“You know I can’t risk that. I’m tired a lot but I read that’s normal. My appetite is great. I haven’t thrown up in weeks and am past the morning sickness stage. I have to go. Thanks for talking to me.”

“You have to call me more often. At least once every few days. You’re alone. Something could go wrong. Please?” The doctor sounded panicked.

“I’ll call you once a week.”

“Do you promise? I am worried about you. You don’t know everything and I can’t tell you over a phone.”

“Tell me what?” Becca’s heart pounded with fear. What did the doctor know that she wasn’t saying?

“Just call me and we’ll keep talking.”

“I have to go.” Becca hung up.

Trisha hung up and put her house phone to her ear. She’d called Justice when she’d picked up her cell with the woman and let him overhear the conversation on speaker phone.

“Did you recognize her voice? You deal with most of the humans we come in contact with.”

Justice sighed. “No. I didn’t recognize it but the accent is fake. She slipped a few times. Maybe she’s lying about the pregnancy.”

“No. She knows too much. She said she felt the baby move for the first time. She’s between eight and ten weeks along. That’s when we feel movement. That’s good. Thank God. I was terrified we wouldn’t have any time to find her before the baby was due. She is about halfway through her pregnancy, Justice. I delivered my son at twenty weeks. She doesn’t know New Species babies grow and develop faster. We have to find her fast. My husband is canine. Feline pregnancies could go faster and I’m assuming he was feline, considering she didn’t mention the penis swelling during sex that is common with canines. Hot sperm is more noticeable with felines. We won’t know until the first feline mixed baby is born how long their pregnancies last.”

“Let me… Hang on. Tiger just walked in.”

Tiger chuckled. “We got a trace. We know about where the call came from. I have good news and bad news.”

“What’s to report?” Justice hit speaker phone. “Can you hear us, Trisha?”

“I can,” she stated. “What’s the bad news first?”

“It looks like this woman is probably the real deal. The call was traced to an area near Reservation. She must live out there, which means she probably did come in contact with our people.”

“That’s good news,” Trisha agreed.

“Not when we have a human pregnant by one of us and we didn’t know about it. It’s bad until we have her here and secure.” Tiger took a breath. “The good news is that it’s a remote area. We’ll send teams out and look for her. There aren’t that many cabins out there if she’s really living in one. It might take a few days to go to all of them but it shouldn’t take more than three days. We’ll find her soon.”

Justice sounded relieved. “That’s great.”

“Yes. Will she be showing, Trisha?” Tiger moved closer to the phone.

“She says she is and she felt the baby move which should put her between eight and ten weeks. You’ll definitely see a rounded stomach from the baby. She will smell faintly like Species too, up close. I did. The further along she gets the more she will carry that scent and the stronger it will get.”

“Justice, if you don’t mind, I’d like to head this one. May I take the helicopter and fly up there?” Tiger paused. “I’d like to keep the team tight, only take handpicked Species who are good with humans and we’ll have to bring in a few of the task force for this. They’ll go in first to avoid raising suspicion.”

“Yes,” Justice agreed.

“Me too,” Trisha said. “I’m going. I’ll call Slade and tell him we’re all leaving. I’ll pack our bags and get Forest ready to travel. I want to be there when you find her, Tiger. She’s going to be scared as hell. Did you hear what she said about her family, Justice? Do you think they are part of those protestors who picket the NSO? Maybe that’s how she met one of ours. He might be an officer at Reservation’s gates. It makes sense if that’s the case. Her family hangs there, she’d be with them and she’d have spent time with our guys.”

“Makes sense.” Justice hesitated. “Yeah. That’s fine. Find this female, Tiger.”

“I’m on it,” Tiger growled softly. “I’m more worried about someone else finding her before we do or this family of hers discovering her secret if they are fanatics. It wouldn’t end well.”

“I know.” Anger tinged Justice’s voice. “Just find her and get her and her baby home to us so they can be safe. Thank you for allowing us to trace your calls, Trisha.”

“I didn’t really have a choice,” she muttered. “I’m still not happy about lying to her. I gave my word I wouldn’t do that.”

“You didn’t trace her. I did.” Justice cleared his throat. “I asked my males if any of them had shared sex with a human and that didn’t go well. It caused anger and they felt I was trying to invade their privacy. Finding the female and getting her behind our gates is priority. I can’t image what would happen if she goes into labor and ends up at a hospital. Our secret would be out. It would be on every news station and anyone who hates us would know her location to target the infant. Worse, she could go into labor alone and die if there are complications.”

“I know.” Trisha pushed her fingers through her hair and gripped the phone tighter against her ear. “I’ve had nightmares about that. That’s why I tried to keep her on the phone as long as possible to give you a shot at finding her. If this doesn’t work though, you’ve got to let me tell her the truth, Justice. She’s having an accelerated pregnancy and she’s going to be blindsided when she goes into early labor. She’ll think she’s losing the baby.” Emotion choked her voice. “Don’t make me go there. It was my worst fear when I was pregnant with Forest. I can’t do that to her and maybe if we tell her, it will make her come in on her own.”

“We can’t risk it. Until we know for sure that she’s not some reporter fishing and that it’s a verified Species baby she’s carrying, you aren’t to tell her anything. That’s an order. I’m sorry but too much is at risk. Your son would be in danger.”

“I know.” She blinked back tears. “I just keep putting myself in her shoes. She sounds genuinely scared about something. Whoever her father is, he must be one scary asswipe to instill that kind of fear.”

“I’m angry at the male who shared sex with her.” Justice growled. “He should have taken precautions or followed up with her. They obviously weren’t close enough that she could feel she could go to him to protect her. When we find out who he is, he and I are going to spend some time in a training room. He put us all in this situation.”

“I get a piece of him after you do,” Tiger snorted. “I tell the officers to use condoms if they share sex with humans but this sounds as if it’s one of Brass’ males so he will probably get the pleasure of pounding in the ground rules.”

“Yeah, beat him up.” Trisha was disgusted. “That will teach him. I’m glad Slade isn’t running Reservation right now and we’re home. I hate it when I have to patch him up.”

Justice chuckled. “It’s a male thing.”

Chapter Thirteen

Flame studied the cabin that appeared empty of life and waved the human team forward. They carefully surrounded the cabin, three of them keeping out of sight in the trees. One of the humans, Bobby, knocked on the front door. He wore jeans and had grease smeared on his hands. They all were dressed in casual wear so they didn’t appear suspicious and frighten the off the woman if they found her. They had a cover story if someone answered the door. Bobby would ask to use her phone to call a tow truck for his supposedly broken-down car.

No one answered. Bobby peered in the window and waved everyone forward as he dropped to his knees. He picked the lock and had it open by the time Flame reached his side. They glanced around the small living room and Bobby turned to Flame.

“Someone is definitely living here.”

Flame walked farther inside the home and inhaled. “It’s a female who lives alone. I only pick up her scent.”

His heart rate increased with excitement that this might be the right place when he spotted a crib in one of the two bedrooms. Everything for the infant smelled new and unused. The second bedroom was the woman’s and he pulled back the covers, leaned in and pressed his nose against the sheets. One good whiff and he knew they’d finally located the right female. He could smell her, the faint scent of pregnancy, and Species.

Flame pulled his cell phone as he turned to face the human team. “This is the right place. She must be coming back soon, her things are here, so implement the plan.”

Bobby grabbed his radio. “Call off the search. We found her. Return to base and stay out of sight.”

Flame dialed Reservation. “We found her but she’s not here. I believe she should come back soon. I scented what we expected to find. I’m going to wait in hiding for her to return. Have the helicopter standing by and fueled. I want it sent the second I have her.”

He hung up and glanced at the men around him. “I can handle her. I think it’s best if I make contact alone. Go ahead and return to base.”

Bobby, the team leader of the task force assigned to Flame, hesitated. “Are you sure? I’ll stay behind as backup.”

“No. This isn’t a dangerous situation. We’re doing a favor for Trisha. Her cousin ran away from an abusive husband and she was worried. She won’t fight or cause harm. I’m just going to give her a message.”

“Oh.” Anger tensed Bobby’s features. “We’ve been busting our asses for that?” He spun, stomping away.

Flame let him go and hated making him angry. He liked the team but they hadn’t shared why they were looking for the female, didn’t want to tell them why she was really so important and didn’t plan to. The less they knew the better but they’d needed them to make contact, knock on doors. Anyone opening a door to a Species would have been alarmed and word might have spread. It wasn’t something they wouldn’t gossip about or worse, call the police over. That meant the reporters would get a whiff of a story. The female might have heard they were in the area and fled.

Flame watched the men leave. The NSO was terrified that if it got out they could have children with humans, it would cause a lot of problems. They trusted the task force but the tabloids offered too much money for some to resist. Keeping that information known to Species and their mates only was essential. Everyone who knew the truth was personally invested to protect that secret. He closed and locked the front door, found a good location to wait and leaned against the interior wall. He had patience.

Becca smiled and rubbed her stomach as the baby kicked softly. She was sure that was the fluttering feeling she kept getting. It made her happy every time, assuring her all was well inside her belly.

“I know.” She lifted her hand to grip the wheel with both of them. “This dirt road is kind of rough and sucks. You feel that, don’t you?” She slowed the car a little on her way to the cabin. Talking to the baby had become a favorite pastime. “We’re almost home.”

She parked in front by the door, shut off the engine and released her seatbelt. She stood, stretched a little and wiggled her butt. The bumping around on unpaved road always made her rump feel a little numb. She shoved the door shut, opened the back passenger one and leaned in to grab the two grocery bags.

“Hungry? I am starving! We missed breakfast when we ran out of milk and it took longer to get to town than normal thanks to that logging truck hogging the road. I wasn’t about to try to pass him.”

She hefted the bags, used her hip to close the door and climbed the porch steps, careful not to trip. The chair next to the door took one bag as she used her keys to get inside, turned and grabbed the bag again. Her foot shoved the door closed behind her.

“I want a big ole steak. Doesn’t that sound good? And milk.” She walked into the kitchen, dumped the bags on the counter and reached in for one of the meat packages. “Sorry for the tummy rumbling you’re hearing.” She chuckled. “I bet it’s pretty loud in there where you are since I can hear it out here.”

She grabbed a pan she’d left on the stove, pulled it to the front burner and tore open the plastic. Starved was an understatement. Hunger seemed to plague her constantly. She dumped the steak into the pan and tossed the packaging in the trash next to the stove.

“Five minutes, kiddo. We’ll be slurping milk and chowing down on a T-bone.”

She turned to put away the rest of the groceries and movement caused her to gasp. A tall man dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt stepped into her kitchen from the dining room. Terror gripped her instantly. She hadn’t locked the door when she’d entered the house and her frightened gaze jerked up to his face.

“Oh shit,” she muttered. It wasn’t just some random stranger bent on robbing or killing her. He was a New Species. His light-red hair was windblown and his catlike eyes blinked at her. His hands slowly rose, palms out at his side.

“Easy, female. I am not here to harm you. I came to talk. Doctor Trisha sent me. I’m Flame. Don’t be alarmed.”

Becca backed up. Alarmed? A New Species was inside her cabin. Her hands darted protectively over her stomach and his gaze lowered, noticing her reaction. He looked at her, held her gaze and remained where he stood. She backed up more.

“Careful. There’s a hot pan behind you.” He tensed. “Don’t get burned.”

“Get out,” she whispered, heart pounding.

She stopped moving but panicked inside. She’d made a huge mistake trusting that doctor and they’d obviously traced her call. They would have had to do that to find her. The proof stood in her kitchen, watching her.

“Doctor Trisha is worried. You’re safe and no one will harm you. She just wants to make sure you and the baby are fine. She flew to Reservation two days ago when she talked to you last. She didn’t trace your call. We did, to the local cell tower that relayed your call. Do not be angry with her. She didn’t break her promise but had no control over what we did.” His gaze lowered to her stomach again and he sniffed. “Your baby is New Species and you need special care during your pregnancy.”

“Just forget you found me and go away,” Becca pleaded as she blinked back tears. “Just leave me alone.”

He met her gaze again and sorrow filled his exotic eyes. “I can’t do that. You and your baby need to see a doctor. You are about halfway through your pregnancy. If we left you alone you would be in for a shock when you hit your fifth month. That’s when your baby will come full term.”

Becca’s mouth fell open. It took her a second to recover. She’d guessed the baby might develop faster but nothing had prepared her for that. ”What?”

“It’s a Species baby. It will be male, it will look Species and it will be born at around five months, full term. We develop faster. You told the doctor enough for her to know the father of the baby is like me. I’m feline. The baby will have features like the father. You won’t be able to pass your child off without anyone taking one look and knowing what he is. Hate groups will come after you and your child. They will try to kill you both. Mercile Industries might come after you and your child as well.” He paused. “Some of the employees are still out there avoiding capture, being hunted, and they might try to use you both as leverage against us or worse. You are putting yourself and your baby in severe danger by not coming to us. We would never hurt you or your child. We’d never take him away from you. Your pan is burning. May I turn off the fire under it?”

Becca turned her head, saw smoke rising and the smell of burning meat finally registered. She reached over to turn it off. She stepped away from the stovetop but kept her distance from him. He held still, not moving as she watched him warily.

“No one knows about this baby. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to hide. I’m good where I am and you can leave.”

The New Species frowned. “Reservation is fifteen miles from here. Let me take you there to allow Doctor Trisha to look you and the baby over. If you refuse, we will just put a detail of security around your home to keep you and the baby safe. That isn’t up for debate. You and the child need to be guarded around the clock. It’s more dangerous for you here but we would never force you to live in captivity. We know all about that.”

She shook her head. “I can’t go with you and you can’t send people here to protect me. You don’t understand. I don’t know you, which is good, but there’s going to be hell to pay if anyone recognizes me.” Terror gripped her. “Are there any humans around or is it just you?”

“It’s just me.”

“Thank God.” She could breathe again. “Please just forget you found me and go. The worst thing you could do is send a security detail here. Swear to me you won’t do that.”

“Explain why that’s dangerous. It would protect you.”

The baby kicked hard. Becca flinched and rubbed her stomach. The New Species male smiled suddenly as he met her gaze.

“I saw that. He is strong. Trisha said that by the time she was in her sixteenth week it felt as though her son might kick his way out.”

Shock tore through Becca. “Doctor Trisha?”

Flame nodded. “I am allowed to tell you. It is confirmed that you are pregnant with one of my kind. She has a son named Forest who is Species. Trisha is married to one of us. She had her baby at twenty weeks. Would you like to see her son? Would you like to see what your baby is going to resemble? Species are cute as infants. He is canine mix so his features are a little different but I think you will be less frightened to have a Species baby if you see Forest. He claims the hearts of everyone.”

“I can’t go. You need to leave and don’t let them send anyone else.”

He frowned. “You need to see a doctor. You are frightened. I can smell your fear. Please stop being afraid. I’d rather shoot myself than cause you any harm. What is your name? We searched but couldn’t find anything with your name on it.”

“We?” Her fear increased.

Flame frowned. “You are terrified.” He suddenly paled. “Did one of us harm you?” His focus jerked to her stomach and then back to her face. “Did the father hurt you? Did he force you?”

She shook her head.

Flame’s frown deepened. “But you are afraid. Why?”

She met his eyes. “I don’t want the father of my baby to know. At least not yet. I have enough to worry about without dealing with the crappy situation with him. I also don’t want my family know. It’s…complicated.”

“You’re terrified. Tell me why now.”

She bit her lip. “I can’t. Let’s just say my family is in a situation to hurt the father and while I’m not a fan of his, I don’t want anything to happen to him. I also don’t want my baby growing up without any family since mine will be in prison for murder. You need to just leave.”

Flame watched her and his features softened. “You’re giving me no choice but to do this the way I didn’t intend. I won’t reconsider and leave you this way without a security detail. I was certain I could talk you in to going with me but I see now that you are determined to stay.” He glanced at her stomach once more, took a deep breath, and his gaze hardened when he met her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Don’t be afraid but you are going with me. You’ll see the doctor, have round-the-clock security and that isn’t up for debate. You’re obviously in extreme danger anyway and it was a good thing we found you. Please don’t fight me. Think of your baby.” He moved.

Becca backed up and her ass hit the counter. “No.”

In four long steps he had her and his hands carefully gripped her arms gently. “The helicopter comes. You would have heard it in a moment and known I planned to take you whether you agreed or not. I don’t wish to cause you fright and remember no one is going to hurt you. We are going to Reservation where Trisha will look you and the baby over. You have no choice in this. Remain calm for the baby.”

“Let me go, damn it!” Becca yelled and tried to twist away.

He suddenly released her and easily scooped her up into the cradle of his arms. Becca screamed and clawed at his shirt. “Put me down.” She didn’t struggle, too afraid he’d drop her and he was tall. It would be a long fall to the floor.

“Think of your baby,” he growled loudly. “Relax and slow your breathing. Calm.”

Terror hit Becca but she stopped tearing at his shirt. Her fingers fisted the material though, clung to him and tried to find words that would make the big New Species put her down.

“This is kidnapping! Yeah. It’s illegal and you’re not on NSO property. I’m a US citizen and I refuse to go with you. You can’t do this. It’s against the law.”

He glanced down at her and arched an eyebrow as he carried her through the house. “I’m aware of some of your laws. Possession is nine tenths of it and I have you.” He adjusted her in his hold to secure her tighter against his bulky chest. “You are safe.”

She knew she couldn’t get away from him and he wasn’t going to change his mind. She studied his handsome face, didn’t see anger there, but pure determination was easy to read. Flame was taking her to Reservation come hell or high water. She heard the helicopter approaching as he reached the front door. It was wide open now, something he must have done before startling her in the kitchen, making her suspicious that he had planned to carry her out in the first place.

Please don’t be my dad’s pilot, she prayed silently, watching the helicopter land between the tree line and her rental cabin. She’d met her father’s pilot but couldn’t remember his name. He’d remember her though for sure. Her dad boasted that he kept pictures of her in his office at work. The pilot might have forgotten her from the brief meeting they’d had at her dad’s house but looking at her pictures in an office almost every day tended to make someone learn a face.

Relief swept through her when she saw the helicopter pilot. He was much older than her father’s pilot, not anyone she’d ever seen before. The back doors opened. She tensed again, praying none of the task-team members were inside. It was two Species males who jumped out. No one else was inside the belly of the helicopter and she relaxed. She was still safe and unknown for the moment. Her dad wouldn’t be getting any calls that would trigger a rampage.

Flame carried her down the porch steps and addressed the two NSO officers who stood next to the waiting helicopter. “Get her things and lock up the cabin. She has food on the counter that needs to be put away. The helicopter will return for you in half an hour,” he yelled.

The men nodded. Becca glanced at the new faces, neither familiar, and gasped when they suddenly gripped Flame’s upper arms. They lifted him, with her still resting in his strong arms, off the ground and into the helicopter. Flame ducked his head, carried her to a bench and sat. The doors closed.

He adjusted her to put on his belt but was careful to keep one arm hooked around her ribs at all times in case she bolted. She considered it but the helicopter lifted off. It was too late and she wished it wasn’t so loud inside. She’d love to try to convince him to take her back, even if it was pointless. The guy was stubborn and she knew the type well. Her dad’s image flashed through her mind. He’d murder Brawn, go ballistic and maybe even take out other Species. No way would he believe she hadn’t been forced to have sex with Brawn. Even if he accepted that she’d been attracted to him, in her father’s eyes, the circumstances would have made her consent invalid.

Memory surfaced of two days after she’d been home from her ordeal. Her father had suddenly walked into her home, hugged her and pulled back to study her face. His words still haunted her.

“It put me in a hell of a situation when you were taken, baby. I swore to protect them but damned if I wouldn’t have killed New Species if that had been some kind of breeding project they’d taken you to. I wouldn’t have cared if they’d been drugged or victims. You’re my girl and every single one who touched you would have had to die. I couldn’t sleep nights knowing that you were helpless in there, scared. I couldn’t bear to think that anyone had laid a finger on you.”

She’d lied and assured him nothing had happened but he’d refused to stop going on about what he’d have done. She’d stood there and let him hug her again, knew he’d go to prison to show her his version of love and been terrified of what he’d do if he ever found out she’d had sex with Brawn.

The helicopter hit a little turbulence, pulling her from her thoughts and panic struck. Doctor Trisha would recognize her the second they met. She’d been the doctor who’d examined her after she’d been rescued from that warehouse basement. She turned her head to stare at Flame.

“You can’t do this to me. Let me go, damn it. You don’t understand.” She yelled to be heard, knew he caught the words and it encouraged her. “Please?”

He looked apologetic look but shook his head. His hold on her tightened as if he feared she’d try to get up and rush for the door. She wasn’t stupid or suicidal. More turbulence shook them roughly and Becca felt suddenly sick. She threw her hand up to her mouth to cover it.

Flame cursed and lifted her off his lap, holding her inches above it to lessen the motion of flying. “Close your eyes and breathe through your nose,” he ordered loudly. He adjusted his hold enough to grip her wrist and tapped her skin there with his thumb over her pulse.

It distracted Becca enough that the nausea eased but not by much. His hold on her was very gentle, almost reminded her of Brawn. She closed her eyes and buried her face against his neck. His warm skin, the strong arms and the big body felt eerily similar to Brawn as well.

“We’re almost there,” Flame said loud enough to be heard. “I’ve got you and it’s almost over.”

Becca’s thoughts ran rampant. Brawn was going to find out about the baby soon. Her father had told her he was a council member. He’d be informed she was at Reservation as soon as Doctor Trisha recognized her. Tears filled her eyes and she hated how some of them spilled out against Flame’s neck. He nuzzled her with his head, probably trying to comfort her and that made it worse.

She didn’t want to see Brawn. He hadn’t called and she was still hurt and angry that she’d meant so little to him when she’d believed they had shared something special. He’d be shocked to learn she was pregnant, probably as stunned as she’d been, but she worried he’d be mad too.

Worst-case scenario—Brawn might want to take the baby from her. Flame had said they wouldn’t do that but she knew enough about New Species to know most laws didn’t apply to them. Could they just toss her outside the NSO walls after she gave birth and keep her from ever seeing her baby again? Who would stop them? Their property was considered sovereign territory. They answered to no one, had their own laws.

Obviously Brawn didn’t give a damn about her but he might want the baby. More tears spilled and the idea of her father killing him didn’t seem that horrible anymore. She forced her mind to stop that line of contemplation. She didn’t trust men, they lied and pretended to be what they weren’t. She’d learned that painful, horrible lesson with her first marriage.

She’d never have pegged the big, fearless Species as an asshole but she’d been wrong. He had a reason to return to her house—to collect his belongings—so they could talk in person after they’d been freed but he’d avoided the entire issue by having her father pack his things. He wanted to forget all about Becca and what had happened between them. The message had been loud and clear, a severely painful one for her.

The helicopter set down, bumped the ground hard and shook her from her thoughts about Brawn. Flame rose to his feet, tucked his head and walked to the door that opened from the outside before they reached it. Becca lifted her head, glanced into his eyes and swore she saw pity there.

She turned her head to stare outside, worried someone who knew her would be waiting. A female New Species stood there instead and smiled. She was tall, muscular and sported an NSO uniform. Her gaze fixed on Becca’s midsection and she had no doubt the New Species knew she was pregnant. Worry ate at her that word might be spreading far enough to reach her father but so far she didn’t think they knew her name. It was only a matter of time.

Two male New Species startled her when they stepped from each side of the open doors and reached up. Becca hadn’t known they were there. Once again Flame was gripped by his upper arms and lifted. The males placed him gently on his feet. The redheaded Species flashed them a thankful look.

Her captor strode toward a waiting black SUV and she looked over his shoulder to watch the female follow. When they were clear, the helicopter lifted off again. Becca jerked her head back around to avoid the rush of air from the big blades.

“It’s nice to meet you,” the Species woman called out, rushing to catch up. “I’m called Pink.”

Becca met the woman’s eyes. She’d only seen a few of the New Species women but they were very attractive if the ones she’d seen so far were an indication. The males were photographed sometimes but never the females. It was rumored they had to look pretty bad for them to be hidden from cameras. It just proved how wrong rumors could be.

“What is your name?”

Becca opened her mouth but then closed it. “Just call me Screwed.”

The woman blinked, her smile faded and her gaze dropped to Becca’s round stomach. “You certainly were at one point, to get in that condition.”

Becca suddenly laughed, unable to help it and liked the woman instantly. “Yeah. In so many ways. I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I’m just in a world of trouble and having a really bad day.”

“You’re safe here.” Pink smiled again. “No one is going to hurt you. You and your baby are welcome at the NSO and are considered family. Your baby is New Species and you are considered as such, as the mother.”

“Thank you. I mean that.” It touched her that strangers were trying to be so kind. She really wished they’d just let her go. That would be the best thing of all but it wasn’t going to happen. “Where are we going?”

“The Medical Center,” Flame answered as he waited for Pink to open a back door so he could place Becca in the seat. “Doctor Trisha is waiting for you.”

Becca turned her head to glance at the open terrain with tons of grass and a lot of trees in the distance. She’d never been to Reservation. No pictures of it were ever released and all helicopters and airplanes were banned from flying over it. The NSO guarded their home territories with relish.

Pink walked around the SUV to drive while Flame climbed in the backseat with Becca as if he worried she’d try to flee. It wouldn’t have done any good. She knew security walls totally enclosed the vast property of Reservation and she’d never get away. They drove slowly away, toward buildings that were within view.

Becca studied the two-story building they parked in front of. It didn’t have a wall of glass at the front like the Medical Center at Homeland. This building had small, blacked-out windows that were high above the ground. Flame opened the door of the SUV and slid out, holding out his hand to help her. His cat eyes stared at her grimly.

“Should I carry you or will you walk on your own?”

She hesitated. “Do you have a gun?”

He blinked. “It’s holstered at my ankle but you won’t be able to take it from me.”

“Could you just shoot me? Trust me. We’d all be better off.”

Pink laughed as she rounded the front of the SUV. “She’s Screwed.”

Becca nodded. “That’s exactly what I am.”

Flame wasn’t amused as he sighed and reached for Becca. She slapped at his hands. “I’m going. I can walk on my own.”

Flame kept close as Becca slid off the seat and stood. Pink kept a few feet away but the New Species remained on each side of her, probably worried she’d bolt. They had reason to worry, Becca admitted, and was tempted to try. Reality set in though and she lifted her chin. There was no way to avoid facing what awaited inside. She took a hesitant step and then another, feeling like a condemned person.

Flame opened the door and ushered her inside. Becca stepped out of the sunshine into an air-conditioned, large waiting room. It was totally empty, silence greeted her and it felt a little eerie.

“Trisha had everyone leave,” Pink informed her softly. “She cleared out the human and New Species staff. She wanted you to feel safe. We are taking you to an exam room where she can make sure you are well and plans to look with her machines at the baby. She said this will be good for you to get to see your child on the monitor.”

Becca’s legs felt like they were filled with sand as she took every step through reception and down a hallway. She caught a glimpse of the doctor. Trisha’s back was to Becca, her blonde hair in a ponytail and she spoke to a tall New Species male with streaked hair. He was smiling at Trisha and he leaned down to plant a kiss on the doctor that was a lot more than friendly.

Flame cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds but here she is. She won’t give her name and she resisted coming.”

The New Species male released Trisha and she slowly turned. Becca met her gaze and watched recognition register as the doctor’s eyes widened. She instantly turned to the male she’d been kissing.

“You better call Justice and tell him to get here right now. Lock down the Medical Center and tell him shit has hit the fan. No one goes in or out, Slade. No humans near her, period. None. And especially not the task team.”

He frowned and glanced at Becca. “Why?”

Trisha stared at Becca. “This is my husband, Slade. Slade, meet Rebecca Oberto. She’s Tim Oberto’s only daughter, the one he brags about. The one who is in Europe. He showed me the postcard he got from her two weeks ago. Call Justice, damn it. We’ve got a bigger problem than we thought.”

Chapter Fourteen

Becca managed to stay on her feet but her knees felt a little shaky. Her secret was out, at least to the people in the room and she blinked back tears. No words came at first. She just stood there trying not to be sick. Her stomach churned from nervousness and fear.

Slade frowned while studying Becca grimly. “She doesn’t seem to be in Europe.”

“Nope,” Trisha agreed. “You should have told us right away, Rebecca. How did you send your dad postcards anyway?”

“My late husband has family over there and I asked a few favors.” Becca blinked back tears. “Just let me leave. I have money and can disappear again. My father…” She paused, pleading with Trisha with her eyes. “He can’t find out about this. He is going to go ballistic and he won’t let this go. He is going to be out for blood and we know whose he’s going to want. He’ll blame him for touching me regardless of it being consensual. He’s never reasonable when it comes to me. Just let me go and let’s end this right now before it’s a full-blown nightmare.”

“We can’t, Rebecca. That baby is going to need to be here where you’re safe. Did Flame tell you anything about what to expect from the pregnancy? A full-term New Species baby develops in about twenty weeks. You’re what? Eight weeks along?” Trisha took a step closer.

“Nine.”

“You’re almost halfway through your pregnancy. It’s why you are showing and can feel the baby move. I have a son with Slade. The New Species’ altered genetics are strong and override everything so the baby will be male and he will have the New Species physical traits. You can’t just have this baby and hide it. Your dad is going to have to find out at some point unless you were going to lie and say you were staying in Europe forever.”

“I sometimes fantasize about making up something about a car crash and possibly faking my death.”

Trisha’s eyebrows arched. Becca shrugged.

“I didn’t have all that planned out. I’ve been kind of trying to live day by day to avoid the stress.” Her hand rubbed her distended belly. “I think about it and yeah, stress. I know that’s not good for the baby.”

“We have to inform the father of the baby, Rebecca.”

“No.” Becca shook her head. “It’s my baby.”

“We have to. Your dad will find out at some point and you know that. He’ll go after him. You said so yourself. He needs to be warned at the very least. Would you like us to bring him here to give you the opportunity to tell him in person?”

Becca shook her head firmly again. “We have nothing to say to each other. I can’t stop you from telling him but if you do, I don’t want anything from him except to stay away from me.”

“You blame him for what happened?” Trisha’s face paled. “He was a victim too.”

“I know that and that’s not why I don’t want to see him. Just tell him I don’t want anything from him but for him to stay away. I was stripped of the choice to come here or not. Please don’t force me to see him too. Please?” Becca hated that tears filled her eyes. Hormones and the fear of what would happen were making her highly emotional and taking their toll. “Don’t I have enough to deal with already?”

Trisha hesitated, looked uncertain, but then blew out a breath. “Let’s go look at the baby and check you out. We’ll worry about that first and the rest later. Why don’t you go inside and strip everything off? I’ll be there in a minute.”

Becca nodded grimly and stepped into the exam room. She shut the door the second she was alone, leaned against it and closed her eyes. They were going to tell Brawn and her father the truth. The thing she’d worked so hard to avoid was a total bust. As in I got busted. Damn. Damn. Damn. She put her hands over her stomach and rubbed. The baby moved and she knew at least one thing was right in her world.

Flame frowned. “You know who the father of her child is?” He peered at Trisha, waiting for an answer.

She nodded. “Don’t tell anyone who the father is until he is informed first. Hell, this information is considered completely classified so he’s the only one you tell. You heard her. She won’t tell him herself. I need you to do it, Flame.” She glanced at Pink. “Not a word to anyone about this. We’re the only ones who will know besides Justice when Slade calls him.”

Pink nodded.

Flame hesitated, looking grim. “Who am I going to go give the happy and shocking news to?”

Trisha glanced at her husband before addressing the Species male. “Find Brawn. He was forced to share a cage with her when he was kidnapped and they shared sex. This is going to be…” Trisha sighed, at a loss for words.

Slade put his arm around her. “Difficult for all.”

“Son of a bitch,” Flame cursed. “I think I know where he is. I heard some of the females discussing something this morning at breakfast, before I left for my work shift. I’ll go now.” He spun, noticed Pink’s shocked expression and totally understood that emotion. He stormed toward the doors.

Brawn danced closer to one of the females, happy to be distracted. He’d spent another sleepless night, a day with too much paperwork and hoped he’d wear his body down enough to rest. Breeze grinned at him, bumped her hip against his and her hand curled around his arm.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He spun her, dipped her body until her hair nearly reached the floor and yanked her upright.

“For agreeing to come with me. Isn’t this fun?”

He had to admit it beat staring at walls. “Yes.”

“You’re taking me to dinner later.”

He hesitated.

“You are. I learned a new saying. All work and no play makes males boring.” She chuckled. “Or dull. Either way you need to have fun. You are grumpy and snarl at everyone.” She leaned into his chest and peered into his eyes. All humor fled. “I worry about you. We’re friends. You’d do the same for me.”

He couldn’t refute her words. He nodded. “I am aware.”

“Do you have nightmares?”

He forced his gaze from hers. He dreamed but he wouldn’t admit about what. He inched back so space was between their bodies.

“You’re not sleeping well.” She patted his chest through his shirt. “I will help you tonight.”

He tensed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You’ve avoided everyone since you were rescued.” Her chin lifted and her dark eyes narrowed with determination. “I owe you.”

“Not that.”

She cocked her head. “Just take me out to dinner and allow me to care for you. You need a friend and I’m a good one.”

“You are.”

“Stop talking and dance.”

He pushed his thoughts back and grabbed her hand, spun her and smiled at the way she giggled. To see her experience such joy at such a little thing brightened his day. She was one of his, from his testing facility, and it was his job to keep her happy.

Motion drew his attention as Flame waved his arms from across the room. He stood by the bar, staring directly into Brawn’s gaze. The male had a grim look on his face and he knew instantly that something was wrong. He stopped dancing and released Breeze. Flame walked in his direction, paused ten feet away and all doubt left that the male had something to say to him. Brawn glanced at Breeze.

“I’ll be back.”

“Doubtful,” Flame muttered.

Brawn heard him and shot him a confused look. “Has something bad happened? Has a council meeting been called?”

“No.” Flame backed up to the bar and waved to motion Hound over. “Give me two more please.”

Breeze fisted his shirt. “You will pick me up at six, Brawn. Don’t make me hunt for you.”

He forced a smile and nodded. She released him and he edged around dancers to reach the male. Flame lifted two small glasses that contained dark liquid from the bar where Hound had set them. He met Brawn’s gaze and jerked his head toward the door.

Whatever had happened was bad enough to need privacy. Brawn’s shoulders straightened and he hoped that no Species were hurt. He followed Flame out of the bar. The male kept going, led him through the lobby of the hotel and stayed far ahead of him until they reached the outside. Confusion at Flame’s odd behavior kept him trailing behind him until they walked a good hundred free from the hotel to the grassy area in front of it.

Flame spun and held out one of the glasses. “Drink this.”

Brawn tried to sniff to determine what it was but Flame stood upwind of him. He glanced at the murky drink, raised his gaze and frowned. “What is it?”

“Whiskey. I took two big gulps of it already before you saw me trying to get your attention.”

“I don’t drink that stuff.”

“I don’t usually either but today is the exception. Trust me. Swallow. You’re going to need it.” Flame drank his down fast, snarled softly and fisted the empty glass.

“Just tell me the bad news. I assume something horrible has happened.”

“You want the news?” Flame shoved the drink at him again. “Down that first and then I will tell you.”

Irritation flashed for a second before outright dread. Someone had died. It must be someone he knew. He accepted the tiny drink. He gave it a dirty look but lifted it to his parted lips, forced his hand to raise and the horrible taste plowed through his mouth as he swallowed.

“Ugh. That is terrible.” He wiped his mouth to glare at Flame. “Tell me.”

The male hesitated.

“Get it out. Don’t torture me with the unknown.”

“You should sit down on that bench to your right.”

Brawn growled at him. “Don’t give me orders and stop stalling.”

“Please, sit. We have a serious situation happening at Medical.”

Brawn sat, just to prevent the male from dragging it out anymore and didn’t want to beat the information from him. He was tempted though. “What is going on?”

Flame inched backward to put a few more feet between them. “We have a human female at medical who is pregnant with a Species baby. We had to track her and bring her in against her will. She refused to come on her own.”

“I heard something about that. I was told some human female had contacted Homeland saying she had gotten pregnant by one of our males but refused our protection. I’m glad she was located. Did you find the father?”

“That’s the problem.” Flame stared at Brawn. “The woman refused to tell him herself and hell, she said she doesn’t want to see him.”

Brawn didn’t like that news. “Do you want the council to hold a meeting and try to determine who the father is by asking our people? Do you have a photo of her? It would help. We’ll show her to the males and find the father if she won’t reveal his name.”

“Trisha recognized the female and knows who the father is. The pregnant female has requested he be kept away from her.”

“What is the problem? Keep him away. Hers and the baby’s welfare comes first. You bothered me for this? It sounds as if everything is already handled.”

“I’m glad you said that. It will make things easier.”

Brawn cocked his head, more than a little confused and irritated. Flame was speaking in riddles, not making sense. “I don’t understand.”

“The woman is Rebecca Oberto.” Flame stared at him sympathetically. “Ring any bells, daddy?”

The glass in Brawn’s finger slipped to the ground. He was glad he sat as shock ripped through his system. He stared at Flame, unable to even form words, as his brain tried to assimilate the information. Becca was the female? Pregnant? His heart exploded in a thunderous pounding and blood rushed to his ears.

Flame nodded. “She tried to run and hide. She told her father she was in Europe. She’s definitely pregnant and it’s Species. I smelled her myself.”

Brawn suddenly inhaled. He closed his eyes and a vicious growl tore from his throat. He lunged and grabbed Flame.

He couldn’t believe it. It had to be a lie. Becca couldn’t be pregnant. The doctor had given her pills. Surely she had to have been taking birth control. She would have told him if they’d created life. The male stumbled to get out of his way but he was faster. His fists gripped Flame’s shoulders, his face lowered and he took a deep breath. The scents assaulted his senses as he tried to take it all in.

“You touched her! You have her scent all over you and I smell her fear,” Brawn roared, totally losing all control.

Flame’s body flew airborne before he could leash his rage. The male cried out as he hit the grass on his back a good six feet away, rolled a little as he struck and came up on all fours when he stopped. Brawn’s body tensed, ready to attack and he crouched. Another roar tore from his throat.

“Easy, damn it!” Flame panted. “I didn’t hurt her, Brawn. She refused to come in. She was living in some cabin fifteen miles from here and I had to carry her onto the helicopter. Should I have left her there alone and unprotected? She’s at Medical and she’s safe!”

The words penetrated his haze of rage, but barely. He snarled.

“What is wrong?” Two officers rushed to the area, both putting themselves between the males. The one who spoke addressed Brawn.

Flame slowly rose to his feet. “Nothing. We’re fine. This is a private matter. I had to give Brawn some upsetting news. Please leave us. We won’t fight.”

Brawn gave a sharp jerk of his head, straightened up from the fighting position and clenched his teeth. The officers glanced between them before they left. Brawn watched the other male brush grass off his clothes and finally Flame met his gaze.

“How are you doing now? Calmer? I know this must be a shock. Hell, especially for you. I know how you feel about human females. The good news, I guess, is that she doesn’t want anything from you. She’s not demanding you mate and marry her. She actually requested that you stay away. She’s going to have to live with us so you’ll be able to see your son when you want to. I’m sure she’ll allow that.”

Brawn had to force his breathing to slow and got control of his unstable emotions. Becca is pregnant. Becca is here. He slowly stalked toward Flame. “I won’t attack you. I want a deeper scent.”

Flame didn’t look happy but held his ground. “Why?”

Brawn inched closer to him and inhaled. It wasn’t enough until he lowered his head and closed his eyes. His nose brushed Flame’s shirt and he sniffed. Becca. Her scent was something he’d never forget and he traced more of her, hating the sweet smell of her fear that he picked up.

“Dude,” Flame whispered softly. “Will you stop that? Someone is going to see and get the wrong idea about us. We’re drawing a crowd of onlookers after you tossed me on my ass.”

Brawn growled and lifted his head as he backed off. “She’s at Medical?”

“Yes. Don’t forget the part about her not wanting to see you. She said she didn’t want anything from you but for you to stay away.”

Brawn growled, his rage returned and so did confusion. Why would she refuse to see him? It didn’t make sense. They had created life together. “I’m going to go see her if she wants me to or not.”

Flame softly cursed. “I was afraid you were going to say that. They locked down Medical.”

“Why?”

“Her father. You. She thinks her father is going to try to kill you, Brawn. You’ve met the man. Will he try?”

Brawn shrugged. “Probably.” He turned. “I’m going to her.”

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“I don’t care. I want to see her.” Brawn stormed away.

His ears picked up Flame’s vicious curse and then his voice as he warned someone that Brawn was headed that way. He picked up the pace, his long legs ate up the grass and he started to run. Becca was carrying his child, she was close, and he would get answers.

He ran, allowing his unanswered questions to push him into a burst of speed and reached Medical quickly. He had to slow when Tiger and Slade stood in front of the door and blocked his entrance. He stopped, out of breath, and glared at both males.

“Move.”

Slade watched Brawn warily. “She doesn’t want to see you, Brawn. Give her some time. She’s already upset because we forced her to come here. Trisha is with her trying to make her see reason. My mate will calm her.”

“Move,” Brawn ordered again. His body tensed as a growl burst from his throat over their interference.

Tiger softly cursed. “Let’s not fight, guys. Brawn, you’re upset right now and rightly so. You need to get a handle on your emotions. You look feral, my man. The female is pregnant. Don’t you think when you finally get to see her that you should be calm? I think that’s a good idea. Let’s take a vote. Who’s in favor of that?” He raised his hand.

Slade shot his friend a dirty look but raised his hand. “This isn’t a debate.”

“Humor,” Tiger muttered. “You remember that, don’t you? I’m hoping he does. Come on, Brawn. You look scary.”

“I’m not laughing.” Brawn’s hands fisted at his sides and he glared at Slade. “What would you do if someone told you that you couldn’t see Trisha? Move away from the door and let me pass.”

“That’s different. I’m in love with Trisha and she’s my mate. You and Rebecca don’t have that bonding.” Slade didn’t budge. “Let’s go for a walk and talk about this.”

Becca got dressed and smiled at Trisha. “He looked perfect, didn’t he?”

Trisha grinned back. “Yes. Your baby is healthy and well. I told you it would be a boy. He looks great, Rebecca.”

“Please call me Becca. Other than strangers, no one but my father calls me that.”

“We’ve arranged housing for you. You need to stay here for your child’s sake. There are a lot more ex-Mercile employees out there trying to avoid being arrested. Most of the testing facilities were hit at night since they were afraid the staff would try to kill Species since they tried that at the first one. I can share this information with you because you need to know. The damn news had it plastered on every station and they got to watch their places of work being busted on live TV. Only about twenty percent of the staff were arrested and maybe another thirty percent have either turned themselves in or have been caught. That leaves a lot of desperate, crazy idiots out there who are like the group that kidnapped you. Some of them might think if they had hostages, they could force the NSO to give them immunity. That’s the nice version. You know the group who took you planned to sell the Species they had when their use was up. You are going to have a baby. Can you imagine?”

“Cha-ching.” Becca winced. “Major money to those pricks. I get it.” Horror washed through her. “You think I haven’t had nightmares about that? I have.”

“I know.” Trisha looked grim. “There’s also the jerks who hate Species and believe they are nothing more than rabid animals to be put down. It’s why we haven’t told the world they can have children. It’s a horrible situation. My son is the only second generation Species baby born so far but we have two more women who are pregnant. Maybe in the near future it will be safer for the world to know but right now we need to protect them. This baby will look like Species and there won’t be a doubt of that if anyone sees him. The only thing you can do is stay here or at Homeland where he’ll be safe from discovery. We’ll restrict any humans besides myself and the other mates. You won’t be alone. You’ll have the four of us to support you emotionally.”

“Four?”

“Myself, Ellie, Tammy and I believe you know Jessie Dupree. She worked with your father.”

Shock tore through Becca. “She’s pregnant? She’s uh, mated, to one of the New Species?”

“She married Justice North secretly but they decided to wait a while before trying to have a baby. No one who knows about their wedding has leaked it to the press yet but that could change at any time. Tammy lives at Reservation full-time and Ellie has moved here since we have the better medical facility and they are safer from prying eyes. We’d rather be safe than sorry. So far all pregnancies are healthy and we’re hoping it stays that way. Ellie is due to have her baby soon and Tammy is just a little farther along than you are.”

“This is so much to take in. I thought I was alone.”

“You aren’t. You and your baby just got a really large family, Becca. New Species will consider you that.”

“But I’m not one of them.”

“Your baby is and you are his mother. They treat mates just as if we’re one of their own.”

“I’m not a mate.”

“You’re still family.” She paused. “Why don’t you want to see Brawn?”

Becca hesitated, not sure her pain at his abandonment was enough to justify it but she had a list of reasons besides that. “He was clear from the moment I met him that he doesn’t want anything to do with women like us. He never would have touched me if we hadn’t been kidnapped. We were forced to be together and we thought we weren’t going to be rescued. He was going to be sold at some point and they probably would have left me there to die when they abandoned the warehouse or put a bullet in my head.”

“It must have been very stressful.”

“It was and that’s how Brawn and I ended up getting so close.”

Trisha hesitated. “I am curious. I gave you antibiotics. Did you take them?”

“No. They were horse pills and I just tossed them. Why do you want to know?” She reached up and touched her forehead. “I don’t have a fever, do I? I’d have noticed if I had some kind of blood infection from the needles they used.”

The doctor hesitated. “They weren’t to fight an infection. Those pills were to prevent you from getting pregnant.” Her gaze dropped to Becca’s rounded belly. “I wondered if you either hadn’t taken them or they just weren’t effective. I have the answer now.”

Anger instantly surged inside Becca. “What?”

“I know. It was really wrong not to give you a choice but you should realize how much we needed to protect this secret. As you stated, you aren’t a mate and we couldn’t let you leave if there was a chance of you being pregnant.” Trisha met her gaze. “Try to understand our position. Would you have preferred we kept you here against your will until we knew for sure you weren’t? That was the only other option. It’s not just about you and your baby. It’s about my son, Ellie’s and Tammy’s. All future Species infants.”

It took a lot for Becca to fight through her anger and the feeling of betrayal. They’d tried to abort her pregnancy. She clenched her teeth.

“I’m sorry. Honestly. You were traumatized enough and we were trying to protect you from further harm. Tell me honestly that this pregnancy hasn’t torn up your life.”

“I want this baby.”

“I know.” Trisha’s features softened. “Believe me, I can guess how much you’ve gone through to try to hide and protect your child. I’d have done the same.” She bit her lower lip. “Why couldn’t you just tell us? You’re a smart woman and I can’t figure out how you thought you could do this on your own.”

Becca slipped on her shoes. “I would have had to admit to being locked inside a cage with Brawn and told my father what happened between us. You didn’t see how he acted for weeks afterward. He…” She sighed. “He was really angry and irrational. Kind of insane, to be honest. I had to swear to him that nobody touched me. He would have killed Brawn and still will when he finds out.” Tears filled her eyes. “Put yourself in my place now. My dad loves his job, he loves New Species but he swore to kill any of them if I’d been touched in any way. He is willing to go to prison and Brawn is the father of my baby. I just wanted to protect them both.”

A roar tore through the building. Becca and the doctor both started.

Becca grabbed Trisha. “What was that?”

“My best guess? Brawn is outside. He’s living at Reservation. He and another council member are assigned here and he was just told about the baby.”

“I don’t want to see him.”

Something crashed down the hall, glass broke and someone snarled. Trisha cursed, a panicked expression on her face. “It sounds like you aren’t going to have a choice. Oh crap. I need to get out there.” She tugged out of Becca’s hold.

A roar pieced the air and something else crashed.

“Slade!” Trisha shouted his name as she jerked open the door and rushed into the hallway.

Becca stared out the doorway. Trisha ran and nearly collided with a big body that suddenly filled the end of the hallway. Two strong hands gripped the doctor, prevented her from falling and Brawn lifted her to the side to set her out of his way.

“What did you do to my husband?” Trisha yelled at Brawn.

He growled loud enough for Becca to hear, his gaze lifted until she had no doubt he focused on her and he took a step closer, then another and kept right on coming. A furious expression masked his normally handsome face and she couldn’t miss seeing a lot of skin since his shirt had been torn open to reveal one entire side of his chest.

Terror gripped her as she stumbled back and darted a look away from the threat to search for an escape but there wasn’t one. The small room had a window but she didn’t see a release on it to get it open and all she could do was put the exam table between them.

Chapter Fifteen

Brawn entered the room, his gaze locked on her and his hand shot back to grab the door. It slammed loudly, sealing them inside. His lips parted, he was slightly out of breath and a soft growl came out of him.

“Becca.”

“Stay back.” Her voice shook and she felt raw terror.

His gaze lowered down her body to her protruding belly. It was obvious she was pregnant. He snarled loudly, a vicious sound. He reached back again and the sound of the lock being twisted was undeniable. He took a threatening step closer.

She grabbed the table to keep from collapsing. “Please don’t hurt me or the baby, Brawn. I know you’re mad, that you don’t want me having this baby, but it’s mine. I love it.”

His eyes widened, he paled and another snarl tore from his parted lips. “You think I’d hurt you or my child?” The words came out harsh, his tone rough.

“You’re pissed.” She released the table with one hand and protectively curved it around her middle. “I don’t want anything from you, okay? I wouldn’t even be here if some of your men hadn’t flown me here against my will.”

He took deep breaths, his eyes narrowed into near slits and he took another step. “I’d never hurt you or the child. Why did you refuse to see me?”

She swallowed hard. “There’s no reason we should have to spend time together.”

His eyes lowered to her stomach. “No reason?”

She took a calming breath. “I have nothing to say to you. Why see each other? This happened and we just have to deal with it. I’m going to have my baby. I’m sorry if that upsets you but that’s too bad.”

His fists balled at his sides. “Your baby? Try ‘our baby’.”

Becca was afraid, seeing how mad he was at that moment. “You can see the baby any time you want. I was informed I need to stay here but we’ll just avoid each other. After the baby is born we’ll work out shared visitation rights. Someone can pick up and drop off the baby so we don’t ever have to see each other again.”

Another growl tore from Brawn and his nose flared. His eyes suddenly seemed to change color, darken to near black. “You’ll let me see my child? How generous.”

“I’m trying to figure out a way this is going to work, okay? You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. I know how…” She was at a loss for words. “This shouldn’t have happened but it did. We’re just going to have to be adult about this and figure out a way to get along peacefully for the baby’s sake.”

Someone tried to enter the room but the lock held. Brawn glanced at it. “Stay out. We’re talking.”

“Damn it, Brawn,” Trisha called out. “Let me in. You’re lucky you only threw my husband and Tiger. You could have really hurt them.”

“Go away,” he snarled. “This is between Becca and me. I won’t harm her. Leave us alone.”

“Becca?” It was Trisha. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. It’s okay.” Becca frowned at Brawn, not sure that was the truth.

“I’ll be down the hall putting ice on the guys.” Trisha didn’t sound happy. “Yell if you need help.”

Brawn growled and snapped his head back to stare at Becca. “Come here.”

She shook her head. “You’re really angry and I’m really happy to be on this side of the table. Don’t you dare touch me, Brawn. I know you are upset but this isn’t my fault any more than it’s yours.”

“Come here.”

She refused to budge. “You’re angry.”

“Yes,” he growled. “You should have told me.”

Her anger flared. “When would that have been? When you came to get your stuff from my house? Maybe when you called me?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s right. You didn’t do either of those things. You had my father pack your stuff and send it to you. You never called to even see how I was. Why should I have called you?”

“You won’t come to me?”

“No. I like this much distance between us. I’d like it better if you just left.”

He came at her, his graceful movements reminding her of an animal slowly stalking his prey, and Becca backed up until the wall stopped her. Her breathing increased to a near pant from fear when his hands lifted to flatten on the wall on each side of her.

She watched as his eyes closed, his features softened and to her stunned surprise, he slowly lowered down her body to his knees. His face inched closer until he pressed his nose against her shirt, his hands released the walls to gently grip her hips and he nuzzled her belly.

“What are you doing?” She was frozen.

He sniffed, softly purred and turned his head to nuzzle his cheek over her belly. His hands slid on her pants, hooked her shirt and pushed it up enough to reveal the rounded mound. He pressed his warm cheek to her skin, another soft purr rumbled out of him and he just stayed there.

“Brawn?” Her voice quavered. “What are you doing?”

“I can smell him.”

“What?”

He lifted his chin and his eyes opened. The blue was back in his irises, the darkness gone and he held her gaze. “I scent my son.”

She wasn’t sure what that meant but his anger seemed to have totally dissipated. She breathed a little easier and tried to calm. She relaxed more against the wall and tried to slow her racing heart. The danger of him exploding into a rage seemed to have passed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t want him?”

She hated to see tears fill Brawn’s eyes but couldn’t miss them. Regret slammed into her. “I didn’t know.” Emotion choked her voice and she had to swallow. “I was afraid.”

“You believed I’d hurt you?” Some of the anger returned to his steady gaze.

“I don’t know. I’m hormonal, just afraid of everything and tried to do the best I could on my own.”

“You’re not alone anymore.” He pushed her shirt a little higher on her ribs, gently released it, and dropped his attention to her bare stomach. “I’m here.”

But for how long? That stray thought made her tense. If he said they were a team, she’d have to slap him. She’d heard that before. Staring down at him made her heart soften though. They were having a baby together, had created a life. Hot tears filled her eyes.

Brawn’s calloused fingertips caressed the skin over her belly, so warm and gentle that she closed her eyes to hide how she reacted. He rubbed his cheek against her stomach again, softly purred and the baby kicked in response. His fingers lowered and he lightly gripped her hips and gasped.

“Yes,” she told him softly. “He kicked.”

“My son,” Brawn rumbled, his voice too gruff to sound totally human.

Becca turned her head and remained still, allowing him to enjoy the awe of her pregnant belly. She’d had countless of those magical moments since learning of her pregnancy. His fingers moved, hooked the top of her pants and nudged them down a little. She allowed it, figured he wanted to see her lower belly, but gasped when he tore them down to her knees, baring her panties. Her eyes flew open and she gaped at him.

Brawn stared into her eyes, not glancing at the skin he’d revealed or the scrap of satin covering her mound as she tried to twist away. Strong hands gripped her hips quickly and held her in place against the wall.

“What are you doing?” Her gaze darted to the locked door and back to Brawn. “Move.” She tried to twist out of his hold again, knowing she couldn’t jerk her pants up with his body in the way. “Cover me up.”

He let go of one hip, gripped her shoe and tugged.

“Brawn! What the hell are you doing?”

“I want to see you.” He wrestled her slip-on shoes off her feet, tossing them aside.

“You are.” Her gaze darted back to the door, more than a bit alarmed that someone might unlock it and find her pants around her knees. She grabbed his thick, broad shoulders and pushed. “You’re seeing more than my belly. Let go or back off.”

He straightened up, towered over her and softly growled. “Becca.”

She pushed on his chest but shouldn’t have bothered since it was like trying to move a solid wall. She gasped when his foot stepped on the material between her legs. Her pants were shoved down more to tangle at her ankles. Brawn shocked her again when he pulled her a few inches from the wall, one arm wrapped around her and her feet left the floor as he lifted her.

“Put me down!” She didn’t yell, too afraid someone would come in, but Brawn just turned and laid her on her back over the exam table. She stared up at him in shock as he reached down, fisted her pants trapped around her ankles and lifted her legs.

“What are you doing?” She tried to roll away but her legs were straight up, held there, and it kept her on her back.

“Exploring. I won’t hurt you.”

“This is totally rude, inappropriate and wrong!” She reached for her shirt, tried to shove it down to cover something, anything, but Brawn had other ideas.

He pulled her down the table. She forgot the shirt to grab at the sides to keep from being dropped on the floor but he stopped when her ass reached the edge. To her shock he dropped to his knees, released her pants and gripped her inner thighs. She hadn’t expected that move or for him to dip his head to get between them.

“Relax,” he demanded, his voice deep.

“What are you doing?”

She was exposed with her thighs spread apart. She stared into his amazing eyes, remembering why she’d been so drawn to him. A sexy purr filled the room. Memories were instant of their time together inside that cage, all the nights she’d remembered every vivid detail of his hands and mouth on her. Her libido flared to life. It had been a lonely, hormonal nine weeks filled with desires she had been denied.

He wiggled in to force her thighs farther apart so he could fit between them. She couldn’t get away with her pants linking her ankles together and wasn’t sure she wanted to even really try. Curiosity overrode any fear at his aggressive actions. He spread her more, her ankles feeling a bit squeezed by the material that ended up stretched across his upper back. His gaze lowered.

“That’s not my stomach!”

He glanced up. “I dreamed of this.”

“Of pinning a pregnant woman on a table and holding her ankles behind you with her own pants? Get out of there and stop whatever you’re doing.” She wished she was sure she meant the words but was proud she got them out.

He dropped his gaze and her cheeks warmed, knowing he stared at her blue, satin panties. She gasped when his palm covered her there, the heat of his hand soaking through to her skin. His fingers hooked one edge of them as he pulled the fragile material to the side to expose her pussy to his view. He growled softly, inhaled slowly and licked his lips.

Becca was stunned as he seemed to be breathing her in, not something she’d seen coming and could only think of one thing. “That’s not my stomach either.” He’s not going to go down on me, is he? That question made her heart rate rocket.

He held her gaze and repeated, “I dreamed of this.”

Brawn suddenly opened his mouth and lowered his head. His face burrowed against her inner thighs and she gasped when his hot tongue lightly traced over her clit. She jerked, her fingers released the sides of the table to grab at his black hair and fisted long strands of it. She tugged but he only pressed his face tighter. He growled, caused vibrations to transfer from his tongue against the sensitive bud and her entire body tensed. He licked her again, growled deeper, more of a rumble and applied more pressure. Sensations of pleasure jolted through her.

“Oh God. That’s not fair.”

Becca tasted so good. Her feminine scent mixed with the Species one coming from her because she carried his child was intoxicating to Brawn and made him lightheaded. Everything inside him screamed that she was his, marked by him in every way possible and he wanted to claim her for good.

The sharp jerk on his hair only made him more determined to show her that he was her male. He growled louder, deeper, and his entire body quivered from the strength of his emotions. Her fingers eased and instead massaged his scalp, her fingernails lightly scoring him there as he feasted on her.

The heady aroma of her arousal urged him on as it grew stronger and he tore at the object in his way. Delicate fabric easily gave way and he threw her destroyed panties to the floor. He wanted her pants gone too but needed them to keep her legs wrapped around him. She required some coaxing into accepting him and he used his mouth to tame her.

“Brawn,” she moaned.

Her legs tightened around him and her hips arched against his tongue. Triumph struck. She was his, knew it, and the wild side of him pushed forward to take her. He forced it back, wanted to bring her to climax first and make sure she was prepared to take him. He’d never forget how tightly she sheathed his cock and he wanted to make sure he could enter her easily. A little fear held him back as well. She carried his child and he’d have to take her with extreme care.

His tongue left her clit, licked lower and he groaned. She was so wet, her cream so sweet and he couldn’t get enough as he dipped the tip of his tongue inside her. Her vaginal walls were squeezed together, he had to fight to penetrate even a few inches and she ground her hips against his mouth.

Her breathing increased—soft pants and moans, music to his ears. Becca was his. That thought kept replaying over and over, soothing some of his desperation to fuck her into submission. He withdrew his tongue, hated to leave the heaven he found there, but focused on her clit again. He frantically stroked the bundle of nerves, determined to make her cry out his name. His dick ached so hard it threatened to break the zipper on his jeans.

He knew she was close by the way her fingers fisted his hair again. She didn’t tug at him to leave her pussy this time, instead held him there and her thighs gripped him tightly. Her legs shook as she sucked in air and he tested the slit of her pussy with his fingertips. One finger sank into the slick heat, exploring how soft she was inside and stroked her by fucking her with the thick digit.

Becca was his mate. She carried his child. She was just his.

Becca thrashed on the exam table, bit her lip hard and tried frantically to remember that people were nearby. Brawn had shocked her by going down on her but she hurt to come. She was so close and then he breached her pussy with a finger, pushed in deep and she threw her head back, turned it to the side and pressed her shoulder over her mouth. His finger drove in and out of her as he sealed his lips over her clit and sucked. An explosion of rapture rocked through her body as she cried out. The sound was muffled against the cotton top.

Brawn released her clit and slowly withdrew his finger. Spasms of pleasure still ebbed through her belly, made her shiver and she barely realized that he rolled his shoulders and did something to free her legs as one ankle slipped out of the stretch pants. It wasn’t until strong fingers gripped her under her knees that she forced her eyes open.

Brawn rose to his feet and she met his gaze. The blue of his eyes showed his passion and he settled her ankles on the tops of his shoulders. He reached down and the sound of his zipper opening made her realize what was going to happen. She didn’t protest. She’d missed Brawn, had fantasized about him making love to her, but the setting wasn’t ideal. They were in an exam room. The door was locked though and no one had tried to get in, at least not that she’d noticed, but she’d been distracted.

He leaned over a little, one hand gripped her thigh and his other hand remained between them. Her rounded belly hid the sight of his cock but she felt the thick head of it slide through her folds, hesitate at the opening of her pussy before he pushed a little against her.

“You’re mine, Becca.” He softly growled at her. “I claim you as my mate.”

“What?” One of her legs jerked and her ankle slipped off his shoulder. Her bare foot flattened on his chest and she pushed at him a little.

Exotic eyes narrowed. “You’re my mate. My child. My female. Mine.”

An icy sensation of dread tore through her with brutal force that sobered her from the sexual haze she’d experienced. Her hips jerked, she wiggled her ass sharply and her pussy was slick enough to make the crown of his cock slip up to rub against her clit.

“No.”

The look of instant confusion blanked his features.

“No,” she repeated more firmly.

He growled. “You deny me entry?” He glanced down. “You want me. You can’t deny that. I won’t hurt you.”

She shoved at his chest again with her bare foot. Her heel rubbed on his shirt and shoved it up a few inches. “No! I’m not your mate. Claim me? No!”

Rage gripped his features and he threw back his head. A roar tore out of him and Becca screamed, instantly terrified. He released her and jumped back. She rolled and nearly fell off the table but managed to just slide off without hitting her belly. One ankle still held her pants and she backed up, almost tripped on the damn fabric, and put the table between them.

“You’re my mate,” Brawn snarled. “Mine.”

Becca bent, tried to make sense of her tangled pants and panicked when she couldn’t figure them out.

“Open the door!” Trisha yelled. “What is going on in there?”

“Move,” a male voice demanded.

Something hit the door and it crashed open. All Becca could do was duck down a little to hide her bare lower half behind the table and shove her shirt over her exposed belly.

Slade stumbled into the room. The New Species glanced at her, his gaze seemed to take in everything in a sweeping gaze and he spun when the doctor tried to get around him. He grabbed her around her waist, jerked her off her feet and shoved her at the other New Species male who tried to enter the room.

“Take her down the hall,” Slade ordered.

“What is going on?” Trisha kicked at the other male, twisted her head and got a view of Brawn because she gasped.

Becca followed the woman’s wide stare and saw that Brawn’s pants were still open, his cock out and he was as hard as a rock. The New Species holding her softly cursed.

“My man, zip up. That’s more of you than I want to see.” He turned, still holding the doctor and kept his back to the room.

“Put me down, Tiger. What is going on?” Trisha fought his hold.

“I think that’s obvious,” Slade snorted. “Zip up, Brawn. My mate doesn’t get to see anyone’s dick but mine.”

“Get out,” Brawn demanded. He shoved his stiff cock into his pants but didn’t close the front of them. “This is between Becca and me.”

Speak, her mind demanded. “I won’t be your mate. I don’t care if I’m pregnant and you’re the father. That’s no reason to fling words like that around and what the hell is claiming? Just don’t even go there.”

“Shit,” Tiger muttered, turned and eased Trisha down onto her feet. “You too, my man? I was sure you’d never go down.”

Becca’s face heated fast with embarrassment. How had they known what Brawn had just done to her? It was probably their sense of smell, which only made it worse. She breathed through her nose, couldn’t pick up anything but the sterile smell of the exam room, but she didn’t have their enhanced traits.

“That’s my baby and that makes you mine too.” Brawn’s angry gaze fixed on her and he flashed his fangs her way as he growled.

“Screw you.” She forgot to be embarrassed over the situation of having people in the room who had just caught them after an intimate moment. “I’m not marrying you, mating you, or allowing you to claim me.”

“It’s kind of the same thing,” Tiger offered.

She shot him a glare. “Thanks.” Her focus returned to Brawn.

“I will screw you.” He advanced a step toward her but Slade grabbed his arm. Brawn’s head swung in his direction, glanced at the hand on his biceps and he snarled, “Let go. Don’t interfere.”

“Calm down,” Slade ordered, his voice deepening. “She’s human, with child, and you’re showing your teeth. Take a deep breath through your mouth and get a handle on your emotions.”

“Don’t fight.” Tiger gently pushed Trisha against the wall by the door. “The room is too small and the females will get injured.”

Brawn jerked out of Slade’s hold and tried to step away but the Species male grabbed him again. “Calm down!”

“Get out and leave us.”

“Don’t you dare,” Becca gasped. “You said I’d be safe here. Prove it. Get him away from me.”

“That’s my child.”

“I’m not denying that but it doesn’t give you the right to make rash statements like we’re together. We’re not.”

“We are.”

Becca opened her mouth but a dizzy spell hit, spots appeared before her eyes and she nearly crumpled forward over the table. Her hands caught her weight but she couldn’t miss the sound of a harsh snarl. Two strong arms wrapped around her body—one around her rib cage and the other around her hips, under her expanded belly.

“I’ve got you. What’s wrong?” Brawn was alarmed.

“Everyone turn around,” Trisha ordered the men. “Brawn, put her on the table. She’s pregnant and this has been a stressful day. The last thing she needs is men gawking at her while she’s half naked.”

“I’m okay,” Becca sighed. “I missed breakfast and lunch.” The dizzy spell passed and she wiggled, trying to get free of the strong arms holding her. “Let go.”

“Hang on,” Trisha muttered, rushing to a cabinet. She yanked it open, grabbed something and turned. “Here. We keep sweatpants here for spares in case of emergencies. You have no idea how many guys I treat with leg injuries when they are training. Let me help you.”

“I’ll do it myself.” Becca turned her head and glared up at Brawn. “Let me go. I can dress myself.”

He wanted to argue, she could see it in his eyes, but Trisha was suddenly there. She knelt. “Lift a leg.”

The doctor jerked the sweats up while Brawn continued to hold her. She was grateful that he did but wouldn’t say it aloud. She felt weak and knew Trisha was right. It had been a really stressful day.

“Tiger? Get her to the hotel and I’ll order food. She needs to eat and rest.” Trisha glanced at Slade. “Nobody is to know she’s here. Spread the word to all the Species. I’d have you take her to one of the cabins but I want her close by. That means the hotel. No humans are there and Species won’t mention her being there.”

“I’m on it, Doc.”

She smiled. “Thanks, lollypop.”

He softly growled at her. “Tease.” He left the room.

Tiger turned to face the room. “I have an SUV outside. Let’s go.”

Brawn released her and tried to pick Becca up. She stumbled away and smacked at his hand. “Don’t. You’ve touched me enough, thank you very much.”

“I’ll carry you.”

“You won’t. I’m fine now. I just need to eat.”

“Argue later.” Tiger inched closer. “She’s pale and carrying a child. She needs to be tended to and keeping her here longer is detrimental.”

Becca turned her back on Brawn, met the doctor’s eyes and nodded. “Thank you for giving me an ultrasound.”

“Eat and get plenty of rest. I’ll be by later. Call me if you don’t feel well or need anything. Just contact the desk and they’ll transfer the call to my cell phone.”

“I appreciate that.”

Tiger led the way and Becca followed him out of the room, down the hallway and outside. An SUV waited just as he’d said and Pink was behind the wheel.

“In you go,” Tiger said as he opened the back door.

She allowed him to touch her arm to help but a soft snarl startled her and she found the source. Brawn glared at the Species who touched her as though he wanted to tear the guy’s head off. She wiggled into the seat and Tiger let go. Brawn suddenly stepped forward and arched an eyebrow.

“Scoot over and make room for me, Becca.”

She refused and reached out to grab the door handle but his body blocked the way. “I’ll talk to you later when we’ve both calmed down a bit. Back off. I’m hungry and want to go lie down now.”

Brawn’s gaze softened. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Becca. I am sorry.” He suddenly gripped her hand with his, removed it from the door and curled his warm fingers around it. He dropped to his knees and buried his face against her thigh.

It stunned her that the big male kneeled on the pavement and was acting so bizarre. His head remained there and he gripped her hand tightly enough to keep it captured but not enough to cause pain. She bit her lip, realized he must emotionally be going through the wringer too and her other hand lifted. She hesitated before her fingers brushed the silky strands of his hair to try to give him comfort.

“Brawn?”

“Do not send me away.” The words were muffled against her leg but she heard him.

Her gaze lifted to find Tiger standing there with his mouth gaping open. He looked absolutely stunned, met her gaze, closed his mouth and shrugged. “At least he doesn’t want to fight anymore. Give the guy a break.”

She didn’t know what was going on inside Brawn’s mind but she knew how rough she’d taken the news when she’d discovered she was pregnant. She’d gone from shock to fear to worry and settled on being thrilled. Her life would never be the same. It had taken her days to go through those emotions but Brawn had less than an hour to sort through his turmoil. She rubbed the back of his head, trying to comfort him.

“It’s been a hell of a day for us both,” she conceded.

He nodded against her thigh. “Yes.”

She fought the urge to cry. Damn hormones. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t move. “Do not send me away. I need to be close to you.”

She stared at Tiger and he shrugged again, obviously not sure why Brawn was acting that way either. “I don’t understand.”

Brawn slowly lifted his head and met her gaze. His blue eyes looked tortured. “I need to be close to you like I need air to breathe. I can’t explain it. I just have to be near you. If you send me away I will lose control. I don’t want to frighten you again.”

What was happening? Becca felt fear again. Why would he need to be close to her? What was going on inside the guy? Their gazes locked and stayed that way. Becca had to finally look away. “Okay. You can go to the hotel.”

He immediately got up and she pulled her hand free as she scooted across the seat. He climbed in next to her and Tiger closed the door, took the passenger seat and Pink pulled away from the curb. No one spoke on the short drive to the hotel.

Chapter Sixteen

The hotel stood four stories high and no one was within sight as they climbed out of the SUV. Brawn instantly tried to lift Becca and she swatted at his seeking hands. “I’m here and you should go.”

He stared at her with pure misery, enough to make her feel guilty. He wasn’t angry and snarling anymore. If he’d been part canine mixed she’d have compared him to a kicked puppy but he was feline, according to her father. Lost kitten, she decided fit him better.

“Fine. Come with us and you can watch me eat before I take a nap.”

Brawn offered his arm but she ignored it, walking to stand next to Tiger instead. He glanced at her and held out his arm.

“You look pale. Let one of us help you.”

She took his arm and waited for another snarl but Brawn kept it in check if it pissed him off. Pink drove away in the SUV and the three of them entered a large lobby. It surprised Becca how normal the place looked, as if it were a regular hotel with a cluster of couches and chairs set up. No one stood at the desk but a male Species did rush out of one of the back doors and offered up a key card. He spun on his heel, didn’t even bother to glance at Becca and disappeared.

“Is it normally so dead in here?”

Tiger gently steered her toward the elevators. “No. Slade called ahead and had them clear out. He didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable being stared at.” He hit the button and they waited for the car to arrive.

She glanced back at Brawn and realized he silently hovered feet behind, his gaze locked on her. She turned her head as the door dinged and slid open. A tall woman Species was inside and wore jeans and a blue tank top. Her black hair flowed down over her shoulders and she openly stared at Becca.

“Hello, human.” A smile curved her lips and she chuckled when her attention focused on Becca’s belly. “Oh! You’re the pregnant lady. Trisha told me about you. It is so good you are here. I am Breeze and I like humans. Some of my best friends are human.”

“Hi, Breeze.” Tiger chuckled. “She’s starving and we need to take her upstairs. You can talk to her later.”

“Of course.” The woman stepped out of the elevator and suddenly punched Tiger lightly on the arm. “Good job, Tiger. She is very attractive.”

“Now wait a minute,” Tiger protested. “It’s not—”

“You will make a good father,” the woman cut his words off and grinned at Becca. “You must be a very good female to land him. Good for you.” Breeze laughed. Her gaze suddenly landed on Brawn and her face lit up with pure joy.

“Do not forget that you are supposed to pick me up at six. I will wear something sexy and easy for you to remove when we go to my place after dinner and dancing.” Breeze winked at him before strolling away.

Becca felt her heart break. Knowing Brawn had a date with that attractive, tall Species woman tore at her. He had told her he didn’t do humans and they were too fragile for him. She remembered the conversation vividly once again. He liked his women to be New Species and Becca could understand why after seeing a few of them.

The woman he had a date with stood over six feet tall, was beautiful with her strong facial features and muscular body. Breeze also didn’t have a problem making it clear that she planned to have sex with Brawn later. And she had a lot in common with him. Brawn wouldn’t have to hold himself in check during sex either. It hurt Becca to realize all of those things and she hated feeling the stabbing pain of jealousy. At that second she really hated Brawn too.

She stepped frantically into the elevator and refused to look anywhere but at the floor. Brawn stepped inside.

“Becca?”

She clenched her teeth. “Shut up, don’t say a word, or you can get the hell out.”

The doors closed her inside with Tiger and Brawn, one of them must have hit a button and it began to rise. Her stomach churned but it wasn’t from hunger anymore. Tiger’s hand on her arm squeezed gently to draw her attention and she made the mistake of looking up at his face. She saw pity reflected in his pretty eyes and she dropped her head. It made the situation even worse.

“We’re here.” Tiger sounded relieved as the elevator stopped and the door opened. He used the card key to one of the rooms and allowed her to enter first. “Your food has been delivered and from the smell, they sent you a lot of choices.”

Becca pointedly ignored Brawn but was aware of him behind her. She swept a glance around the nice living room, spotted the cart with silver dishes and hunger gripped her hard. She walked to the three covered platters and noticed the second shelf contained juices, sodas and milk, giving her a large beverage selection.

Her hand shook as she lifted the platter covers and her stomach rumbled when the smell hit her. She almost dropped the lids to the floor, barely managed to keep them from falling off the edge where she rested them and grabbed for the one with the big steak. She groaned, lifted it and turned to the coffee table a few feet away.

Tiger handed her silverware when she just lowered to her knees and placed the food on the table. Her hands shook worse as she unwrapped the napkin to get to the fork and knife. She didn’t look at her guests, didn’t care what they thought, since she needed to eat.

She sawed frantically at the meat, got a bite and shoved it into her mouth. The taste exploded on her tongue and she groaned. Thirst hit next after she swallowed and she turned, grabbed one of the mini cartons of milk and yanked it open. She drank, barely avoided spilling it down the sides of her mouth and set it down hard to grab for the silverware again. Her stomach rumbled and hunger gripped her as if she hadn’t eaten for a week.

“Rebecca?”

Trisha’s voice startled her enough to cause her to stop shoving food in to her mouth and turn her head. “It’s Becca, and I thought you were staying at the medical place.”

The woman held up a bottle of pills. “I forgot to give you prenatal vitamins.” Trisha frowned, moving closer and Slade followed behind her. “When is the last time you ate? You’re shaking.”

“I’m always hungry. I had a snack early this morning, ran out of milk and ran to the store before breakfast. I got held up on the way to town and then your guy was waiting at my cabin.” She finished the milk and reached for the juice, opened the top and drank deeply.

“You weren’t that pale or shaky,” Slade rumbled. “She doesn’t look good.”

“I had you looking out for me,” Trisha answered softly. “Becca? You need to eat every few hours. Your body is exhausted from the pregnancy and you need to consume more food than normal. Have you been eating red meat? You need a lot of that.”

“Yes.” Becca stabbed another bite of steak, chewed and swallowed it and some of the pain in her stomach eased. She could enjoy the food more now instead of just shoveling it down. She grabbed a soda and popped the top. She lifted and drank half of it before she set it down. “Is the thirstiness normal too? I’m always thirsty.”

No one said a word. Becca looked up to find Trisha frowning. “No.”

“It’s not normal? I just thought it was part of pregnancy.”

“It probably is but I’m going to need to run some tests on you, Becca.”

Alarm struck Becca. “What could it be?”

“I don’t know but the baby is fine. You saw him yourself and listened to his strong heartbeat. You just may be doing too much. We aren’t designed to have twenty-week pregnancies and it’s really a strain on our bodies. You have to rest and eat more.”

Becca nodded. “Okay.”

She finished the steak and ignored the baked potato. She stood and took the prime rib dinner next. She sank back to the floor and dug in, cut up her meat and ate it slowly.

“Do you usually eat this much at once?” Trisha moved closer.

Becca swallowed and eyed Trisha. “Isn’t this normal? Pregnant women eat a lot. I bought a baby book. I usually eat about nine times a day.”

“This much each meal?”

“No. I missed breakfast and lunch.”

“What is wrong?” Brawn’s voice was soft.

“Maybe nothing.” Trisha shrugged. “We’ll watch her and see how she does.”

Becca finished the soda while she ate. She opened a second one, wished she had more milk, but wasn’t about to ask someone to order some. The room was silent. Becca finally stopped focusing on her food to turn her head. Four people watched her every move and it made her angry.

“You can leave if you all are going to just stand there staring at me. I’m sorry if my table manners aren’t up to par but you’re making me uncomfortable.” She glanced around the room. “There’s no dining room table and I’m not going to sit on the couch and bend until I’m uncomfortable to reach over here.”

“We’re just worried,” Trisha explained. “That’s all. You’ve been without medical care.”

“Maybe she has an illness,” Slade guessed.

“I’m as healthy as a horse.” Becca knew he probably meant well but she didn’t like the implication. “I’ve always gone to doctors regularly and I’d know if I were sick. I’m usually fine as long as I eat regularly and drink plenty of fluids.”

“There’s one major difference between you and her, Trisha,” Tiger said. “Slade took care of you. He made sure you rested and ate regularly. We should assign her a female to do the same.”

Trisha nodded. “I agree. We’ll see if that helps. I’m still going to run tests to make sure everything is okay. I checked the baby but I’m going to run a blood screen on her.” She walked to the phone. “I’m calling Doctor Harris to bring me a bag and I’m going to draw some blood immediately. We’ll need to test for gestational diabetes tomorrow morning. We have no idea how that would affect a woman’s body with a Species baby on board.”

“I think you are overreacting.” Becca hoped she was right. “I’ll feel fine once I eat and take a nap. I just went too long between meals.”

“Do not assign her a female to care for her. I will do it myself.”

Becca’s spine stiffened at hearing that familiar voice. She refused to look at Brawn. “The hell you will. Don’t you have a hot date to get ready for?”

The room was unnaturally silent. Trisha broke it finally.

“Date?” She whispered but Becca heard.

She lost her appetite, gripped the soda and struggled to her feet. “I’m going to go lie down. Feel free to come in to take blood, Trisha.” She walked toward the hallway and was proud she refused to even glance at Brawn.

“Becca,” he growled.

She froze. “Just go away and stay there.” Becca was proud of herself for not letting her anger at him sound in her voice. She was almost to the bedroom door when she heard Tiger speak.

“You should leave, Brawn. The female doesn’t want you here.”

Becca closed the bedroom and stared at her new home. The bed was big, the room large too, but she couldn’t take in any more details as tears blinded her. Damn it. Brawn had a date and it hurt so bad she wanted to scream. Instead she kicked off her shoes and sank onto the big, soft mattress. Her fingers gripped a pillow and shoved it under her head. It caught her tears.

Brawn tried to follow Becca but Tiger jumped in his way and spread his arms. “Don’t. Be smart.”

“Move.”

“She wants you to go.” Anger glinted in Tiger’s eyes. “And I agree. That was horrendous.”

“What happened?” Trisha stepped between them, hoping to prevent a fight and glanced at each of them. “What date?”

“Lover boy over there has a date with Breeze. We ran into her on our way up here and she mentioned she’d wear something sexy that he could easily remove from her body to share sex.” Tiger growled. “I could smell the human’s pain.”

“I wasn’t going to share sex with Breeze. I agreed to take her dancing and share a meal.” Brawn’s body tensed. “Move or I’ll throw you. I’m going to tell Becca the truth.”

Trisha faced him. “How many women have you had since Becca?”

He lowered his gaze. “None.”

She relaxed. “Good. That’s going to help some when you tell her that but right now you can’t go back there. Did you see how pale she was? How shaky? She needs rest, not to argue with you.”

“I need to tell her that there isn’t anything between Breeze and me but friendship.”

Trisha put her hands on her hips, refused to budge and lifted her eyebrows. “Let me play devil’s advocate here. She’s going to ask you if you’ve ever had sex with Breeze. Have you?”

“Yes.”

She winced. “Nope. You aren’t going back there right now. Let her get some sleep. Right now she’s fragile and sick. She is going to be more upset when she finds out there used to be something between you and Breeze.” She glanced at Slade. “Tell him.”

“Human females get jealous.” Slade grinned. “It is cute.”

Trisha lifted her hand and extended her middle finger. “It’s not.” She stared up at Brawn. “You want to do what is best for her and the baby, right?”

“I want to go to her.”

“She needs rest right now more than anything else. She needs time to adjust to being here. We forced her to come and you blew it big-time when you tried to claim her. Sometimes you guys are so damn dense. You don’t come at a woman like a bull, just charging your way in and demand to take over her life. Don’t be so aggressive. It’s called finesse. You should leave and go look that word up if you don’t know the definition. Look up patience too.”

Brawn’s gaze lifted and he stared toward the hallway. “She was hurt. I need to soothe her and assure her that I won’t be taking Breeze or any other female anywhere.”

Trisha patted his chest. “Hey, I’ll handle that, okay? I’m going to be here for a bit and I don’t snarl or roar when I lose my cool.”

“No. You just yell.”

She shot Slade a grin. “You stay out of this.”

He lifted his hands. “Easy, Doc. I’m just saying.”

Brawn lifted a hand and ran it through his hair. “What do I do to make her accept me?”

“Give her time.” Tiger sighed. “I even know the answer to that. What happened to never touching a human?”

Brawn glared at him.

“Sorry.” Tiger shrugged. “I’m just still in shock. This is why I’m never getting involved with one. They are too emotional and react strangely. One of our females would have punched you in the face if you hurt her. I understand the direct approach and appreciate it.”

“She’s emotional and probably feeling insecure.” Trisha glanced at Slade. “I’d be devastated if you’d made a date with a woman after we’d gotten together. Being pregnant only makes it worse. You remember how big and horrible I felt. I was a waddling mess with bloated ankles.”

He closed the distance between them. “You are always sexy and when you were swollen with our baby, it made me want you even more.” He gripped her hips and pulled her against him. “I’m addicted to you.” He growled.

She grinned. “Don’t do that. It’s been a few hours since I nursed Forest and my breasts already ache. You’ll make me leak.”

He glanced down at her breasts and his chest rumbled. “If he is not hungry, I will tend to them.” His tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. “I love your milk.”

“Too much information,” Tiger said and chuckled. “But I like warm milk too.”

Slade glared at him.

“In a glass,” Tiger amended quickly, his smile fading. “I wasn’t trying to angle for some of her breast milk.”

Slade suddenly grinned. “Her milk is much better than anything in a glass.”

Tiger dropped his gaze. “I bet it is. It smells good. Every time I’m near your mate I crave milk and cookies.”

“That’s all you better want,” Slade growled.

Trisha shoved away from Slade. “I’m starting to blush. Let me call Harris and get him to send a kit to me.” She stared at Brawn. “Give her time. You both need some space right now to let things sink in.”

“I want to be with her. I need to be here.”

“It’s not about just you right now.” She held his gaze. “Be the bigger man. Do what is right for her and I’ll talk to her about Breeze, okay? I’ll make sure she knows you aren’t going on your date and that you haven’t been sleeping around. That will help a lot. That’s the truth, isn’t it? Tell me now if it’s not.”

“I haven’t touched a female since Becca except to dance with Breeze. She was worried about me and showed up to take me to the bar. I agreed to go out again with her later.”

“She expected to share sex.” Tiger shrugged. “Just saying.”

“She will be disappointed.” Brawn fisted his hands. “I will stay in the living room.” He glanced at the couch and winced. “I’ll sleep there or in the second bedroom.”

“No, you won’t. Damn, Brawn. Be reasonable.” Trisha held his gaze again. “Go home, punch something, do whatever it takes to deal with this but you can’t ever act the way you did today. What made you roar at her? Was it because she didn’t want to be your mate?”

“Yes. She’s mine.”

“That’s the kind of thinking you need to get a handle on. Never say that again until you two patch things up. She’s scared, pregnant and we’re holding her here against her will. She’s terrified her father is going to find out and hurt you. Or worse, you’ll hurt him. He’s her dad. You’re the father of her baby. She’s in a bad situation.”

“We all are considering who her father is.” Slade pulled out his cell phone. “I need to call Justice. All task force members are banned from Reservation while she’s here until we find a way to let Tim know the truth safely.”

“Agreed.” Tiger sighed. “I’m going to assign a guard outside and we need a female to care for Becca.”

“I’ll do it,” Brawn hissed through clenched teeth.

“You’ve already upset her.” Trisha stepped closer. “She could lose the baby if she gets too stressed. Is that what you want?”

Horror swept him. “No.”

“You want to win her trust and for her to talk to you? That’s the way to do it. I’m human, if you forgot. I know what I’m talking about.”

Brawn spun and stormed out of the room. He didn’t bother with the elevator, instead took the stairs and ran down them quickly. He burst out of the hotel and kept running until he reached his home.

The second the door closed he threw back his head and roared. It felt good to get it out. Becca was carrying his child, she was hurt and angry. He stood there until he caught his breath. Someone knocked on the door and he moved away from it and threw it open, hoping Becca had asked for him.

Brass stood there. “I heard.”

“Sorry. I’m frustrated and needed an outlet.”

“Not you blowing off steam. I heard about the female and the baby.” Brass’ dark eyes narrowed and he frowned. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know. She won’t speak to me. She doesn’t want me near her.”

“Come on.”

“I can’t return. Trisha thinks Becca could lose the baby.”

“I have a training session with some of the newer ones. Nothing will make you feel better than fighting. Just don’t hurt them too badly.”

Brawn bit his lip and nodded. “Okay.”

“Let’s go.” Brass patted his arm. “It will work out.”

Chapter Seventeen

Trisha was grim as she studied Becca. “We think we know what the problem is.”

“I feel fine now. I have for days. I was just tired, really stressed out and missed a few meals.”

“You’re not all right.” Trisha looked down at the carpet and brushed a hand over her pants. “You need special care because the pregnancy is too much of a strain on your body. We weren’t built for accelerated pregnancies. I know you’ve refused to have someone here to care for you but that’s what you need. The other pregnant women, including myself, were all taken care of by our mates.”

“I don’t have one and if you’re here to try to talk me into talking to Brawn again, forget it. He’s only interested in me because of the baby. I deserve more than that. I don’t want to argue with you again but that’s where this is heading. He didn’t even call me, damn it. Now he knows I’m pregnant and suddenly wants to be glued to my side?” She scoffed. “No way.”

“Fine but you need someone.” Trisha hesitated. “That’s how it’s going to be. This isn’t up for debate.”

“I’m fine,” Becca repeated. “They bring me meals and I don’t even have to cook. I am actually kind of bored out of my skull.”

“That’s another thing. You should be getting some sunshine. You need a guard.”

“I thought I was safe here.”

“There are some newer Species who aren’t real human friendly and this is Reservation. Do you know that some Species have more aggressive animal traits? It’s why we needed this place, to keep them here where there is plenty of open space for them to live. Sometimes they feel more social and show up at the hotel seeking some willing female companionship.”

Brawn flashed in Becca’s mind and pain sliced through her. He’d found a woman to hook up with.

Trisha seemed to read her thoughts or perhaps saw her look. “He said it was just dinner and they aren’t currently in a relationship. He swears he hasn’t touched anyone since you and doesn’t have any plans to do so.”

“I don’t care,” Becca lied.

“Right. The point is, you need someone to be with you full-time. What if you fainted or something? What if you couldn’t get to a phone?”

“You have someone posted outside my door.”

“They have superior senses but they aren’t in the same living space and the walls are soundproof up to a point. This is a hotel and it was built that way so people didn’t easily disturb those in the rooms around them. I figured you wouldn’t agree to Brawn so I talked to Tiger. He’s going to move into your guestroom.”

“No.” The idea shocked her. “I barely know him.”

“He’s a great guy and holds no interest in you. He’s resistant to human women so don’t worry about being hit on. I know that might be a concern.”

He already reminded her of Brawn if he was against human women and Species hooking up. They had that in common. “I’m pregnant. The guy wouldn’t be interested in me anyway.” She waved at her belly. “I just don’t want to live with a stranger.”

“Too bad. It’s a decision that has been made.”

“I don’t have a say?” Becca’s temper flared. “You can’t make me live with some stranger. I sure wouldn’t live with a guy. Why aren’t you assigning a woman to babysit me instead?”

“There are only a few females at Reservation and they already have duties. We couldn’t spare one right now and it could be a good week before one is available to travel from Homeland. Tiger won’t be a stranger once you get to know him. We can also ditch the guard outside your door if someone is here with you. He can take you outside. Don’t you miss leaving this room?” Trisha glanced around it. “I’d be going nuts.”

That was tempting. “I am sick of watching movies.”

“Exactly. He’s fun and has a great sense of humor. He’ll keep you company and I’ll even order some board games. He knows how to play poker. I taught him myself but you can teach him other ones. You’ll be doing him a favor and he can teach others.”

“Great.” Becca didn’t hide her sarcasm. “That’s what I always wanted to do. I’ll teach him how to play checkers.”

“Don’t be that way.” Trisha eyed her and frowned. “They would die to protect you and your baby. They would use their bodies to shield you if some lunatic ever got past security and tried to shoot you. Don’t think it hasn’t happened. Ask Ellie since Fury took two bullets meant for her.”

“He’s her mate.”

“You’re carrying a Species baby, their future, and babies are a miracle to them. Every one of their women would give anything to be in your shoes. It represents their dreams coming true and they aspire to have normal lives. What is more special than having a family?”

Guilt filled Becca. “I’m sorry. I’m grateful.”

“I know. I’m sorry too. It’s been a tough day for me.”

“Is everything okay?”

Trisha hesitated. “Yeah. There’s just been an inflow of injuries lately down at Medical and I’m sick of patching up the guys after training sessions.”

“I didn’t know training was so dangerous. What are they preparing for?”

“It’s usually not but one of the new instructors is obsessed with teaching them how to fight better and that means they are getting their asses kicked since he’s trying to make them the best.”

“Maybe he should lay off.”

“We think so too and we’re working hard right now to do that.”

Becca didn’t know what to say. Trisha stood.

“Tiger is going to be here after his shift. Don’t blame him if you’re angry about having a houseguest. He was asked to do this and he’s being a good sport to agree. This was my call. You should have someone here looking after you.”

“I’m an adult. I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I know but you’re pregnant and it’s stressful on your body. This will ease the stress.” She walked to the door. “I hope.” She muttered the last words but they were loud enough to hear. “I’ll see you later.”

Becca waited until the door closed before she rose and rubbed her lower back. It always hurt. Putting on weight so fast made her body ache all the time. She turned and walked to her room. A warm bath sounded soothing and she had a Jacuzzi in her bathroom. The jetted water always felt good.

“A babysitter. Great. Maybe he’ll be good company,” she muttered. The idea of having someone to talk to didn’t sound too bad when she considered it.

Brawn stood, stretched, and peered at the male sitting at the other desk. “You ready to call it a day?”

“Yes,” Bestial growled. “I hate talking on the phone with humans but answering emails is worse. Why did we agree to be council for our testing facility groups anyway?”

Brawn grinned. “To impress our females and to be assigned private homes instead of having to be housed with many males in the dorms? It’s the price for being a high-ranked male in our society.”

“Ah.” Bestial chuckled. “That’s right. The females were my only reason.” Bestial’s smile faded. “How are you holding up?”

Brawn hated the fact that Bestial knew everything about Becca and worried about him. No secrets were kept from council members. He shrugged. “She wants nothing to do with me. I reacted badly when I saw her and I blew it. She hasn’t asked to speak to me and I’m under orders to stay away. You know that.”

“How are you going to handle this Tiger thing?”

Brawn frowned. “What about Tiger?”

Bestial’s eyes widened. “You weren’t told?”

“Told what?” His gut twisted. “Is he spending time with her?” Jealousy hit hard and fast.

Bestial softly cursed. “Damn. I can see why they might not have informed you of what Trisha decided but she is our doctor.” Bestial sat back in his chair and pointed. “You will want to sit.”

Brawn lowered into his chair. “What is going on? What wasn’t I told?”

“Trisha is worried about Becca not having a mate to care for her. She has assigned someone to live with her and be with her around the clock. Flame admitted he was attracted to the female so he was out. Tiger was picked because he gets along with humans.”

Rage burned hotly through Brawn. “What?” He shot back to his feet.

“Sit back down if you want to hear the rest.”

Brawn sat hard, his chair creaked and it didn’t help when his hands gripped the arms of it strongly enough to break them. “Flame is interested in my female?” He’d kick his ass. He’d make him hurt. He’d—”

“It will be Tiger who lives with your female and cares for her. He’ll take her for walks, make sure she eats and sleeps. Slade said his female always had sore muscles so Tiger has been told to rub her shoulders, her lower back and her legs if she has ankle swelling.”

A snarl tore from Brawn at the thought of another male putting his hands on his Becca. He’d rip Tiger’s hands off. He’d—

“He was not happy to be asked at first but he agreed for the baby’s sake and because he knew the female wouldn’t fear him since he checks on her often.”

Brawn saw red or would, he decided, when he made Tiger bleed. “What? He does? She allows his visits? How often?”

Bestial assessed Brawn. “Often. She’s alone and everyone worries. You should have been told a male had been assigned to your female but perhaps they didn’t want to alarm you. I believed it was wrong to keep it from you but now you know.”

The words made Brawn narrow his eyes. “You admit they planned to keep it from me? You purposely told me just now but acted as if I already knew. What kind of deception are you trying to pull?”

“You got me.” Bestial grinned. “I didn’t agree with the vote and I’d want to know before another male moved in with my female. She’s attractive, lonely and vulnerable. Tiger is good with humans, knows them better than we do and it wouldn’t be the first time a male who has sworn human females hold no appeal ends up mated to one. He’ll put his hands on her. Can you imagine that? Another male touching the female you planted your seed inside.”

Brawn shot to his feet. “It won’t happen.”

“I didn’t think you’d allow it. I’m your friend and I didn’t want you to lose her to another male, even if he is a good one.”

“I’m better and she’s mine.” Brawn’s hands fisted. “Call Tiger and tell him if he has touched her to run fast and far. Very far.”

He stormed for the door but heard Bestial laugh. “Go get her. Show her who she belongs to. I’m glad I never will get tangled with a human. They just don’t make sense. She should have picked you to care for her over another male.”

“Shut up,” he snarled, opening the door.

“Perhaps you need instructions about sex? Has it been so long you forgot how to please a female?”

Brawn roared, furious at his friend for even suggesting such a thing and ran. The hotel wasn’t far and he wanted to get to Becca fast. If Tiger had already moved in, he’d toss the male and his belongings out a window. He liked Tiger but the male would die before he’d allow him to take his female or try to lay claim to what was his.

He was gone by the time Bestial reached for the phone and dialed. “He’s on his way, coming fast and I hope this works, Trisha. He was furious.”

Becca was nervous as she sat on the couch waiting for Tiger to arrive. She didn’t have a specific time and the last experience with a Species moving into her guestroom had been a disaster, considering she’d been kidnapped.

She considered the arrangement. How bad could it be? Sure, it would be awkward living with a stranger. Maybe weird. Her baby kicked, she rubbed her belly and knew she might feel better having someone around. The idea of fainting or needing help scared her. With someone in her living space, he’d be close enough to know if she were in trouble.

A knock startled Becca. Dread filled her as she approached the door. She’d make the best of it, regardless of how they got along. She was half tempted to go hide in her bedroom and not answer the door. Tiger was willing to do this and she knew he probably wasn’t happy with the situation either. She forced her feet to move to the door and opened it.

Brawn stood there instead looking really angry. He was out of breath and sweat made his tan skin glow a little. His nose flared before he reached for her. She gasped as his hands gripped under her arms and her feet left the floor. He took big steps into the room and kicked the door closed behind him. He kept moving until they reached the couch, where he bent and gently deposited her on her ass.

“Get out of here,” Becca gasped. “You—”

“Shut up,” he growled. “You’d allow Tiger live with you but not me?” He growled viciously. “You need a male to care for you? It will be me!”

She glared at him. “I didn’t ask for a roommate but was told I had to have one. Leave, Brawn.”

One of his arms went around her waist and the other hand grabbed her by the back of her hair. He turned his hips and pushed between her thighs. He yanked her to the edge of the couch, dropped to his knees and settled his hips between her cotton-covered thighs. His narrowed eyes were locked on her mouth. He growled deep in his throat.

“Open your mouth to me.”

“Go to hell.”

His intense gaze held hers. “I have lived in hell before and I am experiencing it now. I will kill him if you allow a male live with you. You carry my child. If you need something from a male you will get it from me. Now open up.”

“You’re angry and why do you want my mouth open? This is taking the whole babysitting thing way too far.”

“I’m furious,” he growled. “I should have been asked to care for you instead of Tiger. He is not the father. He is not the one who mounted you and bred you. I am. You don’t like me right now and I understand this. This isn’t about you or me. This is about our child. You need constant care and I will be the one to give it. Open your mouth.”

“You’re an asshole and what is your obsession with my mouth?” She pushed on his chest but he held her against him, wouldn’t budge and she wasn’t strong enough to force him to let go.

His catlike eyes glittered dangerously. “Open your mouth.”

“Why?”

“Do you want me to release you?”

“Yes.”

“Open your mouth.”

Becca closed her eyes and tensed, not sure what the hell he planned to do. She opened her mouth and had a flashback of sitting in a dentist chair, about to get an exam. It rated right up there with that experience as she waited to see what Brawn would do. She’d bite him if he hurt her in some way.

He pressed closer until his chest flattened against her breasts and her stomach. She felt his breath on her face and his lips covered hers. His tongue swiped across her bottom lip before he invaded her mouth.

She shouldn’t have been surprised. She struggled but he held her close, surrounded her body and his hold in her hair kept her head in place. His tongue manipulated hers and her traitorous body responded as memories flashed through her mind of him kissing her when they were inside the cage.

She relaxed as passion took over and she fisted his shirt, kissing him back. A purr sounded and Brawn released her hair to run his hand down her back. Her arms wound around his neck as his hands dug between her and the couch cushions. He cupped her ass and lifted her body.

He sat back on his heels and settled her down over his lap. She straddled him and even through the layers of clothing she couldn’t miss the feel of his rigid cock straining when he rocked his hips against her, rubbing her clit. She moaned, instantly turned-on and kissed him frantically.

She ground her hips against his when his strong hands kneaded her ass and he easily manipulated her body to move against his in an erotic motion that mimicked fucking. Her nails raked his shirt and she wanted to feel him inside her again. A desperate urge to be skin to skin with him became almost as unbearable as wanting him inside her.

The growls and purrs did something to her body, turned her on more than she could ever remember and she clawed at his shirt, tried to tear it to reach his skin. Brawn seemed to understand as he tore his mouth away and they stared at each other, panting.

“No one touches you but me,” he growled softly. “No one.”

Becca stared into his eyes, his words sank in and she fought for words. She didn’t even know how to react. He suddenly released her ass and just tore his shirt up his body, arched his back away to do it and she stared at his bare, muscled torso. She could have stared at him for a while but he tossed the shirt away and cupped her face with both hands to take possession of her mouth again.

Becca moaned as he kissed her with a need born from desperation. She met that passion head-on. Too much time had gone by with her longing to be in his arms—her hormones were out of control and her sex drive ragged. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her hands frantically explored his hot skin and her nails raked down his back to urge him on. She flattened her breasts against the hard wall of his chest, her swollen belly came up against him too but he arched a little to make room for it without crowding the baby. She barely noticed it but she was glad one of them could remember to be careful.

He showed his powerful strength by rising from the floor and she clung tightly to him as he stood on his feet. She didn’t care where he headed. There was only his mouth and the need for him to keep kissing her. He shifted his hold, gripped her outer thighs and lifted them enough for her to easily hook her legs around his hips.

He tore his mouth from hers, causing Becca to make a small sound of protest when he stopped moving. She opened her eyes, stared deeply into his amazing ones and he softly purred.

“Hold on.”

She couldn’t wrap around him any more if she tried. Her arms were around his neck, her legs around his hips, but then he leaned over and gravity nearly tore her away from him when her weight strained the muscles in her limbs. A soft mattress cushioned her back and she knew he’d carried her to the bed.

“Let me go.”

She hesitated but did it. She missed holding him the second he was free. He backed up, toed off his shoes and both hands lowered to his jeans. The zipper was loud in the room and Becca knew he was going to fuck her. Her heart pounded from excitement and she bit her lip.

She could refuse but didn’t want to. Brawn was the sexiest guy she’d ever seen in her life. The memories of him fucking her had haunted her almost every night and he starred in every fantasy she had. Hell, she’d taken up masturbating, pretending it was him touching her instead of her own fingers.

She felt big and awkward with her pregnant body but shoved those insecurities away. He’d helped her body get in its current state, was half responsible and if she had to see stretch marks in the mirror, he could suffer seeing them too. She ached, wanting to be touched and held. Brawn seemed more than willing to meet both needs.

“I’ll be careful,” he swore, shoving his pants down. He wasn’t wearing underwear. “I won’t harm you.”

“Don’t start that shit,” she warned. “Stop talking and help me before I regain my sanity and realize what a huge mistake this is.”

Anger glinted in his eyes but she didn’t care if he liked hearing the truth. She twisted, tried to wiggle out of her shirt, but knew she’d have to sit up to get it off. Brawn had other ideas as he leaned forward and just fisted the shirt. It tore open and he shredded it away from her arms easily.

She hadn’t liked that shirt anyway. She braced her bare feet on the mattress and lifted. Brawn hooked his fingers in the waist of her stretch pants and peeled them down. He took her panties with them, removed them all the way and dropped them to the floor. His gaze took her in as she removed her bra and tossed it aside.

She blushed a little, knowing she didn’t look as sexy as she used to. Did he find the red marks where her stomach had expanded to be ugly? They were faint but noticeable. Her belly was rounded now. She was halfway through the pregnancy and she really hoped she’d shaved down there well. She couldn’t see her pussy anymore but she did it by feel. Brawn purred again.

“You’re beautiful, swelled with my seed.”

That shot her eyebrows up a little. Her mouth opened but she closed it. She wasn’t going to touch that one. She’d much rather he touch her. “Brawn? Are you going to look at me much longer?”

His gaze lifted and he dropped to his knees. His hands gripped her calves, pulled her down the bed and spread her thighs. She locked them around his hips and tried to pull him close, wanted him to be inside her so bad she hurt from it.

He released her and one palm flattened over the lower curve of her belly. Frustration hit. Now isn’t the time to explore the shape of my belly. He didn’t though as his thumb lowered, brushed against her clit, and she moaned.

“Yes.”

He massaged her there and she gasped when the fingers of his other hand tested the slit of her pussy, played in the wetness there and one thick digit slowly breached her. He twisted it as he slowly finger-fucked her. Her hips rocked as she tried to urge him to go deeper and her legs squeezed his hips.

“Brawn,” she panted.

“Say you’re mine,” he rasped.

Her eyes met his and she bit down on her lip. As much as she wanted him to make her come, she wasn’t going to give in that easily. Her hand slid down her body and she tried to shove his hand aside. She’d get herself off if he wanted to play that game.

He growled at her, his finger withdrew from her pussy and he gripped her wrist. He jerked it away and held it close enough that she could rub his lower belly. He looked down, adjusted his hips as his thumb still taunted her clit, drawing her closer to climax. The thick head of his cock nudged her pussy. He met her gaze right as he pushed forward.

“You are mine.” He snarled the words. His eye color seemed to darken. “Mine, Becca. Never forget that.”

His cock drove deep into her tight depths. He picked up the pace, keeping a steady rhythm with his thumb doing circles over the bundle of nerves. Becca threw her head back and he released her wrist to grab her ass as he pounded her harder. Her fingers dug into the bedspread for traction when her back started to slide. He adjusted his hips, taking her at a new angle and he found that spot that made Becca gasp and call out his name loudly.

“Mine,” he snarled. His cock moved in and out of her, rubbing that spot. “Say it.”

Becca shook her head. She wasn’t his. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

He snarled and paused. His hips and thumb stilled, leaving her hanging on the edge of heaven and hell. Her clit throbbed, her pussy ached and she just hurt—that close to coming.

“Brawn,” she panted. “Don’t stop.”

“You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine, Becca. I want you to know who is fucking you and making you feel good.” He thrust into her and his thumb pressed down on her clit.

Becca threw back her head as Brawn pushed his way deeper inside her. It didn’t hurt. It was the best feeling in the world. He was so hard, filled her until she wasn’t sure she could take anymore, but he withdrew, only to slam back in. Becca gripped the bedspread and thrashed under him in ecstasy, bucking her hips against Brawn.

“So beautiful,” he growled. He thrust into her faster.

Becca whimpered and moaned as her muscles tightened in anticipation. She cried out as she felt intense pleasure tearing through her. It was so strong she couldn’t stop his name from slipping out.

Brawn roared. The sound shattered through the room and he drove into her—one final, deep thrust. He filled her with his warm semen, his hips grinding against her ass to spill inside her pussy as deeply as possible. She went limp. She was breathing hard.

Brawn’s hands slid under her back and he pulled her up. He was still buried inside her. She opened her eyes as she was forced to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Kiss me,” Brawn demanded.

Becca ran her tongue over her bottom lip. Brawn groaned as he watched before his mouth slanted over hers. She opened up to him, welcomed the tender kiss and clung to him when he cradled her tightly against his body with both arms. He finally ended the kiss by lifting his head.

Their gazes met and held and they studied each other. Brawn spoke first.

“I’m your male,” he growled softly. “No one else cares for you but me. I will beat any male who tries. You might not want me to claim you and you might refuse to be my mate but you won’t refuse this, Becca. I will be here for you at all times. It will be only me inside you. Only me touching you. Only my lips kissing you.”

“Brawn,” she said softly. “You know we—”

“Not now. Don’t argue with me after what we shared.”

Her mouth closed, agreeing that it would be a bad time to fight when she was still feeling all warm and satisfied.

He slowly withdrew from her body, a look of regret clearly on his expression and helped Becca stand. She didn’t resist when he jerked back the covers, had her lie down and tucked her in. His ass rested on the edge of the bed as he sat there staring down at her. One of his hands rubbed her belly through the bedding.

“Sleep,” he ordered softly. He shook his head. “You rest. Naps are good for pregnant females. I have something to take care of but I’ll be back in a few hours.”

She wanted to know what he was going to do and why he thought he could order her to go to bed but he suddenly leaned down to brush a kiss over her forehead.

“Let me care for you, beautiful. I need to. I’ll return and bring you more food. I smelled some when I walked in so I know you have eaten recently. Close your eyes and rest.”

Becca closed her eyes until his weight lifted from the bed and she heard him dressing. She peeked through slitted eyelashes as Brawn zipped his jeans closed. He slowly walked out of the bedroom. Moments later she heard the door close behind him. Becca felt tears fill her eyes but wiped them away.

What the hell am I doing? She had no answer.

Brawn opened the door to the hallway, studied the three stressed Species officers and ducked under his friend’s arm to leave Becca’s current home. He closed the door behind him and studied the situation. Bestial stood with his back to Becca’s suite, arms across his chest, a menacing expression on his face, blocking the officers’ entry. Brawn arched his eyebrows as Bestial winked at him.

“They wanted to rush in there when they heard you and the female making up. I made sure that didn’t happen. Did you claim her?”

Brawn sighed. “She’ll take my body but she won’t agree to be my mate yet.”

Bestial shook his head. “Weird human females. Well, that’s a first step. You just need to convince her. It sounded as though you were doing well.”

Brawn grinned. “I do not need instructions.”

Bestial grinned back. “Good to know.”

“I’m going to my home and pack a bag. I am moving in with her.” Brawn chuckled. “Her shock will wear off soon and she’s going to be pissed but she is cute when she’s mad.”

“You are stubborn.” Bestial dropped his hands to his sides. “You will win.”

“I hope so. Otherwise perhaps my son can talk her into being my mate when he’s old enough to grasp speech.”

Laughing, Bestial shooed the officers away. “See? Things are fine. Go away.” He stared at Brawn. “I am sure there will be many sons between the two of you.”

Brawn took a deep breath. “I can only hope.”

Chapter Eighteen

Becca woke alone, stunned she’d actually fallen asleep and peered around the room. Brawn wasn’t there. She eased back the covers and headed to the bathroom. One look in the mirror had her shaking her head at her reflection.

“The guy kisses you and you fall into bed with him.” Her gaze raked down her naked body to her baby tummy and she spun around. “Not one of mommy’s proudest moments. Your daddy is hot though, in my defense, and a really great kisser.”

She adjusted the water temperature in the shower, stepped in and closed the glass door. Standing there washed away the traces of the sex but not the memories. She dumped body wash into her palm, rubbing it all over and sighed loudly.

“Pushover. It’s hormones. Yeah. I’m totally going with that.” Her eyes rolled and she leaned in to wash away the soap. “We’re in deep shit, kiddo.” She washed her belly. “And I have to email your grandpa with some new lie to explain why I’m late contacting him.”

The door to the shower was suddenly jerked open. Becca gasped and spun. Her feet slipped on the tub floor and she cried out as she frantically reached for anything to break her fall but two strong arms grabbed her before she slammed into the tile. She stared in shock at Brawn, leaning inside her shower.

“I’m sorry.” Brawn adjusted his hold on her. “Are you all right? I forget that you don’t have our hearing or sense of smell. I assumed you heard me come in. I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you well? The baby?” He lifted her out of the shower and hugged her.

Shock kept her silent but she was grateful his fast reflexes had saved her from a fall. Her hands gripped his biceps and he slowly lowered her.

“You could have knocked. You shouldn’t just walk into someone’s bathroom.” Her voice finally worked.

He released her once he made sure she was steady on her feet and grabbed a towel to wrap around her middle. Big hands patted her dry with care. “I heard you talking to someone and thought you had company in here.” Anger showed in his eyes as he glanced around. “Who were you speaking to?”

“The baby.”

His hands froze and he stared at the bump. “He can hear you? Us?” He grinned. “I didn’t know that.” He bent a little, put his face closer to her belly. “Hello, little one. I am your dad. I long to hold you in my arms.”

Definitely hormones, Becca decided as tears filled her eyes. That was sweet and it touched her that he’d say that to their unborn child. “I read baby books. They seem to think that while a baby can’t understand the words, they can hear voices and learn to recognize them. I talk to him constantly, probably too much, but I’ve been alone for a long time.”

Brawn straightened and held her gaze. “You will never be alone again. I have moved in.”

“You what?” Shock hit her again.

“I said I am going to care for you and I went to pack my belongings. I live here now with you. I turned over my council duties to the others. They were happy to fill in for me so you have me full-time.” He smiled, making her remember how handsome he was when he did it. “I’m all yours.”

A war raged inside Becca suddenly. She wished that were true. Looking into his sexy eyes made her want to never let him go but he was only there because she’d gotten pregnant. He was a stand-up guy, she’d give him that, but she didn’t want him that way.

“You can’t move in here.”

“I already did.” Muscles along his jaw clenched. “We will not argue.” His gaze dropped to her belly. “Our child will hear.”

Anger hit hard and fast. “Don’t use my own words against me.”

“Open your mouth.”

She lifted a hand and grabbed his jaw. “No. You’re not going to kiss me again and make me forget that I’m angry at you.”

“Why not? It worked. We can’t fight while we’re sharing sex.”

“You admit it then! You just had sex with me to get your way.”

Broad shoulders shrugged. “What is there to complain about? We both enjoyed it.” His hands slid to her hips. “I missed you, Becca. We have time to make up and we need to get to know each other before our child is born. I want you. It is just a side benefit that we can’t fight while we’re having sex. Don’t doubt that I really want you.”

She released his jaw and pressed her palms against his shirt, giving him a little push. “Talk instead of seducing me.”

A soft growl rumbled from him. “I want to do both. Let me take you to bed now.”

“No. It’s a bad idea.” She didn’t want her heart to get broken even more when the novelty wore off and he decided being with her was too much of a sacrifice. “You can see your son any time you want, Brawn. We don’t have to be together in order for you to be a part of his life.”

Beautiful blue, yellow-streaked eyes narrowed and he suddenly adjusted his hold, grabbed her and scooped her into his arms. He carried her out of the bathroom, strode into the bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. One hand fisted the towel and jerked hard, yanking it out from under her.

She grabbed at her breasts to cover them, bent her legs up and glared at him. “Give that back.”

Brawn reached for his waist instead, gripped his shirt and tore it over his head. “I’m going to make love to you.”

“No, you aren’t. Sex isn’t the answer every time we don’t agree on something.”

He cocked his head, dropped the shirt and bent one leg a little to toe off his shoes. “We’ll talk after. I want you.”

She grabbed the blanket and jerked it over her body, sat up and pointed at him. “Stop!”

He grinned, kicked off the other shoe and unzipped his jeans. Her gaze lowered and she watched as he wiggled out of them. She swore he was teasing her with the way he slowly inched them down. His impressive, rigid cock sprang free, pointing at her and he bent to shove them all the way down. When he stood, she couldn’t help but admire the picture he made. Just to really be mean, he shook out his long hair. It fell over his shoulders and down along his tan skin.

Becca had to remember to breathe. There was something so primal about Brawn when he was naked, his hair free and his lips parted enough to flash his canines. A growl tore from him as he bent forward, flattened his palms on the bed and his catlike eyes stared at her.

“You’re mine, Becca. You can deny it but your body knows the truth.”

She inched back and wiggled slowly toward the headboard. His weight kept her from yanking the covers with her. He prowled closer on his hands and knees. She couldn’t miss the heavy weight of his cock jutting forward since his stomach was rock solid and flat. Another soft growl came from him and he paused.

“Don’t fear me, beautiful.” One of his hands lifted and wrapped around her ankle. He shoved the covers away and pulled her carefully, until she lay flat.

He crawled over her until his face hovered inches above hers and his cock brushed her thighs, which she’d clamped together. “Open up for me. I’m going to teach your mouth the truth too.”

Her heart pounded. She wanted him but she wasn’t giving in that easily again. A woman had pride, damn it. Her brain froze a little at seeing all that testosterone at its finest crouched over her, but she forced it to work. He liked to use her words against her so turnabout was fair play.

She glanced down. He kept his arms and legs braced to keep his weight off her. His thighs were spread apart with her body between them and she had wiggle room. Her gaze met his and she lifted her hands to grip his hips. “You think you can win me over with your kisses?”

He stared at her without saying a word but amusement sparkled in his eyes, telling her that he did.

“Straighten up.”

“I have you where I want you.”

“Straighten up and I’ll open my mouth.”

He hesitated but lifted his upper body to stand on his spread knees. He frowned as she sat up and suddenly wrapped her hand firmly around his shaft, getting a good grip that he couldn’t jerk away from. He hissed in air and alarm tensed his features.

“Don’t worry.” She smiled. “I won’t hurt you. Don’t fear me, sexy. You wanted my mouth open, believing you could seduce me into doing whatever you want but turnabout is fair play. Learn this, baby.”

She licked her lips, kept eye contact with him and her hand on his hip gripped him as she brought her lips to the crown of his cock. Her tongue licked the tip, tested the texture and she almost laughed when Brawn’s eyes widened with astonishment and he snarled.

Her gaze dropped to his rigid shaft and she took it inside her mouth, sucked and turned her head at different angles as she worked him slowly. Sucking him in, easing him to her lips, teasing him with her tongue. His body shook and he growled, an animalistic sound she reveled in. He thought he could control her but she was the one in charge now.

She lifted her gaze, saw he’d thrown back his head and his hands clenched his thighs, probably to keep from grabbing her. She took him deeper until she knew she’d hit her limit at the back of her throat, tightened the suction and moved a little faster.

“Becca,” he rasped.

She ignored his attempt to distract her. She kept going, moved faster and played. Her hand on his hip slid to his firm abs, loved the texture of each muscle and explored higher until she brushed her fingertips over an erect nipple. She pinched him lightly there between her thumb and fingertip.

Brawn roared out as his sweet taste began to flood her mouth and it shocked her when he suddenly grabbed her head and jerked her off his cock. His semen hit her throat and breasts as he came down, pinned her flat, with his hips over her ribs and rubbed his shaft between her breasts.

He shook with the force of his release and Becca lay there stunned. He hadn’t hurt her but he could have. His ass rested just above her extended belly and if he’d put his weight down, he could have crushed her under him. He shook again, his eyes snapped open and he stared at her.

“Don’t ignore me when I warn you. I almost spilled my seed in your throat.”

“That was the point,” she managed to finally get out.

“I would have choked you. We shoot hard. Don’t you feel me inside you when I come? I could have hurt you.”

She swallowed, wasn’t sure what to say and Brawn suddenly lifted away from her, climbed off the bed and stormed for the bathroom. She watched his naked, firm ass go and struggled to sit up. Her heart was still racing with the fear that had jolted through her from the sudden body slam on the bed, even though he hadn’t hurt her.

Water ran in the bathroom, cut off and Brawn came stomping back into the bedroom with a wet hand towel. She held out her hand, knew he’d brought it for her, but he stunned her when he sat down, gripped her shoulder and flattened her again.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” He began to gently clean her throat and chest with the warm towel. “I didn’t want to hurt you.” He leaned closer. “I loved what you did but you have to pull your mouth away at the end when I warn you.”

Becca wasn’t sure what to say—something that happened a lot with Brawn. “Open your mouth.”

“I barely got a taste before you jerked away. You’re not using that to clean my mouth.”

His lips crushed down on hers, his tongue swept inside her mouth and he threw the wet towel away. Shock hit her at the passion in that kiss. He shifted his body to crouch over her again. He pinned her down without putting weight on her belly and finally broke the kiss. His gaze roamed her body.

“I love seeing you without clothes. You are so pale and soft. So beautiful and soft.”

She frowned. “You said soft twice. Is that your way of telling me that I have a lot of love handles?”

He growled. “No. I like you the way you are.”

Becca’s gaze narrowed. “You like New Species women. They are tall and fit and about as far from me as it gets. I’m soft, as you put it. Pale. Why are you here, Brawn? As if I didn’t already know.”

He frowned. “I want to be with you.”

“Bullshit. You want to be a decent person and I got pregnant. That’s why you’re here but you can be a dad to the baby without being in a relationship with me. You—”

His mouth covered hers. Brawn’s mastery with his kisses soon made her lose the will to fight. He settled more of his weight on her though he was careful to watch how much weight she took and used one hand to cup her breast. She moaned at the rough texture of his palm as he played with her taut nipple. Becca wound her arms around his neck, clinging to him. Brawn finally pulled his mouth from hers. They were both breathing hard.

“I need you,” he purred.

Becca swallowed and nodded. She needed him too, in the worst way. The guy was addictive as hell—was like kissing a bolt of electricity that turned her on. Brawn lifted away, scooted down the bed and stood at the end. Strong hands gripped her ankles and pulled her body down the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to put weight on our baby. I can take you on my knees here with you on the edge of the bed the way we did before. It worked.”

Yes, it did. She kept that to herself.

“I love the way you look. You turn me on.”

Her gaze lowered to his waist and how his cock pointed at her, remembering that he could recover that quickly. “I see.”

“I’d much rather you feel, beautiful.”

Her stomach clenched and she felt heat spreading between her thighs. He lowered to his knees as his heated gaze took in her body, spread out before him once more. “Open your thighs for me. I want to see you, take my time and taste you again.”

“I am not really, uh, comfortable with you looking that closely at me. I mean, I’m pregnant, Brawn. Last time you took me by surprise but I’ve got stretch marks.”

He frowned. “So?”

“I’ve never really been comfortable showing off my girl parts. In the heat of the moment is one thing but I’m not there yet.”

He bit his lip. “You let other men see your girl parts but you’re denying me now?” He suddenly growled softly and a hint of anger burned within his dark-blue eyes.

Becca bit her lip. “My…hell, I’m just not comfortable with that, all right? My husband wasn’t interested in seeing that and now I’m kind of self-conscious. The other time you didn’t exactly ask my permission and by the time I could think straight, well, it was afterward. Let’s just have sex. I love it when you play with my clit while you’re inside me.”

Brawn frowned. “You were married and he didn’t get you past being shy of being studied and licked?”

She shook her head. “He liked the lights off. This is about as brazen as I get, Brawn. I’m lying here naked in broad daylight.”

“I don’t want to just look at you. I want to taste you and learn every part of you.”

Becca blushed. “He never did that either.”

Brawn growled. He reached for her knees and pushed gently to open them. “I do. Open up for me.”

“Brawn…”

“Now,” he demanded harshly. “Close your eyes if you are shy. I want you open. I want to memorize every inch and taste you. Open up for me, Becca. Now.”

Hell. She bit her lip harder and dropped her head on the bed. She opened her thighs. She knew her face had to be bright red since heat radiated in her cheeks. Brawn’s hands rubbed the inside of her thighs and caused her to shiver. His thumbs slid lower, so close to her pussy that she had to resist arching her hips to help him get there but instead forced herself to breathe.

“You will learn to enjoy this, Becca.” His voice was a soft rasp. “You will open up for me every time I want you to, knowing how much pleasure I will give. You will get hot for me when I just look at you here because you’ll know what I want to do and how it is going to feel.”

Her body responded to his softly spoken words. She jerked a little when Brawn spread her legs wider apart and pushed them higher. His thumbs spread her folds open to expose her sex and she felt his breath fan across her clit. Her heart pounded, knowing he was as up close and personal with her girl parts as a person could be.

“You are so beautiful here too,” he whispered. “Keep your thighs spread wide for me, Becca. Do not startle.”

Startle? She gasped a second later and realized what he tried to warn her of. She felt his tongue tracing her slit. She could handle that but she jerked when his tongue breached her pussy, pushed in and withdrew. He growled softly, trailed the tip of his tongue higher and suddenly his lower teeth gently raked across her clit. She whimpered when his lips sealed around it and he sucked.

Becca’s stomach quivered and her nipples grew taut. She clawed at the bedding just for something to hold on to. He lapped at the bundle of nerves, sucked and tugged on her clit and she thrashed on the bed. The pleasure became so raw she tried to slam her legs together, couldn’t take anymore, but strong hands pinned her open and down. He snarled, his mouth vibrated strongly and he kept doing it.

“Oh God,” she moaned. “Too much, baby. Stop. It nearly hurts. I can’t!”

He growled louder, made the vibrations even stronger and sounds came out of her that she’d never made before.

Becca felt as if her body might break. She cried out, threw back her head and felt pleasure slam her so hard she lost the ability to think at all. Waves of it crushed throughout her body, made her jerk and cry out again. He released her.

Becca panted as her vaginal muscles twitched and trembled. Brawn lifted up and crouched over her. Her eyes opened to stare into his. His intense expression was nearly frightening. No man had ever looked at her that way—with so much passion.

“You’re mine, Becca. Say it.”

She wanted to. Her mouth even opened but she realized what she was about to do. She pressed her lips firmly together and breathed through her nose. He closed his eyes and seemed to wrestle with his temper. He finally calmed, his eyes opened and he grabbed her hips to drag her totally off the bed. She ended up straddling his thighs where he sat on the floor. His rigid cock was trapped between their bellies.

“Put your arms around my neck and hold on to me.”

She reached up to do as she was told and his hands gripped her ass, lifted her and adjusted until she felt the broad head of his cock nudge her pussy. She was so wet from her climax that he slid a little, had to adjust her and then he eased her down. Becca pressed her mouth against his chest and moaned as he lowered her torturously, slowly until he was buried deep inside her pussy.

Her muscles still twitched and squeezed around his cock, not recovered yet from coming and it nearly hurt. He was so thick and big that she wasn’t sure her body could handle him fucking her again so soon. Her nails dug into his skin.

“Easy,” she rasped. “Give me a minute to adjust.”

“I wish you weren’t so frail,” he snarled. “I want to take you hard, fast and deep.” He snarled again. “I want to bury myself into you so deep there’s nothing of my dick that’s not inside you and fuck you until we can’t move. But I’ll hurt you.”

Becca felt a second of fear. He was too big, too strong, to do that and she knew it. Being pregnant didn’t help either. She wiggled her hips, trying to get away from him but he groaned. His hands tightened on her ass instead of releasing and he began to slowly rock his hips, moving gently and pleasure overrode fear. It felt good, his strokes massaging and hitting all those wonderful nerve endings and her muscles adjusted until he could move a little faster. Becca moaned. Brawn restrained himself and kept fucking her.

Brawn fought for control and won. Becca was so tight around his dick that it nearly hurt, her muscles gripped him strongly and he listened to her moans to judge what she enjoyed. His balls tightened and he wanted to come but held back. He purred, couldn’t hold back the vibrations that came from his throat and rolled his hips under his female. She cried out so he snarled softly and did it again.

That was the spot she loved best. He repeated it, torturing them both and buried his face against her shoulder. Easy, he ordered his body. Be gentle.

He wasn’t going to last, knew she was too hot, too tight and fisted his cock too strongly to hold back the climax for much longer. He tried to think of anything that would calm him but her moans, the feel of her and the scent of her arousal drowned him.

He released her ass, slid his fingers between them and frantically rubbed her clit. His finger moved in tune with his driving thrusts up into her. Becca screamed his name, climaxed again and he threw back his head, roaring out as her muscles milked his cock, sucked on him and he came so hard he saw stars. He barely remembered to remove his hand from between them to cradle her in his arms as he tried to catch his breath and jets of his semen marked her from the inside.

He opened his eyes, looked down and studied her beautiful face resting against his chest. She was the sexiest sight ever. “Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head against his skin.

“Good. You test me to my limit, Becca.”

She bit her lip and tears filled her eyes. It shocked him when she suddenly used his shoulders for support and lifted up, wiggled out of his hold and got off his lap. She stumbled unsteadily toward the bathroom and he climbed to his feet.

“Becca? Where are you going?” Brawn moved behind her, ready to catch her, but she steadied. Confusion gripped him. Why had she gotten tears and why break contact with their bodies? “I want to hold you.”

“I need a shower.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Don’t,” she whispered and refused to turn her head to even look at him. “I need some time alone.”

“Becca,” he growled, alarmed. What had he done? She’d enjoyed the sex. He’d been careful.

Becca walked inside the bathroom and closed the door nearly in his face. He reached for the handle but the sound of the lock being engaged clicked in his ear. He was astonished. She’d locked him out! Anger came next.

“Becca? Open the door!”

She ignored him and turned on the shower. Why wouldn’t she answer? Why did she want to wash away his scent and seed? He breathed fast, pain tore through him and he felt the rejection straight to his soul. She had rushed to bathe to remove all trace of their shared sex.

His fingers gripped the doorframe and clawed at it. He wanted to roar, to kick the damn door in, but he was afraid he’d scare her. She could slip in the tub again and he wouldn’t be there to catch her.

She’d refused to see him after he’d lost his temper before. The last thing he wanted was for her to be terrified of him. He breathed in and out, tried to get control, but the pain remained. He just wanted her to be his, to feel for him the way he did for her and to accept him. Instead she couldn’t tolerate his scent on her body.

His head lowered and tears filled his eyes. He’d made a mess of things, didn’t know how to fix them and could feel his happiness slipping away each time Becca pushed him away.

Brawn paced the bedroom but his attention kept going to the bathroom door. He should break the lock and go get her. He stopped pacing, snarled and knew he had to resist his urges to go get his female. What had happened?

He closed his eyes, remembered looking down at her after they’d had sex and seen tears in her eyes. A horrible thought struck and he rushed for the phone. She’d looked pained. Had he hurt her? Had he been too rough with her? She said he hadn’t but maybe she’d lied. Damn it.

The call was quickly placed and he put on his jeans. He paced until a soft sound reached his ears. His body grew rigid, all thought fled and he lunged toward the bathroom door. His control snapped at hearing her sharp intakes of breath and the soft sound of her weeping. His shoulder hit the door, the wood exploded inward and he moved with all speed to his female.

Becca tried to fight the urge to cry as she sat in the tub with warm water from the shower raining over her. Brawn had slipped up with his explanation. He’d told her how he wanted to have rough sex and he’d had to restrain himself. It just brought everything into focus and she knew she had to end it.

It hurt. She had fallen in love with Brawn too fast, had known better but her heart hadn’t listened. He’d been honest from the beginning when he’d stated that he’d never want a human. He liked his strong, durable Species women. He could fuck them any way he wanted.

Her hands cupped her stomach. The baby was the only reason Brawn was trying so hard to make it work with her but she’d made that mistake before. She’d married a man she’d loved who had wanted her for the wrong reasons. She’d thought everything with her husband would work out, that he’d love her back, but he hadn’t.

Her shoulders shook harder as she fought the urge to cry. The pain of her marriage had nearly killed her from the inside out a day at a time but she’d kept hoping she could save it, that Bradley would love her if she just tried harder. She’d been young, stupid and naWve. She wasn’t any of those things anymore.

She might love Brawn but he only wanted the baby. She was sure he’d try harder than Bradley had to make it work between them but she knew better than to hope. She’d been there and done that. The pain would be much greater by the time it ended. A life without Brawn in it…having to face the day when he’d be in someone else’s bed, touching another woman… Sobs racked her body.

Memories surfaced of some of the attempts she’d made to save her marriage. No matter what she’d done she always felt as if she disappointed Bradley. For their first-year anniversary she’d gone all out to liven up their sad sex life. She’d made a dinner and lit candles all around their room. She’d met him at the door in high heels, garter belt and black silk.

Bradley had taken one look at her, frowned and told her she looked like a whore. He’d been pissed and had spent the night on the couch. He’d gaped at her as though she were a stranger and she realized that they actually were just two people who’d ended up together but shouldn’t have been. She’d been pathetic and she’d never be that woman again. NEVER!

It had been an endless and vicious cycle of Becca feeling like a disappointment to Bradley until the day he died. Now there was Brawn. She wasn’t what he wanted or needed either. They had nothing in common, were from two different worlds and the only thing that bound her to Brawn was the baby growing inside her womb. She couldn’t survive that kind of heartbreak again, of being in a relationship doomed from the beginning.

She couldn’t stop the tears that fell. She lost all control when the sobs hit. She pressed her mouth against her arm to muffle the sounds as she just let all the pain pour out.

The sound of the door breaking was so loud it made her gasp. Brawn tore the shower door open. Shock stilled her tears as he fell to his knees beside the tub.

Two strong arms gripped her around her back and under her knees, hoisted her up and he held her tightly against his chest.

“I’m so sorry, beautiful,” he rasped. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t smell blood. Tell me where it hurts.”

It took her seconds to recover. Brawn held her where he’d yanked her out of the shower and sat on the bathroom floor with her. He nuzzled her head, held her even tighter and rocked her a little on his lap as if it would comfort her. He thought she was injured. That sank in.

“I-I’m not hurt. Put me down.” She sniffed, freed an arm from the tangle of his to wipe at her tears and wished for a tissue. She lifted her head and saw fear in his gaze. Worry. He was certain he’d caused her physical harm. “Brawn, I’m not hurt that way. I’m really okay. I’m getting you soaked. Let go.”

“No.” He managed to straighten with her in his arms, something only someone very strong could do, and carried her out of the bathroom. “I’m so sorry, Becca. I tried to be gentle.” He thought he’d hurt her sexually and he sounded guilty and torn up over it.

“You didn’t hurt me. I’m fine.”

“Becca,” he rasped, “you are crying. I hurt you.”

He laid her down gently on the bed, tore the blanket a bit to cover her and came down on it next to her. His arms wrapped around her to gently ease her onto her side and he spooned up tightly around her as if his body could protect her.

It was sweet, it made her love him more and she gave up trying to stay in control. Why couldn’t he love her? Things would have been so perfect if he could. Hot tears spilled and she buried her face in the bedding, crying again. Damn hormones!

“I’m here, beautiful. I’ve got you,” he crooned. “It will be okay.”

Chapter Nineteen

“I’m sorry, beautiful. I’d rather hurt myself than you.”

Becca could hear the honest distress in Brawn’s voice. It forced her to get a grip on her emotions. “It’s not you. I swear you didn’t hurt me during sex. It’s…just me. I’m a mess inside. Please, Brawn. You didn’t hurt me.”

“Then why are you crying? Look me in the eye as we talk.”

She sniffed. “We have nothing in common. I’m not what you want. You…” She sniffed again. “You and I can’t work out. We need to stop seeing each other. It’s only going to be harder once the baby comes if we don’t end this now.”

His body tensed behind hers. “I am not going to end us, Becca. Never. You are mine.”

Becca started to cry again. She heard a door slam and thought it was from another suite. Brawn held her firmly and his body was cocooned around hers from the back.

“I’m here,” Trisha panted. “What is the emergency?”

Becca tensed and lifted her head to gawk at Trisha. The doctor wore a pink jogging suit and carried a bag. Their eyes met and Trisha moved toward the bed.

“Brawn said he might have injured you during sex, Becca. Where are you hurting? Is there any bleeding? Cramping?”

“She says I did not injure her during sex.” Brawn sighed. “I do not know why she cries but I see pain in her eyes, Trisha. How do I help her?”

Trisha dropped her bag and sat on the edge of the bed. She met Becca’s tear-filled eyes. “What is it, Becca? Talk to me. You have Brawn really worried. Trust me. For a Species male to call out for help this way, he’s really worried. Did he accidentally hurt you during sex? Talk to me.”

Becca bit her lip. “I was married before.”

Trisha blinked. “I remember. I was surprised when I found out because your last name is the same as your father’s.”

“I took my maiden name back after my husband died.”

“Do you feel guilty over having a baby when he is dead?” Trisha’s features softened. “That’s normal but you know you shouldn’t.”

Becca wiped at tears. “My marriage was miserable.”

Trisha gave her a compassionate look. “You’re afraid to commit. That’s understandable.”

Becca shook her head. “Bradley was an investment broker. He wanted a wife who came from money and my grandfather was loaded. He thought he’d have an in with my grandpa and get the job of handling his money if he married me. I thought he loved me but it wasn’t me he wanted.”

“Shit.” Trisha handed her a tissue she pulled from the bag. “I’m so sorry.”

“What is an investment broker? Why would he want in with your grandfather? In where?” Brawn propped his head up on his arm.

Trisha answered. “He thought marrying Becca would make him rich through her family. That’s the bottom line, isn’t it?” Trisha glanced at her.

Becca blew her nose. “He didn’t know my gramps planned to leave it all to charity, that I wouldn’t be rich when he died and was only left part of his property. Bradley was furious when he found out he wasn’t even allowed to sell my house. My grandpa has a clause that my father has to agree to sell too since he owns the other half and Dad won’t ever do that. Ever. In other words, he couldn’t touch it.”

“Good for your grandpa,” Trisha muttered.

“To make matters worse, I embarrassed him around his friends because I didn’t understand much about his job or what he did. We had nothing in common. I tried to be what I thought he wanted but I could never make him happy. We were both miserable. The only reason we didn’t divorce was because he didn’t want to admit he’d made a mistake to everyone. It would have embarrassed him more than I did and been bad for business. People trusted him with their money but they like family men to do that. Not single divorced guys who drink, party and could be playboy types. I didn’t divorce him because my father had told me I was making the biggest mistake of my life getting married. I’m stubborn and I kept thinking if I tried harder I could turn it around and save our marriage.”

The room remained silent. Becca was glad she couldn’t see Brawn, with him snuggled behind her. She didn’t think she could continue talking if she had to look him in the eyes. It was important though that she make him understand why she was crying and why they could never work out.

“My husband had a rare heart defect we didn’t know about. They only discovered it during his autopsy. He wasn’t with me when he died. I lied and said he was away for a business trip but it wasn’t the truth. Our sex life was almost nonexistent. He rarely touched me. I thought…” She sniffed. “I thought something was wrong with me. I tried so hard to figure out what I was doing wrong and be what he wanted sexually but it only made him angry when I tried. He’d yell at me and sleep on the couch.”

Brawn softly growled and his arm around her tightened. Becca didn’t turn to look at him, instead kept her gaze locked with Trisha’s.

“The police came to our condo to inform me Bradley had died in another woman’s apartment. They’d been having an affair for months and he kept her a few blocks away, rented the place as their love nest. He was into things—liked to wear leather and had his mistress whip him. He was into pain. When I got his personal items from the coroner that’s what I got in the bag. He was wearing a leather outfit when he suffered the rupture in his heart. She’d been spanking him when he died. I saw a shrink afterward. I was pretty confused and emotionally messed up. She told me that some men need to be dominated the way Bradley obviously did, that some men enjoy that kind of pain to get off and he knew I’d never be into that. It’s why he rarely touched me. It’s why…” Becca wiped her eyes. “No matter what I did, I could never have made him happy.”

“I’m sorry,” Trisha said softly. “The shrink was right. I’ve heard of this before. Some men marry one sort of woman but have a darker side they hide. It’s the deceit and the lies that flip their switch.”

Becca shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I just don’t want to make the same mistake twice and end up being that unhappy again. I just can’t take it.”

Trisha frowned. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Becca cleared her throat. “Can I talk to Trisha alone, Brawn?”

“No.” His hold on her tightened. “Tell me why you are crying and why you are crying over your dead husband. Do you still love him?”

“God no!” Becca immediately regretted her outburst. She locked her gaze on Trisha.

“Just talk to me and try to forget he’s here. He’s worried and he needs to know why you’re so upset.” Trisha’s voice softened as she glanced at Brawn. “You just be quiet and let her talk.”

Becca took a breath. “The first time I saw Brawn I thought…” She sniffed. “I thought he had the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. He was so hot. I was attracted to him instantly. I—” She suddenly laughed. “I thought he’d make a great stripper with that body and wished I could see him out of his clothes.”

Trisha grinned. “They do like to dance. You should have Brawn take you to the bar at the hotel.”

“Then he told me why he would never touch someone like me.”

Brawn tensed. “Becca—”

Trisha shot him a glare. “Shut up. Not a word. Let her talk. If you won’t leave than be quiet and stop interrupting.”

He softly growled but he didn’t speak. Brawn shifted on the bed, getting more comfortable. Becca realized he wasn’t going to leave.

“Keep going. Talk to me,” Trisha urged. “I want to hear this. Why wouldn’t he be with you?”

“He thinks we’re too frail. He likes not to restrain himself, to have rougher sex than our bodies can handle.”

Trisha didn’t look surprised. “They could easily hurt us. They sometimes use their teeth and they are very aggressive. It’s a valid fear, Becca. There are a lot of Species men who say they won’t touch human females because of that. They are afraid they’d…break them somehow. Tear them up inside. Snap a bone by accident. Some of them like to wrestle a bit with a female before sex. If my husband wrestled with me the way some of them do, I’d probably be in a body cast.” Trisha smiled to soften her words. “But Slade doesn’t hurt me. If you are afraid Brawn will hurt you I can understand that but you’ll both learn how to balance it out so no one gets hurt.”

“I’m not afraid of him hurting me.” Becca shook her head. “It’s Bradley all over again. Don’t you see that? Brawn needs things I can’t ever give him. He can’t be as rough as he wants and is always going to have to worry about hurting me. He’ll always have to stay in control when he doesn’t want to. He needs things sexually that he’ll never be able to get from me.”

Brawn softly cursed. “Becca, it’s all right. I don’t need that. I don’t want to be rough with you. I do worry about hurting you because I would rather hurt myself first.”

“The point is,” Becca continued, “I’m not what you really want. I can’t give you the things you need. I can’t take falling for you when I have done this before and I know how it ends.” Becca turned her head to stare into Brawn’s eyes.

“I—”

Becca cut him off. “You will grow to resent me. It was loud and clear when you never contacted me, Brawn. I got it. You had sex with me because we were trapped and we only had each other to lean on. You were honest the first time we met about your feelings about human women. We have nothing in common, we’re from two different worlds and you’re only here for the baby. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant I never would have seen you again. I’m not going to do this, Brawn. I’m not going to try a relationship that is doomed to fail. You’ll withdraw from me and you’ll cheat. I’ll grow to depend on you, love you and you’ll break my heart. You need to leave. That’s why I’m crying. That’s how you’re hurting me. I can’t survive that again.”

Brawn brushed at Becca’s fresh tears with his thumb. “Becca…”

“Don’t,” she sniffed. “Don’t even deny it. You can’t. You never called and you never even came to see me to get your things. There’s no way around that. I waited six weeks, hoping you’d call and say what happened between us meant something to you. I got my answer and there isn’t a thing you can say or do that is going to tell me otherwise. You’re a liar if you try. Now let me go. I’m hungry.” She tried to wiggle away from him. “Don’t touch me again, Brawn. We’ll become friends for the baby’s sake but don’t pull this claiming shit on me because I refuse to let you tear out my heart. Now move.”

“No. I wanted you. I was ordered not to contact you. I worried that seeing me would cause you pain. You went through a trauma and Species involved with humans only seem to draw danger. I thought about you all the time.”

“Let her go,” Trisha ordered. “We need to talk, Brawn. She needs to calm down a little before you tell her anything. Trust me.”

Brawn moved, letting Becca up. It was obvious from his expression that he didn’t want to. Becca climbed out of bed, wrapped the blanket around her body, and walked to the dresser to fetch a long nightshirt. She didn’t glance back as she left the bedroom.

She used the spare bedroom to change into the shirt, folded the blanket, and walked into the living room area and ordered dinner to be brought up to her. She knew they would hurry. She moved to the couch and collapsed. Trisha and Brawn remained in the bedroom.

“How do I make her stop crying?” Brawn was frustrated. “I never meant to hurt her. I did want her but everyone assured me it would be wrong. I was ordered not to contact her. I hoped she would contact me but she didn’t. How do I fix this?”

Trisha glanced at the tall Species who climbed out of bed and paced. “You hurt her feelings, Brawn. When you met her she was interested in you and you made it clear you’d never want a human. You were kidnapped, you grew really close during the ordeal and she had hopes that you’d changed your mind about wanting her. When you didn’t call her or see her again she was obviously hurt by that because she felt something for you. I know you were ordered to stay away and why. She still got hurt and that’s the bottom line. She’s certain that you didn’t feel anything for her until you found out about the baby.”

“I felt things.” He was grim. “I wanted to call, wanted to go to her, but I didn’t want to cause her pain. Everyone said I would do exactly that. I was thinking of her feelings. She saw horrible things when we were taken and got a taste of what we had dealt with in our past. I saw horror in her eyes sometimes and fear. I thought she might relive that if she saw me. I left it up to her to contact me. I hoped every day she would but she never did. Why didn’t she come to me if she had feelings? Why?” He stopped pacing to stare at Trisha. “I’m happy about this baby. I get her. It makes her mine and that’s what I wanted. Why can’t she see that?”

Trisha bit her lip. “We’re not Species, Brawn. In our world the men usually come after the women.”

“I read books and modern females want to be the aggressors in relationships.”

The doctor smiled. “Yeah, well, most of those articles don’t speak for all women. I like a man asking me out, opening my doors and being the one in charge. I’m mated to a Species male, remember? Slade is near barbaric at times and I love that about him. Don’t go overboard and insult her by not taking her feelings into consideration but women want a male to sweep them off their feet. She waited for you to come storm the castle.”

“What castle?”

She grinned. “It’s a saying. She wanted you to come after her and tell her that she had changed your mind about humans.” She sobered. “You didn’t and now she believes you only want the baby. She carries your son and she feels like you’re only trying to be with her for the sake of the child. No woman wants to be with a man who only wants her because she got pregnant.”

Brawn frowned. “Becca did change my mind about humans and I want her. The child is a bonus but I’d want her even if there wasn’t one.”

“You need to talk to her, Brawn. She thinks you are going to feel trapped with her because of the baby. She thinks she can never sexually please you and that you will seek out other women to fill that need. She is afraid that because of your differences you can never love her and be happy with her. Her husband never loved her or made her happy. She’s been hurt inside badly.”

“I am not him,” Brawn growled. “I would never hate her and I would never seek another woman. She does please me.”

“Her husband married her for the wrong reasons, Brawn. You are trying to claim her for the wrong reasons. She shouldn’t be your mate because she’s carrying your child. She should be your mate because you love her and want to spend the rest of your lives together. The baby should just be a result of that love.”

“I will talk to her.”

Trisha nodded. “Keep talking to her because she’s been hurt by another man. You are going to have to find patience and keep your temper in check.”

“I do not have patience.”

Trisha stood and lifted her bag off the floor. “It is a good time to learn.”

Brawn watched Trisha leave the bedroom and waited until he heard the hotel room door close. He took a few deep breaths and tried to get his thoughts in order before walking out into the living room. Becca sat on the couch. Their gazes met.

Brawn slowly stalked toward the couch, sank to his knees on the floor before her and searched her eyes. She wasn’t crying anymore but the look of sadness he found there nearly tore his heart from his chest.

“I understand why you cry, Becca.”

“You didn’t hurt me in bed. I didn’t want you thinking you had. I’m sorry I unloaded my past on you but you don’t seem to understand why we can’t be together.”

“When I met you, I was very attracted to you.”

That statement surprised her and her eyes widened.

“I admitted as much when you were presenting your ass to me in the bedroom while you removed the sheets from the bed. Do you want to know what I wanted to do?” He didn’t wait for her response. “I wanted to fall to my knees behind you and touch you, Becca. I wanted to smell you, taste you and bury my dick deep inside you. I wanted to hear you make noises of pleasure until you cried out my name.”

“But I’m human.”

“I’ve never wanted a human before but I wanted you, Becca. It shocked me and it made me angry.”

She bit her lip. “Why?”

“I never understood why a few of my kind were attracted to yours and would take a human as a mate. All I have known are our females, Becca. Wasn’t it a little daunting for you to be attracted to me?”

“I was a little surprised but you’re very good-looking. It didn’t matter to me that we’re different.”

“When we were kidnapped you got a taste of what I’ve been subjected to in the past. Imprisoned, forced to undergo testing and being under the control of others and the constant fear of our usefulness being over. They killed us sometimes. You were forced to touch me to get those semen samples. I felt guilty for enjoying it but I did. My mind has become as twisted as my captors in that regard. I thought you’d be better off without me yet I wanted you, Becca. I missed you when we were freed and I wanted you back in my life. I feared you might hate me for what you’d endured.”

Becca stared into his eyes and hoped the sincerity she saw was real and not just wishful thinking on her part. “I could never hate you for what happened to us. You kept me going, comforted me, but you have to admit we wouldn’t have gotten into this situation if you’d been given a choice.” She glanced down at her rounded belly before holding his gaze. “It was comfort sex.”

“I loved touching you. That’s why I felt guilty. You are so soft and so beautiful, Becca. I wanted you in the worst way and was glad to be locked inside a cage with you. I was almost grateful because I could touch you. I never thought being with a human female would be good and it wasn’t, Becca. It was so much better than good that it is an insult to use such a weak word. You felt right to me, beautiful. Your touch and your scent. Your body around mine. You were perfect to me. Do you understand? The look in your eyes, the taste of your mouth and the feel of you inside where I didn’t want to leave has driven me crazy daily since we were freed.”

“That’s not true. You would have called me if you wanted to see me again. You didn’t.”

“I was ordered not to and had to agree that it might only cause you pain. I believed you’d come after me if you wanted to see me. I think like a Species because I am one. Our women are very blunt, aggressive and tell us what they want. I made a mistake and should have come after you.”

She was speechless, wanted to believe him and finally found her voice. “If it wasn’t for this baby we would never have seen each other again. You would have gotten on with your life and forgotten all about me. A baby isn’t a reason to start a relationship, Brawn. I won’t be with you just because I got knocked up.”

“I was glad when I learned of the child.” He took a deep breath and calmed down. “That makes me an asshole, doesn’t it? I am glad that my seed took inside you. When they told me that the doctors would make sure you had not gotten impregnated with medicines, I wanted to roar my rage because if my seed took I knew I could have you again and again because I would have a right to you.” His eyes narrowed and his nose flared. “I am a bastard and an asshole but damn it, Becca, never think I will hate you or feel trapped by you having this baby. You should feel trapped because I am not letting you go. You might be horror-filled to have my baby but I am very well pleased by it. Trisha says I need patience but what I need is for you to realize you are my mate and that you belong to me. You need to stop fighting it because it drives me insane.”

“I’m not the kind of mate who will make you happy.”

He growled at her. “Why do you think that?”

“I’m forever pissing you off. You are growling at me again and showing teeth, first off. Second off, in the bedroom, while we were having sex, you had to hold back and you obviously didn’t want to. Admit it, Brawn. Wouldn’t you have loved not to have to be careful? Wouldn’t it have felt better for you if you could have done all the things you knew would hurt me?”

His eyes locked with hers. “You were not a virgin. You have been with another male, Becca. You were married. Your husband touched you. Is my touching you the same as it was with him?”

“No.” She shook her head, her eyes locked with his. “There’s no comparison. It’s completely different.”

He nodded. “Then you should understand that what I experience with you has no comparison to what I knew before. It is more with you. Stronger. The best, Becca. I have never felt the way I feel with you. You bring out so much inside me and you are very wrong if you think you do not please me when we are touching. You please me more than I’ve ever been.” He cupped her face, his gaze holding hers. “You make me roar, beautiful. I don’t do that for any female except you. All that control I must find not to hurt you actually makes our shared sex feel much better at the end when I release that control before I seed you.”

“I want to believe you.”

“I would not lie. After we were found and we were set free from the cages I wanted to hit that Trey for hugging you. I don’t like any male touching you. I wanted to pick you up and carry you out of there and take you home with me so I could keep you. I knew I couldn’t. You do not like bossy men. I heard this while you were talking to Trey in your kitchen. I am dominating, Becca.”

She suddenly laughed. “Really? I’m shocked!”

He smiled. “Sarcasm. I know what this is.”

The doorbell rang and Brawn moved. “I will get your food.”

He opened the door and Breeze stood there with the cart. She stared at him with a grim expression. “Brawn. I was on kitchen duty. Here is her food.”

Becca wanted to flinch. This was the woman he’d had a date with the day Becca had arrived at Reservation. Brawn took the cart and pulled it into the room. The woman glanced at Becca from the door, took a deep breath and walked inside the room. She closed the door behind her.

Brawn spun, a growl tearing from his lips. The woman backed up against the door and her eyes flew to Becca.

“I wanted to talk to you. Could you please tell Brawn to allow it before he tears out my throat for daring to speak to you? It’s important.”

Brawn took a threatening step toward the woman but Becca reacted. “Brawn! Stop.”

He froze and swung his head to Becca, a furious look on his face. “I told her not to come here or ever speak to you. You got upset with me for having a date with her when you arrived. It was innocent but you believe I planned to share sex with her. I didn’t.”

Becca studied Breeze. “Hi, Breeze. What did you want to tell me?”

Breeze looked grim. “You remember my name.”

“That whole day kind of stuck in my mind.”

“I did not know you were carrying Brawn’s child or I would have known we no longer had a date. I am sorry for what I said. Tiger was touching you and no male will allow another to touch his mate so I mistook Tiger as the father of the baby. Brawn did not and has not gone out with me or any other female since he returned after he was taken by the Mercile people. I wanted to tell you this.”

Relief swept through Becca. Brawn had canceled his date with Breeze and Breeze had no reason to lie. She was willing to trust the other woman’s word. “Thank you for telling me that. I appreciate it. Really.”

Breeze nodded. “Did he explain to you about the relationships between our males and females?”

“Some of it.”

Breeze glanced at Brawn warily before inching closer to Becca. “May I talk with you while you eat? I promise not to upset you or say hurtful things. I think it will make you feel much better and happy.”

Becca hesitated but nodded. “Do you want to sit down?”

Brawn growled. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I do not want you to cry again. We were laughing when she came.”

“I have human friends,” Breeze stated. “I said something hurtful to her about our date. I will make her feel better, I swear, Brawn. I would like to be her friend.”

He frowned.

“Have a seat,” Becca urged softly.

Brawn didn’t look happy but he brought Becca her food and a large glass of milk. He placed them in front of her. He turned to the cart and then placed silverware down for her. “Eat, please.” He sat next to her.

Breeze sat down in a chair. “Species females don’t want relationships the way human females do,” Breeze explained. “Do you know anything about our lives before we were freed?”

“A little.” Becca started to cut up her steak.

“We were passed between our males for breeding tests often. All our lives we have been told what to do and who to do it with. Once we were freed we became very resistant to taking orders. We don’t want a male to tell us what to do. We have dominating males. It is how they are. They dominate as easily as they eat and breathe. For this reason we only agree to have temporary sexual contact with our males if we want sexual release. We don’t date the same male more than once in a long while. We don’t want them to suspect we might want more from them than sex. Am I explaining this well?”

Becca was a bit shocked but she understood. She nodded.

“Brawn and I have no love feelings for each other. There is no need for you to feel jealous, upset, or threatened by me because we had set a date. We are from the same testing facility. We have been bred many times over the years together. We still do not have love feelings for each other the way humans have in relationships. I respect him, we are friends and I care what happens to him. That’s it. He was depressed after he was returned to us and I forced him to agree to spend time with me, thinking it would cheer him up because, as my friend, I worried about him. Once our males decide to mate with a female it is different from just sharing sex. Mating is the commitment to stay with one female and emotions are involved. He will not touch anyone but you ever again. They are fiercely loyal to a mate. Did he explain any of this to you?”

“No.”

“I thought not.” Breeze gave her a smile. “He told me about you. Did he mention this? After he was captured and returned, he snarled at everyone. He missed you. He thought about you all the time. You put him in a very foul mood. Many feared he would harm them and Brawn is usually very happy and mellow. He wasn’t when he returned because he wanted you. Did he tell you this?”

Becca forgot to eat. Her attention focused on Brawn. He watched her silently and shrugged. “I told you that I didn’t want to let you go and that I wished to come get you. I thought it would harm you more if you saw me.”

“That’s true,” Breeze stated softly. “He even told me that he wished to go to your home, throw you over his shoulder and take you to his house. He wanted to lock you inside with him until he planted his seed inside you until it took.” The Species glanced at her belly. “It did so he got his wish.”

Becca knew her mouth dropped open. Her gaze swung to Brawn, realizing he glared at Breeze.

“I thought you said you would make her happy and not upset her.” He growled softly. “Now you are going to make her terrified of me.”

Breeze shook her head. “No. She will know you have feelings for her. You felt enough for her to want to do all of that to keep her with you and have her back in your arms. You wanted to put your baby inside her stomach so she would be forced to be your mate, just so you could keep her. I don’t think this will scare her, knowing this, since it happened. She will know now that you wanted a child with her before she actually knew it had happened.” Breeze smiled at Becca. “He said he would like to keep putting babies in your belly over and over again so that you could never leave him because he fears human divorces and couldn’t stand ever losing you.”

Becca looked at Brawn, stunned. Hope gripped her hard that Breeze was stating true facts. It would change everything, mean he really did want her before there’d been a baby.

His frown deepened. “Do not be afraid of me.”

“We figured after eight or nine little baby Brawn sons that you would be too tired to even think about wanting to leave. Was that a good number of children to make you too exhausted to ever leave him?” Breeze grinned at her.

Becca suddenly laughed as her gaze fixed on Brawn. The confused look on his face made her laugh harder. She gripped her stomach and enjoyed the humor.

“Becca?” Brawn was concerned as he touched her arm.

She got control and wiped at her eyes. “You wanted me to birth your own little army of mini Brawns to keep me with you, huh?”

“It was just a thought.” A blush darkened his cheeks.

Becca grinned and turned to Breeze. “Thank you very much for talking to me, Breeze. You’ve really made things much clearer and I appreciate it.”

Breeze smiled as she stood. “Good. I will leave you alone now to talk.”

Becca watched Breeze leave the suite and Brawn sighed beside her. Becca turned to face him, seeing a wary look she stared back at her.

“Are you afraid of me now?”

Becca didn’t hesitate to climb onto his lap by lifting up and throwing her leg over him to settle her ass over his thighs. She saw his shock as she straddled him and put her arms around his neck. His baffled expression was adorable.

“No. I’m not afraid of you. I think you really do want me and it’s not just because of the baby.” She laughed. “And as weird as it sounds, I think your plan about the eight or nine children is really quite romantic and sweet.”

“I will never understand human females but I will certainly try for you, beautiful.”

“You really wanted to come get me and take me home with you, huh?”

His hands gripped her hips and he rubbed her with his fingers lightly. “I was told I couldn’t do that and how it would make you hate me more.”

Becca leaned forward. “Open your mouth.”

He did without hesitation. Becca clung to him as their mouths molded together and their tongues met. Within minutes Brawn carried Becca into the bedroom. He stripped her and laid her gently down on the bed.

“I love watching you strip,” she smiled as he undressed at the end of the bed.

“I love you not wearing any clothes at all.”

Becca touched her stomach. “I have stretch marks.”

His gaze took them in. “I think they are beautiful and they are caused by my child inside you.”

He removed his jeans last. “I am living here now and I won’t leave you.” His stared into her eyes. “I need to be with you, Becca. I want to be wherever you are and I never want to leave. We belong together.”

“I won’t ask you to leave.”

He smiled. “Will you be my mate?”

“That’s forever, isn’t it? Like marriage?”

“No. Not like your marriages. There is no leaving me and no divorce. You will belong to me and I will belong to you forever. I will not let you go and I will do everything to make sure you never want to let me go.”

Becca stared into his amazing eyes. “I’ll be your mate.”

He grinned. “Open your thighs for me, Becca.”

She spread her legs, smiling at him. Brawn climbed onto the bed and a purr rumbled from his throat. Big hands caressed her skin as he lowered onto her body, placing light kisses on her belly, upper thighs and inching closer to her pussy.

Becca closed her eyes. “God, that feels amazing.”

He chuckled. “I love your taste and the sounds you make. I just love you, Becca.”

Her head jerked up and she stared down at him, her heart racing for an entirely new reason. “You love me?”

He kept eye contact with her as he traced her clit with his tongue. “Mmm. Yes, beautiful. I love everything about you.”

She believed him. “I love you too.”

He groaned, nearly attacked her with his hot mouth and mercilessly manipulated her pussy. His finger slid inside, found that spot that drove her wild and brought her to climax fast. She panted and opened her eyes as Brawn dragged her down the bed. Her thighs wrapped around his hips as he slowly stretched her vaginal walls as his thick cock filled her.

“You’re my mate, Becca,” Brawn rasped roughly. “I’m yours. Say it, beautiful.”

As she stared at the passion in those amazing catlike eyes, she felt true happiness for the first time in forever. “I’m your mate,” she confirmed. “You’re mine.”

He leaned over her, hesitated with his lips less than an inch away from hers and softly growled. “I love you. Never doubt that. You’re everything to me. I want and need you.”

He drove into her as his lips crushed down on her mouth, kissing her and using his tongue to mimic what his cock was doing. Sensations swamped Becca—wonderful, wild ecstasy. This was more than hot sex, her mate was making love to her and she was being claimed with each powerful thrust of his hips and sweep of his tongue. Her body tensed and she tore her mouth away from his to cry out his name as she came hard. Brawn followed her, roaring out her name. They held each other tightly, catching their breaths and Becca smiled.

“I’m your mate.”

“Yes,” he whispered, kissing her throat. “We belong to each other and will be happy.”

Chapter Twenty

Justice North, leader of the NSO, watched Tim Oberto from across his desk. Tim studied him too, a worried expression on his face. Justice felt dread at having to tell Tim the news, not certain how the man would react. Jessie, his mate, walked into the office. Justice frowned at her surprise arrival.

Jessie stared at her mate, shrugged and winked. “He’s my old boss. I know him better and I think I should be the one to handle this.”

Justice hesitated. Part of him was relieved but the other part worried the male would lose his temper. He noticed the determined look on his mate’s beautiful face though and nodded his consent. No way was he going to tell her no and have her accuse him of not trusting her. He did, with his very life.

Jessie licked her lips and her gaze lowered to his mouth. She promised silently that she would show her appreciation of his trust later. Justice relaxed in his chair. His mate could handle the leader of the human task force and the tough situation. His mate was fierce.

“Hi, Tim. How are you?” Jessie sat on the edge of the desk.

“Jessie!” Tim grinned and his body relaxed. “What are you doing here? I mean, I know you are working for the NSO and dating Justice now but why are you at this meeting?”

“I wanted to be here. Justice and I got married.”

Tim gasped. His gaze darted between them but he finally smiled. “Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations.”

Jessie grinned. “Thanks.” She glanced at her mate. “I’ve never been happier.”

Justice chuckled. “Me neither. Jessie completes my life. When I claimed her at the bar, it was forever, Tim. Marriage was bound to happen. I respect your human traditions.”

“That’s great.” Tim nodded. “I’m happy for you both. Is this why you called a private meeting, Justice? You said it had something to do with a human and a New Species. Do you need help with more security? I’m sure when the press finds out there’s going to be a big hoopla about it and your gates are going to be flooded with reporters and protestors. We’ll handle it though.”

“No. This isn’t about that. We’ve managed to keep a lid on that secret. This is actually about a personal matter involving you.”

Tim frowned. “Me?”

Justice nodded. Jessie suddenly stood and moved to the chair next to her old boss. Her gaze flicked to her husband before settling on Tim.

“I need you to remain calm and professional. You need to hear me out before you hit the roof. Can you do that for me, Tim?”

He looked confused. “Okay.”

Jessie took a deep breath. “This relates to when Rebecca and Brawn were kidnapped and taken by Mercile Industries employees.”

Rage instantly tensed his features. “Is there another threat to my girl?”

“You need to remain calm, all right?” Jessie regarded him. “I need you in professional mode. Set your feelings aside for a few minutes until I’m done explaining. This involves Rebecca but she’s absolutely fine, happy and safe. Don’t think there’s some kind of threat against her. There isn’t. Can you just please remain calm and hear me out?”

Tim didn’t look composed but nodded.

“The situation was very stressful and Rebecca didn’t tell you everything that happened. She was afraid you’d go ballistic.”

Tim suddenly gripped his chair. “Goddamn, Jessie. She was raped, wasn’t she? She lied to me and that’s why she took off to Europe. I knew it! I even think I know who did it. I saw he was scratched and had a bite mark on him. That bastard raped my baby, didn’t he?”

“She wasn’t raped,” Jessie assured him. “Calm down and let me finish?”

He gritted his teeth and jerked his head in a nod.

“The doctor running the lab they were taken to was selling semen samples from Species men. You were banned from knowing the details because we were afraid you’d think the worst. They were selling the samples to some foreign person or company we’re still tracking. They had three canine Species males but they needed a feline and planned to try to kidnap a primate mix next. Their contact in Europe wanted to buy a set of the Species males. Primate, canine and feline. I guess there’s a black market over there and their wish list includes New Species babies. They are trying to figure out a way to open some kind of fucked-up breeding operation using Species’ sperm and human surrogate mothers to create a bunch of infants to sell.”

“They put her in with those men, didn’t they?” Tim’s eyes filled with tears. “You just found out. Was it just the one or was it all of them?”

Jessie shook her head. “I’m telling you this because it was a stressful situation and they wanted samples from Brawn that weren’t, um…” She glanced at her mate for help.

“They hooked them to sex toys that made them come to get their samples.” Justice sighed. “They asked Becca to take the samples from Brawn directly because they believed she was his girlfriend, therefore turned him on without the use of drugs and she had to take samples by manipulating his dick.”

“Son of a bitch!” Tim shot out of his chair. “I suspected she was the one who bit and scratched him. She wanted to talk to him, probably confront that bastard, but I made sure that didn’t happen. I kept them apart.”

Jessie stood. “Sit down now.” She frowned. “How did you keep them apart? What are you talking about?”

Tim sat but was pale and furious. “She wanted to talk to him and I was told he wanted to talk to her. I don’t care if he’s sorry or whatever the hell he wanted to say. He hurt my baby and I wasn’t going to allow him to do it again. I had the therapist we use say she was too traumatized.” He glared at Justice. “I knew you’d keep that son of a bitch from talking to my girl if the therapist suggested they not talk and I told my baby he wouldn’t talk to her. He’s not going near her. If he wants to apologize, too damn bad. She’s obviously upset and she fled to avoid the pain of the memories. I knew something happened, damn it. I knew she was lying and he was involved.”

“What choice did she have but to lie to you, Tim? It’s not as bad as you’re imagining. Just listen. I talked to Rebecca myself and she was okay with touching Brawn. The circumstances were horrible but so was him having to be hooked up to the machines. She saw that happen to one of them and it was pretty horrific, okay? She liked Brawn, they shared a cage and became really close.” Jessie sucked in air. “Really close, Tim.” She leaned in to stare at him. “They fell for each other. Are you following me? They started to have feelings—deep ones—for each other.”

Tim looked pissed. “So you’re telling me he had to fuck my daughter but he made sure she enjoyed it? She bit him and he had scratches. He obviously hurt her.”

Justice growled, his own temper flaring. “Jessie is saying they fell in love. He never forced your daughter to touch him, actually asked her not to and was willing to submit to being drugged and hooked to their machines to force his samples. She refused to allow it.”

Jessie sighed. “He didn’t hurt her, Tim. They fell for each other but she was afraid you’d kill him if you found out something had happened between them. She thought you might quit your job with the NSO. Brawn thought seeing him after they were released would only cause her pain because of what she’d endured at the hands of those asswipes. I can’t believe you had the therapist lie about that.” She frowned. “We’ll discuss that later though but we’re definitely hiring a new one you can’t intimidate. Brawn wanted to protect her and she wanted to protect him. They love each other. I think you misinterpreted the love bite and um, scratches she might have left on him during sex. He didn’t hurt her.”

Tim sat there for a good minute. “That’s why she went to Europe?” He stared at Jessie grimly. “She fell for this guy and she’s too afraid to tell me because she thinks I’ll kill him?”

“She’s not in Europe. She lied to you about that too,” Jessie sighed. “She’s up north at Reservation.”

Tim was shocked. “Why?”

“She’s pregnant. She and Brawn are going to have a baby.” Jessie held Tim’s gaze. “No one knows that a human and a New Species can conceive a baby together so you can’t tell anyone that you’re going to be a grandfather. It will put Rebecca and her baby in danger from the hate groups, from the media and from anyone who hates Species. It’s not just about her though. It’s about all New Species and human females. The hate groups would go nuts. Well, more nuts than they already are. Evil jerks who wanted to make money would kidnap more women the way they did your daughter and try to capture more of our males, Tim. Do you understand? You’re going to be a grandfather and we wanted you to know. Rebecca and Brawn are in love and living together.”

Tim sat there stunned. “She could have told me.”

“She was afraid you’d try to kill Brawn and was protecting him from you, Tim. She loves him. You forbade her from having anything to do with him, and no offense, but I’ve worked for you. I’ve gotten the daughter treatment from you. You can be a jerk sometimes. You make up your mind and there’s no changing it.”

Justice spoke softly. “She was afraid you’d hate us all and she didn’t want that to happen.”

Tim’s expression reflected many emotions but he finally stared at Jessie. “You’re married to one of them. Will he treat her good?”

Jessie grinned. “Justice would do anything for me, Tim. Anything. He is so overprotective it’s not funny. They aren’t like regular guys. He’ll never hit your daughter or cheat on her. He’ll die to make her happy if that’s what it takes. We have two other pregnant mixed couples. The males hardly ever leave the women’s sides. They pamper the hell out of them. One child has been born and the father of that baby is the same way to his mate and baby. They never had anything of their own, never were allowed to love and now that they can, it’s amazing, Tim. I can honestly say that if I had a daughter I would hope that she fell in love with one of them. I’d sleep better at night secure in the knowledge that she’d be happy. Brawn will make Rebecca his entire world and when the child is born, it will be a part of that world. They will be everything to him.”

“I want to see my daughter and Brawn.”

Jessie studied him. “Are you angry with Brawn? Will you try to harm him, Tim? Rebecca would hate you forever if you did. She’s agreed to be his mate, which means more than marriage to New Species. It’s a pledge to solely be with each other until one of them dies. It’s as serious a commitment as they can make together and deeper than what our marriage implies.”

“I just want to see them,” Tim stated softly. “I want to make sure she’s happy and that he really cares about her.”

Justice reached for his phone. “I’ll have the helicopter prepare to fly us to Reservation. We’ll all go see them together.”

“I have a request when we get there,” Tim demanded. He glanced at Justice. “My daughter was married before to a piece of shit. He was always really good at acting but I wasn’t fooled. I have an idea and I’d like your permission to do it. It will totally set me at ease if you agree.”

Justice hesitated. “What do you want?”

Becca was nervous. “What if he tries to kill you?”

Brawn chuckled. “I’m sure Justice removed his weapons and he can’t take me physically.”

“Don’t hurt him. He’s my dad.”

“I wouldn’t.” His dark-blue eyes flashed amusement. “It will be fine, Becca. He will see how happy we both are and he’ll feel less worry.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Brawn moved, wrapped his arm around her and cupped her face. “He will see how much I love you, beautiful. He will also see how much you love me and that we want this baby.” His hand left her face and rubbed her rounded stomach. “He will love our son as much as we do once he is born.”

Becca nodded. “I love you too and I’m sure you’re right. I’m just worried. I know my dad and he’s such a control freak and way too overprotective. He gets his mind made up and there’s no changing it.”

“Then he’ll have to decide that we will be happy together and that he is happy for us.”

She smiled bravely. “You make it sound so easy. I feel a little better.”

“It will be fine. Are you thirsty?”

She shook her head, smiling. “I’m good. You worry about me too much.”

He grinned. “There’s no such thing as too much where you are concerned. Kiss me.”

Becca rose on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. Brawn purred as their mouths locked together and he pulled her tightly against him. His hands gripped her ass, squeezed and she laughed, breaking the kiss as she lowered her heels to the floor.

“We’re in public. My dad could show up here at any time. Keep your hands in good places, Brawn.”

“That was a good place.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Yeah, it was, but later. I’m kind of hungry.”

Brawn gently maneuvered her to a chair at a nearby table. They waited in the hotel cafeteria. “Sit. What food do you crave?”

“I don’t know.”

“Sit still and I will be right back.”

Becca watched Brawn walk toward the buffet table. He glanced at her as he filled a plate. He loved to watch her—while she slept, in the shower and even when they made love. She grinned. Especially when they made love. Brawn walked back to her a few minutes later and her eyes widened when he set the plate down on the table.

“That’s a lot of food. I can’t eat that much, Brawn.”

He picked up a fork and studied the plate, before he stabbed a shrimp. He lifted it to her mouth. “I got you a little of everything they had. You can take a bite and see what tastes best.”

Becca opened up and Brawn fed her the bite. She chewed, smiling at him while they stared at each other. He paused, taking the time to lift a straw to her mouth to make her take a drink of milk and continued to feed her.

“You know I can do this myself, right?”

“I know. I enjoy feeding you, beautiful.”

“I hate eating alone.” She glanced at the plate and grabbed a crab cake. “Open up.”

He opened his mouth. When Becca lifted the bite to Brawn’s mouth he suddenly moved, taking the food and her fingers into his mouth. He sucked on her fingers before swallowing the crab.

“Ummm. Delicious.”

Tim leaned back in the chair. “I’ve seen enough.” He glanced at Justice and Jessie. “She’s happy. He’s great with her and I can see how much he loves her.”

Justice nodded. “I would not tell them that you bugged the tables around them and hid cameras so you could see all of the room and hear what was being said between them. It would remind Brawn of our captivity inside the testing facilities.”

“Thanks for allowing me do it. I just wanted to see them together without knowing anyone watched. That’s how you really get the truth from people sometimes. Nothing is more honest than seeing how people act with their guard down.”

Justice nodded. “I understand. This is why I agreed to let you do it.”

Jessie suddenly chuckled. “We should go in there soon or they might leave. Rebecca just used her finger to wipe food on his throat and is licking it off.”

Justice stood. “Let’s go.”

Tim frowned.

Jessie winked. “Newlyweds. We leave them alone too long and this could get embarrassing for all of us. That cafeteria is empty and they know it.”

Tim suddenly laughed. “Let’s go before I see more than I want to. I spent a fortune on room service when I married Rebecca’s mother because I had three weeks leave. We holed up in our room and I never let her get dressed the entire time.”

Becca heard footsteps and turned. Her father walked into the cafeteria with Justice and Jessie North. Brawn stood faster than Becca could and his body tensed. He moved slightly in front of her, taking a protective stance. Becca knew her father wouldn’t miss what Brawn had done as she slowly rose to her feet and hovered next to her mate.

“Mr. Oberto,” Brawn stated casually. “It is very nice to see you again.”

Tim stopped four feet from Brawn with a grim expression. “I was informed of everything.”

Brawn tensed. “I know.”

“Dad…” Becca tried to draw his attention.

Tim ignored her to keep his gaze locked on her mate. “I didn’t like you from the moment I met you and I’ll tell you why. You took one look at my daughter, she took one look at you, and I saw the attraction spark between you both. I was worried about my baby getting hurt. She’s all I have.”

Brawn nodded. “I understand.”

“I also know how tough all of you are, how protective you are of each other and how strongly bonded New Species are. I worried that if you got together with my baby that she’d always be an outsider.”

“She is one of us.” Brawn’s tone deepened. “She is not an outsider. She is family to all my people now. She is not all that you have, Mr. Oberto. Not anymore. Now you have a grandson about to be born and New Species are your family as well.”

Tim’s eyes became a little watery suddenly. “I like looking at it that way more than losing my only baby. And call me Dad or Tim. Your choice. I just have one demand since you’re having a baby with my daughter.”

Brawn studied him. “What would that be?”

“I want you to marry her legally. I’m old-fashioned that way and I’d like you to do it before the baby is born.”

Brawn relaxed. “We have already gotten the license.”

Becca looked up at Brawn. “We have?”

He turned, grinning down at her. “You said you would agree to be my mate. What is your marriage compared to that? You can divorce from marriage but you’re stuck with me for good as your mate, Becca. I want to give everything to you.”

Becca leaned against his side. “Good point.” She stared at her father. “How are you doing, Dad? I mean, about everything?”

He glanced at her face before studying her belly. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”

“Yes. Would you like to feel him kick? He always moves around a lot after I eat.”

Shocked, Tim gawked at her. “You can feel the baby moving already?”

Jessie stepped closer. “New Species babies develop faster, Tim. Becca’s going to have the baby full term at twenty weeks. It’s half the time of a normal pregnancy.”

Becca grinned. “Pretty cool, huh?”

Tim regarded his daughter. “Your mother hated being pregnant for nine months.” He suddenly smiled. “That is pretty cool. I’d love to feel the baby kick. Have you picked out a name for him yet?”

Becca moved closer so her father could put his hands on her stomach. She adjusted his hands with her own until the baby moved. Tim laughed, an expression of pure joy on his face.

“We’re thinking about naming him Cage,” Becca snickered.

Brawn growled. “We are not.”

Becca laughed harder. “I’m teasing. Relax, Brawn.”

Tim frowned. “What am I missing?”

Jessie laughed. “The only other New Species baby was named for where he was conceived. His name is Forest. Your daughter keeps teasing Brawn that she’s going to name their son Cage because of where he was conceived.”

Becca laughed. “Get it?”

Tim didn’t laugh as he glanced at Brawn. “See what I put up with all of her life? She was always a smartass.”

Brawn nodded. “Do you have any tips for me?”

Tim nodded. “When she isn’t pregnant just put her over your knee and give her a good swat to the behind.”

“Dad!”

Brawn laughed. “Really? That works?”

“Sometimes.” Tim winked.

“Don’t even think about it, Brawn.” Becca frowned up at him.

“I would never hit you, Becca. You know this.”

She hugged his waist. “I know this.”

“But it gives me ideas.” Brawn suddenly laughed. “You say you can’t think when I kiss you so when you say something smart, I’ll just kiss you.”

Becca grinned. “That works for me.”

Tim laughed. “You’re supposed to punish her, Brawn. That doesn’t sound like it would work.”

Brawn chuckled. “I will only kiss her.”

“Brawn!” Becca grinned at him.

Tim laughed. “That would work.”

Brawn nodded.

Becca glanced at them both. “I’m so glad you both get along now though I think I might have liked it better when I was afraid one of you would kill the other.”

Brawn wrapped his arms around Becca as he lowered his mouth to kiss her. Becca forgot what she’d been saying or thinking. Her arms wrapped around his neck until he ended the kiss and grinned at her.

“What was that you were saying, beautiful?”

She laughed. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I’m impressed.” Tim laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone handle my daughter that well.”

Becca turned in Brawn’s arms, grinning at her father. “You have no idea how well he can handle me.”

Tim laughed. “On that note, I’m going to have lunch.” He glanced at Justice and Jessie. “Are you staying here to eat? We still need to discuss that new joint project with some of your men and mine. I’m a little worried about who you pick.”

“Yes, I am staying and I know you have concerns. They are good males and are perfect for this assignment. It will help them heal to be a part of the task force.” Justice smiled as he took Jessie’s hand.

“Work?” Becca made a face at Brawn and lowered her voice. “Great. This will be a fun meal.”

Brawn changed his hold on his mate and lifted her off her feet. He winked as he carried her out of the room.

Becca chuckled. “We didn’t say goodbye.”

“I have no intention of just kissing you,” Brawn breathed. “I want to do so much more. You’ve eaten, seen your father and no one wants to kill me. Justice will distract him for hours and I doubt they will notice we’ve left.” He grinned. “Now I’m going to make love to my mate.”

He walked toward the elevator.

Becca wrapped her arms around his neck. “So…you know how to dance, right? Do you think you can strip to music? I have a fantasy.”

He purred. “I love to dance and live to fulfill your every fantasy.”

She brushed a kiss against his neck. “I’ve got a bunch of them.”

“Good.”

Content

Laurann Dohner
Brawn

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty