Brawn - Laurann Dohner [79]
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