Brawn - Laurann Dohner [80]
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