Brawn - Laurann Dohner [95]
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