Best Friends (New Species Book 15)

by Laurann Dohner

  “I should have ordered our food to be taken upstairs.”

  She shook her head. “I’m having fun. This is nice. I like your people.”

  “I’m glad you said that.” A feline lifted his plate from the table near theirs, rose to his feet, and moved to their table. “I have questions about your females, if you don’t mind. I want one for myself.”

  Mel felt honored anyone wanted her advice. “Sure. Ask away.”

  Snow groaned. “You’re going to regret this.”

  More New Species joined them for dinner. They had to move a few tables together. Mel answered questions, mostly about the women in town who were single.

  One thing became clear. There many more males than female New Species and most of them seemed super lonely. It hurt her heart. The NSO really needed a way to introduce them to some women.

  Snow kept his arm around her, snarling warnings when someone asked sexual questions. He deemed them too rude and ordered her to ignore them. She had a blast, though, for the next hour until she yawned. It had been a long day.

  “Enough. My female is tired.” Snow held up his hand. The males around the table became silent.

  Except for Flirt. “Of course. Bring her to more meals.”

  Everyone at their table and at a few around them agreed. Mel smiled at everyone, gave a wave, and let Snow lead her out of the cafeteria. Once they were alone in the elevator, she leaned against him.

  “I had fun.”

  “They did too. You’re exhausted. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t sleep well without you last night. Then I worked a full shift, and then…you know what happened when I got home.”

  He kissed the top of her head and surprised her by releasing her, stepping back, and scooping her into his arms. “I’m going to strip you, cuddle with you, and you’ll sleep, Mel.”

  “What about lots of sex?”

  “We have forever. You’re mine. I’ll convince you, but after you have plenty of rest.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded, yawning again. “Good plan.”

  Chapter Eleven

  A soft noise woke Mel. She opened her eyes, instantly realizing she wasn’t at her place. Memories of the day before returned. Snow had brought her back to Reservation and they were in his bedroom.

  She turned a little to stare at Snow’s handsome face on the pillow next to the one she used. He’d kept the bathroom light on, so she could see him well. It was dark outside still, sometime in the middle of the night.

  He whimpered, his face contorting a little, and his body jerked suddenly.

  She sat up, reaching for him. Snow seemed to be having a nightmare.

  “Snow?”

  He jerked more violently and his eyes opened. He sat up fast, almost bumping into her. His gaze sought hers. She put her hand on his chest and felt his heart pumping rapidly.

  “Are you okay?”

  He moved fast, grabbing hold of her and pulling her onto his lap. Mel found herself cocooned in his arms, pressed tight to his chest. “It was just a dream.”

  “It must have been a bad one.” She wiggled a little and wrapped her arms around him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  He rocked a little, adjusting his legs to make them both more comfortable, and buried his face in her hair. She heard him inhaling deeply. It made her sad that whatever he’d dreamed had messed with him that much. It must have been a doozy of a nightmare.

  “I was back at Mercile.”

  She could understand how upsetting that would be. “They were shut down. You’re never going back there.”

  “I know.” He kept rocking them both. “It was a memory. I was reliving the past.” He nuzzled her. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “Don’t say that. Never say that. I sometimes have nightmares, too. Everyone does.”

  “I think almost losing you caused me to think of when I’d nearly died. At least, one of the more traumatic incidents.”

  That horrified her. “How many times did they try to kill you?”

  “Life was always uncertain while in captivity,” he rasped.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” It made her furious. She wanted to know what Mercile Industries had done to him. “What happened?”

  “I don’t want to make you see me differently.” His hold on her loosened and he lifted his head.

  She stared up at him, hating to glimpse that haunted look in his beautiful blue eyes. “I see a wonderful man. Nothing from your past is ever going to change that.”

  “I nearly lost you earlier. That human male could have kill you.”

  “I’m okay, Snow. I’m more worried about you right now. You can tell me anything. What were you dreaming about from your past?”

  He stopped hugging her with one arm and reached up between them, touching one of the scars on his chest. “This.”

  She glanced at the white round circle that marred his skin. “How did it happen?”

  “They would shoot us with darts that were attached to wires. They caused so much pain. Electricity darts…and sometimes they was so strong it caused our skin to burn. They’d made them so strong to take one of my kind down instantly.”

  Her anger grew. “Why would they do that?”

  “I refused to do what they demanded. That’s all it took for us to be punished.”

  “They had no right to hurt you, ever.”

  He began to rock again, hugging her tightly. “I am aware.”

  She thought about the other marks she’d seen on him. “Those circular scars are all from those darts?”

  “Yes. The skin around the darts would be burned and hurt for a long time. They faded some with time.”

  She snuggled tighter against him. “What about the ones along your back? Are those from darts, too?”

  “A few, but mostly those are from attacks by the technicians. They liked to hit us often and hard with metal sticks. I learned later they are called batons. They would extend a bit and hurt a lot. Our bones are hard to break, but they could do it if they kept hitting the same spots over and over.”

  “Oh, baby.” She clutched him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I killed some technicians. They were guards for Mercile.” His body tensed. “To keep them from killing me. I was remembering one of those times while I slept. I had angered one of them, and he attacked me. I managed to fight through the pain enough to grab hold of the wire the dart was attached to and yank on it. The technician didn’t let go fast enough, and it caused him to stumble forward and fall next to me. And I killed him. Does that make you afraid of me?”

  “No!” She didn’t even have to think about it. “I’m glad you took out some of those jerks.” She released him and reached up, cupping his face. “I love you, Snow.”

  He seemed to search her eyes. “You don’t look afraid.”

  “I’m not. I could have killed those two jerks who came into the diner, the ones that I shot. I was raised with guns. I know what they can do. I’m surprised they both lived, to be honest. I was sure that one was a goner that I nailed center mass in the chest. Are you afraid of me because of that?”

  “Never. You were brave and did it to protect Species.”

  “Same to you, Snow. You have every right to save yourself from bad folks. I was aiming for that jerk’s face who broke into my place with my dishes. A flying piece of glass could have cut him just right and made him bleed to death. I also hit him in the head as many times as I could too. Head trauma and all that. It can definitely kill. I wanted to hurt him and put him down so he would stop coming after me. I don’t feel bad about it. He had it coming.”

  A smile curved his lips, and that haunted look left his eyes. “I love you so much, Mel.”

  “Right back at you. You can tell me anything about your past and it’s not going to change how I feel about you. I see the man you’ve become, and I like everything about you. You’re a survivor, and I’m glad for that. I wouldn’t have met you if you’d let those j
erks kill you while they had you locked up.”

  That smile turned into a grin. “I feel like everything I’ve endured is worth it, now that you’re in my life.”

  He said the best things to her. Her heart just melted. “Make love to me, Snow.”

  “I would love to.” He went for her mouth.

  Mel tipped her chin up and kissed him, giving him all her emotions. How much he meant to her. How much she loved him. The growling sound he made turned her on more. He was just too sexy.

  He turned them on the bed, taking her down to the mattress. His hands roamed her body, caressing one of her breasts. She loved it when he lightly pinched her nipple, causing a jolt of pleasure to shoot through her body. He really knew how to touch her.

  Mel enjoyed the feel of him as she ran her hands over his warm, firm skin. She used her fingernails to lightly scratch. He growled and broke the kiss, going for her neck. She wiggled under him until she could spread her thighs wide and wrap them around his waist.

  He reached up, and she glanced at his fumbling hand. He found some of the condoms he’d placed on the nightstand.

  Their gazes met as he used his mouth to tear open a corner of the packet, and she bit her lip as he reached between their bodies, rolling it over his cock. She felt impatient, wanting to feel him inside her. He got it on…but then used his finger to tease her clit.

  “I’m ready.”

  “I feel. You’re very wet.”

  “Always for you,” she admitted.

  He kept rubbing her clit until she was clawing at him with her fingers. He finally pulled his hand away and replaced it with the thick tip of his cock. She loved the way he watched her as he entered her body, filling her in one slow thrust.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, raising them a little higher. Mel licked her lips, wanting him to kiss her, but Snow stayed just above her, out of reach, his gaze locked with hers. It was as if he wanted to watch her as they made love. She was fine with that, happy to stare into his eyes. She wished the lighting was brighter, but she wasn’t about to complain.

  He did this incredible thing with his hips, taking her a little faster, his body brushing up against her clit with every drive into her.

  “Yes!” she panted.

  He kept doing that over and over, until she threw her head back, breaking eye contact as ecstasy exploded inside her.

  Snow’s mouth went to her throat and he groaned against her skin. His body tensed, and she felt him locking inside her as he came, too.

  “I can’t ever lose you,” he rasped.

  She panted, caressing him where she held on to his shoulders. “I don’t ever want to lose you, either.”

  He lifted his head and kissed her. This time it was tender and more of an exploration of her mouth. He broke it a few minutes later and smiled. “We should stop or I’ll never soften enough to leave your body.”

  She laughed. “We should probably get some sleep. We have that meeting in the morning.”

  “Right.” His expression hardened.

  “I know you’re worried about me being bait but—”

  “I understand, Mel. Friends are important. Mary is your family in your heart. Species understand this. All of us have become a family in our hearts. Only a few of us are lucky enough to have blood matches to actual relatives.”

  She frowned, a little confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “Mercile occasionally used samples of the same DNA to create more than one Species. Some of our people have found matches with other Species. A human association, or one from our animal DNA.”

  That stunned her. “Do you have any matches?”

  He shook his head. “No. My genetic contributors must not have pleased Mercile enough for them to reuse those samples, or none of those Species survived to experience freedom. The NSO doctors have created a database for us to see if we are related to each other. Only a few have matches.”

  “Have you ever thought about trying to find your, um, contributors?”

  “No. It’s been debated but overall, Species don’t want to know. I don’t. Some humans sold their genetic material to Mercile. They may not have understood what was going to happen to it, but regardless, most of us are resentful. We suffered deeply. We hold no blame toward the animals who contributed to us. They wouldn’t have been given a choice.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say to that. It hurt her thinking about it, though. New Species must have felt betrayed by not only the company who’d abused them, but the people who’d helped create them by contributing their DNA.

  He smiled. “All Species are family to each other. The lucky ones find mates.”

  Mel nodded, still too choked up to speak.

  Snow withdrew from her body and got out of bed to dispose of the condom. He washed his hands and returned to her fast, climbing back into bed. She curled into him, wanting to just hold him.

  “I’m so glad I found you, Mel.”

  “Me too.” She already couldn’t imagine her life without Snow.

  Snow’s heartbeat slowed, and so did his breathing as he drifted back to sleep. Mel worried he’d have another nightmare and fought to stay awake just in case. She ran her finger over one of the scars. It was slightly raised. Now that she knew how he’d gotten some of them, it made her killing mad. They’d hurt and tortured him. Nearly killed him.

  It also made her wonder how often nightmares woke him when she wasn’t there.

  Tears filled her eyes and she snuggled closer, closing her eyes. She wanted to be there every night to hold him.

  That would mean moving in with him.

  He wanted her to. She wanted it, too. But it was probably crazy to do it too fast. She debated the pros and cons as Snow slept. Living with him and sleeping with him every night would be great. The hard part would be telling Joel she was going to quit the diner. Mary wouldn’t be happy, either. They were besties, and they liked seeing each other every day.

  Snow moved in his sleep, his arm tightening around her.

  Mel yawned, deciding to think about it more later. She just wanted to enjoy having him close, loving every moment they spent together.

  * * * * *

  Snow woke with Mel mostly sprawled on top of him. He grinned. It was the best feeling in the world to wake with her in his bed. He ran his hand lightly over her bare back. Mel wiggled a little on him and rolled over. He missed her weight immediately, but one glance at the clock on the nightstand reminded him that they had a meeting. It was just over an hour away.

  He got up silently and crept into the bathroom, closed the door, and then emptied his bladder. He brushed his teeth next, before returning to the bedroom to wake Mel. They both needed a shower. The smell of sex remained on their skin. He had no problem with that but the males at the meeting might. Some of them would be jealous. That thought caused him to chuckle as he leaned over Mel and quietly called her name.

  She barely opened her eyes and smiled. “Morning. The sun is up.”

  “It is. The meeting with the males is in just over an hour. I was going to take a shower. Would you like to join me?”

  She sat up and yawned, her hair messy and adorable. “That’s probably be doing…”

  He laughed. “You’re not awake yet. What you just said made no sense.”

  “What did I say?”

  He helped her out of bed. “Something cute.” She yawned again as he led her into the bathroom. “Brush your teeth while I start the shower.”

  “Okay. Bad breath is bad.” She picked up his toothpaste and stared at it blankly. Seconds passed.

  He laughed some more and snagged a toothbrush for her from the container he kept on the counter. “Here.” He tugged the toothpaste out of her hand and put some on the bristles before lightly wetting it. He put it in her hand. “Do you have it from here?”

  She met his gaze in the mirror and offered a wry grin. “I think so. Sorry. I’m not a morning person.”

  “I am. We’re perfect for each other. I’ll make sure y
ou don’t stick that in your ear or try to brush your hair with it.”

  “Good. I mean, I won’t.” She began to brush her teeth.

  He turned away and started the water in the shower, adjusting the temperature to be comfortable for his female. He didn’t want it too hot or cold. He returned to her just as she finished spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing her mouth. She straightened and turned to him.

  He held out his hand and she took it, and they entered the shower together. Mel let him wash her hair, then she wanted to do the same for him. He smiled when she offered but knelt down since he was much taller.

  Mel chuckled. “That works!”

  He closed his eyes as she worked shampoo into his hair. “That feels good.”

  “It does. We could make this a regular thing when we shower together. We should buy one of those stool things for you to sit on so you don’t have to put your knee on the tile floor in the future when I do this.”

  “I’ll get one,” he promised.

  “Just like that, huh?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’d like that, Snow.”

  She finished with his hair and he got back to his feet, pulling her against him. “We should also make this a regular routine.” He lifted her, pressing her against the tile, and kissed her.

  Mel wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs hooked on his hips. He growled as her breasts smashed against his chest, positioning her a little higher. It was tempting to take her right there. He wanted to but then he remembered that the condoms were in the other room. As much as he wanted to mate Mel, she hadn’t agreed yet. He couldn’t risk getting her pregnant until she did. A snarl tore from him as he stopped kissing her.

  Mel panted. “Why did you stop?”

  “We have that meeting.”

  “Oh. No time, huh?”

  He reached back, turning off the water. “We’ll make time. Get on the bed, now.”

  She almost tripped on the lip of his shower. He caught her around the waist to steady her and they both quickly dried off. Mel was the first to rush out of the bathroom to reach the bed. He was right on her heels. He glanced at the clock.