Best Friends (New Species Book 15)

by Laurann Dohner

  “Justice was sympathetic when I explained the problem. I shared the story with him about the small canine in the store, and Mary climbing into a shopping cart to escape it. He looked up the breed on his computer while we talked. We both had a good laugh because it is a ridiculously small pet. He agreed that if a chihuahua terrified her that deeply, regular visits to Reservation would be traumatic. Especially if she ran into a Wild Zone resident. It’s vital that our mates be happy. No one wants Mel to lose her friend because she chose you.”

  “I appreciate it. I only hope Mary doesn’t disappoint my mate by backing out of coming to the wedding.” Anger stirred as he remembered when Mel had called her parents. “It’s important to Mel that someone stands with her from among her humans.”

  “Her family isn’t coming?” Brass frowned. “She has living parents. I read her background check. Didn’t you offer to have them flown here, and allow them to enter Reservation and stay for as long as they wished?”

  “They aren’t coming.”

  “Why not? Is it because you’re Species?” Torrent growled.

  “Mel told me that they had a human male in mind for her to marry, and that’s why they aren’t happy with her mating me. I’m not as certain that’s the real reason,” he admitted.

  “Nothing in their background checks showed any flags, but we didn’t find much on either of those humans. No arrest records or known association with any hate groups.” Brass pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. “I’ll look again.”

  “There’s no need to do that. Mel is hoping they will change their minds once the shock of finding out about me wears off. She said it doesn’t matter, but I could see that it hurt her feelings. It makes me glad I don’t have parents. I’ve heard some of them aren’t kind, but listening to the things her mother said to Mel made me enraged. Her mother threatened to never speak to her again.”

  “We’ll be her family.”

  He smiled at Brass. “We will.” He looked out the front window. Mel and Mary were standing close to each other, staring at something on the other female’s phone. He leaned closer to the open window to try to hear what they were saying.

  “That color isn’t bad.” Mary nodded. “I could live with that. It’s not fugly.”

  “Fugly?” Torrent glanced at them. “What does that mean?”

  “Fucking ugly,” Brass translated. “It’s human slang. I believe Mel is showing her friend dresses from one of the stores in a larger city near here. The owner gives the NSO a huge discount because they cater to wealthy human males and females. It’s good for their business when we wear their clothing. Jaded orders some of his suits from them online and has them delivered here. They are fast. He shared the information with Mel.”

  Torrent shook his head. “How do you know this?”

  “I’ve sat in on a lot of meetings Jaded has held with businesses who want to be associated with us.” Brass shifted, getting more comfortable in the driver’s seat.

  “I meant human slang.”

  “Thank the human task force.” Brass shrugged. “I have spent a lot of time with them, too. I’ve picked up a lot of bad speaking habits from them, Torrent.”

  Snow had one more thing on his mind. “Brass, I need to request to stay at Reservation indefinitely instead of transferring back to Homeland in a few months.”

  “Given. Justice and I discussed that, too, when we were talking. Your mate is going to want to stay close to her friend. The task force will be informed you won’t be joining them as originally planned. Another Species will fill that spot.”

  “Thank you.” Snow watched Mel. “She has enough changes to deal with right now. I don’t want to uproot her to Homeland until I’m certain she’s ready to spend time there.”

  “It’s more relaxing here.” Torrent motioned to the woods. “We’ve got better scenery. Why do you think I live here full time now? Homeland is great but I don’t miss being that close to large cities and all the humans that come with them.”

  “Wild Zone residents live here,” Brass reminded him. “They can be difficult and unpredictable.”

  “I’ll take them and their issues any day over being mobbed by humans every time we drive outside the gates of Homeland. We can extensively expand the property we own here, and have. There, we can only purchase a small plot with a home, if we’re lucky, to put more of a cushion between our walls and the humans who want to harass whoever’s patrolling at any given time.”

  Snow silently agreed with Torrent. He preferred Reservation, too. He’d never have met Mel if he hadn’t decided to spend time there and eat at the diner. New Species never went to human eating establishments near Homeland. The few times they’d attempted it without major prior planning, it had turned into a security nightmare.

  Mel hugged Mary, and the other female walked toward her car. Snow opened the door and slid out but he stayed next to the SUV to avoid frightening Mary. The female made it to her car and climbed in, starting the engine. She turned around on the narrow street and drove off. He rushed to Mel’s side as she waved goodbye until the car was out of sight.

  “How did it go?”

  Mel grinned up at him. “Great. She said she’d come to our wedding. We even picked out her dress and mine. I know she’s scared, and I totally used a guilt trip, but whatever works.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “I’m glad. I know it’s important to you.”

  “We just have to make sure everything goes right. You know, bring her in a back gate, hide as many New Species from her as possible, and keep everyone a little distance from her.”

  He chuckled. “We’ll do whatever it takes. Mary is safe with us.”

  “I know that. You know that. But it’s Mary. She’s trying really hard though. I’m proud of her.”

  He watched as dozens of New Species stepped out from the forest around them, where they’d been stationed to stay out of sight, protecting the area, and grinned. “She only guessed a few were hiding, correct?”

  Mel glanced around too. “Yes. She’d have flipped out if she knew the truth.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go home. We still have a wedding to plan.” He scooped her into his arms.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “And we have to celebrate signing those mate papers.”

  He couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “There are things I need to tell you.”

  Mel reached up and cupped Snow’s face. “Later.” She kissed him, tugging at his shirt.

  He broke the kiss, growling at her. “Mel, it’s important.”

  “So is consummating our mate papers. I figure it’s like a wedding, right? We have to do the naked deed to make it legally binding.”

  He chuckled and gripped her wrists, gently forcing her to let him go as he stepped back, bumping against the bed. “We were legal the moment we signed the papers. I’d like your permission to throw away the condoms. I don’t want anything between us ever again.”

  That cooled her libido a bit. “You want to see if we can make a baby together?”

  “I told you it’s possible. There is more, though. I wasn’t allowed to share this with you until after we were official mates, and you became one of us…there have already been Species children born to human females. If we are lucky enough to conceive a child, it will be born male and have my traits.”

  Mel gaped at him.

  “It’s something to do with our genetics. All the babies born have been male and resemble their fathers. The pregnancy length is also much shorter. Twenty weeks.”

  It was difficult for her to imagine any of that.

  “Say something, Mel.”

  “We just signed those papers a few hours ago.”

  “This is too fast.” She couldn’t miss his disappointed expression. “I understand.” He released her and walked to the nightstand, removing the box from the drawer, and walked back to her with the condoms. “I won’t bring it up again until you’re ready to think abo
ut trying to start a family with me.”

  She stared into his blue eyes. They were so beautiful. She tried to imagine a baby with those same eyes and miniature canine features.

  Their son would be adorable.

  A deep longing hit her. They were basically married. She’d always pictured having kids when she found someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

  That person was standing in front of her.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you, Mel. I’m sorry. You mated me. That’s all that matters.”

  She reached out and gripped the box. He let go when she lightly tugged on it. Then she threw it over her shoulder toward the door. It hit the wall and landed somewhere on the carpet.

  “Do you know what? I want everything with you. I’m no coward. I’m all in, Snow.”

  He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “You face things head on and you don’t run. I remember you saying that to me on our first date.”

  She grinned back. “It’s true.” She kicked off her shoes. “Let’s get naked and see if we can make a baby.”

  Snow began to frantically yank off his clothes. It made her laugh, seeing how very enthusiastic he was.

  “Just don’t tease me if I’m not attractive as a pregnant lady. Your word.”

  “You are the most beautiful female in the world to me. That will never change.”

  She believed him. Especially when he shoved down his pants and she got a view of exactly how turned-on he was. She finished stripping. “I’m so going to talk you into letting me play with you at some point with my mouth.”

  Snow growled and playfully lunged at her, caught her around the waist, and dropped her on top of the mattress. Then he lowered his body over hers. “Maybe once I learn more control with you. Even the idea has me wanting to spill my seed without even being inside you.”

  “We can’t have that since we’re all about babies.”

  He kissed her. Mel grabbed hold of his shoulders and clung to him. He was an amazing kisser; she’d never tire of making out with him. When he shifted his body, pulling his mouth from hers, she wanted to protest…until he went for her throat.

  Snow used his teeth to nip and kiss her there, slowly trailing to her shoulder, down her skin, and then he slid lower until he cupped her breast. Mel began to moan as he teased and taunted her nipple. She restlessly writhed under him.

  “I’m ready,” she panted. “In me.”

  He released her breast but instead of moving higher, he went lower. His big, firm hands clasped her inner thighs as he spread them more, and he went right for her clit.

  Her moans increased as he growled. The vibrations of the sound, added to his tongue, had her clawing the bedding.

  “Snow!”

  It didn’t take long for her to get off. He was way too good at that; her mind was totally blown.

  She opened her eyes as the mattress shifted and he crawled back up her.

  “You’re so beautiful, mate.”

  She reached for him as he hooked her leg, raising it to his hip as he lowered over her. “You are such a bad boy. That was so good it should be illegal.”

  He offered a sexy smile. “It gets better.”

  He adjusted her bent leg a little higher and wiggled his hips until the hard tip of his cock rubbed against her slit. He entered her body slowly, their gazes locked. She lifted her other leg to hook over his hip. He felt amazing as he possessed her.

  “Nothing between us,” he growled. “Just the way it should be.”

  He worked himself inside her deep, then paused.

  “Don’t stop now.”

  Snow glanced at her shoulder. “Some Species mark their mates with a bite. I’d like to try it. It’s just a nip with my teeth. I’ll wait until the right moment, when your pleasure is too great to feel the pain. It’s your choice, Mel.”

  She ground her pelvis against him. “I told you. I’m all in. So are you—pun intended. I’m Species now, right?”

  He chuckled. “Yes.”

  “We’ll try biting. Let’s just avoid ending our mating night by needing to see Doctor Alli and Chimes. I don’t want more stitches. Once this week was more than enough.”

  “I’d never hurt you.”

  “I know that.” She tilted her head to bare her shoulder. “This one or the other?”

  His expression softened at the gesture. “I love you, Mel.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He began to thrust his hips, taking her slow and deep. Mel moaned, clinging to him. She couldn’t think when he did that. He felt a little bigger to her without a condom but it was probably just her imagination. Either way, Snow was hung.

  The pleasure built, and she moaned his name, her nails digging into him a bit but he didn’t seem to mind. He picked up the pace.

  “I’m going to…” she warned.

  “Me too,” he snarled. “Bare your shoulder.”

  She turned her head, arching her neck to give him more room as he brushed his mouth against her shoulder. She expected him to bite immediately, but he kissed her instead. His hot mouth bringing her closer to coming.

  Then it happened.

  Snow bit. Mel cried out. She felt a flash of pain but it was nothing compared to the ecstasy of her climax and the feel of him shooting inside her. No condom contained him this time.

  He locked inside her and pinned her tight to the bed as they both stilled, their breathing ragged. Snow released her shoulder with his teeth and licked. The sensation felt a little odd, but not in a bad way.

  “Is my shoulder still there?” she teased.

  “Just puncture marks from my fangs. They aren’t deep. You taste delicious.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re really a Vampire.”

  He chuckled. “I just love everything about you.”

  “The feeling is mutual.”

  He lifted his head and their gazes met. “There’s one thing I’ve always longed to say to you.”

  “Okay. What is it?”

  “And I want you to say it back to me.”

  She waited patiently.

  “You’re mine,” he rasped.

  That made her grin. “You’re mine, too.”

  “Thank you for giving me a chance, Mel. You have no idea what you mean to me.”

  “I think I do. Do you think we made a baby?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m hopeful.”

  “Me too.”

  He suddenly grew serious. “I’m sorry your parents weren’t happy about me being the one you’re marrying.”

  “Don’t ever apologize for that again.” She reached up and stroked his hair. “It’s them, and it has nothing to do with you. My mama has never been happy with anything I’ve ever done, Snow. I tried real hard when I was a kid to be what she wanted, but I learned it wasn’t going to happen. It’s not you. It’s her. And my papa goes along with anything she says when it comes to me. He won’t go against her wishes because he doesn’t want the headache of having her mad at him.”

  “Who is this male they approve of?”

  “He’s a drunk who looks about fifty years older than me. He’s totally gross, but he’s got a great fishing pond my mama wants access to…bad enough to give me to him.”

  Snow’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked horrified.

  “Yeah. See why I’m pleading with you not feel hurt by them not coming to our wedding? Trust me when I say it’s best this way. I left an entire state to get away from her. I love my folks but distance from them is a definite must-have in my life. Why do you think I don’t have a cell phone? I got one a few years ago while I was still living at home. She’d call me at work half a dozen times a day just to complain about stupid stuff. She drove me so crazy that I ended up throwing it on the floor and stomping on it until it was in pieces. Then I had to lie and say it got run over in the parking lot after I’d dropped it. I refused to buy another one because I knew it would meet the same fate.

  “I talk to her every couple weeks at the diner. Joel makes me do it in
the kitchen, out of sight of the customers, because he says I look like I’m about to commit murder for the entire five minutes I spend on the phone with her. He also doesn’t want customers to hear the things that come out of my mouth when I try to shock her enough to end the call. I feel too guilty if I hang up on her.”

  He turned his head slightly into her hand and nuzzled it. “I wish you had better parents.”

  “Me too. I want you to know, though, that my folks not coming to our wedding isn’t because of you. It’s really about them.”

  He smiled. “Mary is your family. She’ll be there.”

  “Yes. Now we just need to work on her being terrified of New Species.”

  “Eventually she’ll grow to trust my kind.”

  “I hope so.”

  A ringing sounded.

  Snow slowly withdrew from her body and lifted off her. “This better be important.”

  Mel watched him get out of bed and walk to his discarded pants on the floor as the ringing persisted. “See why I hate cell phones?”

  He chuckled, plucking the phone from his pocket. “You promised Mary we’d get you one. I’m doing that tomorrow, and you will take it. Species always keep their word.”

  She groaned and sat up as he answered.

  “Snow speaking.” He paused, listening. Then he turned to Mel and grinned. “Thank you. I’ll go to the door.” He ended the call and put his cell on the dresser.

  “What’s up?”

  “Brass ordered us dinner, and it is waiting. He thought we’d like to stay secluded tonight. See? Not all calls are bad.” He pulled on his pants. “Don’t move. We’ll eat in bed.”

  “That’s so sweet of him.”

  “He wants you to feel welcome at Reservation.” Snow left the bedroom.

  Mel rearranged the pillows and scooted to the side. Minutes later, Snow pushed in a cart, and along with it came the wonderful scent of food. “Yum.”

  He grinned, bringing it right to the end of the bed. “Steak, lobster, shrimp, crab cakes, and stuffed baked potatoes with cheese, butter, chives, and bacon. They also included a salad. We have our choice of milk, a few types of sodas, and they made us something called virgin strawberry daiquiris.”