He made really good points. “I would never think badly of you. You have to protect yourself and the people you love. I appreciate you trusting me enough to tell me the truth about what you’ve endured.”
“Does it frighten you, knowing that I can be deadly to my enemies?”
She shook her head.
His hold on her hands eased and he let go of one to reach up and caress her cheek with his thumb. “You could enrage me and I’d walk away. Is that a fear? I can’t see me ever getting angry with you but I’d never turn it on you. We hear about domestic violence in your world.” His hand stilled, just lightly touching her. His voice harshened. “That would never happen. I’d never touch you in anger. Ever.”
“I don’t think you would.”
His expression relaxed. “Good. Do you know what would happen to a Species who abused his mate?”
She shook her head.
“He wouldn’t survive long. I’d take him out myself but I’d have tough competition to reach him first. Other males would hunt him down too, along with our females. We don’t abide that kind of thing.” He took a few deep breathes. “I’m enraged that Carl Woods put you in danger. I’ll make him bleed a lot if I ever get my hands on him. I know that isn’t something you’d like to hear but this is total honesty. I’m not hiding that from you.”
Vanni smiled. “You’d totally kick his ass.”
“I would.” He smiled. “I’d enjoy it. I hope that doesn’t disturb you.”
“No. I wouldn’t mind taking a swing at him myself.”
He chuckled. “You, violent? I can’t see it.”
“Everyone has bad days. Bruce and Gregory are monsters. I hit Bruce with a bottle and hurt him but I’d planned to attack Gregory. He wasn’t in the limo.”
All humor faded from Smiley’s features. “I was informed of what you did. I don’t want you to relive it, Vanni. You were smart and very brave. You did what you had to in order to survive. I’m very glad of that. I only wish you’d hit him harder or he’d have died from the bullet meant for you.”
“They threatened to kill Beth.”
“You never need to excuse or explain it.” He leaned in closer until their breaths mingled and he caressed her cheek again with his thumb. “Stay with me. We will be happy. We can commit to making it work. We’ll talk everything out. You only need to tell me if I do something that makes you unhappy and I’ll do everything in my power to change it.”
“I want to say yes,” she admitted. “I’m just afraid of getting my heart broken.”
“Never,” he rasped. “I’ll be a good mate to you. What are your fears? Tell me.”
“I’ve been cheated on.”
“It won’t happen. You’re the only female for me. Did you know mates get addicted to their females?”
Her eyes widened, surprised. “How?”
“Other females will scent bad to me. I’ll only get hard smelling and seeing you.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. “Our bond will grow every day and I’ll only want you. I already do.” He paused. “Another female offered to share sex with me since we met. I turned her down. The thought horrified me. I only want you, Vanni.”
Smiley regretted admitting that immediately when he saw Vanni’s expression. He’d gone too far with the honesty. He felt her tense under his touch. He stopped stroking her cheek and took her hands again, refusing to let her go.
“It was after I returned to Homeland with the drug still in my system. A female thought I was suffering. I was but I didn’t want her. Even in pain, I only want you. Please don’t get upset.”
“Was it Cindy?”
He frowned. “No. Why do you think that?”
“You two seemed friendly. She’s cute.”
Was she jealous? It made him happy. It meant she felt possessive of him. That was good. “I’ve never touched Cindy in that way. She works for the NSO and has showed no interest in me. She is attracted to a male who lives at Reservation. She watches him when he isn’t looking. Some of us have noticed. It was a Species female who is a friend of mine.”
“You’ve had sex with her?”
He flinched. “It isn’t anything serious. We’re not involved in a relationship. Species females hardly ever share sex with the same male within a short time span. It’s complicated but there isn’t a romantic element involved.”
“But you’ve slept with her?”
Vanni appeared confused and he understood. She was unfamiliar with his kind and very naïve. He needed to explain. “Sex can just be for pleasure and to feel linked to another person for a short time. In your world I believe the term is booty calls. Species females hook up with males when they wish to share sex but they aren’t dating or involved the way humans have romantic relationships. We have friendships and also share sex sometimes. You and I have more than that. I’ve never shared sex with a female and wanted to mate her. Only you, Vanni. You’re special to me. Please believe that. I won’t ever share sex with anyone else but you.”
She looked uncertain. “So you won’t sleep with her again?”
“No. Never.”
She stared into his eyes, seeming to search for the truth. He kept eye contact. “Okay.”
Relief spread through him. He needed to think before he spoke. “What are your other fears?”
“I don’t want to have a long-distance relationship.”
“Nor do I.”
“What about when you are working? Are you ever gone for weeks?”
“You go where I go. Mates stay together. I’m sent to Reservation from time to time but I could refuse if you wish to stay here. It’s not mandatory for me to travel between both locations. We have the option to say no. It’s respected. Species want other Species to be happy. They will work around our needs. We just have to live at the NSO. It’s too dangerous in your world. We had a male who lived in the out world and he was kidnapped with his female. Your family and friends can visit.” He glanced around at the living room. “They’d be comfortable here, wouldn’t they?” He held her gaze.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Being with me doesn’t mean you have to give up the other people you love. It just would be safer for them to spend time with you here, behind our walls.” He hesitated. “It could be an issue with them though.”
“They aren’t prejudiced.”
“Our enemies are. You’ve already been linked to me though. The damage has been done. We’ll do everything we can to protect them.”
He hated the way worry crinkled the corners of her eyes. “I will say that the few mates who have family and friends in the out world didn’t have too much difficulty after the first few weeks. The media coverage died down and they have been left alone.”
“That’s good. Especially since everyone I’m close to is already in hiding from the Woods Church and the media.”
“Very true.” He waited for her to express other objections. She was thinking. He could almost see the wheels of her mind spinning. It was cute how easy she was to read. She locked on to something because she gripped his hands a little tighter, staring intently at him but said nothing.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to have kids one day. Would you consider allowing me to carry a baby? We could go to a doctor and set it up. They’d use donated sperm from someone to impregnate me in a surgical setting. I know it wouldn’t be biologically your child since you can’t have them but would you think about it? Is it possible that you could love a baby that is created that way? I would adopt a baby if I wasn’t able to carry one of my own. I’d love it anyway. Could you?”
Her rushed words poured out, stunning Smiley. She gasped a breath before he could respond.
“I know it’s asking a lot but I really want to be a mother one day. It’s part of the reason I agreed to marry Carl. I’m not saying we need to do it right away but I want that option. I love my niece and nephews. I didn’t give birth to them but I want that. Children. A family. With you.”
> His gut tightened and emotion choked him. She wanted babies with him one day and to become a family. It was a dream of his as well.
“Too much to ask? I’m sorry. I know some men are weird about that.” She tried to tug her hands away, a resigned look on her face.
He clasped them tightly, refusing to let go. “Vanni, we can have children.”
She blinked. “Are you just saying that? It wouldn’t bother you raising a baby or two that is all human?”
He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. He released her hands and rose to take a seat on the couch next to her. She watched him. He just turned and lifted her, putting her across his lap. She allowed it but he could see he’d surprised her. He held her close and kept eye contact.
“I was hesitant to tell you this after what the Woods Church told you. We want to live in peace with humans. We never want to take over the world. Running the NSO is difficult enough. Do you believe that?”
She nodded.
“They fear us but there’s no reason to. A lot of the ones who hate us are waiting for us to die. They think Species are a blight with a limited time on their Earth. Mercile attempted to breed us but it never worked. We’re still trying to figure out why but since we were freed some children have been born.”
He could see her confusion.
“We hide them from your world. We fear for their safety. The male I told you about who lived in your world and who was taken with his female were kidnapped for a reason. They wanted to use her against him to make him do as they demanded. It seems there’s a black market for Species babies—as exotic pets. Do you understand our fears and horror? They want to enslave our children the way we were. They stole the male to attempt to figure out how to create more.”
“Oh god.”
“They would steal our children and sell them. Worse, some would wish them killed outright to prevent Species from multiplying and having a future. Morons like the members of Woods Church would spread their fear that we’ll overrun the humans. It’s not true. We just want to live in peace.”
Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back.
“I trust you with their lives by telling you this, Vanni. You can’t share this news with anyone without endangering the Species children. There aren’t many, but some. It’s possible for me to get you pregnant if we’re both in good health and blessed. My genetics are stronger than yours. The question isn’t whether I would be willing to be father to a human child. More importantly, would you be willing to mother a Species child? He would look like me, a primate. All our children are born male. It’s the way we were created in Mercile’s laboratories.”
“I’ll never tell and I’d love to have kids that are just like you.”
Warmth spread through his chest, as well as an overriding sense of relief when she smiled. No deceit showed and he knew he could trust her words. “I want you to be my mate, Vanni. I want to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms. I’ll marry you in an official human ceremony. I know you will want that.”
“That doesn’t matter to me.”
He scowled. “It’s important to all humans.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he liked the way she rested her head against his shoulder. It proved she trusted him when she snuggled closer. “I got kind of sick of making wedding plans. It burned me out. Would you elope with me?”
“What is that? I’ll do it but you need to tell me what to do first.”
She chuckled. “You would do it, huh? What if it’s something horrible?”
“I’ll still do it for you if it makes you happy.”
She eased her hold on his shoulders and cupped his face. Her kiss was welcome when she planted her lips on his. He tried to deepen it but she pulled back though she stayed close.
“Elope means we run away together and just get married. Sometimes you invite a few close friends. I don’t want a big wedding. It would remind me of the nightmare with Carl.”
“Where would you like to elope to? I’ll arrange it.” She was saying yes. He’d make it happen. “We have a helicopter and we’ll take a security detail.”
“We could do it here. I don’t care where. It’s just supposed to be somewhere pretty and private so we can enjoy doing it together.”
“Reservation,” he decided. “I know the exact spot. Would that be okay?”
“I need to take Beth. She’s my best friend. She’d never forgive me otherwise. Who is your best friend?”
“I have a few.”
“Invite them.”
“What about your siblings and parents?”
She shook her head. “No way.”
“You don’t want your family there?” It concerned him. “Will they be upset if you marry me?”
“Not you specifically but I’d rather send them a video afterward. My brother is being a butt. My sister already tried to take over my wedding once. She and Mom were yelling at each other when we went to pick out my dress. Beth got into it with them when we were picking out bridesmaid dresses. They wanted to put her in purple. She hates that color. You have no idea how stressful and awful a big wedding can be. Everyone wants to put in their two cents and they fight. A wedding should be about the bride and groom committing to each other. Everyone seems to forget that.”
He arched his eyebrows. “It sounds stressful.”
“We won’t have that.” Vanni smiled. “We’ll keep it simple. You, me, Beth, your friends and a minister. That’s all we need.”
“That will make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll be my mate?” He wanted to make sure before he allowed too much excitement to hit.
“Yes.” Her features grew animated. “This is crazy, isn’t it?”
“No. This is wonderful and perfect. You’re perfect.” He slid his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her head gently, pulling her forward.
He loved to kiss Vanni. Her lips were soft and she opened up to him. He could easily get addicted to her taste and wanted to. He felt a little guilty for not telling her it was possible she might already be carrying his child. He wanted to give them a little more time together before he shared that information. She wanted babies. That was the biggest hurdle down. She wanted them with him.
The doorbell rang. Smiley regretfully dragged his mouth from hers. He wanted to take her into the bedroom and make love to her. He groaned. “I need to get that or they will come inside.”
“Okay.” She smiled at him, her cheeks flushed and rosy.
“You’re so beautiful.” He would never stop telling her that. He lifted her off his lap and stood, having to adjust his stiff dick. It wasn’t comfortable crossing the room with a hard-on. He unlocked the door and jerked it open just enough to peer out, shielding his lower half from whoever had bad timing.
Jericho sighed when he saw him. “Sorry. We need to speak.”
“Not now.”
The male crossed his arms over his chest. “Now.”
Smiley lowered his voice. “She just agreed to be my mate. Go away.”
“You said you’d wait awhile before signing papers,” the male grumbled.
“If they asked me to sign them. I want to do it. She’s mine. We are going to elope.”
“What the hell is that?”
“Get married.”
Jericho opened his mouth then closed it. He shifted his stance. “We know who sold the drug to the Woods Church. There’s going to be a meeting about it in Security. I thought you’d want to be there.”
“Who was it?”
“Does the name Dean Polanitis ring any bells?”
“I could never forget that bastard. He ran Drackwood Research.”
“His people turned on him during interrogation at Fuller.”
“Do we know how much of the drug he sold?”
Jericho hissed. “A few hundred doses at least.”
“Shit!”
“We have to recover all of it. We’ll have to worry every time we leave the NSO other
wise. They could dose us or the females near us. Our enemies could also sell it or hire a chemist to figure out how to make more to put into the mainstream human population. Imagine that horror. The human males without honor could use it against their counterparts.”
Smiley was aware of Vanni walking up behind him. His erection wasn’t an issue anymore. He opened the door wider and made space for her to stand next to him, putting his arm around her. “Did you hear all of that?” One look at her face assured him of the answer. Her features appeared grim.
“I heard. You should go to this meeting. Jericho is right. You have to find that drug and destroy it.”
“We have a wedding to attend.”
She peered up at him. “It can wait. This can’t. What if they drug someone else?” She clutched his shirt. “I don’t want anyone to suffer the way we did. It’s the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.”
He knew she was right. “They don’t need me. You’re my priority.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me but this is important too.”
“She’s right,” Jericho announced.
“Fine.” Smiley rubbed her back. “I’ll return soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll hurry.”
Chapter Nineteen
Security was a hive of activity when Smiley and Jericho arrived. The human task force was assembled and entered ahead of them. There was also a familiar vehicle parked nearby, a transport van from Fuller Prison. Smiley frowned.
“They brought a few of the prisoners here. Darkness and I want a shot at them,” Jericho informed him.
“We need Gregory Woods and the male who works for him, the one who Tasered my Vanni.”
“We’ll get them,” Jericho assured him. He jerked open the door and they entered the building. Loud voices led them to the main operations center. It was standing room only.
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