“I understand your fondness for the beast. I’m just preparing you for the hardships you may face. There are plenty of males who wouldn’t think twice about accepting another male’s child as his own, and there are those who would never consider it, but the beast won’t receive the same acceptance.”
“What about you? Would you ever consider accepting someone else’s child as your own?”
His jaw tensed a moment. “I am unable to have children. Only the council and my doctor are privy to that knowledge. I would gladly welcome any child into my home, especially one that I could claim as my own without having to go through the adoption process.”
He was single, found her attractive, tolerated Sugarbutt, and would gladly welcome a child into his home. So, why wasn’t he picking up on her hints that perhaps they should consider becoming a couple? Jacie wasn’t sure she was forward enough to come right out and say it, but she’d admitted that she found him sexy. What more did she have to say for him to get the hint?
She finished her meal and her stomach still rumbled, not quite full yet. She’d found that she ate a lot more with this baby than she ate when she wasn’t pregnant. Was that normal? The doctor on Earth had answered some of her questions, but she’d never thought to bring up her appetite. What if being hungry all the time meant there was something wrong with the baby?
“You’re frowning,” Barimere said. “Did I say something to displease you?”
“I’m still hungry, and it made me wonder if that’s common. I’m eating twice as much as I normally would, and sometimes that still isn’t enough. And yet, I’m barely gaining weight.”
“Order something else to eat, and after you’re full, I’ll set up a doctor’s appointment for the morning. It’s best to go ahead and get you checked out just to be safe. If there’s something wrong, it’s better to know now than later.”
She nodded and perused the menu again. After selecting a slice of coconut cake, she settled back against the booth. Barimere was right. If there was something wrong with her baby, she wanted to know while there might be a chance of saving him or her. If she lost the baby… her heart nearly stopped. It would mean she could return to Earth, but she’d rather live on an alien world with her baby than return home with the loss of her child. She’d do anything the doctor said to make sure the baby was delivered healthy. Jacie hadn’t had any scans done yet, but the doctor on Earth had taken blood samples. It was a half-Terran child, something he’d claimed he needed to verify.
Jacie ate her cake then rubbed her full belly when she was finished. Walking didn’t hold much appeal, but that meant she could stay out longer and explore, she’d do it. Something told her if she mentioned that to Barimere, he’d go retrieve his vehicle and fly her around, but she wouldn’t be able to see much from up in the air.
“Ready to return home?” he asked.
“Could we explore a little more? I was on that shuttle all day and then cooped up in my room for the past hour. I want to see more of my new home, if that’s okay.”
Barimere smiled a little. “I can take you around and show you the nearby shops, if you’d like? Several carry items from Earth, and then there are shops that contain only Terran items.”
“That sounds fun. If I find something I want to buy, how do I pay?”
“The shops work the same way as your suite door. When it’s time to pay, you’ll pass your wrist over a tracker in the store and it will send the data to the main computer in Terran Prime, which tracks everything from sales to your location. The thing in your wrist also acts like a tracking device if you’re ever lost.”
Jacie wasn’t sure how she felt about being tracked like a wayward pet, but she supposed the Terrans had their reasons. “Is everyone tracked?”
“Only females. There are plenty of alien races out there who would gladly abduct you. It’s our way of ensuring we can find you quickly, if that happens.”
“Unless they cut off my hand,” she muttered.
Something flashed in his eyes. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“I’m sorry.” Jacie sighed. “Can we go shopping now? I’d love to see what your shops have to offer.”
He nodded, swiping his wrist over a device next to the menu, which she assumed allowed him to pay for their meal. Then he helped her to her feet and escorted her outside. She looped her arm through his again and tried to keep step with him. When she stumbled, he slowed and shortened his stride so she wouldn’t fall. It just proved her theory that he would be a good mate, even if Barimere didn’t think anyone would want him.
She was in awe of some of the Terran items for sale, wondering what they were and what they did. Jacie asked plenty of questions and Barimere was patient with her, explaining things as they went along. Her feet began to ache and there was a dull pain in her lower back by the time they’d visited their fifth shop. She rubbed at the ache and slowed her steps, hoping it would make her feet hurt a little less.
Barimere stopped and placed his hand over hers. “You’re in pain?”
“My back and feet are hurting. I guess we should call it quits and return to the tower. Maybe I need more rest than I thought.”
Without a word, he slipped one arm around her back, the other behind her knees and lifted her with ease, despite her extra weight. She would have protested that she could get where she was going on her own two feet, but she was hurting too much to bother. Jacie did worry that she would harm Barimere by him carrying her so far, but she felt the muscles in his arms and chest bunch and flex with every step.
Jacie didn’t understand what had given him his scars, or why he was relegated to bodyguard duty, but she could tell that he was every inch the warrior. She certainly wouldn’t want to meet him in battle. If he looked fearsome when he was merely guarding her, she could only imagine what he looked like when combating an enemy. Not that she wouldn’t mind watching him practice sword fighting, or whatever they did here. She’d heard they had some sort of laser swords in addition to knives and blasters.
When they reached the tower, Barimere carried her up to her suite and then set her on her feet outside her door. She swiped her wrist across the locking mechanism and the door popped open. Jacie turned to face him, and whatever she was going to say died on her lips as she saw the worry and compassion in his gaze. This hardened warrior was concerned about her, and it warmed her from her head to her toes.
Without thought, she rose on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his scarred cheek. His eyes widened in surprise and he stiffened for a moment.
“Thank you for tonight, Barimere. I had a nice time, even if I overdid it a bit. I promise you won’t have to carry me next time.”
“You don’t weigh much; it wasn’t a hardship. Have a good night, Jacie. If you need anything, I’m right next door,” he said, pointing to his door.
She nodded and slipped inside her suite, pushing the door closed, when what she really wanted to do was jerk him into her room and plaster her mouth to his. She’d bet he was an excellent kisser. Somehow, during their brief time together tonight, she’d determined that Barimere was the mate she wanted. From what little she’d learned about him, he was fiercely loyal, had a kind heart and she thought deep down he wanted love as much as she did. Was it too much to hope that they could come to love each other?
“He just needs to spend more time with me,” she told herself. “Then he’ll see that we could be great together.”
With a nod, she went into her bedroom and undressed. She filled the bathing pool with warm water, pulled up her hair, and sank up to her neck into the pool. Jacie loved scalding hot baths, but with her pregnancy, she’d been told to use warm water instead of hot. It was still enough to soothe her aching back and sore feet. Weariness set in and she yawned widely. Not wanting to fall asleep in the pool and drown, she got out and dried off, pulling on some panties and a nightgown.
Jacie had barely crawled beneath the covers before her eyes closed and she was sound asleep.
Chapter Three
>
Barimere hadn’t slept well the night before, having tossed and turned with concern over Jacie. He’d only known her one day, not even a full day, and already she was consuming his thoughts. The sooner she was mated, the better. He had no business having thoughts of her lips on his, or wondering if her skin was soft everywhere. She deserved better than a broken warrior.
He paced the hall in front of her door, having knocked several times. He didn’t want to catch her unaware, but at the same time, he worried that maybe something had happened to her. After knocking one more time and waiting for a response, he unlocked her door and entered her quarters, thankful for his bodyguard status and access to her suite. Sunlight streamed through her windows in the living area, but there was no sign of her. Was she still asleep? This late?
Pausing only a moment, he entered her bedroom and froze. At some point, she’d kicked off her covers and her sleeping garment had ridden up to expose the tops of her thighs, which flashed her blue panties at him. His cock stiffened at the sight and he fought to get control of himself. Moving further into the room, he brushed her hair away from her face and watched her sleep. It had been nearly twelve hours since he’d left her room last night. Was it normal for her to sleep that long?
“Jacie?” He gently nudged her, but she didn’t move.
With a frown he went into the other room and called the doctor on the Vid-comm. When Vyrex came online, he explained the situation.
“Should I be concerned that she won’t wake?” Barimere asked.
“Let her sleep another hour and then try again. The shuttle ride put a lot of strain on her body, and she’s pregnant, so she’s going to be more tired than usual anyway. Once she’s awake, bring her to the clinic. Despite my hectic schedule, I’ll see her right away. The fact she was in pain last night concerns me. She shouldn’t be big enough yet to have that kind of back pain, unless it’s something she experienced before her pregnancy as well.”
“As soon as I can rouse her, I’ll bring her in. Thank you, Vyrex.”
The doctor smiled and signed off, but Barimere didn’t feel much better about the situation. He could go back to his quarters for an hour and then come check on her again, but he decided to stay close and watch over her. If she cried out, he wanted to be nearby. The long sleep might not concern the doctor, but Barimere had a bad feeling. Something wasn’t right with this pregnancy. Would she return to her world if she lost the child, or would she stay and still choose a mate?
For some reason, the thought of her leaving his world didn’t make him happy. When he’d been given this assignment, he’d thought he would do anything necessary to get her mated and off his hands, but now he found he wanted to spend more time with her. She still needed a mate, but there wasn’t a real rush, was there? Surely, they could come up with a logical explanation behind her pregnancy if it took her a while to find a mate.
The hour passed slowly and still Jacie didn’t wake. He ran his hand up and down her arm, marveling at the silky feel of her skin, and called her name softly. She didn’t utter a sound or move a muscle. The steady rise and fall of her chest assured him she still lived.
“Jacie. Please wake up.”
He caressed her cheek, checking her temperature. She was a little warm to him, but he didn’t know how hot human females usually felt. Taking her hand in his, he patted it several times trying to rouse her. She shifted in her sleep, but didn’t open her eyes. Her toes pointed and she stretched her legs, showing off her toned thighs and calves. For a pregnant woman, she was certainly sexier than anyone he’d ever met before.
He tapped on her cheek again.
Her eyes slowly fluttered and her eyes opened. Her lips curved in a smile and she took his hand, tugging him onto the bed. Barimere sat awkwardly with his hand trapped in hers, and then she snuggled closer and put her head on his thigh. Any closer and she’d discover just how turned on he was right now, and he would do anything to hide it from her.
“Jacie, are you awake?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
He felt her hum vibrate his thigh, and it made his cock even harder. She wasn’t making this easy on him, and he wondered how he could extract himself from her without being too obvious. The last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to his present condition, but if she shifted even the slightest bit, she’d find out anyway.
“Jacie, it’s time to get up. You have to go see the doctor.”
She groaned and burrowed further into him, her lips perilously close to the ridge in his pants. Gods, but she wasn’t making this easy! The mere thought of her lips on his cock was almost enough to make him come in his pants, and he definitely didn’t want to explain that to her!
“What time is it?” she asked groggily.
“In your Earth hours, it’s about ten in the morning. Do you think you feel up to getting dressed and getting some breakfast? Then we can go to the clinic and see Doctor Vyrex. He’d like to do some tests to make sure everything is going well with your pregnancy.”
“Mmm. Food.”
Her stomach rumbled and he smiled. Barimere untangled himself from her grasp and stood. “I’ll step into the other room while you dress. The sooner we go to the clinic the better.”
Jacie sighed and rolled onto her back. Her nightgown dipped low, exposing the tops of her breasts, and Barimere wondered if she was trying to kill him. Backing out of the room, he beat a hasty retreat to the living room, pulling the bedroom door closed behind him. He didn’t have to wait long for her to join him, wearing pants that didn’t quite reach her ankles with a white shirt that was damn near see-through. Did she really intend to wear that in public? Around so many unmated warriors?
“Perhaps you should change your shirt,” Barimere suggested. “I’m not sure the male population is ready for that one yet.”
Her brow furrowed as she looked down at the shirt in question. “What’s wrong with it?”
“I can see through it.”
Her cheeks flushed and she quickly turned and went back into the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her. She returned a few minutes later with a silvery-gray shirt on that had five buttons at the top and sleeves that didn’t quite reach her wrists. He wondered if there was a reason she was wearing clothes that obviously didn’t fit her properly, but didn’t want to draw attention to it in case it hurt her feelings.
Jacie’s stomach rumbled again, reminding him that he needed to feed her as quickly as possible. He’d have to ask the doctor if she should be eating more than three meals a day, even though that was standard for both humans and Terrans. He might be her bodyguard, but he was also entrusted to keep her healthy and happy while she sought a mate. Now that she knew Myro wasn’t an option, perhaps she’d get serious about finding someone else. The sooner she was mated, the better.
“Ready for breakfast?” he asked.
She nodded and followed him out the door. He should probably ask her preference for a place to eat, but until they spoke with Vyrex, he thought it best to take her to the place that served human food. What if Terran fare upset her stomach? She needed all the nutrients she could get and he wanted to make sure everything she ate stayed down. He’d heard that some human females became sick when they were pregnant and threw their food back up. Thankfully, that hadn’t happened with Jacie last night. It probably would have scared ten years off his life if it had.
When they stepped inside, they claimed the same table as the previous night. Now that Jacie knew what to expect, he watched as she made her food selections, then made his own. While they waited on their food, she looked around the room. Everywhere but at Barimere, and he wondered if he’d said or done something to make her uneasy.
“Are you all right, Jacie?” he asked.
Her wide blue eyes met his gaze. “I’m fine. Just hungry.”
“I didn’t do something to upset you?”
“No, I just…” She nibbled her lower lip.
“You just what?”
“I’m feeling the sexual tension bet
ween us and I’m not sure what to do about it. You’ve made it clear you aren’t looking for a mate by keeping me at arm’s length, even though it’s obvious you desire me. And if I have to choose someone to live with the rest of my life, I need to be able to go to them, free of any desire for anyone else.”
His jaw dropped a little. Sexual tension? Was she trying to say she was sexually attracted to him? Barimere wasn’t sure what to do with that knowledge. While he’d love to spend a night in her bed, he knew it would never last. Even if she said she wanted to become his mate, he knew one day she would regret it. He couldn’t give her additional children, and she’d have to see his scarred body every day.
“I shouldn’t have brought it up,” she muttered. “Just forget I said anything. You might want to sleep with me, but we both know you don’t want anything else from me.”
Barimere wasn’t sure if he should correct her or not. If she thought for one moment that he might desire something more permanent with her, she would throw her future away to stay with him. He was fairly certain of that. But it would be a disservice to her. She deserved someone whole, a warrior who could still serve their world on missions and not get left behind. He was half the male he’d once been. The stares around him never went unnoticed. Jacie should be with someone as lovely as she was, not some monster people talked about behind her back. Hell, he wasn’t even sure they would bother to hide their comments from her.
Their food arrived and they ate in silence as he contemplated their situation. If she truly desired him, and thought she might want to spend her life with him, he would consider it. But only if she went on a few dates with other warriors first, to make sure she didn’t feel any sparks with anyone else. If she went out with males who were unblemished, who could still fight if war started, and after that still wanted to be with him, then Barimere would consider taking her as his mate.
The fact she was pregnant was a blessing to him. He’d never thought to have a half-Terran child and had resigned himself to adopting from the Intergalactic Adoption Agency, but the idea of sharing in Jacie’s pregnancy and being there for the birth of her child filled him with joy.
Jacie and the Alien Bodyguard (Intergalactic Brides 6) Page 3
