“But he doesn’t feel anything for me. I won’t deny that he’s sexually attracted to me, but there’s so much more to a relationship. Mating is forever, from what I understand, and I don’t want to wake up one morning and realize that he regrets being with me.”
The doctor chuckled. “I don’t think you need to worry about that. But if you’re concerned that he may only be interested in what you can do for him in the bedroom, why not drag things out a bit? I’ll send him some detailed instructions on your care for the next few weeks, and I’ll make sure they are items that will require him to spend time with you, and as you get to know one another, you can decide if you wish to be his mate. And perhaps, he’ll come to feel more for you than just desire.”
Jacie chewed on her lip. “You really think that would work? He’s talking to the council about housing. If we’re going to live together, won’t that naturally mean spending time together?”
“No.” The doctor smiled. “Not with Barimere. If he’s fighting his attraction to you, which I suspect he will, now that he’s concerned about your health and that of your babies then he’s going to try to put as much space between you as possible, all while watching over you. He’s going to be a very frustrated male.”
“Do whatever you think will work. I appreciate your help.”
The doctor nodded. “Call me anytime if you have questions or concerns, or just stop by the clinic.”
“Wait! If things do progress between us, am I allowed to…” Her cheeks flushed. “I mean, what about sex?”
“As long as you take things slowly and he’s careful, I don’t see a problem. The babies are healthy even though they’re tiny. I’m still waiting on your blood test results. My lab technician has been out and won’t return until the morning. Get some rest, Jacie, and leave Barimere to me.”
The screen went black and Jacie went back to her chair. The doctor had given her a lot to think about. If Barimere really did feel that protective of her, maybe there was hope for them after all. He was a male she definitely wanted to get her hands on, and the thought of waking up next to him every morning for the rest of her life held great appeal, as long as she could assure herself that they had more going for them than just sex.
If the doctor wanted to give Barimere tasks to do that might bring them closer, then Jacie would wait and see what happened. But deep down, she knew that even if they didn’t grow closer, Barimere was her best shot at survival on this world. And it wasn’t like she would be completely selfish by becoming his mate, because he clearly was excited about the babies she carried in her womb, even if he tried to hide it. It could be seen as a business arrangement, she supposed, but that seemed so cold and calculated. Definitely not the way she wanted to start this new adventure in her life.
She rubbed a hand over her belly. “Your mommy has a lot of thinking to do. Some decisions need to be made, even though I’ve pretty much decided Barimere will be your daddy. It doesn’t mean I have to let him in on that secret though.” A smile curved her lips. “No, I think I need to make him work for it a little.”
Jacie stood and stretched, then went over to the window, looking out over the city. She was being given a wonderful opportunity and had been given a huge gift. It was time to stop being selfish and whiny and do what was best for her children and herself. Any man who wanted children as badly as Barimere had to have a soft side, right? She’d just have to find it.
The Vid-comm made a weird noise again and she answered another incoming call. Her brother’s face filled the screen and she smiled widely, so happy to see him. But he didn’t look happy. His eyes were haunted and the lines in his face had deepened in the days since she’d last seen him.
“What’s wrong, Bradley?”
“I didn’t want to tell you like this, but I wasn’t sure if you were going to come back home. There’s been an accident, Jacie. Mom, Dad, and Sarah… they didn’t make it.”
Her heart stopped and the world spun for a moment. “Didn’t make it?”
“They’d gone shopping together. Sarah’s boyfriend finally proposed and Dad drove them two towns over to that special bridal shop that just opened. On the way home, they were hit by a drunk driver. He crossed the center line and hit our parents head on.” Bradley’s voice caught and a sheen of tears made his eyes glisten. “The police said everyone died on impact, that it was quick. I know you have a lot going on, Jacie, but I thought you’d want to know.”
Jacie wrapped her arms around her middle and started sobbing. Her brother apologized again and then the screen went dark. Curling up in the chair, Jacie sobbed until her throat ached and she didn’t have another tear to shed. Closing her eyes, she drifted to sleep.
Chapter Five
Barimere scowled at the council members gathered around the table. “What exactly do you mean I need to claim her? I’m her bodyguard. I agreed to watch over and take care of her while she sought a mate. However, I never said anything about claiming her as my own.”
Helio glared right back. “You’re her best shot at survival, Barimere. And you’ve spent some time together already, so she trusts you, I’m sure. And you want to hand her off to a stranger? Especially knowing she’s carrying four babies, which is considered an at-risk pregnancy on our world?”
Barimere growled and swung his gaze over to Larimar. “And you agree with this? It’s insane! I’m not a fit mate.”
“I agree to an extent. I don’t think you need to rush right back to the tower, toss her over your shoulder, and claim her as your mate. But we’re going to give you a house in the middle of Terran Prime, where you will live with Jacie… indefinitely. I spoke with Vyrex, and even if we could find a male who would accept four children not his own, he feels it would be too stressful for Jacie right now. And, what he didn’t tell the two of you is that there’s a chance she won’t be able to have more children. I don’t know any male who would be willing to give up his right to children.”
Larimar leaned back in his chair. “So if you wish to remain at bodyguard status, that’s fine. Just know that you could be relegated to that post for several years. At least until Jacie is able to care for the children on her own, perhaps when they’re old enough to attend school.”
Barimere’s eyes widened and he felt his jaw drop. “You want me to guard her, day and night, in the same home, for the next four years?”
“That’s what I’m saying.” Larimar stared him down. “Do you have a problem with that? You’re the best bodyguard we have. If other races get word of the babies she carries, she’ll become a target. Pirates will want the children to sell, and others, like the Tourmalanes, will be intrigued by her ability to carry more than one baby at a time. She’ll be little more than a brood mare, which will possibly kill her. Vyrex thinks it’s unlikely she’ll carry another pregnancy to term.”
Barimere felt his temper spike. He wasn’t angry with Jacie, but with the situation. The council had backed him into a corner and they knew it. There was no way he could leave Jacie undefended, and the council was right… he was the best. But all that time spent with her, day and night? He’d had enough trouble keeping his hands to himself this morning when she’d been sleeping so peacefully. How would he keep his distance if he had to live with her indefinitely?
“You’re dismissed,” Larimar said. “And keep us apprised of any changes in her pregnancy.”
Barimere growled at them again, turned on his booted heel, and stormed off. His boots echoed down the corridor as he left the council headquarters. He wasn’t pleased with the way the meeting had gone and wasn’t sure what to tell Jacie. The communicator on his hip beeped and he checked it, his scowl deepening as he saw the doctor’s instructions. At this rate, there was no way he’d be able to avoid Jacie, not even in their home.
Hell. Their home.
What had he gotten himself into? The only positive was that if he did decide to claim Jacie as his own, he’d been on Earth at the same time as Myro, even based out of the same station. As long as Myro
kept his mouth shut, no one would ever know the babies weren’t his. It bothered him that Myro would have to know the truth, but he didn’t see any other way around it. Obviously, Jacie and Myro had spent a lot of time together. When would she have been able to see anyone else?
The tower loomed ahead of him and he slowed his steps, not overly anxious to return to her side just yet. His blood still surged through his veins as his temper spiked anew thinking of the council’s final decision. They were forcing his hand, or at least, they thought they were. Just because the situation wasn’t ideal, didn’t mean he had to fall into their trap. He might desire Jacie, but he could control himself. Maybe.
Noting the crowd around the front door of the tower, he remembered that another batch of potential brides was due to arrive today. If the crowd was any indication, they were already here. It meant he needed to get Jacie out of there as quickly as possible before the overly eager males caused her stress or harm. Not that any of them would mean to do either, but a male on the hunt for a mate could be over zealous.
Barimere shoved his way through the males until he reached the door, scanned his wrist, and pushed his way inside. After making sure the males were secure on the other side, he practically ran to the elevator. He didn’t think any of them had managed to make their way inside before he’d arrived, but he couldn’t be certain. Jacie was vulnerable. He should have never gone to the council. It would have been just as easy to talk to them over the Vid-comm.
When he reached her door, he breathed a sigh of relief that the hallway was empty. He knocked twice and when there was no answer, he let himself inside. A quick glance showed her curled up in the chair near the windows, asleep. Barimere approached quietly and his heart kicked in his chest when he saw signs of tears on her cheeks. Had he done something to make her cry? Had someone else? If they had, he’d make an example of them!
“Jacie,” he said softly, lightly rubbing her arm.
She murmured his name in her sleep, but didn’t move. With a resigned sigh, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Barimere eased her down onto the bed, removed her shoes, and pulled the covers up to her shoulders. He’d have to wait to find out what had upset her.
After making sure her quarters were secure, he started to leave, but something pulled him back to her side. She whimpered softly in her sleep and her brow furrowed. Even in sleep, a tear trickled down her cheek. Whatever had happened, it had obviously devastated her, and Barimere knew he couldn’t leave her like this. Not when she needed him. He pulled off his boots and slid into bed beside her, wrapping her in his embrace.
It felt so right, having her in his arms, and that scared the hell out of him. He’d never held a female while she slept, and he found that he rather liked it. Was this what it was like to be mated? If he gave into the council’s demands and claimed Jacie as his mate, would he get to hold her like this whenever he wanted? It was an intriguing idea, but one he knew was best put out of his mind. He’d do what he could to take care of her, without claiming her as his mate. He could care for her without tying her to him, couldn’t he?
Jacie shifted closer to him, her face rubbing against the front of his shirt. Barimere’s pants tightened as his cock surged to life. He was an asshole to desire her at a time when she was clearly distraught, even in sleep. It just proved it had been entirely too long since he’d been with a female, and now that he was going to be assigned to watch Jacie day and night for years, there was no hope of him escaping to the brothel nearby. His balls ached at the thought of only finding release by his own hand for the foreseeable future.
Jacie’s clean scent teased his nose and his arms tightened around her. Her hands clung to him and a sense of rightness settled over him. While she slept, her stomach rumbled and he knew she’d need to eat soon. If she didn’t wake shortly, he’d have to wake her and make her eat. The babies needed more nourishment than she was giving them, even though he knew she was doing her best. With four of them, she was going to have to start eating a lot more frequently.
It worried Barimere a little. He wasn’t a very good cook, and depending on where their new house was located the Earth restaurant might not be nearby like it was now. How was he going to feed Jacie five or more times a day like the doctor wanted? It was something he should have brought up with the council, but he hadn’t been thinking clearly at the time. Maybe he could arrange for the restaurant to deliver a meal to Jacie several times a day and then he could take her out at least once.
She shifted in his arms and rubbed against his hard cock, making it pulse in his pants. If she woke, and found him in this condition… He needed to think of something other than how soft she felt, or how tempting her curves were as she pressed against him. Barimere found Jacie far too tempting, even pregnant with four babies. He wanted her just as much now as he had the moment he’d laid eyes on her at the shuttle station.
The bed dipped and he looked over Jacie to find her demented furball on the bed with them. Sugarbutt looked at him as if to ask, “What are you doing with my human?” Barimere narrowed his eyes at the creature, but Sugarbutt merely stuck his nose in the air, rubbed himself along Jacie’s back, and then curled up by their feet. That weird rumbling sound the cat made filled the air and the bed vibrated slightly. He’d never understand her fascination with the cat, but he supposed the beast wasn’t too horrible.
Jacie murmured something in her sleep and burrowed even further into Barimere. He wasn’t sure what to do with her. His body ached to make her his in every way possible, but thankfully his brain was still ruling his body, telling him no, that he should leave her alone. Not that he was exactly leaving her alone right now, not with her curled in his arms like she was.
“I’m offering comfort,” he muttered, not sure if he was able to quite convince himself of that.
Jacie stretched and slowly opened her eyes. They were red-rimmed from her crying and he longed to ask what had brought her such sorrow. She’d been locked in her room, but it was always possible someone had contacted her through the Vid-comm. She didn’t have to necessarily leave her room to receive bad news. But was it his place to ask? He was her bodyguard and nothing more.
She didn’t say anything, but reached up and cupped his scarred cheek in her hand. Her gaze fastened on his as she slowly leaned forward and her lips brushed his, oh, so softly. His lips tingled and craved more. Barimere slid his hand into her hair, cradling her head, as he angled his mouth across hers again. She moaned and opened to him, letting him inside. His tongue flicked out to taste her, then delved deeper. As Jacie’s body molded to his, Barimere fought for control. It would be all too easy to strip her bare and take everything she was offering, but it would also be wrong.
He slowly pulled away. “We need to stop, Jacie. This isn’t right.”
“Please.” Her voice broke. “Don’t leave me, Barimere. I need you. I need to feel something right now, something other than pain and confusion. Being with you feels right. Don’t pull away.”
He watched as tears gathered in her eyes and he felt a piece of his heart break. How could he deny her anything? If she needed his comfort, he would give it to her, no matter how wrong it might be. Barimere knew once he had a taste of her, he’d want more. This might be a one-time occurrence for Jacie, something to ease her mind, but for him, it was so much more.
Barimere shifted and a yowl rent the air as Sugarbutt arched his back and puffed up. Jacie giggled a little and he wondered what was so amusing about the situation.
“You’ll have to put him out and close the door,” she said.
Barimere extracted himself from Jacie’s embrace, gathered the pissed off ball of fluff from the bed, deposited him outside the bedroom door and slammed it shut before the creature could dart back inside. There was an awful yowl from the other side and some scratching at the door, but he turned his back on it and returned to Jacie.
“Is he always like that?” Barimere asked.
“He just wanted to be where we are.
Sugarbutt doesn’t like to be alone.”
“And yet I didn’t see him when I came in earlier.”
She smiled. “He’s found a hiding place somewhere. When I came in earlier, I didn’t see him either. He was probably in a dark corner sleeping. Cats sleep a lot.”
There was another yowl outside the door and Barimere winced. “Maybe he can sleep now.”
Jacie giggled and her eyes looked brighter than they had a moment ago. Maybe she was cheered enough that she wouldn’t need…
She reached out and tugged him onto the bed. Or maybe not.
“Jacie, if we do this, it’s going to change things between us. Once we take this step, our relationship won’t go back to the way it was before. Do you understand that?”
“Maybe I don’t want things to be the way they were before.” She licked her lips. “It’s more than just my attraction to you though. I need this, Barimere; I need you. While you were gone, my brother contacted me.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” he asked.
Tears gathered in her eyes once more. “My parents and sister were killed in a car crash. They’re gone. I knew it was doubtful I’d ever see them again, but now… even if I returned to Earth, they won’t be there. I’ll never have my mother’s apple pie again, or argue with my sister over her poor taste in music. I’ll never again hear my dad lecture me on getting pregnant out of wedlock.”
Barimere growled. “He lectured you on being pregnant?”
“My father believes that a woman shouldn’t get pregnant unless she’s married. Since I wasn’t married to Myro, he considered it a sin, and something I should be ashamed of. I think he was a little glad when I left to come here, so he wouldn’t have to explain to his friends that his eldest daughter was pregnant without the benefit of marriage.”
Jacie and the Alien Bodyguard (Intergalactic Brides 6) Page 5
