New Species 11 True (18 page)

He caressed her cheek. “You will be safe if I mate you.”

Hope that he loved her back flared so bright she couldn’t
even draw air.

“They can’t ever send you away from me. It’s the best way I
can think of to protect you. I owe you my life and freedom, Jeanie. It is
something I’m willing to do.”

The sharp stab of pain to her heart hurt so much she sucked
in a breath. “What?”

“I could mate you to save you from going to Fuller,
regardless of what the task force decides.”

It tore her apart inside. He was such a good man to offer to
marry her for honorable reasons but she couldn’t accept. It wouldn’t be fair to
lock him into a relationship just because he wanted to protect her and felt he
owed her his life. She swallowed the lump of emotion that nearly choked her,
carefully choosing her words.

“That is very sweet of you, True. I appreciate it.”

He frowned.

“I can’t though.”

“Why not?” He released her face and gripped her hips
instead. “It’s a life commitment to only share sex with you.”

Longing to have that with him was a bitter pain inside her
chest. “To save me?”

“Yes.”

Jeanie battled her morals. She’d give anything to spend the
rest of her life with True but it would be wrong to take advantage of his sense
of duty. Loving him meant she had to do what was best for him, regardless of
what would make her happy. The fear of him one day regretting that decision, or
worse, growing to hate her for accepting what he was willing to sacrifice, won
out. “I want you to want to mate with me for the right reasons, True.”

He appeared stunned. “You are refusing my offer?”

“I want you to mate me for the right reasons,” she restated.

“You are saying no? Do you understand that you’ll be safe
from Species law as my mate? They can’t ever send you to prison or punish you
for anything you’ve done in the past. It will protect you.”

“I’m saying no to you wanting to do it to save me.”

True hid his anger and confusion.
Why is Jeanie refusing
to be my mate?
The dull throb of pain from her bite seemed proof she’d
enjoyed the sex, along with her other reactions. He’d heard human females
sometimes faked orgasms but he was certain that hadn’t been an act. It didn’t
make any sense. He could protect her and had shown her he’d be a good mate.

Perhaps she needs more proof.
Females could be
stubborn. He rolled over and pinned Jeanie under his body, careful not to crush
her, using his elbows to hold his chest off hers. Pretty brown eyes widened as
he stared into them but he saw no fear.

“I could convince you.”

He didn’t wait for an answer. He found his footing on the
floor so he was bent over her, tugged her by her shoulders and held her in
place as he drove inside her pussy—deep. He hesitated there, making sure she
could take him without pain. A soft moan as her eyes nearly closed told him all
he needed to know.

He withdrew until he almost completely left her body,
adjusted his hips, and slowly pushed back inside. The tight fit of their bodies
felt heavenly to him and he shifted his hips just enough to see her reaction
when he found the right spot, the one females enjoyed so much. He’d learned a
few things about pleasing a female since he’d gained his freedom. Species
demanded satisfaction from the males they allowed into their beds or they
wouldn’t be invited to join them again.

Jeanie moaned and her fingernails dug into his skin. It took
effort to mute a snarl of satisfaction as he began to pump in and out of her at
the right angle and her breathing increased to a pant. Sweat broke over his
skin as he fought back his own pleasure to focus solely on hers.

“Nothing feels as good as you do,” he confessed. “You’re so
soft, wet and tight.” He picked up the speed of his driving hips, pounding her
against the mattress while fighting off his release. She was too tight and felt
amazingly good but a lot was on the line. He needed her to understand what he
offered as a mate. “Heaven,” he decided aloud. If it was a place on Earth,
Jeanie was it for him.

Her eyes closed and her head tilted back as her legs wrapped
tighter around his hips. The feel of her heels digging into his ass just
spurred him to a faster pace, the friction between his rigid shaft and the
tightening muscles of her pussy drove him to near insanity. He wanted to lose
himself in her, mark her from the inside with his semen and own her forever as
his.

“True,” she cried out.

Her fingernails dug into his skin deep enough to draw blood,
the slight pain turning into the satisfaction of knowing she marked him in a
human way. He reverently hoped she’d leave scars. He glanced down between them
and watched with rapt fascination as her nipples beaded into taut tips right
before her pussy quivered and the muscles clamped around his dick.

Her loud cries as she came were all it took for his control
to slip. He snarled, clenching his teeth to avoid biting her shoulder when the
urge struck and then lost the ability to think at all. He cradled her as best
he could as he jerked with each violent spasm as his semen filled her.
White-hot ecstasy seared his loins and went straight to his brain.

It took him time to recover. He wasn’t sure if mere seconds
had passed or if it had been minutes. He breathed in her scent, knowing it was
his favorite. He studied Jeanie’s lax features and waited for her eyes to open.
They did and he smiled at the way she peered up at him. She looked happy and
sated.

“I’d be a good mate,” he swore.

She released his shoulders and cupped his face. “I know
that.”

“Then you agree.” He was glad the matter was settled. Tim
and the task force team wouldn’t be able to argue that she belonged in their
custody or that she should be prosecuted under Species law. “I’ll have the
paperwork brought to us right after my swelling goes down.” His dick locked
inside her gave him a chance to cuddle with her longer. He was grateful she
didn’t seem to mind since she didn’t try to push him away or untangle her legs
from around his waist.

She bit her lip, her gaze clouding with a look he didn’t
like.

“It’s settled. Stop giving me that look.”

“What look?”

“You’re uncertain but I’m not.” His voice deepened but he
couldn’t hide his anger. “We’re going to sign mate papers.”

“Don’t fuck me within an inch of my life and then make
demands. It’s not fair to either of us.”

His eyebrows shot up in stunned surprise at her words and
the traces of anger he identified in her voice. “What?”

“You heard me.” She lowered her hands to his chest and
flattened them, giving him a slight push. “I know you’re aggressive by nature
and I’m fine with that but this isn’t something you can’t just bully someone
into.”

“Bully?” He was insulted.

“Okay.” Her voice softened. “That was too harsh of a word. I
know what a mate means. It’s marriage and it’s for life to New Species. This
isn’t something that should be decided in the aftermath of mind-blowing sex.”

Her flattery over his sex skills soothed his wounded pride. “It’s
what needs to be done.”

“And that’s why I can’t accept right now.”

She baffled him. “Sex between us is mind-blowing. You just
said it.”

“It takes more than great sex to make a relationship work.”

“We have more.”

She bit her lip again. “Let’s talk about this later, okay? I
can’t think clearly right now, especially with you still inside me and touching
me.” She caressed his chest instead of pushing against it. “It’s not fair.”

Jeanie totally confused him. “What isn’t fair?”

“We should shower and get ready for that meeting. It’s at
seven, right? We probably should eat something too.”

“We have hours before we need to leave. What isn’t fair? I
don’t understand.”

“While you’re on top of me isn’t the best time to ask me
life-altering questions, okay? We should both be levelheaded when a serious
discussion about our future takes place. Hormones shouldn’t play a part in it.
You melt me, True.”

He wasn’t sure what that meant but it sounded nice. “That’s
a good thing?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “No one has ever made me feel the way you
do.” She lifted her head, stared into his eyes. “You’re incredibly sexy.”

“I know how we can spend the next few hours.” His softening
dick began to harden.

Her eyes widened and she glanced between their bodies before
looking up at him again.

“I’m not completely human,” he reminded her. “I have a
strong sex drive. I’m determined to convince you to be my mate.”

“You really don’t play fair, do you?”

She skimmed her hands over his rib cage, then around to his
back, her fingernails lightly raking down his spine. He growled softly,
enjoying it. They traced lower until she ran them over the curve of his ass and
grabbed both cheeks. A female had never done that to him before but he liked
the feel of her grasping him there, her fingers digging into muscle. She moved
her legs a little, resting her calves against the backs of his thighs and moved
under him to bury his dick a little deeper inside her welcoming sex. Her
vaginal walls squeezed him and he growled louder.

“Two can play this game.” She arched her back, pushing her
nipples against his chest. “No mating talk while we’re touching each other.
Deal?”

She was attempting to seduce him into compliance. Her mouth
quirked with humor. She wasn’t being manipulative the way the humans he’d known
tended to be. He smiled, pleased with her playfulness.

She grinned openly at him and squeezed his ass, grinding her
pussy against him. “We have hours, huh? Is that supposed to scare me? It doesn’t.”

“Good.” He lowered his lips to hers and took possession of
her mouth. Kissing Jeanie made him forget everything but her and the need to
move.

Jeanie wished for a blow dryer but True had arched his
eyebrows at her when she’d questioned if he owned one.

“I’ll take that for a no.”

“It’s bad for hair.”

She wasn’t about to argue with him. There was no way she
could tactfully point out that she didn’t believe that was factual. At least
not without him mentioning that he wasn’t fully human or her using the argument
that she’d had a dog as a child and had used a blow dryer on him. It might be a
touchy subject she didn’t want to broach. She just used a towel to vigorously
rub the wet strands.

The bags they’d brought from the supply store contained a bu
nch of T-shirts and some size-medium cotton leggings. She’d been
given two white exercise bras. They were stretch material designed to
accommodate various breast shapes. The only dress that had been included made
her gape as she pulled it out.

“I like that. Wear it.”

Jeanie frowned. “It’s got bright purple and pink flowers all
over it. I think a satellite from space could spot me in this, True.” She
thought it was dreadful. It reminded her of something found in a Hawaiian
tourist trap that someone with poor eyesight might buy.

“It’s easier to take off when we return.”

“Yeah.” She dropped it on his bed. “I know I wouldn’t want
to wear it for long. That’s for sure.”

He grinned. “Wear it.”

“I think I’ll go with one of the gray shirts and the black
pants.” She searched the bags but still didn’t find what she was looking for. “That
guy didn’t pack me any panties.”

“Most males don’t wear lower undergarments. He probably didn’t
give it a thought. I like you without them.”

She grinned. “Less to take off later?”

“Exactly.” He glanced at his watch. “You must hurry. We don’t
want to be late.”

“You’re the one who insisted that we eat and take separate
showers.”

“You’re still healing, Jeanie. You need to eat often and I
knew I wouldn’t keep my hands off you if you showered with me.”

Warmth spread through her entire body, remembering the hours
they’d spent in bed together and the way he’d left it to bring her food. He
hadn’t understood that she couldn’t eat nearly as much as he could consume so
they’d argued a little when she’d said she was full. He was sweet but she hadn’t
underestimated his dominant personality.

“I feel surprisingly well and healed. I wanted to see you
wet though.”

She loved the way he made sexy noises in response as his
gaze lowered down her body when she dropped the towel to get dressed. No man
had ever made her feel as wanted or as sexy as True could, just with his hungry
stare. The intensity behind it made her feel special and highly desirable.

“We need their help to find the agent who used you.”

The sobering statement killed her teasing mood. It was easy
to forget everything bad when she spent time with True. “Right.” It also
reminded her of the times they’d been together in the presence of other
Species. “I just don’t want you to get into another fight defending me.”

“These are Species from Drackwood. They know you, Jeanie.
There won’t be any aggression.”

“I’m sure some of them don’t care how nice I was to them.
They were locked up against their will and I was a part of that.”

True stepped forward to gently caress her cheek. “You were a
part that made our captivity bearable. Don’t forget that. There is always that
one spark that gives hope for better things when life is bad. You were that to
us. Don’t ever deny how important that is.”

She stared up into his eyes, grateful for the kind words. “I
won’t.”

His hand dropped away. “There’s no need to worry about being
harmed by anyone we’re about to meet. I’d never allow that to happen.”

“Thank you.”

He scowled. “Don’t do that. I don’t want or need your
thanks.”

“Okay. Why does that make you angry?”

“We’ll discuss this later. We must go. They will be waiting
and I like to be prompt.”

She followed him out of the apartment. The guard was one she
hadn’t seen before. He gave her a quick once-over before nodding at True. “Where
are you taking her?”

“The library. We have a meeting.”

The New Species frowned. “No one informed me.”

True grabbed her hand and put his body between her and the
other man. “She’s not a prisoner and I’m with her. I thought Jericho was on
shift.”

“Darkness asked me to cover for him.”

Jeanie hoped she hadn’t hurt the primate enough that he wasn’t
able to return to work. She opened her mouth to ask but didn’t, afraid it would
only make things worse. True steered her in front of him and kept her away from
the other New Species. The guard attempted to follow them into the elevator but
True blocked him.

“Back off.”

“I should keep her within sight if she’s not inside your
home.”

“She’s no danger to anyone,” True snarled.

The doors closed, leaving the guard on the other side.
Jeanie studied True when he turned. “Maybe we shouldn’t leave your place. It’s
totally understandable why they are suspicious.”

“My word is all that should matter and I vouch for you.”

She swallowed the urge to thank him yet again for having
faith in her. It didn’t seem fair that he’d have to deal with so much animosity
on her behalf. All the sacrifices she’d made had been her choice. She could
have walked away once Drackwood had been taken down but the thought of not
helping more New Species when Agent Brice had told her about Cornas had been a
no-brainer. Someone needed to save them and she was in a position to do it.

She’d even considered the possibility of the backlash if her
role was ever publicly exposed. Some people hated the New Species, forming
organizations in protest of them being given human rights and some churches had
even stated they were abominations. She’d been willing to withstand their biased,
bigoted judgment if it came down to it but it had never entered her mind that
the people she loved would have to pay as well. True shouldn’t have to defend
her, yet he was. Her family would probably suffer the same fate, be targeted
due to her actions.

“What are you thinking about?” True touched her shoulder,
drawing her from her thoughts. “You look so sad.”

She looked up and then just stepped forward and hugged him. “It
doesn’t matter.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. “It
does.”

She wiggled out of his hold as the elevator doors slid open.
“It’s just been a long day. I’m fine.”

“I don’t like seeing that look on your face and you will
tell me what put it there. We’ll talk more about this later, at home.” He
closely studied her.

“Deal.” She hoped he’d forget and let the matter drop. She
already felt guilty enough for all he’d done and didn’t want to burden him with
her emotional turmoil.

He took her hand and led her to the large library. Shelves
full of books stood floor to ceiling. A beautiful gray-stone fireplace took up
the back wall and a long conference table with plush chairs took up the space
in the center of the room. New Species stood as they entered and Jeanie stopped
walking, staring at familiar faces she never thought she’d see again. The smile
came instantly despite her insecurity that they might not be as happy to see
her as she was them.

“You all look so great,” she blurted. Her gaze stayed on one
woman in particular and she unconsciously took a step toward her.

“Stay at my side.” True tugged her back.

“She’s safe here,” a male stated harshly before his tone
softened. “It’s good to see you, Shiver. We’ll have to let you learn our new
names. I go by Jinx now.”

Jeanie grinned at the tall, black-haired feline attached to
that voice. “You’re still accident prone?”

The man laughed. “Not exactly. I picked the name for other
reasons.”

She glanced down at his hand, resting on the back of a
chair. “How is it?”

He released the plush material and flexed his fingers,
turning his wrist until she could see his palm. A thick scar marred it, caused
by a knife injury he’d once suffered when one of the guards tried to kill him
in retaliation for something stupid. Jinx had grabbed the blade to prevent his
throat from being slit.

“It works great.” He took a step closer. “You really gave
that doctor hell by implying he was incompetent if he couldn’t repair the
damage so I could move my fingers.”

A lump of emotion formed in her throat, making it impossible
to speak. She swallowed hard.

“I overheard the staff planning to transfer me somewhere
else since that doctor believed the loss of mobility to the hand would make it
impossible for me to continue to be useful. It would be tough to improve
hand-to-eye coordination with drugs if I didn’t have two working hands.”

Jeanie hadn’t known. “Where? Was it Cornas Research?”

“No. It was a death camp for our kind. One of the employees
broke under interrogation and gave up the location.” A muscle in his jaw
clenched and his dark-blue eyes narrowed with rage. “It was rigged to explode.
All fourteen Species died before they could be reached.”

“Oh god,” she whispered, appalled.

“You saved my life.” Jinx focused his intense gaze on hers. “Now
we’re going to do our best to save yours, Shiver.”

“Hello, Shiver,” a female announced.

Jeanie turned her head and smiled again. “You look great,
754. You let your hair grow. You’re so beautiful.” She realized she’d addressed
her by number. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that. What name did you
take?”

“Luna.” She glanced at True. “May I hug her? There’s no need
for you to take a protective stance and keep her at your side. Everyone here
owes her thanks for some kindness she showed. Relax, True. She’s amongst
friends. She saved me from being force mounted.”

The reminder of that incident made Jeanie wince. “It was
total luck for us both that he was so busy making threats that he didn’t hear
that door open.”

True growled. “What did you do?”

She noticed his angry expression and hoped it wasn’t caused
by her actions. She had no regrets over what she’d done that day, or any day.
She was always trying to stay one step ahead of the staff and figure out ways
to trick or manipulate them into doing what was needed to help the New Species.
“I opened the door to check on her and saw him standing next to her bed, going
on about what he planned to do to her as he was removing his belt. I used a
bedpan and nailed him in the back of the head. He never saw me coming. He’d
turned off the cameras in the room to make sure Security didn’t spot him but it
also meant there was no proof that I’d been there. I made it look as if he’d
slipped and struck his head on the edge of the table.”

Luna chuckled. “She hit the asshole so hard he needed
fifteen stitches. She was pissed that he was going to hurt me. I learned new
swear words from Shiver. She also finished opening his pants to make it clear
to the staff what he’d planned to do to me. The doctors were furious when they
came in and found him on the floor because he could have ruined what they had
planned for me. I never saw him again.”

“You may touch her,” True decided, letting go of her hand.

Luna was a good eight inches taller than Jeanie as the other
woman gave her a tight bear hug. A dull pain shot through her side from her
healing injury and she groaned. Luna eased her hold instantly, jerked away, and
frowned.

“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? I forget how frail humans
are.”

“No. It’s my side. It’s still a little tender.” She touched
her shirt over the bandage. True had applied a fresh one after her shower.

Luna’s head snapped in True’s direction and she snarled. “You
hurt her?”

“No,” Jeanie denied instantly and reached for the angry
woman’s hand to draw her attention from him. “I was shot when your task force
guys hit Cornas Research. That’s the place I went to after Drackwood.”

“The task force teams shot you?” Jinx gasped.

“No.” Jeanie shook her head. “It was one of the Cornas
guards.”

Luna squeezed her hand in encouragement. “Have a seat and
tell us everything. We need to know all the details of what your situation is
so we can figure out how to help. You need to start at the beginning.”

Jeanie settled into a comfortable seat with True on one side
of her and Luna on the other. The double doors to the library opened and Flirt
stepped inside. True rose to his feet, his hands clawed.

“Easy.” Flirt sighed. “I know I shouldn’t be here because
Darkness ordered me to stay away from her but be reasonable. We all want to
help Shiver out of this mess. I apologize for crossing a line. I’ve come to be
of assistance and the important part is we clear her so she won’t be charged
with any crimes.”

“Thank you.” Jeanie held her breath, waiting to see what
True would do. She didn’t want them to get into another fight.

His harsh expression softened and he took a seat. “Fine. Be
of assistance but sit far away.”

Flirt took an empty seat at the end of the table. “What have
I missed?”

“Jeanie is about to tell us about Agent Brice and how she believed
she was working with the NSO to free our people.” True nodded at her. “Begin.”

Query quietly asked everyone to take a seat. Everyone did
and the room grew silent. Jeanie glanced around at them and blew out a pent-up
breath. It wasn’t going to be easy to go over all the details of working for
the people who’d hurt them but it needed to be done. She just hoped they didn’t
hate her by the time she finished giving them all the information.

She started by telling them how she’d gotten the job at
Drackwood and then was assigned to the lower floors. “That’s when I first saw
New Species there and realized what was really going on. Dean Polanitis gave me
the tour himself and as soon as I saw one of you…” She relived the awful
memory. “I think I gasped or he saw how horrified I was. He instantly pulled me
out of the room to tell me what would happen to me and everyone else I cared
about if I ever told anyone what they were doing or that you guys were down
there. He made it clear they had no qualms about killing anyone who betrayed
the company and the dire consequences of getting them busted. Some of the staff
even came up to me that day to assure me that other employees had disappeared.
I think he purposely asked them to talk to me to really make sure I understood
the threat was real and that employees who’d lost his trust had been killed.”