New Species 13 Smiley (22 page)

Vanni hung up, glad it was over. She’d notified both credit
card companies and was relieved to learn no charges had been made. Replacing
her driver’s license and her medical insurance cards, along with some store
discount cards, would have to wait. Those were things she had to do in person
once she left Homeland.

She called her office, getting her boss. Glen seemed happy
to hear from her. “When are you coming back in?”

“I’m not sure.” She hated the silence.

“I can’t afford to pay a temporary agency forever, Vanni.”

She translated that into what he wasn’t saying. She needed
to get her life in order or he’d have to let her go. “I’m so sorry about this,
Glen. You’re being very understanding. I know I need this week for personal
time for sure. I do have some vacation time coming. The wedding is off so there
won’t be a honeymoon.”

“I assumed that after I saw the news. It’s kind of been the
talk of the building. Carl hasn’t been seen either. Are you all right?”

“I’m better off without him. He turned out to be an ass.”

“Men rarely react gracefully when they are cheated on.”

She winced. “That’s not exactly how it was. We’d kind of,
well, it’s a long story.”

“You have two weeks. You’re excellent at your job and until
now, a prized employee, but this is a business.”

“I totally understand. Thank you, Glen. I’ll call you again
soon.”

She hung up just as the front door opened and Smiley walked
in. She stood and forced a smile. “How did your meeting go?”

He approached. “What’s wrong?”

It amazed her that he could sense her moods so easily. “It’s
not important.”

“Talk to me.” He sat on the couch and patted the spot next
to him. She walked over and sat. He smelled good and looked even better.

“My siblings called. Then I made some calls about my credit
cards and another to my boss. My brother is an ass but that’s nothing new. My
sister was surprisingly fantastic. She’s usually not so understanding. My boss
gave me two weeks to get back or I’m fired.” She paused. “On an up note, no one
messed with my credit cards. I canceled them.”

He reached out and played with a lock of her hair. “You don’t
need your job. You could stay here with me.”

Vanni didn’t know what to say to that. She changed the
subject. “How did your meeting go? Was it about us?”

Smiley released her hair and took her hand. “They brought
the bartender in. He identified Bruce as the male who paid him to drug us.”

That information comforted her. “He’s under arrest?”

“For the moment. We’re releasing footage of his confession
to the news outlets first. It will apply pressure to Gregory Woods to flee to
avoid your police. We hope he will take Bruce and his son with him. That’s when
they’ll pay.”

“By being arrested?”

Smiley hesitated. “It’s not that simple.”

“They’ll get away with what they did?” It angered her.

“No. It’s just that our laws will handle this instead of
yours.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your laws are less harsh. Gregory and the males who work
for him will pay for drugging us and for keeping you against your will. I
promise they won’t get away with it.”

“I’ll testify against them.”

He smiled. “You don’t have to go to your court. You told
Justice what happened and that’s enough. You’re safe here, Vanni. They will
never get the opportunity to hurt you again.”

“You’re confusing me,” she admitted.

“They are going to pay and will never know freedom again.”

“Even Carl?”

He didn’t seem to like her question, his body growing rigid
and his expression stern. “Don’t feel pity for that male. He lured you into a
trap and didn’t protect you.”

Put that way, she nodded. She’d never forget him walking out
that door and leaving her there with his father and Bruce. “I know. He’s a
jerk.”

“You could have been seriously harmed or killed. I won’t
ever forget that. You shouldn’t either.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.” He studied her features. “I don’t want you to leave
me, Vanni.”

Her heart raced a little. She’d miss him if she left
Homeland. She could visit him on weekends if he was at Homeland but it would be
tough. A long-distance relationship would be difficult for any couple. She
wanted to be with a man she got to see on a regular basis. Carl had been a
weekend-only dater for the most part and it had helped him hide his true flaws.

“I know this is fast but I’m willing to marry you.”

She hadn’t expected that.

He slid off the couch to his knees in front of her and
adjusted his body until he had her pinned. He took both her hands. “I’ll be a
good mate. I’ll make sure you are happy, Vanni.”

“I…” She was speechless.

“You were willing to marry Carl Woods.” He said the name as
if it were distasteful. “I’m a much better male than he could even dream of achieving.
I’d never hurt you. I’d never allow anyone else to hurt you either. I really
would kill someone to protect you. You would be everything to me. Tell me your
concerns.”

She licked her lips, trying to think past the surprise of
his proposal. “We barely know each other.”

“I’m Species. We don’t need a lot of time to know our
hearts.” He leaned in closer. “I don’t have human relationship flaws.”

That made her smile. “Which would those be?”

“I don’t need to date many females before I decide on one
because I know what I want and need. That would be you. You make me happy. I
feel all the things I’ve always dreamed of. I don’t fear commitment. I welcome
it. I won’t take you for granted the way most humans do the females in their
lives. I’ve been alone my entire life and I’d cherish spending every moment
with you.”

Tears filled her eyes. She blinked them back. It was
probably the sweetest, most open conversation a man had ever had with her. Most
men hid their feelings but Smiley opened himself up wide. The look in his soft
brown eyes, the earnestness that shone there, expressed his level of honestly.

“We could be happy, Vanni.”

“What if we get to know each other better and that changes?
This is the honeymoon stage.”

One eyebrow arched. “What is that?”

“Almost every relationship is great at the start. Both
people are on their best behavior but they let their guard down after a while.
Then you get to see their flaws. You might not like me a month from now.”

“Are you deceiving me?” He frowned. “Are you pretending to
be someone else?”

“No.”

A smile curved his lips. “I know that. You are bad at hiding
your emotions and have a very expressive face.” He grew serious. “You’ve seen
me at my worst, Vanni.”

He’d been wonderful to her. “I don’t believe that.”

“I’ve been surly since you came into my life. I’m afraid a
male is going to draw your interest. I feel jealousy and worry that you might
want someone else. It’s why I’ve been so angry when they are near. I took the
name Smiley because I was happy to be freed and swore to enjoy every day to the
fullest. Jericho called me grumpy and he was correct. I admitted that I’ve
killed humans in the past and would do so again if I had to. I don’t imagine
that’s a good trait, yet I want you to know me. These are the things I would
have hidden if I wanted to deceive you.”

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.”