Becca turned her head, saw smoke rising and the smell of burning meat finally registered. She reached over to turn it off. She stepped away from the stovetop but kept her distance from him. He held still, not moving as she watched him warily.
“No one knows about this baby. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to hide. I’m good where I am and you can leave.”
The New Species frowned. “Reservation is fifteen miles from here. Let me take you there to allow Doctor Trisha to look you and the baby over. If you refuse, we will just put a detail of security around your home to keep you and the baby safe. That isn’t up for debate. You and the child need to be guarded around the clock. It’s more dangerous for you here but we would never force you to live in captivity. We know all about that.”
She shook her head. “I can’t go with you and you can’t send people here to protect me. You don’t understand. I don’t know you, which is good, but there’s going to be hell to pay if anyone recognizes me.” Terror gripped her. “Are there any humans around or is it just you?”
“It’s just me.”
“Thank God.” She could breathe again. “Please just forget you found me and go. The worst thing you could do is send a security detail here. Swear to me you won’t do that.”
“Explain why that’s dangerous. It would protect you.”
The baby kicked hard. Becca flinched and rubbed her stomach. The New Species male smiled suddenly as he met her gaze.
“I saw that. He is strong. Trisha said that by the time she was in her sixteenth week it felt as though her son might kick his way out.”
Shock tore through Becca. “Doctor Trisha?”
Flame nodded. “I am allowed to tell you. It is confirmed that you are pregnant with one of my kind. She has a son named Forest who is Species. Trisha is married to one of us. She had her baby at twenty weeks. Would you like to see her son? Would you like to see what your baby is going to resemble? Species are cute as infants. He is canine mix so his features are a little different but I think you will be less frightened to have a Species baby if you see Forest. He claims the hearts of everyone.”
“I can’t go. You need to leave and don’t let them send anyone else.”
He frowned. “You need to see a doctor. You are frightened. I can smell your fear. Please stop being afraid. I’d rather shoot myself than cause you any harm. What is your name? We searched but couldn’t find anything with your name on it.”
“We?” Her fear increased.
Flame frowned. “You are terrified.” He suddenly paled. “Did one of us harm you?” His focus jerked to her stomach and then back to her face. “Did the father hurt you? Did he force you?”
She shook her head.
Flame’s frown deepened. “But you are afraid. Why?”
She met his eyes. “I don’t want the father of my baby to know. At least not yet. I have enough to worry about without dealing with the crappy situation with him. I also don’t want my family know. It’s…complicated.”
“You’re terrified. Tell me why now.”
She bit her lip. “I can’t. Let’s just say my family is in a situation to hurt the father and while I’m not a fan of his, I don’t want anything to happen to him. I also don’t want my baby growing up without any family since mine will be in prison for murder. You need to just leave.”
Flame watched her and his features softened. “You’re giving me no choice but to do this the way I didn’t intend. I won’t reconsider and leave you this way without a security detail. I was certain I could talk you in to going with me but I see now that you are determined to stay.” He glanced at her stomach once more, took a deep breath, and his gaze hardened when he met her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Don’t be afraid but you are going with me. You’ll see the doctor, have round-the-clock security and that isn’t up for debate. You’re obviously in extreme danger anyway and it was a good thing we found you. Please don’t fight me. Think of your baby.” He moved.
Becca backed up and her ass hit the counter. “No.”
In four long steps he had her and his hands carefully gripped her arms gently. “The helicopter comes. You would have heard it in a moment and known I planned to take you whether you agreed or not. I don’t wish to cause you fright and remember no one is going to hurt you. We are going to Reservation where Trisha will look you and the baby over. You have no choice in this. Remain calm for the baby.”
“Let me go, damn it!” Becca yelled and tried to twist away.
He suddenly released her and easily scooped her up into the cradle of his arms. Becca screamed and clawed at his shirt. “Put me down.” She didn’t struggle, too afraid he’d drop her and he was tall. It would be a long fall to the floor.
“Think of your baby,” he growled loudly. “Relax and slow your breathing. Calm.”
Terror hit Becca but she stopped tearing at his shirt. Her fingers fisted the material though, clung to him and tried to find words that would make the big New Species put her down.
“This is kidnapping! Yeah. It’s illegal and you’re not on NSO property. I’m a US citizen and I refuse to go with you. You can’t do this. It’s against the law.”
He glanced down at her and arched an eyebrow as he carried her through the house. “I’m aware of some of your laws. Possession is nine tenths of it and I have you.” He adjusted her in his hold to secure her tighter against his bulky chest. “You are safe.”
She knew she couldn’t get away from him and he wasn’t going to change his mind. She studied his handsome face, didn’t see anger there, but pure determination was easy to read. Flame was taking her to Reservation come hell or high water. She heard the helicopter approaching as he reached the front door. It was wide open now, something he must have done before startling her in the kitchen, making her suspicious that he had planned to carry her out in the first place.
Please don’t be my dad’s pilot, she prayed silently, watching the helicopter land between the tree line and her rental cabin. She’d met her father’s pilot but couldn’t remember his name. He’d remember her though for sure. Her dad boasted that he kept pictures of her in his office at work. The pilot might have forgotten her from the brief meeting they’d had at her dad’s house but looking at her pictures in an office almost every day tended to make someone learn a face.
Relief swept through her when she saw the helicopter pilot. He was much older than her father’s pilot, not anyone she’d ever seen before. The back doors opened. She tensed again, praying none of the task-team members were inside. It was two Species males who jumped out. No one else was inside the belly of the helicopter and she relaxed. She was still safe and unknown for the moment. Her dad wouldn’t be getting any calls that would trigger a rampage.
Flame carried her down the porch steps and addressed the two NSO officers who stood next to the waiting helicopter. “Get her things and lock up the cabin. She has food on the counter that needs to be put away. The helicopter will return for you in half an hour,” he yelled.
The men nodded. Becca glanced at the new faces, neither familiar, and gasped when they suddenly gripped Flame’s upper arms. They lifted him, with her still resting in his strong arms, off the ground and into the helicopter. Flame ducked his head, carried her to a bench and sat. The doors closed.
He adjusted her to put on his belt but was careful to keep one arm hooked around her ribs at all times in case she bolted. She considered it but the helicopter lifted off. It was too late and she wished it wasn’t so loud inside. She’d love to try to convince him to take her back, even if it was pointless. The guy was stubborn and she knew the type well. Her dad’s image flashed through her mind. He’d murder Brawn, go ballistic and maybe even take out other Species. No way would he believe she hadn’t been forced to have sex with Brawn. Even if he accepted that she’d been attracted to him, in her father’s eyes, the circumstances would have made her consent invalid.