“But all my guards will be New Species, right? So that’s totally safe. They wouldn’t leak any information about the baby.”
“True,” Brass agreed. “But Justice is playing it safe. You’re important to us, Trisha.
You are our first conceiving female.”
She frowned, not liking the term. “You make me sound as if I’m a horse.”
Brass turned to face forward in his seat. He mumbled something that made Slade laugh.
“What? That’s not fair. You know I couldn’t hear that! Come on, guys. Play nice with me.”
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Laurann Dohner
Slade cleared his throat. “He said something to the effect that with our dicks it wasn’t a bad analogy.”
Brass laughed. Trisha rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Some people are full of themselves.”
Slade glanced back at her and his teeth flashed when he grinned. “Want a reminder when we get to the house? Maybe you’re forgetting my size and you need a visual reminder.”
“I’ve seen horses when I worked for a veterinary hospital. You wouldn’t be getting near me if you actually resembled one from the waist down.” She paused. “But you are larger than anyone else I’ve ever been with. Does that sooth your manly pride?”
Slade growled. Brass chuckled. Trisha grinned from the back seat until she was ordered to crouch down. It was dark outside, she didn’t see the reason for hiding, but she didn’t want the men to growl at her, something New Species seemed to love to do when they were irritated or emotional. Slade pulled into his garage and she heard the automatic garage door come down. He was the one to open the back passenger door.
“Are you going to sleep there or are you going to come inside the house?”
She flipped him off and sat up. Trisha glanced around the garage. It was a double garage and a Jeep sat on the other side of the SUV. It was a tight squeeze to get out until the door closed as Slade led her into the house.
“Oh. My. God,” Trisha gasped.
Slade spun around to face her. “What?”
She gawked at the kitchen. “You’re a slob!”
Trisha curled her lip at the piles of dirty dishes in both sides of the sink. The stove…
She forced her gaze away from it, guessing that would need to be power washed. The floor… Her feet were bare and she could feel the dirt. Her gaze flew to Slade’s, realizing he just watched her silently, frowning.
“You are a slob,” Brass groaned softly. “Ever hear of soap and water, man?”
“I’ve been working sixteen hours a day and sleeping six for the three weeks I’ve been here. Give me a break.” Irritation flashed on his face. “There’s not someone to hire to clean my house. I don’t get days off to do it myself.”
“Wow. You did this in just three weeks?” Trisha shook her head. “I can’t wait to see the rest of the house.” She hoped her sarcasm wasn’t too noticeable.
“You could sleep in the woods,” Slade teased. “At least there’s not a truck sitting inside my living room. You only lasted in the cabin for what? Twenty-four hours? It has to be torn down it’s in such bad shape. At least mine just needs cleaned.”
“Kiss my ass.” Trisha stuck her tongue out at him.
He suddenly grinned and his gaze raked slowly over her body. “I’d love to, Doc.”
He snapped his sharp teeth at her.
Brass chuckled when Trisha backed up.
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Slade
“Keep those babies away from my backside.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t an actual request.”
“I don’t know how you sleep with humans,” Brass chuckled. “Way too fragile. One of our women would love being bitten.”
Slade nodded but he kept the grin in place. “I know but she’s cute. What could I do? She wanted me badly.”
“Stress on the word wanted.” Trisha shot him a dirty look and walked past him through a dining room.
“Uh-oh,” Brass chuckled. “Someone’s in the dog house.”
“I don’t have one.” Slade laughed.
The dining room was obviously not a room Slade ever used since it was basically clean, minus the dust issue. The living room was another story. It might have been a nice coffee table if she could see the surface but dirty dishes, empty beer and soda cans and an overflowing ashtray littered it. She frowned, studying Slade.
“You smoke?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes I do when I have a few beers. I’ve been trying to get past the horrible taste of them. Human male bonding seems to demand we drink some of them together after work and smoke too.”
“Well, please don’t while I’m here. The smell of cigarettes will make me sick.”
“I won’t smoke inside the house.”
“Smart man. It’s really bad for you.”
She glanced at the living room before she moved on. The downstairs contained a full bathroom, a family room that wasn’t used and an office that was. She opened her mouth but closed it after noticing every surface covered with papers or discarded drinks. It amazed her that a man owned so many dishes. She headed for the stairs when the main floor tour ended.
“Are we going to go look at every room?” Slade followed behind her.
“Yes. I want to know where I’m living and what I’m dealing with. I’m starting to miss the seventies.”
Brass laughed.
“What does that mean?” Slade glanced at them.
“I’ll explain later.” Brass snorted.
There were two bathrooms and three bedrooms on the second level. One of the bathrooms opened from the hallway. The second bathroom was located inside the master bedroom. It was a large room with a twin bed. She frowned at the small mattress and turned to glance at Slade but said nothing. She checked out the other two bedrooms next. One room had nothing more than a twin bed and a dresser. A weight set and a treadmill dominated the last room. She closed the door and met Slade’s gaze.
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Laurann Dohner
“So where are you going to sleep? Brass gets the spare room and you only have a twin bed. I’m not sleeping on the floor. I guess you could sleep on the couch or on your weight bench.” She put her hands on her hips.
Slade blinked a few times, a confused look on his features. Brass chuckled and Slade shot him a dirty look before frowning at Trisha.
“I’m sleeping inside my room on my bed and you are sleeping on my bed with me.
I know it’s small but we’ll fit. Trust me.”
Her gaze roamed his body. She hesitated. “I’m not sleeping on the bottom. The only way we’re both going to share that bed is if one of us sleeps on top of the other. You’ll crush me.”
Slade suddenly moved. “Let me show you how it will work. Good night, Brass.
Make yourself at home. There’s plenty of food in the fridge.”
“Hey,” Trisha protested when Slade grabbed her. He ignored her objection as he scooped her into his arms. “What about dinner? I’m hungry.”
Slade growled. “I’m hungry too.” He walked into his master bedroom and kicked the door closed behind them. He strode to the narrow bed and gently lowered Trisha on top of it.
Trisha watched as Slade bent over, staring at her. She loved the passion that flared in his eyes. He did look hungry but it wasn’t for food. He wanted her. He tore off his shoes and socks before he dragged his shirt over his head. Trisha’s gaze slowly took in the sight he posed, appreciating his muscular arms and broad chest.
Slade growled at her again and yanked at the front of his pants to get them open.
“You could undress.”