Laurann Dohner - Brawn

Jessie stood. “Sit down now.” She frowned. “How did you keep them apart? What are you talking about?”

Tim sat but was pale and furious. “She wanted to talk to him and I was told he wanted to talk to her. I don’t care if he’s sorry or whatever the hell he wanted to say. He hurt my baby and I wasn’t going to allow him to do it again. I had the therapist we use say she was too traumatized.” He glared at Justice. “I knew you’d keep that son of a bitch from talking to my girl if the therapist suggested they not talk and I told my baby he wouldn’t talk to her. He’s not going near her. If he wants to apologize, too damn bad. She’s obviously upset and she fled to avoid the pain of the memories. I knew something happened, damn it. I knew she was lying and he was involved.”

“What choice did she have but to lie to you, Tim? It’s not as bad as you’re imagining. Just listen. I talked to Rebecca myself and she was okay with touching Brawn. The circumstances were horrible but so was him having to be hooked up to the machines. She saw that happen to one of them and it was pretty horrific, okay? She liked Brawn, they shared a cage and became really close.” Jessie sucked in air. “Really close, Tim.” She leaned in to stare at him. “They fell for each other. Are you following me? They started to have feelings—deep ones—for each other.”

Tim looked pissed. “So you’re telling me he had to fuck my daughter but he made sure she enjoyed it? She bit him and he had scratches. He obviously hurt her.”

Justice growled, his own temper flaring. “Jessie is saying they fell in love. He never forced your daughter to touch him, actually asked her not to and was willing to submit to being drugged and hooked to their machines to force his samples. She refused to allow it.”

Jessie sighed. “He didn’t hurt her, Tim. They fell for each other but she was afraid you’d kill him if you found out something had happened between them. She thought you might quit your job with the NSO. Brawn thought seeing him after they were released would only cause her pain because of what she’d endured at the hands of those asswipes. I can’t believe you had the therapist lie about that.” She frowned. “We’ll discuss that later though but we’re definitely hiring a new one you can’t intimidate. Brawn wanted to protect her and she wanted to protect him. They love each other. I think you misinterpreted the love bite and um, scratches she might have left on him during sex. He didn’t hurt her.”

Tim sat there for a good minute. “That’s why she went to Europe?” He stared at Jessie grimly. “She fell for this guy and she’s too afraid to tell me because she thinks I’ll kill him?”

“She’s not in Europe. She lied to you about that too,” Jessie sighed. “She’s up north at Reservation.”

Tim was shocked. “Why?”

“She’s pregnant. She and Brawn are going to have a baby.” Jessie held Tim’s gaze. “No one knows that a human and a New Species can conceive a baby together so you can’t tell anyone that you’re going to be a grandfather. It will put Rebecca and her baby in danger from the hate groups, from the media and from anyone who hates Species. It’s not just about her though. It’s about all New Species and human females. The hate groups would go nuts. Well, more nuts than they already are. Evil jerks who wanted to make money would kidnap more women the way they did your daughter and try to capture more of our males, Tim. Do you understand? You’re going to be a grandfather and we wanted you to know. Rebecca and Brawn are in love and living together.”

Tim sat there stunned. “She could have told me.”

“She was afraid you’d try to kill Brawn and was protecting him from you, Tim. She loves him. You forbade her from having anything to do with him, and no offense, but I’ve worked for you. I’ve gotten the daughter treatment from you. You can be a jerk sometimes. You make up your mind and there’s no changing it.”

Justice spoke softly. “She was afraid you’d hate us all and she didn’t want that to happen.”

Tim’s expression reflected many emotions but he finally stared at Jessie. “You’re married to one of them. Will he treat her good?”

Jessie grinned. “Justice would do anything for me, Tim. Anything. He is so overprotective it’s not funny. They aren’t like regular guys. He’ll never hit your daughter or cheat on her. He’ll die to make her happy if that’s what it takes. We have two other pregnant mixed couples. The males hardly ever leave the women’s sides. They pamper the hell out of them. One child has been born and the father of that baby is the same way to his mate and baby. They never had anything of their own, never were allowed to love and now that they can, it’s amazing, Tim. I can honestly say that if I had a daughter I would hope that she fell in love with one of them. I’d sleep better at night secure in the knowledge that she’d be happy. Brawn will make Rebecca his entire world and when the child is born, it will be a part of that world. They will be everything to him.”

“I want to see my daughter and Brawn.”

Jessie studied him. “Are you angry with Brawn? Will you try to harm him, Tim? Rebecca would hate you forever if you did. She’s agreed to be his mate, which means more than marriage to New Species. It’s a pledge to solely be with each other until one of them dies. It’s as serious a commitment as they can make together and deeper than what our marriage implies.”

“I just want to see them,” Tim stated softly. “I want to make sure she’s happy and that he really cares about her.”

Justice reached for his phone. “I’ll have the helicopter prepare to fly us to Reservation. We’ll all go see them together.”

“I have a request when we get there,” Tim demanded. He glanced at Justice. “My daughter was married before to a piece of shit. He was always really good at acting but I wasn’t fooled. I have an idea and I’d like your permission to do it. It will totally set me at ease if you agree.”

Justice hesitated. “What do you want?”

Becca was nervous. “What if he tries to kill you?”

Brawn chuckled. “I’m sure Justice removed his weapons and he can’t take me physically.”

“Don’t hurt him. He’s my dad.”

“I wouldn’t.” His dark-blue eyes flashed amusement. “It will be fine, Becca. He will see how happy we both are and he’ll feel less worry.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Brawn moved, wrapped his arm around her and cupped her face. “He will see how much I love you, beautiful. He will also see how much you love me and that we want this baby.” His hand left her face and rubbed her rounded stomach. “He will love our son as much as we do once he is born.”

Becca nodded. “I love you too and I’m sure you’re right. I’m just worried. I know my dad and he’s such a control freak and way too overprotective. He gets his mind made up and there’s no changing it.”

“Then he’ll have to decide that we will be happy together and that he is happy for us.”

She smiled bravely. “You make it sound so easy. I feel a little better.”

“It will be fine. Are you thirsty?”

She shook her head, smiling. “I’m good. You worry about me too much.”

He grinned. “There’s no such thing as too much where you are concerned. Kiss me.”

Becca rose on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck. Brawn purred as their mouths locked together and he pulled her tightly against him. His hands gripped her ass, squeezed and she laughed, breaking the kiss as she lowered her heels to the floor.

“We’re in public. My dad could show up here at any time. Keep your hands in good places, Brawn.”

“That was a good place.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.