Laurann Dohner - Brawn

“Yeah, it was, but later. I’m kind of hungry.”

Brawn gently maneuvered her to a chair at a nearby table. They waited in the hotel cafeteria. “Sit. What food do you crave?”

“I don’t know.”

“Sit still and I will be right back.”

Becca watched Brawn walk toward the buffet table. He glanced at her as he filled a plate. He loved to watch her—while she slept, in the shower and even when they made love. She grinned. Especially when they made love. Brawn walked back to her a few minutes later and her eyes widened when he set the plate down on the table.

“That’s a lot of food. I can’t eat that much, Brawn.”

He picked up a fork and studied the plate, before he stabbed a shrimp. He lifted it to her mouth. “I got you a little of everything they had. You can take a bite and see what tastes best.”

Becca opened up and Brawn fed her the bite. She chewed, smiling at him while they stared at each other. He paused, taking the time to lift a straw to her mouth to make her take a drink of milk and continued to feed her.

“You know I can do this myself, right?”

“I know. I enjoy feeding you, beautiful.”

“I hate eating alone.” She glanced at the plate and grabbed a crab cake. “Open up.”

He opened his mouth. When Becca lifted the bite to Brawn’s mouth he suddenly moved, taking the food and her fingers into his mouth. He sucked on her fingers before swallowing the crab.

“Ummm. Delicious.”

Tim leaned back in the chair. “I’ve seen enough.” He glanced at Justice and Jessie. “She’s happy. He’s great with her and I can see how much he loves her.”

Justice nodded. “I would not tell them that you bugged the tables around them and hid cameras so you could see all of the room and hear what was being said between them. It would remind Brawn of our captivity inside the testing facilities.”

“Thanks for allowing me do it. I just wanted to see them together without knowing anyone watched. That’s how you really get the truth from people sometimes. Nothing is more honest than seeing how people act with their guard down.”

Justice nodded. “I understand. This is why I agreed to let you do it.”

Jessie suddenly chuckled. “We should go in there soon or they might leave. Rebecca just used her finger to wipe food on his throat and is licking it off.”

Justice stood. “Let’s go.”

Tim frowned.

Jessie winked. “Newlyweds. We leave them alone too long and this could get embarrassing for all of us. That cafeteria is empty and they know it.”

Tim suddenly laughed. “Let’s go before I see more than I want to. I spent a fortune on room service when I married Rebecca’s mother because I had three weeks leave. We holed up in our room and I never let her get dressed the entire time.”

Becca heard footsteps and turned. Her father walked into the cafeteria with Justice and Jessie North. Brawn stood faster than Becca could and his body tensed. He moved slightly in front of her, taking a protective stance. Becca knew her father wouldn’t miss what Brawn had done as she slowly rose to her feet and hovered next to her mate.

“Mr. Oberto,” Brawn stated casually. “It is very nice to see you again.”

Tim stopped four feet from Brawn with a grim expression. “I was informed of everything.”

Brawn tensed. “I know.”

“Dad…” Becca tried to draw his attention.

Tim ignored her to keep his gaze locked on her mate. “I didn’t like you from the moment I met you and I’ll tell you why. You took one look at my daughter, she took one look at you, and I saw the attraction spark between you both. I was worried about my baby getting hurt. She’s all I have.”

Brawn nodded. “I understand.”

“I also know how tough all of you are, how protective you are of each other and how strongly bonded New Species are. I worried that if you got together with my baby that she’d always be an outsider.”

“She is one of us.” Brawn’s tone deepened. “She is not an outsider. She is family to all my people now. She is not all that you have, Mr. Oberto. Not anymore. Now you have a grandson about to be born and New Species are your family as well.”

Tim’s eyes became a little watery suddenly. “I like looking at it that way more than losing my only baby. And call me Dad or Tim. Your choice. I just have one demand since you’re having a baby with my daughter.”

Brawn studied him. “What would that be?”

“I want you to marry her legally. I’m old-fashioned that way and I’d like you to do it before the baby is born.”

Brawn relaxed. “We have already gotten the license.”

Becca looked up at Brawn. “We have?”

He turned, grinning down at her. “You said you would agree to be my mate. What is your marriage compared to that? You can divorce from marriage but you’re stuck with me for good as your mate, Becca. I want to give everything to you.”

Becca leaned against his side. “Good point.” She stared at her father. “How are you doing, Dad? I mean, about everything?”

He glanced at her face before studying her belly. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”

“Yes. Would you like to feel him kick? He always moves around a lot after I eat.”

Shocked, Tim gawked at her. “You can feel the baby moving already?”

Jessie stepped closer. “New Species babies develop faster, Tim. Becca’s going to have the baby full term at twenty weeks. It’s half the time of a normal pregnancy.”

Becca grinned. “Pretty cool, huh?”

Tim regarded his daughter. “Your mother hated being pregnant for nine months.” He suddenly smiled. “That is pretty cool. I’d love to feel the baby kick. Have you picked out a name for him yet?”

Becca moved closer so her father could put his hands on her stomach. She adjusted his hands with her own until the baby moved. Tim laughed, an expression of pure joy on his face.

“We’re thinking about naming him Cage,” Becca snickered.

Brawn growled. “We are not.”

Becca laughed harder. “I’m teasing. Relax, Brawn.”

Tim frowned. “What am I missing?”

Jessie laughed. “The only other New Species baby was named for where he was conceived. His name is Forest. Your daughter keeps teasing Brawn that she’s going to name their son Cage because of where he was conceived.”

Becca laughed. “Get it?”

Tim didn’t laugh as he glanced at Brawn. “See what I put up with all of her life? She was always a smartass.”

Brawn nodded. “Do you have any tips for me?”

Tim nodded. “When she isn’t pregnant just put her over your knee and give her a good swat to the behind.”

“Dad!”

Brawn laughed. “Really? That works?”

“Sometimes.” Tim winked.

“Don’t even think about it, Brawn.” Becca frowned up at him.

“I would never hit you, Becca. You know this.”

She hugged his waist. “I know this.”

“But it gives me ideas.” Brawn suddenly laughed. “You say you can’t think when I kiss you so when you say something smart, I’ll just kiss you.”

Becca grinned. “That works for me.”

Tim laughed. “You’re supposed to punish her, Brawn. That doesn’t sound like it would work.”

Brawn chuckled. “I will only kiss her.”

“Brawn!” Becca grinned at him.

Tim laughed. “That would work.”

Brawn nodded.

Becca glanced at them both. “I’m so glad you both get along now though I think I might have liked it better when I was afraid one of you would kill the other.”

Brawn wrapped his arms around Becca as he lowered his mouth to kiss her. Becca forgot what she’d been saying or thinking. Her arms wrapped around his neck until he ended the kiss and grinned at her.