“She’s aware of that. We all are. But you aren’t dealing with a shifter female. And not one from your planet. Cassie will probably want to get to know you and make sure she’s making the right decision. Not just for herself, but for her child.”
“Others have come to Aurora. Why would it be different for her?”
“Because the other girls who came to your planet were linked to each other somehow. They didn’t have families worrying about them.” She stopped in front of a closed door. He knew Cassie was in there. Her scent called to him. Even through the closed door he knew where she was. “Cassie has a family. She spends time with them. They are close from what I gathered. She won’t leave as easily as the others did. She’ll need to be convinced.”
“A child needs to be with his father. My cub should be with me.”
Gerri glowered at him. “That’s not really the best way to win her over. And for your information, that argument won’t fly on this planet with the number of single mothers doing a hell of a job raising their children alone. How about romancing her. Ever think of that, Sherlock?”
“Who?”
“Never mind. You will have to get her to realize you want her to come with you because you want not just the baby, but her too. Especially her. You want her to feel loved and like this is the right thing for her to do because she wants to, not because you want her to.”
“So what does that mean?”
She sniggered and opened the door to motion him in. “It means you show her you’re in love with her. Make her deliriously happy. Then she will gladly go to another planet and live out her existence with a man who she feels is worth her time. Until then, you are stuck here, on Earth.”
“I don’t have much time,” he growled. “There’s issues with my clan. My brother is giving me problems.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Then you better get started with the groveling.”
TWENTY-TWO
Cassie let the water drip down her back. She caressed her belly roll and grinned. A baby. She’d been wanting children for a while now. Especially since she got to hold little Avery.
It was like her life was finally going where it needed to be. Even if she hadn’t been expecting it. Not really. She’d been on birth control since she was a teen and it had never failed her until now. This was surreal.
Talen had gotten her pregnant on a one-night stand and then after he sent someone to tell her she was nothing but sex, he decided to show up and assume she’d just fall at his feet. Idiot.
She leaned her head forward under the spray and tried to imagine what her baby would look like. Would it be a boy or a girl? Would he or she have Talen’s fair skin or her darker one? Would he or she be grumpy or fun loving? The image of a little girl like Avery popped into her head. Then one of a little boy with Talen’s eyes and her no-nonsense attitude.
A pair of hands grabbed her from behind, caressing her back and sliding down to her hips.
She whirled around, sputtering water and wiping her eyes to glare at Talen.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?”
He raised his brows. “No. Why would I be?”
“You’re in my shower,” she said matter-of-factly. “I didn’t invite you in here.”
“You want me in here with you, Cassie. You miss me, my mate.”
She tried to shove him back but there was little room in the tiny shower. “You have your own room. Go take a shower over there.”
“I’ve missed you. I have dreamt of holding you for the past few days.”
She snorted. “Yeah. Right. Tell me why you’re really here, Talen.”
He cocked his head and pursed his lips. “I’m here because you’re my mate. I want you. I want you by my side and I want our offspring with both of us.”
She tried to stay angry but she wasn’t used to arguing with a naked man while she was naked as well. It was taking her out of her anger zone watching his abs tighten and his arm muscles shift. “Put some clothes on!”
His lips lifted into a naughty grin. “Why?”
“Because…because I can’t argue with you when we’re both naked.”
He nodded and instead of turning to get out of the shower, he came closer, taking over her space and curling one hand around her slick waist and cupping her neck with the other. “I don’t want to argue, mate. I missed you.”
No. She wouldn’t fall for that one. “Talen, this isn’t the time or the place--”
He dipped his head and cut her off, taking her lips in a sweet kiss. Had he been rough or wild, she might have had an easier time pushing him away, but as it was, her heart fluttered with the swipe of his tongue over her lips. He met her gaze and pulled back enough to let her grab a breath of air. “I missed you so much. Let me show you.”