Valiant(59)

“I didn’t mean for him to take it that way. You understand, don’t you? I met him five weeks ago, he scared the hell out of me, we had incredible sex, and I hit him over the head with a lamp. Last night he came back into my life when he saved me. I’m very attracted to him but we need to spend a lot more time together before we purposely take risks of that kind. Hell, I think I’m falling—” She closed her mouth. “In all, I’ve spent so little time with him and certainly not long enough to make a lifelong commitment of having a child together.”

“I do understand.”

Tammy saw compassion on the other woman’s face. “There’s the whole we’re-different factor. I was kidnapped last night because someone heard I had slept with him. Just slept with him. What if I got pregnant? Those stupid bastards and every stupid asshole like them would want to get their hands on me. And that’s not even touching the subject of what the press would do. I watched what they did to that married couple. Those two can’t do anything without having reporters all over them. They don’t even leave Homeland anymore, do they? I heard the press stalked them as though they were movie or rock stars. Hell, I think those two groups of celebrities have it easier than that couple does.”

Trisha sighed. “Yeah, I know. Luckily they don’t mind since they both work at Homeland and their lives are inside the secure walls there.”

“I don’t know if I could live that way. Right now I am not supposed to even leave this suite. Is that how it is with Ellie? Is she locked down inside their home?”

“No. She has a job at Homeland and it’s more settled there. Reservation just opened and that’s why you’ve been kept inside the suite. The New Species are used to humans but not the ones who live here. It’s just for your safety. I can’t walk around either without an escort. I don’t have that issue at Homeland. I have a house there.”

Tammy desperately wanted to change the subject. “How did it go with the father of your baby? Does he live around here? I might know him since it’s a small town.”

Trisha shook her head. “He usually works and lives in Southern California.”

“Oh.” Tammy nodded.

“He’s working somewhere else right now on assignment. In a few months he’ll be back in Southern California where his home is and so will I. We did talk this morning and he’s reconsidering marriage.”

Tammy did a thumbs-up sign. “Good for you.”

Trisha nodded. “Yes. I want to marry him and I love him more than anything.”

Tammy sighed, her mind refusing to budge from the worry that rose inside. “Valiant is really angry with me.”

“I think he’s hurt because you mean a lot to him. I don’t think you realize how attached he is to you. We have New Species who have engaged in sex with humans but they didn’t stake claims to them. I think for whatever reason, he imprinted you already.”

“What if he meets someone else and changes his mind?”

“As I said, they are very loyal. They aren’t the kind of men we’re used to. They had hellish lives and they really value something they care about. He obviously cares about you or he wouldn’t have claimed you.”

Tammy nodded. “I’m really confused.”

Trisha nodded too. “I understand. Trust me, I really do.”

“Thank you for telling me everything. Once I start taking the pills how long until they work?”

“A month. I’ll send a large supply of condoms. I can get them to you today.” She hesitated. “You will probably have to show him how to use them since I doubt he’s ever had to. Mercile Industries only permitted them to have sex with females when they were doing breeding experiments. It was the only time they were ever allowed any kind of physical closeness with another of their kind. I don’t think he’s ever had any physical contact with anyone human except you. You’ll have to ask him. I don’t know much about where he was kept before they opened Reservation but from what I understand, it was in a remote desert location. They tended to assign women, human ones, to guard them since New Species won’t attack females. Who knows if any of them were attracted to him.” She cleared her throat. “I’d bet not. He’s pretty intimidating.”

Tammy couldn’t imagine many woman approaching Valiant without being super brave. “It’s horrible what was done to them.”

“I know. As I said, they had rough lives.” Trisha made ready to leave. “I’ll bring a picnic lunch in a few days so we can talk again. I make a mean fried chicken. Talk to Valiant and try not to lose your temper if you get frustrated with him. Sometimes they don’t understand things but they learn quickly and if you explain it clearly, they usually get the gist of what you’re trying to say. Their feelings do get hurt and they tend to react by appearing angry. It’s one of those his-bark-is-far-worse-than-his-bite kind of sayings that fit.”