Jacie and the Alien Bodyguard (Intergalactic Brides 6) (3 page)

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Starved. I haven’t eaten since… well, last night I guess. I didn’t have time for breakfast before the shuttle left.”

He frowned. “You should have eaten before you left. You can’t miss meals in your condition.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Just hungry.”

“Then I’ll feed you.”

Her cheeks warmed at his words, but she knew he didn’t mean them literally. The thought of his fingers brushing her lips as he fed her morsel after morsel was a tempting thought.

She looped her arm through his and allowed him to escort her down to the main floor and out into the night. There were vehicles flying overhead, but she didn’t see one waiting for them outside.

“Are we walking?” she asked.

“It’s only two blocks to the Earth food place. I wasn’t thinking about your condition though. Should you walk that far? I can get my Vitra.”

“Vitra?” she asked.

He pointed up. “Like your Earth cars, but they fly. Being this close to all of the shops and eating places, I didn’t think I would need it, but if you would prefer to ride there I can accommodate you.”

“No! Walking is fine, really. I just didn’t realize we weren’t going very far.”

They didn’t speak again until after they’d reached the restaurant and had been seated. The menu was on a digital display at the table and they could even use it to place their order. Everything looked good, and it had taken her a while to figure out what she wanted to eat, but Jacie knew anything would taste good right now.

Barimere looked around, and seemed unable to meet her gaze. It made her wonder about the news he had to share. He seemed to know something about Myro. Whatever it was, knowing was better than not knowing. She could handle just about anything right now, except learning he was dead. Jacie wasn’t sure she could manage that at the moment, but anything else she could survive, even if the news was that Myro never wanted to see her again. She was tough! She could do this.

“Tell me about Myro,” she said. “I know you’re avoiding the subject, but we might as well get it out of the way.”

“Perhaps you should eat something first.”

Jacie shook her head. “Whatever you have to tell me, I can take it.”

“What do you know of Myro?”

“Nothing really. We didn’t do a lot of talking, not about our lives, anyway. We’d discuss movies we had watched, or talk about the latest sporting event. He discovered American football and baseball.”

“So he never mentioned his son?” Barimere asked.

She swallowed the knot in her throat. “Son?”

“Myro is not mated to the boy’s mother, if that’s what you’re wondering. Our single males go to a floating brothel nearby when they need to…”

“Scratch an itch?”

He nodded. “One of the girls became pregnant with Myro’s child. When the baby was born, it was given to Myro to care for; otherwise, it would have been sent to an orphanage.”

“Why didn’t he tell me about his son? I wouldn’t have minded. Did he think I wouldn’t want to be a mother to his child?”

Barimere cleared his throat and looked around the room before meeting her gaze again. “There’s more.”

“What?”

“About a month ago, some new Earth females arrived on our world. Myro chose one to be his mate. He married this past month, and since I’m assuming he never contacted you after returning to this world, I’m going to have to also assume that he didn’t want you to be part of his life. I know it’s harsh, but I think you were a form of entertainment for him while he was on Earth.”

Her mouth opened and shut a few times. It felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach and she suddenly found it hard to breathe. She didn’t love Myro, but to know he’d so callously thrown her away cut deep.

“It’s uncommon for our males to treat a female that way. Usually, we only become intimate with a female we are considering as a mate. Casual sex is unheard of in our community, but it seems that’s what happened with Myro and you.”

Her shoulders slumped a little as the reality of her situation sank in. “Should I tell him about the baby?”

“It would be rather awkward for his mate if you did. I don’t want to deny Myro the chance to know his child, but considering the situation, maybe this one time we should let everyone think the baby belongs to the male you choose as your mate.”

She snorted. There he went again, already marrying her off to someone. As if it was as easy as stepping into the street, pointing at a male and deciding that’s the one she wanted to take home.

“I think they’re going to realize I’m pregnant already. And I’m four months along, so it would have to be someone who was on Earth around that time. I’m sure that narrows down my options considerably.”

“Yes, it does. Especially since a lot of our males are choosing to work at the stations on Earth and remain there on a semi-permanent to permanent basis. Many have purchased homes there. It wouldn’t make sense for you to move here if the baby belonged to one of them.”

“So what do I do?”

“I…” He paused when the waitress brought their food to them. She smiled at Barimere then focused on Jacie, her gaze dropping to Jacie’s rounded belly.

“Oh!” the waitress exclaimed. “Barimere, I didn’t realize you’d taken a mate. Congratulations on your impending fatherhood! Wait until everyone hears about this!”

Before he could correct her, the woman bustled off.

“Shouldn’t you go after her and correct her?” Jacie asked.

“If I do, she’s going to ask questions that we don’t have answers to.” He frowned. “I’m not sure what to do, quite honestly.”

“Well, we can’t let people think we’re mated. It will ruin your chances of finding a real mate.”

He arched a brow and pointed to his face. “And you think this is a face someone will wish to see every morning? I gave up on a mate when this happened. It will take a special woman to accept me as I am, and while I’m open to the possibility, it isn’t likely to happen.”

She reached out and covered his hand with hers. “I barely noticed your scars when we met earlier. Not all women are caught up on a person’s looks. Although, if I’m completely honest, when I first saw you, I thought you were the sexiest male I’d ever seen.”

His brow furrowed and he didn’t look like he believed her.

“It’s true! You have that piercing stare and that no nonsense look. I could tell you were an intimidating male who was used to getting your way. It was a real turn-on.” Her cheeks flushed with her admission.

His expression cleared and he looked at her with some curiosity. “You really felt that way?”

“You looked even hotter when you picked me up for dinner.” It felt like her entire face was on fire. She wasn’t used to being forward with men.

Barimere began to eat, but he kept glancing at her, as if he wasn’t sure if she could be believed or not. Surely she wasn’t the only female to have ever complimented him on his looks? She had a hard time picturing him being hard up for female companionship. He’d mentioned a brothel. Was that where he went? Jealousy surged through her at the thought of another woman’s hands on him, taking her completely by surprise.

“You truly find me attractive?” he asked.

“Very much.”

He contemplated her a moment longer before looking around the restaurant.

“You said I have to find a mate, right?” she asked, an idea forming in her mind.

“Yes. Since you are pregnant, and without protection, you’ll be required to find a mate. If you’d like, I could make some suggestions. I know several males who have been actively seeking a mate, but have yet to find the right female.”

She nibbled on her lip as she contemplated her next words. “Barimere, do you find me attractive? Even a little?”

His eyebrows rose. “You’re very pleasing to the eye. Your pet, however, would take some getting used to. He may be a problem while you’re searching for a mate. Many won’t want something like that living with them.”

“Sugarbutt goes where I go. If the male I’m interested in can’t accept Sugarbutt, then he can’t have me either.”

“I understand your fondness for the beast. I’m just preparing you for the hardships you may face. There are plenty of males who wouldn’t think twice about accepting another male’s child as his own, and there are those who would never consider it, but the beast won’t receive the same acceptance.”

“What about you? Would you ever consider accepting someone else’s child as your own?”

His jaw tensed a moment. “I am unable to have children. Only the council and my doctor are privy to that knowledge. I would gladly welcome any child into my home, especially one that I could claim as my own without having to go through the adoption process.”

He was single, found her attractive, tolerated Sugarbutt, and would gladly welcome a child into his home. So, why wasn’t he picking up on her hints that perhaps they should consider becoming a couple? Jacie wasn’t sure she was forward enough to come right out and say it, but she’d admitted that she found him sexy. What more did she have to say for him to get the hint?

She finished her meal and her stomach still rumbled, not quite full yet. She’d found that she ate a lot more with this baby than she ate when she wasn’t pregnant. Was that normal? The doctor on Earth had answered some of her questions, but she’d never thought to bring up her appetite. What if being hungry all the time meant there was something wrong with the baby?

“You’re frowning,” Barimere said. “Did I say something to displease you?”

“I’m still hungry, and it made me wonder if that’s common. I’m eating twice as much as I normally would, and sometimes that still isn’t enough. And yet, I’m barely gaining weight.”

“Order something else to eat, and after you’re full, I’ll set up a doctor’s appointment for the morning. It’s best to go ahead and get you checked out just to be safe. If there’s something wrong, it’s better to know now than later.”

She nodded and perused the menu again. After selecting a slice of coconut cake, she settled back against the booth. Barimere was right. If there was something wrong with her baby, she wanted to know while there might be a chance of saving him or her. If she lost the baby… her heart nearly stopped. It would mean she could return to Earth, but she’d rather live on an alien world with her baby than return home with the loss of her child. She’d do anything the doctor said to make sure the baby was delivered healthy. Jacie hadn’t had any scans done yet, but the doctor on Earth had taken blood samples. It was a half-Terran child, something he’d claimed he needed to verify.

Jacie ate her cake then rubbed her full belly when she was finished. Walking didn’t hold much appeal, but that meant she could stay out longer and explore, she’d do it. Something told her if she mentioned that to Barimere, he’d go retrieve his vehicle and fly her around, but she wouldn’t be able to see much from up in the air.

“Ready to return home?” he asked.

“Could we explore a little more? I was on that shuttle all day and then cooped up in my room for the past hour. I want to see more of my new home, if that’s okay.”

Barimere smiled a little. “I can take you around and show you the nearby shops, if you’d like? Several carry items from Earth, and then there are shops that contain only Terran items.”

“That sounds fun. If I find something I want to buy, how do I pay?”

“The shops work the same way as your suite door. When it’s time to pay, you’ll pass your wrist over a tracker in the store and it will send the data to the main computer in Terran Prime, which tracks everything from sales to your location. The thing in your wrist also acts like a tracking device if you’re ever lost.”

Jacie wasn’t sure how she felt about being tracked like a wayward pet, but she supposed the Terrans had their reasons. “Is everyone tracked?”

“Only females. There are plenty of alien races out there who would gladly abduct you. It’s our way of ensuring we can find you quickly, if that happens.”

“Unless they cut off my hand,” she muttered.

Something flashed in his eyes. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“I’m sorry.” Jacie sighed. “Can we go shopping now? I’d love to see what your shops have to offer.”

He nodded, swiping his wrist over a device next to the menu, which she assumed allowed him to pay for their meal. Then he helped her to her feet and escorted her outside. She looped her arm through his again and tried to keep step with him. When she stumbled, he slowed and shortened his stride so she wouldn’t fall. It just proved her theory that he would be a good mate, even if Barimere didn’t think anyone would want him.

She was in awe of some of the Terran items for sale, wondering what they were and what they did. Jacie asked plenty of questions and Barimere was patient with her, explaining things as they went along. Her feet began to ache and there was a dull pain in her lower back by the time they’d visited their fifth shop. She rubbed at the ache and slowed her steps, hoping it would make her feet hurt a little less.

Barimere stopped and placed his hand over hers. “You’re in pain?”

“My back and feet are hurting. I guess we should call it quits and return to the tower. Maybe I need more rest than I thought.”

Without a word, he slipped one arm around her back, the other behind her knees and lifted her with ease, despite her extra weight. She would have protested that she could get where she was going on her own two feet, but she was hurting too much to bother. Jacie did worry that she would harm Barimere by him carrying her so far, but she felt the muscles in his arms and chest bunch and flex with every step.

Jacie didn’t understand what had given him his scars, or why he was relegated to bodyguard duty, but she could tell that he was every inch the warrior. She certainly wouldn’t want to meet him in battle. If he looked fearsome when he was merely guarding her, she could only imagine what he looked like when combating an enemy. Not that she wouldn’t mind watching him practice sword fighting, or whatever they did here. She’d heard they had some sort of laser swords in addition to knives and blasters.

When they reached the tower, Barimere carried her up to her suite and then set her on her feet outside her door. She swiped her wrist across the locking mechanism and the door popped open. Jacie turned to face him, and whatever she was going to say died on her lips as she saw the worry and compassion in his gaze. This hardened warrior was concerned about her, and it warmed her from her head to her toes.