“Tam, damn it, that’s not funny. I’m going to come out there and get you. You can hole up inside our guestroom to hide out from everyone. My parents are worried sick about you too. They don’t think you are safe out there and neither do I. You don’t know much about those people.”

“Don’t be an ass, Tim. I know more about them than you do. I’m extremely safe.”

“Since when?”

“Since I’ve gotten to know them.”

“That old bitch is really going to get a petition going, Tam. She’s really going to try to make you sell your house. What will you do if she succeeds?”

“Well, remember a few years ago when I went through my heavy-metal stage? She put a petition together then too and asked all the neighbors to sign it by saying I worshipped the devil by trying to call demons into the backyard every time I lit the fire pit. They just laughed at her.”

“This isn’t her hating your taste in music. This is super serious. There are at least twenty protestors on your yard carrying signs that are accusing you of liking to screw anything on a leash with four legs.”

“That bad, huh?” Tammy winced again. “Well, even if I came to your house it wouldn’t make them go away, would it? They would only start picketing at your place if they learned I’d gone there. I’m staying here.”

“You need to come back to town and tell everyone the news had it wrong. You need to denounce that guy until it stops.”

“What do they have wrong? I am seeing one of them.”

Tim remained silent for a long minute. “Why?”

“Why do you think? He’s wonderful, sweet, and I just want to stay with him.”

“You could have told me if you were that lonely. You don’t need to date one of them. Let me take you out.”

“Oh, stop it. Don’t even go there, Tim. I swear, just don’t. You and I are best friends. I get asked out often, if you must know. I’m not desperate for any guy. I really, really am attracted to him.”

“But he’s¯”

“Don’t say anything bad,” Tammy warned, cutting him off.

“Fine. I hope you realize it’s going to ruin your life.

When you stop seeing this…him…no guy in town is going to want to touch you. I have to go. You obviously have your mind made up and I just can’t even talk to you right now.” Tim hung up.

Tammy held the receiver in her hand for long seconds before returning it to the cradle. She wiped at tears that momentarily blinded her. Tim had never hung up on her before. She scooted off the bed, walked into the bathroom and filled a glass with water. On her way back to the bed she stopped in her tracks when her gaze met Valiant’s. He leaned against the wall inside the bedroom right next to the door, his expression grim.

“You’re back.”

His golden eyes regarded her and a frown marred his full lips. His arms were crossed over his chest and he took a deep breath.

“You are going to lose your house?”

“You were listening.”

He shrugged. “I have good hearing. I took a walk downstairs to get some fresh air and came back when you were talking on the phone. I stood outside the door so you could talk to your friend without interruption. You said he was your best friend.” He shifted his weight, pushing away from the wall. “He made you cry. A nswer me. A re you going to lose your house?”

She shrugged. “It was a shitty one with a leaking roof anyway, but I doubt it. Most of the neighbors have been there forever and have known me for most of my life. My next-door neighbor is the A ntichrist. She’s making waves but she always does that kind of bullshit. I have protestors picketing at my house.”

“You don’t need your house anymore, sexy. You have my home and you have me.”

Tammy stared at him. “But for how long?”

He moved. “You won’t ever get rid of me.” He stalked toward her. “Not even if you try. You belong to me and I belong to you.”

Tammy stared up at Valiant when he stopped inches from her. He reached for the glass and set it down. They stared at each other for a long moment before Valiant suddenly grabbed her, taking her flat to the bed. His hands tore at her clothes as his lips kissed her throat.

Tammy moaned.

Valiant pinned Tammy under him tighter, inhaling her wonderful scent, wanting to get her totally naked to be skin to skin. She’d stood up to her best friend for him, refused to leave him, and he wanted to make sure she didn’t change her mind.

She might lose her home because of her association with Species. Guilt ate at him as his hands caressed her bare breasts. He stared into her passion-filled eyes and swore he’d make her forget everything but him. He’d make sure she knew being with him was worth any sacrifices she made.

He growled at her, working at getting her pants off as he slid off the bed to the carpet, onto his knees. The scent of her growing arousal drove him nearly insane to taste her, to claim her, but she suddenly wiggled up the bed. He snarled at her and gripped the bed, intent on going after her. Her hand lifted, palm out, in a gesture to stop him and he froze.

“Condoms.”

He wanted to roar. She was his. He knew what the things were but he wanted nothing between them when he took her. He wanted to mark her with his scent, fill her with his seed, and if life took hold—so be it!

“Please? I’m not ready to have a baby.”

He stared into her eyes while he fought his anger and hurt.

“Valiant?” Her gaze softened. “You could totally seduce me, I want you, but I’m just asking for more time before we risk that. Can you please do this for me?

Please?”

He closed his eyes, snarled, and jerked to his feet.

“Get naked. I’ll be right back.” He stormed out of the bedroom, down the hall, and to the suite door. He jerked it open and glared at Flame. They’d just changed guards.

Flame watched him warily as he backed away.

“What’d I do?”

“I need condoms.” He spat the last word.

Flame did a poor job of hiding his amusement. “Um, all right. No glove, no love, huh?”

Valiant snarled at him.

Flame backed up a few feet more, reaching behind him. Valiant tensed, believing the officer reached for his weapon. Instead he pulled out a wallet, opened it, and removed something that crinkled in a long wrapper.

“Here.” He stepped forward. “The no-glove-no-love thing was mentioned in a class we held at Homeland about human women. It means some of them don’t want sex without a condom.” He braved another step. “We carry these in our wallets at Homeland if we interact with human women just in case we decide to share sex. I’ll make sure more are brought to you but that’s all I’ve got for now.” He held them out. “Do you know how to use them?”

“No.” Valiant hated to admit it. He accepted the weird package that had four round things sealed in weird-looking plastic on one side and shiny stuff on the other.

Flame swallowed. “We really need to hold classes here at Reservation. You carefully open one of the packages containing a round rubber thing. You put it over the tip of your dick and it rolls down to the base of it.” He glanced at Valiant’s hands. “Let her do it. You’ve got the sharp-nail issue. You’ll tear them. Just look cute and helpless while you tell her you need help. Human women dig that.”

“Thank you.” He met Flame’s eyes. “I appreciate the advice.”

Valiant backed up, slammed the door closed and locked it. He clenched his teeth, gripped the condoms, and stormed back toward the bedroom. The things I will do for my Tammy.

Chapter Ten

Tammy knew Valiant was angry when he returned to the bedroom and slammed their door closed. She had stripped, climbed under the covers, and watched him face her. He held up a roll of four condoms.

“I don’t know anything about these.”

She was extremely touched that he’d gotten them somehow. She threw back the bedding and rose to her feet. “It will be fun.”