Bestial assessed Brawn. “Often. She’s alone and everyone worries. You should have been told a male had been assigned to your female but perhaps they didn’t want to alarm you. I believed it was wrong to keep it from you but now you know.”

The words made Brawn narrow his eyes. “You admit they planned to keep it from me? You purposely told me just now but acted as if I already knew. What kind of deception are you trying to pull?”

“You got me.” Bestial grinned. “I didn’t agree with the vote and I’d want to know before another male moved in with my female. She’s attractive, lonely and vulnerable. Tiger is good with humans, knows them better than we do and it wouldn’t be the first time a male who has sworn human females hold no appeal ends up mated to one. He’ll put his hands on her. Can you imagine that? Another male touching the female you planted your seed inside.”

Brawn shot to his feet. “It won’t happen.”

“I didn’t think you’d allow it. I’m your friend and I didn’t want you to lose her to another male, even if he is a good one.”

“I’m better and she’s mine.” Brawn’s hands fisted. “Call Tiger and tell him if he has touched her to run fast and far. Very far.”

He stormed for the door but heard Bestial laugh. “Go get her. Show her who she belongs to. I’m glad I never will get tangled with a human. They just don’t make sense. She should have picked you to care for her over another male.”

“Shut up,” he snarled, opening the door.

“Perhaps you need instructions about sex? Has it been so long you forgot how to please a female?”

Brawn roared, furious at his friend for even suggesting such a thing and ran. The hotel wasn’t far and he wanted to get to Becca fast. If Tiger had already moved in, he’d toss the male and his belongings out a window. He liked Tiger but the male would die before he’d allow him to take his female or try to lay claim to what was his.

He was gone by the time Bestial reached for the phone and dialed. “He’s on his way, coming fast and I hope this works, Trisha. He was furious.”

* * * * *

Becca was nervous as she sat on the couch waiting for Tiger to arrive. She didn’t have a specific time and the last experience with a Species moving into her guestroom had been a disaster, considering she’d been kidnapped.

She considered the arrangement. How bad could it be? Sure, it would be awkward living with a stranger. Maybe weird. Her baby kicked, she rubbed her belly and knew she might feel better having someone around. The idea of fainting or needing help scared her. With someone in her living space, he’d be close enough to know if she were in trouble.

A knock startled Becca. Dread filled her as she approached the door. She’d make the best of it, regardless of how they got along. She was half tempted to go hide in her bedroom and not answer the door. Tiger was willing to do this and she knew he probably wasn’t happy with the situation either. She forced her feet to move to the door and opened it.

Brawn stood there instead looking really angry. He was out of breath and sweat made his tan skin glow a little. His nose flared before he reached for her. She gasped as his hands gripped under her arms and her feet left the floor. He took big steps into the room and kicked the door closed behind him. He kept moving until they reached the couch, where he bent and gently deposited her on her ass.

“Get out of here,” Becca gasped. “You—”

“Shut up,” he growled. “You’d allow Tiger live with you but not me?” He growled viciously. “You need a male to care for you? It will be me!”

She glared at him. “I didn’t ask for a roommate but was told I had to have one. Leave, Brawn.”

One of his arms went around her waist and the other hand grabbed her by the back of her hair. He turned his hips and pushed between her thighs. He yanked her to the edge of the couch, dropped to his knees and settled his hips between her cotton-covered thighs. His narrowed eyes were locked on her mouth. He growled deep in his throat.

“Open your mouth to me.”

“Go to hell.”

His intense gaze held hers. “I have lived in hell before and I am experiencing it now. I will kill him if you allow a male live with you. You carry my child. If you need something from a male you will get it from me. Now open up.”

“You’re angry and why do you want my mouth open? This is taking the whole babysitting thing way too far.”

“I’m furious,” he growled. “I should have been asked to care for you instead of Tiger. He is not the father. He is not the one who mounted you and bred you. I am. You don’t like me right now and I understand this. This isn’t about you or me. This is about our child. You need constant care and I will be the one to give it. Open your mouth.”

“You’re an asshole and what is your obsession with my mouth?” She pushed on his chest but he held her against him, wouldn’t budge and she wasn’t strong enough to force him to let go.

His catlike eyes glittered dangerously. “Open your mouth.”

“Why?”

“Do you want me to release you?”

“Yes.”

“Open your mouth.”

Becca closed her eyes and tensed, not sure what the hell he planned to do. She opened her mouth and had a flashback of sitting in a dentist chair, about to get an exam. It rated right up there with that experience as she waited to see what Brawn would do. She’d bite him if he hurt her in some way.

He pressed closer until his chest flattened against her breasts and her stomach. She felt his breath on her face and his lips covered hers. His tongue swiped across her bottom lip before he invaded her mouth.

She shouldn’t have been surprised. She struggled but he held her close, surrounded her body and his hold in her hair kept her head in place. His tongue manipulated hers and her traitorous body responded as memories flashed through her mind of him kissing her when they were inside the cage.

She relaxed as passion took over and she fisted his shirt, kissing him back. A purr sounded and Brawn released her hair to run his hand down her back. Her arms wound around his neck as his hands dug between her and the couch cushions. He cupped her ass and lifted her body.

He sat back on his heels and settled her down over his lap. She straddled him and even through the layers of clothing she couldn’t miss the feel of his rigid cock straining when he rocked his hips against her, rubbing her clit. She moaned, instantly turned-on and kissed him frantically.

She ground her hips against his when his strong hands kneaded her ass and he easily manipulated her body to move against his in an erotic motion that mimicked fucking. Her nails raked his shirt and she wanted to feel him inside her again. A desperate urge to be skin to skin with him became almost as unbearable as wanting him inside her.

The growls and purrs did something to her body, turned her on more than she could ever remember and she clawed at his shirt, tried to tear it to reach his skin. Brawn seemed to understand as he tore his mouth away and they stared at each other, panting.

“No one touches you but me,” he growled softly. “No one.”

Becca stared into his eyes, his words sank in and she fought for words. She didn’t even know how to react. He suddenly released her ass and just tore his shirt up his body, arched his back away to do it and she stared at his bare, muscled torso. She could have stared at him for a while but he tossed the shirt away and cupped her face with both hands to take possession of her mouth again.

Becca moaned as he kissed her with a need born from desperation. She met that passion head-on. Too much time had gone by with her longing to be in his arms—her hormones were out of control and her sex drive ragged. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her hands frantically explored his hot skin and her nails raked down his back to urge him on. She flattened her breasts against the hard wall of his chest, her swollen belly came up against him too but he arched a little to make room for it without crowding the baby. She barely noticed it but she was glad one of them could remember to be careful.