Authors: Nicole Austin
Chapter Twelve
Kyle shot her a wicked
grin and Rebecca’s hope rose. Could he be an ally?
“Are you wearing a transmitter?”
Caution
, she
reminded herself. “Why would I admit it to you if I was?”
“Because I’m trying to help. I served with
Micah. He pulled my ass out of the fire more times than I can count. I’m finally
getting a chance to return the favor.”
There was something reassuring in his eyes.
An indefinable quality that had her trusting him. Wary of his intentions, she
nodded. “Yes, Micah can hear everything so if you’re setting me up, he’ll come
after you.”
“Where is it?”
“Left lapel.”
His smile grew. “I almost feel sorry for
him. You’re gonna give him a run for his money. You’re absolutely perfect for
the lucky bastard.”
“Umm…” she hesitated. “I’m going to take
that as a compliment and let it slide.”
Kyle laughed. “Priceless.” He drew her into
the hall but turned down a side corridor she was unfamiliar with.
“Where are we going?”
“Security breach was sector four, the
loading docks. Micah will be long gone from that area by now. I suspect we’ll
find him near the security control room.”
He held her shoulders, leaned forward,
moist lips parted, and for one startling moment Rebecca thought he intended to
kiss her. Instead, he spoke into her collar. “I hope you got that, Lasiter. I
cleared the control room. We’ll meet you there.”
He’d barely finished speaking and lifted
his head when white smoke billowed through the corridor and Micah’s deep voice
echoed around them.
“You’re slipping, Slater. I already hit the
control room, armed myself and tripped the alarms from there to throw off the
hounds.”
Rebecca shivered. His voice sounded
different—cold and detached.
Kyle laughed and raised his hands, palms
outward. “You sneaky spook. Always were a step ahead of everyone else.”
“Step away from her, Slater.”
Kyle took two measured and deliberate steps
backward, but his sharp gaze remained locked in the direction of Micah’s voice.
Her knees wobbled as he suddenly
materialized from within the dense smoke looking every inch the hardened
warrior she’d first pegged him as. His body vibrated with a dark menace she
felt rolling over her, paralyzing her with fear that snaked along her spine.
She didn’t dare take a breath or make even the slightest movement.
She detested her reaction, but the man
before her was not the sweet lover she’d fallen head over heels in love with.
He’d gone into full Rambo mode, promising violent retribution for anyone who
dared to cross his path.
“Micah?” He didn’t acknowledge having heard
her.
“Unfasten your weapons belt, Slater.”
Kyle took his time working the clasp with
one hand then let it dangle from his fingers.
“Drop it and kick it over here.”
“You’re wasting time,” he protested while
following Micah’s instructions.
The belt skittered across the floor,
zooming past her, holding her focus until Weltman’s nasally voice cut through
the tension-filled silence.
“Dr. Southerby’s not going anywhere,
Lasiter. Not until I test the fetus.”
“Oh shit,” she gasped. How had he found out
about the baby?
No one uttered a word for what was surely
only a few seconds, but the silence seemed endless to her. When Micah spoke,
his voice was colder than solid ice.
“I won’t buy into your mind games so hurry
up and spill whatever toxic swill you’re trying to sell.”
His maniacal laughter rang out,
constricting her chest and making it difficult for Rebecca to breathe.
“She didn’t tell you.” He nodded. “Venomous
bitch, just like all the others.”
Others?
What
on earth was he talking about? Had the man lost his mind?
“We were watching her house. When she
didn’t show up with you, I sent a team in to search the place. Found not one
but three positive pregnancy tests in the bathroom trash can.”
Rebecca had no problem visualizing her
movements. Crumpling up the boxes, tossing in the instructions, staring at the
three test sticks lined up on the counter. Picking them up with numb fingers
and dropping them into the wicker basket, intending to carry the trash outside
but her scrambled thoughts had distracted her from completing the task.
“Is it yours?”
Weltman’s wretched voice broke the images.
Her gaze shot to Micah, who appeared unaffected by the news. She looked only at
him, pleaded with her eyes for understanding. “I only found out the day they
brought me to see you. The day I found out…”
that you turn into a lion
.
She kept the last part to herself.
There was no way to justify not telling him
about the baby.
To her horror and disbelief, he never even
blinked or spared a glance in her direction.
“Slater,” Micah growled, “don’t even think
about it.”
Other than making sure his open hands could
be seen, Kyle remained still.
“Rebecca,” Micah said in that lifeless
tone. “Pick up the weapons belt and bring it here.”
She did as he commanded, moved to his side,
placing the belt into his hand. His arm wrapped around her waist and jerked her
against his side. His fingers dug painfully deep into her hip and she flinched.
Rebecca prayed he hadn’t noticed, but when she met his hard glare she knew he’d
seen the involuntary reaction.
The same eyes that had showed such warmth
and emotion for her a mere hour before were now empty and lifeless. He looked
at her as if she meant less than nothing.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears and she
stumbled along as he dragged her down the hallway. Arrogant, macho jerk,
issuing orders to her as if she were some green Army recruit incapable of
figuring out anything for herself. Passing judgment on her actions and treating
her like crap.
She kept her mouth shut, bided her time.
Let the impervious idiot think he had all the power and control over her. He’d
learn the truth soon enough.
The baby didn’t need him. She didn’t need
him.
Want him, yes.
Love him, absolutely.
Need his holier than thou attitude, hell
no!
“Give me your keys.”
Becca didn’t say a word as they exited the
facility, which surprised and relieved Micah. He did a quick scan of the
surrounding area and stripped some branches from a nearby shrub, using them to
jam the entry door shut. It wouldn’t stop the security team but should buy him
a few precious minutes.
All his concentration narrowed down to the
task at hand, getting them both out alive. He’d sort everything else out when
they were safe. Or better yet, when he could breathe again and the vise grip
clamped tight over his chest eased up.
In all his years working covert operations
and high-level security he had no trouble keeping his mind on the job until it
was completed. He had not suffered heart palpitations or sheer terror when
under heavy fire or when things went to shit. Not until he heard Becca describe
the room she’d been taken to as an interrogation room.
The lion roared in frustration, demanding
to be set free to protect its mate. The sight of Slater holding Becca close,
his head leaned into the curve of her neck—
Murderous rage beyond anything he’d ever
felt almost had him releasing the lion. He had longed to shift and then slowly
rip Slater and Weltman apart, piece by bloody piece.
Reaching the SUV, Micah yanked the
passenger door open. “Get in. I’m driving.”
Becca did so without a peep, her expression
unreadable. He was tempted to lock her in the car and go back inside but knew
he wouldn’t feel better while she remained on the premises.
Once they cleared the main gate, his
thoughts turned to the confrontation with Weltman.
Dr. Southerby’s not going anywhere,
Lasiter. Not until I test the fetus.
Rebecca’s reaction had given the words
validity. All the color had drained from her face. Their gazes had met and he’d
seen the truth in her eyes.
Becca was pregnant.
Weltman had radiated maniacal glee at
having spoiled her secret.
She didn’t tell you. Venomous bitch, just like
all the others.
He had hoped it was some screwed-up fantasy
from the man’s delusional mind. Then Weltman dropped a bomb that had torn
through Micah’s heart.
We were watching her house. When she
didn’t show up with you, I sent a team in to search the place. Found not one
but three positive pregnancy tests in the bathroom trash can.
Is it yours?
His mind had reeled with the possibility
and he’d almost let down his guard, catching Kyle’s slight movement just in
time.
Becca’s frantic words had ripped out the
remaining pieces of his heart.
I only found out the day they brought me
to see you. The day I found out…
The day she’d found out he now shared his
body with a lion.
I’m going to be a father.
The very idea sucked the air right out of
his lungs. He took his hand from the steering wheel long enough to rub the ache
building in his temples.
He glanced at her from the corner of his
eye. Becca sat rigid and quiet, staring out the windshield. She looked like a
cold stone statue—distant and immovable.
Fuck!
He really couldn’t blame her for not
telling him. What woman in her right mind would want some fucked-up science
experiment to be the father of their child?
His life was such a mess. During their
night in Asheville, he’d walked on air, thinking he’d found what he had not
even know he’d been missing in Becca. Then she’d left him.
For a second time his life had taken a
stunning new turn—fatherhood. The woman of his dreams, pregnant with their
child.
Her habit of rubbing her flat tummy, the
changes in her body, all the pieces fell into place. He imagined the cute
little house with a white picket fence, a couple of bicycles lying in the yard.
But an unemployed lion shape-shifter didn’t
fit in the picture.
Some people just weren’t meant to be happy.
Micah checked the mirrors. So far nobody
was on their tail, but he needed reinforcements. He had one goal now, get Becca
and their baby out of this mess. Once he knew they were safe, he could start
thinking about taking down Weltman.
On one of her trips to town he’d had Becca
pick up a pay-as-you-go cell phone, which he’d stashed in the glove box for
precisely this situation.
“Hand me the disposable phone,” he ordered.
Micah cussed himself. His tone had come out
harsher than he’d intended and she visibly bristled. Damn it, he had to keep
his emotions out of this or he wouldn’t be able to function. He didn’t have the
luxury of falling apart even though the woman he loved beyond reason—the family
he’d never dreamed of—was slipping through his fingers.
Wanting reassurance that both Becca and the
baby were all right, his first call went to a medic he’d worked with and
trusted, Lex McLean. Two other names came to mind. Nash Crosby, who he’d served
with in the Army, and his second-in-command at Nanotech. When unable to reach Nash,
Micah called a secured, private satellite number.
“Talk to me, man,” Kyle Slater said as he
answered the call.
“What the fuck’s going on?” Micah demanded.
Slater laughed. Then Micah heard footsteps
and a door slammed.
“I was wondering how long it would take you
to call me.”
“Hopefully doing so wasn’t a huge mistake.”
Micah prayed he’d made the right decision.
Slater remained silent for several long
seconds. “This is a fucking job, nothing more. You, I owe my life to.”
Some of Micah’s tension lifted. He wasn’t
stupid. He wouldn’t give Slater his full trust. Not yet. “Is anyone on my
tail?”
“No. I have the boys here tied up chasing
their dicks at the moment, but they won’t be distracted for long. I’m sure
you’ve already ditched the doc’s company phone and house. Nanotech hasn’t
discovered your hidey-hole. The doc did a good job of covering her tracks on
that front, but I wouldn’t advise staying close for long. The time has come to
tap into your emergency resources and become a ghost, my friend.”
“Not quite,” he corrected. “Consider the
doc long gone, but I have a score to settle first.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
He easily pictured the devious anticipatory
smile flashing across Slater’s otherwise hard face. The man lived for the
thrill of a good fight. Thankfully, he was on Micah’s side. He’d hate to go up
against the mean bastard.
Chapter Thirteen
“When did your life go so far off track?”
Rebecca asked her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
On the drive back to the cabin, Micah had
busied himself making his plans. He spoke to her for the first time when he
turned onto the private drive.
Stay in the car while I check the cabin.
He had searched the cabin then waved her
inside with orders to stay there and gone off to do his Rambo routine.
All night.
She’d gone to bed alone and woken up alone.
There were subtle signs of his presence. A
mug he’d rinsed out and left in the sink. The scent of bacon lingering in the
air. A plate of food kept warm in the oven for her. She’d almost wept over the
full pot of coffee.
A firm knocking on the door had her pulse
rate soaring as she wondered what he was up to now.
Rebecca took a calming breath and opened
the door, stunned silent by the gorgeous man on the other side, smiling at her.
A blond Adonis—tall, lean and sexy as hell. And his smile—absolute sin. His
smile brought to mind carnal visions of long sleepless nights rolling around
between the sheets. That seductive smile was sure to have kept him from ever
being lonely.
“Hey, Doc!” He held out a steady hand
toward her. “Name’s Lex. I’m a medic. Spent some time in the military with the
big guy. He asked me to check on you and the bambino, make sure everything’s
okay.”
She shook his hand, but instead of letting
go, Lex flashed that provocative grin and led her to the bed, then pressed on
her shoulder until she sat down.
“Any cramping or spotting going on that we
have to be worried about?”
She shook her head as he unhooked a
stethoscope from around his neck and blew on the end to warm it.
“Good!”
He kept up a constant, one-sided
conversation and before she realized his intentions, Lex had the first two
buttons of her blouse undone. He was quiet as he listened to her heart and
measured her respirations.
She didn’t even have a chance to protest as
the lethal rake laid her back on the bed, placed a pillow beneath her head,
pulled up her shirt and unfastened her jeans with nimble fingers. She tried to
relax as he listened at several spots over her abdomen, his expression
thoughtful.
But when he started to palpate an area
above her pubic bone, she came to her senses and shoved him away. “Whoa!”
Rebecca refused to think about her instant
reaction to his warm, questing fingers. Nope, some things were better left
alone.
“Look, no offense, Lex, I appreciate the
concern. I’m fine. The baby’s fine. You coming in here, undressing and touching
me—not so fine.”
His grin turned carnal but his expression
appeared sad. “Aw, come on, Becca. We didn’t even get to the good part yet.”
She fastened her jeans and started
buttoning her blouse, proud to see the shaking in her hands was almost
imperceptible. “I probably don’t want to know what you consider the ‘good part’
to be.”
“Well, the pelvic exam, of course.”
“Micah,” she hollered at the top of her
lungs.
The rake tossed back his head and laughed.
Lex continued to laugh right up until he
got an eyeful of Micah’s furious expression as he charged into the room, shoved
the medic against the wall and held him by the throat.
“Since I like you, Lex, I’ll make your
death quick but it’s going to hurt. Bad!”
Rebecca smacked the back of Micah’s head,
fighting to hide her grin as his head snapped forward and the two morons’
foreheads cracked together. She enjoyed this caveman protective side of him a
bit too much. “Give the rabid feline routine a break already. Jesus, Micah, you
sent him in here.”
She shrugged. “The man has no concept of
personal space.”
With obvious reluctance he released Lex and
took a step back. Because she was sick and tired of the
dominant-alpha-in-charge routine, she smacked the back of his head again. He
was ready for it this time and didn’t budge.
“You could have asked me if everything was
okay or at least warned me you’d called a medic.”
Becca turned and walked out gracefully with
her head held high. But Micah didn’t miss the slur against his masculinity
muttered under her breath. Witnessing the return of her fiery passion took his
cock from flaccid to rock-hard in less than four seconds flat. God, she was
gorgeous when worked up. Not angry, she just wouldn’t put up with any crap. It
was one of the many things he loved about her.
“Damn, buddy. You said she was beautiful,
but you failed to mention the feisty part. I like her.” Lex clapped him on the
shoulder. “She’s gonna keep you on your toes.”
She would, if he had a chance in hell at
holding on to her or figured out how to tell her he loved her.
He kept his gaze trained on Becca until he
couldn’t see her anymore, then turned and got right in his friend’s face.
“Whatever the hell you did, don’t even think about doing it again. I’ll kill
you if you touch her.”
“Stand down, sir. I wouldn’t have a chance
of trying anything. Go figure, but that hellcat is fixated on your ugly mug.”
“What did she say?” he huffed.
Lex flashed his patented
cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. “She didn’t have to say. Hell, a man would have
to be blind not to see she’s all yours.”
Micah bit his cheek to keep his smile under
wraps. “And don’t you forget it. I catch you cozying up to Becca and I’ll rip
you a new one.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He slung an arm around
Micah’s shoulders as they headed out to the kitchen. “So who else is coming out
here to the boonies to play? I can’t think of many guys who like you enough to
hump it all the way out here.”
He stopped Lex before they got within range
of Becca. “Right now it’s just you. I’ve got several things in the works, but
you’ve got the most important duty.”
Any humor that had lingered in Lex’s
expression disappeared and he had his game face on. “Which is?”
“Against my better judgment—Becca. You’re
going to get my emergency cash and take her to my safe house.”
Lex studied his eyes for several long
moments. “And you haven’t told her yet.” He scrubbed at his jaw. “Great!”
“There’s more. I told you the basics of
what they’re doing…what they did to me. Now they have Crosby.”
“Aw, Jesus! Have they experimented on him
yet?”
Micah sighed. “Yes—Becca saw him.”
“What about Slater? You trust him?”
“I don’t have much choice.”
Lex squeezed his shoulder. “All right, man.
I’m in. Whatever you need.”
The unconditional support humbled him to
the point he could hardly speak. Micah muttered out a thank you that didn’t
come close to touching the gratitude he felt. He had no doubt Lex would forfeit
his own life to protect hers.
Once all three of them were in the kitchen,
they worked together to prepare dinner. In an attempt to make some point Micah
wasn’t getting—probably because he lacked estrogen—Becca became very friendly
with Lex. She touched the condemned man often and gifted him with flirty
smiles, which served to feed the flames of Micah’s temper. Lex, the ass, ate up
the attention, no matter how many daggers Micah shot at him with his eyes.
After dinner Becca sat down before the
hearth and the slick operator dropped down next to her, making every breath
burn in Micah’s lungs. Hell, he was bound to be breathing fire in a matter of
minutes.
“We’ll take turns watching the perimeter.
Four-hour shifts. You’re up first,” he growled at the medic.
Lex sighed and took one last stab at Micah,
speaking in a soft tone but ensured his voice carried. “I better go or He-man
will blow a gasket.”
Micah didn’t try to prevent the growl from
escaping when Becca leaned over and placed a butterfly-soft kiss on the other
man’s cheek. “I think they messed up and used grizzly bear DNA instead of
lion.”
He stomped over to the door, held it open,
and giving in to the childish impulse, slammed it shut once Lex stepped
outside.
Without a word, Becca made her way into the
bedroom, locking the door behind her. Hah! She knew that wouldn’t keep him out.
He counted to five and strolled into the
room as she was shutting the bathroom door. Micah stripped and lay down on the
center of the bed to wait. She didn’t make him wait long.
She strolled out wearing a simple cotton
nightshirt, no makeup, hair in a braid, and stole his breath. “You’re so damn
beautiful it hurts.”
Becca crossed her arms beneath her breasts,
which only made her rosy nipples visible through the thin material.
“We need to talk,” he stated.
“Talk? Yeah, that’s why you’re stretched
out on the bed nude and sporting an erection, to talk.” Her bottom lip pressed
out in a sexy pout. “There’s only one thing I want to know.”
“What’s that?”
“You haven’t said a word about the baby. I
have to know your intentions concerning our child—”
Rebecca didn’t have time to finish what
she’d been saying. In the blink of an eye, Micah was out of the bed and
kneeling at her feet. His arms wrapped around her in a possessive hold and his
lips fluttered over her belly in the sweetest of kisses.
“Oh god, Becca. I’m stunned, awed and
scared shitless.”
His reaction startled her and did bizarre
things to her heart. She closed her eyes, praying this meant he wanted their
baby.
Micah rose, kissed the tip of her nose,
both eyelids, drew her into his embrace, tucking her head under his chin. It
felt so right being in his arms. They fit together perfectly. Did they have any
chance of making a go of it?
“I never imagined myself as a father,
teaching my son to ride a bike, or intimidating my daughter’s dates.”
He stumbled over the words, his voice tight
with emotion, prompting Rebecca to lean back. She stared into his dark eyes and
her fears melted away. Her pirate was back. The corner of her lips inched
upward even as fat tears streamed over her face.
“Aw, baby. Don’t cry. It tears me up!”
His shaky hand wiped at her tears, which
had her smiling brighter and crying harder.
“Becca, damn it? You’re killing me here.
Are you happy or sad?”
“Happy,” she choked out. “Relieved. I was
so worried when I first realized. Didn’t know if I should track you down, how
you’d feel about a baby? When you shifted…well, we had to deal with that first.
Then Weltman—”
His growl rumbled over her words and that
protective streak made her smile stretch even wider. “Down, boy.” She patted
his cheek. “When he found out and used it against you,” she scowled. “I wanted
to kick his ass.”
“I’m getting you out of here. Somewhere
safe.” Micah leaned forward, gave up on wiping the tears away and instead began
planting loud, sloppy kisses all over her face. “Tomorrow. Lex is taking you—”
“No,” she objected. “I’m not leaving
without you.”
“Becca, I have to know you and the baby are
safe. Then I can figure out my next move. The man you saw in the lab, Crosby, I
served with him. He’s my second-in-command at Nanotech. I can’t leave him in
there.”
She nodded in understanding, had expected
he’d go in but had selfishly hoped otherwise. She hated it, but knew the
soldiers’ code he lived by. Micah couldn’t walk away and leave a man behind.
“I’ll hate it, but I’ll go with Lex tomorrow. I’ll keep our baby safe, but you
have to promise me something.”
“What is it, baby?”
“I want you to promise me that you’ll come
back to us. That you’ll be there for our child as he or she grows up.”
Then she added the clincher. A soldier
would never go back on a promise made on his honor. Once given, he’d do
everything and anything to fulfill his vow. “On your honor, as a soldier,
promise me, Micah.”
His eyes narrowed as he considered her
words, likely wondering how she knew exactly how to get an unbreakable promise.
Staring into her eyes, wearing his heart on his sleeve, Micah made the vow she
prayed would bring him back to her.
“I love you.”
“Oh, Becca. I love you too.”
Hearing the words made her heart soar. She
locked them into her heart, seared the moment into her memory, tried not to
think that this could be their last night together. Micah loved her. She didn’t
need anything other than him.
“Make love to me, Micah. I want you.”
“You too. So much, Becca.”
She stood on tiptoe and her lips melted
over his. The kiss started tender and warm, a display of affection. Soon sparks
ignited and Micah’s big body wrapped around her—protective, possessive and
potent. The kiss changed as he took control, nibbling on her lips, thrusting
his tongue deep into her mouth, his addictive taste swamping her senses.
There were certain instances when she
didn’t the mind him going all dominant alpha male on her.
Her clothes disappeared beneath his
persistent fingers. His hands stroked and heat blasted through her bloodstream,
melted her muscles, turning her soft and pliable. She pressed closer but
couldn’t get close enough.
“Micah,” she pleaded.
“Get on the bed.”
The growled words had shivers racing down
her spine. She loved it when he got primal. Still, she teased and taunted,
drawing the beast closer to the surface by crawling over the mattress on her
hands and knees, wiggling her ass, enticing her man.
He hit the mattress hard enough to make her
bounce. She giggled until his hands seized her hips, his knees pushing her legs
wide apart, and in one fluid movement his cock slammed forward, completing her.
“Oh yes!”
He became unpredictable, thrusting hard and
fast then slow and deep. She yelped as his teeth clamped down on her shoulder,
holding her in place. Rebecca took everything he had to give, met each movement,
demanded more, which he gladly provided.