More than a few, actually. “Why don’t you want me near other humans and why are we referred to in that manner? You are human too but you just have extra stuff that I don’t.”
Tiger chuckled. “Extra stuff as in boy parts or extra stuff as in my changed DNA?”
“Your DNA.”
“We refer to your kind as human because we want to be called New Species. We’ve been set apart all our lives. It’s difficult for everyone, including us, to consider us just plain ole human. It wouldn’t be true anyway. We aren’t plain ole anything.”
“Thanks. Why can’t I leave the suite without an escort?”
“You’re going to be living inside a building that is totally New Species and you’ll make some of them nervous. Most of us have a hard time trusting your kind. It will make them feel better if they see less of you and you’ll be safer. Some Species aren’t real keen on humans.”
Valiant growled. “It might have had something to do with being locked up by them for most of our lives and dealing with the kind of men who took you tonight.”
Tammy met his angry gaze “You sound as though you hate humans.” She bit her lip. “Does part of you hate me too because I’m not New Species?”
He frowned at her. “I don’t hate you.”
“But―”
“I can only think of two humans that I don’t hate and you are one of them.”
“Because you’re attracted to me?”
“Because you are mine.”
She blinked at him. “Why am I yours?”
“Just go with it,” Tiger sighed and said. “Trust me. It’s going to make about that much sense. He’s attracted to you, he likes you, and hell, I’d be happy enough not to question it. Remember the day you met him when he didn’t seem to like you? Compare the differences in your mind and I think I’ve made my point.”
She nodded, staring at Valiant. “I definitely prefer you liking me.”
He winked at her and the gesture made her gawk at him. She’d never expected him to do that and with his catlike eyes it was just startling. He frowned.
“Did I do that wrong? I tried to put you at ease. You jumped and you have this expression on your face that I’ve never seen before. I can’t say it is attractive.”
“Don’t ever wink at me again.” She smiled. “Please?”
“What did I do wrong?”
Tiger parked in front of the hotel. About fifteen New Species men and women walked outside, staring openly at them, and some faces were outright hostile. Tammy instantly felt ill at ease and clung to Valiant a little tighter. The women were tough-looking, tall, and muscular. She could totally see every one of them, both male and female, playing extras in a film where they portrayed vicious villains. Worst of all, they appeared downright furious to see her.
“Tammy? What did I do wrong by winking at you?”
She forced her attention away from the large, mean-looking people glaring at her and turned her head to stare up at Valiant. “Wink at Tiger.”
Valiant turned his head and winked again. Tiger laughed.
“I’m with her. Don’t do that again. It just looks too weird on feline species. It looks good on humans but not so much on us.”
Valiant sighed. “Fine. I won’t wink at you anymore.” He shifted his large body and stepped out of the Jeep with Tammy in his arms. He shifted her body easily, holding her tighter against his chest.
Fear inched up Tammy’s spine. She’d only met a few New Species but now she was surrounded by at least fifteen of them that she’d never seen and they appeared to be really irritated at her arrival. They blocked the double doors into the hotel and her fright increased along with her heart rate. She hated being afraid but couldn’t help it.
Tiger moved in front of Valiant and Tammy. “There’s nothing to see here. This is Tammy and she’s with Valiant. They are going to be staying at the hotel in one of the third-floor suites. She was attacked tonight by one of those hate groups that target us.”
No one moved. Tammy shifted in Valiant’s arms, gripping him tighter. She would have made him put her down, if she were able, and stood behind him. He was definitely big enough to hide behind. Valiant’s arms tensed around her. She looked at him and saw he’d bared his teeth again. He glanced down at her.
“Cover your ears right now.”
She released his neck and lifted her hands to do as ordered as he took a deep breath. He glared at the men and women standing in their path and roared. Tammy turned her head to watch Tiger jump about two feet after being startled by the sound.
“Move!” Valiant roared. “Now!”
Tammy watched New Species scatter as Tiger laughed. Tammy wrapped her arms back around Valiant’s neck. Not even one person remained in the lobby when they walked inside as Tiger held open the doors.
“Remind me to get you the next time I need to clear a room.” Tiger appeared highly amused. “I’ll grab the key to the suite and meet you at the elevator.”
“Thank you.” Valiant turned and stormed across the lobby.
No one was anywhere to be seen. Tammy wondered how fifteen people could just disappear that way, guessing they had to have run to get away from Valiant so fast.
Her gaze returned to the man cradling her inside his arms and studied his angry features, understanding how his people could be afraid of him. She’d never forget the day she’d met him and he’d left her utterly mute with terror. That wasn’t something anyone had ever been able to do in her entire life.
Chapter Seven
“I’m taking a shower.” Tammy put her hands on her hips. “Move it.”
Valiant growled softly at her. “Allow Trisha to take a look at you first. She should be here soon.”
“I want to get clean first. I can even smell me and I stink. I have,” she released her hip and touched her head, “things inside my hair, maybe even some live stuff, and I can’t stand it. I could be all nice and clean before the doctor gets here if you would get out of my way. I bet she would appreciate it. Now move.”
“You are hurt and limping. I will go inside the stall with you if you insist on showering.” He reached for the waistband of his jeans.
“No!” She glared at him. “No way. Keep the pants on. Now, behave and stop ordering me around. I know you think I’m yours but let me tell you something. I don’t take orders well. I’m going to go shower alone and you are going to stay here. Now let me get past you.”
He growled again but he stepped out of her path to the bathroom. “I don’t take orders well either.”
“I won’t order you around if you don’t order me around. That’s fair.” She stopped at the bathroom door. “Could you pretty please see if you can get me some clothes?”
“I will make a call and see if they can bring them now.”
“Thank you.” Tammy walked into the bathroom, flipped on the light, and closed the door. It had a lock so she pushed it.
“Unlock that!” Valiant roared.
She clenched her teeth as she turned the knob, unlocking it, and yanked open the door. “Do you know how loud you are? It’s the middle of the night and I’m betting some people are probably trying to sleep. Could you please keep it down?”
“Don’t ever lock a door between us or I will break it down.”
Her eyebrows lifted as she stared into his golden, exotic eyes, reminding her that he wasn’t completely human. She’d probably tell him off if he were a regular guy and said that to her. She’d have fled as quickly as possible thinking he was a fruitcake. Valiant didn’t think the way most guys did though.
“You could get hurt if you fall and it would slow me from getting to you.”
She took a calming breath at hearing his words. He’d just saved her life, she knew he had risked his life for hers, and he hadn’t had to come after her in the first place. Maybe he feared she’d faint or something. She could deal with his orders if they stemmed from worry. She wasn’t so sure that was the real reason but she was willing to go with it.
/> “Fine. I won’t lock the door if you don’t come in.” She closed the door before he could say anything but she didn’t lock it again. She walked to a mirror and flinched.
“Oh man,” she sighed. “I look horrible. Look what the cat dragged in.”
She instantly winced as soon as the last words passed her lips, realizing the bad pun. She glanced at the door, bit her lip, and hoped he hadn’t heard what she said. Her gaze returned to the mirror when he didn’t make any angry sounds she could hear. Thank goodness. He missed that slip. There’s another saying I have to forget. Cross off saying screwed and now all cat references.
Her hair was mangled, with dirt and dried leaves sticking out of it. She had dirt on her face and since she’d cried, cleaner lines tracked down her cheeks from her tears. The only truly clean spot was the cut, purple area where she’d hit the truck’s side mirror. The paramedics had cleaned it. She turned her head and saw the scratch wasn’t bad but the purple area was definitely going to turn some ugly colors over the next few days.
She eased the really large sweater off her body and dropped it onto the counter to study the rest of her body, nearly crying again. She had bruises forming on her hips, on one side of her ribs and on her shoulders where one of those dickheads had shoved her down. She lifted her chin and uttered a nasty word. She could almost see a handprint under her chin in a forming bruise. Her gaze lowered to her tender breasts and she clenched her teeth when she noticed the swollen appearance of her nipples from them being nearly pinched off. Scratches marred her too from running and hitting things.
“Are you all right?” Valiant spoke right against the door.
“I’m just taking in the damage to my body and bitching to myself about it. I’m fine but mad.” She removed the bandages on her wrists so they wouldn’t get wet.
“Can I come in?”
“No. I’ll hurry.” She spun away from the mirror and attempted to untie the diaper-like thing Valiant had made for her with his undershirt. She tried next to tug it down her body but softly cursed. He’d tied knots with the ripped material and she couldn’t get them undone.
“Valiant? I do need some help.”
She cupped her hands over her breasts as the door suddenly opened before she could even finish speaking and he stepped inside the bathroom. His gaze locked immediately to her hands, filled with cleavage. Tammy bit her lip. Well, he might not resemble a regular man but he sure acts as if he’s one.
“I can’t get this thing you fashioned for me off. The ties are too tight.”
His gaze remained locked on to her cupped breasts. She turned, presented him with her back, but stared over her shoulder to watch him. He frowned immediately, obviously not pleased she hid that view from him.
“I need help with the diaper thing. I don’t need you staring holes into my boobs.”
He grunted as he walked up behind her. Wow, he’s big, she once again noted, sure she’d never get used to staring up at a six-foot-six man. His focus lowered to her covered ass and his fingertips brushed her skin right at her waist when he slipped his fingers between the material and it.
“I tried pushing it down but you tied it too tight and it won’t go down over my hipbones.”
She heard the material tear as he sliced through the knots he’d made. It hit the floor to pool at her feet. She twisted a little, looking at his fingers and at the ruined T-shirt on the floor. She released her breast with one hand and grabbed at his finger. She was careful to grab him by his knuckle and avoided the sharp tip. She lifted his hand up to stare in shock at his thick fingernails. They weren’t really long but they were slightly pointed and obviously sharp enough to cut cloth.
“You really should cut your nails down.”
He grunted again.
She released his hand looked up at him. “Thank you.”
His gaze drifted slowly down her body and he growled again. “I want you.”
She stepped away fast toward the shower stall. “Thank you, but get out. I am going to get clean and isn’t that doctor coming?”
She stepped over the tub rim and firmly closed the nearly clear shower doors between them. He made a purring noise when she bent over to turn on the water faucets. She adjusted the temperature, deciding to ignore him if he was determined to watch her through the door.
“I need clothes, Valiant. Please?”
“Fine,” he agreed loudly but he sounded irritated since his voice came out deeper than usual, something she noticed he did when he became angry or aroused.
He quit the bathroom and Tammy relaxed. It amazed her that he wanted her in the messed-up condition she was in. She turned on the shower spray and was surprised when she glanced at the fully stocked shower shelves. She turned to stare.
She’d stayed at enough hotels to expect samples. The New Species gave the real deal. She examined the two kinds of shampoo, two kinds of conditioner and they even stocked full-sized body-soap dispensers. There were two razors—one pink, one blue—shaving cream and a pumice stone with a handle on it. She smiled over it. They really go all out for their guests.
She showered quickly and unfortunately found a cut on the back of her head when the shampoo made it burn. She shaved her legs with the pink razor, stalling a little on time so she wasn’t alone with Valiant too long before the doctor arrived. She knew he wanted her and she wasn’t certain how to handle that.
She dried off and wrapped a towel around her head and another around her body. She stood there a second and sighed. She was clean and she couldn’t hide inside the bathroom forever. She opened the bathroom door and gripped the towel tightly as she stepped into the bedroom.
“Did someone find me any clothes yet?”
Tammy froze instantly upon seeing that Valiant wasn’t alone inside the room anymore. She stared at the large New Species male and the smaller female with long blonde hair. The woman was human and obviously pregnant. Three pairs of eyes met her surprised ones.
The blonde smiled, moving forward. “Hi. I’m Trisha―”
“A doctor,” the man standing next to her said quickly. “I’m her security officer. She’s a visiting human who’s applied to be a doctor here and she’s a friend of Justice North’s.”
The woman frowned while shooting him a dirty look before she turned her attention back to Tammy. “I heard you had a rough night. I’m sorry it took so long for me to get here but Slade had to wake me and I had to get dressed.”
“I woke her from two rooms away,” the tall man with really blue eyes growled. “I protect her while she’s visiting.”
The woman flashed him another frown. “This is Slade and he’s very protective of me.” The woman looked highly amused. “He’s my security guard.”
He tensed. “Security officer.”
The doctor laughed. “Whatever.”
Tammy glanced at the blue-eyed man. She stood in nothing but a towel and it wasn’t a big one. He got points for not staring at her though. She turned her full attention back to Trisha. “Thank you for agreeing to look at me so late or I should say so early in the morning, since that’s more accurate.”
“It’s my pleasure. The men will leave us alone while I take a look at your injuries.”
Valiant growled. “I don’t have to leave. I’ve seen her bare. Make Slade go. He can’t see her that way.”
Tammy shot a glare at Valiant. “Please leave. Don’t make me argue with you in front of the nice pregnant doctor and the guy protecting her. She got out of bed to come all the way over here to examine me and the last thing she needs is to listen to us go another round.”
Valiant growled at her again.
“Stop that,” she snapped. “Stop growling at me. I’ve had a long night, I’m tired, and I’m in pain. Can’t you just do one thing without making me argue with you? Please?”
He stormed out of the room. The New Species man laughed and a look of joy passed over his features. “This was so worth getting dressed to see.” He grinned a second before he spun on his heel
and left the room too. The door closed behind him.
“Thank you,” Tammy called out. “I appreciate it.” She looked at the doctor, knowing her cheeks blushed slightly with embarrassment. “I’m sorry about that.”
Trisha grinned. “Don’t be sorry at all. I would have paid to see someone stand up to Valiant.” She had a bag with her that she set on the edge of the bed. “Why don’t you tell me where you hurt and we’ll see what I can do? What happened to you specifically?”
Tammy walked closer to the bed, hesitated, and dropped the towel. “I guess looking is telling. Four men grabbed me, kind of beat me up a bit in the back of a truck, and dragged me through the woods. They tortured me too but Valiant and his friends came to my rescue.” She slowly turned a full circle to show all her injuries. “My shoulder hurts the worst and I’m limping. My hip took a few big bumps inside the back of the truck bed when two of those assholes were making a dog pile out of me. I was stuck on the bottom so their weight slammed me into the truck bed.” She stuck her wrists out. “This is from a belt they used to tie my hands behind my back.”
The woman wasn’t smiling anymore. She had Tammy stand while she sat on the bed and opened her bag. “Let me treat some of these scratches and bandage them.” The woman touched Tammy’s hip, feeling it. “Sorry if this hurts. I just want to make sure nothing is broken.”
“It’s not broken but it sure hurts.”
Tammy stood there while the doctor put some kind of cream on her cuts and bandaged the worst ones. The doctor gave her a few ice packs and told Tammy to shake them to make them cold. Trisha stood and asked Tammy to turn so she could rotate her shoulder. Tammy winced.
“That hurts the most.”
“You have some bad bruising. Does your throat hurt?”
“It’s uncomfortable but I don’t think any real damage was done. The soreness feels about the same as when I have a slight cold.”