Numbers (13 page)

“Dana.” He gripped her arms.

She froze. “Mourn?”

He tilted his head slightly so she could barely make out his
features. “I was going to knock but I could hear what was going on inside. I
knew it wasn’t a good time to make my presence known.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to meet your mother. I asked a few of the task
force team members to bring me here. I changed clothes so no one would
recognize what I am.”

She started pulling on him. “Let’s go.”

“I still want to meet her.”

“You said you heard us fighting. Trust me. Let’s just go
home.”

He let her lead him to the stairs. She spotted his security
detail immediately. Two men dressed in military-style black uniforms stood in
front of a big black SUV. They didn’t have any NSO patches to identify who they
were, but she knew. Mourn caught her hand and stayed at her side as they went
down the stairs.

Some of the motel guests quickly made their way to their
rooms, probably mistaking the two guards for cops. Dana planned to walk
directly to the SUV Mourn had come in and ask the two men to drive them back to
Homeland, but Mourn suddenly pulled her under the stairwell and against the
building.

“You’re upset.”

“My mom does that to me. She brought Dr. Hass with her. Can
you believe that? She is so manipulative.”

“I heard you tell her that you plan to move here. Does that
mea—”

“Dana!” Paul’s voice came from above.

“Down here,” she called out. “I’m fine. Mourn is with me.”

“Shit.” Paul came rushing down the stairs and spotted them.
He looked relieved. “Don’t take off without me. What are you doing here,
Mourn?” He twisted his head, spotting the two guards. “Oh. You had the task
force drive you. Good.”

“He wants to meet Mom.” Dana stepped closer to Mourn. She
was upset, but his being there helped. She leaned against him and he put an arm
around her.

“That’s not a good idea. Ask my wife.” Paul put on his
sunglasses. “We should go.”

Someone else came down the stairs and Dana lifted her head
off Mourn’s solid chest to look up. Her mother came into view. Dana clenched
her teeth. It seemed as if Mourn would get his wish after all.

“Don’t let her see your face,” Paul whispered. “Just be
cool.” He tore off his sunglasses and held them out to Mourn. “Put those on.
You work security at Homeland.”

Mourn ignored the glasses and turned farther, forcing Dana
to move with him. She gripped him tightly as her mother spotted them in the
shadows, her heels clicking on the pavement when she approached the stairwell.

“I’m not done talking to you, young lady. How dare you walk
away from me? I brought Dirk all this way because he’s a good man. He’s willing
to forgive this nonsense, and he offered to go to couples counseling with you.
We’re all aware that you are having trouble coping with Tommy’s death.” Her
mother stopped next to Paul and scowled at Mourn. “Get your hands off my
daughter.”

Dana sighed. “Mom, meet Mourn. This is my nonexistent
boyfriend, as you referred to him. As you can see, he’s very real. And tall.”

“Hello, Dana and Paul’s mother,” Mourn rasped.

“Her first name is Daisy,” Dana supplied.

“It’s nice to meet you, Daisy.” Mourn released Dana and held
out his hand.

Her mother ignored it. “You look like a homeless vagrant. I
see right through you, mister. My daughter has some money, and you’re looking
for a free meal ticket. Think again. She’s dating a doctor. Go find some other
sucker to upgrade your life.”

“Oh. My. God.” Dana wanted to strangle her mother. “Stop it.”
She grabbed Mourn’s extended hand and clung to it in case he had the same urge.

“Mom,” Paul hissed. “Don’t.”

“Stay out of this,” their mother snapped at him. “You’re
supposed to look out for your sister, but you let this security person get
close to her.”

Dana wished a hole would open up under her as she pressed
tighter against Mourn in case he wanted to kill their mother for insulting him.
She wouldn’t blame him.

“Knock it off,” she gritted out. “Right now. Don’t you dare
insult Mourn. You don’t know anything about him. You’re trying to be
controlling again and chase him off. It won’t work. I warned him about how you
can be.”

“Good. You’re my daughter. I only want what’s best for you,
and this security guard isn’t it.” She pointed at Mourn. “What the hell do you
think you could offer my daughter with your minimum-wage job? Nothing!”

“Mom!” Paul groaned. “Stop. Everyone who works for the NSO
makes really good money.”

Mourn forced Dana to release his hand and unwound his arm
from her waist. “You are very unpleasant.” His voice had deepened to almost a
snarl.

“Listen to you.” Their mother huffed. “You sound like a
meat-headed Neanderthal.”

“Enough,” Dana almost begged. “We’re leaving.”

“Not with him. I’ll scream for Dirk. He’ll get rid of this
riffraff.” Her mother stopped pointing and fisted both her hands at her sides.

Paul groaned. “The task force is coming over here.”

“Go away,” Mourn ordered them.

Dana watched the two guards spin around and return to the
SUV, taking up the same position as before.

“Don’t talk to me that way,” their mother huffed, unaware
that he hadn’t been speaking to her since her back was to the parking lot. “Do
you hear that, Dana? He’s disrespectful to your mother on top of it. He’s a
loser.”

“That’s it,” Mourn snarled. He gently pushed past Dana and
got closer to their mother. He stopped when Dana grabbed his waist, clinging to
it.

“Don’t. She’s not worth it, and she is my mother,” she
pleaded. “I get it. Believe me. I do. I want to hit her sometimes too.”

“Is this overgrown thug going to hit me? I dare you, young
man. I’ll have your ass thrown in jail where I’m sure you belong.”

Mourn snarled again and lifted his head just enough to
reveal some of his face to their mother. She gasped, jerking back. Paul caught
her before she tripped and held on to her to keep her from running away. Dana
winced, seeing her mother’s fear.

“I’m Species,” Mourn ground out. “I’m deeply in love with
your daughter. I won’t back down from being with her for you or anyone else,
female. I don’t care if you gave birth to Dana. She’s mine now.”

Their mother’s mouth opened and Paul suddenly clamped his
hand over her lower face, leaning in. “Don’t scream. He’s not going to hurt
you.”

Dana released Mourn and stepped to his side. “You can’t tell
anyone, Mom. It will put you in danger. Stop being rude to him.” What Mourn had
said registered and she turned her head. “You’re in love with me?”

“Yes.” His tone softened. “How could I not be? You make me
happy.”

“I’m in love with you too.”

Daisy yanked Paul’s hand off her mouth. “Stop it. Both of
you. This isn’t happening. I refuse to let it.”

“Shut up, Mom.” Dana smiled up at Mourn. “I was afraid it
was too soon to tell you how I felt.”

“It’s not.” Mourn reached up and removed her glasses. “We
were meant to find each other.”

“No, you weren’t.”

Dana tore her gaze from Mourn and glowered at her mother.
“Stop already. You’re ruining our moment.” She looked back up at Mourn and
smiled. “You make me happy too. I don’t want to go back to the life I had. I
want to stay with you.”

“We’ll be mates.” He leaned in.

Dana rose on tiptoe and braced her hands on his chest to
kiss him. Someone grabbed her arm though, and yanked her back. She cursed and
jerked away from her mother. “What is wrong with you?”

“You’re making a huge mistake,” her mother hissed. “There’s
a wealthy doctor up in my room. What can this New Species give you that Dirk
can’t?”

Mourn snarled. “How about this?” He gripped his hoodie and
ripped it open, exposing his chest and abs. “He doesn’t sexually attract her. I
do. I love Dana. I would do anything for her. She’s the reason I want to live.”

Dana chuckled, openly admiring the skin he’d exposed. “You
are so sexy,” she told him. Then she shifted her gaze. Her mother’s eyes were
wide, her mouth hanging open. “Any more questions, Mom?”

Her mom kept staring at Mourn’s exposed chest. It amused
Dana when she realized he’d rendered the older woman speechless.

“He has that same effect on me.” Dana reached out and slid
her hand over his stomach. “And he purrs. Meet your future son-in-law. We’re
getting mated.”

Her mother finally snapped out of it, gawking at Dana. She
still didn’t speak.

“Priceless.” Dana removed her hand from Mourn and held it
out to him. “Take me home, Mourn. Paul, do you mind staying with Mom until she
recovers?”

“Not a problem. I’ll explain things to her once I get her
doctor out of the room so we have privacy.” Her brother cleared his throat. “I
could have lived without knowing about the purring.” He addressed Mourn.
“Welcome to the family. It’s a crazy one, but it’s all yours now too.”

Mourn released his hoodie and grasped Dana’s hand. “Dana is
worth it.” He lifted his upper lip and revealed his fangs to their mother.
“We’ll learn to get along.”

He didn’t look pleased about it, but Dana was just relieved
that he wasn’t rushing away from her after getting a dose of his future
mother-in-law. She tugged on him and he followed her back to his security
detail. One of them opened the back door of the SUV for them while the other
one climbed into the front driver’s seat.

Mourn let Dana get in first, and then followed. He pulled
her onto his lap as the driver started the engine, and the second guard belted
into the front passenger seat. Dana wrapped her arms around Mourn and shoved
the hood down to see his face better. The windows were tinted so she felt it
was safe to do it in public. He looked angry.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing for other humans.”

“I warned you that she’d be rude and unreasonable.”

“You did, but she birthed you. We’ll have to find a way to
get along.”

“Or we could tell the guards at the front gates to ban her
from ever visiting us.”

He finally smiled, and the anger melted from his features.
“She is your mother.”

“She’s a pain in the ass.”

He laughed. “I meant everything I said to you. I love you,
Dana. I want you to be my mate.”

“I’d like that so much.”

“You aren’t afraid to mate me anymore?”

She shook her head. “No. I just want to go home with you.”

“You’ll move in with me?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t ever let you go.” He held her tighter. “You’re
mine.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.”

She leaned in and brushed her lips over his. He growled
softly and kissed her back. One of the men in the front seat cleared his
throat. Dana had forgotten about them, or that they were even in a moving
vehicle. She reluctantly pulled away.

“Sorry,” the guard in the passenger seat murmured. “We’re
not that far from Homeland, and she’s still technically a guest until you sign
papers so she’ll need to be patted down. Two canines are manning the gates
we’re going through. You might want to hold off on celebrating that she agreed
to mate you until you get her home, Mourn.”

He growled.

“What does that mean?” Dana arched her eyebrows, curious.

“They’ll smell arousal on you, and possibly tease us. I
don’t want to subject you to that.”

“Oh.”

Mourn shrugged. “It would be goodhearted teasing but you
blush easily. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable because they’ll know I was
touching you.”

“Thank you.”

Mourn pulled Dana against his chest and smiled. She would
sign papers. He was grateful he’d insisted on leaving Homeland to meet her
mother. The experience hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped, but the end result
was all that mattered. It had been worth arguing with Slade, and getting him to
assign two task force members to escort him to the motel.

He’d had to tell the male how much Dana meant to him, and
how he wanted her to be his mate. It was important that he impress her mother
so he’d have one less barrier to overcome before securing her agreement. To
meet a human’s family was important, and Slade had understood. He’d warned
Mourn not to start any fights and he’d had to give his word.

Regret surfaced as he reevaluated his actions. He probably
shouldn’t have bared his chest to her mother, but Darkness was the one who’d
given him the idea. He’d said human females were impressed by muscles. He’d
been desperate to show Daisy why he’d be a better mate for Dana than some
doctor with a lot of money.

“Forget everything my mother said,” Dana whispered, resting
her head on his shoulder.

“She doesn’t like me.”

“I don’t care. She’ll come around, or it’s her loss if she
doesn’t, Mourn. You’re a wonderful person.”

“Perhaps I can train to be a doctor.”

She lifted her head to hold his gaze. “That’s not what you
want to be, is it?”

“No, but I would become one if that will help your mother to
accept us being mates.”

“You are so sweet, but stop thinking that way. Do you know
what I want?”

“Tell me.”

“Don’t let my mom get to you. I fell in love with you just
the way you are. I don’t plan to live the way she wants me to. You shouldn’t
either. We’ll both be happier that way. We’re building a future together. She
can deal with it, or not be a part of it. Period.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“Good.”

“We’ll be home soon. I remember everything we’re supposed to
do.”

She grinned. “You held that thought, huh?”

“As if I’d forget.” He reached up and stroked her cheek. “I
swear I’ll be a good mate.”

“I swear that I will be too.”

“We’re motivated to be happy together.”

She nodded. “Yes. We are.”

It wasn’t just two guards posted at the side gate when they
entered. A third canine New Species met their SUV as they cleared the first
gate. He wore jeans and a T-shirt instead of a uniform. Mourn got out, and Dana
scooted across the seat. He helped her down.

“Hello, I’m Slade.” He smiled at Dana, but then focused on
Mourn. “I take it there were no problems?”

“I didn’t break my word.”

“It went really well,” the driver of the SUV stated. “We had
no trouble. No one realized who we were, and we were on the lookout for camera
phones. It was very uneventful.”

“Good. I appreciate you taking Mourn outside. You’re
relieved.” Slade nodded to each man.

“Not a problem, sir.”

Both task force members walked away toward a building, just
leaving the SUV there. Dana studied Slade, wondering who he was. He seemed to
sense her watching him.

“How did your mother take meeting Mourn and learning that
you are with a New Species?”

She grimaced. “My mom is kind of difficult. It could have
gone a lot better, but that’s all on her.”

“It’s not because I’m Species,” Mourn added. “She wanted
Dana to mate with a wealthy doctor.”

Slade put his hands on his hips. “Where is Paul?”

“He’s with our mom, explaining how she can’t tell anyone I’m
with Mourn, and he’s also probably trying to calm her down. She likes getting
things her way.”

Slade’s mouth twisted into a grim line. “Do you believe that
she’ll go to the press to complain about you being here in hopes of putting
pressure on us to force you to leave? We wouldn’t do that, but I’d like to warn
our public relations team if it’s possible.”

“No. She’s aware that she’d have to move out of her home and
go into hiding if anyone ever links our family to New Species. She won’t want
to leave her friends and start her life over. She complained to me often about
how Paul could mess up her life when he took a job here. She’s angry, but she
will seethe without involving the press. My poor brother is getting an earful
of it right now since he’s the only one she can bitch at.”

Slade nodded and looked behind Dana. He shook his head. “She
doesn’t need to be patted down. She’s Paul’s sister and she’s with Mourn.”

Dana glanced back, realizing one of the gate guards had
waited patiently behind her to do just that. He nodded and returned to his
post. She looked back at Slade. He glanced between the two of them.

“Dana has agreed to be my mate. We need papers,” Mourn
informed him.

Slade’s mouth curved upward. “Congratulations.”

They shook hands, and Slade pulled him into a quick hug. He
turned to Dana and just smiled. “It’s nice to have you added to our New Species
family.”

“Thank you.” She was relieved.

Slade gazed at Mourn. “I’ll let legal know to draw up the
papers. Do you want them tonight or is the morning soon enough? The ones who do
them have gone home already, but I can place a call.”

“Tomorrow is fine.” Dana didn’t want to put anyone out.

“I will prove I’m stable now.” Mourn hesitated. “Do you
think anyone will protest me taking a mate?”

“No.” Slade shook his head. “We’re happy for you both. Take
my Jeep and drive your mate home. I need to stay in this area for a while.
We’re expecting trouble.”

“May I help?”

“No thank you, Mourn. It’s more of an irritation than a
serious problem. A few aggressive protestors pitched eggs at some of our males
who were patrolling the wall so we turned on the water cannons.” Slade smiled
at Dana. “It doesn’t harm them but it stings severely and we use very cold
water. It tends to make them run away, but they always return to antagonize us
after dark. Last time they splashed paint on a few of the gates. I volunteered
to stay at this one for a while, to man the water cannons.” He chuckled. “I
admit that it amuses me to soak them before they can cause damage.”

She laughed. “I can totally understand that.”

“I’m just doing my duty by chilling them out.” Slade
grinned. “Last week I nailed one right after he opened the can, planning on
walking to the gates to splash them. He fell on his ass as soon as the water
hit him and dumped red paint onto his lap. I made a copy of the surveillance
feed to share at a meeting. We all got a good laugh over it.”

Dana snickered. “You should start a website and show those
morons over the internet. It would probably be pretty popular. I know I would
enjoy seeing that.”

“I’ll bring that up at the next meeting.” Slade winked. “Have
a good evening, and again, congratulations.”

Mourn led Dana to a Jeep, and someone opened the second set
of gates for them to drive through. Dana relaxed and enjoyed the warm evening
air blowing on her as they made their way home. The guard at the gated entrance
to the New Species cottages opened it and waved them through as soon as he
spotted them.

Mourn parked, and Dana followed him to the front door. He
just twisted the knob and opened it. It amazed her that they didn’t seem to
lock anything. The lights were still on, and their dishes from dinner remained
on the counter as if he’d rushed out right after she’d left with Paul. He
probably had since he’d reached the motel so soon after her.

“I’ll clean this up.” Mourn crossed the room.

“Leave it. We’ll deal with that tomorrow morning.”

He turned, one eyebrow raised.

She gripped the bottom of her shirt, pulled it over her head
and tossed it on the floor. “We have more fun things to do.”

He growled in response, desire showing in his eyes. “I love
the way you think.”

“I’ve been turned-on since you tore open your shirt and
stood up to my mother. That was so hot.”

He took a few long steps to reach her and hooked an arm
around her waist, hoisting her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and
bent her legs, parted them, and hugged his hips. He hurried through the house
to the master bedroom and used his elbow to flip on the light. He didn’t let
her down until they reached the bed.

“You make me hurt to be inside you.”

She smiled as she leaned back on the bed and reached down to
rip off her shoes and throw them across the room. She didn’t hesitate to remove
all her clothes that time, more comfortable with being naked with him now. The
way Mourn looked at her made her feel sexy and wanted.

“I will treasure you.” His voice turned husky and a bit
gruff.

He stripped and her heart raced when he showed her just how
much she affected him. The beauty of Mourn’s body took her breath away—all that
tan skin and sculpted muscles. She scooted farther onto the bed and lay back
again, opening her arms.

“Come here.”

Mourn didn’t waste any time. He stretched out at her side
and braced his upper body above her so she could stroke his hair and stare into
his eyes. He had the longest eyelashes, and they beautifully enhanced the stunning
colors of his irises. His body, pressed against hers, felt so warm and solid.

“Thank you,” she told him.

“For what?”

She smiled. “For being so insistent that we should be more
than friends. I used to wonder how I’d get through every day and face another
one. Now I’m so excited about what is going to happen next. That’s all you.”

“I feel the same way, Dana. You give me more than purpose.
This is the first time since I gained freedom that I can embrace it with
gladness. You are that reason.”

She trailed her fingertips down his cheek, to his mouth,
lightly brushing her thumb over his bottom lip. “How did I get so lucky?”

“Someone told me about karma. We were due for good things to
happen to us after all we’ve suffered.”

She laughed. “That is so true.”

He glanced down at her breasts and growled. “I want to do
lots of good things to you.”

She released his hair and splayed her hands on his chest. “I
could think of a few dozen good things I’d like to do to you too. Roll onto
your back.”

He arched his eyebrows but did it. He appeared to be a
little baffled by her request. She sat up and bit her lower lip, openly
appreciative of his body. “What’s that look for?”

“I want to share sex with you.”

“And?”

“We can’t if you have me lying down flat. I’m too excited to
just stay still so you can look at me.”

“I don’t plan on just looking at you.”

She opened her palm on his stomach, slowly caressing him and
trailing her fingers lower. His cock stiffened even more when she wrapped her
fingers around it, playing with the shaft. She leaned in and opened her mouth
over the crown, licking him.

Mourn snarled, and Dana turned her head. He seemed shocked.

“You’re going to taste me?”

“That was the plan. Is that okay?”

He suddenly lunged, sitting up and grabbing her. He rolled,
pinning her under him. “Later. I want you too much.”

Dana couldn’t complain when Mourn scooted down her body,
trailing hot, wet kisses along her throat. She spread her thighs to give him
room to fit his hips there. She wrapped them around his waist to hold him in
place when he reached her breasts, lightly sucking on each one.

“I want you now.”

He reached down and slid his hand between them, cupping her
pussy. He growled. She knew she was wet and ready. He shifted his weight a
little and Dana moaned when he replaced his hand with his cock. He entered her
fast and hard.

“Yes!”

He rose and brushed his mouth over hers, their gazes
locking. His hands wrapped around her shoulders as he moved, thrusting in and
out of her. Dana loved staring into his eyes. It made making love to him even
more intimate than their bodies moving together and the pleasure of having him
inside her.

“You are so beautiful,” he rasped.

“So are you.”

He ground against her, rubbing her clit as he increased the
pace. Dana moaned, arching her pelvis to move with him. Ecstasy surged and she
threw her head back, crying out his name.

Mourn growled, burying his face against her neck as he came.
Dana felt the warmth of his release spread deep inside her. She clung to him as
they both tried to catch their breaths, their bodies tangled together.

“I love you, Dana.”

“I love you too.”

Mourn lowered his head, his tongue and lips teasing her
throat with light kisses. Her skin was so soft that he groaned. He knew he
would never tire of touching her, and showing her they belonged together. He
inhaled her scent, understanding how males believed they became addicted to
their mates. She smelled better than a summer day to him. Even better than
food, and everything else pleasant he’d ever experienced.

He’d hoped for death after losing 139, but now all he wanted
to do was spend every day and night with Dana. He had more than purpose. He was
happy and enjoying freedom for the first time. Dana had changed everything for
him, and he’d show her how much she meant to him every day. He’d treasure her.

They could try to have children one day if Dana wanted to.
Just the thought of having a son with Dana, possibly a few of them, had him
smiling. Mercile couldn’t steal his and Dana’s offspring. His family with her
would be safe behind NSO walls. He purred, content.

Dana giggled. “That tickles.”

“Sorry.” He raised his head and smiled. “I do that when I’m
happy.”

“So am I, and I like it when you purr. I wasn’t
complaining.”

He stroked her hair, playing with the strands. “I like
everything about you.”

“I wouldn’t say everything. You met my mother. She usually
scares men off.”

“She is just one female. The NSO has many humans who dislike
us. I’m proud to be Species, and your mate. I believe your mother will learn to
like me once she sees how much you mean to me.”

“I don’t need her approval, and neither do you. You once
told me that human rules don’t apply to New Species. You do things your own
way. I want to be more like you, Mourn. I don’t want to overanalyze everything.
I am following my heart.”

“You
are
Species. You’re my mate.”

She smiled. “You’re my mate,” she repeated. “I like the way
that sounds.”

“We can have a human marriage.”

She hesitated, seeming to ponder it. “You know what? We
don’t need that. You said it yourself. I’m Species. I did the marriage thing
with Tommy, but I want something new and better with you.”

He understood. “I never signed mate papers with 139. We will
do that together for the first time.”

“Really? Why didn’t you do that?”

“It’s a legal way to prove to your world that we are bonded
for life. 139 wasn’t human. You are.”

“I understand. I like that.”

“Do you want a ring? I know the males bought their human
mates one.”

She shook her head. “Do you know what I would like instead?”

“Tell me. I will get it for you.”

She grinned. “It could be something crazy or silly.”

“It won’t matter. I will find a way to get you anything you
want or need.”

“I’ve been thinking about babies.”

“So have I.” His heart rate accelerated.

“I’d like to throw out those condoms. No pressure, but it
will be nice if it does happen, won’t it?”

“Yes.”

He loved her. She was offering him everything he had never
dared dream of.

“Are you sure, Mourn?”

“I want everything with you.”

“There are some things I’ve always wanted to do, but
haven’t. I’m sure you have some fantasies too. We could write out lists and
compare them.”

“Is sharing sex involved?”

She blushed, but nodded. “I’d like to take a bath with you.
I’ve never had sex in water.”

“We can do that. Didn’t you bathe with Tommy?”

“No. I told you that he had germ phobias. He’d shower with
me, but he hated bathtubs and pools. He said it was like dipping in a vat of
viruses. Have you ever had sex that way?”