Brawn Read online

  “This is my fault.”

  “We’ve been over this.”

  “I should have made her leave her house or gone home after my date. I should have made sure she was sleeping in her old bedroom. I—”

  Tiger gripped his shoulder. “You would have died too if you’d been home. They were well trained to take one of our males. I don’t mean to offend you but we’re stronger and faster. If Brawn didn’t stand a chance, you wouldn’t have either.”

  Tim’s voice choked with emotion. “I just want to get my daughter back alive.”

  * * * * *

  Brawn jerked awake when he heard a noise. His hold instantly tightened around Becca, who was curled in his arms. She breathed slowly, sleeping soundly. Her hand rested around his arm and he studied her face as he sniffed the air. No stench of his enemy offended his nose. They were currently safe from harm.

  She was beautiful. He’d never thought he’d find a human so appealing but she was. She was so different from his kind. Her nose wasn’t flattened, just a cute bump on her face. The bones in her face were softer, not dominant. She felt small and fragile in his arms and he could break her easily if he wasn’t careful.

  His body responded instantly when she shifted a little and her thigh rubbed against him. They weren’t even naked but just being close was enough to make his dick harden and lengthen between their bodies. He wanted to mount her again. Sharing sex with her was different and wonderful. She was so soft and tight. So wet, hot and fragile. He bit back a groan.

  The memory of the sounds Becca made while he’d mounted her made his desire to take her again grow stronger. He physically ached to be back inside her but she’d been sore afterward and probably still was. He should have been gentler but she’d taken him so well that he couldn’t stop the need to feel every inch of his dick buried in the soft, tight heat of her sex, which encased him perfectly.

  His shoulders burned a little where her nails had dug into his skin during their passionate encounter. He glanced down at the bite she’d left on his chest and mourned that it wouldn’t scar. She had delicate, flat teeth but they’d felt good when she’d sunk them in enough to cause slight pain. No female had ever marked him and he was glad she had. He only regretted the reminder wouldn’t be permanent.

  He suddenly understood how Justice and the other Species males could take a human mate. They were not as strong as Species females but their softness and kittenish responses gripped a man inside his chest. His gaze returned to study her face. He was unable to stop staring. He doubted he’d ever be able to look at her enough.

  He lifted his hand to stroke her soft auburn hair and some of it curled around his finger. It was too short, only just past her shoulders and he wanted to see her grow it long, to her ass. He fantasized about winding his fingers through the long strands that could spread across his stomach when her head rested on his chest while she slept. His fingers brushed her cheek.

  She’s so soft all over. Her body was not muscular the way their women were. Everything about her was unfamiliar and yet he wanted to hold her forever. Protect her. Keep her. His hand stopped tracing her skin and he closed his eyes.

  He was Species and had no business thinking about a human female, wishing he could be with her long enough for her hair to grow to her waist. There would be no future with Becca because they were in hell, captured and confined by the monsters who’d tormented him for most of his life. Their ugliness had even touched the one beautiful, perfect thing in his life and he held her a little tighter.

  He knew he should expect that they would be rescued but his hope had died. He’d never tell Becca, crush her spirit that way, but too much time had passed. Even if a miracle occurred twice in his lifetime and someone came to set him free from a cage, Becca would probably be lost to him forever. The memories they made would be overshadowed by the horror. She’d never be able to look at him without reliving their nightmare.

  Another soft noise drew his attention, his eyes opened and he turned his head. The Species male in the other cage was off his cot and stood watching him silently. Brawn carefully extricated his body from Becca’s. He used the blanket to keep her warm, tucked her in and moved to the corner nearest the other cage.

  “Are you well? I am Brawn.”

  The male tilted his head, peered at him with confusion and he understood. “When I was freed from Mercile I chose the name.” He refused to say his old number, had sworn to never utter or hear it again and feared the male might try to address him as such. “Can you speak? You are 919, correct?”

  “Yes,” the male rasped. His gaze lowered to stare at Becca, a soft snarl came from his throat and rage twisted his features.

  Brawn moved, blocked his view of the cot and gripped the bars. “Easy. She is not the enemy.”

  “They all are.”

  “Not all. Some humans are good. They freed me and many others from the testing facilities.” He kept his voice low. The males who worked for the female doctor believed it was safe to talk softly so he figured it probably was. “How long have you been here? Do you know?”

  The male shrugged his shoulders. “A while.”

  Brawn understood. It was easy to lose track of time with no light to show the days pass. His gaze drifted to the other cage and the sleeping male who hadn’t woken since they’d been there.

  “Who is he?”

  919 glanced at the form. “358 is in bad shape. He breathes but he is weakened. They tested him for days straight with too many drugs too close together and in the insanity he harmed his body much by smashing into the walls.” He stared at Brawn. “He will be physically fine but when the drugs wear off I fear his mind will not fare well.”

  “What about the other I smell?”

  “880.” Rage tensed the male’s body. “He wasn’t known to me and there was a female with him.”

  Alarm gripped Brawn. “Human?”

  “One of us.” The male revealed his fangs as he snarled, showing off his canine traits. “They murdered her in front of him as punishment. They were here before we were brought. I never spoke to her and they kept them back there.” He pointed to the concrete wall blocking their view of the back of the room. “I could hear them softly talking and he cared for her. I think she was ill. When the humans killed her, he went insane.”

  Brawn mourned the loss. He wondered if these were some of the missing Species from the Colorado testing facility who were unaccounted for. A female had been on the list. Their numbers were not known to him but he’d read the reports.

  “He doesn’t speak?”

  “Not to me but they killed her right after we arrived,” 919 growled. “He howled for days, tore up the cage and the stench of blood was strong. They had to drug him and tend to his severe injuries. I saw him pass out a few times. They have to go by when they drug and move him. I believe he tried to end his life by using the bars.” The man touched them. “His mind is gone. It happens.”

  Brawn knew that well. “Were there any others?”

  The male shook his head. “Not until you and her.”

  “Have you ever heard the word Colorado?”

  “No.”

  The double doors opened and two humans stepped into the room. 919 snarled, backed away from the bars and began to pace. Brawn inched closer to Becca, watching the enemy with dread.

  They approached the other cage and 919 snarled louder, backed up as far as he could get and the humans laughed as they pulled their weapons.

  “What’s wrong?” The blond human snickered. “You have a problem getting sucked off by a machine? I wish my dick got as much action as yours does.”

  The other one aimed the Taser. “They are fucking animals. What do you expect? He’s too stupid to appreciate his dick getting so much action. It’s not like any of us are allowed to leave here to hunt up some pussy. I’d take a toy any day compared to my hand.”

  They targeted the male, he howled when the electric volts shot through his body and he fell to the floor. Brawn snarled, h