Smiley Read online

  Smiley turned. “It’s down the hallway. This really is the honeymoon suite. There are two of them in the hotel. Most of the suites have two bedrooms. I requested this one specifically because it faces the back of the hotel and has a balcony.” He strode down a short hallway and passed through open double doors. He paused there.

  “Wow.” Vanni stared at the huge bed but the Jacuzzi bathtub and second fireplace quickly distracted her. It was a massive tub, big enough to fit four people at least.

  “That’s for later. You fell asleep last night so we are going to find out if we enjoy sex in water.”

  “Sorry. You might have mega stamina but I guess I was tired. I told you that you could have woken me up.”

  He chuckled. “You were too damn cute sleeping in my arms. Let’s eat.” He spun and headed back to the living room. “We missed breakfast and I want you to relax a little before we go to Security.”

  She wasn’t sure if she could eat. Her nerves were on edge. “I’m not sure about seeing Carl, his dad and Bruce.”

  “You don’t have to go.” He set her on her feet next to the table and pulled back a chair. “No one would blame you. I would actually prefer that you didn’t.”

  She sat, grateful for his manners as he pushed her chair in and took a seat across from her. “I need to.”

  He lifted both lids and just put them on the floor. There was a full spread of scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. The tantalizing smell revived her appetite. She unwrapped the silverware and carefully placed the napkin on her lap.

  “There’s a cafeteria on the first floor. They serve good food. I hope this is okay. I could order something else. They always have a buffet open but I thought it would be best to eat in private.”

  “This is fantastic. Thank you. You think of everything.”

  “Good.”

  “Speaking of which—any word on how we’re going to get Beth here today?”

  “They are going to send a team to pick her up at the address you gave us, after confirming a time with her. The task force will drive her to Homeland and fly her to us. How did she take the news?”

  Vanni grinned, remembering the crack-of-dawn phone call she’d placed right after Smiley had left. “She was surprised but took it pretty well.”

  “She isn’t upset that you are mating a Species and will live at the NSO?”

  Vanni wasn’t sure if Smiley would appreciate Beth’s sense of humor but risked it. “She said, and I quote, ‘thank god it’s not Carl’.”

  His eyebrows rose.

  “That’s Beth-speak for she’s okay with it.”

  “Beth-speak?”

  “She is someone you have to get used to. We’re opposites. She’s very outgoing and kind of has a twisted sense of humor. She sounded excited though, and promised to jump through whatever hoops it took to get here. I told her to expect a call from Homeland. I also swore her to secrecy. Thankfully, Elvis wasn’t there. I was surprised since I woke her up but she didn’t go into details. She seemed irritated with him. I think she was kind of relieved to be coming here instead of staying there any longer.”

  “Isn’t the male her boyfriend?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Smiley arched an eyebrow.

  Vanni struggled for a way to explain it. “She really likes spending time with him but she’s not in love. I know they were sleeping together last year and I thought it was getting serious but then she called it quits. She said he wanted more than she was willing to give. Now they go out every once in a while but she doesn’t want to hurt him by leading him on.”

  “To what?”

  Vanni grinned. “To thinking she’s serious about building a future with him when she isn’t.”

  “Oh.” He ate some of his food. “She just wants to share sex with him without bonding.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m glad you’re not like her. I’d never be able to give you up.”

  “I’m glad too.”

  They smiled at each other before finishing breakfast. Smiley rose to his feet. “I’m going to make a few calls to make certain everything is arranged at Security and that they are ready for us to visit.” He held her gaze. “You know you don’t have to go with me.”

  She placed her napkin on the table and stood. “I’ll regret it if I don’t. I’ll feel like a coward. I need closure.”

  “I just don’t want you upset.” He glanced down at her stomach, then up.

  “In case I’m pregnant?”

  “It crossed my mind. I won’t deny that. I want to protect you either way.”

  “It’s not like I’m going to get into a physical altercation with anyone.”

  Smiley made that deep rumbling sound and his hands fisted at his sides. She inched closer to him.

  “You’re so hot in a sexy way when you get angry.”

  He relaxed. “I am?”

  “I think it’s so romantic that you want to kick someone’s ass over me.”

  He reached up and brushed her hair away from her cheek, caressing the side of her face with his thumb. “I’d do anything for you.”

  Her belly quivered and her nipples tightened. “Now you’re just turning me on.”

  He turned his head and looked at the clock on the wall. “They are expecting me to call.” He appeared undecided. “We could stay here rather than go.”

  “You have your heart set on kicking a little ass.”

  “You’re more important.”

  “I know, but this is too. We both have some questions that need to be answered.”

  “Exactly.” He reached down and took her hand. “And I want to punch them.” He smiled. “A lot.”

  She laughed. “Make your calls. I’m going to use the bathroom. We’ll leave in a few minutes.”

  “Hurry.” He released her.

  Vanni used the bathroom and washed her hands. She stared at her reflection in the mirror over the sink while taking a few deep breathes. She wasn’t sure how she’d hold up to facing Carl, his father or that horrible Bruce. Part of her was tempted just to stay at the hotel but she stiffened her spine. The other part of her knew she needed to be there with Smiley. The Woods Church and her ex-fiancé had thrown them together. She wanted the satisfaction of telling them how that had worked out.

  Some of the queasy feeling passed. She reached down and touched her stomach. A little excitement rose at the prospect of being pregnant. The idea was growing on her. It was a long shot but there was always next month or the one after. She had stopped taking her pills since she’d been kidnapped. She hadn’t even remembered that until Smiley had told her she might be pregnant. A little guilt surfaced. She should have told him about it when she realized.

  “Tell him later. After this ordeal,” she muttered and exited the bathroom.

  * * * * *

  Smiley positioned Vanni in a chair facing the glass wall. The occupants about to be led into the next room wouldn’t be able to see her. He’d made her aware of that fact so she felt totally at ease. He crouched down, studying her eyes.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes.”

  She was brave. He knew the next moments weren’t going to be easy on her. His gaze drifted to Jericho. The male nodded grimly. He’d promised to stay with Vanni and tend to her if she became emotionally distressed. Smiley trusted the male with his mate. He looked at Vanni and leaned in closer, taking her hand.

  “You can leave at any time. Jericho will be here with you. You just tell him whatever you want or need and he’ll make sure it happens.”

  She held his gaze and tried to smile. “I know. You told me. I’m good. Stop worrying about me.”

  “I might hit them.” He wanted her prepared. “I know you are tenderhearted about violence.”

  “Not as much as you think. I’ve grown as a person since this has happened.”

  He wasn’t sure what that meant. She seemed to understand his confusion.

  “I bashed Bruce over the head w