Page 6 of Betrayed Pregnant Mate

“Performance issues?”

“No.”

“A deformity?”

“Veronica,” he’d said, that goofy, lopsided smile floating over his face. “You have seen my penis. You know that’s not true.”

“Well, I just—”

He took a deep breath and put his hands on my shoulders.

“I can’t explain it to you,” he’d said, “but I just—I can’t. Do that. Literally anything else you want to do, I am up for. But if it…” he’d quieted, his face flushing. “If it involves me putting my penis inside of you, I can’t.”

I was flushing, too, and starting to think we should have had this conversation somewhere a little more private. People were streaming by us on either side of the sidewalk, and nobody was paying any attention to what we were saying, but still. It felt like our entire relationship was on view for everyone to gawk at.

“Never?”

“Never,” he’d said, letting out a breath, his eyes searching mine. “Is that a deal breaker for you?”

I stood there, the warm sun pouring down on me, wondering if it was a deal-breaker for me. I had never met—or heard of—a man who didn’t want to do that. I couldn’t deny that there was a part of me that wanted it. Mostly once we were already in bed, and the possibility was so close, so possible, I thought that he might just decide on a whim to do it, that he might have that urge.

It sure seemed like it. Like Percy was holding himself back, especially when he had his hips slotted between mine. He’d have to grit his teeth and look up to the ceiling, like it was painful for him to resist.

But if he never would, would I be okay with it? He was the sweetest, most kind person I had ever met in my life. Funny, rich, emotionally-centered, reliable, sweet.

The only thing I was halfway unsure about was his job, which he alluded was something with the military, but apparently wasn’t allowed to speak about much.

“Well, with the effects of the wolfsbane serum—” someone says, bringing me back to the present, and I realize with a start that I’m not back there in New York with Percy. I’m here, now, with the Cadells, and realizing that Linnea must have put something in my drink. It’s the only thing that could possibly explain what has happened tonight. Linnea put something in my drink, and this is some sort of weird cult that pretends that werewolves and vampires exist.

I get to my feet shakily, trying to figure out how to get out when the voices in the hall get a little louder.

“…worst of the paranormals. Blood-sucking assholes. I had an uncle who would kill any vamp on sight.”

“If you rely on someone else’s blood to be powerful, then you’re not really that powerful at all, are you?”

They keep talking about vampires and Percy and what might happen to him, and I run my hands along the wall, making my way out of the back of the room and toward the back porch, which I’m sure I remember seeing.

The voices on the other side of the hallway get quieter and quieter as I make my way down the hallway, and when I step into the cool air, some of the pain of my migraine recedes, and I feel like I can breathe again.

When I get to the parking lot, I find a vehicle with the keys still in the ignition, apparently left in their haste to dive out and run up to the house. I climb inside, adjusting the mirrors and shifting it into neutral, letting it roll partially down the hill before starting it, with the hopes that they won’t see the headlights and get alerted that I’m trying to leave.

In town, I run into the underground compound, heart racing. I know that the Cadells could so easily revoke my access to this place, or lock me inside, but I have to get my things. I run through the hallways, and when I get to my room, I let out a sigh of relief that I’ve managed to make it this far.

After packing my bag faster than ever, I sling it onto my back and race back to my stolen truck, hopping inside and gunning it out of town. I just need to get some space between myself and these people, and I silently curse myself for ever getting this close to them in the first place.

I should have known something was wrong with them when I saw the way they defended Percy, even going so far as to influence the local police department and all the victims not to press charges. And somehow, just like everyone else, I fell for it.

The truck winds through the roads leading out of Rosecreek, and about an hour later, I pull over into another small town, finding a little motel and hopping out of the truck. In my backpack, I have cash, so I pay for a single night and find my room.

Once the door is locked behind me, I sit on the bed and try to figure out what I’m doing next. Is it still safe for me to go to California? Would Linnea help them figure out where I’d escaped to with the information I told her?

I worry my bottom lip and glance at the duvet, trying to decide if it’s worth the risk of sleeping on the top of the blanket. I could get lice, but I’m also so, so tired.

And thirsty, I realize. Before relaxing back on the bed, I force myself to stand, grabbing a few one dollar bills and heading down the dark balcony to the vending machine I’m sure I saw at the side of the building.

I’m standing outside the machine, trying to get it to take my dollar, when I hear a noise behind me. The slightest swish of clothing indicates there’s someone here with me. I turn around, clutching the dollar to my chest, heart racing.

When there’s nothing there, I start to head back down the way I came, head down, just wanting to get to my room. That’s when an icy hand clasps around my wrist, tugging me backward. I rip away from it, catapulting into a broad chest.

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