“We know the details. It will be small, held in the lobby, and a human will be flown from Homeland to say whatever he needs to.” Lash reached the door of their suite and adjusted her in his arms, trying to grab the handle. “Your parents are fine with that and are excited to witness this wedding. Your mother even said I could wear my loincloth.”
“Of course she did. I’ve caught her checking you out when she visits us.”
He got the door open and stepped into the hallway, pausing to look down at her with a scowl.
“You’re total eye candy. My mom has noticed.”
“I only notice you.”
“Where are you going? The workers are in the basement still. The last team is finishing installing the door,” Flirt announced, reminding them that he was guarding their suite.
“I’m taking my mate to Medical.”
Flirt glanced at her, his eyes widening. “She’s little. I’m sure it was an accident.” He sniffed. “Are you okay? I could have one of the doctors come here.”
“Okay,” she said.
Lash growled. “No. She’s going to where they keep the machines. And I didn’t hurt my mate. I would never.”
Flirt threw up his hands and backed off. “I didn’t mean to imply you would. It’s just that you’re carrying her.”
“My mate is stubborn.” Lash walked past Flirt. “She refuses to go. I’m taking her.”
“My mate is a pushy ass who’s making me go get a physical even though I don’t need one.”
Flirt chuckled at her response, following a distance behind them. When they reached the elevator, he scooted past them in the wide hallway and pushed the button to bring it to their floor. He went in first, standing by the controls.
Lash walked in with her, moving to the back and far from Flirt in the confined space.
Mary peered up at him. “Why are you making me do this? You always let it go, but not this time.”
“Your scent has changed.”
Flirt gasped.
Mary didn’t look at him, instead studying her lion man’s golden eyes. He looked pleased. “Of course it has. I have access to my stuff now. I don’t have to borrow your stuff when I shower. My shampoo and conditioner smell way better than yours do. I won’t even bring up how your deodorant reacts to my body chemistry. It’s not fair that it’s nice on you but my armpits stink like a yard that just got mowed.”
Lash grinned. “You didn’t smell like that.”
“Maybe not to you but it did to me,” she grumbled.
The elevator doors opened and Lash strode out. She put her arm around his neck, giving up talking him out of taking her wherever he wanted. He was the most stubborn man she’d ever met.
Other New Species were in the lobby area. A few gave nods to Lash. None of them spoke as they left through the front doors.
“I’ll grab a Jeep,” Flirt offered. “It’s a long walk if you carry your female.”
Lash stopped and waited. Flirt came back quickly and stopped in front of them, driving an open Jeep. Lash lifted her over the back and set her gently on the seat. He climbed in after her then just scooped her up again, dropping her onto his lap. It wasn’t a big seat.
“You could have sat in the front.”
Lash grinned at her. “I like you this close.”
“We should go back to the suite.”
“You’re not distracting me with sharing sex this time, Mary.”
Flirt chuckled again while he drove away from the hotel. “I’d let a female distract me.”
“No talking,” Lash snapped.
Mary rolled her eyes. “You’re being super bossy today. What’s gotten into you?”
Lash just grinned at her, not answering.
Mary stared at the scenery as they drove to a single-story building. It wasn’t far from the hotel. Flirt parked and cut the engine. Then he slid out and rushed inside. “I’ll let them know you’re here,” he called out, before disappearing through the automatic sliding door.
Lash stood with her in his arms.
“No!”
He ignored her protest, lifted his foot to stand on the edge of the Jeep’s side, and gently jumped down. She clung to him.
“Not a lion woman,” she reminded him.
“Maybe part lion woman.”
She frowned, wondering what that meant. The doors to Medical opened and a woman walked out. She was human. The white coat she wore over scrubs with cartoons on them gave Mary a clue that she had to work there.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Allison Baker, but just call me Doc Alli. Everyone else does. I’m also a Species mate. His name is Obsidian.” The perky woman stared up at Lash. “It’s nice to meet you, Lash. I got your message and everything is ready. Follow me.”
The doctor spun on her cute little pink tennis shoes, her long blonde ponytail bouncing behind her, and returned inside. Lash followed.
Mary had questions. “What message? What’s going on, Lash?”
“I told you that your scent has changed. I had Jinx tell Medical I was going to bring you to them, and what I wanted. I think you’re carrying my cub. Doc Alli will run a test to tell us for certain.”
Mary was glad he was carrying her.
It wasn’t totally a shock. Lash talked about getting her pregnant often. She’d caught him caressing her belly sometimes after they’d had sex, and he made plenty of comments about wanting a cub with her.
To think about it happening, though, and him saying it could have actually happened, were two different things.
She didn’t say anything as Doc Alli led them to an exam room.
“Put her on the table, Lash.”
Lash gently sat Mary upright on the padded table and stuck close.
Doc Alli walked to a cabinet and opened a drawer. “I’m going to do a little finger prick to get a few drops of blood.” She put on gloves before turning to look at Mary. “Is that okay?”
She nodded.
Lash tensed. “It won’t hurt her?”
Doc Alli flashed him hesitant grin. “I don’t suppose you want to wait in the hallway?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.” Doc Alli walked to the other side of the exam table, grabbing things as she went. “It might make your mate flinch. It’s a tiny jab. It can’t be helped.” The doctor hesitated, watching Lash.
Mary reached out and gripped his hand. “What she’s too polite to say is you’re making her nervous. She’s not going to hurt me on purpose, but I’ve had pin pricks before. Some can sting. It’s fast, and I’ll be fine. Relax and stop looking so terrifying. Do you want to get results or not? You brought me here.”
Lash sighed. “Fine.” He took a step back and forced a smile. “Better?”
“No. It looks more like you’re constipated and trying to look happy about it.”
Doc Alli laughed, that time grinning for real. “I wasn’t going to say it. Are you ready, Mary?” She opened something.
Mary avoided watching but she held out her free hand. “Yes.”
“I’m going to swab your mate’s fingertip with an alcohol rub. Then just a quick prick and a little squeeze on her finger to get a few drops of blood on this strip the NSO created just for this test. It’s more effective than urine tests.”
Mary turned her face away and stared at Lash. His hold on her hand tightened. She smiled. Doc Ali gently took her hand in one of her gloved ones, ran a wet swab over her index fingertip, and did what she’d warned. It didn’t really hurt more than a second.
“I’m fine,” Mary assured Lash again.
He was watching every move the doctor made. “How long until you know?”
Doc Alli put a tiny round bandage over the top of Mary’s finger. “Not long. Especially if you noticed a change in her scent.” The doctor moved away, carrying something that kind of looked like one of the over-the-counter pregnancy tests Mary had seen commercials for. It was a plastic strip with a small window. It was placed on the counter, and then the doctor removed her gloves, tossing them away.
Doc Alli leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “I know waiting is hard. Let’s give it a few minutes.”