“Let’s take you back to him then,” Justice stated softly.
Ellie met his gaze. “Thank you.”
They’d made it a few steps when a snarl of warning sounded behind them. Justice spun, grabbed Ellie, and put her out of harm’s way. She stared at Justice’s wide back when he shielded her with his body. She peered around him.
Ellie recognized Slade, the NSO officer, and he had the woman doctor from inside blocked from getting any closer with his outstretched arms corralling her. The doctor had a frightened expression on her pale face due to being snarled at. Slade looked tense and a softer growl rumbled from his lips. Justice relaxed his stance.
“What do you want, Doctor Norbit?”
Slade glanced back at Justice. “You know her? She ran after us.”
Justice nodded. “Slade, it’s all right. Let her pass. She’s no threat.”
Trisha Norbit edged around Slade when his arms dropped. Her gaze locked on Ellie. “I just wanted a private word with Ms. Brower.”
Justice shoved his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans. “What is it you wanted to say, Doctor?”
The doctor still looked frightened. “I wanted to give her my card.” She pulled one from her skirt pocket to offer it with a trembling hand.
Ellie hesitated to take it. “Why would I need it?”
“In case you need me. You have to know how important this is. I would be your doctor. It would be strictly confidential if we spoke. If you and Mr. Fury are being intimate please think of what this could mean if you allow me to examine you and be in charge of your medical care.”
“That you’re nosy? That’s what it would mean.” Slade snorted. “Leave her alone, Doctor. She would have mentioned it inside if she wanted your help.”
Trisha Norbit ignored Slade, keeping her focus on Ellie. “I’ve seen the medical reports on their physiology and they are slightly different from us. There is so much that is unknown.”
“What is different?” Slade frowned but then a grin split his full lips. “You mean we’re bigger than your men.”
Doctor Norbit flashed an irritated look at Slade but her attention refocused on Ellie. “Don’t you want to know if you could get pregnant? Wouldn’t you like to know if it’s possible if the right treatments are applied?”
Justice frowned. “I’ve had many talks with doctors and they’ve assumed it’s not. We’re incapable of breeding children.”
Doctor Norbit cocked her head at Justice. “We don’t know anything for certain but we’ve never had a mixed species couple to do a case study on either. If this woman and one of your men are engaging in intercourse, don’t you think it would be a good idea to see what could result from it? It’s not just pregnancy that concerns me. Think about it, Mr. North. More of your people might want to get involved with mine. Wouldn’t you want to know if there are any adverse affects? Your men weren’t able to get your women pregnant but she’s totally human.”
“What kind of adverse affects? Penis envy?” Slade chuckled. “I’ve been to the men’s room with humans, Doc. The only thing your women should be afraid of is realizing how small your men’s dicks are compared to ours.”
Trisha Norbit shot Slade a dirty look. “You’re a pig.”
Slade’s smile died and a low growl issued from his throat. “I’m canine, not pig.”
“It’s a slang term, not a species call,” Ellie managed to say without laughing. “She thinks what you said is dirty and offensive.”
Slade nodded at Ellie before he grinned at the doctor. “But honest.”
“Enough.” Justice chuckled. “As amusing as this conversation is getting, I have a call to take from the president. That wasn’t just an excuse to get us out of there.”
“Please,” Doctor Norbit pleaded softly. “Ms. Brower, Ellie, please take my card. I’m the New Species doctor. I understand the need for discretion and can visit Mr. Fury’s home privately. No one needs to know. Just consider letting me in on this. You have no idea how important it is for us to understand how we relate to each other sexually.”
Ellie debated but took the card, shoving it into in her jeans pocket. “I’m not having sex with Mr. Fury. I stated that inside and I know if I were it would turn into a circus.”
Slade’s nostrils flared and he shifted his gaze to Ellie. She glanced at him. He inhaled slowly and smiled. She looked away from him. He knew she lied, could smell Fury’s scent on her, but she was relieved when he didn’t say anything.
“It’s imperative I know how our species interact during sex,” Doctor Norbit explained softly. “I’m in charge of the health and well-being of not only New Species but humans too. Between the New Species and the human employees, I really have to know what I’m dealing with. It’s just a matter of time before it may become an important issue.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Ellie lied. “If I ever consider having sex with Mr. Fury, I’ll let him know, and on the off chance he’s interested, you’ll be the second person I tell.”
Ellie spun away and stared to walk. Justice immediately matched her steps while they headed toward Fury’s home. He chuckled.
“You handled that nicely.” He hesitated. “You might want to give her a call tomorrow. According to the files I reviewed, she’s one of the best doctors in the country. I personally handpicked her. She’s young but brilliant and she’s New Species friendly. If she says she’ll keep a lid on it, I would tend to believe her.”
Ellie nodded. “I won’t hesitate if I think I need a doctor.”
Chapter Thirteen
Fury paced the entire time that Ellie was gone, certain something would go wrong. He had refrained from rushing to the control room to spy on the meeting with the cameras set up around Homeland. He had access to those feeds as head of security and second-in-command. He hadn’t left though, wanting to be at home awaiting her return.
He trusted Justice and their men to protect Ellie. He’d trained all their security officers personally, each and every one, and his people knew how much she mattered to him. He missed her scent, hearing her musical voice, and when he closed his eyes, her face appeared, burned into his memory.
To sleep with Ellie, feel her skin against his, while they talked late into the night had been wonderful before falling asleep. He wanted to do it every night and hear every detail of her life—minus any mention of men she’d known. He didn’t want to imagine anyone ever touching his Ellie. He’d have to track them down and take them out. If her husband ever did show up at Homeland wanting Ellie back as his wife, he hadn’t been kidding about beating the man until he changed his mind. She was his, now and forever.
The thought of her ex-husband reminded him of her deficient parents. Fury paused his pacing and stared hard at the door. She would never be alone again. She had him and all his people as her family. He would assure her of that and make it known that she belonged with him. He’d fight tooth and nail with Justice if that’s what it took to make it a New Species law that any humans who were with New Species were considered one of them. He wanted her to have the same rights he had, knowing she made no distinction between them so none would be made against her when it came to his people. She should be considered New Species.
He nodded, deciding to push that new law at Justice while they made new ones to govern their people. Soon they’d manage their own Homeland and he’d talk Ellie into making their relationship permanent. It already was, to him.