“He was killed and didn’t make it all the way back. I didn’t figure out that’s what really happened until later, but the how didn’t matter. Dead was dead.”
Sasha grabbed a tissue from the nightstand. “I swore then that I’d do whatever I could to make sure we gave these amazing men the best of everything. And there has to be some way to stop losing them to the insanity, to save men like David. Like Trahern.”
“Sounds like a worthy goal to me. What’s changed?”
“That would seem obvious. Most of the Regents are a bunch of old-school traditionalists at heart. Not only am I going to be a single parent, but the father is someone they’d just as soon see dead or shoved back across the barrier. It could even affect my father’s position if they want to get nasty about it.”
Laurel stiffened. “Don’t listen to them. No matter what they think, Larem’s a good man.”
“I know that, Laurel. I don’t have wild monkey sex with just anyone. I care about him.” Honesty forced her to add, “A lot. I’ve already told Larem that if the Regents won’t accept me, I’ll leave the organization and stay here anyway.”
She wadded up her tissue and tossed it at the waste-basket, smiling briefly when she hit it dead center. “But I’m not the only one with decisions to make. I still don’t know the story behind what brought Larem to our world. What if all he wants is to go home?”
“That’s not happening,” Laurel said, shaking her head. “No way, not now.”
“But I don’t want him to stay just because I’m pregnant.” She wanted him for herself, too.
“No, you want him to stay for you,” Laurel said, echoing Sasha’s thoughts.
“Yeah, but—”
A soft knock at the door ended their chance for any more conversation. Sasha got up and opened the door.
Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Larem, we were just talking about . . . things.”
His expression remained stoic, but there was a gleam in his eye that warned her that he’d heard at least the tail end of their conversation. “I wanted to let you know that Devlin is going to take your father to a hotel so he can get some sleep after traveling all night.”
Then there was a spark of mischief in his eyes. “He wanted to stay here, of course. However, I pointed out that since your guest room is full of boxes, and your bodyguard will be sleeping on the sofa, there is no room for him. Devlin was kind enough to offer him a ride after I pointed out the problem.”
“How considerate of both of you.”
“Yes, we thought so.” Then he looked past her to Laurel. “Devlin said he’s ready to leave when you are.”
Laurel replied, “Tell him I’ll be right there.”
Before he could leave, Sasha caught him by the arm. “So will you be staying?”
Larem’s expression turned solemn. “It is my duty and my honor to protect you, unless you would prefer someone else.”
They were both talking about more than just a few hours of patrolling her condo, and she knew it. “I only want you.”
He nodded and then stood back to let Laurel pass.
“I’d better go say good-bye to my father. Maybe we can take him out for a nice dinner tonight.”
“If you’re going to tell him about me, about us, about everything,” he said, his gaze briefly dropping down to her stomach before returning to her face, “it would be better done in private.”
What could she say to that? He was right, of course, but she couldn’t find the words to respond. All trace of softness disappeared from his eyes. Once again, she’d hurt him without meaning to.
He stepped back. “Perhaps you should ask Devlin for a different guard.”
“No, I was just thinking that you’re right about talking to my father here instead. Once they all leave, we’ll figure out what to say—together.”
She rolled her shoulders to ease the knots of tension forming there. “God, this is going to be so much harder than when I was sixteen and had to tell him I’d wrecked his brand-new car. At least he can’t ground me for a month like he did back then. He might try to take a swing at you, though.”
He gave her a quick hug. “For the sake of family peace and since he’s your father, I promise I won’t hit back.”
She laughed despite the lump in her throat. “Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s go say good-bye.”
Chapter 19
Chaz Willis stood by the front door with barely disguised fury at being the one to leave. Larem trailed down the hall beside Sasha but positioned himself in front of her and slightly to the side to make sure that no one had a clear shot at her when the door opened. He suspected her father thought Larem was trying to protect her from him.
He wasn’t wrong.