“Their fathers won’t come for them,” she said.
“How do you know?” Brexton asked. “If someone else tried to claim my children, I’d tear them apart.”
“Because my son’s father is dead. He was killed in prison. And RaeLynn’s dad…”
“He’s not the man trying to sell you?” Brexton asked.
“No. I don’t know where he is. He just vanished one night, even before I’d told him I was pregnant. So no one is going to come forward and claim my kids, not anyone who could prove they shared DNA with them.”
Pryntar rubbed his chin. “May I make a suggestion?”
Brexton focused on his friend. “What?”
“She’s in trouble, right? Her and the children?”
“Yes,” Blossom admitted.
“Then let the world think you’ve been having a secret love affair with her, that her children are your own. But if you really want to protect her, to make sure no one can grab her or the children and disappear, then you should marry her by either Terran or human customs.”
Blossom’s eyes went wide and she started to sway. Brexton grabbed her, and pulled her close to his chest. The scent of him was soothing, and the way he held her made her feel like nothing would ever harm her.
“I won’t do that to her,” Brexton said.
“You don’t want to marry me?” she asked, then wanted to slap herself. Why was she even asking that? She didn’t want to marry a stranger, right? Even he was all big and sexy, and someone she’d drooled over on the TV for a while now.
“Marriage to me would be forever, Blossom,” Brexton said. “We don’t have divorce among my people. If you married me, it would be until one of us died. It’s not a commitment to take lightly.”
“And my kids? What would happen to them?” she asked.
“Is there a father listed on either of their papers?” Pryntar asked.
“You mean their birth certificates? No. They both list the father as Unknown.”
“Then I would suggest, if you do marry, that you do so by Terran customs and ask the council to intervene and get Brexton’s name on all their documentation as their father. It will give them extra protection.”
“Aren’t your people family oriented?” Blossom asked. “Isn’t that part of why the bride program was opened? Because you all wanted families? Won’t they find it odd you have two children that you never claimed?”
“The council will have to be told the truth,” Brexton said. “It will be the Chief Councilor’s final decision how we proceed. But I’m more than willing to claim your children as mine, if you don’t have a problem with it. Assuming you ever want to be my mate. I’m not going to push you, Blossom. It’s a big decision and I want you to be certain. I could never forgive myself if I made you miserable.”
She didn’t think the big alien would ever make her miserable, but he was right. She shouldn’t be hasty deciding the rest of her life, or the lives of her children. She was a mom first and foremost, even if parts of her were very interested in being married to Brexton, getting to sleep in his bed every night, having him… Her cheeks flushed at the thought. It had been a while since she’d had sex. Maybe her hormones were just out of whack. Her gaze scanned the expanse of his chest and she could feel the way his body pressed to hers. No, she had to admit that she really did want him.
“Brexton, tell her how many women you’ve been intimate with,” Pryntar said.
“Is that necessary?” Brexton asked.
“Not the fake scenes in the movies, and not random kisses for PR events. I mean truly intimate with a woman,” Pryntar said. “Have you ever had sex with a female? Not the pretend stuff in the movies, but the real thing?”
“No,” he admitted, looking uncomfortable with his admission.
“You’ve never…” She blinked at him in confusion. “You’re a virgin?”
His cheeks turned a darker shade of purple and he wouldn’t look at her, but he nodded.
“Until now, he’s never met a female he wanted to keep,” Pryntar said. “Figured you should know that before you make your decision. I’ll see myself out.”
Brexton tried to pull away, but she held tight to him. He glanced down at her, and she saw the torment in his eyes, the fear she was going to reject him. She couldn’t remember ever being with a man who wasn’t experienced, even for her first time. All the Hollywood starlets that hung on his arm, the models he’d been seen in public with previously, and he’d never been tempted to claim any of them? Hadn’t taken a single one to his bed? But he wantedher?
“Brexton, why haven’t you been with anyone? You have gorgeous women hanging on your arm at every event you’ve ever attended. Why didn’t you take any of them home?” she asked.
