Jacie and the Alien Bodyguard (Intergalactic Brides 6) by Jessica Coulter Smith

bodyguard. I agreed to watch over and take care of her while she sought a mate. However, I never said anything about claiming her as my own.”
    Helio glared right back. “You’re her best shot at survival, Barimere. And you’ve spent some time together already, so she trusts you, I’m sure. And you want to hand her off to a stranger? Especially knowing she’s carrying four babies, which is considered an at-risk pregnancy on our world?”
    Barimere growled and swung his gaze over to Larimar. “And you agree with this? It’s insane! I’m not a fit mate.”
    “I agree to an extent. I don’t think you need to rush right back to the tower, toss her over your shoulder, and claim her as your mate. But we’re going to give you a house in the middle of Terran Prime, where you will live with Jacie… indefinitely. I spoke with Vyrex, and even if we could find a male who would accept four children not his own, he feels it would be too stressful for Jacie right now. And, what he didn’t tell the two of you is that there’s a chance she won’t be able to have more children. I don’t know any male who would be willing to give up his right to children.”
    Larimar leaned back in his chair. “So if you wish to remain at bodyguard status, that’s fine. Just know that you could be relegated to that post for several years. At least until Jacie is able to care for the children on her own, perhaps when they’re old enough to attend school.”
    Barimere’s eyes widened and he felt his jaw drop. “You want me to guard her, day and night, in the same home, for the next four years?”
    “That’s what I’m saying.” Larimar stared him down. “Do you have a problem with that? You’re the best bodyguard we have. If other races get word of the babies she carries, she’ll become a target. Pirates will want the children to sell, and others, like the Tourmalanes, will be intrigued by her ability to carry more than one baby at a time. She’ll be little more than a brood mare, which will possibly kill her. Vyrex thinks it’s unlikely she’ll carry another pregnancy to term.”
    Barimere felt his temper spike. He wasn’t angry with Jacie, but with the situation. The council had backed him into a corner and they knew it. There was no way he could leave Jacie undefended, and the council was right… he was the best. But all that time spent with her, day and night? He’d had enough trouble keeping his hands to himself this morning when she’d been sleeping so peacefully. How would he keep his distance if he had to live with her indefinitely?
    “You’re dismissed,” Larimar said. “And keep us apprised of any changes in her pregnancy.”
    Barimere growled at them again, turned on his booted heel, and stormed off. His boots echoed down the corridor as he left the council headquarters. He wasn’t pleased with the way the meeting had gone and wasn’t sure what to tell Jacie. The communicator on his hip beeped and he checked it, his scowl deepening as he saw the doctor’s instructions. At this rate, there was no way he’d be able to avoid Jacie, not even in their home.
    Hell. Their home.
    What had he gotten himself into? The only positive was that if he did decide to claim Jacie as his own, he’d been on Earth at the same time as Myro, even based out of the same station. As long as Myro kept his mouth shut, no one would ever know the babies weren’t his. It bothered him that Myro would have to know the truth, but he didn’t see any other way around it. Obviously, Jacie and Myro had spent a lot of time together. When would she have been able to see anyone else?
    The tower loomed ahead of him and he slowed his steps, not overly anxious to return to her side just yet. His blood still surged through his veins as his temper spiked anew thinking of the council’s final decision. They were forcing his hand, or at least, they thought they were. Just because the situation wasn’t ideal, didn’t mean he had to fall into their trap.