Mick (The A'rouk Brothers Book 1) by Serena Simpson Read Free Book Online Page A

think she’s trying to keep it quiet because she doesn’t want to upset me if she’s wrong.”
    “Don’t you think you should tell her?”
    Ash took a seat next to Mick and gave him the I’m-about-to-make- your-life-much-better look.
    “I have five sisters all of whom have been pregnant. None of them would appreciate being told they’re pregnant when they’re not sure themselves. Women, Earth women, like to come to you with the big news. At which point you act surprised, come close to passing out, and tell them what a miracle the baby is. The last part being true. You also don’t let them catch you trying to make sure they don’t fall or bump into anything before they give you the big news. After that, all bets are off.”
    Mick shook his head as his body rocked with laughter.
    “I’ll remember this when your delicate red haired, green eyed mate becomes as big as a house.”
    Mick’s laughter died down, as he turned green.
    Jaz walked into the room instantly concerned when she saw Mick.
    “Mick, are you all right, your color’s off. Do you need a doctor?”
    “No, I’m fine.” He placed his arms around her and held on tightly for a minute.
    “Ash and I were just discussing the future.”
    “All right, I got my bag; I just need to take it to the living room. Ash, I think Brook needs some help she was looking at it and said it looked too heavy for her to pick up. Something about not wanting to risk it.”
    Ash was up out of the chair and running up the steps before Jaz could even take a step backward.
    “You know Brook is pregnant?” she asked him.
    “I know but how do you know?”
    “I can look at her and tell.”
    “What do you mean by that?”
    “I can see the light of life within her. I can’t explain it. It’s simply something I have always been able to do.”
    “Is that a side effect of being a clone?”
    “I don’t think so. As far as I know, I’m the only clone that can do this.”
    He gave her a puzzled look before standing to pick up her bag and take it to the living room. He turned around and took her in his arms when he dropped the bag. She moved closer and let him hold her.
    Jaz knew there was no guarantee of tomorrow or even of tonight. It made her want to hold on tight to the good she was finding in life.
    “I know your favorite color and the fact that you don’t yet have a favorite food. What is your dream? The one thing you always wanted to do.”
    She took his hand and led him back upstairs into her room. They walked until they came to stand in front of a wall of pictures.
    “I have always wanted to go to the ocean. To walk on the sand on a beach and feel the waves wash over my toes. I was never allowed to leave A’rouk Medical Facility. When I petitioned to see the ocean, I was denied.”
    Her hand reached out to touch her pictures, her fingertips gliding gently over the waves. Then she touched the holographic one. If she stared at it long enough, it was like she was there.
    “Have you ever been to the beach?”
    “I have,” he guided her back to the love seat. “I was there long before people coveted the experience. I was there when it was so crowded it wasn’t nice anymore. I was there during the alien-human wars, and I was there after the wars when it was declared off limits. It sits desolate waiting for bare feet and spontaneous laughter.”
    “I thought it was so bad that no one could go anymore.” Her eyes sparkled at the thought of walking on a beach that wasn’t crowded with the last of humanity all fighting for a spot of tranquility.
    “There’s a lot that humans can do, but they don’t because they believe the investment or time would be too much. We cleaned the beaches up a long time ago, but wisely kept that knowledge to ourselves.”
    She peeked out the window to see what the assassins were up to before turning around to talk to Mick again. They stayed on the loveseat. She eventually curled up against him resting her head on his chest.
    “Mick, do