Chapter 4

Dean's POV:

Three months have gone by as near as I can tell and things have progressed in…odd ways. Lex was making some headway with Ro but he was still handling her roughly; not as rough as before but still leaving her sore and bruised. He called her by name but was still stuck on the whole 'mine' thing; and his possessiveness grew by leaps and bounds. There was no talking him out of fucking her either. She held him off for a while but he'd inevitably force her down on his cot and take her. The fight afterward; to keep her with him, was getting more violent too. It took more guards to get her away each time.

Another matter arose that disturbed me to no end – Lex began to get sick at random times during the day; throwing up the small amount of food she was allotted in this place. I was scared for her; thinking she caught something and knowing she'd get no medical attention other than what I was capable of giving her.

I was sitting beside her, running a cool washcloth over her clammy forehead and watched as her eyes popped open when her hand settled on her abdomen. "What's wrong, darlin?" I asked when she sat up in bed, staring off into space while in thought.

"I think my implant went kaput," she whispered in shock.

"What implant…oh," I went silent; my mouth hanging open while I stared at her still flat stomach. "Oh holy shit," I began to panic almost instantly, getting to my feet and pacing our cell. "I need to get you out of here before they find out. You need to eat more of my rations and stop arguing with me about it," I turned to point a hard finger at her; her mouth already open to argue.

"Jon…"

"I need to keep you away from Ro before he causes you to miscarry. I won't let that fucking animal make you lose our baby. I don't give a fuck if it is his; it is mine. Do you understand me? He is too fucked in the head to be trusted with you, let alone a baby."

"Jon…"

"We need to get in the pit and make this thing happen; I've got to get you out of here."

"Jon…"

"You need to be able to fight your way out of here and need more food and strength to do that. I might just have a heart attack seeing you fight now but its necessary and I get that but it is going to make me lose my shit."

"Jon…"

"We definitely need to go before you start to show. I don't even want to think of what these assholes will do to mine or Joe's baby."

"Jon," she stood in my path, placing her hands on my chest. "I need to tell Joe; make him understand so he'll help us in the pit."

"Fuck no! I'll kill him myself and get you out on my own before I let him touch you again!"

"No, you won't," she shook her head.

"Lex…"

"No, you won't!" she grit out of clenched teeth, pulling me closer by my nape. "He's still in his primal mindset; knowing that he has a child to protect might swing this thing in our favor faster. I'm not saying it is his, my love," she pulled me into a kiss; calming me with the simple contact. "We'll find out when we're out of here but I am saying we need him and I won't let you kill him. I love him, Jon. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I nodded my head, focusing my attention and touch on her stomach. "I understand that if I think anyone; including Joe is going to harm that baby, I will tear this place down with my bare hands. Do you understand me? I understand that if anyone; including Joe hurts you, I will kill every motherfucker in sight. Do you get me?"

"I think I understand that you're feeling extremely paternal. Does the thought of my carrying your child please you?" she purred in my ear.

"The thought of you carrying my baby pleases me more than I thought possible. In fact," I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist while I pressed her back against the wall, "it pleases me so much, I feel the need to celebrate my virility," I chuckled in her ear, rubbing my dick against her pubic bone.

"You're fucking silly," she smiled lovingly at me until I freed my dick from my shorts and entered her in one slow thrust.

This is the first time I've taken her within Rome's view. He knew every time I took her before; her scent, the sounds, but he's never seen us until now and fuck, is he pissed. I know I should care because she'll end up in his cell later but right now; with her pussy surrounding my penetrating length, that tight heat gloving me so perfectly, I just can't seem to give a fuck about him.

My baby is going to have a baby. I'm scared to death that something could happen to them; fuck knows enough has happened to Lex since she walked in the door, but I'm happy too. I find it so fucking odd that I'm ecstatic that she could be pregnant. It wasn't something that I even considered before we were taken but if she is, I can't help but think this is the one positive thing to come from this hellhole.

I was protective of her before so I can only imagine how insane I'll be now. I wasn't kidding when I said I'd kill Rome and get her out of here on my own. I can't let anything happen to her; not before and sure as fuck not now. My baby could be growing in this body that I love. I could be seeing our child nursing from these beautiful breasts in a few months. Fuck, I'm getting harder…

"I love you, Jon," she whimpers into my shoulder.

"I love you too, baby," I growl low in my throat, pushing her back so I can see her reactions. My girl has always been so captivating to watch when she's gripped by pleasure.

"Fuck, right there," her breath hitched, tossing her head back when I angled my hips just right to hit my old friend – her G-spot. My cock taps out Morse code on that bundle of nerves and Lex whines like she's in pain even as her pussy weeps for me.

"Does that feel good, sweetheart?" I knew I had my girl on edge when the only reply she could give was a desperate nod of the head. The look of sheer ecstasy on my girl's face and those sweet sounds that escape her lips have always been my undoing. She is so lost in sensation right now and even Ro yelling at the top of his lungs is barely making it through my mind while I carefully pull at each string that will leave her unraveled. "Cum for me, baby," I rasp out in her ear, and just like that, my girl shatters at my command. "Fuck!" It just so happens her pussy is my kryptonite because I lose all sense of control and release my seed within her. "Lex?" I furrow my brow in worry when she pitches forward into my chest and goes limp. "This is more than just being sexually sated, baby. You're aren't eating enough and burning through your strength dealing with mine and Ro's…appetites," I carry her to our cot, lying down on my back with her sprawled out on top of me; my cock still buried within her pussy. "You need to eat more of mine and Ro's rations; you have two to feed now," I smile, holding her close and drifting off with her.

My eyes snap open when I hear the key in the lock of my door. 'It's fucking time,' I sigh; holding her tighter to me for a moment. I gently roll her to my side and stand between her and the men that mean to take her from me. I can't let them give her to Ro. He's too rough; too demanding on her body. "You can't take her; she's sick," I square my shoulders, balling up my fists while I glance between them.

"She was alright enough for you to fuck earlier, Ambrose; now step aside."

"No," I growl back; ready to put everything on the line to keep her safe. I flex my arm when I feel a small hand on my bicep and quickly dart my head to the side; pushing Lex behind me while returning my gaze to my jailors. "Stay back, baby," I tell her while preparing myself for a fight. I should have known better but I'll blame it on the flood of testosterone flowing through my Y-chromie body. The fight I should have been preparing for wasn't the men in front of me but with the love of my life behind me. "Lex, what the fuck?" I snap at her when she moves in front of me; pushing me back with both palms on my chest.

"Don't do this," she moved into my body, staring up into my eyes. "I don't want you to get hurt. I can't bear it," she whispered; tears threatening to fall and damn, if that didn't take the fight right out of me.

"Lex, don't do this to me…please," I begged her; my heartache clear to see in my eyes. My need to protect her had intensified beyond belief and the thought of listening…seeing Joe manhandle her…I just can't take it. I'm losing faith in my best friend. I'm losing the ability to care about him. If he hurts her or this baby, I'll lose my mind and do the unthinkable.

"I'm asking you to trust me."

Fuck, those tears and those bottomless black pools…she's killing me here. I feel my eyes slowly close and when I open them, she's being hauled back by hands that aren't worthy of her skin. I still can't move a muscle because the truth is I trust Lex more than anyone in this world. She's the only one I trust now.

I stand there, helpless while she's led to Joe's cell. Her eyes never leave mine until he grabs her upper arm.

Roman's POV:

They finally bring her to me. It feels like I've been waiting forever. Jon looks upset with her; hands fisting at his sides while they walk her over here. I feel a jolt run through me when they unlock my door. She's staring at Jon over her shoulder until she feels my touch on her arm. Fucking shit, my mate is crying before she gets to me. This is Jon's fault! I can't stand to see her cry and he made her cry! Fuck.

I pick her up and sit on my cot; settling her across my lap and run my palm over her face. I cannot fuck my mate if she's crying. I used to but not anymore. "Lex…stop," I purr in her ear, tilting her chin up to kiss her trembling lips. When we part to breathe, she stares into my eyes before collapsing into my chest. "Lex?" I jostle her a bit but she remains limp and unresponsive. It reminds me of the night I first took her; the night I almost killed her, and I instantly panic.

I settle her on the cot, making sure her head is on the pillow before I cover her with my blanket and sit on the floor, just watching her. She's been sick; I've heard her behind Jon's sheet, getting sick for a few days now. I look towards my brother's cell; he's standing there, furious as hell but I ask with my eyes and he tells me despite how angry he appears to be.

Jon and I have always been able to talk without words…even if I can't speak them too well anymore. With a look and hand signals, he tells me she needs rest and food or she'll get worse. I ask him why but he won't say; just glares at me before he paces his cage. At first I think he's lying to me because he doesn't want me to touch her but I know what I heard; she's definitely been ill. Parting the blanket, I can see she's lost weight. Lex barely had an ounce of fat on her body when she arrived here. They give her very little food since she isn't one of their fighters, and what little she's given she's been throwing up. Her body is now feeding on her muscles to survive. As soon as she wakes, I'll make her eat some of the food I've stashed away. I can't let my mate get worse.

I impatiently watch my mate sleep; stroking her face and hair to keep the contact that I desperately crave from her. Time ticks by and I fight the urge to fuck her. Despite how it seems, it isn't just the need to claim my female that drives me to take her. No, lately I feel parts of my old life tug at the back of my brain when I'm inside of her. I tried so hard to ignore those golden flashes of memory, of a time when I was different…better for her but they crept in; invaded my mind and left me wanting to see how it was. It made me want it back and she's my way to it.

"Joe…"

I cock my head and study her when her eyelids flutter; consciousness slowly returning to her mind. A weak hand caresses my jaw and I cannot help but nuzzle into her touch. The overpowering need to fuck her now hits me right in my cock. I'm hard as steel and growl my desire before I rein it in; remembering Jon's warning of food and rest.

"Joe…" she protests my moving her to sit up but looks at me curiously when I move to pull a bowl out from under my bed. A small smile lights up her face when I hand it to her until I tire of her picking at her needed food, take the bowl and hand feed her. She didn't care for that at all; swatting my hand with a scowl, only to squeal a moment later when I pulled her over my lap and swatted her ass. "You asshole," she frowned at me; rubbing her stinging bottom and I couldn't help the proud smirk on my face. She ate the rest of her food with a pout but didn't give me anymore trouble over it.

In my limited capacity of thinking, I figured she'd had enough rest while she ate and decided now was the time to mate with my female. She didn't care for that either…or so I thought. She kept slapping my hands while I tried to lay her down so that I could mount her but I could scent her arousal so I knew she wanted me. Sitting back on my heels, I pushed my hair back from my face, glaring at her in irritation. She surprised me by quickly reaching out a hand, tangling it in my hair and pulled on it while pointing at the bed.

"Lay down," she growled at me and damn, if my eyebrows didn't almost shoot off my forehead. I knew she was a worthy mate but even I was impressed with her tenacity, and that growl made me so much harder. Giving up my control to my female was a tough thing for me to handle but if it got my dick inside of her faster then I was willing to let it go…for now.

Once I was settled on my back, she straddled my waist, leaned forward and took my mouth in a mind-blowing kiss. I allowed my eyes to fall shut when she broke our kiss on a breath and moved her lips to my neck, trailing her mouth, tongue and teeth down. "Mine," I groaned, moving my hands to grip her waist.

"Now Joseph," she looked back down into my eyes, prying my hands from her hips and pressed them to the mattress. "I need you to be a good boy for me if you want me to make you feel good," she smirked when I clenched my jaw and balled my fists, but kept them by my sides.

I'll admit a purr rose in my throat when she licked my nipples, nipping at one before laving the sting away with her tongue. Those flashes from the past are bursting behind my eyelids now. I seem to recall that I wasn't always in control in the past; though I was most of the time, she had me writhing for her every chance she got. And fuck me, I'm harder than I was before and I didn't think it was possible without my dick exploding.

She has me panting now. Her mouth feels so good on my skin. Her tongue is dancing over my abdominals. Fuck, I wish she'd go a little lower…oh, that's it! Her mouth almost feels as heavenly as her pussy or ass…almost. Oh that fucking tongue…fuck, she's good at this and has no gag reflex from what I can tell. My mate is working me hard and so perfect. Her mouth is so warm and wet around me while her tongue travels along my length. No, I won't blow in her mouth. They'll take her away from me and I won't get her pussy. I can't have that.

My hands lift her off of me and drag her up my body before she can protest, and in the next instant, her head goes back when I impale her on my cock. Rolling us over, I take control back and piston my dick into her pussy. I can feel how wet she is but she's tense at the same time. She wants this, I know she does, but something has her holding back from fully enjoying my occupation of her body.

"Joe…" I open my eyes to see her obsidian gaze stare into my gray. "I need you to understand something, baby. I really need you to listen and understand," she whispers, grabbing one of my hands and settled it on her stomach. "I need you to take it easy on me; don't be too rough," she cups my cheek with her free hand; the urgency in her eyes making my thrusts come to a halt. "I need you to be careful; without looking like you're being careful, because I have a baby in here," she rubs my palm over her stomach and something inside of me breaks.

"Baby…" I stutter out; eyes blurring with tears and I'm not sure why. I love the thought of my seed growing inside of her but I loathe that I'm not the man I should be for them. I am too rough on her and have been since she arrived; that first night almost killing her. I'm only slightly better now because she cries if I hurt her too badly. How can I be trusted around my child? "Can't hurt…baby," I feel my throat begin to close off while my shaking hand skims over her flat belly.

"Joe, look at me," she coaxed my gaze back to hers and gave me a sad smile as she used delicate fingertips to brush the tears from my face.

Now she has me crying. I can't fucking believe this.

"You won't hurt the baby if you're careful with me but there's a catch, my love." My hips began to move against her again at her urging while we used the curtain of my hair to conceal our conversation. I listened to every word carefully while she mapped out the plan to get the three of us…four of us out of here.

She said we had friends on the outside that would help us escape but we had roles to play to make it happen. Jon and I would have to face each other in the pit with her there when it goes down. I growled my disapproval when she said she'd be fighting beside us but she assured me she knew what she was doing. It did little to calm me down. I didn't like the idea of my mate and child in harm's way. Jon and I had to keep up a pretense of wanting to kill each other over her if this was to work. And lastly, I had to look like I was rough with her without being rough on her. That last one was difficult for me since I was struggling to restrain my baser instincts out of fear of hurting my child; the urge to claim her would probably never lessen though. This will be a daily fight for me even after we leave this place.

"Try it, Joe. I'll call you Joseph if you really hurt me," she caught my face before I could avert my eyes. "I love you, Joe, and I trust you to do this," she gave a slight nod.

"Looks like I arrived in time for the show, huh, Dean?" I could hear the sneer in Seth's voice without looking. "How's the animal been treating your precious Lex?"

"Do it, Joe, and only ease up if I call you Joseph," Lex whispered to me. I gave a short nod and took both of her wrists in my left hand, gripping her hip with my right and thrust hard enough to jolt her body on the bed.

She whimpered and whined to the point that I was worried I was actually hurting her. Jon was yelling and slamming his open palms against his cell bars; threatening to kill me and begging me to stop from one sentence to the next. And Seth; his eyes were alight with unadulterated glee with the whole scene. Everyone accepted my performance except me; I wasn't entirely sure that Lex was okay but she never uttered my name.

Despite my worry over Lex and the baby, I still roared when I released into her body. I couldn't help it; she feels fucking amazing. When I came down from my high and my hearing returned when my heart stopped pounding in my ears, I could hear Jon yell for Lex to be returned to him. I focused on my mate beneath me and saw she lost consciousness again; panic gripped me tighter than my orgasm.

I moved off of her body and stood between her and the men outside my cage. They would not take her from me! Tensed up and prepared to fight to the death for her, I stepped forward when they had to come through the door one at a time. Just as I pulled back a fist, Seth stepped forward with a smile lighting up his eyes.

"Let him keep her," he told my jailors who appeared relieved as they backed out of my cage. He then turned on his heel, laughed at a crazed Jon and walked out.