“Please get a room first,” Lauren pleaded, not wanting to see her best pal in action with a guy, up close and personal.
Flame moved closer to Amanda. “I have a room. After my shift is over I will show it to you if you want to see where I live. It’s a one-bedroom apartment located in the men’s dorms. Females are allowed to visit there.”
“I’d love to see where you live.” Amanda smiled up at him.
“You will be assigned somewhere to stay if my people plan on keeping you here overnight or for a few days.” Flame pulled out his cell phone. “Let me call and see what they want done.” He walked away from them and across the room.
Lauren eyed Amanda. “Are you sure you want to go to his room? You shouldn’t tease a man like that.”
“Who’s teasing? Look at him. I’d love to get him out of his clothes.”
Lauren sighed. “He’s definitely not a puppet type.”
“Definitely not.” Amanda agreed.
Lauren lowered her voice. “They growl when they get turned-on and have sharp teeth he might show you. No tail or fur so please don’t ask him about those.” She shot a glance at Flame, saw his back was turned and he seemed intent on his phone conversation, before taking Amanda’s hand. “Just don’t get your feelings hurt if this doesn’t work out. I hope it does though. He seems really nice but try to take it slow, okay? I can’t handle seeing you with a broken heart again.”
Amanda squeezed her hand and released it, suddenly very serious. “I can’t let what happened to me ruin the rest of my life. I just hope the scars don’t turn him off if I get him to that point.”
“I’m really proud of you for being so brave. Have fun but be safe.”
Lauren studied her friend and remembered getting that horrible call five years ago. Amanda’s live-in boyfriend had shot her and she was in critical condition. He’d turned out to be a real piece of shit who’d duped her best friend, taken out a hefty life insurance policy on her and then tried to kill her after making it appear as if a robbery had gone wrong. Amanda had fought him off long enough to reach help before succumbing to her injury. Lauren had stayed at her side for three days in intensive care until Amanda had started to recover.
Flame returned to them. “You were assigned a visitor’s cottage. It’s a two-bedroom. I hope you don’t mind sharing. We have some other human guests and the housing is full except for the one.”
“We don’t mind,” Lauren said softly. “Thank you.”
“I was told to escort you there now.”
Lauren glanced at the hallway. “What about Wrath? I’d like to see him before we go.”
Flame nodded. “I’m in no rush. It shouldn’t take him long.”
They waited until Wrath finally came walking down the hallway. Lauren stood and took a few steps toward him. Wrath smiled and walked right up to her, their gazes locked together. He’d changed from the camouflage fatigues into jeans and a formfitting T-shirt. Lauren didn’t miss noticing his well-defined muscular arms and wide shoulders.
“Thank you, Lauren. I was told what you did to get me out of there. You risked your life for mine.”
“You fought Vengeance to save me. I guess we’re even.”
He cupped her face. His gaze left hers to study her hair and he sighed. “I hate seeing it like that.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. I could take it down.”
His hands rose to the top of her head. He pulled the pins out one by one and unwound her hair. Lauren felt the weight of her hair falling down her back. Wrath’s fingers brushed through it. He smiled and his hands rested on her shoulders.
“Much better.”
“Are you all right? I was worried when you didn’t wake up after a few hours.”
“I’m fine.” His fingers were playing with her hair. “What you did was very stupid but brave. They could have captured you too or just killed you for trying to save me.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t capture Bill.”
Wrath blinked. “He was captured. We captured Bill, two other males and the female as well. We are trying to identify them. Shadow, Brass and Brian were recovered. They are well, along with the two innocent females they used to control our males.”
Lauren let that information sink in. Her boss and coworkers were arrested and that put her out of a job. Of course on the whole, it was a good thing. They were monsters who’d worked for Mercile. “I guess I’ll be sent home.”
He nodded. “Tomorrow.”
Swallowing, Lauren hated the twinge of pain and loss she felt. “I guess I won’t see you again, will I?”
He leaned closer. “I would like to spend time with you while you are here.”
“I’d love that.”
Wrath nodded and his hands dropped. He glanced at Flame over Lauren’s shoulder. “I will go where you take her.”
“They have been assigned human housing. You can meet them there when you’ve been cleared.”
“The doctor said I am fine to leave.”
Wrath took Lauren’s hand and tucked it over his arm. Flame opened the door and offered Amanda his arm. They walked toward a golf cart that was parked at the curb.
Flame drove with Amanda next to him while Lauren and Wrath sat in the back. Flame took them to a cute yellow cottage-style house next to a large lake. He parked in the driveway.
Lauren just wanted to be alone with Wrath but came to terms with the fact that the other couple would be with them. Flame led Amanda into the house first. The living room was spacious with an open floor plan to a dining room and kitchen. Down a hall were two bedrooms that had their own bathrooms.
Flame pulled Amanda aside after the house tour but his words carried. “I am off shift now that I’ve brought you home. Would you still like to go see my apartment?”
Amanda smiled. “I’d love to.” She took his hand. “Is this going to be an all-night tour or am I coming back here tonight?”
“It’s your choice but I would like to keep you all night.”
Amanda reached down, grabbed her bag and waved at Lauren. “Don’t wait up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Flame took the bag from her hand. “Allow me to carry it. Are you hungry? I’d like to take you to a bar. We can eat and dance before going back to my apartment.”
Amanda smiled up at him. “You’re perfect. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“No, but I like hearing it.”
Lauren watched the couple walk down the hallway and out of sight. She heard the front door close. She turned her head to peer into Wrath’s dark gaze.
“Tomorrow is goodbye.” Lauren felt depressed instantly. “Will you stay the night with me?”
He nodded. “I hoped you would ask me to sleep with you one last time.”
Lauren backed up into the bedroom, tugging on his hand. He closed the door behind them. Lauren released his hand and reached for her shirt. She shoved it over her head, dropped it and kicked off her shoes before she reached the bed. Wrath advanced on her, following her step for step. She stopped and unfastened her bra, let it drop and smiled at him.
Wrath growled. Encouraged, Lauren reached for her borrowed stretch pants. She hooked the waistband with her thumbs, making sure she caught her panties as well. She pushed them down her legs and stepped free of them. She stood in front of Wrath completely naked.
“This is our last night since I’m going home tomorrow.” Lauren moved, putting her hands on his chest. “I want to go all the way.”
His features tensed. “You want me to enter you?”
“Yes.”
The look in his eyes baffled her. He almost looked sad. “I can’t.” His voice came out raspy.
“Why not?”
“There are things you don’t know about me. I don’t want to risk hurting you. I have been damaged, Lauren. I could lose control and that would be a dangerous thing.”
She shook her head. “I know you won’t. You will be very gentle with me. I know that from the way you touch me. I trust you. Have some trust in yourself.”
“I—” He closed his mouth.
“You won’t if you’re afraid of getting me pregnant. I’m on something that prevents it. I have a clean bill of health.”
He shook his head. “That is not my fear. I have been harmed in the past and it makes me afraid I might revert to that conditioning. It could make me dangerous.”
Lauren sat down, ignored her naked state, and tugged on him until he sat next to her. She turned to face him, stared into his eyes and licked her lips.
“There’s nothing you could tell me that would change how I feel about you. I’ve done some reading on New Species and I heard rumors that sometimes some of you would end up killing the jerks who held you. Is that it? Did you kill some of them? If that’s it, I’d award you a medal. They deserved it for everything they did.”
The pain reflected in his eyes tore her apart.
“That isn’t it.”
She took a deep breath. “Just tell me. The worst thing is keeping a secret. Once it’s out, we can deal with it.”
He gripped her hand and his gaze drifted away from her to stare at the carpet near their feet. Lauren waited patiently, didn’t want to push him, and wondered if he’d really talk to her. She was hopeful.
“My life in the testing facility was rough.”
She squeezed his hand but remained silent, waiting for any details he wanted to share.
“But then they moved a few of us to a new place. There was Shadow and another male we didn’t know. He had a mate but the humans killed her.”
Tears filled her eyes at the horror of what he must have seen and endured but she kept silent, waiting. He refused to look at her and she saw his mouth tense, a coldness seep into his stare, and his voice deepened with emotion.
“They drugged me to make me aroused, hooked me to a machine and showed me videos of human naked women touching themselves to force my seed from my body. They would do it for hours until the pain became too much and I would pass out. I grew to hate the sight of human females.” He paused and finally lifted his gaze to hers. “I feel rage, thinking about what was done to me, the humiliation I suffered, and I know you aren’t responsible but I’m afraid of losing control. I might have a flashback and cause you pain.”
Lauren blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry, Wrath. You’re a victim and you’re right—I wasn’t there and I’d never be a part of that.” She gripped his hand tighter. “They can’t hurt you anymore and we don’t have to have sex if you aren’t ready. We could hold each other. I’m okay with that. I don’t believe for a second that you’d hurt me though. You’re the gentlest man I’ve ever met.”
His eyebrows arched.
“I mean that. The way you touch me is special and you make me feel that way too.”
A soft growl rumbled from his throat. “I never believed I’d be attracted to a human female but you’re all I want.”
“I’m right here. We can do whatever you want or what you feel comfortable with.”
“Do you see me as less now?” There was a catch in his voice. “Less male now that you know what was done to me? I should have been stronger and resisted more. They took my seed by force.”
Her heart broke. “No. God no, Wrath.” She moved, released his hand and climbed onto his lap. He let her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her face against his throat and clung to him. “You’re amazing, strong, determined and brave. You hunt down those assholes that hurt your people. That’s so noble and yeah, brave. I admire you and think you’re the sexiest guy ever. I’m so glad you came into my life.”
His arms wrapped around her and he clung. “I want you but I’m afraid.”
Her lips pressed against his skin and she kissed him. “I’m not afraid of you. Why don’t you get naked? I love holding you.”
“I want that.” His voice deepened again.
She leaned up enough to see his eyes and smiled. “We’ll just take everything slow and see how it goes. You’re highly overdressed.”
He chuckled and suddenly lifted her off his lap, placed her in the middle of the bed and rose to his feet. “Give me a moment to fix that.”
He stripped out of the shirt, revealing that wonderful array of perfectly sculpted abs first then his broad shoulders. The discarded shirt hit the floor. He bent, tore off his shoes and straightened. Lauren held her breath as he reached for the front of his pants and opened them. She loved the expanse of skin that assured her he was going commando.
“No boxers?”
“They didn’t have the kind I like. I’d rather do without.”
“I like you without.”
He chuckled and shoved the pants down, freeing his cock, and impressing her by revealing how thick and hard he was. He might not be ready for sex but his body said otherwise. He stepped out of the jeans, kicked them away and hesitated.
“I don’t want to just hold you.”
Her gaze lingered on his hard-on. “I see that. I’m all for anything you want to do with me.”
A soft growl came from him as he slowly took a step toward the bed. Lauren stretched out on her back, hesitated then spread her arms and legs apart on the bed. Wrath’s eyes widened and he put a knee on the mattress.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re in charge.” She held his gaze. “I’m all yours.”
The color of his eyes seemed to darken as they widened but he put his hands down flat, crawled over her, and a deep snarl came from his parted lips. “Don’t say that.”