Her cheeks grew warm. “I had to check your catheter. I’m really sorry about that.”

“On my chest.”

“Oh.” She could breathe easier again.

His fingers curled around her wrist and he drew her fingers to his chest to place the tips of them flat between his nipples. “Do it again.

Stroke me.”

Alli was at a loss for what to do for a few seconds while he waited. His skin was hot and firm under her palm as she carefully moved it. It was difficult to do with him holding her wrist but she rubbed him gently. His eyes closed and all the tension faded from his features.

A sense of amazement filled her that her touch seemed to make him feel at ease. She silently wondered if it was a sign of some brain issues.

He released her wrist and his hands dropped. She tried to pull away.

“Keep doing that.”

It was an order, plain and simple. His stern voice brooked no argument. She took slow breaths and continued to caress his skin. His eyes snapped open a split second before he moved so fast she gasped when his hand curled behind her neck. He jerked her against his body until she was pressed tight against him. She feared he might kill her by smothering her against his skin.

She gasped in air and realized that he held her loosely enough to allow her to breathe. He smelled of soap and man. She could even detect his shampoo since her nose was pressed against skin and long hair. His other arm wrapped around her back at the waist to trap her in place as his mouth found her ear.

“Don’t scream or I’ll break you. It would be easy to do. You’re frail. They won’t reach you in time. Do you understand me?”

Panic struck hard at the very soft threat he rasped, sure she was the only one who could hear him. A whimper left her mouth but she didn’t scream.

He just held her and she felt caged when his thighs closed to grip her hips to help hold her in place. He wasn’t hurting her but he could. That was apparent.

His nose brushed her throat under her ear as he inhaled, turning his head enough to sniff at her hair. He pulled her a little tighter against him with his arm anchored around her back. Her breasts were crushed against his chest and the hand behind her neck remained firm, to hold her in place.

“I am no longer helpless or chained. Your males killed my mate.”

Hot tears filled her eyes while she feared he’d take his revenge on her. Destiny had been right and it sucked big-time.

“Please,” she whispered. “I had nothing to do with that.”

He softly growled and his nose tickled when he pressed it against her throat as he sniffed at her again. His body jerked suddenly before he pulled away. He allowed some space between them when his hold eased on the back of her neck and she ended up nose to nose with him as he peered into her eyes. Shock widened his.

“You cry? I am not causing you pain.”

“You’re scaring me,” she admitted. “I don’t want to die.”

His mouth curved downward. “Don’t scream and you will be fine. No tears. I don’t like them on my skin.”

Her lips sealed together while she battled her emotions until she managed to get them under control. She blinked rapidly to hold back more tears. He still kept hold of her and every breath he took fanned her lips. She knew he had to feel the same from her since they were so close.

His head tilted slightly as if he heard something and a soft growl rumbled from him.

“Tell them you are fine.”

She pulled in air, debated doing what he said or if she should scream for help. He wasn’t hurting her so far. “I’m fine.” She spoke loud enough that she knew it would be heard down the hallway.

880 listened and relaxed. “What claim does the male Destiny have on you?” He appeared angry.

“None.”

“Have you been mounted by him? I don’t smell him on you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “We’re just friends.”

“Lower your voice,” he demanded.

“We work together.” She whispered. “Why?”

He ignored her question. “Where is your male?”

“I don’t have one.”

He studied her eyes again. He glanced down her body. Alli blushed a little when he hesitated, his gaze lingering over her breasts for a long time before focusing on her skirt.

“You are too small. Males enjoy a sturdy female to mount. You’d break or feel pain being pounded from behind. I doubt you could even brace to stay on your knees. Your arms look too weak. You’d collapse the first time a male entered you.”

She had no words. It astonished her so much her mind even blanked that he’d said something that crude.

His gaze met hers. “You don’t even look big enough to accommodate a male.”

She was glad she had recovered from the astonishment of his bluntness. “I wasn’t created with your hybrid genetics.”

He grunted and his hold eased but he didn’t release her. His thighs loosened their hold on her hips. “Turn around.”

She shook her head. “No. Why?”

He growled. “Turn now.”

She was too afraid to argue and shifted inside his arms. The open door mocked her when she faced it. She never should have left the safety of the hallway. It seemed a really far distance away.

The hand left her throat and she gasped when it cupped one of her ass cheeks. He squeezed, feeling her through the skirt. Her head snapped in his direction.

“Don’t do that!”

His gaze met hers and he growled. “Be silent.”

“Let go of my ass.” She kept her voice low but did try to step away from him to make him quit groping her.

The arm around her middle jerked hard, he let go of her ass, and she landed on his lap. His palm clamped over her lips and he growled against her ear. Alli’s eyes widened as she realized she was sitting on more than just his legs. There was no denying the feel of his rigid cock cradled between her closed thighs.

“Don’t scream,” he ordered. “I am not going to hurt you. I am curious.” His palm eased the pressure over her lower face and slowly released her mouth.

Her gaze followed his hand that fisted the material of her skirt and pulled it up to reveal most of one of her legs. The skirt stayed where he shoved it and rough-textured fingertips explored her outer leg from the knee almost to her hip.

He was breathing against her ear and she noticed when it grew a little labored.

“Soft.”

The arm around her waist adjusted and she watched as he ran his palm over her stomach.

Fingers dug into her belly but it didn’t hurt. He explored the skin under her shirt and slid it higher. She gasped a second time as one hand curved around her breast and he rubbed, feeling the size and shape of it through her bra.

“Softer.”

“Stop molesting me or I’m going to scream,” she threatened.

He paused his exploration of her breast. The hand on her thigh halted too. She turned her head to meet his gaze. Anger flashed in his eyes but he righted her skirt before he eased his hand off her breast.

“I won’t attempt to mount you. You aren’t strong enough to take me.”

She tried to wiggle off his lap but he yanked her back down. He turned her until she ended up sideways across his lap. The feel of his cock became apparent again. There was no missing something that hard or that size. They stared at each other until he frowned.

“I need your scent. Sleep here with me. You are safe.”

Alarm rolled through her. “What?”

“Sleep with me. You did that before. I want you against my side.” He grabbed her hand and held it. “Stroke my chest.”

Alli was beyond shocked. The guy had just felt her up and was obviously interested in sex. It was a bad idea. She shook her head.

“I have to return to my home. I’m under house arrest. This is just a visit.”

“Not anymore. You are staying with me.”

His features hardened as he glanced at the door before he met her wide gaze. She had no idea what else to say. Not that it didn’t stop her from trying to talk sense into him.