He strode into the hallway and studied the two males who waited at the end of it. Both of them turned when they sensed him.

“Alli will stay here with me. Double my food and she will need more clothing.”

“No,” Destiny hissed, instantly challenging him as his hands fisted and he tried to storm closer.

Tiger grabbed the male’s arm to halt him.

“Don’t,” he ordered softly. “Stay put.” He drew closer, each step calculated to be nonthreatening.

880 backed into his room and glanced at Alli.

She remained seated where he’d ordered her to stay. Tiger paused in the doorway and visually examined her, obviously checking her health.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

Tiger held his gaze. “Why is she staying here?”

“She is familiar to me. I won’t harm her.”

Tiger looked indecisive as he peered at Alli.

“Are you okay with this? We should talk.” He swallowed. “In the hallway.”

Alli glanced at 880 and he gave her a sharp nod. He hoped she wouldn’t betray him and ask the male for help. It wouldn’t do any good. He was still weak but he would fight to keep her.

He’d made up his mind on the matter. She paused outside the door and Tiger lowered his voice.

“What is going on?”

“He says I’m the only thing he knows. It’s okay.”

Tiger lifted his gaze to stare at 880 before addressing her again. “He’s an adult male and healthy. Do you understand? You’re a female.”

Alli’s cheeks pinkened again. “We’re not involved that way.”

Tiger backed up and she followed him out of 880’s line of sight. She didn’t go far. He tensed, ready to go after her if she bolted. He’d deal with the male if he tried to stop him from returning Alli to his room.

Alli was nervous and she knew exactly what Tiger’s concerns were as he frowned.

“He could try to mount you. He probably will if you stay. Do you understand that?”

The idea left her scared but she tried to hide it. She wasn’t 880’s favorite person. “He said he wouldn’t hurt me.”

“I doubt he’d associate sex with harm.” Tiger hesitated. “I smell fear on you.”

“He’s big and kind of intimidating.” She debated on asking Tiger to take her away from 880.

She’d be returned to her house. “He’s, um, different.”

“How?”

“He’s kind of crude and rude.”

“He’s newly freed. Has he said anything to offend you? We are trying to teach him better conversation skills.”

She wasn’t going to repeat what 880 had said about her body. “He’s also kind of a bully.”

Tiger arched his eyebrows. “He can’t force you to stay.” His voice lowered. “Did he threaten you?” He reached for the radio clipped to his jeans. “I can call for backup. We can restrain him and get you out of here without too much difficulty if he protests.”

The idea of having officers restrain 880 made her shake her head. They could injure him and she knew he’d fight. “No. He didn’t do that,” she lied. “I can stay with him for a while. It’s not as though I have anything else to do besides watch television or stare at the walls.”

“I have to discuss this with Justice and Trisha.”

He let his hand drop away from his radio. “Do you want anything from your home in the meantime?”

She only asked for a day’s worth of clothes, sure 880 would tire of keeping her in his room.

Tiger listened intently.

“We can do that. I’ll go myself. I’m assigning an officer at the end of the hall. Yell if you want out of there.” He paused. “He needs a name.

Maybe you can help him find one he likes.”

“I think he’s probably dealing with enough changes right now.”

“He needs a name,” Tiger repeated. “We’ve discovered it’s part of the healing process and besides that, the paperwork on him is mounting.

We’re going to have to go back and change it all when he does choose one. I’d rather just get it done sooner rather than later.”

Anger stirred inside her. “I’m sorry but his emotional well-being is more important than the amount of paperwork on your desk.”

That drew a glare from him. “I have a mate and I enjoy spending time with her instead of wasting it with extra work. You want to help? Talk him into taking a name.” Tiger spun and strode away.

Alli stood there watching him go until he reached Destiny. The nurse tried to step around him to come toward her but Tiger gripped his arm, forcibly turned him around and nearly dragged him in the direction of the elevator. She could hear them hissing at each other but couldn’t make out any of their conversation. A large hand clamping down on her shoulder firmly made her jump. She twisted her head to stare up at 880.

He’d sneaked up on her.

“In my room now.”

“You could say please.”

He looked away from her to glance down the hallway and suddenly hooked an arm around her waist. She gasped when he just jerked her off her feet and spun, stomping back inside his room with her held against his chest. He paused by the bed and lowered her back to her feet.

“Take off your shoes and climb on my bed.”

His arm withdrew.

Alli looked up at him. “That was rude. You can’t just go around picking people up and making demands.”

He regarded her silently.

“Just because you’re bigger doesn’t mean you should manhandle me. That’s what you just did.”

He blinked.

“I don’t want to be on your bed. We should talk and get to know each other. I think that you—” His palm lifted and he pressed it against her chest and pushed her back. She lost her balance and landed on his bed. It shocked her that he’d done it. It hadn’t hurt but that was beside the point. He bent, grabbed her ankle, and just tore off her shoe. She tried to roll away after her stunned brain began to work but he was faster. He removed the other shoe.

“Stop that!” She struggled to sit while crawling backward to put space between them. He blocked her way off the bed. “You’re being rude!”

Broad shoulders shrugged as he bent over and his hands flattened on the bed. He stared at her and inched closer as she continued to put space between them until the back of her head bumped the wall. She was trapped. The mattress dipped from his weight as he lay down along the outer side of the bed and stretched out fully on his back.

One hand swept behind his neck to grab his long hair and he piled above his head as he stared at her.

“Lie down next to me and stroke my chest.”

“No.”

A soft growl rumbled from him as his angry gaze fixed on her. “Alli.” He said her name in a way that gave her chills. “Come to me now and don’t force me to make you.”

Shit. She wasn’t exactly afraid but was leery of him for sure. The bed wasn’t big enough to get away and she was within his reach if he just shot a hand out to grab her. He watched her, not moving until he took a deep breath.

“Please.”

That one word softened her resolve to refuse his demand. She inched closer to him, not sure what he’d do, but he just held still until she stretched out on her side after adjusting her skirt.

Her hand trembled when she lifted it and touched his chest. His eyes closed as she stroked him softly.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

The bed shifting violently jerked Alli awake and she realized she’d drifted to sleep. The room had grown noticeably darker and she stared at 880. He wasn’t on the bed any longer but instead stood next to it with his back to her. His attention focused on the open door. Her gaze followed his.

Tiger stepped into sight as he reached the doorway and paused. “Hello. I brought her things.” He held out her gym bag. “Here.” Tiger studied her.

“Are you well?”

She sat up and checked her skirt, it was still below her knees. “I’m fine. We took a nap.”

880 stalked forward and took the bag by the strap. “Thank you. Leave now.”

Tiger’s mouth opened but he backed up. “Fine.