Her head lifted as she twisted the doorknob to jerk it wide open.

Obsidian stared down at her. His hair was a tangled mess flowing over his bare chest but she barely noticed, too surprised at finding him on her doorstep.

“I want to come inside.” He took a step closer and completely blocked the opening. “Move back.”

She stumbled a little as she did what he demanded. He entered her house and shoved the door closed firmly behind him. His gaze left her to travel slowly around the living room.

“How did you get out of Medical? Do they know where you are? You could have been hurt or gotten lost.”

Dark eyes fixed on her. “Be silent. I came to talk and you will listen.”

Her lips sealed as she stared wide-eyed at him, flabbergasted.

He blew out a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. She wondered why he hadn’t put on a shirt. She glanced down to find he also hadn’t donned shoes. Grass stains were on his knees as if he’d been sliding in it.

“Alli?”

She focused on his face and gasped. He looked to be in pain with his eyes wide and his lips pursed out. He blinked rapidly and she grabbed at him, sure he was about to pass out. Her hands flattened on his chest and pushed him against the door behind him, knowing full well that she wasn’t strong enough to catch him if he pitched forward. She could only hope to pin him upright until he regained his equilibrium. His head hit the wood hard enough to make her wince at the noise.

“Why are you attacking?” He looked surprised.

“Are you still that angry with me?”

“Where does it hurt? Are you dizzy? Lightheaded?”

“You didn’t push me that hard.”

“You looked sick.”

A soft snarl passed his parted lips. “I was attempting a puppy look.”

“A what?” She was puzzled as she stopped pressing her hands so tightly against him to keep him against the door.

“I walked here from Medical to say I’m sorry.”

“For what? Scaring me? I thought you were going to faint just now. Are you sure you’re all right?” She eased back, glancing down at his knees. “Did you fall? Strike your head somehow?

Your knees look banged up.” Her gaze held his, trying to see his pupils.

“I jumped off the building from the roof. I didn’t land as smoothly as I intended but I’m in no pain.”

She was horrified at of his words. “You what?

Why would you do that?” She clutched his arm.

“Come here.” She pulled, urging him to her couch.

He didn’t limp as he took hesitant steps forward and she pushed a little, urging him to sit.

His big body dwarfed her cream-colored couch—a vast contrast between his masculinity and the feminine décor. Alli slid to her knees in front of him and reached for the ankles of his pants, shoving them upward.

“What are you doing?”

She glanced up when the material bunched over bulky calves. He was too muscular to work the legs high enough to see his knees. “Stand up.”

She scooted back a little to give him room and sat on her legs. “Drop your pants.”

His dark eyes narrowed but he rose to his feet, gripped the waist of the sweatpants and shoved them down. His long hair draped around her when he bent enough to drop them to his ankles, momentarily blinding her while she twisted and blew some of it from her face.

He straightened, pulling the curtain of silky strands away. She turned, immediately zoning in on his knees. Both were a little red but she didn’t spot any swelling or abrasions. It seemed his sweats had gotten the worst of the impact. She looked up. Obsidian was naked and very aroused.

The guy has big balls, all right, she noted. Big everything. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat. “You can sit back down.”

He collapsed on the cushions, still aroused and in clear view since now his lap was directly in front of her.

“Um, you can pull your pants up.” She tried to back away but was emotionally off balance enough for it to mess with her movements. She just slid to the side until she had to brace a hand to keep from falling over.

“Why?”

He blinked at her, totally unconcerned with his naked state. Her glance diverted back to his dick, which was jutting upward. He leaned forward a bit until the crown of his cock pressed against his abs. Look away, she ordered, but her gaze refused to obey. She stared at his lap.

“Alli?”

That drew her attention up to his face. “It’s not proper to sit naked on someone’s couch.”

“I don’t care about that.” He reached out and his fingertips brushed her cheek in a caress. “I do not want to mount you to replace 46.”

“You jumped off a building to tell me that?”

“Yes. You accused me of it and it’s not true. I know she is dead and you are nothing similar to her. I see you.”

Her heartstrings tugged. He could have been hurt, had gone to a lot of trouble to clear up their misunderstanding. She wanted to believe him but he had to be pretty confused. Grief could be an unpredictable factor on mental stability.

“I need to call Security and tell them where you are. They’ll be worried sick when they realize you’re missing. How did you get past the guard to reach the elevator or the stairs without being seen?” Another horrible concept struck.

“You didn’t fight with Jericho or his replacement, did you?” She inspected his rugged face for signs of injury but didn’t find any.

She struggled to her knees, fully planning on rising to walk to the phone to make the call. She didn’t make it. Obsidian grabbed her around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. His cock became trapped between his stomach and her hip where she landed sideways across the top of his thighs.

“No. You aren’t in danger from me.” He growled the words, angry.

Her hands flattened on his bare chest. “I know.

They’ll freak out and start a search. They’ll think something bad happened to you.”

“I’m not ready to return.” He shifted his legs to get more comfortable, easily readjusting them both as if she didn’t weigh anything. “I am here to talk to you. I’m not going back until you understand that 46 has nothing to do with why I’m attracted to you.”

“I get that now.” At least she hoped he meant it and wasn’t fooling himself.

“Good.” He turned his head, peering around the room. “Where do you sleep?”

She jerked her head in the direction of the hallway. “It’s a two-bedroom house. Do you want a tour later? You probably haven’t seen a house before, huh?”

He let go of her waist with one hand and hooked it behind her knees. It stunned her a bit when he just stood, holding her in his arms. He kicked at the sweats to free them from around his ankles before he stalked toward the bedrooms.

“What are you doing?” Alli clutched at his shoulders for something to cling to.

He paused to stare at her. “I’m going to mount you.”

Obsidian ignored the way Alli sucked in air sharply. Her home was much larger than his room at Medical. A lot of furniture filled the space, things that were odd but not unattractive. Lights led him to a room with a small bed and a desk.

He twisted his body to fit both of them through the door as he pulled her tighter against him.

“Next one,” she whispered. “This is the one I use for my office.” One hand released his shoulder to point down the hallway.

He studied her eyes and didn’t see anger or fear there while he swung around, in search of where she slept. His nostrils flared but her scent lingered everywhere and he was unable to use his sense of smell to track it down. The second room was much larger with a bigger bed. It looked more appealing than the one he had been assigned.

The doorway was a tight squeeze with her cradled in his arms but he managed to get them both through it, scraping his back against the wall instead of hers. Pink fabric covered the mattress and she had at least eight pillows piled near the top of it. He resisted the urge to toss her there since he wasn’t sure if it was soft enough to cushion her fall.