“Focus on my voice. I’m right here. I have you,” he rasped against her ear.

“Smiley,” Justice North urged. “Hand her to Brass. He’ll carry her out to the SUV.”

“Vanni, we need to go. You need medical attention and that can’t happen here.”

She lifted her head and stared up at Smiley. “Don’t leave me.” She was terrified of strangers taking her anywhere.

“I can’t ride with you because I’m drugged too. It’s best if they separate us.”

The ponytailed guy drew her attention as he stepped closer and held out his arms. “Give her to me.”

She let go of Smiley and was passed over to the big New Species. The stabbing pain to her stomach returned and she cried out. He turned with her, walking toward the back of the bar. She writhed in his arms, clutching his protective vest. They passed through a door that was held open by NSO Security. Cold air touched her when they stepped outside.

“Stop!” Vanni couldn’t take the pain. “Take me back.”

He halted and looked at her. It was dim in the alley but a few lights helped her see. He was a handsome man, albeit scary looking.

“We’ll get you to Homeland as fast as possible. There will be a helicopter on standby if you worsen on the way. We can pull off and have them land nearby then transfer you for transport. We just have to get out of the city first.”

“I can’t take this.” Tears filled her eyes. “Was Smiley telling me the truth?”

“You reek of a breeding drug.”

“Is there a way to counteract it?”

“No. You’ll have to ride it out or once you’re in Medical they can attempt to help you. We can’t risk giving you other drugs until then. Species have died that way in the past. Their hearts stopped beating. You’ll want to be with our doctors so they can save you.”

The seriousness of the situation hit home. “Am I going to die?”

He frowned. “I don’t know. This might be a different version of the drug we heard was being tested. It smells the same but your reactions are milder than what we felt.”

“Mild? I feel as though I’m being ripped to shreds from the inside out.” She panted. “This has got to be worse than labor.”

“You’re not screaming and going into convulsions. That’s what happens when Species fight the drug by refusing to share sex.”

“Sex really does stop the pain? Are you serious?”

“The drug is designed to create uncontrollable sexual urges so sex overrides the pain sensors from what we understand. Most of us have no memory of what happens after being dosed when the pain becomes too strong.”

“Move,” someone behind them ordered. “Let’s get them on the road.”

Brass carried her to the closest black SUV and one of the NSO guards opened the door. Brass addressed him. “Get the soft restraints. She needs to be bound so she doesn’t hurt herself. One of you will need to sit in the back with her to keep her from slamming her head into the glass if she gets that urge.”

That was the last straw for Vanni. How much more pain did he think she was going to suffer if trying to bash her head into a window was a real concern? “Just hit me. Knock me out.”

Brass frowned.

She sucked in a deep breath and yelled to get her point across. She meant it. “HIT ME!”

He bent and set her on her unsteady feet. “I’m afraid I’ll damage you.”

“I’m already in agony, damn it. Just do it.” She lifted her chin and closed her eyes, hoping it wouldn’t hurt too much.

The punch never came. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and her back pressed against the side of the SUV. A big firm body pinned her there. She opened her eyes and was stunned to realize Smiley had her.

“No one is going to hit you. It could break bones. You’re too fragile. You can take the pain.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I can’t.”

“Smiley,” Brass urged, “I’ll be careful.”

“Bullshit. You can’t guarantee you won’t break her jaw.” Smiley’s face bore an angry expression and he suddenly lifted her off her feet, putting her at his face level. “I swore no one would hurt you and I keep my word. I’m going to kiss you. It will distract you from the pain.”

Vanni forgot how to breathe when he leaned in and lowered his gaze to her mouth. She could have turned away but didn’t. She’d like to have blamed it on the drug, the pain, but had to admit she wanted him to. It seemed more than likely that she’d die and she’d been attracted to him since they met. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the first light brush of his soft lips touching hers.

He pressed tighter against her and released her hip to tangle his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss. He tasted of cherry—probably what had flavored his soda. The pain faded to be replaced by need. She wanted Smiley more than she’d ever wanted any man. Her breasts ached and the desire to rub against him, feel him inside her became so intense she moaned from the need.

“Let her go,” a deep voice demanded. “Smiley!”

Smiley broke the kiss and turned away to shoot a fierce look at Brass. “You’re not hitting her.” Smiley faced her again. It was too dark in the alleyway to really see his eyes. “Let me take care of you. I can keep away the pain with pleasure.”

“It’s a bad idea.” Brass lowered his voice. “Don’t forget that she might be the one who dosed your drink.”

Smiley held her gaze. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t stand to see her suffer, knowing the pain she’ll face.”

He freed his hand from her hair and gripped her hips, rubbing against her. The feel of his stiff cock trapped inside his jeans brushing against her excruciatingly swollen clit was heavenly. Raw pleasure had her closing her eyes again and moaning louder. Part of her was horrified that there were people around them, strangers, but it did take away the pain. She clutched at Smiley as if he were a lifeline. He’d become one. She spread her legs and wrapped them around his hips, locking herself to him.

“Secure the perimeter,” Smiley demanded. “Give us privacy.”

“Fuck,” the angry-sounding Brass muttered. “You heard him. Lock this area down and give them space. Eyes elsewhere.” He paused. “At least get her inside the building, Smiley.”

She barely heard the words as Smiley continued to rock his hips, thrusting against her in a slow rhythm that made thinking impossible. Her clit was so sensitive she couldn’t focus on anything else but that firm rhythm of his sex against hers. It was the most powerful awareness of a man she’d ever experienced.

His hands left her hips and slid to her ass, cupping both cheeks and grinding their bodies together more effectively. Vanni buried her face against his neck and opened her mouth, desperate to taste any part of him since he’d stopped kissing her. She licked him just under his ear then latched on to his earlobe, lightly sucking it.

He shuddered against her and made a sexy sound. His mouth found her throat and he brushed kisses there. “Vanni.”

Her name on his lips made her burn up inside. It might be just another hot flash but she didn’t care. She couldn’t get close enough to Smiley with their clothes on. She needed to feel his skin and she ached to have him inside her. An image flashed in her mind—what it would feel like if they were naked and he fucked her—sending her into orgasm.

Vanni released his ear and pressed her lips against his throat, crying out. Her entire body shook from the force of it. Ecstasy tore her away from any sense of reality while she rode out the mother of all climaxes.

Smiley stilled his hips, his breathing harsh. “I’m here. I’ve still got you.”

She slowly became aware of their surroundings again. The night air chilled her skin. Her skirt was hiked up and bunched between her thighs and his jeans. His cock was hard and pressed firmly against her pussy through the layers of clothing. She hadn’t come in her underwear since she was a teenager messing around with her first boyfriend, too afraid to have sex for fear of it hurting when she lost her virginity.