She nodded, trying to grab hold of that hope. “Okay.”

“We’ve rescued some of them. Most were long dead by the time we tracked them down.”

“Dead?”

He frowned. “I’m not telling you more.”

“Please?”

“They didn’t survive long. Let’s go inside.”

She got out of the cart before he could round it. “I can walk.”

He growled, not happy, but reached for the bags. “Stay on the grass. The sidewalks will be hot.”

She didn’t care if her feet burned but knew it would upset him so she kept to the grass. He punched in a code and swiped his card to gain access to the dorm. It reminded her of Drackwood and Cornas, with their security measures. The community room was empty when they entered the building. He led her directly to the elevators. No words were spoken until they reached the third floor.

Flame remained stationed in the hallway, leaning against a wall. He smiled. “That didn’t take long. All your personal stuff has been moved into the new home.” He straightened and opened the door for them. “I had them deliver lunch. I hope you don’t mind.” He slipped True a card. “Same code.”

“Thank you.” True gripped her arm, steering her inside.

“Thanks,” she mumbled.

“Is she okay?” Flame sounded concerned.

“She will be. Thank you. Don’t let anyone disturb us.”

“You got it.” Flame firmly closed the door.

Jeanie turned when she reached the center of the room, watching True place the bags on the counter between the living room and kitchen. A tray rested on the table with two covered dishes. “You eat. I’m not hungry.”

He frowned. “You need to.”

“I kind of lost my appetite. Do you mind if I go lie down?”

She didn’t wait for an answer, just walked into the bedroom. The sleigh bed was a leather monstrosity, set higher than the one at his old place. She paused, hating that she was the reason they’d had to move. The mattress stood waist high and she’d have to climb on it. The bright-blue bedding was pretty but she preferred True’s.

“Jeanie?”

She turned, staring at him where he braced his arms against the doorframe. “Yes?”

He released it, came closer. “Tell me how to make you feel better.”

Her gaze traveled down his body, pausing over his wide chest, lowered to his narrow waist and tight stomach, to the sweats that covered his muscular, long legs. She stared at the carpet, not daring to answer.

He stepped closer until she had to look up or just stare at his crotch. She examined his full lips, wishing he’d kiss her. That would distract her from all the pain and misery. Regrets were aplenty too.

“Jeanie?” He reached out and his hand curled around her hip. The other one brushed her hair back and his thumb caressed her jawline. “What do you need?”

“You,” she got out. It surprised them both, judging from the way his brown eyes widened and her cheeks warmed.

True made a soft, animalistic sound that was kind of sexy. “I’m hoping you mean what I think you do.”

It was an encouragement to her, to reach out and glide her palms up his chest. She wished the shirt was gone, longing to touch warm skin instead of the soft material stretched over his firm body. Her fingers curled around the back of his neck, grasping him there, and tugged to lower his head. He complied and she tilted her head slightly, licking her lips to wet them as she rose on tiptoe.

“Kiss me? Please?”

He didn’t need to be asked twice. His mouth lowered and she closed her eyes. The first brush of his mouth against hers sent shivers down her spine. Those firm lips were softer than they appeared to be as they met hers. He parted her lips, his tongue slipping inside to explore. Excitement surged as Jeanie clung to him. The hand cupping her face lowered to her hip until both hands encircled them and he spread his fingers.

True growled and she pressed even tighter against him, kissing him frantically. He responded by sliding his hands around to her ass and gave each cheek a teasing squeeze. She gasped when he used his hold to lift her.

Jeanie spread her legs and wrapped them around his hips as he walked forward. Surprise registered when instead of carrying her to the bed, she ended up perched on the edge of the dresser. It was lower than the one at his old apartment. They were hip to hip. His stiff cock pressed against her pussy as his hands slid out from under her ass to hug her hips again. The kiss was broken when he tore his mouth away.

She opened her eyes in frustration. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

His brown eyes were narrowed and his breathing had become as erratic as her own. “I can’t,” he rasped. He dipped his head once more, almost kissing her again but hesitated right before touching her lips. “I need to slow things down or I’ll frighten you.”

He never stops surprising me. “No. You won’t.”

He didn’t look convinced when he studied her eyes, seeming to search for whatever answers he sought.

“Don’t hold back,” she assured him. “I know you won’t hurt me. I want you, True.”

He stared deeply into her eyes.

“I know what you are, who you are, and I want you.” She couldn’t state it any clearer. No one ever needed to remind her that he wasn’t completely human and she accepted that he probably would be different from the few lovers she’d known. “Take me.”

He kissed her, invading her mouth with his tongue. Her eyes closed to savor the sensations. He gripped her hips and yanked her pelvis against his, grinding his trapped cock against the sweats that covered her pussy. The solid feel of him rubbing against her clit through two layers of material felt incredible but she wished they were naked.

She moaned against his tongue as her arms curled around his shoulders and she clawed at him through the shirt. It didn’t tear no matter how much she tried to burrow through the cotton to reach his skin with her fingernails. True used his hold on her hips to keep her locked in place as he rolled his hips, tormenting her until she was ready to come in her pants. Her legs adjusted higher, wrapping tighter around his waist.

He stopped moving and she wanted to scream when he pulled away from her mouth. They both panted. She opened her eyes again, staring up at him.

“Let go.”

She eased her hold on him and leaned back a little, her hands bracing on the dresser.

“Wh—”

She gasped when he tore at her shirt, shredding it apart as easily as if it were paper. He threw it behind him. His shirt was torn over his head next, baring that sexy chest. She reached up and touched his skin, loving how warm and firm he felt under her hands. She worshiped him with her gaze and touch.

His eyes lowered to her bare breasts and he lifted her higher until she wasn’t seated on the hard surface anymore. He dipped his head and she gripped his shoulders to keep her balance. One of his hands palmed a breast while his mouth covered the other. He didn’t gently lick her or tease her. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, letting his sharp teeth scrape over the sensitive tip. She moaned as he sucked on her harder and she tightened her legs around his waist. The sensation shot to her clit when he ground his pelvis against the vee of her sweats.

She was going to come and her pants were still on. She moaned and thrashed, clinging to him, arching her back and trying to buck her hips against the hard length of his cock trapped inside his pants. A growl tore from his throat and his mouth released her breast. His head rose, his eyes narrowed. He looked wild and sexy as their gazes met.

“Too rough?” he growled.

She shook head, her body aching too much to care if he was rough. He released her breast and grasped the back of her sweats. She felt a tug and heard material tear. She looked down. He’d torn the sweats apart down the back. His hands gripped the material on the sides of her thighs and tore them more, until her pussy was bared to his view. One more strong jerk and he completely removed them and tossed them aside.