“I’m just friendly. You’re a klutz! You must be the most uncoordinated Species alive.”

“I chose my name because it’s bad luck to make me angry. Do you want me to prove that?”

True cleared his throat. “I need to return to Jeanie.” He glanced around the room, making eye contact with every male. “Jeanie is mine. I won’t hit you in front of her but there will be reprisal if you attempt to challenge me for her interest.” He stared directly at Jinx, then Flirt. “Am I clear?”

“Perfectly,” Query answered. “Go to your female and be patient.”

True nodded. “Thank you for helping her. We’ll meet with you just after first shift starts.”

He spun, marched to the double doors and threw them open. He heard Flirt and Jinx exchange another round of insults before one of them snarled and a chair crashed to the floor. He felt satisfaction that they’d suffer the aftermath of being struck repeatedly since he’d been denied that pleasure. Jeanie would notice bloody knuckles if he got into another fight.

His light mood faded as he exited the elevator on the third floor and made eye contact with the officer in the hallway. He walked by him, not in the mood to have another discussion with the male. He needed to convince Jeanie to be his mate. Her future couldn’t depend on whether they were able to identify the human pretending to be an agent. She meant too much to him. There was a chance she’d return to the out world if she was cleared of all charges and that made his chest hurt. He couldn’t lose Jeanie forever.

Jeanie sat on the couch when he locked the door behind him. He glanced around as he inhaled. There was no sight or scent of Luna. “She didn’t stay?”

“I wanted a few minutes alone.”

He tensed, automatically becoming suspicious and glanced at the wall where a phone should be. There wasn’t one. Flame hadn’t transferred the line yet. The tension drained out of him as he approached her, certain she hadn’t attempted to contact the out world.

“Are you well?”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m a little tired.”

“Did you eat?”

“No. I’m still stuffed.”

He crouched, his knees spread to make room for hers between them, and gripped the edge of the couch on both sides of her thighs. “You need sleep.” He glanced down and wished she needed sex instead. His dick hardened in response to her feminine scent and her closeness. “We’ll go to bed.”

She reached up and her palm hovered near his cheek but she didn’t make contact.

“Do it,” he urged.

Her touch was light as she stroked his face. “You’re so good to me.”

I’d like to be a lot better. Thoughts of stripping her bare ran through his mind until he had to lower his knees to brace them on the floor just to accommodate how tight the front of his pants had become. The crouching position wasn’t comfortable.

“Why were you sad earlier? I saw that emotion.”

She looked away, obviously displeased with the subject.

“Jeanie?” His voice deepened. “Don’t avoid my questions.” He leaned in closer. “I’m not going anywhere or allowing you to move away until you are honest. Don’t bite your lower lip. You do that when you are undecided but there’s no choice. Talk.”

She met his gaze. “I hate that you always have to defend me and that you’ve gotten shit from other New Species. You even got into a fight with your friend over me. I feel guilty, okay? All I ever wanted for you was to have a happy life but I’m screwing that up.”

Her heart was soft. He liked that about her. “I am happy and Species males are aggressive. I’ve fought with plenty of them and will again. It’s just our way.”

Her fingers slid into his hair. “We had to move into a new apartment. Exactly how many times have you had to do that before I came into your life?”

The sensation of her fingernails lightly scratching his scalp turned him on even more. It was a reminder of how they’d felt raking down his backside while he’d fucked her. “Never, but males don’t usually visit me. We meet downstairs or at other locations. He came into my home looking for a fight and he found one.”

“Have you ever exchanged blows with Flirt before?”

“Yes. I train with many males.”

“You know what I mean.”

“We settle disagreements sometimes with physical gestures. It’s in our nature.” A new thought occurred, a possible reason she might refuse to agree to be his mate. “Are you fearful that I’d ever hit you? I wouldn’t.” He glanced down her body, appalled at the notion. There were a lot of ways he wanted to touch Jeanie but it would only be to create pleasure. He stared deeply into her eyes. “I give my word. I could be enraged but I swear I would never cause you pain.”

She sat up a little, getting close enough that a deep breath from him would press his chest against hers. “I know that, True. You had every reason in the world to strike out at me when we were at Drackwood but you never did. You could have hurt me if you’d wanted to. I always ignored the safety protocols when I came into your cell.”

Jeanie had the ability to melt away all the coldness inside him that had built up in his lifetime. “Why did you trust me if you were aware of the danger?”

“I just wanted to be closer to you.” Her voice softened as she lifted her other hand to place it over his heart. “I couldn’t resist.”

He couldn’t either as he closed the distance between them and took possession of her mouth. Her soft lips parted in welcome as he kissed her. He wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her firmly against his body. The urge to carry her to his bed was strong but he resisted, trying to take it slow.

True slid his thumb into the back of her pants, hooked them, and lifted her off the couch with his other arm. She gasped against his tongue but didn’t protest. He shifted his hold and began to tear them down her legs to free her of the material. He had to move away from the couch to do it but achieved his goal of getting her bare when she helped by wiggling and kicking them free.

He refused to stop kissing her as he lowered her to the soft cushions. Kissing her was incredible but he needed more as he broke away and gasped in air. He studied her flushed features. Her beautiful eyes opened and she stared up at him.

“Lean back,” he demanded.

She did it, to his joy. His gaze lowered and he hated the loose T-shirt covering her lap. Her pale thighs were exposed but he wanted to see every inch of her remarkable body. He hoped she didn’t notice that his touch wasn’t as gentle as it should be when he gripped the cotton and tugged. Her arms rose to help him get her out of it. He just tossed the discarded top next to him and gripped her thighs.

Jeanie gasped when he lifted, manipulating her body easily by sliding her ass to the edge of the seat. He spread her legs wide, exposing her sex to his view. She wasn’t wet enough to take him yet but she would be soon. He planted his face right where he wanted to be most.

Her surprised sound should have slowed him down but he was too intent on her scent. She was everything good to him as his mouth opened and he fastened his lips around her clit. He sucked, licked, and growled in pleasure when her hands tangled in his hair. He didn’t care if he’d shocked her or even if she attempted to tug him away. He had to have Jeanie.

Soft moans filled his ears and she caressed him instead of trying to fight him off. He nuzzled in tighter, her inner thighs squeezing a little against his cheeks. It amused him if she believed they were strong enough to distract him. He growled again, louder, knowing what it would do to that sensitive bundle of nerves he played with. Females loved vibrations and Jeanie responded by rubbing her pussy against his mouth.

“True,” she panted. “Oh yes. God. Don’t stop.”

He wasn’t about to. Nothing would get him away from her. Her taste drove him wild, his dick was rock hard, and the urge to mount her grew stronger with each passing second. Her fingers knotted in his hair and she sucked in a loud breath. Her clit was stiff, swollen, and he knew she was about to come. He applied more pressure with his tongue, rubbing furiously against the spot he knew she liked best. He had to grab her hips instead of her thighs when she began to buck, almost escaping from his ministrations.