She laughed. “I used to mess up some of the blood samples when I took yours so they would have to send me back. I’m so sorry. I felt guilty when I had to take more blood but it gave me a chance to see you again.”
He didn’t look angry. “You touched me and got close enough for me to smell your wonderful scent. It was worth a small sting and a little bloodletting.”
“I would stop what I was doing and watch you every time they took you outside for training in the north area. I hated the endurance testing when they hit you. I would cry.”
He shifted, moving them onto their sides, still facing each other. She hated the loss of their connection when he slowly withdrew his cock. The swelling had dissipated.
“I hated endurance testing too.”
She debated telling him more but decided to be honest. “I did enjoy the time you broke that one asshole’s leg. You snapped it at the knee when you kicked out. I heard him scream all the way in my office. He cried in Medical while they set his leg. I went down there, pretending to be updating test results just so I could watch him suffer.”
True laughed. “He cried? He was cruel. He liked to hit me a lot. I enjoyed it, too, when I broke his leg. He got too close and I’d been waiting for an opportunity to do some damage.”
“I just wanted to get you free.”
He leaned in closer, studying her face. “Why didn’t you try to find me after I was taken to the NSO?”
“I was told you didn’t want to see me. Agent Brice swore he gave you my message. Now, I realize he lied about that. He lied about everything and I believed it all.”
Confusion clouded True’s features. “What message?”
Jeanie frowned. “I was so worried about you after the raid that I told Agent Brice I planned to drive to the New Species Homeland to make sure you’d gotten out safe. He told me that would be too dangerous and he’d arrange for a safer way for me to see you because of all the protesters at the gate. The next day he texted me a few pictures of you wearing jeans. You were outside at Homeland. He said he’d taken them to prove you were really alive and well but that you told him you wanted nothing to do with me.”
True’s tone was harsh. “He lied. I want to find this asshole. No one ever mentioned your name to me or ever gave me a message.” He calmed a little but still looked angry. “He had photos of me outdoors, in jeans?”
She nodded. “It looked like you were in some kind of park. You were barefoot, wearing jeans and a black tank top, standing next to a blond New Species a little shorter than you are and there was a lot of grass and trees in the background. You were smiling and looked happy. It was three days after Drackwood was taken down.”
A growl sounded deep within his throat. “Who is this human? We were taken to Reservation at first. That photo must have been taken there. How did he get it? It’s highly secure there. He has access to information from the hotline here at Homeland and he had access to get pictures of me at Reservation.”
“And he’s a big fat liar and a vicious jerk since he could have gotten help to your people a hell of a lot faster than he led me to believe. He kept telling me I didn’t have enough evidence. I always needed more.”
True rolled abruptly, pinning Jeanie on her back with him looming over her again. “When we find this Agent Brice, I’m going to kill him with my bare hands after my people get the information out of him that they need.” He stared down at her, his rage apparent. “Why did you let them drug you to save me? It must have been difficult. I was given the breeding drug once. It was some of the worst pain I ever experienced.”
“I love you. I couldn’t let you die. Polanitis said you’d be spared if I agreed to take the drugs and let them test how they affected me.”
“How did that monster know you had feelings for me?”
“He’d placed a hidden camera inside my office. I stopped working every time they brought you to the north area and I told you I’d cry sometimes. It was pure hell watching you be hurt for their experiments. I knew how many lives it could save but…” Emotion choked her, remembering all the suffering he’d endured. “It wasn’t worth it. It tore me apart watching them hurt you.”
True nuzzled her cheek with his. “You suffered when they tested their drugs too.”
Her fingers brushed over him, rubbing where she could touch his skin, which was always hotter than hers. “It doesn’t matter anymore. All that matters is that we’re both alive and here together.”
“You took pain for me.” His voice deepened. “You suffered so I could live. I never thought anyone could love me, Jeanie. I will give you so much pleasure to erase the memories of the pain if you’ll allow me.”
“I love you, True.” She cupped his face and stared into his eyes. “The past doesn’t matter. A future with you more than makes up for it.”
True kissed her nose. “I’m so happy you’re my mate.”
She smiled at him. “Me too, True.”
He took possession of her mouth, kissing her soundly. One hand lowered as he shifted over her, a big palm curved around her breast and his thumb circled her taut nipple. She arched her back to press more firmly against him as she adjusted her legs to wrap around his thighs. She wanted him again even though they’d just made love. She could never get enough of True.
The doorbell rang. True growled as he stopped kissing her. “We should ignore that.”
The doorbell rang again and someone knocked loudly a few times, using their fist.
“It sounds important. You know what happened last time.”
“You’re right. Stay here.”
She was loath to let him go as she spread her legs and unhooked her ankles from the back of his thighs. He lifted up, rolled over and slid off the edge of the bed. She turned on her side, smiling at the sight of her aroused, very naked mate. The heated stare he gave her showed how much he hated leaving but then he turned away, moving toward the door.
“Uh, True?”
He turned and stared at her. “What?”
“As much as I love to see you naked, you might want to put something on before you answer the door.”
He grinned. “You love seeing me naked?”
Her gaze slowly traveled down the long length of his body. “Oh yeah.”
He walked to the dresser as the doorbell rang again. He quickly yanked on a pair of sweats and gave her a brief glance before striding out of the bedroom. “Don’t get dressed,” he called out. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry,” she urged, grabbing for the sheet since he’d left the bedroom door open. She covered up in case whoever was at the door needed to come inside. She just really hoped it wasn’t bad news. One glance at the clock assured her it had to be something important for someone to show up in the middle of the night.
True unlocked the door and yanked it open. He growled and showed his teeth as he glared at Jinx. “What do you want?”
Jinx’s nose wrinkled as he inhaled. “I interrupted you sharing sex with Shiver.”
Jealousy over the male’s interest still burned. “She’s my mate. And yes, you did interrupt. What do you want?”
“Easy. I know she’s yours. She agreed to mate with you?”
“She did.”
“You signed the papers?”
“Not yet but I plan to call for them to be printed out in the morning then we’ll sign.”
“I’m glad.” The male didn’t reflect any joy on his face.
“What do you want? It’s late. My mate needs sleep.”
“We all know what happened and have been awake since the human males attempted to take her.” He paused. “We met again in the library while we waited for word of her condition. We were overjoyed to know that all the drugs left her system.”
“I am as well. Did you come to make threats because I wasn’t here to protect her? I don’t need a reminder.” Feelings of guilt surged to the surface. “I believed she was safe or I never would have left her side. Be assured it won’t happen again.”