“So when do we get to sleep in your bed?”
Jessie put the last dish in the dishwasher and turned. Justice sat at the table with his
laptop open. He’d slept every night at her house for the past four days but in the
evenings he still had hours of work to complete. In the mornings he was gone before
she woke and stayed gone all day. He left the office in time to share dinner with her and she appreciated it, knowing he was a workaholic. Her father hadn’t ever been that
considerate when she’d lived with him and Justice obviously made the effort to spend
time with her.
He didn’t look up. “We can’t.”
She frowned. “I haven’t seen your house yet and I’d like to.”
He finally glanced up from his screen. “Jessie, I have too many people visiting my
house. They are always dropping by for one reason or another and I have a Species
male who
Justice slammed his fist on the desk and glared at the phone he’d just hung up.Some new hate church had taken to the airwaves to rant about how New Species wereanimals, not people, and referred to the NSO as nothing more than a private zoo. Itmade his blood boil.No Species had asked to be genetically altered with animal DNA, it hadn’t been achoice they were given, and their only so-called crime had been to survive year afteryear of abuse at the hands of scientists, doctors, and researchers who used their bodiesto create drugs to help humans. Not that they got much appreciation for any medicaladvancements their suffering had provided.The door opened and Tiger popped his head in cautiously. “I could hear yousnarling from next door.” He edged inside and closed the door. “Are you all right?”“It’s just a bad day.”“That’s not unc
Two weeks of misery had passed since she’d kicked Justice out of her house. He’dleft her alone, had managed to avoid her completely. She forced her attention on Breeze.The big building loomed behind the Species woman and excitement shone from hereyes.“This is it. You’re going to have fun, Jessie.”“This is your big hangout, huh?”“Yes. It’s a bar and a dance club rolled into one. This is where we hang out withfriends or hook up with a male if we would like to share sex. I will introduce you andyou will make new friends. The dancing is fun and we are getting good at it. Ellie lovesto dance and she taught us how. It will be good for you to do more than work or stayinside your home.”“I love Ellie,” Jessie admitted. She’d met the woman who ran the women’s dorm,had instantly hit it off with her and become fast fr
Breeze paced the bedroom, shooting glances at Jessie and clenched her fists. “Itmakes more sense now. Justice is very smart.” She paused. “Now I see it. He movedyou into this house to keep you next door to him. Everyone wondered why he wouldput a human here. They only live in the human village except for Ellie who lives withFury. We were told it was because Justice is close with your father and he wanted youin the safest place at Homeland. These homes are guarded and secured more than anyothers.”“I know.”“He lives next door and can come in here without anyone knowing.”Jessie nodded. “I know.”Breeze gaped at her. “He is so smart. Tonight…” Breeze threw her hand over hermouth before dropping it to her side. “He wasn’t worried about your safety or youbeing in a bar with our kind. He was jealous. He was
“My head,” Jessie groaned.Breeze laughed, making her head hurt worse. She’d swallowed two aspirin andprayed desperately they would work soon. It felt as if someone were using ajackhammer behind her forehead.“You should never drink.” Breeze chuckled.“Stop laughing. Please? It hurts.”“I had to carry you to bed.”“I don’t remember anything past the second beer. How many did I have?”“Many more but I drank three times what you did. I didn’t pass out. I tried to getyou to drink wine after the beer was gone but you just said there were two of me.”“Thanks for putting me in bed.”“I brought you something.”“What? Hopefully it’s a shot to knock me back out.”Breeze walked out of the bathroom where Jessie soaked in the tub and returnedcarrying a dress bag in
Jessie turned when the hand gripped her waist with force. The male was a littleaggressive to hold her that tightly while dancing but she knew no one would hurt her.She looked up and gasped. Justice glowered at her. He was at the party and he didn’tseem happy to see her, judging by the way rage glinted in his dark eyes. She glanceddown when his other hand reached out and both of them locked around her hips. Hewore a dark-navy suit, a black, silk tie and appeared civilized from the neck down.“You need to go home right now.”Jessie met his gaze again, taking in the extent of his anger as she studied his harshfeatures. He’s livid. His nose flared, he softly growled and his fingers tightened their hold, to confirm her assessment. She frantically turned her head to search over hershoulder, spotted Breeze and didn’t see surprise on her face. She had a sinking feelingthat her friend
Jessie zipped her gym bag but Justice took it from her before she could lift it fromthe bed. She grinned, amused that he’d really driven her straight to the house to pack.He’d helped by bagging everything inside the bathroom and had taken most of it nextdoor already.“I could have done this tomorrow when you’re at work.”“I want it settled tonight.” Justice reached up and caressed her cheek with hisfingertips. “I don’t want you to have a reason to come over here again. You live withme.”His tender words filled her with happiness. He was totally committed to theirrelationship now, it wasn’t a secret anymore and he wasn’t hesitant in the least to makeit permanent.“What about all those boxes in the living room? Are we going to move those too?”“No. I will have someone do that in the morning.”J
Justice awoke to a strange, faint noise, something unfamiliar, and opened his eyes.Jessie remained tucked securely in front of him, their bodies still pressed tightlytogether and she breathed slowly and steadily, sleeping. Whatever had disturbed hissleep hadn’t been her. He listened, putting his senses on alert and picked up the soundof a vehicle approaching.He turned his head, glanced at the clock and realized there were a few hours beforethe sun rose. No one should be driving near his home at that time. Security patrolledthe grounds but stayed far from his house the way he’d ordered them to do after he’dchewed them out for invading his privacy every time he roared. He carefully eased hishold on his mate and slid from the bed without waking her.He rushed out of his room, down the hallway and into the living room. The lightswere still on from when he’d brought Jessie home
“Justice is going to be fine.” Doctor Treadmont smiled assurances. “He pulledthrough surgery and we’re using drugs to help his healing accelerate.”Jessie closed her eyes and fought tears of relief. “Thank you.” She opened her eyesand gave the doctor a grateful look. “Thank you so much.”Tiger cleared his throat and drew her attention. He and about fifty other NewSpecies were crammed inside the Medical Center reception area with her. Some of themsat in chairs, on the long counter near the front doors and on the floor. She’d taken upresidence sitting on a desk she’d pulled next to Justice’s room while he’d undergonesurgery.“Can we get you showered and changed now?” Tiger inched closer.Jessie glanced down, noting she hadn’t removed the vest and her bloodied clothes.She shook her head.Tiger frowned