I leaned against the bathroom door, heart in my throat. Guess that answered that question, huh?As the tears started to gather in my eyes, I slumped to the bathroom vanity. My hair was a rat's nest. There was a huge love bruise on my shoulder. But overall, I didn't look any different. Too bad I felt completely different. I could still feel him inside me. Feel his skin as it pressed into mine. His hands as he molded my flesh. The way my sex melted and creamed for his. I'd never felt so close to anyone as I did to Ransom. Felt understood, like I belonged in the world. As if someone might miss me when I was gone. Right now, it felt like he'd taken a knife and ripped through me with one blow. "If I don't change, I could need you forever."I gasped at the pain all over again. Need me, not want me. My parents needed me. Well, my power at least. But outside of that fact, they certainly didn't want me. I'd thought Ransom wanted me. Wanted me for more than just my power. But appare

I did a little more than get new clothes on. I took another shower. I didn't mind smelling like Ransom, I just didn't want to feel the slight grit of dried sweat on my skin all night. "About time. I was about to send out the search party.""Which would have been you?""Hey, your rules." He winked at me. "Dinner's ready."I rubbed a hand over my belly. "Thank Gaia. What's on the menu?""Pork steaks and veggies.""Sounds delicious." I sat in my customary spot at the island. The glass of water beckoned me. I took it, drained it in one go. Wiping my lip, I held the glass out to him. A cheeky smile on my face. "Pretty please?"He refilled it and handed it back. "A little dehydrated?""Yeah. My mouth feels like the desert. Or what I would assume the desert feels like." I bounced one shoulder in the air. Ransom leaned in and kissed me. "Feels like a nice fucking mouth to me."I rolled my eyes and pushed him back. "Food now. Sex after I ice my crotch."He snorted, sp

"Kiema, honey, I need you to check his vitals," Saint said. I nodded before crawling over to the fully naked man. His dark blond hair covered his face. "His coat is the same color as his head hair. His mane the color of his pubic hair.""I'll make a note of it. Can you give me his pulse?""I don't have a watch, and can't see a clock.""I'll run a timer. Ready?"I nodded."55 beats per minute. Is that good?""That's fucking amazing, Ki-Ki. Before, he was running around ninety, ninety-five at rest," Asher rushed to answer. "Is he running a temp?"I laid the inside of my wrist against his forehead. "Maybe a little one. He feels slightly warm to the touch. But dry, there's no sweat or dampness.""Good, honey. You're doing great. Open his eyes for me. Do his pupils look normal?"I checked. "They seem a little bigger than normal, but I wouldn't say they look abnormal. Does that make sense?""Sure does. He was saying his vision and smell were off the charts. It would

"Thank Gaia your ankle healed while we were sleeping," Ransom said as he slid breakfast over the island to me. "By the way, I've got something I need to tell you before we hook back up with the guys.""Okay." I smiled at him in thanks. Breakfasts had never been an important part of my day. But since spending time with Ransom, I could begin to crave them. Or maybe it was just the man who cooked for me in nothing more than a sheet and a smile. He braced himself on his hands as he leaned over the countertop. "The camera was still on this morning.""Okay?" It took me a minute, then all the blood drained from my face. "Were they there? Were they watching? Shit, shit, shit. I'm such an idiot. I didn't even think. They we - ""No," he barked at me. He reached across the island, grabbed my hands. "No one was there. Saint came in at the very end. He's the one who told me about it. He's already locked that section of recording away. It's your decision on whether you want to keep it or n

"I'll start digging into the Apollo, Inc. files. According to their homepage, they've been in business since the mid-1960s," Xander said and left the screen again."I think we should work under the assumption that OTIS reached out to Kiema," Saint said. "It seems to fit the most pieces of the puzzle with the least effort."I nodded as Ransom agreed from behind me."We're going to need the specifics of the plan they hashed out with you, Kiema," Ransom said. Saint and Asher nodded. "We should wait for Taryk for that though. He's our security chief," Saint added for my benefit."Got it. That's fine with me. My brain is really full right now. I might go lay down, if that's okay with all of you." I looked at the two men on the screen, got their nods. Ransom squeezed my shoulders. "Of course, angel. Go take a break. I'll come get you if something new comes up."I tilted my head, kissed his fingers. "Thank you so much, guys. Ransom's lucky to have such wonderful people in h