Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
His first thought was to defend himself. He’d freed the tiger instead of killing it for her. She’d wanted the damn thing alive, and he’d given her that gift. She hadn’t hesitated, not one bit, to help him do it. She’d almost begged him to keep the tiger alive. Still, she was right. She’d probably expected him to find a way to put the animal out and he hadn’t explained why it was so dangerous. He wasn’t sorry he’d saved the animal and he wasn’t going to lie to her and tell her he was. There were so few of the tigers, and the male was in its prime or getting there.
More, he knew she’d been happy about it, that kiss had told him so.
He remained silent, trying to puzzle out what other men might say or do to defuse the highly charged situation. He didn’t know the first thing about relationships.
“That wasn’t fair,” Shylah said, her face turned away from him as they walked. She studiously kept her gaze on the thick grove of trees marking where the clearing was. “I practically forced you to save the tiger and I don’t have the right to be angry about your methods.”
He knew for certain that wasn’t true. “You aren’t angry, baby, you’re hurt,” he pointed out. “And scared. Both of which you have every right to be.” The last thing he’d expected was an apology from her. Those tears. Her averted face so he couldn’t see them. She turned him inside out without trying. “I knew I could do it and I wanted to do it for you. I’m not going to pretend to be noble and say I was risking my life to save the endangered tiger. I risked it for you, but you’re right, I was risking a lot. I should have talked it over with you first, so you’d be comfortable with it.”
Mostly he hadn’t told her his plans because he’d been afraid that he’d choose to kill the tiger instead. That he would fall back on his training, the thing that made it easy for him to avoid all people as well as controversy. He’d spent years keeping to himself and staying quiet, barely acknowledging those around him. It was entirely new letting Shylah so completely into his life. He’d deliberately opened himself up to her, made himself vulnerable. And if he was being completely honest with himself, he knew he wouldn’t have done that—certainly not so quickly—except that he was going to die, and he had nothing to lose.
“I knew I had the speed and strength. I’m as flexible as he was. But I should have taken the time to explain myself to you.”
“You knew I would have argued.”
He shrugged and pulled her closer, molding her body against his, needing her forgiveness. His entire life, he hadn’t cared if he’d upset someone or made them angry. No one had mattered. He’d found a place inside himself where he was safe, where no one could get to him. But she could—she had. Evidently, he wasn’t as safe as he’d thought.
“Say it, Shylah. I need to hear the words.” He did. He’d let her in, and he wasn’t the least bit sorry he had. Every moment in her company was worth the feeling of vulnerability.
“You’re touching my mind. We’re connected.”
“I don’t care, sweetheart. You know what I need.”
I forgive you, but please don’t do something like that again unless I’m ready for it. I could barely breathe.
The words, sliding into his mind, were vibrant with her emotions. Dripping with sensitivity. Weeping with her reaction. Intimate beyond measure. Because she murmured forgiveness into his mind, she gave more of herself away to him. She was feeling very fragile, so much so that when they entered the remote lab and he switched on the computer to be able to talk to Trap, the moment she caught sight of Bellisia, she backed out.
I can’t talk to them yet.
Draden glanced at her sharply, assessing how close to tears she was. Too close. She wouldn’t be able to keep it together for her friends.
I’ll cover for you, until you’re ready, he promised as he put the ampule he’d taken from the MSS into the freezer. That gave her time to exit before anyone really caught a glimpse of her. The camera was pointed toward him. For him, it wasn’t about whether or not the freezer was even cold, it was about containment. If the generator went out and the freezer went to room temperature the virus would be contained in that airtight box until it died.
I’ll try to be fast.
Take your time. They’re going to want to talk to you.
I want to talk to them, I just don’t want to cry in front of them.
He sat down in front of the computer. The screen was split in two. Ezekiel was on one screen with Bellisia looking over his shoulder, but he didn’t see Zara anywhere around. Joe, who was still in Indonesia, was looking at him from the other screen. Wyatt and Trap appeared just over his shoulder, both looking exhausted.