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)
Later, as the day had lengthened, her voice had become drowsy, and he’d found those huskier notes sexy. She’d slid deeper into the bed, lying beside him so that her scent enveloped him. Although his body had reacted, he’d found it soothing, even comforting, to have her lying so close. He’d wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. They’d fallen asleep like that. He had never trusted a woman—or anyone, for that matter—to sleep close to him, let alone in the same bed. And yet, already, he was completely relaxed with her. He couldn’t imagine being without her, and now, if they survived, it was a very real possibility.
“I have to find the Williams brothers, Orucov and also Montgomery.”
She didn’t. Every cop in the world would be looking for them, but he understood. She’d started out hunting them and she wasn’t about to hand that task over to someone else. She would go after them. He would have done the same.
“Of course you have to find them, Shylah.” He concentrated on taking enough blood of his own to satisfy Trap. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” He glanced up and caught the relief on her face. “Do you think I don’t know who you are? You have to find them. I’m the same way. We started this. Let’s end it together.”
“You’d go with me?”
“Yes. And my team will want to help as well. We’re very good at what we do.” He flashed her a grin. “You’ll have your chance to boss Joe around since you’ll be lead.”
A faint smile curved her lower lip and emphasized the bow of her mouth. It was all he could do not to lean down and kiss her.
“I’m not about to antagonize that man any more than I already have.” The look on her face was too mischievous to be believable. “Of course, if I ended up back with you in the swamp, he’d probably find a way to retaliate.”
He liked that she hadn’t shut down his plea. Blood is ready, Joe. Anything else Trap wants?
Shylah’s gaze jumped to his face. “You’re talking to him telepathically.”
“Joe’s a strong telepath. He can build bridges for those not as strong. I’m telling him we’ve got the blood ready for him and asking if he needs anything else.”
Report on any symptoms developing.
Draden had inspected Shylah’s rash and lymph nodes. She’d looked for the same on him. By necessity, it had been a semi-intimate inspection. His hands had moved over her body, trying to be impersonal, trying to remember he was a doctor, but he registered everything about her on a very personal level. She was so soft. Inviting. Tempting. His.
There’d been nothing clinical about it when she’d inspected him. Her hands had lingered on him. Stroked caresses over his skin, forgetting to find the nodes he had told her how to look for. She’d been tempted as well. He saw it on her face, felt it in her touch. The examinations had taken much longer than necessary because they were paying more attention to learning each other’s bodies than searching for telltale symptoms of the virus.
I’ll send him the report via email.
Coming to the door.
“Joe’s coming in.”
Shylah immediately stepped to the side of the door so that when it opened, she couldn’t be seen. She had her Glock out and pressed against her thigh, all business, backing him up as Draden went to the door to give Joe the blood. He liked her efficiency. He worked well with the GhostWalkers, as a member of that team, but having Shylah as a partner was eye-opening. She seemed to anticipate every possibility as he did, and she took steps to protect him more fiercely than any person ever had.
He opened the door and Joe was already there, wearing the hazmat suit. Draden handed him the carrier with the blood.
“Your woman is a tigress, Draden,” Joe greeted. “You just remember that if you ever get out of line.”
Draden grinned him. “She is, isn’t she?”
“She have a gun pointed at me?”
“She was born with a gun in her hand, so my guess? Yeah. It’s probably aimed right in the middle of your forehead.”
Joe shook his head. “I can’t wait to meet her officially. Trap is being closemouthed, but you know him. He’s showing some signs of excitement. He hasn’t slept and won’t eat. Cayenne usually keeps him from being so insane during these times, but she’s gone. Everyone wants to get her back just to keep him under control.”
“Is she really all right?” Draden liked Cayenne. He especially liked her for his friend. Trap was a good man. He did forget to eat and would go far too long without sleep when he was onto something in the laboratory. He grew surlier and more edgy with every passing hour. Cayenne had a way of taking all that away but still letting him stay on track.