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“He’s an acquired taste,” Ashley drawled, her accent thickening. “Better in small doses rather than large ones.” Then she gave a soft, charming little laugh at her own observation before tossing Graeme a bright smile. “He’s quite funny when he gets all irritated like that, isn’t he?”
And here, everyone said he was insane, Graeme thought in amazement. Those who made the accusation had yet to see the various inner workings of Breed socialization. It was complete madness with a high quantity of pure insanity.
Good God, what was he getting himself into?
• • •
Cat was still awake when the bedroom door pushed open forcefully to reveal a less than pleased Graeme as he stalked into the bedroom. Snapping it closed, he turned the lock, crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.
Staring back at him, she was sitting on the bed, the black training suit she’d worn earlier exchanged for soft cotton shorts and T-shirt. She wasn’t going to let Graeme’s glare intimidate her.
“Before you even begin chastising me for whatever you have on your mind to chastise me for, I’d like to know how Raymond Martinez and two Jackals managed to get past security and into my room to inject me with that damned drug.”
She should have heeded her own restless senses earlier in the evening, a mistake she wouldn’t make again. But still, their ability to slip past security concerned her. The glare eased from his face as he reached to rub at the back of his neck.
“Martinez placed a nano-nit into the security system while he was here with his son.” Disgust filled his voice. “The bastard. It was unfortunate for them that I found the anomaly in the surveillance feed that tipped me off to a problem. I caught the intrusion as it happened. Otherwise, Martinez would have never had a chance to kick you.”
As he spoke, Graeme moved closer to the bed, his powerful body filled with a tension that seemed to tighten by the moment.
Staying in place, Cat watched him carefully, feeling her own body tighten, the tension that filled him affecting her as well.
“How’s your wrist?” Settling next to her on the bed, he reached out and lifted her arm to stare at the location of the break.
“Skin splint?” His gaze narrowed on the ultrathin brace nearly impossible to detect. “I’ve only seen those once.”
“Dane Vanderale,” she said, answering the question she sensed in the comment. “When I was fifteen I broke my leg and refused to let anyone know. Dane was in the area at the time and must have seen me. That night he slipped into my room, left several skin splints, jars of salve for wounds and other supplies he thought I might need.”
If it hadn’t been for Dane, she didn’t know what she would have done. The supplies he’d left had literally saved her ass several times.
Graeme slid his finger over the skin splint. “After my escape from the labs the second time, I developed an infection I hadn’t expected. I was in some African jungle when I was found, and taken to the Vanderale’s. Such a brace was used to stabilize several breaks I’d acquired.”
He said it so simply, but she sensed far more behind the explanation.
“You did a very bad thing tonight, Cat,” he stated before she could question him further as his fingertips trailed up her arm. “I’m not rational when I’m like that. You could have been hurt.”
“You’re just as inclined to hurt me now as you are at any other time.” She tried to keep her breathing even, her heartbeat steady, but it was impossible.
His touch did something to her, it made her weaken, made her melt with the sensations that began building in her body and the pleasure that began spiraling through her senses.
“And later,” he pointed out with a vein of humor. “Very cleverly stealing that debt from Jonas for yourself. I didn’t see that coming. Lobo wasn’t happy with it either.”
“My heart breaks,” she murmured. “Really, Graeme, not all the lessons you taught me were wasted.”
“So it would seem.” His fingers lifted, his arm outstretching as he leaned closer, bracketing her body as she leaned back into the pillows.
“What happened in the research center when they recaptured you, G,” she whispered as his lips lowered to the curve of her shoulder. “What pulled that rage from the depths of your soul and created the Gideon I saw tonight?”
He stiffened against her. She had to know what happened to him. True, he’d never been completely sane, but he’d never let that part of himself free either. It had slept, lending him strength, adding to his intelligence, but always in the background.
“
Nothing that need concern you.” The arrogance in his voice astounded her, as did his refusal to answer her.
“And you expect me to trust you?” she all but begged him for answers. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
“I don’t require your trust,” he rasped. “I require your touch, and the freedom to touch you.”
“Only the physical?” Bracing her hands against his chest she stared back at him, hating the weakness, the need to give in to him. Hating his arrogance and refusal to let her know him. It enraged her. He wanted all of her and wanted to give nothing in return.
