She fingered one, and then she pushed up, impaling her thumb on the tip. A pinch of blood hit his tongue, and he shuddered. Because it tasted good.
“You like that.”
He couldn’t read what she felt from the blank statement. “Yeah. I guess.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not a vampire.” They both laughed. “Sounds crazy but I mean, the stuff Lang is doing isn’t so much science fiction, is it? He took a bunch of psychics—me and the guys and Bailey—and turned us into fighting machines. We’re different now. This change, it’s permanent.”
He let that sink in before continuing. “It’s a new way of life, Kennedy. I don’t know what you left behind, but you need to know you have a place with us.” He was speaking for the whole of them but didn’t care. Something about her drew him. And it was more than just the physical. She belonged. He couldn’t explain it better than that, even knowing it made little sense.
“What if I don’t want to be with you?”
That hurt. But she was being honest. “Then we’ll make sure you get somewhere you’ll be safe. The thing is, I’m not sure where that might be. You’re different now, and you’ll have different needs. Being with others like us is a safety net of sorts. But you do have a choice, I promise you that.”
She squeezed his hand, still sitting in his lap. “Thank you.”
He couldn’t help it. He leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on her lips. When his beast wanted to deepen the kiss, Alex pulled back. “Sorry. My beast likes you.”
She sighed. “Mine likes you right back. And…so do I.” Her shy smile made him feel funny inside. “I’m sorry for acting so weird earlier. I’m just… It’s so different right now. I can’t believe last night happened. Hell, that any of this is happening. I was in those hellish labs for months, but this… It’s a lot to take in.”
“I know. But you’re not alone. All of us were changed against our will. I didn’t know they’d done anything to me at all. I’ve always been a little different. Bailey was the same. They drugged her, and she had no idea. Maybe talking to her will help.”
Because woman to woman might be easier on her.
“Okay.” She didn’t move.
He didn’t want to shake this fragile trust. “I hate to take you off my lap, but if we don’t get moving, Eli will come down here looking for us. Or God forbid, Carter.” He grinned, thinking of his giant blond friend and his attempts at humor.
Kennedy shifted off him and left the vehicle.
He joined her and locked up after them. “Stick by me and it’ll all be okay.”
She grabbed his hand and held on, and despite the shitty situation that had led her to them, Alex loved holding her. He squeezed, let his beast cover her in his scent, and felt her relax.
And everything was right with the world.
Kennedy grew more nervous as they approached the seventh floor. Being near Alex made her feel safe. And she was no longer so embarrassed about sexing up two strangers all night long. Hearing Alex calmly accept what they’d done, that they were not human and had to play by new rules, made a lot of sense.
At least, now that she could think past her blind panic that her life was over.
And she still had to get Charlie back. So much change in so little time. Though she’d been with the Level 4 project since its inception, it had been a platform she understood. Psychic research done with other real psychics. Finding people who could do the impossible, like her, had been a blessing. She’d made a few friendships she’d treasured. And then her friends had disappeared.
The women still in the program had kept to themselves. Charlie she knew. Nivia, the telekinetic, seemed to have suffered something she refused to talk about. And the three other women, two clairaudients and another telekinetic, had never tried to be friendly. It was a known fact that Kennedy and Charlie were the strongest psychics there. Had the others been jealous? Angry and confused that they couldn’t leave? Not very trusting, but then, Kennedy understood that.
She gripped Alex’s huge hand, feeling safe and comforted despite the situation.
They’re his friends. Good guys. Relax.
They’re pack. Good,her beast agreed.
Alex stopped outside a door, looked down at her, and pathed,It’ll be okay. If you get really worried, talk to me in here.He tapped his temple.It’ll be our secret.
She smiled, but she had a feeling she looked more nervous than reassured, because Alex cupped her cheek and sighed. She had to hand it to him. He seemed to trust her more than Eli did. Eli had been friendly but aloof today, glancing at her with a watchful eye.
She couldn’t blame him though. For all he knew she was working for Lang. The others might think she was a spy. What if they tried to get her to tell them things about Lang she didn’t know? What if they didn’t believe it when she said she was innocent of everything but being a victim of a sick, twisted man? What if—
“Stop. You’re giving me a headache,” Alex said his voice gruff.
“I am?” She’d been thinking all that, not saying it aloud. She hadn’t been aware of projecting anything.
He shrugged. “I’m hearing a lot of worry, and you’re stirring up my beast. Relax, Kennedy. Anyone wants to hurt you, they go through me first.”
