The backs of his fingers rested next to her right nipple—so close and yet she couldn’t feel the touch.
Her eyes dipped to his mouth. Would he even know what a kiss was?
A loud bang sent vibrations over the glass as the alien struck the barrier. It was hard enough that it reverberated through her chest.
She jumped back.
He hit the glass again as if testing it.
Elle glanced over the empty hall and lifted her hands, gesturing that he should be quiet. “You don’t want to do that.”
He stuck the glass harder, leading with the heel of his hand.
“It’s reinforced bulletproof?—”
He hit so hard that a crack spider-webbed out from his hand.
Elle pressed her back against the hallway wall opposite the window. “Please, stop!”
He shouted something at her, the muffled words barely coming through the glass. What she could hear were strange gurgling noises.
“Shh.” She motioned her hands frantically, willing him to quiet down.
The sound of running footsteps echoed down the hall. The others were coming. It was too late.
Larson appeared seconds before Dr. Hanklen and a couple of lab techs she didn’t know the names of. Larson was a big, hulking brute of a man who didn’t say much. It was a quality Elle appreciated in him.
In contrast, Hanklen wouldn’t stop talking. No one ever did anything right, everyone else was always wrong, and he was the smartest man in the room…just ask him, he’d tell you. He was probably the reason Dr. Petals was angry all the time. Elle avoided the man whenever she could.
“What’s happening? What did you do, Sharp?” Hanklen demanded of Elle before shoving her out of the way. She stumbled but resisted the urge to shove back even if she could take the scientist easily in a physical fight.
The alien hit the glass harder, trying to expand the crack he’d made.
“Larson, get the subject restrained.”
“Fuck, he’s strong,” Larson observed.
“Now!” Hanklen ordered. “Do what you have to, but I want him alive.”
Larson rushed down the hall, turning the corner that would lead to the only door into the cell.
Elle tried to go after him, but Hanklen lifted his hand with a glare of warning.
“I can help. I didn’t do anything,” Elle said. She wanted to make sure they didn’t hurt the captured man. “You need everyone?—”
“Stay where you are, or I will have you escorted off the premises,” Hanklen warned.
Elle began to move anyway. It wasn’t in her nature to stand by.
Hanklen grabbed her arm. She swung around, her fist balling before she had the presence of mind to stop herself. If she punched the cagey doctor that would be assault. And he was just the kind of asshole who would find a way to press charges…or, come to think of it, he’d lock her up in the cell next to their blue prisoner. This facility tended to police itself, and he wouldn’t want anyone getting word of what they did here.
Oh, but she wanted to hit the smug little man.
“Look!” A strange smile worked its way onto the doctor’s face.
Elle turned to the alien. He was staring at them.
Hanklen kept hold of her arm, dragging her a few feet down the hall. “Look at his eyes. He’s watching you. I think he likes you.”
