“You wanted to leave. Go!”

She wiggled enough to reach the edge of the bed and clutched the towel to keep it covering her as she stood on wobbly legs. Though he grew increasingly irate, she couldn’t leave him in that state.

“Some people are just cruel and the ones working for Mercile lacked moral compasses, Obsidian. They didn’t kill 46 because of anything you did or didn’t do. They probably just didn’t want to pay to feed her anymore. They knew they had arrest warrants on them and they couldn’t go home. That means they were desperate and low on money. Maybe they killed her to get even with all they felt they’d lost by pinning the blame on New Species but it was their own fault. Never yours. You were a victim and so was she.”

He glared at her while his fists remained balled at his sides.

She wondered if he understood what she was trying to tell him and decided to clarify. “What Mercile did to you was illegal, against the law, and they were looking at being punished for it. An arrest warrant means all their money was frozen and the police were hunting for them. They were fac—”

“I don’t want to hear. You don’t want me. That is all that matters. Go.”

If he only knew. She took a timid step closer. “Let’s sit down and talk. Please?”

“Why do you want to sit? Do you think I can hear you better if my ears are closer to your height?” He was furious.

“No. I just thought it would be more comfortable.”

His arm raised and pointed at the door. “Go!”

“I’m not leaving you until we talk this out.”

Her life flashed before her eyes, panic instant when he lunged at her with an enraged expression. He was a New Species and his animal traits were closer to the surface than his human ones. His hands gripped her upper arms but they weren’t crushing or painful. She stared up at him, mute, breathing rapidly as her heart pounded.

“Leave or tell me you want me to mount you.”

Those are my only options?

“Either you want me or you don’t.”

“Calm down, please,” she whispered. “I’m trying to make you feel better.”

“Tear off the towel and get on your hands and knees in front of me. That will change my mood.”

“Is it always about sex with you?”

He lowered his head enough to stare deeply into her eyes. “I don’t want to talk. I want to mount you. Either leave or we will fight. You are weak. It wouldn’t be fair since you have no strength or ability to defend yourself.” His hands on her arms slid lower to her elbows, the calloused pads of his thumbs caressing the sensitive skin on the inside, also touching the sides of her br**sts. “I wouldn’t hurt you but I will manipulate your mood until you want to be mounted. I have done it before. Go or accept your fate.”

Obsidian always had a way of keeping her off balance. He didn’t wait for her to answer.

“You are not a replacement for 46.” He made a hissing sound. “Do not insult yourself or me. I am not blinded by her memory. You are very appealing but you believe I am so baffled from my long sleep that I don’t know the difference? I am not a victim. I’m a survivor and I adapt. It’s what I do best.” His thumbs kept teasing her skin, making her very aware of his touch. “I want you despite your flaws. You lure me to you and you make my blood boil with need.”

She leaned closer to him, affected by his hoarse confession. It obviously wasn’t easy for him to admit. She’d had plenty of men hit on her before, their words much more polished and suave. Obsidian’s straightforwardness turned her on. He had no reason to lie to or fool her. It was a backhanded compliment but sincere.

“I took you facing me because I couldn’t pull away and wanted to see your eyes while I was inside you.” One hand slid higher to her bare shoulder, traced the line of it to her throat, where his knuckles explored. “You fascinate me.”

Alli forgot how to breathe for seconds as she swayed closer to him until she pressed against his chest, peering up into his dark eyes. He’d been sexy when he was sleeping, unpredictable when he woke, but he was undeniably irresistible when he let down his guard enough to drop the forceful exterior he projected.

“You scare me sometimes,” she admitted softly. “But right now all I want to do is kiss you.”

His head tilted slightly and lowered a tiny bit more. Alli released her towel and reached up, her hands cupping his face as her attention fixed on his jawline. She lifted on her tiptoe and hesitated before closing her eyes. She urged him closer until her mouth brushed his. He had full, generous lips that were amazingly soft for someone so dangerous, a fact she couldn’t ignore.

He didn’t deepen the kiss, instead just stood there immobile, breathing. She turned her face slightly to align their mouths perfectly and parted her lips just enough to get a taste of him when she ran the tip of her tongue along the seam of his. A deep groan rumbled from him that she felt against her chest and he moved then, both hands grabbing her ass. He lifted her right off her feet and tighter against his tall frame. She spread her thighs and wrapped her legs around his waist.

The towel ended up twisted between their bellies but she ignored it, waiting for him to respond to her kiss. He didn’t, instead allowed her to flounder. She pulled back and opened her eyes, peering at him at eye level since he’d made them even in height.

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted me.”