“I’m not really under arrest. I’m just restricted to my house. I did kidnap you and took you from Homeland.” She hesitated. “I put you in danger. They have a right to be angry about that. I just was so sure I could keep you safe. I was really careful about renting that house and thought I hadn’t left a way to be tracked. I was wrong. The NSO found me and that means someone who hates New Species could have too. They don’t trust me anymore because I betrayed them. I’m just glad I’m not still being held inside a cell at Security.”

Obsidian slowly dropped to his knees next to the bed. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to lock you away or take you from me.”

He meant it. Her heart melted but it also made her afraid. The NSO would ask her to leave Homeland at the very least. What if he tried to go with her? As much as she wanted that, hoped he really wanted to be with her, it wouldn’t be safe for him outside the secured walls. New Species were targeted by idiots, racists, and zealous religious fanatics who believed they were abominations. There were also ex-Mercile employees who’d love to capture a Species to use as a bargaining chip to escape prosecution. Or worse—kill them outright.

“I’m safe here,” she assured him. “Relax.”

“I can’t.” He gripped the edge of the bed. “That female touched me, the guard doesn’t want me here with you and now I need to familiarize myself with your space. No one will get past me to reach you.”

Her hand shot out when he tried to stand, understanding that he meant to stay up all night to make sure no one broke in. “You don’t have to do that.”

He didn’t look convinced. “I’ll fight them if they come for you.”

“They are your people, Obsidian. You can’t do that. No one is going to hurt me.” She scooted closer, unable to resist touching him. Her hands actually itched to feel his skin. One hand gripped his shoulder while her other one cupped his cheek. “I did a bad thing and they don’t trust me. I blew it by taking you away from Homeland.”

Obsidian wanted to push Alli onto her back and rip the ugly white dress thing off her to gain access to her bare body. He stared deeply into her eyes but saw pain there, halting him from following through. Her voice hinted at her emotional upset as well. He hated to see her that way.

“I could have gotten you killed. Or kidnapped.” Tears swam in her blue eyes and it made his chest tighten. “I was so desperate that I didn’t think beyond taking you somewhere so they couldn’t stop me from spending time with you. I was certain I was right but looking back now I see how I messed up. I should have argued harder with Tiger or gone to Trisha when she returned. I just couldn’t take watching you waste away. I had to attempt to save you.”

She was so beautiful and no one had ever put themselves in danger for him before. She’d taken risks and lost the trust of people she cared about because she’d put him first. Pride and possessiveness surged, all directed at Alli. She was his. He wasn’t going to let her go. The decision was made. It was simple, right, and he fiercely felt it.

“They aren’t my people,” he stated firmly in a husky voice. “You are.”

Her hand trembled against his cheek while she slid off the edge of the bed to stand on her knees before him. Her body pressed against his. “I wish that were true.”

“It is.” Anger flashed. “I don’t lie.”

“I just meant…” Her voice trailed off and her gaze lowered to his chest in front of her face.

“What?”

“You are going to get to know more New Species and adjust to your new life. You’ll meet other women…not like Kit.” Her tone hoarsened saying the name and it implied that she might feel possessive of him. “But you are just interested in me now because I’m the only thing familiar to you.”

He tore the towel off her head to toss it away. Wet ringlets fell free. They were cold but he fisted a handful of hair at the base of her neck, gently forcing her to look at him. No fear showed but she still had tears glistening in her eyes. He knew it wasn’t from pain, his hold was not that tight.

He lowered his head, bowed his body enough to go nose to nose with her and softly growled. “You’re all I want to know.”

“You just feel grateful but you don’t need to. I was doing my job.”

“You were ordered to steal me?”

“No.”

“Was it your job to get into…” He paused, recalling the term. “Hot water by taking me somewhere else so you could sleep by my side?”

“No.”

“Why did you do it?”

She tried to look away but he moved with her, keeping her head still with his fisted hold to prevent her from being able to break eye contact.

“Why did you do it?” he repeated.

Her pause made him want to snarl. She resisted answering him. She blinked. “I became obsessed with you.”

Obsidian contemplated the meaning of that.

“I, um, know how wrong that was. I knew even if I woke you that you would probably hate me.”

“I don’t. Why would it be wrong? What is wrong with this? Us?”

More tears filled her eyes. “You’ve been through so much, Obsidian. I feel as though I’m taking advantage of you or screwing you up more. You’re so tough but emotionally you have to be reeling from all you’ve survived.”

“I’m bigger than you are.”