“Drained,” he rasped. “You take it all from me. I feel almost turned inside out.”

She lifted her head to peer at him. His head was tipped back and she couldn’t see his face. Disappointment struck over not being able to see his eyes. He seemed to read her mind as he lifted his head enough for their gazes to meet.

“What do I take from you?”

He blinked. “You make my seed come out so hard it nearly hurts.”

“Oh.” Her shoulder throbbed. “Are you all right?”

A smile played at his lips. “It’s a good kind of ache right now.”

His head fell back and his hand flattened on her lower belly, caressing her. “I bit you again.”

“I felt it.”

His body tensed under hers and she was too sluggish to protest when he rolled them onto their sides. His tongue licked at her shoulder again. His c**k twitched against her vaginal walls where they were still connected and he slowly withdrew from her. His tongue kept lapping at her.

“Am I bleeding?”

He paused. “Yes.”

She wasn’t sure how to react. She knew he’d bitten her hard and he’d broken the skin. It wasn’t the first time and she remembered what he’d told her. She’d have to hide the injury or someone would think he’d mated her. The other bite was healing quickly since it was just a few light scratches. The one he’d just done felt much worse, had hurt more, and she wondered how bad it was.

“I didn’t mean to do it.” He lowered his head to rest it against hers. “Did I hurt you?”

“A little but it isn’t bad now.”

“I got you far worse this time. It will leave a scar.”

She hesitated. “Why did you bite me again?”

“I lost control.”

“It’s okay.” It was done and she wasn’t going to bitch about it.

“It isn’t. Damn.” He nuzzled her with his cheek against the side of her face. “Sometimes it’s hard to be me.”

“Why?”

He took a few slow, steady breaths before answering. “I’m a male but I’m more. I have instincts that sometimes rule my thoughts. I wanted to mark you. Smiley warned me away from you when I arrived here and stated his intentions to try to talk you into sharing sex with him. The idea of him touching you sent me into a rage.”

“I’m not interested in anyone but you. Is that why you had me swear off other men?”

“Yes. I think I’d attack any male who touched you. I am trying to be honest. I don’t want a mate but I feel things for you, Zandy. It confuses me and drives me a little insane. I’m not someone who should take a mate.”

She could relate to that. The memories of two broken marriages haunted her. She’d tried to make her relationships work but they hadn’t. The thought of opening herself up to another serious commitment was frightening. Tiger and she came from two different worlds, or so it seemed. His past was completely foreign to her and hers would be to him. Opposites attracted but long-term it probably wouldn’t work.

The silence between them stretched. Zandy finally pulled herself away from her grim musings. “May I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Smiley said something that worried me.”

“Did he threaten you?” His voice turned scary.

“No. He said my scent is changing and that he thinks I’m going to ovulate. He said I should hide it from New Species men. Can you smell anything?”

“Yes. He’s right.”

“That’s so weird. Will men really be attracted to me because of that?”

“Yes.”

“I’m trying not to freak out that your sense of smell is that good. It makes me wonder about all the other little things you can pick up with your nose. I hope my deodorant is working well enough.” She rubbed his arm as she babbled, knowing she was doing it but couldn’t stop. “Good thing we don’t have to worry about pregnancy. I hope it’s not an offensive smell like body odor. Please tell me I don’t stink.” She inwardly winced at the thought.

He said nothing.

“Did you fall asleep on me?”

“No. I’m awake and you smell wonderful. It’s an attractive scent. I wish I could stay the night but I can’t. I have to leave soon.”

“Oh.” Disappointment hit. “I like sleeping with you.”

“I like that too.”

He lifted his head and she turned to peer into his eyes. “Do you have to leave right now?”

“Soon. I have to use your shower first. Otherwise the officers outside will smell you all over me the second I walk out the door.”

Pain hit and her gaze darted away from his. “I guess that would be a bad thing if anyone found out we were sleeping together.”

He gripped her jaw and she met his eyes again. He was frowning. “I am not ashamed of us or what we do. Is that what you think?”

“I’m not sure. You confuse me. You told me to tell other men it’s you who turns me on if they smell that on me but now you’re going to shower to hide that you were with me. That’s a contradiction.”

“I think we should figure out what is happening between us before we allow others to know we are seeing each other.”

“You are the head of security and I work for the NSO. I guess that could make things complicated. You’re not officially my boss, are you?”