“You know, Mr. Fontenot, I don’t want to talk to you after all. I’ve gone through this alone before and I’m certain I will again. I don’t need someone around me who believes he’s so much better than I am.”

He felt her movement before she actually moved. The energy it took wasn’t all human. Clearly just sitting was difficult – and painful. Agony twisted through his body. Ripped him in half and sawed at every muscle and joint. He couldn’t breathe, and this time it had nothing at all to do with sex. His body nearly convulsed with the pain. His heart pounded, his pulse accelerated and he broke out into a sweat. Thunder roared in his ears.

Recognition came slowly. He should have known all along. He was a damned genius, yet he hadn’t figured it out. He’d tied them together when he’d merged his mind to hers. His dreams were her dreams. She’d admitted whoever had enhanced her had wanted to use her as a sexual weapon and they’d found a way to kick up her drive until it was an outrageous hunger and need.

She had been the one suffering because of their close proximity, even in spite of the venom. Maybe because of it. She wasn’t fully in control.

“Lie back down, Pepper.” Wyatt used his “doctor” voice. “I’ll get you something for the pain.”

“I have to use the bathroom – and I don’t take painkillers.”

He sat up gingerly, waited for his head to explode a couple of times and then pushed himself into a standing position. “What happens when you take painkillers?”

“Anything that lowers my inhibitions is not acceptable.”

His breath slammed out of his lungs at the thought of Pepper with him and with lowered inhibitions. It was still dark in the room, but he could see her with his night vision. She lay back against the sofa, struggling for every breath. Her skin almost glowed, it was so flawless, even though she was pale beyond imagining. Her hair fell in a cloud around her face, dark and rich, inviting a man to bury his hands in it.

He could see her breasts rising and falling as she fought to draw air in and out of her lungs. Her mouth, a perfect fantasy mouth, drew his attention. Her lips were slightly parted, and once again images filled his mind. He cursed softly under his breath. She lifted her long lashes and her dark eyes met his – only they weren’t dark anymore. They were the star-filled sky he’d floated through in his erotic dream, a sultry invitation to another world. He had the feeling if he was ever foolish enough to allow himself to take one step, one kiss, one touch into that world, there would be no going back.

“I’ll help you to the bathroom.”

“Just point the way,” she suggested.

He wished he had earplugs in. Her voice was the perfect weapon against a man, and clearly the pain wasn’t allowing her to mask the enhancements at all. He was just grateful his friends were asleep and nowhere near her. Merging with her had been a mistake. He felt possessive of her, so much so, he feared the connection between them could get someone killed.

“You’ll fall on your face.” He didn’t wait for more protests, what was the use? He’d helped to get them into this situation, and she couldn’t help what she was any more than he could. He reached for her. She closed her eyes. He knew why the instant he touched her.

The sensation of silk and satin slid over him. Into him. Need crawled through his body in a slow, desperate burn. He picked her up and cradled her against his chest. He’d walked through a hail of gunfire with a friend over his shoulder, he could carry a featherweight a few feet to a bathroom.

He tried not to feel the way her body melted into his or the silk of her hair brushing over nerve endings, setting them on fire. She really was the perfect weapon. She could feel seductive even when she was so ill. He couldn’t imagine what she would be like when she was perfectly healthy and wanted to seduce a man – but he found himself a little desperate to find out.

He took her into the small, very tidy guest bathroom closest to the parlor. Nonny had insisted on a bathroom for guests. She had a private bathroom upstairs and a much larger one for all her grandsons to share growing up, but she had been very vocal about needing one just for guests. He couldn’t blame her. The downstairs bathroom the boys shared had always been in a state of chaos, although if it got too bad, Nonny would hand them all cheap toothbrushes and tell them to go to work.

The guest bathroom was charming and always smelled sensational. Nonny used a mixture of flowers and herbs to create the scents she used throughout the house. The moment they both inhaled, some of the terrible need faded, giving them a bit of a respite.

“My grand-mere is the real genius in the family,” Wyatt said, attempting normal conversation. He set Pepper on her feet. “Can you really do this by yourself? I am a doctor. I’d do my best to be impersonal.” He had to admit the truth. Stripping her down would be anything but impersonal, but he’d give it his best shot.

“I’ll have to ask her what blend she used. I watched her coming into the wonderful piece of swamp with all the wildflowers and herbs planted together, and she always knew exactly what she wanted. She fascinates me.”

“You’re goin’ to fall on your face if I let go of you, aren’t you?” He dropped his hands to her jeans and unzipped them, not looking at her face. “I’ll turn away.” He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her jeans and stripped her, forcing himself to keep his gaze to himself. Still, his thumb brushed bare skin along her hips and thighs, and he knew he would carry that sensation for a long time in his body.