Exasperated with himself, Wyatt followed his friends.

“Have you kissed that woman?” Draden asked. “Because she could have venom in her saliva.”

Trap frowned as he placed his duffel bag on the bed in one of the spare rooms. “She couldn’t have snake venom in her saliva. It couldn’t work like that, otherwise she’d be killing everything and everyone she came into contact with.”

“Actually, Draden, I’ve kissed her a thousand times and I’ve done far more than that. They enhanced her with a biochemical to force her to stay in a kind of heat. She’s lived in hell, and she’s not goin’ to ever again.”

Draden and Trap exchanged a long look. Trap shrugged and raked his fingers through his hair. The mop of thick hair was already untidy and he just messed it up all the more. “Maybe I should skip dinner and go right to the laboratory. I’ll need to see what equipment you have and what we’ll need. I can fly it in tonight and we can get started figuring out what is needed to finish the antivenom and make it safe for everyone to be around those little girls.”

“Trap, that all sounds great, but here, in this house, you never skip a meal. Nonny would be insulted,” Wyatt explained. “We keep ma grand-mere happy at all times.”

Trap scowled at him. “Eating is a waste of time, Wyatt. This needs to be done as soon as possible. It’s why you brought me here. Let me do my job.”

Draden nudged him. “Remember when you told me to let you know when you’re exhibiting OCD behavior? You’re back to being obsessive-compulsive.”

Trap shook his head. “You’re a moron. I never told you to tell me that.”

“You didn’t?” Draden scratched his head, looking puzzled. “I could have sworn… Oh, wait! It was all the others. They wanted me to point it out to you so you could get that brain of yours under control. I’m just doing my duty as a team member.”

Trap shook his head. “Your sense of humor is getting worse by the minute. Fine. I’ll eat. And then I need to see the laboratory. Is it possible to examine the child’s mouth without getting bit? Maybe we should try the antivenom on me first so I can do a close examination of both of their mouths.”

Wyatt scowled at him. “First of all, you don’ want to put your hands on my woman. That would make me crazy. And secondly, you have no idea how fast both of them can move. You know how fast I am and there’s no way in hell I could catch Pepper if she’s runnin’. You try examinin’ her mouth and she’ll bite you. And if she doesn’, I’ll shoot you. Either way, you’re a dead man.” He was very matter-of-fact about it.

“I see. Is that the way it is?” Trap said. “What happened to swearing off women?”

“She’s the mother of those three babies and I’m the father. They need us both.”

Trap groaned. “Listen to yourself, Wyatt. Why do you always have to be the knight in shining armor rushing to the rescue? You don’t owe that woman anything. You didn’t experiment on her…” he trailed off.

“You mean like the two of us plan on doin’?” Wyatt asked.

“We’re experimenting for a good reason. We need the antivenom.”

“Which, I believe, is what Whitney and Braden were lookin’ for,” Wyatt pointed out. “How are we any different?”

“We’re the good guys,” Draden said.

“Whitney believes he’s the man wearin’ the white hat,” Wyatt said. “He thinks he’s a great patriot and that he’s workin’ to better the soldiers so there are fewer casualities and wars aren’t worth startin’.”

“The things he does are against the law. You don’t experiment on children. You don’t keep women prisoners and force them to have babies,” Draden snapped.

Trap put his hand on Draden’s shoulder. “Don’t get defensive. Wyatt isn’t saying Whitney is the man with the white hat, he’s pointing out that to Pepper and the baby, we’re not going to appear any different, and he’s got a point.”

Wyatt nodded. “We’ve got to finesse this one. We can’ be the bull in the china shop. They’ve been through enough. On top of that, I feel extremely protective toward the children. They’re my children and they’ve never been out of a damn lab.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “I feel possessive toward Pepper. More than that. Far more. I connected us when I went to heal her and I’ve been in her head. There’s no conspiracy she’s a part of. Whatever I feel for her is growin’ stronger every day and I can be… dangerous. I can feel what she’s feelin’ and that doesn’t make things any easier. If she’s upset, I have to take care of that. She’s my woman and under my protection.”

“And you’re certain, Wyatt?” Trap asked quietly.

Wyatt nodded slowly. “She’s addicting in ways I can’t even begin to tell you, but she’s tied to me. Her loyalty is to me. I made damned sure of that.”

Draden whistled. “Malichai and Ezekiel know?”

Wyatt nodded. “I’m in a mess here. It’s a volatile situation anyway you look at it. You know I’m not exactly the easiest man to get along with.”

Trap’s eyebrow shot up. “Are you referring to your foul temper?”

Wyatt managed a slight grin. “I’ve always had to work on my temper, but I’ve never been a jealous or possessive man. Not once in any relationship I’ve ever had. Not as a kid and not when I believed I was truly in love. But I have to tell you, this is different. Not easy. And it’s me, not her.”