“You are better natured than I.”

Shadow frowned. “I have the same memories as you. We shared that hell together and you were stronger then. I was overdosed because I couldn’t manage my rage. She trusts you and you won’t betray that.”

Lauren figured the “she” they spoke of was her. “What are you guys talking about?”

Shadow slowly rose to his feet. “Our life in captivity. It is a private matter.”

That made her realize she’d overstepped a boundary. She finished her food while they continued their staring contest. Wrath finally broke the silence.

“You’re afraid too.”

“Always,” Shadow admitted. “You were always stronger than me.”

Wrath broke eye contact with his friend to peer at her grimly. “Lauren? Let’s go. You’ll be staying with me in my room. You can have the bed and I’ll sleep on the floor. I won’t harm you.”

She was shocked. “I have to sleep in your room with you?”

He hesitated. “Would you prefer to sleep in Vengeance’s room?”

She stood on shaky legs. “I’m ready to go with you.”

Shadow chuckled. “That was smooth.”

Wrath snarled at him and gripped Lauren’s arm gently. “You can clean up the dishes. I will see you bright and early in the morning.”

“Trust yourself,” Shadow called out as they left.

Lauren was uncomfortable as Wrath led her back to his bedroom. He closed the door behind them, a grim look on his masculine features. He released her instantly, moved a few feet away, and appeared as ill at ease as she felt being closed inside a room together. It made her feel a little better knowing he wasn’t thrilled with having to spend a night together.

He finally looked at her. “There’s no television but I have a radio and a few books on the dresser. I am going to take a shower.” He shifted his stance. “Don’t leave my room. Vengeance is out there and I don’t want there to be a reason for him to confront you. He will believe you are escaping and he’s already emotionally stressed. The bed is yours. I’m sure you’re very tired after all you’ve been through. Rest.”

He walked to the dresser to grab a change of clothing before closing himself inside the bathroom. Lauren glanced around the room, hoped it would only be for a night, and missed her own bedroom. She took a seat on the bed. The mattress was firmer than she liked but Wrath wasn’t the pillow-top bedding type.

Her arms hugged her waist as she listened to water turn on in the other room, still couldn’t believe she was with New Species and that they’d kidnapped her. Wrath was hot, she had to admit that, and he’d saved her from Vengeance.

She bit her lower lip, her gaze fixed on the closed bathroom door, and realized the Wrath was less than ten feet away, na**d in a shower. Amanda is not going to believe me when I tell her this. She smiled.

Wrath clenched his teeth and allowed water to strike his face. A female was going to be sleeping in his bed just feet from him and she was human. Images flashed through his mind, the human women he’d been forced to watch to help them steal his seed from his body. His c**k stiffened and he barely managed to hold back a howl of rage.

Lauren wasn’t responsible for the cruel testing he’d survived. The Mercile employees who had kidnapped him from the testing facility before the police had raided it and freed others of his kind were to blame. They’d kept him caged and chained, hooked him to machines, put a helmet over his head that showed na**d human women touching themselves and pumped his body full of breeding drugs to drive him insane with lust.

He turned his head out of the spray of water, gasped in air, and glanced down. His hand gripped his cock. The feel of his rough palm was much different than the machine that had milked his seed for the humans to sell for experiments. He stroked the shaft to help ground him to reality. He wasn’t a prisoner anymore. No machine would be strapped to his body and Lauren was a real person instead of some nameless human in a video used to help arouse him.

Pleasure helped soothe some of his anger. He was in control now and he leaned back against the cold shower stall. His eyes remained closed and images of Lauren filtered in. Her smile, the way her blonde hair fell down her back and how soft her skin was. Her body was so different from Species women. Pale. Generous with curves.

He groaned as he stroked his c**k faster and sealed his lips tightly to avoid making any sound when he came. The tension in his body eased as he recovered from the fast cl**ax and reached for the shampoo. He missed his long hair but it was easier to care for as he quickly washed it and his body. He hurried in case his guest was afraid. She was in a strange place with males unfamiliar to her.

Chapter Five

Lauren decided she really hated Brent. He was far worse than just a crude jerk. He’d committed serious and horrible crimes against New Species, but she was the one paying for them currently. She turned on her side on the mattress and used her arm to pillow her face.

She inhaled Wrath’s masculine scent, decided it was pleasant and allowed the sound of the shower to soothe her. A yawn broke. Wrath was being kind now but a few hours before had been a different story. She’d never been more afraid than when she’d been kidnapped and Vengeance had threatened to rape her.

She fought sleep and wondered if her captor had dozed off in the shower. He’d been in there for a long time. The water suddenly cut off as if he’d read her thoughts and she waited for him to come out. It would be rude to go to sleep without telling him good night.