Which was great. Cut down on the trips to the bathroom.

"I want you to eat this," she said, staring down at him. "As your physician-"

"I will not take from your plate." For God's sake, no male of worth would ever rob his female of food, not even if he was starved to the point of dizziness. Her needs always came first-

V felt like putting his head in a car door and slamming it a couple of dozen times. Where the hell was this manual of mating behavior coming from? It was like someone had loaded new software into his brain.

"Okay," she said, turning away. "Fine."

Next thing he heard was banging. She was pounding on the door.

V sat upright. "What the hell are you doing?" Butch flew into the room, nearly knocking V's surgeon off her feet. "What's wrong?"

V cut into the drama with, "Nothing-"

The surgeon spoke over them both, all calm authority. "He needs food, and he won't eat what's on that tray. Bring him something simple and easy to digest. Rice. Chicken. Water. Crackers."

"Okay." Butch leaned to the side and looked at V. There was a long pause. "How you doing?"

Fucked in the head, thanks. "Fine."

But at least there was one good thing going. The cop was back to normal, his eyes clear, his stance strong, his scent a combination of Marissa's ocean smell and his bonding mark. He'd obviously been getting busy.

Interesting. Usually when V thought about those two together, his chest felt like it was wrapped in barbed wire. Now? He was just glad his friend was healthy.

"You look great, Cop."

Butch smoothed his silk pin-striped shirt. "Gucci can turn anyone into a rock star."

"You know what I mean."

Those familiar hazels grew serious. "Yeah. Thanks… as always." In the awkward moment, words hovered in the air between them, things that couldn't be said with any kind of audience. "So… I'll be back with chow."

As the door shut Jane glanced over her shoulder. "How long have you been lovers?"

Her eyes met his, and there was no getting out of the question.

"We're not."

"You sure about that?"

"Trust me." For no particular reason he looked at her white coat. " 'Dr. Jane Whitcomb,'" he read. " 'Trauma.'" Made sense. She had that kind of confidence. "So I was in bad shape when I came in?"

"Yeah, but I saved your ass, didn't I."

A wave of awe came over him. She was his rhalman, his savior. They were bonded-

Yeah, whatever. Right now and his savior was inching away from him, backing up until she hit the far wall. He closed his lids, knowing his eyes were glowing. The retreat, the horror in her face, stung like hell.

"Your eyes," she said in a thin voice.

"Don't worry about it."

"What the hell are you?" Her tone suggested freak could easily be the descriptor, and God, wasn't she right about that.

"What are you?" she repeated.

It was tempting to front, but there was no way she would buy it. Besides, lying to her made him feel dirty.

Leveling his stare on her, he said in a low voice, "You know what I am. You're smart enough to know."

Long silence. Then: "I can't believe it."

"You're too smart not to. Hell, you've already alluded to it."

"Vampires do not exist."

His temper flared even though she didn't deserve it. "We don't? Then explain why you're in my wonder-fucking-land."

Without taking a breath she shot back, "Tell me something-do civil rights mean anything to your kind?"

"Survival means more," he snapped. "But then, we've been hunted for generations."

"And the ends justify any means for you. How noble." Her voice was as sharp as his. "Do you always use this rationale to snatch humans?"

"No, I don't like them."

"Oh, except you need me, so you'll use me. Aren't I the lucky exception."

Well, shit. This was a turn-on. The more she met his aggression head-on, the harder his body got. Even in his weakened state, his arousal was a demanding throb between his thighs, and in his mind he was picturing her bent over the bed with nothing but that white coat on… and him driving into her from behind.

Maybe he should be grateful she was repulsed. Like he needed to get tangled with a female-

All at once the night of his shooting tunneled into his brain with total clarity. He remembered his mother's happy little visit and her fabulous birthday present: the Primale. He'd been tapped to be the Primale.

V grimaced and clapped his hands over his face. "Oh… fuck."

In a grudging tone, she asked, "What's wrong?"

"My goddamn destiny."

"Oh, really? I'm locked up in this room. At least you're free to go where you choose."

"The hell I am."

She made a dismissive noise, and then neither of them said another word until Butch brought another tray in about a half hour later. The cop had the presence of mind not to say much and move quickly-and also the foresight to keep the door locked the whole time as he made the delivery. Which was smart.

V's surgeon was planning on making a run for it. She tracked the cop like she was measuring a target and kept her right hand in the pocket of her coat.

She had some kind of weapon in there. Goddamn it.

V watched Jane closely as Butch put the tray on the bedside table, praying like hell she didn't do anything stupid. When he saw her body tense and her weight shift forward, he sat up, prepared to lunge because he didn't want anyone but himself handling her. Ever.

Nothing came of it, though. She caught his change in position from the corner of her eye, and the distraction was enough to get Butch out of the room and the door relocked.

V settled back against the pillows and measured the hard line of her chin. "Take off your coat."

"Excuse me?"

"Take it off."

"No."

"I want it off."

"Then I suggest you hold your breath. Won't affect me in the slightest, but at least the suffocation will help pass the time for you."

His arousal pounded. Oh, shit, he needed to teach her that disobedience carried a price, and what a session that would be. She'd fight him tooth and nail before she submitted. If she submitted at all.

Vishous's spine arched all on its own, his hips swiveling as his erection kicked beneath the sheets. Jesus… He was so totally and completely sexed he was on the verge of coming.

But he still had to disarm her. "I want you to feed me."

Her eyebrows popped. "You're perfectly capable of-"

"Feed me. Please."

As she came over to the bed she was all business and bad mood. She unrolled the napkin and-

V sprang into action. He took her by the arms and dragged her over his body, the element of surprise shocking her into a surrender he was damn sure was temporary-so he worked fast. He stripped the coat off her, handling her as gently as he could while her body torqued to get free.

Shit, he couldn't help it, but the urge to subdue her took over. Suddenly he was touching her not to keep her hands from whatever was in that pocket, but because he wanted to pin her to the bed and let her feel his power and strength. He took both her wrists in one hand, stretched her arms over her head, and trapped her thighs with his hips.

"Let. Me. Go!" Her teeth were bared, fury iridescent in her dark green eyes.

Totally aroused, he arched into her and sucked in a breath… only to freeze. Her scent carried no sultry sweetness of a female who wanted sex. She was not attracted to him at all. She was pissed off.

V let her go immediately, rolling away, though making sure he had the coat with him. The instant she was free she shot off the bed like the mattress was on fire and faced off with him. Her hair was tangled at its blunt ends, her shirt wrenched around, one pant leg shoved up to her knee. She was breathing heavily from exertion and staring at her coat.