“No. This is most definitely not your fault, or mine. Nature isn’t fair, that’s all.” Studying her expression, he thought it only fair he give her one more out.

“Kira, I want you to know I meant what I said. You’re under no obligation to mate with me. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll let you go. You can’t leave here until it’s safe, but I can. I could ask Nick to assign me in the field for a while, and this mating fever, or whatever it’s called, might pass.”

And the mere thought broke his heart. Made him want to tear the room apart, shred the furniture. When had she burrowed so far under his skin?

To his amazement, her expression turned fierce. A little bit pissed. His angel got right in his face. “Listen to me, Jaxon Law. There’s something really good here, between you and me, and I’m sticking around to take it all the way. So stuff the self-sacrificing crap and get out of this bed so we can get our animal goin’ on.”

Okay, his inner wolf liked the attitude. A whole helluva lot. The rest of him did, too, and made his desires known with throbbing intensity, injuries be damned.

Reaching out, he traced a finger over her lips. “Yes, ma’am. You always so bossy?”

“No, but I’m learning.”

With that, she took his mouth, licked inside. Her flavor excited him as no woman’s ever had, and he wanted to pull her on top of him. Have his way right here. She must’ve felt the same, because she broke the kiss to nibble along his jaw.

“You could bite me right now,” she murmured.

“Baby, even if it would work, there’s no way I’m going to create the most important bond either of us will ever experience sitting in my oh so sexy hospital bed.” He arched a brow. “Give me a little romantic credit.”

She brightened. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

“Why? Was that some sort of test and I passed?”

“No! Well, maybe a little,” she teased. “I don’t want to do it here, either.”

“Why do you want it at all?” His quiet question pierced the playful mood, but he had to know. His own change of heart concerning taking a mate wasn’t such a mystery. Kira, he wasn’t so sure about. “Why me? Have you made peace with the fact that I have an animal half who’s every bit a part of me as the man?”

Her gaze slid from his and moved to his lap. “I keep telling you that wasn’t the problem.”

“Then what—oh, right. You didn’t want nature to force your choice.” Taking her chin, he tilted it up so she’d meet his eyes. “I don’t want that, either. But for my part, I don’t have to worry anymore.”

“What are you saying?” She bit her lip.

“That I’m falling for you,” he said, smiling a little. “Because of you, not some souped-up version of my genetic code. This might sound stupid, but I knew you were all I wanted the second I saw Chup sleeping on your stomach.”

“That doesn’t sound stupid at all.” Leaning in, she kissed the corner of his mouth. “In fact, that’s the greatest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“What about you?” He attempted to keep the sudden strain out of his tone. “Do you still feel trapped?”

“No,” she said, taking his hand. “I’m scared and a little overwhelmed, but not trapped. I think that’s because I’m not fully adjusted to this lifestyle yet. To the enormity of all of this—otherworldly beings, evil forces and soldiers who battle them. Plus there’s a big possibility I’ll be a shifter like you guys. But my feelings for you have become stronger than my fear of what I can’t control. Does that make sense?”

“Perfectly.”

She has feelings for me. Yes! It’s a place to begin. A terrific place. Still . . .

“So you’re really okay with the idea of becoming a shifter?”

After a pause, she nodded. “I’m nervous, but at the same time I can’t help but wonder what it will be like. You know, the process itself. Not to mention being stronger and faster, being able to defend myself with claws and really sharp teeth. It’s kind of cool, now that I’m getting used to the possibility. I think I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.”

“It might not,” he said gently. “Melina didn’t change after she and Terry mated.”

“I know. If it doesn’t, I’ll deal with it.” Lapsing into momentary silence, she played with his hair. “It’s weird for me to think about being shifter, but at least I get a warning. I can only imagine what a shock it was for you guys.”

“Damned right it was. Thought we were losing our minds at first.”

She studied him, obviously chewing on something. “You told me that you, Zan, Aric, and Ryon were Navy SEALs. And you were all turned after you were ambushed on patrol. Right?”

“Yes, plus Raven, who’s in Block R. Why?”

“So is that when your Psy abilities manifested? You were all able to do cool stuff after you became shifters?”

He frowned. “No, we had our abilities already. They just became much more powerful.”

“Did any of the other men—the ones who were killed—did they have powers, too?”

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “It’s never occurred to me to ask.”

“Did any of you know one another before you joined the Navy?”

“No, we met in BUD/S training and were placed on our team together. What are you getting at?”

“I’m not sure. It just seems strange that out of all the people in the military, a group of guys with Psy abilities ended up on the same team unbeknownst to one another, and all of you survived when so many others didn’t. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

Suddenly, Aric’s earlier declaration returned.

Which would mean our high-up government friends—the assholes who’re supposed to be on our side—lied to us. Ain’t like that’s never happened before.

A chill gripped his heart. What could it all mean? Were they played from the beginning, set up, used? The strong turned into paranormal soldiers, the weak discarded like broken toys?

That would be abominable. And it could be true.

“When you put it like that, it does,” he said. “I don’t know what to make of what’s going on with NewLife and these experiments, disappearing Alpha Pack team members, dead bodies, what the government does or doesn’t have a hand in, none of it. What I do know is I want out of this bed.”

Mischief sparked in her blue eyes and she leaned over, nibbling his neck. “My poor wolf pup,” she teased. “Feeling a bit anxious? Cooped up?” Her hand slid under the covers.

“Kira.” His intended warning became a plea as her fingers sought their prize, rooting under his gown to find his lengthening shaft. “God.”

“Let me help you get rid of some of that tension.” Her hand began stroke him, sending shivers of delight through his burgeoning erection, up his spine. “I’ll make a mess,” he gasped. “The doc will know what we’ve been up to.”

“There won’t be a mess,” she promised him with a wink. “Sit back and enjoy, and I’ll take care of everything.”

When she flipped back the covers and exposed him, bent over his throbbing flesh, his dazed brain grasped her meaning. All half-formed thoughts of protest died on his lips and he groaned, arching his hips.

Her mouth surrounded him, took him in, hot and sweet. The sensation fired his blood, not to mention the sight of her blond head bobbing over his lap, his cock disappearing between her lips. Just the idea that she planned to swallow his essence nearly made him lose it way too soon.

“God, Kira!”

She hummed in apparent pleasure, small fingers squeezing, manipulating his balls as she sucked. The dual stimulation was challenging enough in holding off his orgasm, but when the hand slid down his perineum, ventured into his cleft to massage the forbidden pucker there . . . Jax almost came totally undone.

“Baby, I can’t last,” he rasped. “Please . . .”

Please stop? Or please eat him alive? He wasn’t sure. His world had been reduced to a whorl of intense, mindless pleasure. Nothing existed but what she was doing to him, how unbelievably incredible it felt to surrender to her.