Justice yawned and glanced at the clock. “It’s after three.”
“I’m ready to call it a night.” Tiger stretched on the couch. “That was a good action
film.”
“Thanks for staying with me.”
“Not a problem. Any time.” Tiger met his gaze. “Females are trouble. Never forget
that. We’re better off without them.”
“I’m not sure I agree.”
“Do you want me to stay in the guest room?”
“Do you feel like driving home?”
“Not really.” Tiger yawned. “I’m not used to these late nights.”
Justice clicked off the TV and the DVD player, rose to his feet and dropped the
remotes on the coffee table. “Stay. We’ll have breakfast together and discuss the new
cameras you want installed at the gates.” He withdrew his cell phone and flipped it
open.<
Justice grimly adjusted his tie for the hundredth time as he glanced at his securityteam. Humans stared at them as they entered the hospital lobby but it wasn’t unusual.Six large Species males, all dressed in black uniforms but one who was a nice businesssuit, was bound to draw a lot of attention. Justice ran his nervous hands down his darkgray jacket as he paused in front of the nurses’ station. The female lifted her chin andher mouth dropped open, nearly competing with her wide-eyed gaze.He tried not to intimidate the woman by speaking in a soft tone. “We are here to seeJessie Dupree. She was brought in as a shooting victim.”The woman snapped her mouth closed and swallowed hard. “You’re New Species,aren’t you?”Justice refrained from growling and flashing fangs. He didn’t want to carry on aconversation with the nurse. He didn’t want to
Jessie was nervous as she stepped out of the cab and lifted the gym bag to hershoulder. The sight of protestors marching near the gate angered her instantly. Don’t they have lives? Something better to do than harass a bunch of people who have never done anything to them? Jessie paused next to the cab window and handed the driver three twenties.“Keep the change.”“Thanks.” He backed the vehicle away.Her gaze studied the men and women as she headed for the gates. The NSOHomeland was the main home for New Species and they also had a huge wooded areathey’d bought and named Reservation. She’d been here before but she’d never had towalk through the front gates. She’d come in a helicopter, dropped off females and hadpromptly been flown out, having never stepped past the heliport area. Now she wasgoing to live and work inside Homeland. It was rumored Justice liv
Jessie closed the door and held the large bag of takeout food from the NSOcafeteria. She hadn’t eaten all day and the smell of dinner made her stomach rumble.She turned on lights to study the living room, debating whether to eat or explore. Herstomach rumbled again, settling the debate.The couch was plush and comfy as she sat, settled the bag on the table before herand opened it. The scent of prime rib made her groan. Justice had to have ordered it forher since they hadn’t asked her what she wanted. At least she hoped he’d donesomething that thoughtful. For all she knew, prime rib could have been the day’sspecial.She’d gotten to spend time with Tiny and Halfpint again. That had been great.She’d always believed her job rewarding since joining the task force but nothingreaffirmed that more than seeing the changes in the two. They’d been frightened,i
Jessie knew she pushed Justice to the breaking point when his catlike eyes fixed onher every movement as though she was the most fascinating thing in the world to him.His breathing grew erratic. The soft sounds he made were purely animalistic andturned her on further.He had admitted to being dangerous but she didn’t believe for a second that he’dhurt her. It might be nuts but her instincts were always something she counted on. Noalarms were triggered when it came to the New Species leader. Her attraction to himwasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever felt but she refused to deny it. She wanted himenough to fight for him. That meant being provocative in bed and making him break hisiron control.He grabbed her finger without warning and pulled it to his lips. Jessie was stunnedwhen it disappeared into his mouth, he snarled, and he sucked. It was erotic watchinghis reactio
“Breeze!” Jessie grinned. “You’re here at the women’s dorm! Why aren’t you still atReservation?”The six-foot-plus woman grinned. “I arrived early this morning. My best friendEllie wanted me to come home to share some news and I’ll be here for a while. She ishuman and married Fury, who is Species.”“I’ve heard of them—on TV when they got married. I hope it was good news?”“The best. I’m sorry but I can’t share what it is. All I can say is her and her husbandwanted something since they found love together and they finally accomplished it.”“That is good news.”“What are you doing here? Are you checking up on the woman you brought to us?They are still at Reservation and are doing fine. They have settled well. It was decidedthey should stay there instead of being brought here sinc
Oh shit. Well, I said I wanted him to stop holding back. I guess I should have been careful of what I wished for. Jessie pushed back her thoughts, gave him a thorough once-over and arched her eyebrows.“Nice language. That will put me in the mood. That’s sarcasm, if you missed thepoint. Forget about it, Justice. Why don’t you just piss on the corner of the bed to mark your territory?”He growled but Jessie wasn’t afraid anymore. Her shock had worn off and she wasprepared for him now. He was jealous. It irritated her more than anything. He didn’twant her but he didn’t want anyone else to be with her either.“If you think I’m going to let you come at me that way, think again. You dumpedYou need to leave until you know what you want. Then we’ll talk.”Justice stalked around the edge of the bed with his arms still open. He planned tograb her
“So when do we get to sleep in your bed?”Jessie put the last dish in the dishwasher and turned. Justice sat at the table with hislaptop open. He’d slept every night at her house for the past four days but in theevenings he still had hours of work to complete. In the mornings he was gone beforeshe woke and stayed gone all day. He left the office in time to share dinner with her and she appreciated it, knowing he was a workaholic. Her father hadn’t ever been thatconsiderate when she’d lived with him and Justice obviously made the effort to spendtime with her.He didn’t look up. “We can’t.”She frowned. “I haven’t seen your house yet and I’d like to.”He finally glanced up from his screen. “Jessie, I have too many people visiting myhouse. They are always dropping by for one reason or another and I have a Speciesmale who
Justice slammed his fist on the desk and glared at the phone he’d just hung up.Some new hate church had taken to the airwaves to rant about how New Species wereanimals, not people, and referred to the NSO as nothing more than a private zoo. Itmade his blood boil.No Species had asked to be genetically altered with animal DNA, it hadn’t been achoice they were given, and their only so-called crime had been to survive year afteryear of abuse at the hands of scientists, doctors, and researchers who used their bodiesto create drugs to help humans. Not that they got much appreciation for any medicaladvancements their suffering had provided.The door opened and Tiger popped his head in cautiously. “I could hear yousnarling from next door.” He edged inside and closed the door. “Are you all right?”“It’s just a bad day.”“That’s not unc