There was a small silence. His tone had been harsh. Accusing even. He took a breath and let it out, willing his body to stop. Willing his mind to forget everything Joy had said to him. Willing himself not to hear those sensual notes in Pepper’s voice.
“Yes.”
He hadn’t expected her soft admission. Or the way he felt the small confession slip inside of him, spreading through him like bubbles from the finest champagne. “So what? You were engineered to be the secret sexual weapon? The one used to lure the enemy close so you could stab them through the heart? That’s why you have that skin? That body? And that voice? Nature and a fuckin’ scientist gave them to you?”
Again a small silence. He felt his own heart accelerate. He stared up at the ceiling, his cat’s eyes able to count every knot in the wood.
“Yes.”
His lungs filled and refused to continue. He ached. Everywhere. It was all he could do not to open his jeans and find some kind of relief. “What went wrong? Why did they change their mind and start usin’ you for snake bait?”
He was being a bastard. An utter and complete bastard. He knew it, he just couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to punish her for being a seductive woman – one that could put a spell on a man without even trying. He wanted to punish her for his own weakness.
“They overlooked one important detail,” Pepper replied softly. “One serious flaw in their plans for me.”
“I can’t see any mistakes,” he admitted.
“They gave me the body, the voice, and even the sexual need. It’s like a hunger that won’t stop, but they forgot to take away my free will. They forgot that I might not want to crawl all over a man, using my body to seduce him and then just give him a little love bite straight into his carotid.”
He drew in his breath sharply, trying not to groan. The thought of her naked, sliding up any man’s body but his was just a little too much. The idea of her biting any other neck but his was just as intolerable. And that said volumes about his present state of mind. “You said no? Even though you’ve got cat DNA. You must go into heat.”
“All the time. Serious heat.” She didn’t laugh. She sounded sad. Filled with sorrow. Despair.
“Why haven’t Ezekiel and Malichai had the same strong reaction to you as I have?” He’d seen the look on their faces, but they had both been able to walk away. He couldn’t. Wyatt knew had they not left him to it, he might have turned dangerous – even to his friends.
“I was careful. I tried to keep my guard up and protect them. You shouldn’t be feeling it either. I must have slipped up when I got so sick.”
Her voice was killing him. He was grateful he couldn’t see her. Lying in the dark next to her, he couldn’t stop the erotic images from flooding his brain. He gritted his teeth and forced more air through his burning lungs.
“Did you use this particular gift to escape?” He didn’t know why he had to ask – or why he sounded so filled with contempt – so jealous. But it was there, swirling inside him, a black cloud of rage that told him he needed a reprieve from her. From the sexual web of her voice.
“You know, Mr. Fontenot, I don’t want to talk to you after all. I’ve gone through this alone before and I’m certain I will again. I don’t need someone around me who believes he’s so much better than I am.”
He felt her movement before she actually moved. The energy it took wasn’t all human. Clearly just sitting was difficult – and painful. Agony twisted through his body. Ripped him in half and sawed at every muscle and joint. He couldn’t breathe, and this time it had nothing at all to do with sex. His body nearly convulsed with the pain. His heart pounded, his pulse accelerated and he broke out into a sweat. Thunder roared in his ears.
Recognition came slowly. He should have known all along. He was a damned genius, yet he hadn’t figured it out. He’d tied them together when he’d merged his mind to hers. His dreams were her dreams. She’d admitted whoever had enhanced her had wanted to use her as a sexual weapon and they’d found a way to kick up her drive until it was an outrageous hunger and need.
She had been the one suffering because of their close proximity, even in spite of the venom. Maybe because of it. She wasn’t fully in control.
“Lie back down, Pepper.” Wyatt used his “doctor” voice. “I’ll get you something for the pain.”
“I have to use the bathroom – and I don’t take painkillers.”
He sat up gingerly, waited for his head to explode a couple of times and then pushed himself into a standing position. “What happens when you take painkillers?”
“Anything that lowers my inhibitions is not acceptable.”
His breath slammed out of his lungs at the thought of Pepper with him and with lowered inhibitions. It was still dark in the room, but he could see her with his night vision. She lay back against the sofa, struggling for every breath. Her skin almost glowed, it was so flawless, even though she was pale beyond imagining. Her hair fell in a cloud around her face, dark and rich, inviting a man to bury his hands in it.
He could see her breasts rising and falling as she fought to draw air in and out of her lungs. Her mouth, a perfect fantasy mouth, drew his attention. Her lips were slightly parted, and once again images filled his mind. He cursed softly under his breath. She lifted her long lashes and her dark eyes met his – only they weren’t dark anymore. They were the star-filled sky he’d floated through in his erotic dream, a sultry invitation to another world. He had the feeling if he was ever foolish enough to allow himself to take one step, one kiss, one touch into that world, there would be no going back.
“I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
“Just point the way,” she suggested.
He wished he had earplugs in. Her voice was the perfect weapon against a man, and clearly the pain wasn’t allowing her to mask the enhancements at all. He was just grateful his friends were asleep and nowhere near her. Merging with her had been a mistake. He felt possessive of her, so much so, he feared the connection between them could get someone killed.
“You’ll fall on your face.” He didn’t wait for more protests, what was the use? He’d helped to get them into this situation, and she couldn’t help what she was any more than he could. He reached for her. She closed her eyes. He knew why the instant he touched her.