my type, so you have nothing to worry about there. I prefer solitude, so if our relationship progresses more and you stay with the others, I’ll likely live separately. I don’t like pets because I hate dealing with their deaths. That’s why I prefer robots. I love cherry pie and my favorite time of year is Autumn.”
That was so much information in such a short time.
“That all?” I asked, a little shell shocked.
He shrugged. “All I can think of.”
“So, who is your ex? I know you don’t want to give her away, but—”
His cell rang and he pulled it from his pocket. “It’s your stone lover,” he said and answered. “She’s recovered. She wants to go to her interviews so I’m going to drop her at the headquarters. Meet us outside in thirty minutes?” He nodded and then hung up.
“I haven’t slept with any of them,” I said, feeling like I had to tell him.
He arched a brow. “Really?”
I put my hands on my hips and gave him my best glare. “Yes, really. I prefer to get to know a guy before sleeping with him. I’ve only had one date with you all.”
“I’m sorry if I offended you. I just know most heroes, and villains, usually move pretty fast in relationships since our life expectancies aren’t as long as civilians,” he said and picked up my right hand. He kissed my knuckles tenderly. “Forgive me?”
Was it common knowledge that heroes moved quickly in relationships? I had never heard that before.
“Yes,” I whispered. My mind was stuck on the fact we had shorter life expectancies. Would I die young? I’d almost died a couple times already. Tyson was the only reason I was alive.
He tugged me closer, set a hand on my cheek, and looked down into my eyes.
“What’s going on in your head?”
“You’re the only reason I’m alive still,” I answered. “What was the person hoping to gain from drugging me yesterday?”
He scowled. “You want my honest assumption?”
I nodded.
His face tightened with a mixture of anger and thoughtfulness. “I think they drugged you so they could ask you questions and possibly implant you with a tracker. I removed the last one they put in. They could have also wanted to give you some of their serum to make you more compliant.”
That was about what I’d thought, but hearing him say it out loud made it worse. Did that mean the Director was involved?
“You need to get dressed,” he whispered.
I nodded. “Right.”
He rubbed my cheek with his thumb and smiled. “Hey, everything is going to be alright. And, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Oh?” I asked, perking up a bit. “What kind of surprise?”
He laced our fingers together on one hand and led me out of the laboratory, down to the living quarters, and into a bedroom. It had no decorations and was painted a soft, calming gray.
On the bed was an outfit almost identical to mine, a strange looking gun, boots, and a small black box.
“Your outfit needed some improvements,” he said. He picked up the little black box.
My heart beat quickened. He couldn’t be proposing, right? It was way too soon for that.
He opened it and pulled out an earpiece.
My heart plummeted and relaxed at the same time. What was wrong with me?
“This will allow us to communicate and isn’t traceable,” he said while slipping it into my ear. He picked a bag up from the floor and set it on the bed. “These are for the other guys and Alura if you want to give her one.”
“This is too much,” I whispered. “How am I supposed to repay you?”
He smiled. “These will help keep you safe, which is payment enough, but also will help you in bringing about the downfall of the unethical activities going on at the Association.” He headed towards the door. “I’ll let you get dressed. We need to leave soon.”
“Is this your room?” I asked.
He stopped in the doorway, turned with a smile, and said, “No, it’s yours.” He shut the door behind him before I could respond.
Austin, Hurricane, Vortex, and Alura all stood outside at the curb, waiting for us.
Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away. I wasn’t used to having friends or people who cared about me.
“Call me when you’re back in your room after your day, okay? Alfred will report any issues to me. And you can talk to me anytime you want by tapping your earpiece twice.”
I leaned over and kissed him. “I’ll be okay. Now that