Rome scooped me up, and I yelped in surprise. "I've got you." He latched onto the blanket before settling back on the chair with me on his lap and draping the material over me. "You okay?"
"Yes." Embarrassed to my soul, but fine physically.
"Does that kind of thing happen - "
"Belle Jamison. Want to tell me why - " John, who'd charged into the room, stopped abruptly. His expression didn't change when he spotted me sprawled on Rome's lap, but his voice did calm. "I don't even want to know what kind of kinky sex games the two of you have been playing this time, but it's nice to have you and your memories back, Rome. I'll want an EEG, of course, to compare your brain waves then and now."
Rome lost his air of relaxation. "My memories haven't returned." John's gaze flew to me, confusion registering. "Oh. Then why...Never mind." My cheeks heated and I scrambled off Rome and back onto the bed, taking the blanket with me. I covered myself as best I could. Cold as I was, I couldn't hide the two little pearls saluting anyone who glanced my way.
"Fine. I have to know. Something happened between the two of you." Both of John's brows arched, and he sighed. "What?"
"You already know, you pervert," I snapped.
He didn't back down. "Reese says the components that make your blood different from the average human's increase every time he tests you. This time, they were off the charts." I'd suspected that before, that the bloodletting was making my powers wonky, but had decided that was wrong. I still thought so. Being without my filter was the issue. Had to be. Because every time Rome left me, I had problems. I didn't tell that to John, however. Not now. He might try to find me another filter, someone who didn't mind being with me, and that wouldn't do. Not when the only person I wanted that close to me was Rome.
"Well, something's off," I said, which wasn't a lie. "I managed to set myself on fire." John's eyes widened and he looked to Rome for confirmation.
Rome gave an ominous nod.
"I wonder what's different. Is the formula strengthening as time passes?" Silent, John tilted his head to the side. He tapped his chin. He looked from me to Rome, Rome to me, and his eyes widened further.
"Ah, of course. You hinted, I think, but I didn't understand. Something's different about you every time he leaves, yes?"
"What's different?" Rome asked.
Crap. John had figured out the truth on his own.
"Should we put her in lockup?" he asked, surprising me, the question clearly aimed at himself. He continued to tap that finger against his chin as he studied me.
"I'm right here! And no, we shouldn't. I'm not a scrim. And before you say it, I do not want another filter."
Dark eyes leveled on me with unerring intensity. "I do what's necessary to protect both my agents and the world, no matter what's required. You know that. If your powers are that unstable..."
"I can handle it," I told him. "I'd already figured out the problem, but hadn't realized how bad it could get. I know now and I'll take precautions." Though the only precaution I could think of was staying away from Rome until his memories returned, and that wasn't acceptable. "Just back off."
"Listen hard, Miss Jamison," John said through clenched teeth. "You are not my boss. You do not issue commands. I, however, do. From now on, you are to inform me of every change that occurs, not just hint about them. You could have killed someone today! Understand?"
"I understand." And I did. He wanted the best for everyone. So I backed off instead, remorseful.
"New tests need to be run."
"Of course." I'd known that would happen, which was part of the reason I'd kept quiet. John liked to test everything. In ways that were sometimes painful, sometimes humiliating, but always a nuisance. He meant well, I knew that, but it didn't lessen the aggravation.
Dr. Roberts, the scientist who had secretly placed that formula in my grande mocha latte, had also given it to several other people. I was the only one who survived - and still, months later, no one knew why - so I was the only living vessel John had, which made me the only source for answers.
"If I let you stay in the field," he said, "you'll have to be monitored." I shook my head, my hair slapping