“So?”

“It tastes like shit and smells bad.”

Her hand paused on the way to her lips. “Then why are you doing it?”

“I’m trying to figure you out.”

“So you’re smoking my cigarettes? How is that going for you?”

He took another drag, turned and walked over to a potted plant. He bent, showing off a muscular ass in those silky, drawstring pajama pants. He ground the cigarette out in the soil, turned and approached her again.

She didn’t try to stop him when he jerked the cigarette from her fingers and smiled. “Find another vice.” He leaned sideways and picked up her pack and lighter. “We don’t sell cigarettes here at Homeland.”

“Good thing I brought more then.”

He grinned. “Did you?”

She’d seen them when she’d unpacked. She had thought she might need at least a few packs to get her through the ordeal of being at Homeland. “I did.”

The soft chuckle was nice. “Are you sure?”

“What does that mean?”

“Good night, Kat. Sleep well. I’m next door if you need anything.” He flashed her cigarette pack in his palm before returning to his patio. She watched him put out her cigarette on the way before he entered his house through the back slider.

She stood there for a few seconds before going back inside and directly to the master bedroom. She had left her suitcase on the floor next to the bed and lifted it, setting it on the mattress. She opened it and cursed. The four packs she’d brought were no longer inside the zippered section of the lid. It was unzipped and empty.

He must have sneaked in and taken them. She examined the window and discovered it was wide open. It hadn’t been. She ground her teeth together and wondered what kind of game the tall New Species played.

“Shit.”

Did he expect her to bang on his door and demand the return of her cigarettes? Maybe break into his house to steal them back? She suddenly grinned. It was tempting to do just that. Her humor faded though. He might be tempting her to do something that would get her thrown out of Homeland. She couldn’t risk it.

She sat down and sighed. It wouldn’t be the first time she couldn’t smoke. She usually stocked up on gum first though. She didn’t have any and wondered if Homeland had a convenience store open at night. She doubted it.

“Damn.”

Darkness watched the screen and smiled at Kat’s frustrated look. He sat back and leaned against the soft pillows, adjusting the laptop higher on his thighs. He wondered if she’d confront him about the theft. She hadn’t found the hidden cameras in the house or looked for any. He’d been viewing her since she’d arrived, with the exception of her shower. He’d used that time to sneak inside her home to gain access to her suitcase. He wanted her to know he’d been there.

She stood and walked to the window, shutting and locking it, before drawing the curtains. He followed her through the house by clicking on other camera feeds. She checked the locks on every window and closed all the curtains. Part of him felt a little guilty. She should feel safe at Homeland but it had been a strategic move to show her he could get to her at any time.

Kat entered the bedroom and closed the door. She twisted the lock and went into the bathroom. He had a camera in there but didn’t activate it. She deserved some privacy. He could see her cell phone charging on the dresser. He would have turned on the camera if she’d taken it with her, in order to see what she was up to. Within minutes she exited the bathroom and shoved the suitcase off the bed.

He grinned over her display of temper. The loss of her cigarettes would irritate her and keep her off balance. That’s what he needed. She’d make a mistake. The cell phone next to him buzzed and he reached for it, seeing it was Security.

“Darkness here.”

“I thought you’d like to know we’re set up for surveillance of the Gift location.”

“Thanks for informing me, Fury.”

The male grunted. “You got her location from Boris. I figured you’d want an update.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Do you wish to be the one to make first contact if we recover her alive?”

“No. I have no desire to ever leave NSO lands to venture into the out world.”

“I thought I’d offer it to you instead of Jaded. He’s flying in tonight.”

“Why? He enjoys being at Reservation.”

“There is a charity event for an animal rescue group that he planned to attend.”

“Ah.” That explained it. Jaded had made fundraising for animal rescue charities his undertaking. “Tell him he can make first contact.”

“You blocked the security feeds to our guest.”

He had hoped Security wouldn’t share that information but wasn’t surprised. “I’m allowing them access to the feeds when I’m unable to watch the female.”

“Why block them at all?”

He didn’t enjoy the idea of anyone watching Kat or knowing that he’d sneaked inside her home to snag her precious cigarettes. He also didn’t want them witnessing his interactions with her. “I’m in charge of this investigation.”

“Justice told me what Snow said. Is this going to be a problem? Are you attracted to this female?”

That angered him. “I’m not thinking purely with my dick. Are you asking me to pass this investigation to someone else?”