He growled. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Deficiencies. Keep it up.” She glanced at the nightstand drawer to make a point then looked back at him. “God, you’re an ass. I’m going to shower. Will you please bring me that toothbrush and find something for me to wear? I don’t want to have to ride to the cottage in my nightshirt and wet panties.” She fled at that point, before she really got mad.

She slammed the bathroom door but didn’t lock it. She really wanted to brush her teeth and have something to wear. It would be hard for him to bring them to her if he couldn’t get in. She turned on the shower and stepped inside, hoping it would cool her temper as she adjusted the water temperature to a little colder than she normally liked. Darkness just pissed her off. He had moments where she remembered why she had fallen for him then he blew it by opening his mouth.

Falling for him. Try fell. It disheartened her to know he’d never really return her feelings. He wouldn’t allow anyone to break through those emotional walls of his. It had been foolish to think that living with him and making him get to know her better would work.

Darkness uttered a curse and reached for the phone beside the bed. He dialed Trisha at home and she answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

“It’s Darkness. Are you busy?”

“No. What’s up?”

“I need you to act as a doctor.”

“That’s what I am.”

“I meant, I need confidentiality. I have a question.”

“You don’t want me to mention it to Slade, in other words. Hit me with it. I’m curious. He already left so he won’t overhear anything.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Okay. What kind?”

He hesitated. “When is the soonest you can discover if a female is pregnant?”

The silence on the other end lasted about ten seconds. “Oh. You and that FBI agent? Okay.” She paused. “Five days from the time of your, um, accident. The condom broke?”

He clenched his teeth. “I refuse to discuss that.”

“Fine. A blood test could tell us in five days. When did it happen? I can schedule you both to come in.”

“Would it be accurate?”

“Yes. I’ve gotten results in three days but five for sure. Species hormone levels hit fast when a woman is carrying one of your kind. They also have accelerated pregnancies. You’re feline so it would be a twenty-week gestation or thereabouts. It would mostly depend on how stubborn the baby would be. Some like to come a little early while others have hung in there an extra week or so.”

“I don’t want anyone else to know.”

“Not even her?” She paused again. “There are options. You need to tell her. She has to make a choice.”

“I informed her. She didn’t want to take a pill.”

“She knows you can get her pregnant? You’re going to have to inform someone at Security, Darkness. What if she wants to leave? Or tells someone outside?”

“She understands the importance of keeping it a secret.”

“It’s still a risk. You understand that.”

“I’ll handle it but not right now.”

“I take it that this accident happened recently?”

“Thank you, Trisha.” He hung up.

Darkness stood, went into the kitchen and grabbed the new toothbrush. He paused next to his dresser to find Kat a T-shirt and a pair of his drawstring exercise shorts. He entered the bathroom and placed them neatly on the counter. He soaked in the sight of her with her head tilted back under the spray of water. The smell of conditioner filled the bathroom. His attention lowered to her br**sts. His dick hardened. He turned before she caught him admiring her and left the bathroom.

He fled his apartment and went down the hall where he knocked on the door beside the elevator. Book answered, wearing a pair of boxers, obviously ready for bed after his shift. The male arched an eyebrow.

“Do you have condoms?”

“You don’t have any? We all got issued some recently.”

He resented being questioned. “I did but I threw them away. I didn’t think I’d have a need for them.” He had thought Kat wasn’t coming back to Homeland.

A smile curved the male’s lips. “Hang on.” Book strode across his apartment and disappeared into his bedroom. He returned quickly, a box in hand. He tossed it and Darkness caught it. Book halted before him. “Anything else?”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not surprised. You seemed to want to rip my arm off last night when I held that female to keep her from stepping off the wall.”

“Could we keep this between us?”

“Sure. I’m glad you found someone.”

He spun and walked away. Book chuckled. Darkness resisted slamming his door when he returned to his apartment. He didn’t like to amuse other males. He locked the door and took the box to his bedroom. He put them in the drawer next to his two handguns and sat on the bed. The shower still ran in the other room.

Kat would leave. She’d remain at Homeland but no longer be in his home. That should have made him feel pleased. It didn’t. She’d be alone. Other males from her classes would hear she’d come back. His memory flashed to the feline in the bar who’d offered to share sex with Kat. Others would too. He growled.

He’d hurt her feelings and insulted her. She’d taken his comment about the baby wrong. He hadn’t meant it as an offense. He’d just wanted to assure her the child would be healthy and strong if they’d created one. He stood and walked to the bathroom door, put his hand on the knob. The water shut off in the other room. He remained still, listening to her moving around.