He wondered if she’d drifted across the bed in her sleep or purposely taken his space to cause irritation. He grinned, guessing the second. Kat liked to push him when she was angry. Sometimes her rebellion was loud and obvious but she had a talent for small displays of defiance.

He inched closer until his thighs pressed against the bottom of the bed. He wanted to crawl toward her and flip her over. He needed to get his handcuffs. That’s what he’d done to her every other night.

He snapped them on her wrists and hooked them through one of the slats of the headboard. He hesitated, despite his dick stirring. He wanted Kat. The condoms were in the drawer next to the bed. He’d brought more in case he went through the box.

She straightened and her legs slid a few inches apart as she settled more firmly on her stomach. There was no change in her breathing. She slept on. He rounded the bed, crouched next to her and captured a lock of her hair on his fingertip. He leaned in and inhaled.

He’d ordered personal grooming products of her choice. The peach scent would forever remind him of her. The fruit fit her personality. Soft, sweet, delicate, with a hard core at the center. Mouthwatering to taste. He closed his eyes and admitted to himself that she’d changed him. Become a part of him. A tinge of resentment washed through him but when he opened his eyes again and stared at her peaceful features, the emotion changed to longing. He’d miss her when she was gone.

“Shit.”

She stirred and opened her eyes. He held still but released her hair. She frowned a little, blinking, but then he must have come into focus. “Hi.”

“You’re on my side of the bed.”

“I know.” She lifted her head and looked at the clock on the nightstand. “You’re later than usual. It’s after one.”

“I needed to do some thinking.”

She sat up, clutching the covers to her br**sts. One hand reached out, searching for the lamp. He caught her it, held it. She had no choice but to sit still.

“Don’t. I like it this way.”

“I’m not surprised with that name. Darkness—I get it.”

He smiled. “That wasn’t why I chose it.”

“It should have been.”

She didn’t attempt to tug her hand free. He liked touching her. “I am sorry for earlier.”

She sighed. “Is it easier to admit you’re wrong when I can’t make out your features?”

“Yes.”

She scooted over. “At least come closer.”

He rose and sat on the edge of the mattress. “I haven’t been fair to you.”

“I know.” She surprised him when she leaned his way and rested her forehead against his chest, her other hand curling around his forearm. She stayed there, close. “It’s not easy for you to share anything with anyone.”

“I don’t mean to hurt or anger you.”

She turned her head and rubbed her cheek over his skin. “You mean to piss me off. I’m guilty of doing the same to you. It gets a reaction and that’s better than the silence. We need to work on our communication skills. We have only two volumes—high or mute.”

He let go of her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. He liked her in his arms. He rested his chin on top of her head. It seemed to fit there. “I can’t change.”

“I’m not asking you to. I just want in.”

“No.”

She tensed in his hold. “No discussion about it, huh? No give and take?”

“I warned you from the start, Kat. You’re a temptation I couldn’t resist but I’ll never be the type of male you need. I can give you sex. That’s it. I want to be honest. I spoke to Justice today and we can find you a job with the NSO. Our people like you and enjoyed your classes. He’ll take you on as a full-time instructor.”

“Teaching them about security? You have a task force for that.”

“To teach them about humans overall. We owe you a debt for how you handled those humans in the van. You were correct. They could have inflicted a lot of damage before we took them out. We weren’t prepared for that kind of assault. We are now.”

“I, um…” She paused. “I have to think about it.”

“You could live at Homeland or drive to your own home at night. It would be your choice. It’s always dangerous working for Homeland. You’d have to be very aware of your surroundings to make certain no one followed you to your house. It’s less dangerous at Reservation. There’s a much smaller population of humans. The nearby residents like us there but I realize it probably wouldn’t be your preference to move so far away.” He ran his hand up and down her spine. “I’d prefer you live at Homeland. We could still see each other.”

“Are you asking me to keep living with you?”

“No. You’d be assigned your own home. I could visit you after my shifts sometimes.”

“I see.” She relaxed. “You’d be able to f**k me and then leave whenever you were in the mood.” Her wounded tone indicated that wasn’t an option.

“I can’t offer you more.”

She pushed him and he dropped his arm. She rolled away and scooted to the other side of the bed. “I’m tired.”

“Is that not enough for you?”

“You know the answer already. You’re a bright guy. Good night.”

She pulled up the covers, hiding her body from his view. The way she drew her knees up and kept her back to him left no doubt that she didn’t want to be touched. He was disappointed but not surprised. Kat wanted a male who could give her all the things she needed. That would never be him.