Inside everyone was aflutter with excitement. They were throwing a birthday party for one of the women, getting it ready while she took her class at the New Species school. Ellie took charge. The women had made sure they were home to yell at the birthday girl when she entered the library.

The poor stunned woman jumped a good two feet, looked very confused, but grinned when she realized what they’d done for her. It was the happiest Ellie had ever seen the woman, making it worth every ounce of trouble it had been to plan the surprise party.

By six o’clock Ellie unlocked the front door to her and Fury’s house. She’d beat him home and ran for the kitchen. She’d hidden sandwiches at the bottom of the fridge earlier that morning after Fury had left to go to a security meeting. She pulled them out, grabbed a few sodas, a bag of chips from the pantry cupboard, and hurried to the bedroom.

Ten minutes later the front door slammed. Ellie jumped off the bed and darted to the closet. She laughed as she hid inside and waited. Fury always looked for her the second he entered the house. She knew he’d sniff her out pretty quickly and he’d be amused that she’d tried to hide. She heard him coming.

Ellie tried not to laugh as the closet door jerked open. Fury frowned until his gaze slowly raked down her na**d body. She grinned.

“It took you long enough to find me.”

“Why are you hiding?”

Ellie took a step toward him. “I thought I should at least make you work for it a little.”

“Work for what?” His focus stayed on her bare br**sts.

“Me.” She gripped the front of his uniform. “I thought about waiting on the bed but that was just too easy.”

Fury helped her remove his vest and shirt and kicked off his shoes. “I like easy.”

She chuckled. “Did you see the picnic I set out? I thought we could get naked, have dinner together, and then maybe watch some TV. That sounds like a great way to spend our evening,” she teased.

Fury’s lips twitched. “That’s fine.” He backed out of her range to prevent her from touching him. He unfastened his pants and shoved them down with his briefs. The socks were removed last. Totally na**d and aroused, he grinned broadly at her.

“Let’s eat.” He moved toward the bed.

Ellie followed him. She sat down on the other side of the mattress cross-legged, facing him, flashing her pu**y. Fury’s dark gaze locked on her lap. He took some long, deep breaths and growled low in the back of his throat.

“What was that, Fury? I didn’t quite understand what you said.” Ellie allowed her amusement to show in her eyes when he looked up.

“Nothing.” He grinned. “This looks really good. I love roast beef.”

“I tried to put everything out on the bed that you love.” Ellie licked her lips, letting her tongue slowly trace first the lower seam, and then the top.

Fury stared at her mouth. He bit into the sandwich, chewed and swallowed it. “Screw this,” he growled and tossed the sandwich aside as he lunged at her.

Ellie hit the bed on her back, laughing as Fury knocked her over and pinned her under him. “The only thing I want to really eat is you.”

“What about the game?”

He nuzzled her neck and brushed his lips on her shoulder. “The only thing I am interested in watching is you.” He cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple. “I am fully healed and plan on doing everything I want to you.”

“Did you lock the front door?”

“Locked and bolted. I still keep the handgun inside the nightstand drawer too. I’m going to shoot anyone who comes into this bedroom.”

Ellie raked her fingernails down his back. Fury arched against her body and growled. “Easy. Don’t excite me too much. It wouldn’t take much for me to lose control. I want this to be good for you too.”

“Do you trust me?”

Fury didn’t hesitate. “With my life.”

“Can I be on top?”

Surprise crossed Fury’s features but lines slowly appeared at the corner of his eyes as he stared at her. “You want to be on top? Am I crushing you with my weight?” He lifted his chest away from hers to put a few inches of space between them.

She pulled him back down. “You’re never too heavy. I love your skin touching mine and I love being under you. I just want to straddle you.” Her gaze studied him intently. “Breeze mentioned your males won’t allow women on top but I want to be. Will you at least try it for me?”

Fury’s jaw clenched. “You want me to submit to you?”

She smiled. “No. I want you to trust me and let me be on top. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

He rolled them suddenly until she straddled him but he didn’t look happy about doing it. “I love you. If it is important to you then I will submit. I can prove that I’d do anything for you, even this.”

Ellie’s smile fell. He didn’t look happy or turned on. He actually looked kind of miserable. Damn. She hadn’t meant to upset him or have him react badly. She straightened, straddling his stomach. She bit her lip, tempted to have him roll her back under him, but instead she carefully examined his stretched-out body under hers.

Ellie scooted back over his straining erection, happy to see it didn’t turn him off in that department, and inched down to sit on his thighs. She leaned forward and licked one of his ni**les, tugging the firm nub into her mouth, arching her stomach up enough to put a little space between them when his c**k dug into her belly.