“I’ll tell you what,” Ellie lied. “If I ever consider ha**ng s*x with Mr. Fury, I’ll let him know, and on the off chance he’s interested, you’ll be the second person I tell.”

Ellie spun away and stared to walk. Justice immediately matched her steps while they headed toward Fury’s home. He chuckled.

“You handled that nicely.” He hesitated. “You might want to give her a call tomorrow. According to the files I reviewed, she’s one of the best doctors in the country. I personally handpicked her. She’s young but brilliant and she’s New Species friendly. If she says she’ll keep a lid on it, I would tend to believe her.”

Ellie nodded. “I won’t hesitate if I think I need a doctor.”

Chapter Thirteen

Fury paced the entire time that Ellie was gone, certain something would go wrong. He had refrained from rushing to the control room to spy on the meeting with the cameras set up around Homeland. He had access to those feeds as head of security and second-in-command. He hadn’t left though, wanting to be at home awaiting her return.

He trusted Justice and their men to protect Ellie. He’d trained all their security officers personally, each and every one, and his people knew how much she mattered to him. He missed her scent, hearing her musical voice, and when he closed his eyes, her face appeared, burned into his memory.

To sleep with Ellie, feel her skin against his, while they talked late into the night had been wonderful before falling asleep. He wanted to do it every night and hear every detail of her life—minus any mention of men she’d known. He didn’t want to imagine anyone ever touching his Ellie. He’d have to track them down and take them out. If her husband ever did show up at Homeland wanting Ellie back as his wife, he hadn’t been kidding about beating the man until he changed his mind. She was his, now and forever.

The thought of her ex-husband reminded him of her deficient parents. Fury paused his pacing and stared hard at the door. She would never be alone again. She had him and all his people as her family. He would assure her of that and make it known that she belonged with him. He’d fight tooth and nail with Justice if that’s what it took to make it a New Species law that any humans who were with New Species were considered one of them. He wanted her to have the same rights he had, knowing she made no distinction between them so none would be made against her when it came to his people. She should be considered New Species.

He nodded, deciding to push that new law at Justice while they made new ones to govern their people. Soon they’d manage their own Homeland and he’d talk Ellie into making their relationship permanent. It already was, to him.

She just needed to come home.

Forever seemed to pass before he spotted her through the window. He fought the instinct to rush outside, run to her, and hold her but he kept calm, as much as he could. No one had tried to take Ellie since she didn’t look afraid. Justice and the team members appeared completely at ease. He jerked open the front door.

Fury stepped outside and strode toward Ellie, his relief evident on his face.

“We are being watched,” Justice warned softly. “Ellie, walk into the house as though you don’t give a damn. Fury, don’t look so happy to see her. She just lied to a roomful of people. Don’t make her effort meaningless by kissing her in full view of anyone within sight. Let’s talk for a minute so it seems you rushed out the door to interact with me.”

Ellie kept walking. She wanted to touch Fury when they passed but she managed not to, refused to even glance his way until she entered the house. She closed the door, kicked off her shoes, and paced the room. A minute later Fury walked into the room and locked the door behind him. Their gazes met for a split second before she lunged at him. Strong arms caught her up and hugged her tightly.

Ellie’s feet didn’t touch the floor when she found her face buried against Fury’s neck. He clutched her so tightly it nearly hurt. “I can’t breathe,” she gasped.

Fury’s hold on her eased. “You’re back.”

“I’m back.”

Fury swung her into his arms and strode through the house, carrying her into the bedroom to set her on the edge of the bed. He reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. Ellie smiled at him.

“When you came home last night you thought I’d be too tender to do anything but let you hold me while we slept. This morning when we woke you refused to shower with me because you said I needed a few days more to adjust to you. Why are you undressing?”

Fury kicked off his shoes and shoved his pants down. His dark, sexy gaze fixed on hers. “That was before they took you from me. I have to have you now.”

Ellie stood and started to undress. A na**d Fury waited and watched her silently until she finished removing her clothes. She took a step closer to him.

Ellie gasped when Fury lunged, grabbed her and spun her around. She found herself bent over the bed on her knees before she could catch her breath. His body curved over hers, pinning her under him.

“Fury?”

He growled then buried his nose against her neck. He inhaled deeply and softly groaned.

“You’re just going to mount me?” It startled her. “No foreplay? Nothing?”

“You’re mine.”

A little fear eased into Ellie. “You’re scaring me. My body isn’t ready for you.”

“I don’t mean to.” He nibbled her earlobe. “I just want you. I paced the entire time you were gone, imagining the worst. I just want inside you. I want you screaming my name and your scent filling my head. I need to feel your wet heat, to bury myself in you deep and hold you there for as long as I can keep us connected.”