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  “Suspended animation?” Elise put a hand to her throat. “I don’t understand. What—?”

  “The stasis field slows down all your bodily functions dramatically,” the blonde nurse explained. “That’s why we missed you before—there were no life signs coming from the pod you were in. Lucky for you, Merrick decided to check it out anyway.”

  “Merrick?” Elise looked up at him. “Is that your name?”

  “The one and only.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked smile and she got the feeling it wasn’t an expression that crossed his face often.

  “And you’re Kindred,” Elise said, beginning to remember things from their last conversation. “You said…you said you’d protect me.”

  He nodded gravely. “I found you out there so I’m responsible for you. At least until you’re able to go home—back down to your planet.” He didn’t seem very happy about the idea.

  Elise felt a sudden, sharp stab of distress. “So…I’ll go home and you’ll stay here? I’ll never see you again?”

  He cocked an eyebrow at her again. “Why, you wanna play house? I’m not exactly the kind of guy you bring home to your parents.”

  “I wouldn’t bring anyone home to them,” Elise said without thinking. “I haven’t spoken to my mother in ten years.” Then she shut her mouth. Why had she told a complete stranger such an intimate, personal detail about herself? And why was she still sitting on his lap? “Excuse me,” she said stiffly and tried to get up.

  Her body didn’t want to cooperate. She stumbled and nearly fell. Merrick caught her neatly and picked her up. “Take it easy, baby.”

  Hot blood rushed to her cheeks. “I’m not your baby. Please put me down,” she demanded in her frostiest tone.

  “All right.” He deposited her neatly in bed, making her feel like a stupid little girl. “Guess we’re not playing house after all.”

  “I guess not.” Elise tried to gather her dignity but it wasn’t easy considering she was still wearing nothing but a hospital johnny. “Where are my clothes?” she asked, looking at the nurse this time. “Can I get something else to wear? I’m not sick and I’d rather not dress like I am.”

  “Well, we prefer that our patients wear the healing robes we put them in—this fabric was specially developed by the Kindred.” The nurse pointed at the sleeve of her crimson robe. “It’s actually infused with antibacterial cultures. But I’ll try to find you something for the trip home, at least. You’re what…a size four?”

  “I’m a six.” Elise looked down at herself, swimming in the red gown. “Or…I used to be,” she said doubtfully. “Maybe a four would fit now.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Wow, the kidnapping and terror diet really works—who knew?”

  The blonde nurse smiled at her. “A sense of humor—I like that. Don’t worry, I’ll find you something to wear back to Earth.” She bustled away, leaving Elise alone with Merrick.

  “Well.” He stretched, his fingertips easily touching the high ceiling. “Looks like you’re doing fine. Guess I’ll be going too.” He turned away and Elise knew she ought to let him go. But somehow she couldn’t. She just couldn’t.

  “Wait!” she said before she could stop herself. “Wait, please.”

  “Yeah?” He turned back to face her, an unreadable look in his mismatched eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” Elise said in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I…I can get a little prickly when I’m feeling threatened.”

  “You don’t have to feel threatened around me.” His rough voice grew somewhat softer. “I’m here to protect you—remember?”

  “I remember.” Unable to stop herself, Elise held out a hand. She felt an unutterable sense of relief when Merrick took it and entwined their fingers.

  “So,” he said sitting down in the chair beside the bed. “You want to talk? Or just rest?”

  “Just rest, please,” Elise said humbly. He looked like a felon or an escaped prisoner but she had never felt such peace and safety as when he took her hand. His touch was soothing somehow. Healing. All better now, she thought and yawned. She realized with surprise that she was sleepy again. Why was she so tired when she needed to get back down to Earth and get things in order? Her caseload alone—

  “Let it go.”

  “Huh?” She frowned in surprise. “What did you say…Merrick?” His name felt strangely right on her tongue.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. It can wait.” He squeezed her fingers lightly. “For now, just rest. You can do that, can’t you baby?”

  This time she didn’t get angry or upset at the endearment. It seemed…sweet. Roughly charming, like him. “Yes,” she said at last. “Yes I guess I can.”

  “Good. Close your eyes. Relax.” He leaned back in the chair, crossed his legs in front of him, and closed those strangely compelling eyes. His tall, muscular frame looked almost lanky in repose.

  Elise followed his example and relaxed back against her pillows. She wished he was holding her again—it would be better if he was closer, if she was touching his skin. But for right now, holding his hand was enough.

  What would be better? she asked herself. There didn’t seem to be an answer. She only knew that touching him felt good, felt right. But more than that—it felt necessary. Like she needed to touch him. Elise pushed that idea to the side—it was silly to think she had to touch a man she’d barely met. It was time to rest. And now that everything was safely back in the vault, she could sleep.

  But what if the vault opens again? What if the door swings wide and lets everything out?

  The sudden thought made her eyes fly open and her heart start to race.

  “Easy,” Merrick murmured and she realized he was watching her from half-lidded eyes. “Take it easy, Elise.”

  She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I just thought—”

  “Relax. If you have a bad dream I’ll wake you up.”

  She looked at him with gratitude. He understood. “You…do you promise?” she asked, feeling like a little kid again.

  He nodded. “Swear.” He squeezed her hand gently and Elise had the fleeting thought that she wished he could get into the bed with her. She was certain she’d be able to sleep without nightmares if he was curled up around her, spooning her protectively.

  The adult part of her mind rejected the idea at once. She’d only just met him—she couldn’t ask him to share her bed. Plus, she didn’t think he’d fit. He was positively the biggest person she’d ever seen in her life—not that it bothered her. She was used to being the shortest kid on the block so she didn’t let size intimidate her…

  “Stop thinking so hard and sleep,” he said. “What are you thinking about, anyway?”

  Elise yawned despite herself. “Just that you’re too big to fit in the bed with me.” Then, realizing what she’d said she added, “Not that I want—”

  “I do.” He looked at her speculatively. “Wish I could crawl in there with you. I’d like to hold you again.”

  Elise felt her cheeks getting hot. “I…I’d like that too,” she admitted in a low voice. “But I don’t know why—I barely know you.”

  “I know.” He looked troubled for a moment. Then he shrugged. “Oh well. Worry about it later.” He gave her that lopsided smile again and yawned, which exposed surprisingly long canine teeth. They looked almost like…

  “Fangs.” Elise yawned too. “Do you have…fangs?”

  “Uh-huh.” He nodded. “I got a lot of frightening things about me, baby. You scared?”

  She shook her head. “No. Somehow when I touch you I’m the…the opposite of scared. Why is that?”

  He shrugged again and squeezed her fingers lightly. “Don’t know. Doesn’t matter now—go to sleep.”

  “But…” Elise yawned again. “I don’t mind fangs,” she mumbled, closing her eyes. “Just like…Buck’s.”

  “Who the hell is this Buck, anyway?” she heard him say but sleep was already claiming her and she couldn’t answer. Concentrating on the co