Tiger Read online

  “This is serious. Do you know what would happen if anyone found out New Species can have children?”

  “I have a pretty good idea. I just spent time with insane fanatics who hate them.”

  They stared at each other. “Fine. I won’t say anything. Invoke doctor-patient confidentiality. That way my butt is covered. You need to talk to him about this though.”

  “Trust me. I will.” She just had no idea what to say though.

  Chapter Twenty

  The door opened and the male nurse returned. “They just X-rayed Tiger’s leg and it’s as we thought. He damaged the leg.” He stared at Zandy. “Tiger refused to rest until he knows you are fine. He snarled at me to bring you to him.”

  Dr. Allison shot Zandy a warning look. “That sounds like a man who doesn’t want to break it off. You’re free to go. Put ice on the bruising if it continues to hurt.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Allison.” Zandy slid off the exam table and shook the woman’s hand. “I mean that.” She was grateful the woman was going to keep her secret about what Tiger had done and that he hadn’t told her what could result from them having sex. “I hope your patient recovers.”

  “Me too. I’ve kind of become obsessed with him.”

  Zandy didn’t miss the sadness in the other woman’s stare as she followed the New Species nurse out of the room and down the hall. He stopped in front of a closed door.

  “He’s in there. The break in his leg will be painful until it heals.”

  “Thank you.” She hesitated, taking a deep breath.

  Her heart pounded and she wasn’t sure she wanted to face Tiger. What if he wanted to stop seeing her? The thought of that prospect made her chest hurt. The only way she was going to find out would be to talk to him. Her hand rose and she knocked.

  “Come in,” Tiger called out.

  The room looked more like a hotel room than a hospital room, much nicer than the exam room she’d just left. Tiger was sprawled out on a queen-sized bed with his leg elevated on pillows. Ice bags had been placed over his lower leg. He’d stripped off his shirt, revealing his muscular, tan chest and flat belly. His hair was down and his exotic gaze met hers.

  “Zandy.”

  The way he softly growled her name made her nipples harden. He had a way of affecting her. “Hi, Tiger. How are you?” She closed the door behind her and stepped farther into the room.

  “Come here.” He patted the bed next to him.

  She didn’t hesitate to step to the side of the bed and carefully climb on it. She sat facing him but kept a few feet of space between them. Her gaze left his to glance at his leg before looking.

  “How is your leg feeling?”

  Broad shoulders shrugged. “It aches and I’m stuck in bed for two days until it heals again. The break wasn’t as bad as the original injury.” He studied her eyes. “Stay with me here.”

  Emotions warred inside her. Part of her was happy he wanted to be with her while another part of her worried that he’d toss her out again if he took more of the medication Dr. Allison had told her about. Everyone would know she was sharing a room with him if she stayed too. Their relationship was already acknowledged, no longer a secret.

  “Will they allow it? They warned me you could become unstable on the drugs.”

  “There are officers down the hallway in case I grow aggressive but I won’t hurt you. You already stated clearly that you were willing to risk harm to be with me when you refused to leave my bedside at the hospital. This is a more controlled environment.”

  She wasn’t afraid of Tiger. “This is a really nice room.”

  His blue gaze narrowed and a frown curved his mouth. He watched her. She glanced away again, staring at the blue bedding.

  “Zandy? Look at me.” His deep voice brooked no argument. It was a demand.

  “Are you mad at me?” She held his gaze.

  “For what?”

  “I had to tell everyone we’ve been sleeping together to get to see you. Is that why you really wanted me to leave the hospital? You said not to show anyone the bites on me but I was so worried when I heard what happened to you. I—”

  His hand rose and he cupped her uninjured cheek. “I don’t care who knows about us. You risked your life to reach me. You should have waited for an escort to bring you to me and again when you left the hospital. It’s not safe in the out world.”

  It was cute how he called the world outside the NSO gates that. She knew what he meant. “I kind of freaked out when I heard you’d been in a helicopter crash. I just wanted to make sure you were alive. I had to see you.”

  “I want you to promise me that you will never leave Reservation without officers to protect you. You were taken because you work for the NSO. They know who you are and where you live.”

  She didn’t want to think about her destroyed house. She’d have to call her insurance company but didn’t want to deal with it at that moment. “I have to leave at some point to go home.”

  A soft growl passed his lips. “No, you don’t.”

  She was unsure what that meant.

  He took a deep breath and blew it out, his expression softening. “You can’t go home, Zandy. You will stay with me.”

  A hundred questions sprang into her mind. She tried to decide which one to ask first. Did he mean he wanted her to live with him or that he expected her to stay in the apartment she’d been assigned? Tiger seemed to take her silence as a refusal.

  “You’re not leaving Reservation.” His hold on her face tightened. “I won’t allow it.”

  That stunned her. “What?”

  He growled, clearly angry. “Look what happened to you in the out world. It won’t happen again. I’m going to keep you safe.”

  “What does tha—”

  He pulled her face closer to cover her lips with his, muting her with a hot kiss. His tongue delved inside her mouth, tasting and exploring. His arm hooked around her waist and she fell against his chest when he yanked her to him. The hand on her face slid to the back of her head where he fisted her hair, making sure she couldn’t get away.

  Zandy didn’t want to. She’d missed Tiger and had thought she’d never see him again. Actions spoke louder than words and the passionate kiss he laid on her spoke volumes that their relationship wasn’t over. He pulled her tighter against his chest, almost crushing her to him. The hand at her back fisted her shirt and shoved it up. He released it and gripped her side.

  Pain made her gasp against his tongue and he snarled, breaking the kiss. They were both out of breath as their gazes met. His blue eyes narrowed with concern.

  “I am being too rough. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not that. I have some bruises.”

  Rage tightened his features. “Did they beat you?”

  “No. They had me strapped to a bench with belts and they were tight enough to dig into my skin when they were carrying me around. I’m fine.”

  “Take off your clothes,” he demanded. “I want to see all of you.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “We’re in the Medical Center. Anyone can walk in.”

  “Lock the door.”

  “I’m fine. Just don’t grab me there.” She tried to kiss him again but he pulled back.

  “Take off all of your clothes and show me.”

  He looked pretty determined.

  “It—”

  “Do it.”

  He was being unusually aggressive and demanding. “Did they already give you that drug to help you heal?”

  “Yes. I want to see every inch of you right now.”

  She just hoped he wouldn’t order her to leave and start saying she was his enemy again.

  “There is a lock on the door.” He released her. “Lock it and strip out of your clothes.”

  “I’m really fine.”

  “Do it, or I’ll tear them off.”

  She didn’t doubt him with the determined look he gave her as they stared at each other. “Fine.”

  She rolled away and reached the door.