“I understand. We have a lot of stress right now.”

“Exactly. There’s no rush to deal with them yet.”

He stepped farther into the living room and lowered her to her feet. “Stay put. I’m going to search the house.”

“That guard at the gate said someone already did that.”

He scowled. “You’re my mate. Your safety is my duty.”

She swallowed a protest and just nodded. True yanked open a closet door to investigate, disappeared for a few seconds to check out the kitchen, and then walked down the hallway toward what she assumed were the bedrooms.

“Be careful,” she called out.

She could have sworn she heard him growl and smiled. He was cute when he was being paranoid and protective. She kicked off her shoes, walked over to the couch and sat. It was plush and comfortable. The large television drew her attention and she longed to turn it on. It was something she had missed since True either didn’t own one or had removed it before he’d taken her home with him. The remote beckoned but she resisted the temptation.

“All is secure.”

She turned toward him and grinned. “I knew it would be.” She patted the couch. “Come sit next to me. It’s been a long night, hasn’t it?”

He walked over but instead of taking a seat, he leaned down and lifted her into his arms. “There is a big bed down the hall. You need sleep.”

Her stomach growled. It was loud and she blushed a little, knowing he couldn’t have missed hearing it.

He glanced down at her middle. “Food first though.”

“They said they were sending something.”

The doorbell rang. She chuckled. “Good timing.”

He gently deposited her back on the couch. “I’ll get it. You stay put.”

She didn’t protest. Exhaustion was taking its toll. Her side ached but she wasn’t going to mention that. True would have her flat on her back and feeding her by hand if she did. The person at the door was blocked from view by True’s big body but she heard them exchange soft words before he closed the door and turned, holding a covered tray in one hand.

“Breakfast.”

He placed it on the table and lifted off the lid. Two large platter-size plates were side by side with juice and milk containers next to each. Napkin-rolled silverware lay on the other side. The sight of a big steak, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes made her mouth water.

“Take your pick of which plate you want,” True shifted the tray so their plates were in the right place. “They cooked both of them all the way through.”

“You can tell that just by looking at them?”

“My nose tells me. Justice told them we were just mated so they cooked mine a little more than normal.”

“Why?”

He sat on the floor next to her instead of on the couch. “To not offend you.”

“You like your steaks bloody.” She remembered that about New Species. “I don’t mind.”

He grinned. “They were being thoughtful and didn’t know that, Jeanie. It’s fine. I’m just happy to eat. They probably wanted to assure that you’d allow me to mount you and didn’t want you to be disgusted by watching blood drip from my fork. They wanted to avoid anything that might put you off.”

She laughed. “It would take a lot more than that to dissuade me from climbing into bed with you.”

All humor left his features as he stared at her. “Eat, Jeanie.”

She knew that heated stare well and forgot about her fork. “You want me.”

“Always.” His gaze lowered to her chest. “Bad. Eat fast.”

“We could put these in the fridge and eat later. I don’t mind cold food.”

“I would mind you being hungry and choosing to sate my physical needs over yours. Eat, mate.”

She picked up the fork and knife since he seemed dead set on making sure they had breakfast before going to bed. The wariness left as she consumed at least half of the contents of the plate before she finally called it quits. She would never be able to finish a New Species portion of what they considered a meal. True’s plate was almost completely clean since he took bigger bites. She met his gaze.

“I’m full and totally ready to go to bed when you are.”

He dropped his silverware and stood. “Do you want to sleep?”

She shook her head. “I want you. This is kind of our honeymoon. We can sleep afterward. So, where is this bedroom?” She stood.

“There are actually two.” He stepped around the table and halted almost chest to chest with her and held out his hand. “Let me show you the one I think you will like better.”

“Lead the way, sexy.” She tried to take his hand but he gripped her h*ps instead.

He growled low, looking pleased with the nickname as he lifted her up his body until their faces were level. “Wrap around me.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He walked slowly, every step rubbing them together as he kept staring into her eyes.

“You’re going to walk us into a wall.” Not that she’d mind.

He chuckled. “I won’t.” He did glance away then as he maneuvered them down the hallway and into a bedroom.

Jeanie glanced around, taking in a nicely furnished room with a massive four-poster bed. It was high off the floor. She turned back to True and he kissed her. Her eyes closed as she opened her mouth, moaning against his tongue. The slow glide of that talented tongue teasing hers was a promise of what was to come once she was naked.