Page 19 of The Alien's Private Redemption

Is this new behavior?Zoric asked, his voice like a caress across her mind, gentle but probing.It's consistent with what I've seen so far.

Angela flinched at Zoric's question. The running commentary from the voice in the back of her head shouldn't have been projecting at him. It was the part of her that she'd always hidden in the dark corners of her brain, ignoring its suggestions as often as possible. The voice that had kept her alive, but at what cost?

"I'm going to need a lot more information," Colonel Schuh said, interrupting her thoughts. "And I don't think I'm going to get it standing here. We'll adjourn for now and meet back in the conference room in an hour. Zoric, you and Private McBride will be escorted under guard to your rooms until I can find a better solution."

Zoric nodded and Angela could feel his arms tighten around her. Heat flooded through her and her heart raced with anticipation. The Bond between them hummed with shared awareness, making every point of contact between them feel electric. An hour wasn't much time, and she didn't know what they could actually do, but just being with him for that long was enough to make her pulse quicken.

"Dr. Torres, I want to see you in my office," the Colonel continued, his tone brooking no argument. "Now."

He turned and left, his footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. The others followed after him, their departures marked by the whisper of clothing and the subtle changes in the air currents. Through their Bond, Angela could feel Zoric calculating the positions of the guards waiting for them at the end of the cellblock, his tactical assessment automatic after years of training.

"It would be inappropriate to carry me to your room," Angela murmured, certain he could hear her. The warmth of his scales seemed to seep through her clothing wherever they touched, making it hard to think clearly.

"But it would be the most efficient way," he protested, and she could hear the amusement in his voice, feel it bubbling through their connection like champagne.

"Allow me some dignity," she countered. "At least in public. Can you really do that with your tail?"

Zoric laughed, the sound rich and warm, and loosened his hold on her. She stepped to the side and wrapped her handaround his, their fingers interlacing naturally. As good as his arms felt, and as giddy as their connection made her, it was easier to walk this way. At least, until he shared another explicit idea of just what else he could do with his tail.

I can do a lot of things with my tail,he said. His voice rolled seductively through her mind and sent a chill that had nothing to do with temperature down her spine. Images flickered through their Bond, too quick to fully grasp but enough to make her breath catch.

The guards assigned to follow them to Zoric's room looked uncomfortable, their discomfort evident in their rigid postures and carefully averted eyes. The facility was labyrinthine, and Angela found her focus divided between Zoric and the marks on the walls that would help her navigate. Old habits died hard, and the voice in her head wouldn't let her completely ignore potential escape routes, even if she had no intention of using them.

It felt completely natural to hold hands with the lizardman and bubbles of joy kept floating through her chest. Even the idea of being physically intimate with him seemed more of a logistics question than anything else. Her enhanced senses picked up minute details about him - the way his scales shifted with each movement, the subtle changes in his scent that matched his emotions, the warmth that radiated from him even through his clothing.

A glance at the expressions on the guards told her they had reservations. And maybe she should have them as well, but enjoying the Bond with Zoric was much easier and pleasant. Enough of her life had been unpleasant, especially recently, that she wasn't inclined to fight the feeling.

The guards are distracted by their judgement. They should be easy to distract and get past,the voice in her head, muffled and distant though it was, pointed out.

I don't need to escape,she argued with it.I'm not running.

It's always good to know what your options are,it countered.

The tactical assessment continued in the back of her mind, but the warmth of Zoric's hand in hers and the steady pulse of their Bond made it easier to ignore. For the first time in her life, she felt like she might have found somewhere she actually belonged.

They arrived at Zoric's room and Angela could smell the fresh paint.

Did they build a facility just for me?she wondered.

No, but I think they fixed it for you,Zoric answered.

"We'll be here to escort you to the meeting," the guard said. "You have about thirty minutes before we need to leave to get there."

They closed the door as they left and Angela could hear their steps echo in the hallway. She turned to inspect the room and realized it didn't feel much different than her cell. The bed was more comfortable, the bathroom through a separate door, but not much in the way of space for personal belongings.

"They didn't even give you a foot locker," Angela said. She turned to face Zoric and saw the concern in his expression. When she reached out with her thoughts to find out what the problem was, she realized she was blocked from everything but his presence.

"They did not," Zoric agreed with her. "Though I suspect they would if I asked for one. As it is, my luggage is sufficient. I do not anticipate being here long."

"Why don't you think you'll be here long?" she asked. Anxiety had started to build in her chest and she didn't want to think about what he might actually be anticipating.

"I should say, I did not anticipate being here long, and I do not think that has changed, though the scope of my involvement in the mission has changed," he explained. "But we need to discuss something before we return for the meeting."

"I don't really have any personal belongings here," Angela said. "So moving in with you shouldn't be that big of a problem, though the bed is a little small. Not sure there's anything to be done about that."

"Who else talks to you?" Zoric asked.

"Today, it was Dr. Torres, Dr. Phillips, the other lizardperson-"

---