Page 64 of The Alien's Private Redemption

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-"

"In your head," he said, cutting her off. "There is another voice that you respond to in your head and it does not sound like you. Who is it?"

Angela shrugged, her stomach roiled at the question. "Doesn't everybody have a voice of reason in the back of their mind?"

"Why are you afraid to talk about it?" Zoric said, and reached out to touch her.

She flinched. "I'm not afraid," she responded. "But why can you read me when I can't read you? Did you block me out or something?"

His grip on her arm was gentle but it made her tremble for reasons that had nothing to do with excitement or desire. When she refused to be pulled towards him, he simply held her. "Some people do have a voice of reason, as you call it, but they don't usually analyze the guards for escape. And most people don't argue with them."

"I hate when you do that," she said. "We've known each other for less than forty-eight hours and I already hate a conversational tic. This is not going to go well."

Zoric sighed and stepped in to her space. His grip on her arm was firm but he raised his other hand to her face and his voice was gentle. "I did not want to scare you with my thoughts, nor did I want to risk triggering your self-destruct, so I created a barrier. It's something I can teach you to do later, if you'd like. Even the happiest, most secure couples need privacy occasionally."

Angela sniffed and he wiped the tear away that she hadn't realized was falling. "I don't like feeling shut out."

A flood of concern rolled over her, along with affection, curiosity, and desire. There was no anger, no hint of dislike or hate.

Her shoulders relaxed and she let him pull her into his embrace. They didn't have long but she was going to take the comfort she could.

"I'm not usually a mess like this," she explained. "I don't know why I'm so emotional. Or why I feel like I need to defend myself."

His acceptance wrapped around her like a warm blanket and she relaxed into him.

"I believe you," he said. "I also know that you've gone through several shocks recently, and our Bond is another one. Having emotions isn't a sign of weakness and showing them to me is an indication that something in you knows that I am safe."

"Being detached helps me do my job," she protested. "I can't-"

"Right now, your job is to get better," he said. "And to allow us to help you any way we can."

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