Page 67 of Tracking the Alpha
“What changed?”
“We had sex and I realized maybe I want something more. Thought you did too. Guess I was wrong.”
She stalked off and entered a bathroom, judging by the sound of running water.
He should have left her alone. After all, he could hear her shucking clothes, but…
“You’re mad I won’t fuck you again,” he stated, following her in.
She didn’t look at him as she kept stripping. “I am because you made it seem like what happened was special.”
“Because it was.”
“Ha.” A scoffing reply. “It’s pretty obvious by now that I was just a handy receptacle for you. I just wished you hadn’t lied the morning after. It got me thinking that what I felt was something more.”
“I didn’t lie. What we shared was epic,” he insisted. “I want nothing more than to touch and kiss you again. To claim you?—”
“Claim?” She whirled and gave him a glare. “I’m not something to be owned.”
“I’m aware of that, but something inside me wants nothing more than to make you mine. To keep you close and never let you go. But that would be wrong and selfish seeing as how you still have a chance for a normal life.”
Her brow arched. “How do you figure? I can’t go back home. Davidson made sure of that.”
“But you can start over somewhere else.”
“So can you.”
“Not with the secret I have inside. I’m carrying a ticking time bomb.”
“So you’re planning to become some kind of hermit?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” He scrubbed his face. “Everything’s so fucked up.”
“You don’t have to be alone. You seem to forget I know your secret, and it hasn’t scared me off.”
“Yet. You’ve seen what happened to some of the others.” His greatest fear was he’d lose his mind.
“Have you forgotten how handy I am with a bow? I’m even better with a pistol,” her wry reply.
“Would you shoot me if I turned feral?”
“Yes. I like you, but I like me more.”
“Ouch.” He winced, only to chuckle. “But also good to know.”
“I don’t think it will come to that, though.”
“Don’t be so sure. Lawrence flipped suddenly.”
“He didn’t attack anyone but himself. If you ask me, that wasn’t him going feral so much as letting depression consume him.”
“Why would you want to be with a mutant like me?”
“Because you’re more than a science experiment. I see a man with honor who would risk his life to save others. Who would deny himself pleasure and a chance at happiness because he wrongly assumes it’s the right thing to do.”
“What are you saying?”
Tanis stepped close and tilted her head to keep her gaze locked with his. “I’m saying that, right here, right now, I want to be with you. Which, I will add, isn’t something I say lightly. I don’t date much. And who knows, in a week, a month, a year, you could wake up and I’ll be gone like the morning frost once the sun hits.”
