“Yeah,” she laughed. “She’s so giddy, and she said she was totally in love—”
“With the enemy?” His brow went up.
“Yeah…I guess. But he cares about her.”
“That man doesn’t care anything about her.”
“But it’s more than Wyatt will ever give her, more than what she’ll ever have as Hybrid.”
“You’re right,” he kissed her other cheek. “I guess it’s pretty obnoxious of me to get self-righteous when I have you. I’m at least able to be myself when we’re home. That reminds me. She got her locator out and said she would show me how to take mine, then yours out.”
“Locator?” She asked.
“Yeah, the device that’s implanted in the base of our skull, remember? So the Agency can’t track us.”
“She told you that?”
“Yeah, we walked to the teleporter and she blurted it out the second we were alone. Said she would take mine out tonight and show me how to deal with it, and then I could do the same to you.”
“That’s crazy! And she tapped into her powers too! What a crazy-ass night she—”
“She tapped into her powers? How? When?”
“I guess when they were…” She blushed. “You know.”
“And she didn’t kill him?”
“Don’t do that,” she grabbed him as he tried to pull away from her. “Don’t allow yourself to be consumed with guilt over something you had no control over.”
“I killed you.”
“No. You. Didn’t.” She yelled. “I still had a heartbeat and you got me to the regenerator.”
“Your mother got you to the regen—”
“Same difference—can we not make this about that night?”
“No,” he snapped, then relaxed after a moment. “I’m sorry. I won’t make it about us…tell me about Lauren.”
“She didn’t get to tell me much. And she seemed,” Kat shrugged. “I don’t know…she was excited, and overwhelmed, and bashful all at once. I’ve never seen her like that before.”
“Did she say anything about her powers?”
“Just that he didn’t notice them. Though I don’t know how he could miss it.”
“Maybe it’s different when Hybrids are with humans versus us being together.”
“It could be.” She thought about all those times and agreed. There was no way she could miss that crackling electricity when he touched her: it seriously put her over the edge every time.
“Are you thinking naughty thoughts again?” He teased.
“Always,” she smiled and was glad he leaned over and kissed her.
“I’m gonna jump in the shower and get ready for dinner.”
“Okay. I sure could use a shower myself,” she hinted as she pulled him toward her.
“You know,” he kissed her quickly then leaned back and stared at her. “I think you’re gonna keep this up until we get ourselves into a whole bunch of trouble.”
“You make that sound like a bad thing?”
“It is. But only because I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Seriously, Jason, if you mention that one more time.”
“I have to mention it because you always want to forget it happened, and I’m petrified to touch you half the time.”
“Jason—”
“Can we not do this? We have to meet my parents in thirty minutes, and it’s on the other side of town, so we’re already late.”
“Fine,” she left the room.
“Don’t get all pissed,” he fell into step with her.
“Pissed?” She pulled underwear from her dresser and slammed the drawer shut. “Who’s pissed?”
“You are the most infuriating woman on the planet,” he chuckled after he reached out to her and she pulled away from him.
“Me? I’m infuriating? Look who’s damn talking!” She ducked when all the contents on the top of the dresser flew directly toward him. The frame that held a picture of them slammed into the corner of his head. “Jason!” She gasped when he fell to the floor from the impact. “What’s so funny?” She moved his hand from the gash on his temple.
“Who’s pissed,” he mimicked while laughing.
“That’s not funny.”
“It really is.” He said as she guided him back to his office, “Because if you’re not all hot and bothered in one way, then you are in another. It must be all that fiery red hair of yours.”
“You’re gonna bleed on my carpet,” she snapped as she pulled the lid up on the regenerator.
“I love you.” He pulled her into his embrace. “I don’t want to fight,” he kissed her cheek. “But I would like for you to admit that neither one of us has control over whatever these powers are and that it would be safer if we took the time to figure out how to make sure we don’t hurt each other.”
“Can you lie down?” She pushed away from him.
“No, I’d like the bleeding gash on my head to remain a part of this conversation until you admit—”
“That you’re right.” She sighed. “Fine, you’re right and I’m sorry. So can you lie down, please?”
“Yes, your highness,” he smiled as he got into the machine. “I really am sorry, Jason, there wasn’t any forewarning on that one.”
“I know,” he pulled the lid shut. “So let’s forget about it and get ready, okay?” He said as he pushed the lid open and sat up.
“Yeah, okay.”
They got ready, and then got into the Town Car that was awaiting them in their driveway. As they drove across town, they discussed his upcoming mission. They were going after a female from one of their Germany sectors who had apparently fallen in love with a human at her work place. Kat hated the whole situation. She was glad that she wouldn’t be there, but the situation was obviously escalating. Apparently Kat, Jason, and Lauren were not the only defective members among the Hybrids.
When they got to the charity dinner, Kat mingled with guest. She stood beside celebrities to take photos for newspapers and magazines. The dinner brought together high-status people that supported Brian’s campaign and raised money to help clean the oceans.
She smiled when Jason came up behind her, kissed her neck, and then pulled her on to the dance floor. She laughed as he told her how his night had been going, and they stopped dancing long enough to pose for a picture. As he guided her off the dance floor, they feigned surprise when reporters rushed them to ask if the wedding was really set for New Year’s Eve, which had been an intentional slip of his mother’s tongue, so they had expected the media frenzy.
They slipped from the back of the building and were home too soon. They changed and she gave him a lingering kiss despite what had transpired earlier. She leaned back and studied him for a moment because there was a level of intensity in his eyes that bothered her.
“What’s wrong?” She looked around when the lights flickered.
“Just be careful tonight,” he traced his finger along her cheekbone.
“I will. It’s just a routine mission and they don’t even think they—”
“It’s not that,” the lights flickered again. “I think he likes you.”
“Who?”
“Andrew.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She laughed nervously. A small amount of guilt consumed her because he was probably picking up on her attraction toward Andrew, and not the other way around.
“Is it? When I went over earlier, there were several magazines, all of which you were on the cover of—”
“I’m not the only person on the cover, and he probably reads through those the way we do.”
“I love you,” he said after a minute of staring at her.
“I love you, too.”
“Meet me back here as soon as you can?”
“I will. Bet I’ll beat you back, so I’ll get the bed all nice and toasty.” She kissed him.
Jason backed away and after punching a few things onto his watch, he vanished. Her heart grew heavy. Not being on the same mission w
ith him affected her more than she would have ever imagined. She teleported to Andrew’s house, which was located in a small city called Half Moon Bay. Jason had pulled it up for her so she had some idea of where she was going. It was a beautiful oceanfront town in California.
When she arrived, she knocked on the door before opening it. Jason had set up their watches to chime as a forewarning that someone had used their teleporter, but it had taken some ingenious steps, and a lot of sleepless nights, so theirs was the only house equipped with that special feature.
Andrew pulled open the door and laughed. “What the hell are you doing?” He took her hand and guided her through the house and into the living room. The view of the ocean was pretty, but nothing in comparison to Andrew. Kat really didn’t understand her attraction to him. He was gorgeous, so appreciating his amazing good looks would have been okay if it was just that, but it wasn’t. There was something about him that had a profound effect on her.
“I didn’t want to startle you,” she took a glass from him and forced herself to stop staring at his lips.
“Lemonade,” he took a seat beside her. “It should be just the way you like it. Or at least I hope so.”
“It’s lovely, thank you.” She took another sip as she looked around the room. She really had to stop looking at him and focus on anything other than his lips…and his eyes…and the way his still wet hair made him look incredible.
“How was your fundraiser?”
“It went well.” She swallowed down the entire contents of her glass.
“It’s weird seeing your face everywhere I turn. Last week I was in London, and I saw you because you made their tabloids. I guess when you’re rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, it raises your status.”
“It doesn’t surprise me,” she shrugged. “Humans are the oddest creatures; gossip and fame are such an intricate part of their culture. Is everything in place for the exchange?”
“Yeah, everything’s running on schedule, so we have some down time, did you wanna go over the schematics?” He pulled his laptop off the coffee table and scooted closer to her.
“Sure,” she said taking a deep inhale. He smelled so nice.
“Here’s the warehouse, and this is where you’ll set up. Your lifemate was over earlier and set up all the comm gear that’s here. We’ll be coming in through here, and should just hand over the money and get the drugs.”
“How many people are you expecting?”
“It’s normally just the one. But here lately it’s been two or three, hence our request for you, just to be safe.”
“Good, it seems fairly simple. What time were we leaving?” She looked at her watch. The sooner she could get away from him the better. She hated the way he made her feel.
“In just a sec,” he lifted his phone, the vibration indicating some type of message. “Or not…” He scrolled down the screen, “It looks like they just pushed it off an hour.”
“Oh,” she sighed.
“We can hang here or go to the warehouse and wait.”
“Nah, why bother, it’s more comfortable here,” Kat scooted to the end of the couch and leaned her body against the arm. It was definitely more comfortable if she wasn’t sitting right next to him because her mind didn’t seem to wonder as much if there was some space between them.
“Are you hungry? Do you mind if I eat something? I’ve been running all day with training then setting up.”
“No, not at all, go right ahead. And thanks, but I’m good, I had a big dinner.”
He banged around in the kitchen for a few minutes, then came back into the living room, and turned the television on. He held up a movie and asked if she’d mind watching it, to which she shrugged. Kat didn’t watch television. Jason was a bit obsessed with it, so she watched it with him, but she never cared what was on. She just liked cuddling next to him.
She watched Andrew get the movie going and had to shake her head when she realized that she wouldn’t mind cuddling up with him either. Disgusted with herself, Kat snatched a magazine off the table, and held it directly in front of her line of sight. She didn’t want to look at him anymore.
The smell of Andrew’s food made her stomach rumble. She definitely hadn’t eaten much. And the fact that he was making what smelled like lasagna, her favorite dish, made her hungrier. When he came back into the living room, he handed her a plate, and she stared at him for a moment. He dropped his plate on the coffee table, and then picked up her empty glass.
“I know you said you weren’t hungry, so just humor me. It seems rude to sit and eat with you just sitting here watching. Just push it around the plate so I don’t feel so bad stuffing my face in front of you.” He chuckled. He disappeared into the kitchen, returned with two full glasses of lemonade, then lifted a couch cushion.
“Thanks. I guess I didn’t realize how hungry I was until you started cooking.” Kat lifted the plate so he could put the sofa cushion on her lap. She rested the plate there.
“It’s no problem.” He took a seat, and after grabbing his plate, placed his feet on the coffee table and crossed them at the ankles. “Have you seen this before?”
“No,” she shoveled a huge forkful of lasagna into her mouth.
“Well, if you wanna borrow it so you can see the ending just let me know. We’ll take off in about forty-five minutes, so it’ll probably leave us hanging right at the good part when we have to pack it up.”
“Okay,” she took another bite and sighed. That was some good lasagna. And the company wasn’t anything to complain about either. Kat definitely didn’t mind having to wait when it was that pleasant.
Chapter Twelve Then There Were Four
Kat turned her face so that Jason could kiss her neck again. Waking up with him was always the most exhilarating experience. She ran her hand through his hair and gripped it tightly enough to pull his face back just enough for her to look into his beautiful baby blues. He kissed her, and she was very much in heaven until the feel of her foot in her boot roused her.
“Jason,” she looked down at herself still in her uniform. “How the hell—”
“Before you go asking a whole bunch of blah, blah, blah…you just need to tell me that I’m always right, and that you’ll never doubt me again.”
“I’ll never doubt you again,” she agreed. She tilted her head so he could kiss her again. She would agree to anything when he asked her like that. “Wait a sec,” she sat up. “I was waiting for the exchange.”
“Seriously, Kat,” he laughed. “There was no exchange.”
“I know, they kept pushing it back.”
“Which conveniently coincided with Saturday night at Andrew’s with a movie, and your favorite Italian take out, and your lemonade just the way you like it.”
“Jason, you are being ridiculous,” she pulled the laces off of her boots. “I think we’re going to have to go on one of those crazy talk shows you’re always watching to discuss your jealousy issues.”
“I don’t have jealousy issues,” he started to protest then laughed at her disgusted face. “Okay, I have serious jealousy issues. But only toward people who so obviously drool over you. Andrew set that up so you could sit with him all night. Shall I tell you how I found you two snuggled up on the couch?”
“Oh, bull crap,” she looked up at him. “I was watching the movie and I guess I just dozed off…”
“I know, because you were in that I’m trying to stay awake but couldn’t help myself position—”
“Seriously, what position?”
“You do it when we sleep out in the living room. It’s that weird way you lean against the arm of the sofa trying to fight sleep, so you can finish a movie with me.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound like snuggling up, which I object to, because you’re the only person I want to snuggle up against.”
“I know. But it helped that you were in that weird position since he had conveniently placed his head onto your lap—”
“He did not!”
/> “He did too,” he mimicked, which earned him a sucker punch. “Anyway, your weird position helped me keep my cool while I moved him so I could carry you home. It was hard not killing him, but I kept telling myself that I would get to say I told you so, which oddly, was inspiration enough for me to control my energy.”
“Uh-huh,” she glared at him for a second. “So you get some kind of kick out of telling me I told you so?”
“Yeah,” he smiled. “When I got home and saw that you still weren’t here, I tracked you, and after healing my head, I went over—”
“What happened to your head?”
“My tracking device, remember?” He opened a compartment on his watchband and showed her the tiny silver device that lay within. “Lauren took it out last night after the mission.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he laughed as he grabbed her hands so she would stop trying to examine him. “I went into the regenerator afterward, so there’s nothing. But it did hurt like hell, so I’ll administer some topical pain meds so it’s not as painful for you.”
“How was the mission?”
“Done,” he kissed her on the side of the head. “You ready to get that thing out? It’s pretty liberating, especially knowing that they’ve tracked us all our lives and now we have control over what they think. They thought I was as snug as a bug in my room while I teleported to Cali to get you.”
“And that means no more lying and sleeping apart,” she smiled. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
“Let’s do it after our training session,” he pulled her shirt over her head. “We can grab some dinner so you can take pain meds and I can put some topical on—”
“Are you gonna shower with me?” She asked curiously.
“Nope,” he ran his finger along her hand, and she felt the electricity course up her arm. She experienced that odd gut feeling letting her know that her own powers responded to his.
“I’m gonna jump in,” she backed away toward the bathroom. The memory of the gash he received enough for her to cool it. “You mind making me a pot of coffee?”
“You want a real breakfast or another bar?”
“Where are we training today?” She asked just before closing the door. She got undressed and stepped into the shower.
Sleeper Cells Page 18
