Elation spread through Oliver as he sped to the truck’s ramp and pulled Luna into his arms.
But as soon as his hands touched her skin, his elation turned into shock. She was freezing cold to the touch, and her skin had a pale blue-gray tint. Streaming from the vehicle, cold fog hit Oliver’s face, and he realized it was an ice truck. The faint hum of the freezer unit revealed that it was running and charging.
Luna gave him a weak smile as he cupped her icy cheek. He barely noticed all the blood seeping out of the big exit wound in Fry’s skull when he lifted Luna into his arms.
“He wanted to know where Lexi was and what the Committee knew about his project. I didn’t say anything.” Her voice was a barely audible whisper.
Ignoring his aching kidney, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the plant’s side exit.
Outside, Fry’s assistant lay dead in a corner. So much for relying on Tyler’s word. Heat rose in Oliver’s chest, but his worry about Luna trumped his anger toward Tyler. Getting her back to the compound was his sole focus at that moment.
Tyler opened the rear door of the SUV for Oliver and followed his gaze. His voice sounded dry and uncaring, as always. “The guy wouldn’t cooperate. Did you find Fry?”
Oliver lifted Luna into the back seat and climbed in after her. “He’s dead. He kept Luna in an ice truck.”
To his surprise, Tyler opened the hatch and handed Oliver a blanket. He barely looked at Luna but added, “Body heat helps.”
Then he slid in the driver seat, started the engine, and set the heating to high.
Oliver slipped out of his jacket and pulled Luna into his lap. Shivering uncontrollably against his chest, she seemed barely conscious. He draped his jacket over her shoulders and spread the blanket over both of them. As he wiped the hair from her face, he could feel a big lump on the side of her head, and rage bubbled up in him. “Did they hurt you?”
She moaned and snuggled crept closer to his heat. “I didn’t say anything.”
Concern crawled over his flesh. “Luna, are you hurt?”
“No. Just cold and so tired.”
Oliver wrapped his arms tighter around her quivering body.
Even Luna’s breath was cold when it hit his collarbone. “Is Lexi safe?”
“She’s fine. She’s with Bergmann now.”
Sighing, Luna whispered, “I want to see her.”
“You will. We’re heading straight to the Committee compound.”
Her body stiffened against his. “Oh, God. You killed Fry. Who will restore your memories?”
His memories were the least of his concerns at that moment. “I guess you’ll have to tell me what really happened.”
She nodded weekly against his throat. “I will, but I’m so tired.”
For all he knew, she might have a concussion, and he had no idea how much cold a natural’s body could endure. He’d never forgive himself if she died on him now. “Luna, stay with me.”
A quick look out at their surroundings revealed that it would take them at least another ten minutes to the compound, although Tyler was already flooring it.
There wasn’t anything else he could do except keep her warm, so he called Bergmann and gave him a quick recap of what happened at the incinerator plant.
Bergmann’s voice sounded neutral. “She might have a concussion. Keep her awake. And check her pulse.”
Oliver let his fingers run down to Luna’s wrist, searching for a pulse. He could barely feel it. “Her pulse is weak.”
Bergmann murmured, “Definitely keep her awake. I’m not at the compound, but I’m already on my way out to the car. I’ll meet you there.” After a beat, he added, “Should you arrive before I do, put her in bed and keep her warm. See to it that she drinks something. Just a few sips. Best would be hot tea. But don’t give her a hot bath or shower. We need to warm her up slowly.”
Oliver’s skin crawled at the thought that Luna might not make it. “Thanks. I’ll do that.” He ended the call and softly squeezed Luna’s shoulder.
“Luna, keep talking. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
She moaned against his chest. “Why?”
Because she might just die if she fell asleep. Because he wanted to know his future ex-wife. Because he needed her alive. “There’s one thing I don’t understand. The night Anderson turned Jake and me rogue, Jake said I tried to tell him to save you. He said I mouthed, ‘Get Luna,’ through the glass walls that separated us in the lab. It doesn’t make sense.”
“You probably meant ‘Get Luna’ as in capture Luna.” A violent cough shook her body. He pressed his fingers against her wrist again. Her pulse was now almost nonexistent.
Terror gripped him. No, she wouldn't die on him. They weren't done yet.
“Did Fry keep you in the truck since he took you? Was the freezer running the whole time you were in there?”
Her breathing went shallow as another shiver wracked her body. “M-hm.”
Oliver needed to keep her talking. “All that stuff you told me about yourself, your past...”
Finally, Luna opened her eyes a fraction and met his gaze. “It was all true. Except for where Lexi really was.” Her eyes swam under heavy lids, and she struggled to keep them open. “You think you don't know who I am, but really, except for Lexi, you are the only one who knows me.” She pulled in a labored breath as her eyes slid closed again. “I’m so sorry. For everything.”
Oliver cupped her face “I know. Okay? I know. But you need to hold out one more minute. We’re almost at the compound.”
Slowing the car, Tyler met Oliver’s gaze in the rearview. “Not so sure about that.”
Oliver leaned forward as much as he could with Luna in his lap. “Damn it.”
They only had about a quarter mile to the compound, but the road was closed off by police, and in the distance, police and a group of protesters, probably Fronters, were going at each other.
Tyler tried to back up, but they were already boxed in by a row of vehicles behind them.
Oliver pushed the door open. “I’ll carry her.”
When Oliver finally arrived with Luna at the compound, the infirmary was still locked, and Bergmann was nowhere in sight. Cursing, he carried Luna to his own studio. He peeled her out of her clothes until she was only in her underwear and helped her slip into one of his long-sleeve shirts before he tucked her into his bed. He didn’t have tea, but he made her a cup of hot water. Then he wrapped a spare blanket around her shoulders before he cradled her in his arms, so she could sip the hot beverage.
“Oliver.” Bergmann’s voice sounded from outside the door, followed by a sharp rap.
After placing the hot mug on his nightstand, Oliver gently laid Luna back on the pillow. He opened the door and ushered Bergmann inside.
The doctor didn’t waste any time and started to examine her head. “What have you done to keep her warm?”
Oliver stepped behind the doctor. “What you told me. Body heat as long as we were in the car.” He pointed at the mug. “And I just gave her some hot water.”
The doctor nodded, hooking her up to a vitals scanner. “Good. She doesn’t have a concussion. But we need to raise her core body temperature.” He pulled a syringe from his case and injected its contents into a vein in Luna’s arm.
Her face scrunched up at the sting. Almost immediately, she stopped shivering, and soon after, her breathing picked up.
The doctor placed her hand on the vitals scanner and smiled. “Very good. We got a steady pulse. And the heated nano saline I injected her with will warm her blood in no time.” He rested his veiny hand on Luna’s. “You’ll be okay.”
Luna’s eyelids fluttered. “When can I see Lexi?”
Bergmann chuckled. “You can see her tomorrow morning. Your sister is doing fine. But she is sleeping now.”
A smile toyed with Luna’s lips. “Thank you. Can I sleep now too?”
The doctor placed the empty syringe back into his case. “Yes. You can rest now.”
> His heart rate gradually slowed as Oliver accompanied the doctor to the door. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“That’s my job. Don’t worry about it.” Then he leaned closer. “I’d feel better if Luna wouldn’t be alone tonight. Are you going to stay with her? Or should I call and ask Aly if she can come over?”
Oliver’s gaze flicked back to Luna in his bed. “No. I’ll stay.”
“Great. Just keep her warm, and she should be fine.” Zipping up, Bergmann asked Oliver, “What about you? Are your recent injuries giving you trouble?”
“I’m good. I don’t know what they gave me at GovCorp, but it worked wonders. I can practically feel the wounds healing.”
In leaving, Bergmann sighed. “Yes. Sometimes I wish I still had access to their resources.”
After the doctor closed the door behind him, Oliver changed into pajama bottoms and crawled into the bed behind Luna.
He thought she’d already drifted into sleep, but she scooted closer to him until her back connected with his chest. “Are you still cold?”
“Yes, but I feel better.” Her sleep-laced voice was still small, her skin like an ice pack against his.
He pulled the duvet higher up her shoulders and wrapped his arm around her.
Sighing, she snuggled even closer into the curve of his body, and under different circumstances, the movement alone would have made him rock hard, but at this moment, all he cared about was that she was warm and safe in his arms. He just lay there listening as her breathing slowly evened out.
He closed his eyes, but sleep evaded him. He’d missed falling asleep with her in his arms. Back in Barbados, it had been pure torture sharing the bed with her. But now, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. He’d never felt such intense terror as today when he feared for her life.
The mattress moved softly beneath him, and Oliver woke with a groan. Dawn was breaking outside, and Luna’s warm, lavender scent drew him in as she wiggled in front of him. Her back pressed into his chest, her ass against his dick. Instinctively, he tightened his hold on her. She felt so good against him. Soft and warm. Sleep-drunk, he nuzzled her neck.
A sweet moan fell from her lips, and her hand reached back and landed on his hip. The small touch made him stir immediately. But a few of his brain cells seemed to function already, warning him to scoot away, reminding him that she’d been close to dying just a few hours ago.
He reluctantly eased his embrace, ready to remove his arm from her body, but she slid her hand from his hip across his arm until her hand covered his. The movement made the hair on his arms rise and sent sweet sensations down his spine.
She guided his hand beneath the shirt to her nipples, and as his fingertips made contact, she moaned so low that all the blood in his system shot to his groin. “Luna, you almost died yesterday.” The gravelly sound of his own voice shocked him.
“I still feel so cold inside. Please, make me warm.” His hand wandered lower, beneath her panties, and his fingers slid between her folds of their own accord. He knew this was wrong on so many levels, but she was so damn wet for him. Propping himself up, he kissed the sensitive spot below her earlobe. His index finger found her clit and circled slowly, eliciting another sweet moan from her as she lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. Then she turned her head and slowly kissed her way from his jawline to his mouth. Her slightly parched lips pressed against his, connecting them in an open-mouthed kiss.
He groaned into her mouth as their tongues met. Electricity raced through his veins, and his fingers moved upward again to stroke her nipple as they took their kiss deeper. Despite the last day’s ordeal, she tasted sweet and ready, and need sped through him like a bullet train.
Her breath picked up as his fingertips traveled down the satiny skin of her thighs as he stripped her lacey panties down her legs before he got rid of his own pajama bottoms. He lifted her upper leg and pressed up against her back, sliding his dick against her folds while strumming her clit with his fingers.
She tore her mouth from him, and his name slipped from her tongue in a barely audible whisper. It was all he needed to hear to know there was no turning back. He rose onto his palms and moved over her as she rolled onto her back. He continued kissing his way from her mouth down her neck and across her chest until he pursed his lips around her nipple and sucked.
“Oliver, please.” Luna slid her hands down his body and anchored them on his hips. Sliding into her soft, warm entrance felt like coming home.
Locking her ankles behind his back, she wrapped herself around him, urging him to go faster while moaning his name over and over before her lips found his mouth again. Her inner muscles tightened around him, and her fingers dug into his hip as he sped up his pace until she tore her mouth from his in a silent scream.
The first pulse of ecstasy crashed over him, and he followed her over the edge, her name on his lips.
Her breathing slowly evened out, and she cupped his face, pressing her lips to his again.
For a moment, he rested his forehead against hers. Like they used to do. Before everything went sideways. Damn it. The realization pulled him back into the here and now. He slid from her body and sat up. “I’m sure you want to see Lexi now.” The words pressed around the lump that was forming in his throat. He had no idea where to go from here. Lexi was safe. They could stop pretending to be the loving couple. He could finally get the divorce and move on. But instead of relief, there was only regret about how everything had played out coursing through him.
Luna sat up next to him. The wetness glistening on her cheeks tore at his heartstrings. But before he could mouth his concern for her, she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand and shook her head. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It's just from the strain.” Crawling out of bed, she still looked pale and fragile in his gray long-sleeve shirt that ended below her knees. She padded across the sand-colored carpet toward the bathroom as Oliver’s phone started to beep.
Holding up a hand, he murmured, “It’s Bergmann.”
Eyes wide, Luna stopped in her tracks.
Setting the phone to speaker mode, Oliver answered. “Is Lexi okay?”
“Oh, yes, she fine. I’m not calling about her.”
Luna scooted closer to the phone. “Can I see her now?”
Bergmann’s tone of voice lightened up. “Yes, of course. Are you feeling better?”
“Thanks. Much better.”
“Glad to hear it. Unfortunately, there has been another disturbing development. Derek would like to meet us in thirty minutes.”
That sounded ominous. “Okay, we’ll be there.” Oliver ended the call and placed the phone back on the nightstand.
Luna threw him a questioning look. “Bad news regarding the auction?”
“I have no idea.”
Luna bit her lip. “What now? I mean, what are we going to do now? Where do we stand?”
The tenderness in Oliver’s touch early that morning had been in sharp contrast to the raw strength and brute force he took her with at the fight club. He killed Fry to save her, risking his only chance to get his memories restored. He should be mad at her, but he’d chosen gentleness. Was this a good sign or a goodbye? She cupped his cheek, relieved that he didn’t pull away. Raw emotions flickered across his face.
The warmth of his hand trailing down her own cheek encouraged her to go on. “I don't want to lose you. Can we get through this, is there any chance?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked, and his hand fell to his side. “I think we both need some time to digest what happened the last few weeks. Derek just texted. He arranged for you and Lexi to move to a safe house in Connecticut.” His voice dropped. “Lexi needs you now. She’s your family.”
Her heart squeezed, and hot tears pressed at her lids. “You are too, you know.”
He blinked and lowered his gaze. After a beat, he said, “You should probably go if you want to see Lexi before we meet Derek.” His voice was soft but firm.
Sadness doused t
he little flame of hope that had flickered inside her. She couldn’t lose him, but she also couldn’t wait to see her little sister again and make sure she was fine. “You’re right. I’m dying to see Lexi.”
On his way toward the bathroom, he pointed at the black sofa across from the bed. “Your clothes are on the couch. I’ll see you at Derek’s.”
Not bothering to change, she grabbed her clothes and went up the two floors to her own apartment, where she stripped out of her panties and his shirt, which still smelled like him. Holding the soft fabric up to her nose, she wondered if he would be walking out of her life for good now. He had avoided answering her question, and she had to admit she didn’t know if the broken pieces of the life they once shared would still fit together.
Shaking the dark thoughts from her head, she hurried into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and dressed in fresh clothes in no time. Another five minutes later, she finally stood at her sister’s bed in the Committee’s small infirmary. Lexi was fast asleep, and Luna carefully stroked her sister’s arm. She looked quiet and peaceful, and Luna hoped with all her heart that Fry hadn’t hurt her. Footsteps on the tiled floor behind her had Luna turn. She hadn’t even noticed the door opening.
Dr. Bergmann gave her a reassuring smile and joined Luna. “Your sister is on strong medication, so she will probably sleep through the day, but I’m positive that she will soon be out and about.”
Luna squeezed the doctor’s hand. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without your help. Can you tell me what was wrong with her?”
The doctor just patted her hand. “I’m happy I could help. I don’t have any experience with hybrids. Like I said, Lexi is the first I ever heard of. But I could identify a genetic deficiency and was able to fix it. She should soon feel better.”
Elation and shock clashed inside her. “If it was that easy to fix I guess it’s safe to say they kept her sick to keep me in line?”
Bergmann pressed his lips together and checked his silver wristwatch. “I’d say yes. You know how they operate. Let’s go upstairs to Derek’s office.”
Adrenaline Heat Page 18
