Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(85)
Author: Gena Showalter

He shook his head. "Alive and in lockup. John’s going to do some tests, have someone interrogate her, find out how she’s able to touch other people without draining them and use the information he gains to help Elaine."

"Good. That’s good." A part of me still pitied her, but I was glad her reign of terror was over – and that she might do someone else some good. Even unwillingly.

Rome squeezed my wrist. "You did good, Wonder Girl. You did real good. I’m proud of you." My chin trembled, the depth of my emotion seemingly endless. What a wonderfully sweet thing to say.

After all, I had hurt him, put myself in danger, two things he would have ranted and raved about only a few weeks before. "I don’t think the battle ended with Desert Gal, though. Dr. Roberts is her dad, you know? He made her what she is, gave her those powers. He experiments on people without their permission."

"Yes." Our gazes were locked and for a little while, only a little while, the rest of the world faded away.

"Once I thought he was fine out there," Rome added, "roaming around. I thought it was better to keep such a mastermind out of the wrong hands. Any hands, really. But he’s a danger."

"What if he’s experimenting on an innocent right now?"

"Any idea where he is?"

"One. The one Candace gave us."

My stomach twisted, because I knew what he meant. The lead was me. PSI thought Roberts would come after me, try to find out why his formula had worked on me and no one else.

"I won’t let anything happen to you," Rome said. "You know that, I hope." Would he feel the same way after my three dates with Jean-Luc? "I want to learn self-defense. And dirty street-fighting."

He nodded, a proud glint filling his eyes. Proud of me? Again? "Soon as the doctor signs your release, we’ll head to the gym."

I shivered – in anticipation this time – because I suspected there would be some heavy petting involved.

However much our future relationship remained up in the air, we were attracted to each other and when we were in close proximity, alone, wrestling, hands were going to roam, legs were going to intertwine.

"First," I said, "we need to talk." Much as I craved him, there had to be some ground rules.

"I’ve been dreading this," he said, and there was indeed a grim note to his voice. "You don’t think we should be together. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have agreed to date that f**king Memory Man. Something you are not going to do."

I didn’t want to do it, but I wouldn’t tolerate being bossed around like that, either. "This whole memory loss thing made me realize a few things, that’s all, and we need to hash them out. And yes, I’m going to date him as promised. I told you, I will not go back on my word. But speaking of Jean-Luc, where is he?

If you placed him in lockup again, I swear to God I’ll roast you alive."

"You already do," he muttered, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "And yes, you will go back on your word. Because if he touches you, I’ll kill him, and you don’t want his death on your hands. You’re mine. Now tell me what you realized."

On my hands? Ha! And he still considered me his, even though I was "different"? "You didn’t think I was yours a few days ago. You thought Lexis was. Do you know how badly that hurt?"

"I’ll kiss it and make it better," he said huskily.

Oh, God, did I want him to try. I had to cut back a moan of desire. "Our wedding has already gone up in flames, Rome. I don’t have a dress, a church or a caterer. And as we originally planned to marry in a few weeks, I don’t think I can get everything together in time, anyway. Not that we’ve decided to still get married."

"We’re still getting married." A hard, harsh statement he obviously saw as fact.

I ignored him. It was either that or throw myself in his arms and just forget the concerns I had. As I sat there in silence, I could feel several gazes boring into me. One belonged to Lexis, and I didn’t want her hearing all of my problems. Though given how close her bed was to mine, I suspected she had already heard quite a few. "Let’s save this conversation for another time. When we’re alone."

"No. What are your concerns? I need to hear them."

Fine. Witnesses be damned. Sherridan and Tanner would only ask me for details later, anyway. "You don’t see me as an agent. You see me as a liability."

"That’s not true."

"It is. You planned to take me and Sunny and hide us away. Don’t try to deny it." His eyes narrowed. "I won’t. I thought about it for about a minute and then realized it would be wrong.

And look, I stepped back, didn’t try to stop you from fighting Candace. Even encouraged you to fight with her."

True. "Okay, you used to see me as a liability and I think maybe you liked me that way. You were my protector, and I let that define our relationship. But I’m different now. You said so yourself." He nodded. There was no use denying it.

"I’m going to be an agent, not just play at it. I’m going to take cases, travel, fight. I’m going to do this because it needs to be done and I want the people I love to be safe. I would love to work with you, but I won’t allow you to be my guard dog. Or cat. Guard cat. You’ll have to treat me like any other agent. Is that something you can handle?"

That muscle began ticking in his jaw again. He didn’t answer.

"Also, I’ve said it before but it needs reiterating. I am going to date Jean-Luc. Three dates, as promised.

Otherwise, I’m a liar and that’s not something I want to be. Is that something you can handle?" Silence.

Heavy, gut-wrenching silence. My gaze landed on Lexis, and there were tears in her eyes. She nodded at me. Telling me this was going to be okay?

"Go on the dates," Rome finally said, his expression hard as granite. "Just know that I’ll be there the entire time. Go to eat, I’ll be at the restaurant, sitting at the table next to yours. Go to the movies, and I’ll be right behind you, breathing down your neck. But I will not ever treat you like any other agent. You’re special to me. I’ll be concerned about you, I can’t help that. I’ll want to protect you. Always. Can you handle that?"

"I – "

Didn’t have time to answer. "No. Don’t say another word. We’re done for right now." He pushed to his feet, scooting the chair away. He strode from the room and never looked back.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Two Days Later

"Concentrate , belle !"

"I am! Rome. "

We were on opposite ends of a blue mat, sweat pouring from both of us. While I probably resembled a drowned house cat with severe breathing problems, Rome had never looked better. His shirt was off – of course – and his skin sun-kissed, roped perfection that glistened sexily.