New Species 07 Tiger (37 page)

“The skin didn’t tear but it’s going to hurt for a while.”

“My ribs and waist hurt too. They had me secured with belts that dug into me.”

“Lie back.”

The doctor carefully examined her. “It’s just some bruising. I don’t feel anything broken. You came out of this ordeal remarkably well. You’re lucky. Any trouble breathing from the smoke you inhaled?” The doctor cleaned some cuts she found on Zandy.

“No. It was windy enough to blow most of it away from me.”

“You can sit up.” The doctor snapped off her gloves. “You were lucky, Zandy Gordon.”

“Can I ask you something?”

The doctor arched her eyebrows. “Sure.”

“Um…” Zandy hesitated. “Something happened that is bothering me. Tiger said some things to me at the hospital when he woke and he claims not to remember it. Do you think the drugs made him blurt out things that he might feel deep down?”

The woman sighed and glanced at the door, then back at Zandy. “I’m not sure what you were told but you do work for the NSO so I’ll assume you can be trusted. Some of the drug cocktails discovered in Mercile’s files were experimental. That’s what they did. They created drugs to test on New Species. Some of them have reacted quite violently when the drugs were given to them. They were aggressive to the point of being dangerous, while others have had some unique side effects that range from blackouts to severe personality changes while under the influence of some of the drugs. Was whatever he said normal or something you would expect him to say?”

“I don’t think so.”

“There’s your answer. If it’s bothering you, ask Tiger. New Species are known for their honesty. I’m positive that he’ll want to clear up whatever issue you had with him. Did he threaten you or try to attack? I have spent a lot of time with him and that isn’t normal for him. He’s actually a sweetheart.”

A bit of jealousy rose. “Have you two dated?”

Dr. Allison shook her head. “No. You’re not just an employee, are you? I’m guessing you are involved with him?”

“We were before his accident. He…um, kind of ended it with me when he woke up. He said he doesn’t remember saying any of it and apologized.”

“You have your answer already. Talk to him. The drugs are out of his system but he’s going to need to go back on them. They accelerate their healing.”

“How?”

Dr. Allison hesitated. “You’re with Tiger? I thought those were bite marks when I was examining your shoulder.”

“Yes.”

“You’re in love with him. I see it in your eyes when you talk about him.” She smiled. “They were genetically altered. Their DNA was spliced with various animal genes. Mercile was able to manipulate them enough to, well, in layman’s terms, make their bodies go into hyperdrive with certain body functions. Their immune systems are amazingly resistant to illness, disease, and they heal very quickly. The drug cocktail we discovered in the records causes rapid healing. He’ll need more doses if he did in fact break his leg again. It will heal in days rather than weeks. They hate being down and are terrible patients.” A wistful look softened her eyes. “In most cases. I have one patient the drug doesn’t seem to work on at all. He’s in a coma and we haven’t been able to wake him.”

“I’m sorry. I hope he recovers. Was he in the helicopter crash with Tiger?”

“No. 880 was rescued and brought to Homeland some weeks ago. I hated to leave him in the care of others but they needed help here. I still have my hospital privileges in this area. Most of the other doctors who have worked longer for the NSO don’t since they were brought in from different parts of the country. That’s why I was called in.” She turned away for a moment then faced her again holding a syringe. “I need to give you this. You have some cuts and this is an antibiotic. I’d feel better giving it to you. I can tell those aren’t fresh, probably happened when you were taken, and germs fester in a matter of hours. When did you have your last tetanus shot?”

“Okay. I’m up to date on all my shots. I never miss an annual checkup.” Zandy winced and looked away as the needle sank into her arm. She hated shots.

“That was a strong antibiotic and it’s going to mess up your birth control.”

“I’m not on anything.”

The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “You aren’t?”

“No.”

“Okay. I’ll spare you the lecture about condoms then since Tiger is already using them. These shots have been known to mess up your cycle. You could skip a period or have two back to back.”

“I don’t have any diseases. Tiger doesn’t have to use condoms.”

The other woman turned away to dispose of the syringe and alcohol swab she’d used to clean the injection site. “I wasn’t informed you were his mate. They really need to tell us these things.”

“I’m not mated to Tiger. I know what the bites usually mean but he just lost control.”

The doctor spun, a confused look on her face. “Are you guys trying to get pregnant? I’ve never heard of one of the New Species trying that before being mated.” She shrugged. “I guess they are getting more and more modern in their thinking.”

Confusion filled Zandy. “He can’t get me pregnant.”

Dr. Allison’s eyes widened.

“What?” Zandy asked.

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Son of a biscuit.” The doctor looked angry. “Rules state that he has to use condoms if you aren’t mated and he has to inform you that you could get pregnant if he stops using them after you are mated.”

Zandy was stunned.

“I’m going to talk to Tiger about this and then I’ll have to inform Trisha. She can take this to Justice.”

Zandy’s arm shot out and grabbed the doctor when the woman tried to leave. “What are you saying?”

Indecision flickered in the other woman’s eyes but she sighed. “You work for the NSO so I know you had to sign and read a stack of confidentiality clauses. This is classified information. It’s entirely possible that Species males can impregnate us. Humans. Tiger should have used condoms or warned you that it was a possibility. I shouldn’t have told you anything but I assumed you knew. Damn. I could get into serious trouble for this but it angers me as a woman that he put you at risk. You have the right to know since you’re sleeping with him.”

“We had sex while I was ovulating.”

“How do you know that?”

“Trust me. I know. Are you saying I could be pregnant?”

“Shit.” The doctor jerked away and walked to the cabinet. “I hope not. I doubt the antibiotic I gave you would harm the fetus at this early stage but I wouldn’t have given it to you if there was a possibility.” She jerked open a cabinet and removed a packaged kit. She turned. “Open your mouth and let me take a swab. We’ll find out right now. This is why there are rules and Tiger didn’t follow them. I’m a doctor first and I just gave you medication I wouldn’t have if I’d known all the facts.”

“What?”

“Just let me do this test. I can tell right away if you’re pregnant. New Species are different from us and you would test positive for higher hormones within twenty-four hours of getting pregnant. I know you haven’t had intercourse with him since his accident.”

Zandy was in shock as the doctor jerked open more cabinets after dipping the sample in a clear vial with liquid. The doctor bent, watching the end of the cotton. A good minute passed before the woman straightened.

“It’s negative,” Dr. Allison informed her, showing her the vial. “It would have turned red if it were positive. It’s clear.”

“Are you sure?” Zandy’s heart was still beating rapidly.

“I’m sure.” She sighed. “Either Tiger really trusts his nose to tell him when it’s safe to have intercourse with you or he tried to get you pregnant. I strongly suggest you have a talk with him. I’ll report this to my supervisor and she’ll inform Justice North. Trisha will make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“Please don’t,” Zandy said quickly. She was still floored by what she’d learned. “I don’t want him to get into trouble.”

“This is serious. Do you know what would happen if anyone found out New Species can have children?”

“I have a pretty good idea. I just spent time with insane fanatics who hate them.”

They stared at each other. “Fine. I won’t say anything. Invoke doctor-patient confidentiality. That way my butt is covered. You need to talk to him about this though.”

“Trust me. I will.” She just had no idea what to say though.

The door opened and the male nurse returned. “They just X-rayed Tiger’s leg and it’s as we thought. He damaged the leg.” He stared at Zandy. “Tiger refused to rest until he knows you are fine. He snarled at me to bring you to him.”

Dr. Allison shot Zandy a warning look. “That sounds like a man who doesn’t want to break it off. You’re free to go. Put ice on the bruising if it continues to hurt.”

“Thank you, Dr. Allison.” Zandy slid off the exam table and shook the woman’s hand. “I mean that.” She was grateful the woman was going to keep her secret about what Tiger had done and that he hadn’t told her what could result from them having sex. “I hope your patient recovers.”

“Me too. I’ve kind of become obsessed with him.”

Zandy didn’t miss the sadness in the other woman’s stare as she followed the New Species nurse out of the room and down the hall. He stopped in front of a closed door.

“He’s in there. The break in his leg will be painful until it heals.”

“Thank you.” She hesitated, taking a deep breath.

Her heart pounded and she wasn’t sure she wanted to face Tiger. What if he wanted to stop seeing her? The thought of that prospect made her chest hurt. The only way she was going to find out would be to talk to him. Her hand rose and she knocked.

“Come in,” Tiger called out.

The room looked more like a hotel room than a hospital room, much nicer than the exam room she’d just left. Tiger was sprawled out on a queen-sized bed with his leg elevated on pillows. Ice bags had been placed over his lower leg. He’d stripped off his shirt, revealing his muscular, tan chest and flat belly. His hair was down and his exotic gaze met hers.

“Zandy.”

The way he softly growled her name made her nipples harden. He had a way of affecting her. “Hi, Tiger. How are you?” She closed the door behind her and stepped farther into the room.

“Come here.” He patted the bed next to him.

She didn’t hesitate to step to the side of the bed and carefully climb on it. She sat facing him but kept a few feet of space between them. Her gaze left his to glance at his leg before looking.

“How is your leg feeling?”

Broad shoulders shrugged. “It aches and I’m stuck in bed for two days until it heals again. The break wasn’t as bad as the original injury.” He studied her eyes. “Stay with me here.”

Emotions warred inside her. Part of her was happy he wanted to be with her while another part of her worried that he’d toss her out again if he took more of the medication Dr. Allison had told her about. Everyone would know she was sharing a room with him if she stayed too. Their relationship was already acknowledged, no longer a secret.

“Will they allow it? They warned me you could become unstable on the drugs.”

“There are officers down the hallway in case I grow aggressive but I won’t hurt you. You already stated clearly that you were willing to risk harm to be with me when you refused to leave my bedside at the hospital. This is a more controlled environment.”

She wasn’t afraid of Tiger. “This is a really nice room.”

His blue gaze narrowed and a frown curved his mouth. He watched her. She glanced away again, staring at the blue bedding.

“Zandy? Look at me.” His deep voice brooked no argument. It was a demand.

“Are you mad at me?” She held his gaze.

“For what?”

“I had to tell everyone we’ve been sleeping together to get to see you. Is that why you really wanted me to leave the hospital? You said not to show anyone the bites on me but I was so worried when I heard what happened to you. I—”

His hand rose and he cupped her uninjured cheek. “I don’t care who knows about us. You risked your life to reach me. You should have waited for an escort to bring you to me and again when you left the hospital. It’s not safe in the out world.”

It was cute how he called the world outside the NSO gates that. She knew what he meant. “I kind of freaked out when I heard you’d been in a helicopter crash. I just wanted to make sure you were alive. I had to see you.”

“I want you to promise me that you will never leave Reservation without officers to protect you. You were taken because you work for the NSO. They know who you are and where you live.”

She didn’t want to think about her destroyed house. She’d have to call her insurance company but didn’t want to deal with it at that moment. “I have to leave at some point to go home.”

A soft growl passed his lips. “No, you don’t.”

She was unsure what that meant.

He took a deep breath and blew it out, his expression softening. “You can’t go home, Zandy. You will stay with me.”

A hundred questions sprang into her mind. She tried to decide which one to ask first. Did he mean he wanted her to live with him or that he expected her to stay in the apartment she’d been assigned? Tiger seemed to take her silence as a refusal.