Numbers (27 page)

He eagerly took it.

Bluebird rolled her eyes and bumped Midnight’s arm with her
shoulder. “I see why you chose a human.”

Midnight kept silent, eating.

Sunshine finished her food and stood. “I’ll see you guys
later.” She ditched her dirty plate in the sink. “Bye, Candi.”

Candi watched her and the male walk away together and looked
at Hero, arching her eyebrows.

“They are going to share sex,” he whispered.

“Oh. They are a couple?”

“No.” Midnight put her food down. “Our females share sex
with males. It’s a casual thing. Do you understand?”

She didn’t, and shook her head.

“Most of us don’t want to be with just one male. We like our
freedom.” Bluebird shrugged. “It’s tough to choose just one, so why bother?
Besides, they get kind of territorial.” She jerked her chin toward Hero. “He’s
almost glued to your side. See? That would annoy me. Does it annoy you?”

“No.”

“She loves him,” Midnight announced. “It’s probably
comforting to her that he cares so deeply that he wants to be with her as much
as possible.” She finished eating. “I need to go. I’m supposed to work. It was
good spending time with you, Candi.” She glanced at Bluebird. “Do you want me
to help you with dishes before I go?”

“No. I have this. It’s my day off.”

Midnight left and they finished lunch. Hero stood. “I’ll do
the dishes. It’s the least I can do.”

“Thanks.” Bluebird grinned. “We’re going to bring dinner
tonight at six. I’ll see you then.”

“They are so nice to me.” Candi really appreciated that.
“Can you teach me how to load a dishwasher?”

“Later. You look a little tired. Why don’t you go to our
home and I’ll be there in a few minutes? Can you find your way?”

“Yes, but I want to help you.”

“Rest.” He reached out and brushed his fingers over her
cheek. “Food, sleep and then sex. Remember?”

She laughed. “Ah. Now I understand.”

“Go lie down. I’ll be there soon. This won’t take long.”

She left him and took the elevator to their floor. The door
was unlocked. She entered and was halfway to the bedroom when someone knocked.
She spun around, went back and opened it. Shock slammed through her at seeing
the male who stood there.

“Hello, Candi.”

She couldn’t speak.

“I waited until you were alone to approach you. I heard
about you making it to Homeland and came from Reservation, hoping you were the
female they spoke of.” His pretty dark-blue catlike eyes peered at her with
compassion.

“You can’t be here,” she finally managed to whisper. “927
will kill you. He knows what happened between us.”

“Evelyn told me he attacked you for what we did. I’m so
sorry. I heard he killed you.”

“That was a lie. Dr. C took me away and had me locked up
elsewhere. You must go. I’m glad you survived, but he can’t see you. It would
upset him.”

The male blinked back tears. “I wanted to apologize. I tried
not to hurt you. I fought and would have let them kill me before touching you
if you hadn’t asked me to. I’ve regretted it ever since. I should have kept
saying no.”

“Stop.” She stepped closer, glanced down the hallway, and
then stared up at his face. “We did what we had to do to survive. That
technician was killing you. Do you think I don’t remember your blood spilling?
I do. It’s done. Don’t apologize, and let it go. Forgive yourself. I hold no
pain or anger toward you. We both had no choice. You tried not to hurt me. I
thank you for that. Now you must go and forget about the past. Please? It would
just hurt him. He thought I chose you over him.”

“I’ll tell him the truth.”

“No! He will kill you.”

“I wouldn’t blame him.”

“Please? I don’t want you to die, or for him to have to live
with another death. Just go and never speak of it. Don’t think of it again.
Forget. I have.”

He hesitated. “Anything you need, anything I can do, contact
me. I took the name Dreamer.”

“I will. Please, let this go, Dreamer. For me and for
yourself. It’s the past. Go in peace.”

He nodded. “I’m glad you are alive.”

“I’m glad you survived as well.”

She backed up and closed the door, her heart pounding. Fear
and dread consumed her. What if Hero ran into the feline leaving the floor?
What if Dreamer decided to confess to him that he was the male who’d mounted
her so many years before? If it opened up old wounds anew, would it make him so
angry and upset that he would decide not to be her mate anymore? Would Hero
kill him and be locked up?

She paced the living room and didn’t know what to do. She
was torn between telling Hero the truth and keeping silent. A few minutes later
the door opened and Hero entered, a smile on his face.

“You seemed to enjoy your first cooking lesson.”

“I did.” She stilled and tried to slow her heart rate.

“You should take a nap.”

“Will you lie down with me?”

He nodded. “Of course. You are to sleep though.” He
approached her. “Nothing else.”

She loved him with all her heart. The last thing she wanted
was to see him hurt or angry. The words to tell him who had visited refused to
form. “I know. I would just like to be held by you.”

His expression sobered. “Are you feeling well?”

“I’m fine. I just want to be close to you.”

He pulled her into his arms, lifted her, and carried her to
the bedroom. “I’m not going anywhere.” He laid her on the bed and bent,
removing his shoes and then hers. He stretched out alongside her and opened his
arms. “Come here.”

She curled into him and rested her cheek on his chest. “It
feels perfect right now.”

He kissed the top of her head. “It does. Sleep, Candi. Get
some rest.”

She closed her eyes and focused on him, instead of the
unfairness of their pasts. They never should have been parted. She blamed Dr. C
and Evelyn for being taken away from her male.

“Hero?” It was getting easier to say his name.

“Yes?” He stroked his hand down her back, his fingers playing
with her hair.

“Do you know what happened to Evelyn? Was she caught?”

His body tensed.

“I’m sorry. Forget I asked.”

“No. It’s all right. I was taken from that facility before
it was raided. Once I was freed from where they held me captive, I asked about
her and Dr. C. They weren’t able to find him, but I identified her from photos
they showed me of known Mercile employees. She died after what they did to us
was released to the public. She had to know the authorities would come after
her, and she had family who knew she worked there. Most humans were horrified
to learn about us, and what was done. She chose to take her own life rather
than face the consequences.”

Candi felt torn. She’d hated Evelyn, but a small part of her
still grieved. The doctor had been a big part of her childhood, even if it had
been mostly bad interactions. “I’m glad she isn’t free, but it hurts a little,”
she admitted.

“We were given counseling when we were freed. Perhaps you
should get some. It helped to talk to the shrink. Some of the techs and doctors
were so bad that learning they died somehow, or are locked up, is comforting.
Some weren’t so awful, and that leaves us feeling conflicted. They were wrong
for what they did to us, but they were all we knew for so long.”

She nodded. “I wanted them to pay for what they did to us.”

“The shrink I spoke to compared us to children who had been
raised by severely abusive parents. I didn’t really agree with that since we
were never treated as if we were human at all, but I was assured it’s normal
not to feel total relief over discovering they met with unhappy endings. It
shows we have compassion, something they never had for us. Evelyn made her own
choices, Candi. She could have saved us by calling the human police to tell
them what was happening but she didn’t. She helped keep us prisoners and viewed
us as test subjects. I know she was nice to you occasionally, but there were
many times she wasn’t. She had to know that Dr. C killed your mother, but she
protected him. She allowed him to bring you to that place and treat you as if
you were a test subject too. Remember that. It helps alleviate any bad feelings
we may feel over their fates.”

“Thank you. I was so filled with rage all these years, and
all I thought about was revenge. Now I just want to be happy with you.”

“I want that too. We’re together again and that is what
matters. They couldn’t keep us apart forever.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Now try
to rest. We need to get you stronger and healthier. That’s our future.”

She bit her lip, still unable to shut her mind down. “Can I
ask you something else?”

“Anything.”

“Do you want to try to have a baby with me?”

He tensed, but relaxed quickly. “We’ll discuss it in a few
months.”

“I’m not saying now. I just want to know if you want to try
at some point.”

“I would never do anything that would put you at risk.
You’re the most important thing to me.”

“I’m going to get better and stronger. I’d like to try to
have a baby with you.” She opened her eyes and lifted her chin to peer at him.
“I was afraid when they explained about breeding experiments to me. I feared,
if they allowed us to be together, we’d have a child and they’d steal it from
us. I was terrified because I knew you’d attack them to keep us together and
I’d lose you both.” She paused. “They can’t hurt us anymore. Will you think
about it?”

Tears filled his eyes. “Only if Doc Trisha is certain you
wouldn’t be in danger. I can’t lose you again. I won’t.”

She nodded. “Only if Doc Trisha thinks it’s safe.”

“Then I will agree.”

She smiled. “Can you imagine having a baby?”

“It kind of frightens me.”

“Why?”

“We know nothing about how to care for one, and what kind of
parents will we be when we didn’t have any?”

“I had a mother for a while. I remember her kissing my
injuries and singing to me. She read me stories before bed. You will make a
wonderful dad, because you will love our baby and keep it safe. I know how good
you are to me. We’ll learn and be the best parents because we are motivated.”

He smiled. “We’ll try, if we’re able, one day.”

“Good.” She lowered her chin, closing her eyes. “I’ll try to
dream about that.”

“It will be a male and look just like me. Our altered
genetics are strong and carry on into our children. All the babies born are
almost mini-replicas of their fathers.”

Warmth spread through her. “You were such a cute little
pup.”

He chuckled. “You were such a funny-faced little human with
your tiny, squishy nose. I wish we could have a mini-replica of you.”

“Genetically enhanced is better. Our baby will be strong and
big like you. You’re so handsome.”

He kissed the top of her head again. “We’ll both try to
dream of one then.”

She’d feared she would hate being left at the women’s dorm
when Hero had to work. He’d kissed her goodbye and made her swear to call him
if she wanted to leave. He’d said he could have someone cover his shift, but
she didn’t want to interfere with his duties.

Candi put her hand over her mouth, trying to smother her
laughter. The females around her tried to hide their amusement as well. Some
outright chuckled, a few were doubled over with laughter, and two of the Gifts
had just turned around to spare Bluebird from seeing their reactions.

“Darn it!” Bluebird shut off the loud machine and dropped to
her knees, yanking on the vacuum and the rug corner that had been sucked into
the machine. “It hates me! I told someone else to show her the fast way to
clean the wood floors.”

Sunshine shook her head, still grinning. “I said it was a
bad idea to be lazy by not sweeping. You’re the one who insisted, so you got to
demonstrate.”

Halfpint turned back around, her features masked. “Let me
help you.” She went down on her knees next to the larger Species and pushed her
hands away. “I have small fingers.” She freed the rug. “See? You have to make
the wheel thing turn that way.”

“These machines are dangerous.” Bluebird sat back and
glanced at her toes. She sighed. “At least I didn’t lose any. That’s my fear.”

“Come on,” Rusty teased. “There are no blades on that thing.
I’d be more worried about the garbage disposal. That’s a dangerous appliance.
You could lose a hand.”

“That’s why we stand way back and don’t put our hands near
it when we turn it on.” Halfpint rose. “Humans invent crazy things.”

Kat, the human mate of Darkness, sighed. “I told you what
garbage disposals are for. You dump uneaten food off plates into it and it
keeps the drains from plugging up. It’s a smart invention.”

“As if we don’t eat all our food.” Midnight snorted. “No
Species allows it to go to waste.” She looked over at Candi. “You’re Species.
Eat all your food and you won’t have to use the blades of death in your sink.”

“Come on!” Kat laughed. “Blades of death?”

“Metal teeth of finger destruction then. Is that better?”
Midnight laughed. “We watch those human horror movies. We just saw one where a
man shoved another’s fist into the hole and turned it on to force him to talk.
He removed a bloody stump. I’d tell someone anything to avoid that.”

“I’m with Midnight,” Rusty muttered. “Metal teeth of finger
death. We should all start calling it that.”

“Those movies don’t help.” Bluebird stood. “Show of hands on
who fears shower curtains now after last week’s horror movie we saw.” Fourteen
of the sixteen females present raised their hands. “The glass shower doors
would stop some crazy male from stabbing at us. I’d push it outward, knock him
on his ass, and use his weapon on him.”

Kat shook her head but smiled. “It’s a classic movie. The
point of watching them is for entertainment.” She looked at Candi. “You and I
are the only ones who like shower curtains.”

“I don’t know what it is or why to fear one,” Candi
admitted. “That’s why I didn’t raise my hand.”

“They are not solid like the doors on the showers in our
apartments. They have safety glass so they would be hard to break, even with a
knife. What about where you were held?” Halfpint asked as she got up from the
floor.

“They had an open stall where I showered, and before that I
was at Mercile. I don’t remember much from when I lived with my mother.” Candi
glanced around. “What is a shower curtain?”

“It’s a plastic covering that acts like a wall to keep the
water from reaching the floor, and it provides privacy.” Kat walked toward the
kitchen. “I think we’ve had enough learning today. I say we take a break. You
guys are not teaching Candi good things.”

“Yes, we are.” Bluebird unplugged the vacuum and then kicked
it. “These things are dangerous. Remember that. Have your mate use it.”

“Just offer him sex and he’ll do whatever you want.”
Sunshine grinned. “It works for me. I had a male rearrange all the furniture
inside my home last week. I told him it turned me on to watch him lift things.”

Kat groaned from the other room. “I heard that. I’m failing
as a role model.”

“We don’t let our males handcuff us,” Rusty called out.
“Should we start? Maybe you and your mate can show us how it’s done. We could
hold a class.”

Kat returned from the kitchen holding a plate of cookies.
“Very funny. I’m sorry I shared that with you guys. I’m never going to live it
down.”

Sunshine winked at Candi and lowered her voice. “We like to
tease her. Her male is very controlling in the bedroom and she allows it. If
you want to change things inside your home just tell Hero it makes you wet
seeing his muscles tighten up, and you won’t be stuck moving the heavy things.
Most of these homes are set up so the bed is against two walls. It means
there’s only one side to climb off or you have to crawl to the end of it. It’s
much better to move it to the center so you can have three sides to get off.”

Rusty nodded. “That’s true. Some of us have grown tired of
having the same setups in our homes. I put my bed in the living room and turned
my bedroom into a library with shelves of books. The couch and coffee table fit
in there where the bed used to be.”

“Why don’t you just use the library down here? It’s got a
ton of books.” Halfpint peered at her curiously.

Rusty hesitated. “I bought a lot of sexy books. Some of them
are quite arousing. I don’t want all of you knowing when I’m reading them and
some,” she shot a glare at Bluebird, “tease me when I do. Now I have privacy
and can shower afterward.” She directed her attention on Candi. “Expect to be
embarrassed sometimes because everyone will know things if you don’t shower.
They will make jokes.”

“I can’t smell that.” Halfpint smiled. “It’s good not having
a super-sensitive nose. I don’t want to know when you share sex with a male, or
when you are aroused. I just wish some of you were quieter when you have males
over, or at least have them pull the beds farther away from the wall so they
don’t slam into them.” She pointed at Sunshine. “You’re the worst offender.”

Sunshine chuckled. “I like a good pounding. What can I say?
Less talking if the bed is rocking.”

“You remembered me saying that, but not how it’s just rude
to make guys do stuff for you just because you’re sleeping with them?” Kat
looked disgusted. “Fantastic. Don’t tell anyone you got that quote from me,
okay? Just do me that favor. I’d kind of like to keep my job.”

“Your job?” Candi was curious.

“I help out however I can and teach some classes. It seems
I’m also being a bad influence on the women in the dorm.” Kat shoved the plate
at her. “Here. Eat the whole thing. I didn’t cook them or they’d be burned.
That should put a few pounds on you. Darkness always asks how my day went when
I get home, and I want to tell him I at least got you to chow down on a few
dozen double-chip chocolate cookies. Otherwise I’ll have to confess that I’ve
apparently made everyone here fear household things.” She glanced around.
“Those horror movies are supposed be entertainment and help you understand why
assholes commit crimes.”

“Your job is safe.” Bluebird leaned against Kat. “We like
you. I especially enjoy it when you get angry. I’ve learned all kinds of
words.”

“Fuck,” Kat muttered.

“Motherfucker,” Sunshine chanted.

“Cocksucker,” Rusty chimed in.

“I love this game.” Halfpint grinned. “What a dickhead.”

Bluebird frowned. “Cock, dick or head. I’m coming up blank
on what to associate that with.”

“Son of a bitch.” Sunshine chuckled. “Dick, in that sense,
makes me think of a bastard.”

“Enough,” Kat pleaded. “Come on. I’m going to go upstairs
and get Missy. That will make me feel better. I know a lot of you are reading
her books. She’s teaching you way worse things.”

“You aren’t going to disturb her. She’s working on the next
book.” Rusty crossed her arms over her chest. “I want to read it and she
promised to let me see whatever she writes.”

One of the feline females crossed the room and stood next to
Rusty. “We’re Missy’s beta readers. We’ll restrain you and call your mate to
come collect you if you try to interrupt what she’s doing. He’ll see you all
tied up and want to share sex with you. You’ll find yourself over his shoulder
and hauled home immediately. Missy thinks she might finish the book at some
point today so don’t try it.”

Candi was stunned. They were threatening to tie up Kat, but
the female didn’t look alarmed. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Great. Missy gets a set of guards for writing about sex,
but what do I get? Jokes about liking a dominant man. You all suck.” She shoved
the cookies at Candi again. “Do me a favor. Eat every single one of those.
Please.”

Candi accepted the plate. “There are a lot of them.”

“I’ll get you some milk.” Kat spun around and stalked back
toward the kitchen.

Rusty chuckled. “She’s the one who sucks,” she announced and
pointed down at her groin. “She admitted doing that for her mate.”

The females around Candi burst into laughter. She didn’t
understand what was so funny but they were amused.

“I heard that!” Kat slammed something in the kitchen. “I’m
never answering your questions again if they involve sex.”

Hero entered Security and discovered Justice, Slade and Fury
waiting for him. He followed them into a conference room and everyone took a
seat. He wasn’t sure why he’d been called away from his post but he didn’t see
any alarming expressions on the males around the table.

“What is it?” Hero glanced at each of them.

Justice spoke first. “A few FBI members wish to speak to
Candi.”

“They have questions for her,” Slade interjected. “It’s her
choice whether she agrees to talk to them.”

“They can’t force us to give them access to your female.”
Fury paused. “You need to speak to her on the matter. They implied they
wouldn’t upset her in any way.”

“No.” Hero shook his head. “I don’t want any humans around
Candi. Why is the FBI involved? I thought human police were hunting for my
mate.”

Justice answered. “Darkness’s mate worked for the FBI. She
informed me that they have better resources to handle something like this and
your Candi was effectively kidnapped as a child, held at Mercile, and then
transferred across state lines when she was taken to that psychiatric hospital.
She fears local law officials from the jurisdiction where Penny Pess died might
overlook details that could prevent your female from being charged with murder.
I agreed with Kat, and asked them to get involved. They took over the
investigation.”

“Candi only killed so she could survive and reach Homeland.
I refuse to allow anyone to upset my mate. She’s been through enough.”

Fury nodded. “That’s what I suspected you’d say, Hero. We
still had to ask.”

He rose to his feet. “I’ll return to duty.”

Slade stood. “Go home to your mate. We have someone covering
your post for the rest of the day. Tell her what is going on. You need to
discuss this with Candi, and at least ask her if she wants to talk to them.
Trust me on this. Females get pissed otherwise.”

Justice nodded. “They sure do. Jessie throws a mean right
punch to my gut when I make decisions for her. That’s what I get for mating
with someone from Tim’s team. She’s sneaky and waits until my guard is down.
One second I’m standing there, and the next I’m doubled over and she begins to
yell about how she hopes that hurt, like I hurt her feelings.”

Fury laughed. “Ellie just yells at me and slams things
around.”

“Trisha has threatened to slip sleeping pills into my meals
and swears one day I’ll wake up with my penis glued to my stomach.”

Everyone gaped at the male.

He shrugged. “She said it would be the kind that will melt
off if I soak in a warm tub so there is no lasting damage but it’s an effective
threat. I don’t ever want to discover how uncomfortable that would be.”

“You have a mean mate,” Hero assessed.

He shrugged. “She’s a doctor. There are a lot worse things
she could threaten. My Trisha has a temper, but she gets over things quickly.
She hasn’t actually done it.”

“Just tell your mate what is going on and ask if she wants
to speak to the humans.” Fury sighed. “Females like to make decisions, and
you’re newly mated. You have a lot to learn. I’m certain she will agree with
you. Humans have never done anything but harm her.”

Hero nodded and left Security. He decided to walk, thinking
as he made his way to the women’s dorm to pick up Candi. He reached the front
door and knocked. One of the females let him in and led him to the conference
room where a group of females were talking with Candi. They were laughing and
seemed to be having a good time. Conversation stopped as he hesitated just
inside the open doorway. She spotted him and stood to rush toward him. She
looked happy to see him, and he didn’t detect any stress.

“Hi. Is everything all right? I wasn’t expecting you for a
few more hours.”

He nodded. “How was your day?”

“Great. I’ve learned a lot.”

“We’re telling her all about the NSO,” Kat stated. “The
history of it and what has been accomplished. We’d just reached the part about
how Reservation is being expanded.”

“And all the rescue animals we accept from all over the
country,” Bluebird added. “It gives the Wild Zone residents a purpose to help
those poor creatures adjust to freedom. They have a lot in common with animals
who’ve been caged and abused by humans.”

“Thank you.” Hero made eye contact with all the females
seated at the table. “I appreciate you taking care of my Candi.”

“It gives us something to do.” Kat stood. “You’re on duty
tomorrow, right?”