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Ami sat up and pulled her shirt down "Thank you, Roland"

Looking exceedingly uncomfortable, Roland said, "You’re welcome?" He looked to Sarah, who smiled and nodded "Yes," he said hed and ht?"

Roland cuffed him on the side of the head, then swore as he listed to the side

Sarah wrapped her arm around his waist to steady him and drew him away toward the kitchen "Marcus," she tossed over her shoulder, "would you likeyou so or two

As soon as Sarah and Roland entered the kitchen and left his sight, Marcus leaned forward and drew Ami into his arms Ami wrapped hers around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder

"You’re right," she said, her war his neck "He’s not that bad"

"I heard that," Roland called frohed

Marcus closed his eyes and sighed, rubbing his cheek against her hair

"Are you okay?" she asked hesitantly

"You scared me," he admitted "And infuriated me" She should have told him the extent of her injuries

"I’m sorry I didn’t intend to"

"Your safety isto the network’s handbook"

"Bugger the network’s handbook You’reyou that your safety comes first"

Her arms loosened as she drew back and looked him in the eye "Marcus, I’m not the first Second you’ve had You knohatforward, he sealed her lips with his own, silencing the protest she would havehumanity You’re the one who must be protected at all costs He’d heard it too many times from previous Seconds He wouldn’t listen to it from Ami He wouldn’t lose her to violence as he had so h Ah her veins at top speed as Marcus’s ht her lower lip between his teeth, drew his tongue across it in a slow, sensuous stroke, then begged entrance Aood after a long night hunting? She heard his breath catch, felt his hands fist in her shirt His hips parted her knees as he rose onto his own and ale of the leather cushion His ar her breasts to his chest, her stoainst the front of his cargo pants

Ah his soft hair, dislodging it fro So n sensations she knew instinctively coroan, slid his hands down to cup her bottoasped as fire shot through her She clutched hiood Once more she understood why such contact had always been forbidden her in the past She couldn’t seeainst hers

She curled her legs around his hips, urging hirowled his approval and slid one hand up to cup the side of her neck His breath warmed the skin just beneath her ear as he nipped the lobe, careful not to break the skin with his sharp fangs

A shiver tingled through her She couldn’t think, couldn’t concentrate on anything but the a way he rily

She liked this His hard body pressed to hers The sharp spikes of pleasure that darted through her with every roll of his hips against her, every caress of his wicked, wicked tongue

"No," Marcus ainst her lips so softly she almost didn’t hear him

Her hands stilled Had she accidentally pulled his hair?

"Shut it," he whispered

Frowning, she drew back

Inches away, Marcus sighed When his lids lifted, his a?" she asked, unsure

"No" His husky voice was rife with irritation "Roland is being a pain in the arse"

Ami looked toward the kitchen, half afraid the surly i theaze "He can hear us, can’t he?"

"Yes," Roland said in the kitchen Thump "Ow! What was that for?"

"Don’t embarrass her," Sarah hissed

Marcus dropped his head forward

Ami touched his silky hair, brushed it back froan to tilt up in a weary saze beyond her Starting, he reared back and reached for one of his few re around to look over her shoulder

The room behind her was eht curse

"What--"

He shook his head andhe couldn’t tell her now if he didn’t want Roland or Sarah to hear hiht kiss to her lips, then rose and sat beside her on the sofa "How do you feel?" he asked

She leaned into his side "Light-headed" And tingly And hungry, but not for food