Oh, hey, he was still holding his glass all nice and proper. Didn’t lose a drop. Very deliberately, he put the glass to his lips and drank, even though Hunter was so in his face that the bottom of the glass brushed his nose.
When Riker had downed the last drop, he ground out, “And you get that I have followed every order you’ve given me, without question, for the last twenty years, right? Have I ever screwed up or given you reason to doubt my judgment?”
Hunter idly tapped his thumb on Riker’s throat.
“How did we get from me asking the questions to you asking?”
“Maybe I didn’t like your question.” Brittle tension winged through the air between them, and yeah, this could go critical real fast.
“Maybe I don’t like your attitude.” Hunter paused, letting the tension stew a little before pushing away.
“If this is what fucking a human does to you, then you need to get back to eating them instead.”
“With Nicole, I can do both,” Riker said, knowing it was stupid to poke a vampire with a stick but doing it anyway.
“I’m going to give you a day to cool off. Settle in with your son. And get your head out of your ass. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I’m not killing her.” Riker locked gazes with Hunter as he opened the door. “And I won’t let you do it, either.”
He slammed the door behind him, shutting out the male who had picked up the pieces of Riker that had been broken after Terese died.
-----------------------------
Nicole had never enjoyed a shower as much as she was loving the one she was taking right now.
For the first time in not just days but months, maybe even years, she was able to relax and just let the hot water sluice over her body, washing away dirt, blood, sweat, stress, and fear. All that remained was gratitude that she was alive and that Riker had gotten the son he’d been so desperate for.
There was something tragic in watching Bastien, so timid and afraid, jump at everything as she and Riker had walked him to Grant’s lab. But the second he stepped inside, it was as if he had arrived home.
Riker had clearly been rattled, so she’d promised to watch after Bastien while he met with Hunter.
Mostly, all she’d had to do was stay with Bastien while he wandered around the lab, touching equipment like they were old friends. It had broken her heart.
Food had arrived a short time later, and she’d left Bastien to eat while she and Grant went through the bag filled with files and meds, which included the drugs she needed to manage her medical condition.
They’d also discussed both Bastien and her own experience at the Daedalus facility. Grant hadn’t appeared concerned that the vaccine she’d been given would fail, but then, to him, turning into a vampire could only be a good thing. Nevertheless, he’d taken blood, saliva, and cell samples for study.
Nicole just tried not to think about it. She’d know within twenty-four hours if the vaccine didn’t work, and at that point . . . she didn’t know. Ever since Boris nearly ripped her throat out with his teeth, her second-greatest fear had always been that she’d be bitten by another vampire. Her greatest fear was that she’d be turned into one.
She thought about Riker sinking his fangs into her.
Thought about him doing it again. And crazily, the idea excited her instead of repulsing her. Would turning intoa vampire truly be so bad? Especially now that she had no desire ever to see anyone involved with Daedalus again, let alone her brother? She had nothing to return to in the human world, so how bad would it be to turn into a completely different person? A different species?
She let herself digest the idea as she dried off and headed for the bedroom, but a knock on the door stopped her in her tracks.
“Nicole?” Riker’s muffled voice came from the other side.
“Um, yeah . . . one second.” She hastily wrapped the towel around herself and cracked the door open.
Riker stood on the other side, also freshly showered and changed into jeans and a black sweatshirt. His damp hair, darker blond than when it was dry, stood up in spiky chunks that made her want to smooth them with her fingers, if for no other reason than to have an excuse to touch him.
“Can I come in?”
His hesitation was a new thing, and it highlighted the change in their relationship. Before, he’d barged into the room as if he owned it, and now he was asking to come in. She wondered what he’d say if she refused.
“Please.” She backed up, allowing him to enter.
“There’s only one guard outside now,” she said, as she closed the door behind him. “Guess I’ve earned a little leeway, huh?”
It was meant to be a joke, but Riker’s expression grew serious. “You’ll earn more,” he said. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”