“You can’t play with people like this, Professor,” she said. “No matter your desire to help. Sometimes, you need to sit back and let nature take care of itself.”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t take the chance.”
“It’s not your decision,” she countered. “Don’t you get that? It’s not always up to you. You can’t manipulate people to get the results you want.”
“There’s no excuse for what you did to Diane.” Zane grunted with a throttled growl rumbling from his chest.
“I know you wanted to increase my odds of finding Zane, of the two of us mating,” Diane said. “But to inject me with a shot that forced my body into ovulation?”
“Why the fuck would you do that to her?” Zane demanded and his body vibrated with anger.
Diane stepped between them, putting her back against Zane’s chest. His hands dropped to her hips and held her snug before him.
“She was going to leave without you here. She needed you but didn’t yet recognize it. I just tipped the odds in her favor, in both your favors,” the Professor said with no trace of remorse.
“Did you know I was a virgin?” Diane asked softly, and the Professor’s eyes widened in shock. She nodded. “I was.”
“You sent her to me knowing I was primal. I could have hurt her.” Zane grunted, his voice hard and cold.
But the Professor still supported his actions. “You’re mates. You would never have hurt her, no matter the circumstances. All I did was cut down on the time it took you to find one another. Abby was getting ready to deliver the first baby to this pride. We didn’t have time. We needed Diane back here, and we needed her mate with her. This pride needs you, both of you, and you’re damn right I’d do anything within my power to give this pride what it needs.”
“And did you have any help in deciding to give her that shot?” Zane asked.
Diane sighed at Zane’s question, hoping the answer wouldn’t set her mate at odds with is uncle, but the Professor laughed.
“If you think Orsai would condone me doing that, you’re wrong. Your Uncle told me to leave well enough alone and have faith in the two of you.”
“Why didn’t you listen then?” Diane demanded.
He sighed. “Time is not endless. We run out of it far too quickly sometimes.” He looked sad for a moment before shaking it off and smiling at them. “Hate me if you want, but I’d do it all over again.”
“Professor…” Diane broke off, unable to say anything else. What was going on with him? Had she been so wrapped up in her own emotions she’d failed to notice something was different about him?
“I’m needed upstairs, Diane, by another little girl destined to steal my heart, and I’m looking forward to that.” He gave them both a small smile and turned, heading toward the other end of the lab.
“What’s going on with him?” Zane asked, echoing her own question.
Diane shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Zane turned her, and she curled into his chest, wrapping her arms around to hold his back. She nuzzled into his chest, taking comfort in the smell of him, the feel of him, the heat of him.
“How did I ever manage to stay away from you?” Zane mumbled.
“How indeed,” Diane agreed and nipped him with her teeth.
Zane growled, but it was the sexy one that let her know how much he wanted her.
“I believe there was mention of a shower,” he prompted.
“I have a bedroom down here,” she said. “The Professor has rooms at one end of the corridor and mine are at the other. Come with me.” She moved back, sliding her hand down to link with his and leading him to her room.
They both paused on the threshold, eyeing the large bed that dominated the room. Diane had always felt lost in it, but she had a better appreciation of how roomy it was now.
“Shower first,” Zane murmured in her ear, his breath tickling her flesh and sending shivers down her spine. “Then we’ll christen the bed.”
“I like the sound of that.” She moaned as he rocked his hips into her ass, letting her feel the thick length of his arousal.
“I hope you’re planning to christen the shower, too.” She eyed him over her shoulder as she walked farther into the room. She began stripping as she went, stopping and bending to unlace her boots and take them off. She made sure he not only had a view of her denim-covered ass, but the sway of her naked breasts as she leaned over.
“We might be christening the floor,” Zane groaned, reaching out to run his hand over her ass and give it a pat.
She stood and began undoing her jeans. She took a step away and shoved them and her panties down her legs where she kicked them away. She glanced over her shoulder at him.