After a few hours of pacing at the hospital and drinking coffee, which only made her more edgy, she was told the first test was done. No results yet, but they could see the first lady.
Abigail’s heart stuttered when she saw her mother, looking so pale and worn in the hospital bed. Her father sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.
He loved her so much. Abigail could see it in his eyes.
“We’ll leave you alone a minute.” She dragged her sister into the hall.
Madison frowned at her. “Why’d you do that?”
“I didn’t want to cry in front of Mom.” Tears stung her eyes. “She and Dad still love each other.”
“Well, duh.”
Abigail sniffed. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Yeah.” Madison gave her a curious look. “When did you turn into such a mushy romantic?”
Abigail sighed and thought about Gregori holding her in his arms while she slept.
“Oh my God,” Madison whispered, her eyes growing wide. “You’re in love!”
Abigail started to object, then reconsidered. “You’re not going to tell, are you? Dad might refuse to let me go on the trip, and—”
“I won’t say anything.” Madison grinned. “Has he tried to bite you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Oh.” Madison looked disappointed. “I’d let a vampire bite me.”
Abigail smiled. “I’m going to go the lab for a few hours. This sitting around being useless doesn’t work for me.”
“You’re lucky,” Madison said with a wry look. “It works for me.”
An hour later, Abigail was in her lab, printing out photos of the three plants they would search for in Yunnan. The one that looked most promising was in the eastern part of the province. It went by a name roughly translated as the Demon Herb. Ominous-sounding, but it was rumored to have a powerful effect on a person’s ability to heal.
As the sun set, her thoughts returned to Gregori. Where had he slept? Was he getting up now? Was he thinking about her?
She turned on the desk lamp, then closed the blinds on the window. Back at her desk, she opened the clear plastic container she’d bought downstairs in the commissary. She took a bite of the turkey sandwich. Tasted like every other sandwich she’d bought at the commissary. She opened her Diet Coke and took a drink.
“Good evening, sweetheart.”
She choked and spewed soda onto her lab coat. “Good Lord.” She grabbed a napkin to wipe her face and coat. “You should give me a warning when you’re about to come.”
“Are you referring to sex?” Gregori asked, his eyes twinkling. “I’ll remember to do that.”
With a smile, she shook her head. “I missed you when I woke up alone.” She strode to the door to make sure it was locked.
“I woke up alone, too. It was very sad.” He gave her a droopy puppy-dog look.
She was so tempted to kiss him. “It was a dreary day. My mom went to the hospital to have some tests done.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She nodded. “I don’t like feeling useless. I’ll be glad when our trip gets under way.”
“The guys reported in. They’ve already set up one base. I think we should start teleporting west tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” Her heart raced. It was actually happening. She was going to travel to China. With no Black Suits.
Freedom. She pressed a hand against her chest. “It’s been years since I went anywhere without a Secret Service agent following me.” Her lab coat was sticky, so she took it off and draped it over the back of her chair.
Gregori yanked his T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.
Her mouth dropped open. “What are you doing?” Her gaze drifted to his bare chest.
“I thought we were undressing.”
“I just took off the coat because it was stained.” Her mouth grew dry. What a chest. Broad, muscular, well-defined abs. She grabbed her soda and drank some more.
“There’s a stain on your T-shirt, too.”
She glanced down at herself, and sure enough, she’d spewed cola on her shirt, too. She set her drink down. If she had the nerve, she’d take off her shirt, too. She looked up to find Gregori watching her intently. His eyes began to darken.
Goose bumps shimmered down her arms. A fluttering sensation started in her belly, then eased down to her womb, where it settled, growing hotter and more tense with desire.
“I want you,” he whispered. He held out his hand.
Her heart pounding, she walked toward him, then placed her hand on his.
He gripped her hand and retreated toward the black-topped lab table. When he grasped her around the waist and lifted her, she grabbed on to his shoulders.