Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(105)

Candace planned to use her as bait. Draw you to her. She would have found a way to make Sherridan cave, like threatening to kill Lexis in front of her. That was the disaster Cody was hoping to avoid. He couldn't call us because Candace was paranoid and wouldn't let him out of her sight. She had him monitored 24/7."

Goose bumps broke out over my skin. His touch...so warm, so gentle. "I want filters," I said. No way I'd make my best friend remain silent in my presence for the rest of her life.

"I'm sure that can be arranged," Rome said.

Sherridan waved in a bid to gain my attention. When our gazes met, she mouthed, I'm sorry.

"It happens to the best of us," I said. I held out my arms. "Look at me." A quiet, whispery bark of a laugh escaped her. But it was enough to make my heart pound and my skin tingle. Sweet Jesus, she was beautiful. Enough to -  Get hold of yourself, Belle.

"Knock, knock," Cody said. "Can I come in?"

Immediately Sherridan rolled to her side, facing me but giving Cody her back. Cody watched her, his hands fisting at his sides. There was a gleam of murder in his eyes, not that any other part of his expression betrayed it. His smile remained firmly in place.

Something had happened between them. I'd stake my life on it.

"Looks like the gang's all here," I said. I was just happy John hadn't arrived demanding blood. With Reese jailed, he would have had to take it the old-fashioned way, but still. I'd been through enough.

"The nurse told me everyone was awake. I just wanted to check on you guys." Though he spoke to all of us, his gaze kept returning to Sherridan. I remembered the way he'd held her when she'd exited her cage. Remembered how he'd caressed her back and held on as though she were...necessary.

Sherridan paled, opened her mouth to say something.

"We're good," I rushed out, cutting her off. "Right?" I realized I'd asked about the men, but never about my girls, even though they'd been right in front of me the entire time. Or maybe because they had.

Lexis gave a brief nod, and Elaine said, "Better than ever." They did look good, as healthy as Sherridan.

"What happened to Desert Slut?" I asked. "Other than the fact that she likes to sleep with agents."

"Cody slept with her? Go, Cody!" Tanner laughed.

"I'm not talking about Cody." I stuck my tongue out at him. "But anyway, you don't get to talk. You came in here and ignored me, didn't hug me or even ask how I was doing." He flipped me off behind his back, and I was the one to laugh. That was my sweet Tanner, back to his old self completely.

"Be nice," Elaine told him.

"Anything for you, my little tampon."

Both of them chuckled, and I saw Lexis force her attention to her hands, as if they were the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen. Tanner and Elaine really did make a cute couple. I just hoped they found a way to touch each other. Surgery, maybe. Or, ugh, hopefully another experiment wouldn't be necessary.

"Desert Gal," Rome prompted, drawing my attention. "You were curious about what happened to her." Oh, yeah. "Dead?" There was a mixture of hope and dread in my voice.

He shook his head. "Alive and in lockup. John's going to do some tests, have someone interrogate her, find out how she's able to touch other people without draining them and use the information he gains to help Elaine."

"Good. That's good." A part of me still pitied her, but I was glad her reign of terror was over - and that she might do someone else some good. Even unwillingly.

Rome squeezed my wrist. "You did good, Wonder Girl. You did real good. I'm proud of you." My chin trembled, the depth of my emotion seemingly endless. What a wonderfully sweet thing to say.

After all, I had hurt him, put myself in danger, two things he would have ranted and raved about only a few weeks before. "I don't think the battle ended with Desert Gal, though. Dr. Roberts is her dad, you know? He made her what she is, gave her those powers. He experiments on people without their permission."

"Yes." Our gazes were locked and for a little while, only a little while, the rest of the world faded away.

"Once I thought he was fine out there," Rome added, "roaming around. I thought it was better to keep such a mastermind out of the wrong hands. Any hands, really. But he's a danger."

"What if he's experimenting on an innocent right now?"

"Any idea where he is?"

"One. The one Candace gave us."

My stomach twisted, because I knew what he meant. The lead was me. PSI thought Roberts would come after me, try to find out why his formula had worked on me and no one else.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Rome said. "You know that, I hope." Would he feel the same way after my three dates with Jean-Luc? "I want to learn self-defense. And dirty street-fighting."

He nodded, a proud glint filling his eyes. Proud of me? Again? "Soon as the doctor signs your release, we'll head to the gym."

I shivered - in anticipation this time - because I suspected there would be some heavy petting involved.

However much our future relationship remained up in the air, we were attracted to each other and when we were in close proximity, alone, wrestling, hands were going to roam, legs were going to intertwine.