Whitney sat on a tiny stool next to Caroline’s bed, holding her hand and not sure how she’d ended up here. After they’d left Cory’s house, Hicks had brought her straight down here and basically dumped her, requesting Reaper come with him, leaving Whitney alone with the sleeping stranger.

Whitney thought back to how her sister had read to Quantum while he’d been unconscious. “I know we haven’t met yet, so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Hicks’ girlfriend. Looks like me and you are going to get to be roomies.” She tried to interject some happiness in her voice but faltered. Talking to someone who didn’t talk back left her feeling strange, but if it helped bring Caroline back to her fiancée, then she would talk all night. “I’m Melissa’s sister; she’s the one who’s been taking care of you. Hicks helped me take care of a little problem that sprung up. I hear you saved Reaper’s life, too. Hard to imagine a man like that needing saving.” Whitney whispered conspiratorially, “he’s a pretty formidable guy.”

“Is it the scars?”

Whitney’s stomach jumped up into her throat, and she almost fell backward off the stool. Caroline opened her eyes, revealing the clearest blue color Whitney had ever seen.

“You’re awake. I need to get Melissa.”

“She’ll be in here soon enough. So, you’re scared of my husband?”

Whitney’s cheeks heated. It was one thing to think him terrifying, another thing altogether to tell his fiancée.

He had to be seven feet tall and battle-scarred all to hell. But that wasn’t even the scary part. It was his cold black eyes. They seemed soulless.

Except when he looked at Caroline.

Then they were filled with utter devotion.

“It’s all right, he has that effect on everyone, but he’s a big softy.

“If you say so,” Whitney said. A man like that might be soft around his fiancée, but he’d be hard as granite with everyone else.

“So, you and Hicks, huh?”

“Yeah, we’re together.” Whitney faltered, suddenly feeling like an outsider trying to step into a close-knit circle of friends. What if Caroline didn’t like her? The last thing she wanted to do was cause any drama. But then, Hicks was worth the fight.

“Good. Hicks is a good man. I think you’ll be what he needs to loosen up a little.” Caroline winked. “Plus, the more females we have here, the better. No offense, but I’ve missed girl talk, and your sister doesn’t have much free time.”

Whitney settled back onto the stool. “What you mean to say is my sister is like talking to a brick wall. Believe me, I know. She’s great with the research stuff but terrible at anything other than a book or a computer.”

Caroline’s hand suddenly covered her own. “Want me to give you the secret to Hicks?”

Whitney’s ears perked up. “Spill.”

The door opened and both women fell silent. Melissa, flanked by Reaper and Hicks entered the room. When Reaper saw Caroline was awake, the rest of them no longer existed and he made a beeline for the bed. Whitney stepped back as fast as she could. Reaper immediately filled her vacated seat and covered Caroline’s tiny hand with his.

Whitney went to Hicks, sliding her arm around his muscular waist in a way that felt as natural as breathing. “Everything okay?”

“It is now.” Hicks squeezed her close and Whitney snuggled in his arms, savoring his strength and support. She knew she should be afraid of jumping in so fast and of falling so hard, but no matter how she tried to will herself to be logical, she couldn’t. She’d never felt so protected and loved.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “And now that we’ve got some free time, I think it's time to get you better acquainted with my bed.”

An explosion of heat scorched across her core and she melted against him. “I think you’re right. I didn’t get to see nearly enough of it.”

Melissa stopped checking Caroline’s monitors and cleared her throat. “I got the lab results back from all the bloodwork.”

Reaper’s gaze flashed with emotion and he leaned over Caroline as if he could shield her. His entire existence centered on her.

Whitney studied Hicks, wondering if he looked at her the same way. As if sensing her, he glanced down and his dark blue eyes locked with hers. At that moment, the world fell away, leaving just her and Hicks. Tendrils of heat bloomed in her chest and spread down her body. He was looking at her the same way, like she was his everything.

Hicks feathered a light kiss across her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Reaper’s deep voice broke into their haze of passion. “What is it? What’s wrong? Was it a bad reaction to the serum?”

Melissa clutched her clipboard to her chest. “In a way. Caroline’s body is changing.”

“Why are you being so cryptic? Just tell us.” Reaper shot to his feet.

“Caroline is pregnant.”

Caroline gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Reaper collapsed onto the stool behind him, his flushed face draining of color. “How is that possible?”

Caroline recovered first. She carefully folded her hands together and laid them on her stomach. “Honey, does she really need to answer that question?”

Reaper blushed and Hicks chuckled. “I think he needs some reminding.”

Reaper shot them all a quelling stare and muttered one word. “Out.”

That was all the warning Whitney needed, she grabbed Hicks’ hand and drug him from the room, promising Caroline she’d be back to chat later. Once they’d made it through the lab and into the hallway, Hicks scooped her up into his arms. Whitney squealed in delight and wrapped herself around him, pressing a row of hot kisses from his shoulder up to his ear. Chill bumps trailed after her touch. “I’m ready to see that bed now.”

Hicks took the stairs two at a time and before she knew it, she was cradled in his embrace, surrounded by silk sheets, her back cushioned by the mattress of his king bed.

“You’re going to get to know my bed real, real good.” Hicks took her mouth in a fierce kiss and Whitney forgot everything else but the ecstasy of his embrace.