Reaper fought through the haze of pain, trying to focus on the ceiling above him. His normally sharp senses were cold and it was all he could do to keep his eyes open long enough to assess the situation.

Moonlight crept through the windows across the way, and he managed to turn his head to focus on the figure huddled on the floor beside him. The details of Caroline’s body came into sharp focus and he realized she must’ve fallen asleep. The darkness outside signaled it had been for more than a couple of hours.

“Caroline,” he rasped out, attempting to reach for her, but pain shot through his arm and it fell useless to the floor.

Her head shot up and she stared at him through bleary, reddened eyes. “You’re awake?”

“How long have I been out?”

“I don’t know, too long. I thought . . . It doesn’t matter. Thank God you’re awake.” She scrambled across the floor on her hands and knees until she was right beside him. She looked down at him. “Can you move?”

He shifted a single foot, then moved on to larger parts of his body. His legs he could handle, no problem, his left arm too, but his right arm was about as useful as a severed body part.

At least the bleeding had slowed down, now there was just a huge dark stain caked on his shoulder.

His body flushed hot, cold, and then hot again, sending painful chills racing across the skin. Infection was setting in. He had to get treatment now.

No matter how enhanced or strong he was, he was still susceptible to death.

“I tried to get you out of here, but I wasn’t strong enough.” Caroline’s broken voice sliced through his self-assessment. She had lifted her head from her knees and was staring straight ahead, tiny tremors working down her equally tiny frame. Captured in that cute pose, she looked even smaller and more vulnerable.

Reaper concentrated on getting his lips to move, but everything was tingling and his body was finding it hard to concentrate. “No way you could move me. I’m twice your size.”

“The men came.”

Reaper took a second to digest that intel. He’d left her alone in that situation. He’d bottomed out at the worst time possible. “Did they hurt you?” he managed to ask.

Another hard shudder worked down her body, and still she refused to meet his gaze. “No. I hid us from them.”

“Where? How?”

This time Caroline didn’t speak at all. She pointed straight ahead. Reaper’s gaze fell on the pile of bodies. “Clever girl.”

Caroline’s head jerked in his direction. “Clever? I was desperate. I couldn’t let them find you.”

“Or you,” Reaper growled.

She continued like he hadn’t spoken, “You passed out over there, on the wall next to them. Soldiers were trying to kick down the door. I probably injured your shoulder more when I shoved you underneath there, but I didn’t have another choice.”

Her resourcefulness and determination amazed him. He’d seen some pretty heavy shit in his days, but a human dump was still atrocious to him, which meant it had to be absolutely shocking to someone as delicate as Caroline.

But she hadn’t broken under the pressure. She’d sucked it up and saved his life. Reaper frowned; he didn’t like owing anyone anything. Especially her. He couldn’t afford to feel any loyalty toward her. As soon as he got her stateside, he would need to take her blood and find someone to make a new batch of serum.

Reaper hadn’t liked seeing her hooked up to all those IVs back at the lab, and he’d liked her obvious terror even less. And that was before he had owed her anything, much less his life.

But then another thought struck. Technically he’d saved her from the lab. She’d saved him while he was unconscious. They were even.

Satisfied with his conclusion, Reaper let himself relax on the ground as he tried to puzzle out what to do next. “We can’t stay in here. Darkness has fallen, so it’s time to make our move. I need med supplies. Pronto.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I shoved you into that pile of dead bodies. Doesn’t that bother you?”

He would’ve shrugged if he could have. Instead he planted his good hand on the ground and began the arduous task of trying to sit.

“You did what had to be done. Any soldier would’ve done the same thing. I would’ve done the same thing.”

Caroline stared at him with her mouth open and her eyes wide. Had she expected him to be pissed off that she’d used her brain instead of panicking? “Now, I need your assistance to get to my feet.”

Caroline stood so suddenly that a wave of dizziness swept over Reaper as he fought to keep up with her movement.

“How can you be so cavalier about that?” She gestured once more to the large lumpy tarp a few feet away. “There are children in there. Innocents.”

Well, it looked like she wasn’t going to help him to his feet. Not that she’d be able to support his weight anyway. He’d have to do it on his own. He rolled to his side, got up on one knee and lifted up on his elbow, locking it in position. The effort cost him precious energy and sent a rolling wave of pain to his wound. He gritted his teeth, fighting the sweet hurt of oblivion, and slowly worked both knees underneath him until he was in a semi-upright position. “And there’s nothing you can do about them now, Caroline. I suggest you forget you ever saw it.”

Compartmentalization. It was how he’d gotten through the heavy shit in the beginning. Now it just happened naturally. Dead bodies affected him as much as the change in the weather, not really at all. He used that skill now, taking his pain and shoving it into a box in the back of his mind as he fought to get to his feet. One thing at a time. Stand first, walk later.

“Forget it?” Her voice had taken on a shrill quality, like she was hyperventilating or something. Sure enough, when he looked at her, her chest was rising and falling way too fast, her blue eyes growing into saucers. Shit. If he didn’t distract her, shock might set in and then where would they be?

He was too weak to haul her out of there, and she was too small to do the same for him. As much as he hated relying on others, they needed each other if they were going to make it out of this situation.

She needed reassurance, and he had about as much experience soothing women as he did playing with dolls. But that’s exactly what Caroline was right now—the tough woman who’d shoved him into a pile of dead bodies had become a fragile china doll ready to shatter at any moment.

He didn’t know shit about her either. Except she was loyal enough not to leave him to die. Oh—she liked it when he held her hand. That had worked before. “Caroline, come here.”

She shuffled across the floor, her movements like wood. As soon as she got within touching distance, he used his good arm and grabbed her hand. That action didn’t seem to do much this time. She was still hovering on zombie mode. And the chills racking his body weren’t getting any better either.

Not knowing what else to do, he stroked her palm, then lengthened his path from the inside of her elbow all the way down to her fingertips.

Wow, her skin was so silky soft. Even her palms were smooth and not calloused. The sensation was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. This was something he could do forever, touching her.

“Don’t focus on people you can’t help,” he said. “Focus on us.”

The look she gave him made him feel invincible.

“Us?” she asked, breathlessly.

Damn, why couldn’t he stop staring at her mouth? For such a petite woman, she had incredibly lush lips. They practically begged for his kiss.

What would it be like to actually taste her? He couldn’t even wrap his mind around that possibility. She felt so good that the thought of possessing her mouth was beyond his comprehension, just a distant daydream. Still, his fingers found their way around her wrist and he began tugging her down to him.

Her beautiful face was now only inches from his. Her hot breath fanned across his skin. He didn’t want Caroline Cotter, but he needed her. He needed her as badly as he needed to get this bullet out of his shoulder, but the latter was so far in the back of his mind right now he could barely even remember the pain.

With one final tug, he pulled Caroline’s lips down to his and captured her mouth in a searing kiss, his lips pressed to hers until she opened for him and he took full possession.

Her sweet, honeyed taste filled his senses and his world narrowed. This was heaven. He never thought he’d get to experience it, but he’d found it here and now, in this hellhole. There was no way life could get better.

Caroline moaned and leaned into him, her soft breasts pressing against his chest. Reaper’s entire body hardened. He’d been wrong. This was so much better. His fingers itched to curl around her curves and he attempted to do just that, but the move sent a spear of burning agony into his shoulder. He tore his mouth from hers with a grunt and fell back onto his ass. Motherfucker. He’d completely forgotten where he was and how much danger they were in. She’d bewitched him or something. No, he didn’t believe in fake shit like that. It had to be the infection setting in and messing with his mind.

“Reaper. Reaper, are you okay?” Caroline fell to her knees beside him, her gaze searching his.

No, he sure as hell wasn’t okay. He’d just completely lost his mind. Caroline Cotter and the serum that could be made from her blood was the mission, nothing else. He didn’t have feelings for her. He did not have an awareness of her soft body. He refused to. “I think I’m hallucinating. Too much blood loss. Need to get out of here.” Before he did something else stupid like try to kiss her again. That scenario wouldn’t exactly mesh with his ultimate plans for her.

Had a great time making out with you, but I need to drain your blood to save my men.

Naked hurt flashed across her face, but he didn’t let himself be swayed. Crying or acting out wouldn’t change the outcome. The only thing about their situation he could change was whether or not he allowed the weakness to take control of his body again.

Caroline pressed a hand to his forehead. Her dirt- and blood-covered face paled considerably. “You’re burning up.”