Page 66 of Claimed By the Guardian

“Just sleep, Cecilia,” he said as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “We’ll figure out the rest in the morning.”

“Okay,” she agreed, and she shut her eyes. She let her mind spin away until she couldn’t hear it anymore. She was drifting on the sweetness of his breath, of his heartbeat, and just being with him right here, right n?—

Her phone rang with an annoying chime. It was the standard iPhone ring, and yet it had never bothered her more. She wanted to ignore it. Hell, she desperately wanted to throw the damn thing out the window, but she knew that was irresponsible. What if it was Dennis calling with a breakthrough? What if it was another patient like Brittany? One who would survive but only if she and Hank were there to help?

She jerked herself upright and thumped angrily across the room. Her phone was at the bottom of her tote, so she had to pull out her tablet and computer before she could read the phone’s screen. And when she did, she let out a blistering curse.

Hank was by her in a second, his body taut, his expression fierce. “What is it?”

“My boyfriend,” she spat. Then she thumbed on the phone.

CHAPTER 19

Hank felt his entire body strain with violence. His bear wanted to kill the rival now. His mind strained to hold the animal back. Of course, she had a boyfriend. She’d told him so.

Meanwhile, she brought the phone to her ear. He wanted to snatch it away and roar into the phone. He controlled himself only by clenching his hands into fists and grabbing onto a Zen mantra in his mind.

The greatest worth is self-mastery. The greatest worth is self-mastery.

He would not kill her boyfriend. But he would listen in to her conversation without apology. Fortunately, his ears were good enough to hear it all.

“Hello, Yu. I’m so sorry?—”

“You got caught up in your work. So what else is new? Hey, I sent over an email. I’ve got a theory of what the Detroit Flu does to the neural system as it pairs with the endocrine?—”

“Yes, I saw.” Her voice was impatient, and she rolled her eyes as she spoke. “It’s an interesting thought, but I haven’t got the resources to investigate it. Listen, Yu?—”

“I know, I know,” he said still laughing. “I thought we could work on it when you get back. Before the next outbreak?—”

She snorted. “There’s always an outbreak, but Yu?—”

“Not if you put in for a transfer. Not if we get a grant, and with my credentials, we could get a big one?—”

“Yu, stop!”

He did. A long pause as she took a breath.

“Look, I’m sorry to do this over the phone, but we’re over. Please understand that I think you’re an incredible guy, but we’re just not compatible. I’m so sorry.”

Silence again, and then rustling as the man shifted his grip on the phone. “Cecilia? What are you talking about?”

“Look, I could give you reasons and explanations, but they won’t help. You know there’s never been any real passion between us. You forget me as often as I forget you. I can’t even remember the last time we kissed.”

“What?” He didn’t sound angry, just really confused. “Cecilia, when was the last time you slept?”

“About two seconds ago. I was asleep when you called.”

“So this is a dream? Or because of a dream? You know you don’t think clearly on a case. And this Flu is a nasty one. You’ve been going nonstop?—”

“Do you remember our last kiss? Have we ever held hands?” She looked down at where her fingers were entwined with his.

Yu’s answer came out slow. “We’re intellectuals. We don’t need that kind of display.”

“Well,” she said with a smile, “I guess I’m not as intellectual as we thought. I’m sorry Yu, but we’re done. Good-bye.”

She thumbed off her phone and set it down. Then she looked straight into Hank’s eyes, touching his face with a slow caress that he felt in every cell in his body. “I never put it together before now. With Yu, it’s just…thinking. With you, I feel so much. More than I ever thought possible.”

He felt his center warm at that. She was coming around to him. Or maybe he was starting to believe she could love him. But it wasn’t enough. “We need to get to know each other better.”