Ghostwalker 06 - Predatory Game

smiled at him. His heart actually jumped in his chest. The sight of her, sprawled out naked beside him, his scent mingling with hers, expression just a little dazed, made him a little light-headed.
    “Marry me.”

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    Beside him, she gasped. Stiffened.
    Jess sat up. “Marry me, Saber. I want you in my life forever.”
    “You can’t ask me to marry you, Jesse. Good grief, what are you thinking?” She was genuinely horrified and it showed on her face.
    “I just did.”
    “Well, no.Of course no.” She sat up too, pulling the sheet around her.
    “Why?” He should have been hurt and maybe that would come later, but she was so distressed and shocked he felt the need to comfort her.
    “Why?” she repeated. She pushed the heel of her hand against her eyes and shook her head before looking at him, her expression saying he was a moron. “A million reasons, but first and foremost, Jesse, you have parents.”
    There was a small silence while he struggled not to laugh. “I don’t understand your logic here, baby.”
    “You understand my logic very well, Jesse. I can barely manage when Patsy comes to the house. She’s wonderful, but she’s like the real thing.”
    Now his mouth did twitch. He covered it with his hand and shook his head, more confused than ever.
    “Do you really think you’re making sense? Because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Patsy. Your parents. Family, Jesse.” She thumped the pillow hard. “Are you crazy? I’m really upset that you would even consider marriage with me.”
    “Why? Do you think you’re going to get into an argument with my father about politics or something and decide to give him a heart attack at the dinner table? I can’t see that happening, Saber. They can drive me crazy, but I’ve never wanted to kill them, not even Patsy when she’s interfering.”
    Saber covered her face with her hands. “You have to stop. You’re pushing me too fast. We just…you just…I can barely keep up with what’s happening between us and you want more from me.” She clutched at the sheet again and peered at him, distress on her face.
    “Marriage is supposed to be a good thing, Saber.”
    “It’s not. It’s absurd.”
    Jess leaned close to her. “You aren’t really upset over this, are you?” Silence met his question. He pulled her into his arms. “Is it such a bad thing that I’m in love with you? Don’t you want to be with me?”
    She rocked back and forth, shaking her head.
    “Is it scary to think of spending your life with me? Is it because I’m in a wheelchair?”
    She glared at him, sliding off the bed, still holding the sheet around her in a show of modesty. “No. Not at all. I am insulted you would even think that—”

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    “Because I think I’ve figured out the problem with the bionics. We can fix them. You could fix them.”
    She stopped, her jaw dropping, mouth open in shocked disbelief. “What? Why would you think for one minute that I could fix the bionics?” She felt absolutely vulnerable—naked, unable to talk when she didn’t have her clothes. On the edge of desperation, she looked around her. “I may have read the file Whitney left out, but I’m not a doctor and I don’t understand half of what was in it.” She looked exasperated. “I can’t find my clothes.”
    “Saber, look at me.”
    “I have to go to work.”
    “In the report Whitney mentioned something about electricity being used for regeneration, did he?”
    She spun around, her face going white. “I know you’re not talking about that ridiculous article he cited.
    Biologists manipulating the electrical fields in tissues to regenerate amputated tails of tadpoles at a stage when they can’t regenerate?Not that. Because there’s a huge difference between a tadpole and a human being.”
    “What else did the article say?”
    She swirled the sheet around her, holding it close. “It doesn’t matter. I know where this is leading and I’m not going to do it.”
    The discussion wasn’t going well, Jess decided. She was tense, her fingers twisting together, knuckles turning white as she gripped the sheet. She had a stubborn look on her face. Her mouth was set firm and her chin high.
    “Just tell me what else it said.”
    “There was something about electrical fields helping to, and I’m quoting here,