"Is this seriously what we have to go through every time we go in or out of this place? You're really moving up in the world, Mom. At least the protesters at Berkeley knew how to spell."

Randi resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her 17-year old daughter's snarky tone. Lilah had a point. Outside their two-year old strawberry-red Mazda6, the crowds around Homeland had dwindled only slightly from the record breaking heat. The one remaining seemed even more rabid than usual. Pressed against Randi's window was a puke-green sign with thick black letters stretching across it, "The Devil Set his Demons Lose! Untill We Send them Back to Hell, WE are all DOMED."

She turned away from the glass. "Do you think the devil loses his demons as often as I lose my glasses?"

A snort from the backseat. Twelve-year old John looked up from his iPad mini with a grin. "Good one, Mom. But I kinda doubt it."

Lilah sniffed, tossing her shiny honey-colored waves over one shoulder. Her eyes were that perfect shade of "I-hate-my-mother" blue. She was a beautiful girl, but right now she looked positively murderous. "I hope you know you're ruining my life!"

Randi sighed and inched the Mazda closer to the gates, running a hand through her own super short, jet-black pixie cut. She'd heard that refrain a hundred times in the last month. She was sure she would hear it a few hundred more in the next few weeks. Accepting Justice North's offer and moving her small clan to Homeland was not the hardest decision Dr. Miranda Grant had ever made, but it was certainly in her top three.

An egg splattered over her windshield, making her jump. Sckly yellow yolk oozed down the glass while all around them the crowd grew louder.

Hmm, maybe the top two.

Just when she was starting to go from tense to panicked, her cell rang. Keeping one hand on the wheel she reached over and turned it on.

"Dr. Grant?" The terse voice asked before she could say a word.

"Speaking."

"This is Tiger North. The situation at the front gates is getting out of control."

"You think." Lilah muttered, but looked away at Randi's glare.

"We're going to hose them down. Be ready and gun it when the crowd clears, got me?"

"I got it."

The NSO's head of security hung up. Randi gave her daughter another warning look.

"What?"

"Just behave yourself, Lilah Jean. Please. It is important we make this—"

"Whoa!" From the backseat came John's voice, laced with both awe and a litle fear. Randi's eyes followed her son's gaze, her jaw fell open. A huge stream of water blasted a path through the human barrier in front of them. The guy with the devil sign was knocked sideways, slipping and rolling in the mud that immediately formed.

Randi punched the gas as soon as the road emptied of protesters, grateful the Mazda had new tires as they zipped handily into the slippery containment area, the gates closing behind them.

"Your house is all ready, Dr. Grant. For you and your young." Snow's strange eyes tracked curiously over Lilah and John as he escorted them from the security area. Randi supposed that was to be expected. How many human children could the New Species have been around, if any? Of course, now they may be able to have their own offspring someday, she thought with a thrill of excitement. If she could help them.

That was why she was here. Part of the reason, anyway. Justice North wanted her to map the Species genomes. He'd hinted that along with the massive gene sequencing project, he wanted her input on their infertility problem. Randi couldn't wait to get started. She'd already seen her lab, built to her specifications over the last six months. It was just gorgeous and sparkly and new.

"Jeez, earth to Mom." Lilah groaned, just intimidated enough by the big white-haired New Species to keep her voice low. "How can you be a genius and such a space cadet?"

Snow was holding open the outside door Randi had been staring at for the past five minutes. He cocked his head, frowning at Lilah, but Randi just shook her head at him.

"Don't try and understand teenage humans. You'll only break your brain. Just a friendly warning."

He gave her a vague smile. "Dr. Grant, I don't wish to be rude, but you sound ...odd? What is wrong with your voice?"

John laughed. "You mean her accent? Mum's British—"

"I've told you a hundred times, the proper term is English, John David. I haven't lived in England for years, but I'm afraid the accent is permanent, Snow. I hope it doesn't make it difficult for you to understand me."

"No. It's …nice." He cocked his head at her again. "I like it. Flame will escort you to your new home now." He indicated a red-headed Species with a friendly grin standing in front of a golf cart outside.

It was piled high and crammed with the first of their luggage, looking like the Grinch's sleigh after he robbed Whoville—mostly thanks to Lilah. The rest of their things were being brought in tomorrow. There had been some sort of mix up with their house over the last week, but Justice had assured her it was all sorted now.

She got in as the tall Species introduced himself, then folded his own long frame into the cart. She raised an eyebrow. Her feet didn't even touch what passed for the floorboards. Even after several months of being introduced to different New Species, their sheer size never failed to make Randi goggle a bit.

She was on the—very—curvy side, and about five feet nothing. Justice had laughed when she'd joked about needing a step stool to take samples from his people, but she'd kind of been serious. She hadn't meet one yet who wasn't ridiculously huge.

Less than ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of a large two-story grey house with white shutters. It was very pretty, but Randi frowned in confusion, looking across the street.

"Are you sure this is it? Justice said it was going to be the brown one."

Flame checked a piece of paper he pulled from his shirt pocket. "This is it, Doc. You want to go on in and look around while I get your bags? The young can help."

John made himself useful at once, going around to tackle the heap of bags. Lilah scowled, but reached for her duffel instantly at one raised eyebrow from the big, red-headed male.

Randi hid a smile and held out her hand for the keys.

When he dropped them into her palm, Randi barely resisted the urge to run inside like a kid racing to the tree of Christmas morning, instead of a forty-year-old mother of two with a Phd in molecular biology.

Once she was inside, with the door safely shut behind her, Randi jumped up and down a couple of times and squealed before racing up the stairs. She'd always loved their tiny, cramped condo, but this …this was heaven. Lots of space and light and …

Was that steam? The house was cool and pleasent after the outside heat, but that was definitely steam.

She could hear water running. What the bloody hell?

She turned down the hall to the immediate right of the stairs. The bathroom door at the end was thrown wide open, steam billowing out in grayish-white clouds. Shit. They were at the wrong house. She knew it.

Better go tell Flame there'd been a mix—

A loud growl had her stopping in mid-turn, goosebumps cascading down the backs of her arms.

"Who the fuck is in my house?" The voice was rough and frighteningly furious. Randi darted toward the stairs.

Before she had taken two steps, an enormous shape bounded over her head. A New Species landed in front of her, blocking the wide staircase as thoroughly as a solid wall. He was naked. And wet.

And damn if he didn't look really, really good that way.

Dear god.

She lost her balance, toppling right at him. He caught her easily, setting her back on her feet at the top of the staircase as if she weighed as much as a dandelion clock.

"You're naked. And wet." Her brain couldn't seem to get past that. "And naked." Randi felt the need to point that out one more time.

Probably because she'd never seen a man look as naked as this one.

He lifted his eyebrows, thick straight ones over intense amber eyes. The color was simply gorgeous, but eerily not human. He straightened, looking her over, seemingly oblivious to the fact he was bare-assed.

"Yes, I am. Want to wash my back?"

"Whaa-at?"

"You heard me."

Randi didn't reply. She was fixated on a water drop that was trying its best to run down his sculpted chest. It kept getting diverted by muscle. Lots and lots of muscle. He was all ridges and hard planes covered by the most delicious looking skin she'd ever seen. A rich caramel with just a hint of cream. The droplet made its across his right pec, coming within an inch of one flat, dark nipple before making a dive for chiseled abs. One, two, three, four...

Oh, dear god. He had an eight-pack.

The naughty drop hovered on one side of the deep V of his lower stomach. Right above the thick cock that hung between his massive thighs.

Her eyes widened.

Randi made a sound at the back of her throat, somewhere between a whine and a pant. It has been far too long since I've had sex, she thought idly, unable to take her eyes off him.

There was another growl, even louder than the last one, but not nearly as scary. It was low, rolling rumble that headed straight between her legs. She gulped, one hand reaching blindly for the railing as she started to sway.

To Randi's shock, he fisted his length in one hand. Giving himself one long, completely unabashed stroke from root to tip before leaning closer. It was the sexiest damn thing she'd ever seen. Her knees threatened to buckle. The heat coming off of him seemed to reach for her, all damp and steamy. He smelled amazing. Whatever body wash he was using, she'd happily drown in it. Something faintly citrusy and spicy and just—

His cock was swelling. The tip fattening, turning a deep purplish-red as his length lifted and hardened. Her throat went dry while a liquid heat stole between her thighs. Randi forced her gaze back to his face, feeling dazed.

He was staring down at her, even while standing at least three steps below her. His face was starkly handsome, with this chiseled aspect that called to mind a Native American heritage. Blended with that New Species-ness, it lent him a even wilder, untamed look. His nostrils flared.

"You want me." His voice was rough. Randi shivered at both his tone and his obvious meaning.

"No," she shook her head. Liar, liar. Pants definitely on fire. "I didn't mean to stare, but you're so naked—"

"And wet." He smiled and Randi's racing heart took a swan dive into her stomach. "You said that already. But you are, too."

"What? I'm not naked."

He leaned in closer. Randi bit her lip to hold back a whimper.

"No," his warm lips brushed her cheek, "but you are wet."

God in heaven. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think …and his mouth—that incredibly irresistible mouth—was right there. He turned his head so that their lips touched—

"Mom! Where …"

Randi yanked back, nearly falling again. "Shit! My kids are on the porch. Get back in that bathroom! Now, naked man!" she screeched it at him, grabbing one huge slippery arm with both her hands and trying to tug him up the stairs. He blinked, not budging an inch, even when she dug her heels in the carpet and threw her whole weight into the task.

"Kids? Wait, you're the new doctor... Dr. Grant. The geneticist Justice …"

"Yes, yes," she cut him off frantically. "That's me. Randi bloody Grant, now could you please move that beautiful arse?" With one last tug, Randi tried desperately to haul him forward just as her heels shot out from under her with terrific force, finally unbalancing the big Species.

Randi watched helplessly, her mouth opening in shock, as upwards of 200 pounds of naked, wet and very hard male fell towards her. Accompanied by the sound of the front door opening.

Oh dear god in fucking heaven.