Mason pulled a wrapped breakfast sandwich out of the bag, ripped it open and took a bite. He and Sterling each downed a sandwich in silence. By the time they each reached for number two, Mason was ready to talk. “Walsh led the Arions straight to Holly. If they didn’t already know what she’s capable of, they’ll make a point of finding out now.”
“Which means there’s no question she’s in danger,” Sterling said and then took a long draw from his straw. “The question is, will they want her dead or alive?”
Balling up a paper wrapper Mason reached for another sandwich. “I’d say alive is their first choice but dead before they will let her help us.”
He felt his body tense just saying the words. The thought of losing Holly hurt him on some soul-deep level. He was beginning to wonder about his intense reaction to her. It went beyond physical. Mason opened his mouth to tell Sterling how he was feeling but quickly clamped his jaws back together.
He’d not been with a woman for a longtime. Maybe he was just plain in need of sex. All of his senses were more intense since the enhancements. He felt the bitterness of resentment. Enhancements he’d never known were taking place.
Immunizations given to an elite special ops team without them knowing what was taking place. Now, he and many were labeled super soldiers. With that came improved vision and hearing along with a keen sense of smell and taste. God only knew what else. It made sense that his sexual need would come with added potency.
Which would explain his over-the-top reaction to Holly. He ground his teeth. Except, other women didn’t impact him as she did. There was something different about her. About them together.
Sterling flicked a glance at Mason. “We’re going to have to take her into protective custody.”
Mason sighed. “Yeah, I know. This is really not how I wanted this to go down. She’s really against super soldiers and the whole war thing in general. I wanted time to make her understand.”
Sterling pulled out another sandwich. “Once she knows about the Arions, I have to believe she will see our position. It’s not like we’re creating war. We are simply defending our country from one that already exists.”
He laughed without humor. “You haven’t met Holly.”
Sterling didn’t say anything for a long moment, finishing off his sandwich in what appeared to be deep thought. “What is it with you and this woman?”
Mason crumpled up another wrapper and shook his head. “I wish I knew.” His voice was tense. “There’s some weird connection between us. I can’t even explain it.”
He didn’t say more. Wanted to, but didn’t.
“Does she feel it, too?”
“Yeah.” He saw no reason to lie to Sterling. “She does.”
His voice held understanding. “But she doesn’t know what you are.”
“And she’s not the kind of woman someone like me messes with.”
“She’s a scientist,” Sterling argued. “She might be the exact right kind of woman you need.”
“She deserves a normal guy who can offer her a family and stability. Hell, I don’t even know what kind of crazy things were done to me. She could be getting a monster for all I know.”
Sterling’s jaw clenched. “Yeah,” he said. “I feel the same way. Sometimes I wonder about the very government we’re fighting for.”
Mason looked at Sterling. “Don’t. Our country is about our people, not the power-hungry men who tricked us into this genetics nightmare.”
“Immunizations for new diseases, they said,” Sterling said in a low voice, anger coloring the words.
“We are what we are, man. It won’t change.” Mason said the words with confidence, no evidence of how close he was to choking on the words. “Make the best of it.” Easier said than done.
Bitterness replaced Sterling’s anger. “One more level of injections and we could have been Arions.”
“But we’re not,” Mason reminded him.
“No,” he said, “but you were right when you said we aren’t normal either.”
Mason cringed inwardly, cursing his own bad attitude. He’d allowed his negativity to rub off on Sterling. His role was one of leadership. He was a motivator. Or was supposed to be. There were immense reasons why he and his team had to stay focused and strong together.
Namely, the safety of the human race.
Who else but the super soldiers could battle the Arions?
“As much as I would love to turn back time, we can’t. Be thankful we aren’t normal. We’re the only hope humanity has.” His words were laced with conviction.
He was prepared to serve his country.
Sterling grimaced as if he didn’t hear. “Any chance this Holly woman can actually give us some semblance of normalcy?”
Pretending there was hope wouldn’t help Sterling deal with what he had become. “Nothing can do that, man. The best we can hope for from Holly, or anyone else, is help fighting the Arions. To understand their capabilities and weaknesses on all levels would be a great resource. She can be a great resource. We need her.”
Sterling met Mason’s gaze. “But you believe she won’t ever accept who you—correction, we—are?”
“You mean what we are?” He shook his head. “No way. A group of man-made soldiers. She has made her feelings quite clear about our kind.”
Sterling seemed to consider Mason’s response as his gaze shifted. His attention went to the lab. “I’m not overly comfortable with her safety today. There is no way we will know what is going on inside. Not when school starts.”
Mason’s expression held concern. “I agree and there is more than one entrance. After today, she can’t go back.” He considered.
“I’ll keep an eye on her while you go shower and freshen up,” Sterling offered.
Mason nodded. “I’d appreciate that. I doubt they will make a move in such a public place but who knows with the Arions.”
Sterling made a frustrated sound. “Exactly,” he agreed. “If they want her they won’t delay. They will act quickly.”
* * * * *
Holly sat at her desk, grading tests.
Glancing at the clock hanging above her desk, she grimaced. She’d been at work two hours. Not fifteen minutes had gone by without thoughts of Mason. Squeezing her eyes shut, she willed him out of her head. After several long seconds, she gave up. It was a useless endeavor. She hadn’t slept and now even work wouldn’t clear her mind.
She had been shocked at his abrupt departure. And as misguided as it was, she had held onto hope that he would return. Several hours later, she accepted the truth.
He wasn’t coming back.
At that point, she had paced the floor, calling him mean names. It hadn’t solved anything but it had at least given her a direction to funnel her anger…and her sexual tension.
Hours later, in her lonely bed, she had stared into the darkness, unable to sleep. At four in the morning, she had woken abruptly.
She had dreamed he was there. Touching her, kissing her. Naked, his body entwined with hers. It had taken long moments for her to decipher dream from reality.
She had been aroused, her body pulsing with need.
So real were the images…his mouth on her nipple, his tongue teasing, his teeth nipping. Breathing hard, she had slowly moved to a sitting position, her eyes searching the room. As if he was there.
In her room. Waiting for her.
But it had been nothing more than a trick of her mind.
Pushing her chair away from her desk, Holly picked up her coffee cup with the intention of refilling her cup. In the two hours since she had arrived she had almost finished off a pot. Before she could take a step, Roger walked through the doorway looking as cranky as he had the night before.
“You know what?” she said to him, motioning with her finger toward the door. “If you are as foul as you look, you might as well turn around and go back home. I’m not in the mood.”
Holly glared at him a moment and then marched toward the kitchen,
ignoring his startled expression. She poured the remainder of the coffee into her cup and stood debating about making another pot.
“What was that all about?” Roger spoke from behind her.
Holly turned to face him. “I should ask you the same about last night.”
His tone held nastiness. “I don’t like that guy.” He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe.
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t even know him.”
“Neither do you,” Roger countered.
Her eyes narrowed. “How would you know?”
“You’ve never brought him around before. In fact, you’ve never even mentioned his name. You just met the guy, yet you were necking with him—like some…some school kid—right here in the middle of the lab!”
Holly couldn’t believe her ears. He had some nerve. Irritation turned to outright anger. “I don’t share every little detail of my life with you, Roger. And I was not necking like some school kid!”
She grabbed her coffee cup roughly enough to slush coffee on her hand. “Ouch!” She looked up at Roger and scowled. “Look what you made me do.”
She looked down at her hand, a bit shocked by the heat, before sitting her cup on the counter. Turning to the sink she ran cold water over her skin where the sting was growing.
Roger spoke to her back, regret etching his tone. “I don’t want to fight with you, Holly.”
Holly let her head drop forward a moment, feeling the strain of emotions so unfamiliar. Since losing her parents, she had remained relatively alone. Suddenly, Mason, and now Roger, were making demands on her, each in their own way, but both overwhelming in nature.
She turned off the water, grabbing the hand towel lying by the sink. Facing him, she said, “I don’t understand why you’re so angry at me.”
Roger took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers. When he returned them to his face, he said, “I’m not used to seeing you with other men.”
Holly was a bit stunned by his statement. Other men? There had never even been a hint of more than friendship between them.
“Other, meaning what, Roger?” She frowned in confusion. “I’m not sure I quite get what you’re saying here.”
“I guess I always thought…” his voice trailed off.
“Thought what?” she encouraged, hoping to put resolution to at least one of her newfound man troubles. As awkward as this was, it was better dealt with now than later.
He opened his mouth to speak, shut it again and then finally said, “I thought—”
“Doc, are you here?”
Instantly, Holly recognized Tami Hendrix’s sweet voice. A smile touched Holly’s lips at the sound of the nickname given to her by several of the students.
“In here,” Holly called, knowing of course Tami was there to feed the animals. She had recently decided to become a veterinarian and liked to help Holly with her mini zoo in the back of her lab.
Tami stepped into the doorway, next to Roger, her curly black hair piled on top of her head with a clip. “I was going to feed the animals but the door was locked.”
Roger didn’t look at her, his eyes remaining fixed on Holly. “I’ll unlock it.” But didn’t move for a long moment.
When he turned, saying nothing, and walked away, Tami frowned. “What’s his deal?”
“If you figure it out, please let me know,” Holly replied with frustration.
Tami’s brow inched upward but she didn’t comment, choosing to follow in Roger’s footsteps.
Holly threw the towel on the counter and marched toward her desk. Picking up her work and carefully organizing it in her briefcase, she decided to head to her first class early. The more she thought about what Roger had almost said, the more bothered she became.
She wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with him again just yet.
* * * * *
Holly carried her lunch with her as she stepped outside the lab. Moving briskly toward the back of the building, she savored the feel of the soft breeze as it lifted her hair off her neck. Somehow, being outside made her feel less trapped and better able to think.
As much as she hated to admit it, she was also avoiding Roger. It wasn’t like her to sidestep issues. She was usually direct. Right now, though, she simply felt overwhelmed and confused. Roger was a friend and she feared handling things in the wrong manner would destroy their relationship.
Choosing a bench amply covered by a large shade tree and enough off the beaten path to give her privacy, she sat down with a sigh. Her eyes drifted shut, feeling heavy from strain and stress.
And then she felt it. She wasn’t alone.
Mason.
How she knew he was there with her eyes shut, she didn’t know. But she did. Without question. Lashes lifting, she found him sitting beside her.
Just as she knew he would be.
She blinked. How had she known it was him? “Okay, this is too weird. I knew you were there before I opened my eyes.”
“People sense others,” he responded, his expression unreadable.
She shook her head adamantly, reeling with the oddity of her feelings. “No. I knew it was you.”
“I would know your presence as well. It’s simply how we respond to one another.” He drifted into silence, studying her as if he was trying to understand what was between them. “When I’m with you, I forget reason.”
She didn’t understand what he meant. “I’m not sure what you mean but it doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“It’s simply a fact.” He reached out and traced her jaw line with his index finger. She felt the instant sizzle so familiar from his touch. “You’re very beautiful.”
A shiver of awareness raced down her spine. She didn’t want to react to him. It was mortifying the way he had left her the night before. “Don’t,” she said as her lashes fluttered to her cheeks.
Yet she couldn’t push his hand away.
Without warning, he was suddenly closer, his warmth and masculinity sneaking under her protective shell. His lips brushed hers, featherlight, but oh-so-sensual.
Her lips quivered against his. There was no way to fight what she felt. He could have his way with her here, now, in the school courtyard, and she didn’t think she could stop him.
Moments later, he gave her a heavy-lidded stare. She forced a breath, trying to calm her herself, to smash the heat building.
It didn’t work.
But she needed answers. To understand why he acted as if their attraction was a crime. “Why did you leave last night?” She had to know. Clearly he wanted her as much as she did him.
Abruptly, he pulled away from her, his black eyes seeming to flash with something intense and almost dangerous. She wasn’t afraid of him.
But she was angry. And even that confused her. She was mad at him, but still wanted him. And she trusted him when perhaps she should fear him.
In fact, deep inside, she trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone. There was no doubt in her mind—he could be dangerous if crossed. Just not to her. It should have bothered her—the fact she knew that he could kill if need be—but it didn’t.
He ran out on you last night, she reminded herself. Falling back into his arms was foolish. She didn’t like being foolish.
Mason sighed, weariness to the sound. “We need to talk. There are things you should know.”
Her brows dipped together. “You know what?” she asked, but didn’t want or expect an answer. “I don’t want to talk to you, Mason.”
“We have to talk,” he said quietly.
She laughed without humor. “I don’t have to do anything.”
“Tonight,” he said. “We’ll talk. I’ll come to your place.”
“No,” she said brusquely, “you won’t.”
He looked at her, his eyes somehow making her feel as if she couldn’t look away. “This is bigger than you and me, Holly. I’ll explain tonight.”
Without warning, he stood up. He walked away with brisk strides. Sh
e stared after him, stunned at his abrupt departure. Just as she had been the night before.
* * * * *
Roger sat at his desk, staring down at his lunch. Holly was avoiding him. He knew it with certainty. She always ate her lunch in the lab.
But not today.
He knew she had guessed what he had almost confessed. Loving her for so long, without acting on it, had been difficult. Seeing her with that Mason person had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to deal with.
Underground Guardians BOX SET: Includes 'Protector' and 'Healer' Page 7