"Sass, dial Gene. Voice activation only."
The mechanical voice was even more irritating than usual. "You missed four calls, Ingrid. The first one was from..."
"I don't fucking care. Call Gene."
"There's no need to be rude."
"I can get a hammer, and I know how to use it."
"Fine."
She put the H-tab on speaker, and Gene's smooth, rich voice filled the room. "Hello, darlin'. Enjoying yourself?"
"Oh yeah, very much. How're you feeling? How's your energy?"
"I'll be fine for the show."
"You're sure?"
"Positive. You two relax and have fun. Tell Mack that Alan has everything under control."
"Thank you, kind sir."
"My pleasure, Miss Ingrid. See you later."
As she'd been talking, Mack had stood frozen by the counter not even looking in her direction. He was gathering in his sails for the storm to come, certain that what he had to say might end their relationship once and for all. When she told Sass to go into sleep mode, he turned.
"What's wrong? You look like someone stole your shuttle and wrecked it.” Ingrid’s expression was wary.
"We need to talk." He collapsed into a chair at the table, but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. Shit.
"Are you feeling okay?” She reached for his hand, but he didn’t offer his.
He took a breath. "Are you and Gene…are you going to still...?" Mack swallowed, looking up so he could read her expression. He already knew the answer to his question and dreaded hearing it. "Will you and Gene still be rebooting each other?”
Ingrid’s eyebrows shot up. "What are you asking? He's my partner ingénue, and we have an arrangement. You know that. I told you, we don’t need to have sex, but he still needs me.” Mack couldn’t respond, so she continued, “You heard him. He says he's okay for the show tomorrow, but after the show..."
Mack stood and walked out of the room, grumbling to himself as he headed to the shower. He needed space and that would at least give him a few minutes of privacy. I'm such a fucking idiot.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Leaning her cheek and her palm against the outside of the bathroom door, Ingrid listened to Mack in the shower, the steady rush of the water a barrier between them. The wood felt cool against her skin, almost soothing, but she couldn't find any real comfort there.
She'd seen his expression before he'd turned away. Hurt, lost, and angry, maybe with allowing his vulnerability to show.
He loves me. I know it. He loves me.
Mack had left his mind and his heart exposed and allowed her inside. He’d told her from the start he was having trouble with the idea of her being with Gene. Now she was terrified he was going to let her go.
She backed away from the door and sat on the bed, waiting for him to finish. He was right; they needed to talk this out. She clasped her hands tightly together to still the tremors. Somehow, she was going to figure out a way to keep true to her arrangement with Gene and still be with Mack. Gene was her close friend, and she couldn't leave him without a way to reboot. It would weaken him and he wouldn't be able to project. The Director would retire him.
But, Mack was the one she'd searched for, a male she could trust and love, who’d trust and love her back. A man who'd help her break free of her chains—accept her for who she was.
Only he didn't, he couldn't. He was going to make her choose.
Ingrid frowned. He knew what she was before he’d ever kissed her. He knew the contract she’d signed word for word, yet he'd still chosen to make love to her. And now the reality was too much for him to deal with. Yesterday's Ingrid would've been furious, but she wasn't that female any longer—at least, not with him. She wiped away the single tear that cut a path down her cheek. She wouldn't allow herself to fall apart here in his house. Later, when she was alone...
The bathroom door opened and Mack walked out, his hair damp and messy, his hips wrapped in a towel. Ingrid watched him dress. He was so beautiful, his body perfectly balanced, his muscle tone magnificent. She found herself wanting him again, wanting his hands and his mouth on her skin, but she stayed where she was, drinking him in, terrified this would be the last time they'd be together.
Dressed, he sat on the bed next to her, and she allowed him to take her hand and pull her closer. He tilted her head with his fingers on her chin, so she'd have to look into his eyes. His smile was full of joy and sadness, both.
"I've fallen in love with you."
There was a moment of blinding joy. These were the words she’d craved to hear spoken by this man, but as perfect as they were, he was going to toss them away, along with her heart.
Lifting her hand to his mouth, he kissed her palm, and she wondered if he was saying goodbye with the sweet gesture. "You are everything I've ever dreamed about in a female. I want to spend my days and nights kissing and loving every inch of you, but your beautiful body isn't all that I want."
His hand was gentle as it moved through her hair. "I want to learn who you are, and what you're wishing for when you're staring at those stars at night."
"I think you know. Freedom mostly. But I've also wished for someone like you."
His expression grew more serious. "I need your complete fidelity. I can't share you."
She started to turn away, but his hand in her hair forced her to face him. "I'll be faithful to you, Ingrid. I'll work night and day to get the troupe away from The Director, somewhere safe."
"You already have my heart, Mack. I've searched for you from the moment they sent me out as an ingénue. But until we find that safe place, I'm still an ingénue and so is Gene." Ingrid needed to make this clear.
"I'll talk to him. I'm sure Diane..."
"Diane? You'd send him off for a pity fuck with Diane?"
"It wouldn't be like that. Gene would understand."
"What if Diane doesn't agree?"
"She's not particular."
"He deserves better than that from me and you. I made a promise. And I explained what we did." When he saw that she wasn't going to give in, his eyes dimmed and his shoulders slumped. She stroked his face and asked, "Tell me what bothers you about it. Isn't he your friend? It's only a shared orgasm. It isn't love like what we have."
He laughed in a harsh way. "I guess to someone who has sex constantly, it's no big deal."
"Mack." She pulled away. His words had stung; bringing to mind the ugly things The Director had called her.
"Even without intercourse, you're sharing yourself with him in an intimate way, getting him off, sharing your intimate thoughts.” He stood, picking up the dress she’d draped over the chair near his closet. "If you can't agree to this we have no future."
"Please, sit down and talk..."
"I’m not going to change my mind. I can't."
"You’re being unreasonable. Can't we reach some kind of compromise? Gene is my acting partner, my friend. You're so much more to me. With Gene, it's necessary. It's part of my job."
"Sounds a lot like..."
Ingrid stood abruptly, burning up with rage and hurt. "Shut up! Don't you dare suggest…" She snatched the dress roughly from his hand. "I won't break my word to Gene. I won't watch him get weaker or have to beg Diane to help him out. You don't know what it is to be an actor, how the projecting and everything else wears us down. He needs me and I won't turn my back on him." Ingrid walked as steadily as she could manage into the bathroom and shut the door, turning on the faucet so he wouldn't hear her crying.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Mack threw sneakers, sweatpants, a tee shirt and a few other items into his gym bag, thinking that a strenuous workout might be the only thing to help him ignore…what? He didn't even have words for how he felt. Half an hour ago, he’d been ecstatic, but then a careless comment, along with his usual stubborn bullheadedness had fucked everything up.
She'd been crying in the bathroom for five minutes. Sobbing. He’d done this to her—criticizing her for sh
it she had no control over. Ironically, the fact that she wouldn't turn away from Gene only made him admire her more. Fuck.
Mack leaned against the door. "Ingrid, please come out. I want to talk to you." A minute later she did, dressed once more in her outfit from the vamp party, looking beautiful, even though her eyes were red and swollen. She lifted her chin to meet his gaze, her psychic walls locked down tight. Mack thought there was something magnificent about the way she stood up to him, the way she stood up to everyone. He wanted nothing more than to protect her from the future her position held in store. And she still didn’t know about Joseph Herron’s deal with The Director.
He’d be lost if she turned away today, left with only his skin and bones, his heart wrenched out of his undeserving body by the female who’d trusted him with hers. He had to make this right again.
"I'm sorry. I treated you very badly. I said things I shouldn't have said, things you may not be able to forgive me for saying. I was an asshole." Mack moved two steps closer, reaching out to cradle her hands in his. She didn't pull away, but her bottom lip was trembling with emotion. God, he didn't want her to start crying again. Hoping she’d see his vulnerability, Mack took in a breath and knelt in front of her, wrapping his arms around her body, leaning his head against her stomach. “I’m a jealous idiot.”
Ingrid urged Mack’s arms away and knelt beside him, tilting forward to rest her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest. “I only want you, even when you’re idiotic.”
"You were right when you said I don't understand what it is to be an ingénue. I got my first taste with Giovanni, and it wasn’t pretty. For you and Gene, it's always the hardest. It's just..." He raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. God, this was so hard.
“Tell me.”
Mack reached across to tuck a stray clump of chestnut hair behind her delicate ear, the small motion striking his heart like a ton of bricks. How would he ever be able to give her up? She was somehow embedded in each of his cells.
"Do you think...is there a way you can give me some time? My head gets it. It's my heart that wants to chain you to the bed."
The corners of her mouth twitched—a hopeful sign for a desperate male. "It’s not your heart that wants me in your bed.”
“My heart wants you with me, wherever we are.” He rubbed his face, seeming frustrated by his inability to communicate how he felt. “Give me a little time. It's all come on so fast, and I don't really understand these raging feelings of possession.”
“Raging?”
“Full-out-raging.”
“Everything’s building to a peak. You, Gene, and I have to work harder, figure out what we’re capable of accomplishing with our energy. Work out a plan. And we have to start soon.”
“You’ve discussed this with Gene?”
“I need you both.” That determined chin was pointing at Mack’s chest, the fire in her eyes sending blood rushing to his groin. There was no arguing with this enchantress.
“The same way you can't turn your back on Gene, I can't turn my back on any of the troupe. We can’t take off and leave them behind. Any plans you make have to include everyone.”
“Plans we make.”
“Yes. We.”
She stared at Mack for a long time, without speaking. "Do you love me?"
Mack rose, bringing her up with him, surprised by the husky sound of his reply. "Forever. Even if we're never together again, there won't be anyone else." He pressed her hand against his heart, which brought her body close enough to kiss.
Ingrid’s expression turned cynical. "How much time do you need? I won't hang around like some stupid groupie, waiting for a smile or a kiss on the cheek or—"
Mack shut her up with his lips on her mouth, his tongue pushing inside to explore her sweetness, cushioning her body tightly against his own. She responded with passion, but after a delicious minute, she pushed away.
"I'm going to be with Gene when he needs me. Can you deal with that?"
"All I can say is that I’ll try." Ingrid frowned, so he quickly explained. "Look, I'm a fucking cave man, what can I tell you?” He paced nervously. “Making you cry in the bathroom was the worst feeling in the world, and I never want to hurt you like that again."
Suddenly she was laughing and the tension was broken. She stuck out her hip and folded her arms in the classic pose of irritated female. "Great. I'm in love with a cave man. I should name you Grunt or Ugg or some other troll name." She grabbed Mack’s shirt by the collar and pulled him closer. "I won't wait forever, Trogg, so you'd better get over yourself, fast." She stepped with determination toward the door leading to the hallway.
"Wait. I'll drive you to the house. I'm going to the gym. You should take a nap when you get home."
"Thanks.” Still walking, she glanced around the room. “Let me know if you find my blue panties. They’ve disappeared.”
Mack looked up her lovely bare legs to the hem of her short dress and then at her ass swaying seductively as she walked toward the door. "Salome."
Ingrid giggled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Ingrid woke up smiling. Her dreams had been peppered with memories of what she and Mack had been up to the night before, particularly the super sex event and the results of their experiment. She was on the right path, she was sure of it.
Gene had made an appearance before she’d collapsed for her nap, bringing her pancakes and orange juice. “Can’t do a show on an empty stomach.” Wearing an impish expression, he’d made himself comfortable, stretching out in an armchair with his feet on a footstool. “How’d it go, darlin’?”
“We’ve discovered a new skill.” She explained about the psychic communication she and Mack had shared, along with the info regarding their sharper eyesight. Because he'd already participated in an experiment, Ingrid asked Gene if it would be okay with him if she tried to send him a mental message.
"Sure, but I'm beginning to feel a bit like a lab rat." He granted her a half-hearted grin, still appearing slightly nervous.
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek, grateful for his capacity to trust her with his mind, although it was a bit unnerving. Unfortunately, he heard nothing of what she sent to him, even though she was using her energy the way she had with Mack. "Try to send me something. Give it a boost with your psy."
"You owe me a drink." His message was clear as a bell.
"And dinner, too." She smiled smugly.
He jumped up. "Holy shit."
"Do it again," she urged.
"I don't know whether to be scared or turned on."
Ingrid laughed. "You should be happy. Now that Mack and I've gone loopy with our powers, we might be able to learn to kick demon ass together. And don't worry about me hearing things you don't want me to hear. You can control what you send out by keeping your shields strong."
"I've been told dozens of times there's not much going on up there, anyway." She knew he wasn't kidding. Gene was gorgeous, the dream date of every female he encountered, but no one, other than the troupe, had ever taken him seriously.
"I know better."
"Oh, no. You've discovered that I'm an evil genius trying to take over the world. Now I'll have to blast you with my neuro-ray." He made some silly noises, yanking playfully on her ponytail.
Ingrid glanced out the window, remembering how she’d burned those sorcerers in Atlanta using only her mind. She dreaded telling her two guys the whole story, but knew she’d have to come clean soon. "You can laugh, but we have no idea what our minds are capable of."
Gene’s hand rested on Ingrid’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Hey. What made you serious all of a sudden?"
“I’m not ready…I can’t talk about it yet.”
“Well, I’m here when you are.”
"Thanks, evil gen—”
He held up a hand to stop her. “I’ll lose half my fans if you squeal on me. They like dumb blondes. Why’d you come back so soon? You should still be at Mack's."
“
I was beat.”
He arched an eyebrow. "Uh huh. And pigs fly. You had a fight, right? After you ended our call?" She tried to keep her expression blank, but his intuitive powers had already kicked in. "It's because of me, right? Mack can't handle it."
"He says he needs some time." Ingrid wrapped her arms around her gut, trying to hold back the sob burning her throat.
"He's a fucking moron." Gene declared, his irritation narrowing his eyes.
"I love him—really. I know what I'm feeling. He told me he loves me."
Gene pulled Ingrid in for a hug, rubbing her back. Craving the compassion, she relaxed into his comforting arms. "Love, huh?” He sighed. “Maybe you guys did evolve. Maybe we can all fall in love. It gives me some hope." He pulled away, searching Ingrid’s face for answers. "You can't split because of me. I'll find another way to reboot."
"Shut up." She pushed on his chest. "He'll have to learn to deal with it, because there's no way I'm not going to be here for you when you need me. If he really loves me like he says, he'll come around."
"Mack's pretty stubborn."
"So am I."
"Believe me, darlin', I noticed." Ingrid attempted to poke him in the stomach but Gene scooted quickly to the doorway. ”You need a nap, grumpy.” He closed the door behind him.
Maybe he’s right. Ingrid sank back onto the bed, dozing off after only a few heartbeats.
After her nap, she spent the rest of the afternoon researching other theta troupes, trying to discover any mention of the aftereffects of looping energy. She had no luck, but wasn't about to give up. When she noticed the time, she jumped in the shower. They’d be leaving for the show in ninety minutes.
The troupe arrived in their respective limos, right on time. For this particular performance, the higher-ups were allowed to meet with the actors backstage before the show. They weren't permitted to touch any of the thetas, but the six alpha wolves crowding close to Ingrid and Diane were already showing signs of arousal, lusting over their bodies as if they were cuts of beef. Each one talked about the party, asking for a few minutes alone. In their fantasies, those few minutes would turn to more, since wolves had inflated egos along with a taste for violence. Beating the crap out of your date before you raped her took longer than one might imagine.
Playing with Passion Theta Series Book 1 Page 19