Project Genesis

by Howard, Michelle

  “Super powers?”

  His lips curled. “Not quite. Think adjusted brain waves. Telekinetics, telepathy, pyrokinesis.”

  “Pyro…?”

  Vin leaned back against his headboard and stretched his legs out. Helen rolled to her hips on her side giving him her full attention. “The ability to start fires.”

  Her mind whirled. He could see her thinking and trying to put together the puzzle of which one of them would have such a frightening skill. Vin tugged on her loosened hair and filled in the answer to the question in her eyes. “Harkum.”

  “Ahhh, scary giant.”

  He had to laugh at her description. Definitely sharing that with his best friend. “Yes.”

  “Telekinetics is…Curtis?”

  Her sharp mind pieced together what she knew with what he revealed. “That’s right.”

  Helen placed a hand on his stomach, swiping a thumb through drying sweat. His muscles retracted from the intimate touch. “What about you?”

  Vin sighed and stared at the ceiling unwilling to watch her expression when he revealed his mutation. “Telepathy.” He wouldn’t tell her about the electrical charges or the black outs that followed the exertion of those powers. At her silence, Vin chanced a quick look.

  Helen’s mouth pulled down in a frown. “Can you tell what I’m thinking?”

  How many times did the doctor’s in the lab ask Vin that question? “No. It’s not like that. I can speak to you mind to mind. Sometimes hear you back if you know how to direct your thoughts but I can’t randomly dig around in your mind and find out things about you.” Nor did he want to. Just the thought of such a power made him ill but he knew that’s what the doctors pushed for.

  Vin and his team refused to take any more of the drugs or hormones to tamper with their bodies. After numerous bids and toe to toe meetings with Slade, the government agreed they’d work with the skills they already manifested.

  Helen reached up and her soft palms covered his eyes. “Let’s see.”

  Anger and annoyance at Slade slid away. Vin’s lips lifted in a grin as he played along. “Sure.”

  “What am I thinking about?”

  “Me.”

  Helen laughed. His insides warmed. “No. Maybe I should start easy. I’m focusing on a color.”

  “Blue.” He tossed out.

  “Vincent! You’re not even putting forth any effort.”

  He smiled against her palms. “Hmmm. You’re right. Try again and ask me what I’m thinking about.” Not needing his eyes, Vin’s hands unerringly reached for her magnificent globes in all their naked glory and fondled.

  Helen gasped arching into his touch. “W-what are you thinking?”

  “Naughty thoughts,” he murmured and pinched her nipples. “Ask me what color I’m thinking about.”

  Helen groaned, torso twisting. “T-that’s not how it goes.”

  “Berries,” Vin supplied to the question she wouldn’t ask. “I’m thinking of berries.” He lowered his head toward the sounds of her sigh and shifted his aim. Stiff pebbles brushed his mouth. Jackpot. Vin moistened his lips. He angled his head dislodging her hand from his eyes and sucked on her puckered nipple. Her hands braced on his chest but she wasn’t pushing him away.

  “Berries aren’t a color.” She finished the declaration on a strangled moan.

  He laved her one last time and released the swollen bud. “It is to me.” Leaning back, he studied her expression. The glazed look of awakening passion was exactly what he sought. Anything to distract her from talk about Project Genesis.

  Vin slid between her legs and kissed her torso, the small indent of her belly button which had him smiling when she flinched. He continued down and parted her soft folds. Wetness from their combined pleasure trickled down her thigh. Vin inhaled deeply. The scent of their loving filled his nostrils.

  “Vin, no.” Helen rocked and jerked and managed to escape by rolling to the side.

  “What’s wrong?” He scanned the room for a visible threat.

  “I need to shower.” She stood at the edge of his bed and yanked on the sheet to no use. His weight pinned the corners down.

  “Are you serious?” Now that he was fully awake, Vin envisioned another round. First he’d taste her and drive her to another climax with his head planted between her legs. Then while Helen languished in the afterglow, he’d rock another one out. He just needed fifteen minutes, tops.

  “Vincent.” She laughed even as she continued to pull on the sheet relentlessly.

  Vin sighed and rolled over to his back throwing an arm over his eyes. Counting to ten did not impact his rock hard dick nor did thinking of brussel sprouts which he hated and usually guaranteed an instant soft one. He heaved himself to his feet. “Alright.”

  Stalking steps put him close enough to snag the end of the sheet. “After.” Vin pulled sharply and the material hit the floor. Helen squealed but he lifted her in his arms and climbed back in the bed. “After,” he murmured again and continued the earlier path his lips had taken. If he only had one night, he wanted to make the most of it.

  Chapter 12

  Vin listened with half an ear as Sen went on to give an update on his mother’s condition. Apparently, the doctors downgraded her broken ankle to severe sprain. This cemented Mrs. Chambers belief that doctors were a waste of time which in turn frustrated Mr. Chambers because now she insisted on cooking and cleaning at her normal pace despite instructions to rest.

  “I need to go home and check on her but dad tells me not to worry.”

  Harkum relaxed back on Vin’s sofa and smirked at the young man’s anxiety. “That’s because your dad knows if you come home your mom is going to spend more time on her feet cooking so she can fatten her bebe.”

  Sen dived over the sofa and tackled Harkum to the floor. The move only worked because he caught Harkum off guard. His friend got to his feet quickly arms up in the universal sign of surrender and dropped his fake French accent. “Chill, Sen. Just messing with you.”

  Vin tried to find his usual humor in their antics but he replayed his night with Helen and came up with the same conclusion. He’d made another mistake. One night would never be enough and he fooled himself thinking it would be. Or he let his dick fool him. Either way, he needed to push Helen Scott as far away as possible.

  “What about alien sightings? Are the senior Chambers okay?” Harkum asked as he returned to his position on the couch.

  Sen shrugged remaining on his feet. “They haven’t spotted anything. I’ve warned them to stay close to home. Avoid going out for now unless it’s an emergency. That kinda stuff.”

  Footsteps padded across the floor in the other room. Vin glanced at his closed bedroom door and winced. He firmed his resolve to stand by his decision this time but his thoughts teeter tottered like a child’s play toy.

  ***

  Helen rolled over and found herself alone in the bed. Vin’s bed. Twice in less than twenty four hours. Light peered through the window revealing the start of a new day. She slowly sat up and checked for good measure that the room was empty. Vin’s voice hinted that she wasn’t exactly alone. Helen got to her feet and pulled the sheet around her nude body.

  Looking at her crumpled clothes on the floor reminded her of her limited wardrobe. Since Vin managed to get her to the communal showers last night, Helen refused to put on the same panties. She gathered her meager belongings and went through the bedroom door. Vin broke off in the middle of his conversation with two of his men. Harkum and Bransen rose to their feet from the sofa at her appearance.

  “Good morning, gentlemen.” Helen tried to tamp down a blush at the awkward situation. In light of her lack of dress, she nodded regally at the men and signaled Vin with a jerk of her head. She hoped her trip back into his bedroom didn’t look as embarrassing as it felt. Vin came in and closed the door behind him.

  She expected him to speak but he merely leaned one big shoulder against the door and stared, waiting for her. Helen popped her shoulder
s back going for dignity while draped in his bed linen. “Is there a way for me to wash my things?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take care of it.” He pushed away from the door and rifled through his closet. When he returned, he handed her a white tee shirt that would fall at least to her thighs.

  Helen dropped her underwear and bra on the bed and reached for the tee. The sheet slid to the floor as she moved to put his shirt on. She didn’t miss the flare of his nostrils. With a grimace, she put on her pants and zipped up the matching jacket. Better than nothing and keeping the jacket zipped hid her braless state.

  “I’ll arrange to take you home today. There are a few things I need to take care of first.”

  Helen cleared her throat. “All right.” Tension hummed in the bedroom but he didn’t turn around. Were they going to address last night?

  When he started to walk past her, Helen stopped him. “Vincent?”

  “One night, Helen. It’s all I had to give,” he whispered gruffly.

  Pain zinged in her heart. This time she let him walk through the door while she battled the lump in her throat and the pressing sensation in her chest. She waited another five minutes and then exited. Harkum and Bransen were no longer present.

  Vin, in his customary uniform of black shirt and black cargo pants, strapped on his thigh holster, the handle of his gun visible over the side. “I’ll take you to the cafeteria for breakfast.”

  Helen started to refuse. She didn’t like the vibe between them. Last night had been last night. Understanding that and dealing with it were two separate issues. What a fool she was for giving in to the little boy lost look he’d worn. All she’d done was tear down the small level of immunity she’d built.

  Now in light of the morning, she forced herself to recall the loneliness of the last six months and Vin’s unexplained silence. She had a feeling it involved the abilities he’d discussed with her. Abilities she felt certain he had not possessed when they first me. Or at least, she had no inkling if he did or not.

  Based on his behavior this morning, Helen guessed he wouldn’t answer that question either. Her stomach growled loudly and Vin finally faced her. The half smile lightened his expression. “Come on. It’s already nine so everyone else has pretty much eaten except my unit. They’re waiting for me to join them.”

  Helen grabbed her cell of the table and followed him out. As they walked down the corridor, she anxiously checked out the dull red lights in the ceiling. Lights she remembered vividly as they flashed when the Rekabians attacked. Helen suppressed a tiny shiver and scooted closer to Vin as he marched passed darkened doorways.

  The facility without the noise and racing soldiers had an air of intimidation. Quiet seeped through the concrete walls. The sensation reminded her of what she thought prison would be like.

  When they reached a double steel door, Vin stood close to the side and a small length of cord snaked from the ceiling with a round object on the end. Helen gripped the back of his shirt but Vin held still while it aimed for his right eye and emitted a small blue light. A beep followed the retraction of the cord and the doors slid open. Vin pulled her around to his side and moved forward.

  “The retina scan’s a security measure. Tampering with food is the quickest way to bring down a facility this size.”

  Since he decided to talk to her, Helen asked, “How many people stay here?” Was this his home? Is this where he lived during the time they’d dated?

  “Roughly a hundred including the maintenance crew, kitchen workers and others.” His hand lowered to her back to guide her through rows of empty wooden picnic style tables and benches. He was right about the austere cafeteria being practically empty.

  Two women wiped down tables with ruthless efficiency while a young man in a blue jumper swept the floor. Vin didn’t stop until they reached the back table where six men all looked up at their approach. Blue trays lay stacked at the end and each of Vin’s team members had a steaming plate in front of them.

  One by one, they got to their feet and acknowledged her. “Good morning, Ms. Scott. We haven’t officially been introduced but I’m Chris Harkum.”

  Up close, Helen had to tilt her head all the way back to look him in the eye. She hadn’t been kidding with Vin when she referred to him as a scary giant. About to shake his hand, Bransen shoved forward and elbowed the tall man aside.

  “Bransen Chambers, bon jour, Madame.”

  Instead of sounding corny, the French flowed from his tongue with a definite native accent. “It’s Miss. Cava bien, Monsieur?”

  Vincent growled low, causing the green eyes before her to twinkle. “Later, beautiful.” He winked and sauntered away to straddle the bench like seats.

  Vincent wrapped a band of steel over her shoulder. “Helen has to eat before they put up breakfast. Let’s make this quick.” Keeping her close to his side, he pointed with his other hand. “The twins are Nathan and Zander Harrison. If you can’t tell them apart, don’t worry about it because we don’t. Rock Sinclair and I believe you’re familiar with Curtis Adams.”

  The remaining men waved or nodded. Introductions out of the way, they all started on their food. Vin steered her to a seat next to Chris Harkum. Far from Bransen she realized. Vin slid his hand down her arm in a lingering caress, leaving shivers in his wake. Unsure how to judge his possessive posturing, Helen tucked her legs under the table and kept her head down to hide her frown.

  “What would you like, Helen?”

  At his question, she started to push back to his feet. Vin’s hand landed on her shoulder. “I’ll get it. Just tell me what you want.”

  “Wheat toast and oatmeal, no sugar.”

  He made no comment about her preference. “Coffee decaf?”

  She’d really like the latte her taste buds craved but nodded her ascent. As soon as Vincent walked away, the men ignored their food and focused their attention on her. Chairs scraped back making her the main event in their inner circle.

  “Is Vin treating you right? Yesterday had to be scary as…um…crap.” Bransen leaned an elbow on the table and this time, concern warmed his eyes.

  A deep breath shuddered from her. “Yesterday ranks as the most terrifying day of my life.” When they looked concerned, Helen added, “Except the day my stylist informed me she was moving to California.” Concern shifted to appalled but she noticed the twins smirking.

  Bransen snickered. “Right. Director at a top apparel firm terrified of her hair lady moving. I can see it.”

  “Quiet, guys. There’s more.” Rock lifted a remote from the table and aimed it a large screen she’d completely missed.

  News Update flashed across in bright yellow followed by annoying music and then an anchorman appeared standing in the middle of a street with wrecked buildings behind him. “I’m here live in Baltimore after the recent attack from the Rekabian alien threat. As you can see, folks are remaining home today. The Governor has declared a state of emergency and many states are taking similar actions. We’ll now join President Harrison’s press conference for an update on this volatile situation.”

  The screen cut to the White House and President Harrison stood at a flag draped podium. Helen dimly registered Vin returning with her breakfast. His long thighs slid her along the seat until he fit himself on the end. She risked a quick glance and went still. It wasn’t the overflowing plate in front of him that sent her heart surging forward but the warmth flowing from his eyes before he blinked and turned away.

  Helen reached for the tall paper cup without the easy to identify logo on the side. Oh, well. Something was better than nothing. Her first sip was nirvana. Nutmeg and cinnamon with a hit of vanilla exploded in her mouth. “You got me a latte.”

  Vin’s attention stayed on the television as he began to shovel food in his mouth. In between bites, he muttered, “Vanilla, spice latte, extra hot, no whip.”

  Helen choked on her next swallow. Curtis pounded her on the back but she could only stare at Vin. The heat of her stare finally broke through h
is fascination with the news story. Annoyance peppered his expression. “You’ve been drinking the same thing for as long as I’ve known you, hellcat.”

  She flushed. That he would remember such a minute detail about what she liked astounded her. “Someone here actually prepared that?”

  “Cook used to be a fancy barrister at one of those high priced coffee shops you love. I mentioned the tough day you had yesterday. Told her what you usually drink and she made it.”

  What was she to do with him? Every time she decided she needed to put him out of her life and accept that the break up between them was for the best, he did something so amazing. So ridiculously kind that she didn’t know how to handle it.

  ***

  Vin wished Helen’s eyes would quit burning holes into the side of his face. She ate slowly, finishing everything in the oatmeal bowl but he felt her quick questioning glances every minute of so. Hell, he owed her the fancy coffee. It wasn’t a big deal that he remembered something he had to have heard her order over a thousand times. Yet nerves released their strangle hold and fingers relaxed on his fork with relief at the sight of her pleasure over the drink.

  “Holy, shit,” Rock stated, eyes glued to the news Vin had tried to watch. Now he put his attention where it belonged and reminded himself to think like a dedicated soldier and not a man with his dick in a knot over a woman he was sure to hurt.

  “And this is why we commit to American citizens to fight with everything we have. All servicemen have been activated. In conjunction with countries all over the globe, we are mobilizing troops in a concerted effort to defend the planet we love. The Rekabians will not win. We will stand proud and strong.”

  Harrison’s voice vibrated with passion and no one could doubt the sincerity in her words. The woman gave a hell of a speech and with fire blazing in her eyes, it was no wonder she’d been elected for two terms.

  Rock had his portable computer unit out, entering data as his fingers typed over the screen quickly. “It’s true. She’s called in official orders and all armed forces are withdrawing overseas soldiers to their home countries.”