Grady's Awakening Page 26

  “So now it’s her fault? If this is the way you treat women, I’m surprised any follow you.”

  Now that was a challenge if he’d ever heard one. The sneer that accompanied the blond giant’s words cinched it.

  “First of all—” Jim poked Grady in the shoulder with one pointing finger, “—nobody follows me. I’m not a tyrant. I may lead my people, but it was by their choice and I never make unilateral decisions if there’s time to consult. Second—” he jabbed Grady again. “—I did not blame Gina. I merely stated that I made a mistake. I didn’t expect her to lose concentration like that. The old Gina never would. It was my fault for baiting her telepathically.”

  “Of course it’s your fault.”

  Grady sounded really angry as he stepped forward, advancing threateningly on Jim. But Jim wasn’t backing down. He’d love to get a piece of Grady Prime. A good ass kicking is just what he needed—whether it was his own or Grady’s ass that would ultimately get kicked, he wasn’t sure, but either way, he was spoiling for a fight.

  “I just said that, didn’t I?” Jim shouted.

  “Guys.” Gina tried to intercede but she couldn’t get between them. They kept her off to the side while they stared each other down, in each other’s faces. “Please don’t do this.”

  Jim was aware of the gym around them going quiet. Only Bill had the guts to come up to them, putting one arm around Gina’s shoulders.

  “They need to get this settled.” Bill guided Gina away. “Just don’t kill each other,” Bill threw back at them as Grady backed off and Jim went to stand in opposition across a section of cleared mats.

  Spectators vanished, making room by climbing into the bleachers, out of harm’s way. This wasn’t going to be an exhibition bout. No, this was going to be the real deal.

  Within certain bounds. Jim bowed, never taking his gaze from Grady’s. This was a formal challenge, and both men knew it. If there was ever going to be peace between them, they had to settle this. They had to know who was stronger, who was faster and who could or should take the lead in their odd, forced partnership.

  Grady opened, stepping up to Jim and allowing his first blow to be easily blocked. It allowed him to grab Jim’s arm in a hold, but Jim had the same leverage and realized it was because Grady wanted to test his strength. Jim learned Grady had a punishing grip from the brief hold before they broke apart.

  Jim launched a lightning-fast volley that Grady just managed to evade. The Alvian fighting style was different than what he was used to, but Jim had mastered many different forms of martial arts in his years of study and practice. He adapted. And he discovered he was just slightly faster than Grady, though the alien was stronger.

  They circled and it was Grady who made the next foray, landing a series of blows to Jim’s midsection. Jim countered, using his legs and speed to advantage, tripping Grady up and throwing him down on the mats with a resounding thud. Jim hoped he’d stunned the big man, but no such luck. Grady popped back up ready for more and the game was on again.

  This went on for some time while they tested each other’s weaknesses and strengths. Jim learned a great deal from their fight and earned just as many bruises as he dealt. Little by little strategy overtook anger and fatigue slowed response time. Grady landed a lucky final blow that knocked Jim flat on his ass but Jim managed to drag Grady down with him and neither man got up right away.

  Gina ran over, falling to her knees between their prone bodies. She put one hand on each of their chests, as if to push them down, keeping them on the matted floor.

  “This stops now.” Jim could hear the tears in her voice and hated that he’d had any part in making her cry. He grabbed her hand in both of his, stroking her fingers tenderly.

  “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to distract you. I would rather die than ever hurt you.”

  She turned to him and he saw the emotional pain in her gaze, as well as the understanding. “I know that, Jim. It wasn’t your fault.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, forgiveness in her every move. His heart began to beat again, sure of her acceptance. “And you,” she turned to Grady, taking Jim’s heart with her. “Thank you for trying to protect me. It wasn’t really necessary, but I do appreciate it.”

  Grady sat up, and Jim followed suit.

  “Alvians have no female soldiers. Women are to be protected, never hurt.” Grady sent a glare in Jim’s direction. “While I admire your skills, Gina, it will take some time to get used to the idea that my mate can protect herself. I’ll try, but I will never stand by and watch you get hurt when I can prevent it. Don’t ask me to.”

  Gina sobbed and threw herself into Grady’s arms, hugging him close. Jim let her hand go, admitting momentary defeat.

  Grady didn’t like the sensations coursing through his veins. He’d experienced anger before, but never this kind of all-consuming rage. Was this the first sign of approaching madness?

  His heart stilled.

  He wouldn’t put Gina in danger. If he was going mad, he’d leave before he exposed her to his illness.

  Grady drew back from her. He needed to think this through. While his heart ached to hold her close and keep her next to him for all time, he had to do what was best for her. But first he had to get to the bottom of what had just happened.

  He stood, and she followed. Jim also stood, and Grady met his eyes over Gina’s shoulder. He would use all the skills he’d learned as a commander of soldiers to assess the problem and devise a solution. This could not be allowed to happen again.

  “You admitted to distracting Gina. How?”

  Jim shook his head, chagrined. “Telepathy.” He met Grady’s gaze solemnly, accepting blame. Grady respected that. “I said something to her, but I didn’t expect it to break her concentration.”

  “What exactly did you say?” Grady stepped around Gina, though she tried to remain between them, and stared the other man down. Jim didn’t back off, but then he wouldn’t be worthy of a warrioress like Gina if he had.

  “I told her you looked like you wanted to knock my block off.” A challenging smile curved one side of Jim’s mouth.

  Grady regarded him for a moment, analyzing the situation.

  “I did,” he finally admitted with an answering hint of humor. “I find I am jealous of the past you share with Gina. I’ve only known her a short time. I feel at a disadvantage because of it when compared to your history.” Grady didn’t mention the agony he felt every time Jim and Gina touched. Their Hum went straight through him, making him ache with pain, knowing they belonged together—without the alien interloper, even if he was also a true mate to Gina.

  Unpredictably, Jim’s antagonism level decreased. He stepped back, his posture changing from one of challenge to one of understanding.

  “I can’t blame you for that. I’m sure I’d feel the same if our roles were reversed.”

  “Would you?” Grady watched him carefully for any sign of deception, but could find none. “I do not understand why it makes me want to beat you senseless. I have never felt such urges before and I worry…” He broke off before he could reveal his deepest, darkest fear¾the fear that he would go mad¾but Jim’s eyes cleared with understanding. Somehow, he knew.

  Grady turned away, finding Gina there, waiting for him. Her soft smile and gentle touch soothed him as she reached up to stroke his cheek.

  “It’s all right, Grady. Jealousy is something all humans struggle with.”

  He wanted to stay right there and revel in her compassion but the ugly truth came between them.

  “Gina, I’m not human.”

  He left before she could say anything, seeking solitude in which to think over these upsetting events. He strode from the gym building and headed for the darkened end of the huge, main cavern, toward the lake.

  Small eddies of current lapped at the sandy shoreline, indicating the lake was fed by some underground water source, but he couldn’t see it. Grady sank down onto the cold sand, stretching one leg out in front of him, raising
the other knee on which to lean his crossed arms. He had much to think about.

  “That could’ve gone better.” Gina muttered as she watched Grady walk away. Something in the set of his shoulders was so forlorn, she wanted to go after him, but knew he wouldn’t welcome her interference right now. He was learning to cope with emotion. She knew he needed some time alone to think things through when they came to a boil.

  There was no doubt, the turmoil of the past minutes had been hard for all of them to handle. Gina hated seeing Jim and Grady at odds, knowing she was the reason for their strife. She hated being in the middle, stuck between them, a point of contention.

  “I’m sorry I distracted you. I could’ve really hurt you.” Jim’s voice was gentle as she turned to face him.

  “Forget it. Accidents happen. I shouldn’t have been so easy to distract. My dad would have my head for such a stupid mistake.” She offered him a small smile, which he returned.

  “Nice try, but it was my fault. Things are…unsettled between you and Grady right now. I shouldn’t have mentioned him during our bout. It was petty and potentially dangerous.”

  “So why did you?” She looked up at him challengingly.

  Jim met her gaze though he seemed uncomfortable. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve got some jealousy issues of my own.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  A man tended the garden. Everyone else was probably preparing for or eating dinner at this point in the early evening, but Jim couldn’t be around people. Not yet. The lone gardener had given him a curious look when he first entered, but went about his tasks, leaving Jim to his thoughts.

  It didn’t do much good. Jim’s thoughts were racing a mile a minute and for the first time in a long time, he didn’t know what to do. He’d made an ass out of himself in the gym. He owed Grady an apology for that, at least, but couldn’t bring himself to seek out the damned alien and make things right. Jim despised himself for the pettiness of his emotions. He hated the way love screwed with his control. He didn’t want it, but he had no choice. He was in love with Gina and he’d do anything to keep her.

  After about an hour, the gardener finished his work and headed toward Jim. He didn’t want to talk to anyone, but he was the trespasser here. The gardens were some of the most sensitive areas of the installation since any sabotage here could ruin the food supply. He understood vigilance and knew he should be going, but he also valued the peace of the open space filled with green, growing things.

  “I guess our little operation can’t really compare with what I hear you’ve got going down south,” the man observed as he sidled up to a position a few yards from Jim’s bench. Both men faced outward, perusing the rows and rows of vegetation.

  Jim appreciated the man’s oblique approach. He seemed a nice enough sort, and Jim didn’t mind talking about the gardens in his home facility with someone who was truly interested.

  “We’ve had the hydroponics sections up and running since just after the cataclysm. We also have a few of the scientists who designed the whole thing in residence. They’ve been able to work wonders.”

  “I bet. We’re learning as we go here. Bill and I found some old written manuals and BURTIN helped us locate information in his memory banks, but neither of us were farmers before. The O’Haras have given us some pointers, but they aren’t real familiar with this kind of farming either.”

  “I bet.” Jim looked around, finally settling his gaze on the man. He looked fully human, yet his words indicated a familiarity with the Alvian hybrid. “You work with Bill?”

  “Son of a bitch saved my life,” came the surprising answer, given with a smile. “I wanted to hate him at first. I escaped from the city and was on the run when he found me—delirious with pneumonia and burning alive in my lean-to. I was so sick, I let my campfire get out of control and nearly paid with my life. Bill found me and brought me to the O’Haras. He and Doc Mick nursed me back to health.”

  “When did you figure out he was an alien?”

  “Not for some time.” The man sent him a sideways look. “I was sick as a dog for the first few weeks. When it came time to consider moving on, the O’Haras suggested Bill and I move along together. We both had mountaineering skills and were both on the run. It was a good idea, even though I had to get used to the idea that my companion was a goddamned alien. Then Jaci came along, and we both realized we had to protect her. That’s why we decided to come to this cave complex, though neither of us knew the full extent of the facility until we actually got here. We thought it was an old mine. Then Mike and Dave showed up, and we had the beginnings of a little community. A few weeks later other people began to arrive, and we’ve been taking in strays ever since.”

  “You’ve got a thriving community now from what I can see.”

  “Yeah, I reckon we do. But I’ve got to tell you, without our alien friends it would be a lot more primitive. Jaci is a wiz with technical stuff and has figured ways to use the crystals the O’Haras smuggle up to us from Davin. She’s mostly responsible for restoring full power to this entire facility. Then the cousins set Bill up as the Farmer in the Dell, and he took to it though he’d never even seen a seed before in his life. He and I run the hydroponics area together for the most part now. It’s too big for just him alone and we’ve got work crews to help us out as it gets bigger. The gardens are good for him. They bring him peace, which to my mind, he richly deserves.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  The man shifted and settled back against the table he’d been leaning against, seeking a more comfortable position.

  “He was the Council’s top assassin, and the geniuses over there decided to use him for their very first guinea pig. He’s lucky he’s not completely insane. You train a man to kill people all his life, then give him emotions. They were playing with fire, though they didn’t even realize it. He could’ve become a complete psycho. Or he could be wracked with guilt over the lives he’s taken. Lucky for us—not so much for him—it’s the latter. That man has a lot of demons that haunt him. More than anything, he deserves our compassion and sympathy, or we’re no better than those who made him what he was.”

  Jim could tell this man felt strongly about his words, and Jim even understood why. He’d heard about the inhuman experiments the Alvians routinely perpetrated. He wasn’t too surprised to find out they’d done the same thing to their own people.

  “You were a prisoner?”

  The man nodded. “As far as I know, I’m the only one to ever escape that city and it cost me dearly. I’ve got a baby daughter I’ve never seen.”

  “I’m sorry. My name is Jim, by the way.” Jim extended a hand in friendship, which was taken.

  “I’m Sam.” They shook hands, and Sam moved back to his leaning position some feet away. “It’s not all bad though. We’re free here, and I know my daughter is as safe as she can be in Davin’s engineering facility. He’s another alien who’s got a heart. He took Ruth and my daughter in and they live in relative comfort while learning about the aliens’ crystals. It’s both a blessing and a curse. They were moved there because of Ruth’s special gift for working with crystal, but for the same reason, Davin can’t let her go like he did Mike and Dave. Officially, they’re dead. Davin was able to arrange an accident for them so they’d be free to live here with their mate, Jaci. But Ruth’s gift is something special. As a result, the Council has taken a special interest in her. It would be hard for Davin to devise a way to smuggle her out and impossible for me to go there. I killed an Alvian solder to escape and have taken out a few since.” Cold sorrow entered the man’s eyes as he looked out at his garden. “I’m a wanted man as far as the Alvians go. For now, I have to stay under the radar.”

  “I hear that. Some of my people are in a similar situation, having taken out Alvian patrols and the like.”

  “It’s not easy living with a price on your head, but it does make you realize what’s important. My advice to you, whether you want it or not, is to grab onto your gal with bot
h hands and don’t let go.” Jim looked up at him as Sam smiled. “Oh, I heard a bit about what’s going on with you, Gina and Grady. If she’s willing—and if you think he’ll be good to her—then you should probably consider making it a threesome. Better to be with her. Take it from someone who misses his woman every day.”

  Some time later, after leaving the garden, Jim found Grady sitting in the cold sand at the edge of the lake. Little glints of quartz lit the area with a soft glow that came from the sand, the walls, even the ceiling far above.

  “Mind if I join you?” Jim didn’t wait for an answer as he sat a few feet away, facing the gently rippling lake.

  Grady didn’t even look up. Jim found some flat rocks easy at hand that were just perfect for skipping and took a shot. The first one skipped three times before sinking below the surface in the dim light. The second bounced off the surface four times. He’d been good at this in his youth. It was good to see those old skills gained in idle summers at the lake house with his parents hadn’t been lost over the many years since.

  “You know, there is a solution to our mutual problem. It’s not one I can say I ever would have entertained before—and I’m not sure Gina will go for it—but we could try it as a threesome.”

  There. The proverbial olive branch had been extended. Jim wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but he didn’t see any other choice that would satisfy them all. After his talk with Sam, the least he could do would be to entertain the idea. If the other two potential partners in this little drama were amenable, he’d give it his best shot.

  “You mean like Jaci and her mates?” Grady turned to him, acknowledging him for the first time. “From what I have seen, Mike and Dave were best friends even before they met Jaci. You and I have no prior connection. We do not know each other. We have little in common and are not even of the same race. Do you think we could really share Gina’s love?”