Chapter Fifteen #4
Jed rubbed his chin. Elena wasn’t going to let him off easy, was she.
And how the hell did she know—of course, she caught that name off his thoughts, like he sometimes caught hers.
He really didn’t want to talk much about Stratter’s.
“Stratter’s I can explain later during the meeting.
The crate I can try to explain, but whether I’ll make sense is another matter entirely.
I might need some time to think it over. ”
“Okay, I can wait. She was in danger this time and you were affected. Care to explain that instead?”
“She thought she couldn’t breathe when I suggested—thoughtlessly, I might add—she might be in a coffin. Which she wasn’t. But the idea, as you might suspect, induced normal fear and panic, enough so that it affected me because I was so immersed in her experience.”
“Immersed,” T repeated, her gaze questioning now.
“How immersed are you two, exactly? I have a feeling both of you are keeping some things from me. When you see what she’s seeing, are you experiencing everything she is too?
Because that’s not in the Remote Viewer Handbook, you know.
Armando asked the correct question just now. Why was her choking affecting you?”
“We’re capturing glimpses of each other’s feelings and thoughts,” Jed told her off-handedly. “Bound to happen, with our brainwaves in sync and spending more and more time together. It’s called bonding.”
“And are you two...bonding?”
Jed studied T through half-closed eyes. GEM had secrets they didn’t share with anyone, even their relatively new partners. He wondered whether Helen knew her operations chief wasn’t telling her everything.
“We’re learning to trust each other,” he said, “if that’s what you mean.”
“You know that’s not all I meant.”
“And you know by getting me involved as her monitor, what that entails.”
“I was hoping you’d be gentle. I would hate to see her feelings hurt.”
Jed arched his brows. “Sleeping with Alex is making you soft, darling,” he mocked.
“Elena’s feelings have never been your number-one priority before.
You, or rather your higher-ups, wanted to see the extent of her gifts and abilities, and wanted someone with whom she could get personally involved.
Bonding, I believe you yourself called it.
Care to cut the bullshit and tell me what’s at stake here?
Besides the supersoldier-spy part, of course.
I know that’s important, but there’s something more that you aren’t willing to tell. ”
T’s eyes widened, a triumphant gleam entering the golden brown depths. “You have feelings for her,” she breathed. “I’m pleased.”
Jed didn’t deny it. No need to. He acknowledged a certain mix of possessiveness and yearning for Elena Rostova, feelings that he was willing to explore a bit more if only he had some time.
“I’ll give you that. Now your turn,” he said. There was a silent agreement between T and him. Give a little, take a little. That way they both could walk away winners.
T combed her hand through her blonde hair, a small satisfied smile settling on her perfectly shaped lips.
“While working on the ring-alarm, I’ve come across something that confirmed something else I’ve been working on.
There’ll come a time when Helen might need someone she can trust.” Her expression suddenly turned serious.
“She could reject my friendship with her, thinking I’ve betrayed her.
It’s good to know she’d have you by her side. ”
“You’re making me more curious than ever,” Jed murmured. “Are you betraying her?”
“No. I’ve been having certain suspicions about certain GEM inner circle things and have some of them confirmed, but not enough to really say anything.
I have no solid evidence. It’s big, Jed.
When it blows, all GEM operatives will need to take cover.
As for Helen—” Tess paused. She shook her head.
“I’m not willing to bring it up before its time.
There’s a list of dangerous weapons to take care of first. Like you love to say.
Do the job. Everything else will take care of its own. ”
Everything she’d told him so far was both nothing and yet, something.
NOPAIN at its best. She was right, though.
“I’ll stick to Helen,” he assured her, then leaned forward to wickedly add, “like your man’s sticking to you.
Seems like you’ve got to learn to trust your feelings, T.
Go for it. Give in to him. Let yourself trust him. ”
T shrugged. “You forget. He doesn’t trust me,” she said.
“Well, then, aren’t we both in the same hot water?”
“Helen will trust you eventually, darling. She’ll figure out you’re a softie inside,” T said smugly.
“And so will Alex trust you eventually, darling,” Jed drawled. “He’ll figure out you’re not totally heartless.”
T stared at him, then started to laugh. Her beeper went off.
“I bet I know who’s looking for you,” Jed mocked.
T smiled. “Goodnight, Jed. I actually like you when you’re tired. You’re less guarded.”
“Using NOPAIN on a tired man is very amateurish, T.” He was tired, but knew she was just baiting him too.
Another Jed and T unspoken rule: Always leave with the last word, if possible.
“Ooops, is that Alex down there staring into my micro-eye? I believe it is. How is a tired operative ever going to get his beauty sleep?”
T made a face and turned around, clicking the door shut behind her without another word. Jed noted she never answered her beeper or checked the video screen. He would have found that amusing if he hadn’t understood the urge to check on someone sleeping too damn far away at this moment.
He secured all the codes, set the alarm, stood up and stretched. Was she dreaming about him tonight? Or would he dream about her instead? He rubbed a hand over his eyes. Either way, it just wasn’t going to be the same without them dreaming together.