Chapter Four #3
She shook her head, but was glad that she’d been allowed to watch them at work.
She was going to find out as much as she could about the experiment and all the equipment, but being explained to and having it done to her were two entirely different things.
Yeah, yeah, synchronized brain waves. A communications link that utilized her “talent.” But the reality—or the experience when it happened—was a jolt to any normal human being.
“We’re activating the Portal, Miss Roston.”
Derek’s voice jerked Helen back from her reverie. She was so used to people doing stuff to her body that she could drift off without even feeling needles. She took a deep breath.
“Give me a sec.” She wanted to be in total control this time.
Someone else in her head. Get used to that, Helen.
She released her breath, then mockingly drawled, “A girl’s got to get ready when she meets a Greek god, you know.
” She flexed her fingers. I want to get him closer.
She smiled, and instructed softly, “Okay, proceed, Derek.”
The darkness didn’t last as long this time. There was a quick prickle of awareness as something was turned on, then there he was, larger than life, in front of her.
Helen couldn’t help smiling. Well, what was there not to smile about, when she had created this beautiful creature herself? Her eyes went lower and her smile turned into a wide grin. Who said a girl couldn’t have her cake and eat it, too?
No need for greetings. “How do you like your changes?” she asked impishly.
“I suppose any man would thank you for extra blessings,” he replied dryly.
She waved her arms out experimentally. The sense of space was so real, even though her mind was telling her she was really in VR mode.
“So, are you ever going to tell me what we do during these sessions? Besides me admiring your beauty, of course.” She had read the contract and the stages of experiments but this was the vaguest part. What exactly was this man to her? “How many times do we meet?”
“Look at it as a getting-to-know-you kind of thing,” he replied. Was that a hint of mockery? “And we meet as often as we can.”
Helen sauntered closer, tilting her head to the side a little as she looked up at him. “So this is like questions and answers?”
“Something like it. For now.”
It was unnerving how the avatar just stood there unmoving. “Can you make yourself appear with clothes?” she asked.
“No, you have total control over what I look like, Helen.”
“Oh. Am I embarrassing you?”
“But you wanted to.”
“That’s not so!” Well, a little, but it was just her need to assert control.
“Yes, control is very important to you, and I don’t blame you at all. Your life isn’t your own these days.”
“How do you read my mind? And how come I can’t read yours?” She wrinkled her nose. “Those brain wave sync tests, right? Somehow you can read my thoughts.”
He shook his head. “No,” he assured her quietly.
“Those tests aren’t advanced enough to read subjects’ minds, Helen.
Let’s just say that I find this situation quite unique myself.
The VR is supposed to let me see what your mind is projecting when you’re in session, but my sensory perception is also picking up things I shouldn’t—sometimes your thoughts, sometimes your feelings. ”
She didn’t think she liked that at all.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Oh, stop. You’re going to make me nervous about my own thoughts.”
“No, you have to learn to get used to me, Elena.”
She stepped closer. It was strange how he sometimes switched to calling her Elena. It made their conversation even more intimate, somehow. “Why?” she asked. His eyes drew her to him, dark chocolate, and so secretive.
Again he shook his head. “If I tell you, you’ll just anticipate and then fight it. It’s in your nature. I can feel it. You hate being told what to do and how to behave.”
Helen didn’t want him to tell her what she was like. She was the one trying to find out what he was like, dammit. “T. told me to think of Greek myths. Hades kidnapped poor Persephone into the Underworld. She must’ve told you they call me Hell-on-Wheels. Is that why you chose that name?”
“Apt, don’t you think? Although I much prefer Elena.”
The way he said her name made her think of doing things with a man—naughty, private things. She quickly pushed the thoughts away.
Hades reached out and waved his hand. The perception of white light disappeared and Helen found herself in a desertlike place, a blazing sun above her.
He waved again, and like magic, the sudden ovenlike heat was gone, and they were standing near the edge of a building, a long way above a snarl of traffic.
She could feel the wind beating on her body and she reached out to grab his arm to steady herself. It felt hard and muscular.
“Fine, you have programmed controls at your end to play with the scenery,” she yelled above the wind. “So you’re Hades giving me a tour. What’s that got to do with your being able to read my thoughts and feelings?”
Hades turned suddenly, his eyes sharp and assessing. “Give and take, Helen. That’s the foundation to a good relationship. What’s your remote view trigger code?”