“If I do it, will you take your hand away?”she demanded fiercely, still shaking inside.
It seems to be the only way to keep both our minds connected while you’re out there. The more you’re aware of me, the more I’m aware of what you’re seeing, believe it or not. If my hand is making you conscious of me all the time, good.
By not mentally preparing her for the sensual assault, he’d attached himself to her psyche, so that she remained aware of him, even in her phantom body. One couldn’t just get that close to achieving orgasm without an overwhelming sense of need for more. And the yearning for more of Hades’ touch acted as a mental link. He was totally evil.
He had planned this all along. That was why he’d kept emphasizing trust being the issue. His use of NOPAIN was admirable, if she was in any mood to admire. He had tied her in so many knots, there wasn’t any room to maneuver. Shewould notadmit that the thought of the location of his hand was bothering her. It wasn’t real anyway. It was all VR.
Exactly. Now for this time, let me read the coordinates, so I can go with you without…umm…giving you fits. Or would you prefer I…
Of course even that trailed-off suggestion was meant to zoom in her focus on him and his hand again, enforcing that mental link.
But you’re so wet already.
His murmur was like potent wine in her mind.“Read the damn coordinates,”Helen spat out.
She turned the key in the ignition. She would not think about his hand. She stared out at the checkered flag as she listened to his voice. She would get there and get the job done. She wouldnotthink about that hand.
I’m losing your thoughts. Come back to me.
Hades’ soft command broke through Helen’s concentration. She had been focusing on the tiny screen, trying to get closer to figure out what the electronic key was for. She had been too far away to see what was being typed. Dammit. There must be a way.
Not yet.Just a few…minutes…
Elena, come back to me.
It occurred to her that she hadn’t thought about Hades’ hand ever since she figured out the electronic key was the target. She’d felt danger and had sidled closer. There was danger in that room. Dangerous people. And that key was dangerous, too.
With her switching her focus and acting on a whim instead of describing to her monitor, she’d managed to block Hades. Somewhat, she amended. After all, just the sound of his voice immediately brought back the awareness of him. All he needed was the power of suggestion, the bastard.
“I was checking on what they’re doing with the key,”she said.
No need. I’ve a feeling we’ll know about that when we come out of VR. The task was to verify the target and give a specific location.
She had perused the place for a clue to the target’s coordinates. Finding location was very, very tough in remote viewing. If she were to look for a trailer park, there were thousands of them in the United States. Here, the clues had been the computer and the transactions those people were making. They were in German, with the Frankfurt address right on the top of the screen.
“Let me reverify the location to make sure,”she said.“I don’t want to rely on a computer screen.”
Agreed. But you must work in tandem with me. I’m seeing the same things you are, sometimes disjointedly because I’m not actually sure which way you’re turning. I have no control over this, since you’re in charge.
“Hey, this is the first time I like the idea of you in my mind,”Helen said.“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around your being able to see through my eyes, period. I mean, you aren’t a remote viewer, so you can’t be here here.”
Exactly. Brain sync. I’m your VR here and you’re my VR there. That’s why I need you to tell me where you’re turning. Remember that it’s your point of view I’m looking from. The snatches of thought are a plus that no one had considered possible, though.
His explanation was, as usual, uniquely simple.
“Tell me more about the snatches of thought,”she asked, curious.
Let’s verify location now.
He also had a bad habit of changing the subject when she started to ask too many questions.
She looked around her once again.“I’ll go through the door and quickly check out the layout of this building to see where we are. Then I’ll go move upwards and confirm that we’re near or in Frankfurt.”
No need, on the second part. I’ve been inside this building before. I need you to confirm a few specific things. Find the main floor. There are two bronze horses in the main area, their front legs in the air. There’s a plaque on the pedestal which should say Deutsche International.
“Okay, that makes things easier.”
She looked at the people in the room one last time then went through the door. There was a long passageway, with only three doors, and then an elevator that had no buttons on the outside. There was a slot for an electronic pass.
