AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"What do you mean?"
"Jasper knows you will attempt to find Jake, so he will have set some sort of trap again." She nodded. That much she'd guessed. But she had to find Jake, and this was her best option. Probably the only option, if they wanted to find him alive.
"You have a plan to stop him?"
"Yes. But it would involve my mind joining yours,” he hesitated and shrugged lightly. “Completely." She stared at him. Merge minds? To know each other's thoughts and desires?
"We already know each others thoughts, Nikki."
"But I can't—"
"You can.” He studied her, face grim. “And all too often you have. It's something neither of us can really control, something that gets stronger every time we...” He hesitated, then shrugged again. “The point is, do you trust me enough to allow our minds to merge?"
"How deep a merging would it be?” The prospect made her stomach turn. Did she really want Michael to know all her wants, all her secrets and fears?
"It would have to be complete enough to allow me some kind of control if I need it. But I promise not to delve, not to open any doors you wish kept closed. And you must promise the same." She nodded and wondered if it mattered. Michael's abilities far outstripped hers. There was no way on earth she'd be able to control him. “But how will this merging screw up the kind of trap Jasper had waiting last time?"
"I intend to direct your abilities along a slightly different path." She licked her lips. For all intents and purposes, he'd have control of her. Her willingness to go along with this would allow Michael to succeed where Jasper had so far failed—would give him the access Tommy had wanted but couldn't fully control.
"Damn it, Nikki, I'm not Jasper. Or Tommy."
He rose and moved around the desk, stopping only a foot away from her. She bit her lip and backed away a step. Her back hit the wall. The wood paneling felt cool against her palms when compared to the fire of his gaze.
"I don't want control of your mind—or your body—or anything else, for that matter. When will you get that through your head? I just want you to trust me."
She stared at him. Deep in his eyes she saw a flicker of longing and knew in that instant he wanted something more than he'd ever admit or allow.
"Just tell me what you intend to do."
He sighed and turned to the window, staring out through the lace. “Instead of merely tracking Jake's whereabouts, I intend to join his mind. That will prevent Jasper from detecting us, and it will give us a better idea of what is going on."
So Michael would have control of two minds. She remembered how easily he had made the waiter do as he asked, and shivered. But that had only been surface control. This would be so much deeper.
“Won't it be dangerous?"
"Anything that deals with this kind of mental intrusion can be dangerous."
"For us or for Jake?"
"For everyone. But we should have no trouble linking with Jake. I've already done it." She gave him a long look. He ignored it, though she knew by the taut muscles in his crossed arms that he was well aware of her gaze. “When was this?"
He shrugged. “The night before I met you. I needed to know Lyndhurst's background in a hurry, and who would know more than a private investigator?"
Who indeed? And Jake had been an investigator long enough to know his fair share of secrets. She just had to hope he'd be around long enough to learn a few more.
She swallowed to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. “Will we be able to feel what he feels?"
"Yes. But I will protect you from it as much as I can."
"I don't know—"— if I can cope with Jake's fear on top of my own.
"You must,” Michael said gently. “If you want him to survive." She took a deep breath then nodded. Jake was the closest thing she had left to family. She didn't want to lose him. “What do I do?"
"Sit in his chair and relax."
She did. Michael held her hand. Heat burned through her flesh, warming the ice formed by her apprehension.
"Now relax and close your eyes."
