Free Project Genesis by Michelle Howard Page A

the scent of lemons and another unidentifiable odor
assailed her. Pushing up to her elbows, she stared at the nondescript room and
its empty white walls.
    Her hair fell
around her face as she sat up. A blue comforter crumpled beneath her.
    “Hey, sleeping
beauty.”
    Helen jerked.
Standing in the doorway with a considering look on his face was the man who’d
dumped her with no explanation. A man who in turn saved her life. Her feelings
split straight down the middle on how she should react. Unsure of where they
stood, she got to her feet and cold immediately stabbed her toes. Her socks and
shoes were missing.
    “Where am I? I
thought you were taking me home?” Otherwise, she’d have protested and not
blithely fallen to sleep.
    Vin braced his
hands on the jamb of the doorway over his head and leaned forward. The move
stretched the material of his white tee shirt giving her a nice view of his
divine upper body. Black cargo pants hung loosely from his narrow waist and his
black combat boots completed the image of tough soldier. His hair appeared wet
as if he’d showered.
    “I brought you
back with me. The Rekabians are continuing their assaults. I’m not sure it’s
safe at your place yet.”
    Helen swallowed.
More attacks? “Where exactly are we?” She looked around at the stark room
containing only the large bed she’d slept in and a side table.
    “These are my
rooms at base.”
    At base. “You mean
your military base?”
    His head moved up
and down.
    “In DC?”
    Another head move.
    He’d taken her
almost an hour away from Baltimore. Helen found her tennis shoes and socks next
to what looked like a closet door. She rushed over to put them on. Quickly she
slid on her socks and stuffed her feet in her shoes. “You need to get me back.”
Like right away. She needed to call people, check on work and plans. Plus, if
the aliens escalated their show of force against Earth, she preferred to be
home surrounded by the comfort of her things.
    “I can’t do that until
we talk, Helen.” He dropped his hands to his side and prowled into the room.
    Thigh muscles
bunched with his every step. Need curled in her belly but she refused to allow
the distraction of his manly beauty to sway her. Throat dry, she waited until
he was in touching distance. The masculine scent of him filled her nostrils.
This was what she’d smelled on the covers. “And exactly why not?” She had no
intentions of staying here despite whatever excuses he gave.
    His hand reached
out and cupped her jaw. He angled her face upward. Helen fought back a shiver.
“Because there are things I need to tell you.” Blue gray orbs beamed with
focus.
    Really? That was
his answer. Frustration warred with yearning. Why did she let him do this to
her? “You didn’t seem in the mood to talk six months ago.”
    Vin sighed. “I was
wrong for how I handled things. The reason why still stands but I…”
    “Forget it.” Helen
moved away from his touch in agitation. She didn’t need or want his excuses.
The time for explanations had passed. “Just give me my cell and I’ll arrange my
own way home.” Maybe the cab driver would trust her long enough to run in and
get money from her place.
    “Helen.”
    The snap in his
voice made her jump and unfortunately perked her nipples up too. Ignoring the
attraction, Helen planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “It
doesn’t matter, Vincent.” He flinched but Helen continued. “You made it pretty
clear how things stood between us. We were lovers and now it's over. Nothing
more nothing less.”
    “It was more and
you damn well know it,” he growled.
    How dare he get
angry. He’d dumped her. “But it’s not any more, is it?” Bitterness coated her
question.
     
    ***
     
    “Fuck.” Vin cursed
and turned away. He wanted to deny it but couldn’t. The hurt and sadness in her
pretty brown eyes weighed enough to drown him and Vin struggled to stay afloat.
Letting her go was the only option. He wasn’t