Dawn Endeavor 1: Fallon's Flame by Marie Harte (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

Olivia, this team was put together to stop scientific research gone wrong. The intent of Dawn Endeavor is to stop rogue science from hurting the men and women who defend our country. The original Project Dawn was compromised. The lead scientist manipulated good people, turning some into monsters and others into brutal killers. And others”—she paused to indicate Jules and the others—“into weapons for good.

“Now we do our best to make sure Dawn Endeavor functions as the initial project was originally intended, to help our government. If we don't find and destroy this new biological weapon, we'll lose not only a new resource at our disposal—namely those psychic warriors fighting for us—but we'll also chance giving the enemy vital insights into our nation. Imagine what they could learn from men of power in our government? Not only national secrets but foresights we couldn't help to combat.”

A real problem. “So you want me to work with this team of supermen,” she said slowly, her eyes on the Circs, “and let myself get infected with this drug to see if it hurts me the way it did them.”

“Yes.”

“Do I need to die to prove it works?” she asked drily.

“Not at all. We'll bring you back to safety and extract you from Bahia before the team takes out the lab. Once here, under proper supervision, you'll be dosed with the drug. If you begin to have visions, which we know isn't a part of your skill set, we'll inject you with the antidote.”

“I'm sorry, but I need time to think about this.”

“Me too,” Jules growled. “We're not using Olivia to test some drug that kills people. Bad enough you want us to walk her into danger.”

“It's a lot to process,” Mrs. Sharpe agreed, ignoring Jules. “Why don't you take a walk outside? The path is lit, so you should have no trouble seeing during the dark. You'd be surprised, but the back gardens are particularly pleasant this time of year, despite the cold. The mums and pansies are bearing up just fine.”

Blinking at the mundane mention of flowers after hearing about psychic warfare and unbelievable Circs, Olivia pushed back from the table. “You know, maybe I will.” Ava moved to go with her when Mrs. Sharpe shook her head. “Let Olivia have some time to herself.”

Jules gave the woman a look Olivia couldn't decipher. But she suddenly needed some space. She left wondering why the hell she'd wished for so much excitement. It seemed her days of being bored were totally numbered.

Fallon watched Olivia stroll through the garden, her hands tucked into the pockets of the formfitting jacket she wore. Her hair had started to come free from the clasp holding it back, framing her face with delicate strands of dark silk.

So much for getting this need to touch her out of his system. At least he'd dealt with his more pressing need to handle his beast. The run he'd taken had soothed his wild urge to mate, which made no sense. Too much Circ sex lately, perhaps.

Wanting to at least spend some time with Olivia that didn't involve stalking or staring through trees, he raced back to the woods where he'd left his clothes, changed back, and put them on. Then after hurrying through the house and skirting the dining area, he joined her again outside.

She turned when he opened the door and shut it behind him. “What are you doing out here?”

“I figured I'm in enough trouble for missing dinner. Mrs. Sharpe is a stickler for punctuality.”

“She wasn't happy you missed the meal.”

Her troubled gaze bothered him. He stuck his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't be able to reach out and offer comfort. “You okay?”

She regarded him with more than curiosity, but a sense of unease.

“Hell. She told you about us.”

She nodded.

He swore under his breath. “Didn't think she would yet. So you know…what?”

“That you're some kind of super soldier.”

“Sailor. Super sailor. We're SEALs.”

Olivia gifted him with a small grin. “Go navy.”

“Yeah.”

“So you guys are really strong and fast. And it seems you're all psychic too.”

“Like you,” he reasoned, aware he still couldn't read her. “Most of us had weird abilities before Circs ever existed. The Circe serum just enhanced them. I'm telepathic, but you're closed to me.”

“Oh, wow. Kisho said he can see the future. But I didn't know about the rest of you.”

“Jules sees auras. Tersch is a battle maniac. We call him our own berserker.”

“That fits.”

“What about you?” He took a few steps closer, careful not to spook her. The fear he'd seen on her face bothered him. Fallon wanted her aware of him, not scared of him.

She flushed. “I can sense emotions.”

“An empath. Cool.”

“But not around you.” She frowned. “This is going to sound forward, but can I touch you?” His heart raced. “As if I'll say no.”

She didn't smile. Instead she stepped closer and took his larger hand in her own. The touch electrified him, but it put him no closer to reading her.

Huge blue-green eyes blinked up at him. “I can't tell what you're feeling at all. This is amazing!”

“Good or bad?” he asked huskily, closing his hand around hers. Her skin felt so soft under his calloused palm. This close, he could smell a lingering scent of flowers, either her perfume or shampoo. Her head fit under his chin, and he knew if he angled closer, he could pull her into his embrace and feel her hot breath on his chest.

“G-good,” she stammered, caught in his stare.

He wanted to know what she thought as she looked at him, but not knowing was an enticement all its own. “I'm sorry about this, but I can't stop myself.”

“From what?”

He lowered his head, waiting for her to try to bolt. When she remained still, he gentled his hold and savored the first press of her lips under his. So perfect, so goddamn right. She closed her eyes, thick lashes fanning her rosy cheeks as she responded, ever so slowly, to his