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

widened. “You're not kidding. Man, what's the deal? You barely know this woman. Granted, she's hot. But come on. We've never had problems sharing before.”

“She's different. I can't explain it.”

“Well, you'd better get over it. This job is going to be hard enough working with a civilian.

You add sex to the mess, and we'll end up ass deep in trouble, and not just from some woman mooning over you after you dump her.”

“She doesn't seem to have any trouble avoiding me lately. I don't think we need to worry about her mooning anytime soon,” Fallon muttered, annoyed all over again that he'd barely seen Olivia since their run-in Saturday night.

Shaking his head, Tersch threw his arm over Fallon's shoulders and dragged him inside.

“She's just a woman. Let her go.” He sized up Ava as they passed her in the hallway. “Take me.

Ava Belle won't give me the time of day, but you know what? I don't care. If she doesn't know what she's missing out on, I don't have the heart to tell her,” he said in a raised voice and snickered at her less-than-friendly rebuttal. “One pussy's as good as another, man.”

“Oh? Is that why you're always looking over your shoulder at the woman who could care less how big your dick, or your ego, is?” Fallon smirked, pleased to have caught Tersch in the act of doing just that.

“Ass.” Tersch removed his arm and gave him a shove. “Come on. Let's go tell Alicia we couldn't find the file she sent us after and see what the guys are up to. I thought we were supposed to start training Olivia. Seems like all they've been doing is talking.”

“No kidding.” He itched to see Olivia again. Taking a subtle sniff, he followed the trace of her lingering in the hallway.

“I can't believe you're sniffing after her like a damned dog. Dude, you're embarrassing,” Tersch grumbled but followed along.

Fallon sped up when he heard Hayashi's, Jules's, and Olivia's voices coming from the gym.

He and Tersch entered to find the three of them dressed for sport. Olivia wore shorts and a T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The shirt clung to her in patches, sweat making her skin shine like gold.

Fallon's beast purred, and Tersch stalked away, muttering under his breath.

“I want to play,” the Viking announced and stripped off his shirt.

Olivia's eyes widened. “Wow. I didn't think they made assholes that large.” Jules laughed, and Hayashi grinned.

“Incredible, isn't it?” Fallon added and stepped forward, pleased to see the awareness flash in her gaze.

“Hey, Jesse.”

Her blush wasn't lost on anyone, and Fallon wanted to crow the petty victory. The woman responded to him because she belonged to him.

“Fallon, Tersch, where the hell have you two been?” Jules asked with a frown. “We've been waiting to train, just warming up. Olivia has some impressive moves. Unfortunately Hayashi's slowed down some.”

Without warning, Hayashi kicked at Jules's head. Jules barely avoided the blow but instead suffered the shot Hayashi aimed at his ribs.

“Slow, my ass,” the Asian muttered. “My roundhouse was intentionally sloppy because I didn't want to brain you. How does the gut feel?”

Jules grunted and straightened. “Terrific, thanks. Fallon, Tersch, get over here. I want to demonstrate a few things for Olivia before we give her some abbreviated training. Mrs. Sharpe has given us five more days before we head out. Our flight for Brazil leaves Saturday morning.” Olivia took the cue and sat down, her legs crossed in front of her.

Fallon wanted to join her, to plant a kiss on those full lips, but the look she gave him warned him not to try.

Jules stretched. “You two, go suit up. We'll wait.”

Fallon and Tersch left and returned in minutes dressed in shorts and T-shirts. Fallon wondered if Jules intended for them to change in front of her. He didn't want to with an audience. For some odd reason, his beast considered it his own personal mission to instruct Olivia in the fundamental truth of what being a Circ meant.

“Why don't you guys ever wear shoes?” she asked, looking at their feet.

“It impedes our abilities,” Hayashi answered when no one else did.

“Hmm.”

“Olivia, this is important,” Jules began. “The four of us work as a cohesive unit. Each of us understands the other after working together for several years. Our abilities give us a unique way to communicate as well. Fallon, open up.”

Fallon released the shields holding his mind closed from outside thought. Olivia's mind remained behind a wall of defense, but the others sounded clear. The union warmed him, made him feel comforted by familiar minds.

“Fallon sends messages with his mind that can't be heard or penetrated by an outside source. Tersch, when he puts his mind to it, can't be stopped.”

“Not even by a bullet?”

“Not even then.”

Her expressive face looked so damned cute. Fallon wanted to…

“Focus, dammit.” Jules frowned at him before continuing. “Hayashi, as you saw, is lethal with those fists and feet. He's also learning to better control his visions.”

“For example, I can tell you that at some point in our stint in South America, the five of us are going to be running in the forest. We're going to separate.” Hayashi paused, his face blank.

“You'll go with Jules and Fallon. Tersch and I will lead them away while you three get to safety.”

Olivia leaned forward. “Safety? From who? Montaña's men? I thought I was supposed to stay in the city while you four investigated the lab.”

“What I see is a possibility, not an exact future,” Hayashi said quietly.

Jules continued. “A possibility that makes it vital you can defend yourself in a worst-case scenario.” He paused. “Olivia, are you Circ?”

The entire room quieted. Fallon waited anxiously for her answer.

“Am I what?”

“Circ,” Fallon repeated, remembering an image of her changed eyes.

“Um, no. I've never been treated for anything other than a superficial cold. I'm surprisingly healthy—no weird shots, no genetic manipulation. Hell, I was almost out of breath on my run the