Jim was shocked. He’d had no idea. The very concept was appalling. Certainly a broken heart wasn’t something anyone wanted to experience, but actually going insane as a result was too much. These Alvians never did anything halfway, he thought. Claim your mate or go nuts. No middle ground.
Of course, it also meant that if Gina chose Jim over Grady, Jim would have to knowingly let the man go off to die. Jim didn’t think he could live with that on his conscience. Not even knowing the bastard was an alien.
Grady Prime was real to him now. Jim had seen a little of his vulnerability and couldn’t fault the way he treated Gina. The others seemed to respect him, but Jim wanted a chance to discover the real man. He wanted to get him in the sparring ring. The way a man fought told Jim a lot about a guy. Knowing what he knew now, Jim would take the time to learn more about this Grady character.
It was an untenable situation all the way around, but nothing had to be decided in the next few minutes. They had time. Not much, but some. It would have to be enough.
“So, just to be sure I’ve got this right, if Gina rejects him, Grady will go nuts?”
Jaci looked away, toward her mates, nodding. “If he is like our ancestors, then yes.”
“What about—” Jim didn’t want to say it out loud, but the possibility was there, staring him in the face. “What about if we formed a threesome? Would he be able to deal with it then? Or does this resonance stuff require full, one-on-one commitment?”
“Judging by Chief Engineer Davin’s mating, a threesome would work fine, if all three of you were willing to share. It works beautifully for my mates and me. I’ve heard that Davin and his mates are happy and well balanced, even though from all accounts, Davin was much closer to insanity than Grady Prime appears to be.”
Jim had a lot to think about. He was confused and didn’t know how to resolve any of these issues, but time would tell. Hopefully. He didn’t have a lot of time to waste, but surely he deserved a few days away from his responsibilities to think through his future. He didn’t think his people would begrudge him that. And besides, he was making contacts and working out details for opening communication between his installation and this one. If all went well, he could do that and figure out the rest of his life at the same time.
“Thank you, Jaci. I’m glad you took the time to tell me these things.” He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on the back, politely. She smiled at him with understanding in her eyes.
“I wasn’t sure if I should speak, but I think it was the right thing to do. There have been too many misunderstandings between our peoples already. This is the time for clear communication—especially with something as important as this.”
“You were right to tell me, Jaci. I’ll think about what you’ve said and appreciate your concern.”
He left her then, heading for his quarters. He definitely did have a lot to think about.
Chapter Fifteen
“Grady, wait up.” Gina’s voice carried in the dark recesses of the giant, manmade cave.
The main area was a massive cavern hollowed out by machines long ago. Pillars of rock had been left every twenty yards or so as support columns, rounded at the top and bottom, arching into the roof and floor, giving the chamber a cathedral-like feel.
Gina followed Grady Prime into the far recesses of the cleared area, past the buildings that fit within the massive cavern, to an area that sloped gently downward toward an underground lake. Water gathered in the massive area, purified by its trip through the rock above into an ice-cold, totally contained and safe water supply.
Grady paused when Gina called after him, but didn’t turn. She caught up with him, walking around his tall body to face him. His features were in shadow, but her eyes had adjusted to the dark. She could tell he was upset. His eyes glittered down at her in the darkness.
“Please tell me what’s wrong. Did Jim say something?” She put a hand on his forearm, seeking answers.
“This is not Jim’s fault.” Grady sighed and looked at her, relaxing a bit. She took it as a good sign. “We agreed that you would decide which of us you wanted in your life.”
Taken aback, she straightened, looking at him in surprise.
“Well, you’ve got that part right at least.”
Grady stepped close, facing her toe to toe as one hand rose to cup her waist and the other her cheek.
“Forgive me for not handling this well. I, of course, understand why one of your own race would be preferable to me but please, say I at least have some chance of winning your heart.”
Right then, her heart melted. She moved into his arms as they closed around her.
“Of course you do, Grady.” She rested her head against his chest, searching for words that would ease his turmoil. “Jim shouldn’t have said anything to you. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do about the future, but I want to find a way to allow all three of us to be happy.”
“A threesome? Is that what you want? With Jim?”
She hadn’t really thought in those terms but after seeing Jaci with her two mates, the idea did seem to have some merit. Still, the obstacles in their way were big. Perhaps insurmountable.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” She pulled back, trying to see through the darkness to meet his eyes. “Jim has responsibilities to the people he leads. I have responsibilities to the Patriarch and the clan. You—” She hated to think what he had to look forward to when he got back to the Alvian scientists who were experimenting on him. “You have a high profile role in regular Alvian society aside from the experiment you’re taking part in. Even if you weren’t a test subject, it would be hard for us to be together, but I have to hope there’s a way.”
“There is always a way. That is one of the many things I’ve learned from observing humans for so long.” Grady smiled in the gloom. “I don’t know how yet, but I want to be with you, Gina. I…love you. You are in my heart, and you always will be. I must be with you.” His voice went from sure to tentative. “If you will allow it.”
“I want that too, Grady.” Her words were whispered against his stubbly cheek as she reached up on tiptoe to place gentle kisses on his jaw. “I love you too.”
“I know we have problems, but I have to believe fate would not be so unkind as to let me find you, only to take you away. You are my perfect mate, my resonance partner. I can be happy with no other but you, Gina.”
Now that she was in his arms, his words flowed more freely, as if a dam had broken inside him. He clutched her waist, pulling her against his hard body. She could feel his hardness through the layers of their clothing, and she wanted nothing more than to feel him claim her in the most elemental way.
“Let’s go to your room,” she suggested. “I need you, Grady. I want you to make love to me. Now.”
She’d barely finished speaking when Grady swept her off her feet. She wasn’t sure where he was taking her, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was to be with him—making love with him—as soon as possible. She nibbled his neck, his ear, his firm jaw as he strode swiftly through the cavern and into one of the buildings. A door opened and closed and then he placed her on a soft bed, following her down onto it.
“I’ve dreamed of this,” he whispered as he leaned over her. He kissed her, claiming her mouth with a thoroughness that left her gasping.
When he let her up for air, she smiled. “I thought about you too, during my travels. I missed you, Grady.”
“Your words are music to my ears.” He rewarded her with a series of nibbling kisses that eventually trailed their way down her neck to her collarbone and lower. He nudged her clothing out of the way, unfastening tabs and baring her as he went along.