He made sure Fallon kept her well away from him. Though he'd been dying to see her change, he didn't think he'd be able to help himself if he did. So when Jules and the others met with her to see just what she could do, he'd insisted on staying by Olivia's side. The sweetheart had known exactly what he'd needed and let him stay with her as she and Sheridan readied for their trip to Quantico.
He sat in Sheridan's lab at the moment, watching as she gathered her notebooks and downloaded files onto a portable hard drive.
“For Doc,” she explained. “I want him to see just what I've been doing. It's not much, but I think I might be able to help him with any new rogues his people find.
I'm developing an antibody with my research that needs a lot more testing, but it might actually provide some relief to the mating heats. The shots you guys were getting actually suppressed your instinctive senses, though Jules told me he never felt a difference. That's why Mrs. Sharpe took you off the meds, you know.”
“A decent tradeoff, I'm thinking.” He wondered how he'd handle his next heat.
Because after that incident with Ava in his bedroom, he didn't think anyone but Ava could relieve his sexual needs. And that worried the hell out of him.
Sheridan worked in silence for a few more minutes.
“Gunnar, when I'm gone, promise me you'll take care of Jules.”
“Of course I will.”
She patted him on the arm. “No matter what he says, do what you have to do to make sure he's all right.”
Tersch grinned. “Can I quote you on that? Because he's pretty sensitive about anyone actually trying to help him out. Has a stick up his ass about it the size of Texas.”
She sighed. “I know. But ignore it like you always do. He's as fit as ever, but I think he worries about me and the baby when he should be focusing on work, and he can't afford the distraction right now.” She leaned closer. “But don't tell him I told you that.”
Tersch liked Sheridan more every day. When he'd first met her, he'd thought her a troublemaker out to hurt Jules. Then he'd thought her a seductress bent on taking advantage of their team. It had taken some tough love, but she'd made him see the light. Oh boy, had she. The feral little redhead had sucked him off but good.
A twinge of guilt hit him at the thought. Did Ava know? Would she understand? And why did he feel a sense of shame for what they'd shared, the communion of his alpha's mate with him? A natural thing for the team to share loving, mates and all. Yet he suddenly sensed he'd done something wrong, and he couldn't have said why.
Hell, lately even the soft, flowery scent of Sheridan smelled stale to him.
“Gunnar, are you okay? You don't look so good. A little wild around the eyes.”
“I'm fine.” To his embarrassment, his voice sounded hoarse. He cleared his throat and took a subtle step back. His beast approved the small distance, but his stupid berserker wouldn't be satisfied until he sought Ava again. “Ah, make sure you take care of yourself and Olivia while you're gone. Don't stray from Morgan or Kisho. At all, Sheridan,” he warned with bite. “I'm not kidding. You can't chance that kid.” He nodded to her stomach. Jules's young, the continuation of their species. His beast nodded as well, pleased that their leader's strength would be passed on to future generations. The very reason for the mating heat to begin with.
Perpetuation of their kind.
“I'll be careful, Gunnar.” Sheridan smiled at him and moved closer for a kiss when his beast jerked him back.
What the fuck? He could bend over for the guys but not kiss the girls? To cover his uncontrolled reaction, he backed away and lied. “Uh, Fallon's calling me. I gotta go.” “Fallon, get your ass down here and sit with Sheridan. I need a breather. She’s getting all weepy and shit, but don’t tell her I said so.”
“Right-o.”
To his relief, Fallon didn't complain. A decent buddy, one who hadn't changed or softened because of Olivia. Then again, Tersch couldn't have picked a better mate for his friend than the dark-haired beauty. Olivia gave as good as she got, and she kept Fallon on his toes. Plus, she had a kink streak a mile wide.
A streak he no longer had any interest in riding.
Fuck. What the hell is my problem?
Tersch practically ran out of the room and hurried down the long hallway of the basement to the stairs. He passed Fallon on the way.
“Where's Ava?” Tersch didn't even try to hide his need to know the woman's whereabouts so he could avoid her. The guys found it hilarious, especially since Ava seemed to be enjoying her time trying to find him. She friggin' tied him in knots. He thought she'd be angry he wanted nothing to do with her. Instead, she treated it like another game.
“Your woman is currently sparring with Price and Foreman. I think they're in the gym—”
Tersch saw red. He bounded up the stairs and pushed past Jules, knocking him into the wall.
“What the fuck, Tersch?” Jules swore.
Tersch couldn't stop. He kept hearing Ava's teasing comments in his head.
“Yeah, I’ll just go find Keegan or James and let a real man take the edge off.” Like hell she would!
He barged into the gym ready to rip Price's head off and fuck Foreman up in a bad way. He stopped at the sight of Ava sparring with Kisho while Morgan downed a bottle of water, watching. No sight of Price or Foreman to be seen.
“Oh, did I say Price and Foreman? I meant Hayashi and Morgan. My bad.” The laughter layering Fallon's thoughts annoyed the shit out of him.
“I’ll get you back, you bastard.” Tersch sent him.
“Bring it on, you lovesick ass. Dude, just surrender gracefully. It’s embarrassing to watch her hunt you down.”
Tersch ignored the last part, knowing how it must look. A pint-sized sexpot stalking a man twice her size who could rip her in half. Then again, the way she threw her weight around lately, he didn't think tearing her in half would be easy. A good thing. Because he knew what a man with his strength could do to a woman.
How love could damage when it should have strengthened.
That in mind, he stared at the trio before him with a straight face. In control and calm. Mostly.
Morgan frowned at him but didn't move away from the match. The gymnasium was lined with thick blue mats. On the west corner free weights, benches, and a Nautilus system kept them in decent shape. But Tersch was partial to open fights and hand-to-hand combat.
Watching Hayashi battle Ava didn't bother him at all. He trusted Hayashi like no other—and not because his buddy was gay, but because the Asian understood him best. Hayashi had grown up on the streets, unloved by his family, unwanted by his relatives. Much like Tersch, also unloved and unwanted, who'd been raised by an abusive asshole who'd killed his sister and his girlfriend. And all because of him.
Ever reminded of the past, he shoved the brutal remembrance down and forced a wry grin. “Hayashi, you're getting your ass kicked by a girl,” he said with a sneer, hoping to break Ava's concentration as she met Hayashi kick for kick and punch for punch.
Sure enough, she glared at him. Hayashi took advantage and swept her off her feet. Except Ava didn't hit the mat when she should have. Instead, she somehow managed to move ten feet away in the blink of an eye. Now behind him, she knocked Tersch on his ass before he could block her. He drew in a deep breath and felt a long, sharp claw at his throat.
His cock hardened instantly.
Morgan laughed, the asshole. “Damn, that was incredible. Let him up and do it again, Ava.”