The Nymph's Curse: The Collection (98 page)

Asia stood very still, her eyes shifting as she seemed to be checking. “Think something.”

“I am. I’m thinking
holy shit
!”

Maybe his years of meditating was paying off. He’d started the practice in college as a way to escape the despair and depression from his meaningless life. The fact that his parents’ wealth could buy him anything—little boy toys when he was a child and big boy toys as a teen and young adult—as a way to keep him occupied took value out of all his experiences. From college education at a top university to a job with an elite banking and investment firm, Duncan and Miranda Pike had given him, their only child, the best of things. But expectations of excellence and stature among the one percent exerted never-ending pressure. It wasn’t enough to have everything, when everything felt shallow and meaningless. A deep vacuum of loneliness and fear of imperfection needed acknowledgement. Instead, Conrad had turned to instant gratification to feed the nagging in his brain that he needed more.

But over the years he’d become more practiced and more skilled at calming his thoughts. Maybe he could keep his mind empty if he needed to and nothing would change between him and Asia. .

“I’m not getting anything. You’re blocking me, aren’t you?”

“Maybe. I don’t know how to open up a connection.”

“Just relax. I’m opening to you and all you have to do is trust me.”

Sweat started to moisten his forehead. Nerves fired in his body at the thought of losing control of his own mind. He closed his eyes and repeated a mantra in his head.
Peaceful mind. Peaceful mind. Peaceful mind.

“Peaceful mind, peaceful mind.”

Conrad opened his eyes as Asia repeated the mantra with him. “So you can read my mind.”

“Yes. I’ve never tried to read yours or anyone’s in the colony, you know that. Friendships need boundaries. But thank you for trusting me enough to allow a connection. I won’t do it again, Conrad.” Her eyes got soft and his nerves settled. She’d treated him respectfully and he felt closer to her than at any other time. It felt good, in an intimate sort of way.

She slid into the couch beside him again. Her hand grazed his leg, eliciting an inner growl from Conrad.

Did she hear that?
It was a surprising reaction to her touch. His libido didn’t factor into his relationship with Asia. He dropped his head into his hands. “Now we know you have a full range of telepathy access.”

She twisted in her seat to face him. “Dinner with Gavin was a disaster. His thoughts kept pouring into my mind. And as if that wasn’t hard enough, I heard a constant drone of thoughts from people in the restaurant and people out on the street.”

“Out on the street? You can read minds from a distance?” Conrad couldn’t imagine how stressful this expanded telepathy must be for Asia.

“Yes, it seemed like it.”

“I guess that makes sense. Thoughts are a form of energy, and physical distance could be irrelevant.”

“Wow, there are so many things I don’t know about this ability.” Her eyes looked out across the room as though searching. “I couldn’t hold a conversation. I just had to get away from Gavin and away from people. I came home and called you.”

He nodded, contemplating her predicament. “So your telepathy is evolving. You know what our fearless leader Casey says—”

“That everything evolves,” she interrupted. “This feels more like Chinese torture than Telepathy 2.0. And why now, with humans all of a sudden?”

His stomach churned, trying to sort out this development. His ability to envision solutions to problems kicked in. But more than that, it was natural for him to want to support her and help her. Ever since they’d met, when he’d been at his lowest, it had been like that for him. Asia was anything but helpless, but he would do anything for her. “It’s a good question. Do
you
have any ideas why now?” He had his own theory, but better to let Asia take the lead on this. “You didn’t drink any magic potions, right? So I vote that it’s a natural evolvement; we just don’t know what triggered it.”

“You goof. Yeah, maybe Gavin slipped me some magic potion,” she teased.

Conrad frowned. “He better not.” The idea of Gavin hurting her twisted his stomach. He suspected Gavin was the problem, the trigger, but he knew if he suggested that to Asia, she’d get defensive and reject it out of hand. She had to be ready to see that her interest in getting serious with a human—Gavin—could subconsciously open her telepathy to allow better understanding of humans.

“Of course he wouldn’t do such a thing. I doubt he’d know how to make a magic potion or find where to purchase one.” She socked him in the arm playfully.

“You know what I meant. He better not hurt you.” He shook his head and shoved her back. “I don’t understand your fascination with dating a human.”

“You date humans all the time.”

He stubbed his foot along the carpet, leaving a trail in the plush weave. “I am not trying to mate with any of the women I date. They offer me something I want. A good time. That’s all I’m looking for. You’re looking for something permanent. You’re hoping that the so-called normal life you fantasize about with a human will change everything. No more colony to contend with, no more pain from your past to weigh you down.”

“Wow, thank you for that analysis, Dr. Pike. Do you charge for that?” Her rich brown eyes glistened. Her expression was stoic, but Conrad suspected he’d crossed a line. Fear twiggled inside his gut. It was tiny, but ever present. He didn’t want to lose her and he certainly didn’t want to push her away.

“Okay, I deserved that. I apologize. You know me and my opinions.” He ducked his head sheepishly. “Forgiven?”

“Of course.” She released a big sigh. “I know you don’t agree with my intentions to build a normal life. Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but it’s what I want. I don’t expect you to understand.”

He nodded. She was right; he didn’t understand. But he respected her right to choose.

“Can we get back to figuring how I’m going to survive my new skills?”

“You’re going to need to practice. I think that’s what it will take.” He stared out the large living room window in her condo and let the pull of nature entice him. He turned back to her. “Just as you open and close your connection with animals, you’ll have to practice doing the same with humans.”

Her eyes suddenly went wide. “So do you think humans can read my mind? If my mind has become open all the time to them, it would make sense that anyone could pick up my thoughts, too.”

“That is something to check out. That would put you at risk. But honestly, did Gavin seem to be reading your mind? You already have the skill. Most humans don’t have special abilities.”

“Michelle has abilities.”

“True, but she’s rare. And she doesn’t read minds.”

She placed a finger to her chin. “Good point.”

Conrad stretched and got up off the couch. “I’m sorry your date didn’t go well, Asia. After the stress of your new ability driving you nuts for the last two days, it would do you good to drop it for now. How about a run?”

She jumped to her feet and hugged him. “You’re the best. That sounds perfect.” She pulled back, seemingly unaware of the low rumble building in his chest at her touch. It was his natural reaction to passion. It didn’t jive with the terms of their friendship, but he couldn’t deny it. “Thanks for your help. You’ve given me hope.”

“Glad to help. We can work on this situation together any time.” He meant it with all his heart. Asia was an amazing woman who’d weathered really harsh times with her mother and survived. He respected her for that. He’d never lose gratitude for her friendship. It was out of character for him to care so solidly without wanting to bed her, but what they shared was too precious to risk ruining it with sex. Unfortunately, his distance from her was closing and his body wanted more.