Love, Encoded (Selected Evolution Series Book 1) Read online

  Yet each encounter with Sarah left him and Adam hungry for more. Left them aching to the point where self-fulfilment was the only way to ease their pain. He suppressed a grimace. The sooner this assignment was over, the better.

  Sarah dragged her arm from Nick’s broad shoulders and crossed her wrists over her chest in an attempt to keep control of her hands.

  “I’ve got it from here. Thanks,” she said.

  Nick’s grip on her tightened and he continued to stride towards the street entrance of the park, now visible through the fast dissipating spring mist.

  “It’s too far for you to walk from here,” he disagreed.

  A ripple of wariness nudged her blind trust.

  He knows that, how?

  “We will take you to your front door,” Adam said.

  Disquiet pricked her mind and she turned her gaze to him. He greeted her stare with calm determination.

  “That’s not necessary—”

  His shrug seemed to indicate that her opinion would not affect the outcome of their decision.

  Mild suspicion rose to taint the cosy closeness warming her. They seemed determined to see her home. Why? To meet her brother? Was that what this was about? Did they work for another space exploration company? Was it their intention to get close to her and pump her for information on Astra Projections’ progress in the current space race to Mars? Her progress in propulsion and life support systems? Disappointment flared through her stomach as she accepted the all too plausible explanation. It made more sense than men of this calibre taking a fancy to her.

  “I don’t think so.” She pushed against Nick’s chest. Hard muscle tried to beguile her, but she would not be swayed from her course, there was no way she would betray her brother.

  Ever.

  “You can put me down now.”

  Nick stepped over the stile into the dead-end street of the new, eco-friendly, residential development.

  “I mean it.” She hardened her voice; they weren’t the only ones who could do determination.

  Nick’s gaze lowered to hers. “We will take you to your apartment building.”

  She accepted the futility of arguing. Fine, but you needn’t think you’re coming in.

  About that she was adamant.

  Paul McMasters welcomed his recently discovered half-sister with a smile when she let herself in to their penthouse apartment. Then concern trampled his joy.

  “Sarah! Are you limping? What happened?”

  He strode across the pale gold marble tiles of the living room to her side, pulled her slight weight into his support and helped her sit on the black leather couch.

  “I got a cramp in my calf muscle. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Dammit, Sarah, this is one of the reasons I dislike you running alone.”

  A hint of wryness mantled her smile. “Don’t you start, I’ve already had one lecture about running in the koala park by myself.”

  His protective instincts flared. “Who?”

  “Couple of guys I met, they helped me home. We’ve shared a table at the Starshine Café on a few occasions.” A frown furrowed her usually seamless brow and her eyes lowered.

  “What?”

  Her gaze lifted to him and she shrugged. “Nothing.” She wriggled to the edge of the couch and her small, delicate hand slipped into his. Every newly discovered ‘big brother’ instinct urged him to lock her in her room and throw away the key to keep every possible harm from her.

  “I think I’ll take a shower,” she said.

  “Would you like me to rub some ointment into your calf later?”

  Her bright smile seemed a little strained. “No, thanks, I’ve got it.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Her slim arms wound around him and hugged. She rested her chin on his chest and gazed up at him, the love shining in her eyes swelled his heart. He’d been alone and now he wasn’t. She’d brought a priceless warmth that he hadn’t known existed, into his world. They were a team, even though fifteen years separated them. She was his baby sister and he’d destroy anything that threatened her.

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  He held her a little closer for a moment, then stepped back. “So how’s the brainstorming coming along for a theme for the New Year’s Eve party?”

  She shook her head and one side of her mouth kicked up. “Tammy and I are still working on something to reflect 2030. Half our ideas involve mathematical formulas that not everyone would comprehend, but we’re working on it.”

  She turned and hobbled past the red granite-topped kitchen island towards her bedroom. Unease settled in his gut. Something troubled her, something she felt disinclined to share with him. Concern and protectiveness raged at him to do something, to fix her problem, whatever it was. He clamped his lips in frustration. He knew his constant concern bordered on overbearing and probably offended her fierce independence.

  Despite being born in the twenty-first century her innocence belonged to that of another era. He considered her trusting nature an inherent pitfall, a certain prospect for people to let her down. Look how she’d taken his word at face value when he’d said she didn’t have to work for him, could do what she liked, that he just wanted her near—preferably under the same roof. His honour was true, but she couldn’t have known that.

  He pushed out a sigh. They’d known each other for close to six months now and his desire to keep her from harm’s way had not lessened one iota since their initial meeting. Having her in his life meant more to him than he could have possibly believed. But the need to love another clamoured for its right to be free. Distress crowded his heart. How could he even think of compromising his relationship with his sister?

  “We need to get Sarah off our hands and into the program as soon as possible,” Adam ground out as he paced a line across the bamboo floor of their lounge room.

  Nick glared at him from their overstuffed couch, a chocolate brown cushion hugged to his chest. “I know! I know! But . . . I don’t want to.”

  “Shit man, do you think her scent doesn’t call to me? That she doesn’t engage my protective instincts like no other subject? Tell me you’re not considering jeopardizing our future for what proposes to be an incredibly good bout of sex? Tell me we didn’t go through the pain of genetic enhancement to simply throw away our dream. You know the Foundation rule.”

  The pain flickering in Nick’s eyes echoed that leaning on his own heart. He dropped onto the couch next to his friend. “You know what happened to Keith and Rick. Rick doesn’t mind, but Keith seems to think he made a huge mistake with the woman he chose. You know how vehemently he warned us to quash any and all lustful feelings we might develop towards these women. Foundation Rule One—even if you use a condom, if you have intimate relations with a subject, you stay with her. Wherever she goes, you go, and you’re removed from hazardous duty. We’d lose our positions in the deep space exploration program.”

  Nick turned a haggard, haunted look to him. “You haven’t held her, had her skin against yours. God, Adam, the fire that scorched my veins when she was in my arms . . . I can understand why Keith and Rick chose as they did. Touching Sarah could quickly become addictive.” His fists clenched into the cushion. “If I touch her again . . .” For a long moment his friend stared at the wall, then he murmured, “I didn’t really believe it, you know.”

  “What, that the genetic enhancements would compel us to fall in love with a subject?” He shrugged and flopped back onto the couch. “I’m still not convinced. More likely it’s a chemical reaction. Lust. We have to resist it. It’s not like we haven’t felt it before.”

  “No,” Nick rumbled, “but this is far more intense. I’m not sure I can win this fight.” Nick turned to him, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. “We didn’t believe the Anaconians
were aliens either, to begin with. Now I’m beginning to wonder if the reservations we had about them fleeing a murderous species called the Denacons might not also be truthful—and if Sarah will be in danger because of it.”

  Captain Tobiakas ‘The Razer’ Helran of the Denacon Black-Edge Fleet, tapped a finger against his desk and contained the anger scorching his veins. Success had been so close. In the captain’s cabin of his predator class starship, the Djakaal, he glared at the recorded display of a water-rich planet and the fluid, concentric ripples in the space-time continuum that indicated the Anaconians had used their time-drive to escape.

  The question was, into the past or the future?

  He rewound the recording and froze the image depicting a full compliment of particle torpedos from his ship impacting on the Anaconian Arkship. How had they withstood such an explosion?

  He leaned forward and pressed a communications icon on his desk.

  “Karln? Has the analysis of the residual tachyon cloud determined the Anaconians’ chronological destination?”

  “Receiving the results now, Sir,” his first officer replied with a calmness Helran new disguised his impatience to continue the hunt. “They’ve gone to the past, Sir—and, Sir? I believe we’ve damaged them severely.”

  I should think so. “Search for signs of Anaconian influence in the planet’s technology.” If this is where they are, this is where it ends.

  “Aye, Sir.” A moment of edgy silence passed. “Nothing on a broad spectrum scan. However . . . yes, the sensors are picking up indistinct echoes of a Draken’s presence. They’re here, but deflecting our scans.”

  Grim satisfaction hardened Helran’s heart. So be it, if he had to go planet-side and hunt the Anaconians down one by one he would. Starting with their leader, the Draken.

  “Maintain high orbit around the planet. Extrapolate the trajectory of their descent through the atmosphere and project potential landing sites.”

  “Aye, Sir.”

  “And increase the yield of the particle torpedoes.”

  Paul’s choice of cult horror classics continued to replay in Sarah’s mind with gruesome clarity long after she retreated to bed on Friday night. When she woke bleary-eyed next morning the thought of rising did very little to inspire her. After half an hour of determined but futile attempt to re-capture sleep, she admitted failure and dragged herself from bed.

  Stretching and yawning and tugging her oversized Trekkie T-shirt straight, she ambled into the kitchen. Paul leaned against the red granite island bench, pinning the cup of coffee he cradled with a contemplative stare. Wearing charcoal boxers and a preoccupied expression, he didn’t appear to notice her presence. She halted by the counter and rested a hand on the eighteen inch white marble sculpture of David that rested there.

  “Why the long face?” she asked.

  Paul’s gaze lifted. He blinked and seemed to focus on the here and now. “You look like you could have done with a few more hours sleep.”

  “True. Don’t avoid the question. What’s bothering you?”

  Paul’s tanned, lean, well-muscled chest inflated to a deep, slow breath. “Just contemplating the mysteries of the Universe.”

  “That’s my job. You were contemplating something alright and it didn’t look like it gave you much joy.”

  Her brother focused a steady gaze on her, offered a wry smile and then enveloped her in a one-armed hug. His lips pressed against her forehead. “I’m so glad you came to live with me.”

  She pulled back a little within his embrace and stared up at him, concern shifting through her. “Are you okay?”

  His smile reached his hazel eyes this time. “Yes, I’m fine. How’s the leg this morning?”

  She squeezed him with sisterly affection and took a step back. “Not so bad. And just so’s you know, the next time we watch horror flicks, expect company in your bed.”

  He grinned. “Scared you, did they? What if I’ve already got company?”

  She lifted a hand and poked a finger into his chest. “If it’s the man who put that pensive look in your eyes then he’s the one who would do well to be afraid, very afraid.”

  Paul threw his head back and laughed. His hand lifted and she allowed him to ruffle her hair. “I’m keeping you forever, you know that right?”

  Familial warmth flushed through her. “That’s fortunate, because that’s the same plan I have in mind for you.”

  She stepped to the fridge, grabbed half a dozen oranges then flicked on the juicer. “Toast?”

  “Yes, thanks. I’m meeting with the CEO of Hunter’s Paradigm on Monday. One Theron Barclese, he’s asked that the senior engineer be present.”

  “Senior engineer for what? Does this man know we have several senior engineers in a number of departments? All of who are extremely busy.”

  “He specifically mentioned the person responsible for designing the brilliantly innovative bio domes we plan to install on Mars.”

  She flicked a dry glance at him. “Why didn’t you just say you wanted me present?”

  “Because I love every chance I get to flaunt your expertise.”

  She shook her head, amusement tickling her lips and handed him a glass of juice. “You’re a nutter. You know I hate those face-to-face meetings.” She turned back to the bench and busied herself with the toaster. “How far along towards launch are the Draken Foundation? They’re our closest competition, aren’t they?”

  “Yes and if you believe their press releases they’ll be ready a month after us.”

  A mixture of chagrin, respect and excitement wound through her brother’s tone. “You admire them,” she said, “the Draken Foundation.”

  Paul nodded. “I do. They do great work both scientifically and socially. It’s what I envisage for Astra Projections.”

  “Their humanitarian aid is certainly generous. Mind you, they’ve been around for a couple of hundred years. That’s a fair head start. You started from scratch twenty years ago. I’m proud of you.”

  Paul’s warm hand encased her forearm. “Thank you. You and Tammy are helping me create that vision.”

  She grinned at him. “That’s what we’re here for.”

  Her brother returned her smile. “Professor Embarton tells me she’s very excited about your proposal for a matter integrator.”

  “I’m excited about it. With her medical expertise I think we’ll be able to successfully build a machine to create any body part to match recipient DNA.”

  “From nothing but thin air?”

  She quirked up one side of her mouth. “Well not thin air, preferably proton-rich air, but yes.”

  Her brother rummaged around in the fridge and placed a fresh avocado on the bench just as the toast popped up.

  “That’s a honkin’ great ship the Foundation are building—compared to our Osprey,” she said. “I wonder how many crew she’ll take. Must be one hell of a drive unit to get her off the ground.” She raised her eyebrows in mock speculation. “Or maybe their using Cavorite.”

  Paul chuckled. “I suspect they’re utilising a carbon fibre composite like us, seeing as how we’re the only two enterprises constructing on the ground and the rest have orbital dockyards.”

  “Mmm. All those supply rockets must be costing the opposition a small fortune.”

  “No.” Paul’s smile held a hint of glee. “It’s costing them a large fortune, one you’re saving me because of your beautiful skin.”

  “You mean the Osprey’s beautiful skin.”

  “You created it.”

  “Do you think the Foundation add a couple of months to their proposed launch date like we do?”

  Devilish mirth twinkled in Paul’s eyes. “It’s likely, but we’ve got something they don’t.”

  “Yay, our team. What?”

>   “You.”

  She grinned at him. “You are the best big brother in the whole world.”

  “I mean it, Sarah. We’ve gone ahead in leaps and bounds since you joined us. Our tech-mechs can’t keep up with you.”

  She stared at the counter top, for a moment a vast hole of black memory threatened to tear her into the grieving past. Her heart heaved as though receiving the news afresh of her mother’s sudden death. The dreadful feeling of having lost someone so close it felt as though a part of herself had been ripped away to leave a gaping, bleeding wound, echoed through her soul. She’d felt so . . . forsaken, alone.

  Then Paul had entered her life like a newborn sun and warmed the cold space her life had become.

  She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  “Good then, the meeting on Monday is at ten.”

  Humour evaporated her grave mood and she rolled her eyes. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

  An unrepentant grin stretched her brother’s lips. “Yep.”

  Gentle, mid-morning sun caressed Sarah’s face as she propped her sneaker-clad feet on the spare chair of her table at the Starshine Café. She opened the latest astronomy magazine of her choice and tried to focus on an article about the Draken Foundation. Thoughts of Nick and Adam intruded. Free from their lust-inducing nearness she frowned at the strength it must have taken for Nick to carry her the distance he had. Sure, he’d been breathing a little hard when he’d lowered her to the ground in front of her building, but his hold on her had never wavered.