Page 6 of A Lion's Heart
She was sitting too close to him.
Even with the console and their ready box between them as he drove, she was too close. Her scent was too strong. Her breasts too alluring. The sound of her heartbeat too loud. The slight parting of her lips as she read over the maps on the board—and hand-held replica of the holodeck she’d created for the control room at Assembly Headquarters—she’d pulled out of her pack was too sexy.
He should have declined this position.
But the message that had come from the Assembly Leader a week ago was simple and really left no room for negotiation.
“I want you to escort my daughter to the Central Zone. Jace has a project there that Nisa can help implement.”
That’s how this particular situation had begun.
Decan’s fingers gripped the steering wheel as he recalled that two days after receiving the transmission via his comlink, he’d stood in Roman Reynolds’ office. There had been no nervousness, no anxiety, and no fear. He did feel immense respect for the shifter who had built a democracy for his species outside of the rainforest in Brazil where their kind had originated. It was an honor to be in his presence and Decan had no intention of ever forgetting that fact. Still, whatever he may have thought or felt before stepping into that room, Decan had tucked it securely away. It was a trick he’d learned after his first shift and one that had saved his life for a long time after. He pressed it all back, with the strength of the fierce cat that lived inside of him. Everything was moved out of his mind and his being so that there was just the basic human body. He’d done that so easily for so long that when the time had come he’d been almost useless against the attack executed on him. But that was long before the meeting with the Assembly Leader. And even longer before he’d first seen her.
“I can do that,” Decan remembered his response to the Assembly Leader.
“While you’re there Jace has some new information he’s uncovered through the help of some lycan friends above ground, to run past you.”
“There are other shifters above ground?” he’d asked, astonished by that knowledge as there had never been any mention of another species besides the humans and the shifters.
“There is a lot up there that you, nor I, know about,” had been Rome’s reply.
Decan hadn’t been given a chance to think about that as Rome had continued to talk about Jace and the lead he had on Cole Linden’s whereabouts. He was the FL who had disappeared amidst the chaos of the Unveiling. Decan didn’t know if the shadow was still alive or not, but he wasn’t going to argue the use of resources and manpower for this continued search. His time in the human military had taught him to never leave a man behind.
“Why me?” he had, however, asked because he’d needed to know.
His father had been sure it was because Rome recognized what a good leader Decan would make, but then Jalil tended to think the world of his only son. Decan was to be everything that Jalil would not allow his girls to achieve. That’s why, when Decan was just ten years old, his two sisters had gone underground with the rest of the family while Decan stayed with his mother’s adoptive parents above ground and continued with his human education.
“You are the one for this job,” Rome had assured him. “I trust you to take care of my daughter and to deliver her safely. Jace will keep me apprised of how things work out with you and his lead.”
In other words, Jace would report back to Rome on how good or bad a job Decan managed to do. So this was a test. Decan had never failed a test before and he wasn’t about to start now.
Clenching his jaw and staring straight ahead through the dark cavernous tunnel as he drove, Decan silently declared Jace’s report to the Assembly Leader would be phenomenal. So much so that Rome would have no choice but to name him the new Central Zone Faction Leader.
“There’s another set of tunnels just past the Virginia marker that might get us down there quicker.”
The feminine voice echoed throughout the otherwise quiet interior of the vehicle and Decan resisted the urge to turn to her. He knew how she looked. He’d seen that face on and off in his mind for the last six months, since the first time he had a glimpse of her at the quarterly meeting. He’d only been in Oasis for five months at that time, but his father had made sure he knew everything there was to know about the new haven for the Shadow Shifters the moment Decan had returned. Jalil had been excited to introduce Decan to all of the FLs at the meeting and finally, to the Assembly Leader.
“We don’t need to rush. We’re not expected at Central Headquarters until tomorrow night,” he replied and continued down the bumpy path.
After the initial tunnels were constructed, more emphasis had to be put on building the bunkers that would house all of the Shadows, as they’d been migrated underground fairly quickly. So most of the tunnel roads still remained unpaved. As evidenced by the multiple craters he drove over in the next few seconds. The vehicle took the shock like a champion and he was only slightly jostled as he continued to drive. She, on the other hand, dropped the board and cursed as she leaned forward to retrieve it.
“The roads on the alternate route have smoother passageways,” she snapped.
Decan did look over at her this time. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt. He did not want to take in anymore details of her attire. She’d put on her jacket which had been a blessing, so her delectable cleavage was no longer on display. But her mission pants were tight, and as she’d bent over, her jacket and tank top rode up her back, giving him a glimpse of smooth chocolate toned skin that his fingers ached to caress.
“The priority was to build the bunkers for the families to occupy and the leadership to meet. Oasis needed to function as our new world. Going back to re-do the roads is taking time, but they will all be finished soon,” he said, still staring at her body as she sat back slowly in her seat.
“What are you a brochure for Nick Delgado’s construction team?” she asked.
His lips clamped shut tightly as he dragged his gaze up to her face. Such a pretty face, even if she frowned frequently and spent a lot of her time arguing with others. She had a pert little nose and sexy lips. Her hair was a short cap of springy dark curls that suited her compact, no fuss appearance. She didn’t need any fuss, every natural part of her was enough. It somehow felt like too much, for him at least
“It’s better if we stay on the main roads. Security cameras are embedded in the tunnel walls and there are always enforcers watching. This is the safer route, but I’ll do my best to hit the upcoming bumps as softly as possible.”
As if in response to his words and probably because he was paying more attention to her than the road ahead, the vehicle traveled over another crater section in the road and they were both rocked by the sudden motion. Decan was positive, though, that his chest didn’t look half as alluring as hers did during the incident.
“Wow,” she said then. “If that’s your best—”
Her words and the curse he was silently reciting to himself for letting his physical urges override his professional training, were both interrupted by another thump and more shaking of the vehicle.
Decan cursed as his fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Nisa echoed his sentiment as she now saw what he did.
Cheetahs, two of them, standing on the hood of the Tracer, teeth bared and ready to attack.
