Chapter Twelve
It had been a long ass day of combing through the files the hybrids had recovered from raids against the Horatius Group. Most of it had already been digitized, but they needed to hand feed the rest of the papers into the scanners to make sure they were properly copied over to the digital format.
They didn’t plan to destroy any of the records, but they also didn’t want to take the risk of losing out on any information because of an accident or an attack. Even though they’d examined a lot of the records, some of the information might not be useful until they found out some new piece of information in the future.
In the end, even though Nikon could understand its importance, the current job felt like a bunch of busy work. Still, Cato wanted to make sure the job was done right, and so had assigned the task to Nikon and Lucan.
Nikon was surprised by how stripped down Luna Lodge had become. It was a shame, really. The hybrids had spent years trying to build up the place and make a home there, but now it was being taken apart piece by piece with no sign of any new construction. Their home was being abandoned.
Colonel Hall had said that it wouldn’t be long now before they got their marching orders and the rest of the hybrids would have their freedom. Nikon wasn’t sure what that meant long-term, but it wasn’t his job to worry about that.
Cato, as the acting leader of the remaining hybrids, would handle the local decision making, and their main leader, Titus, would handle everything overall. All Nikon needed to do was keep his head down and follow orders.
He thought back to Colonel Hall. Despite being a tough soldier, he’d come to respect the older woman. She’d done more for them than almost anyone had been able to, even their first military liaison, a man who’d respected the hybrids from the beginning. They owed her a great debt.
Nikon rode up the elevator with Lucan to the hallway leading to their apartments. Even before the doors opened, he could hear the loud music and chatting from the party.
“Fuck,” he grunted. Going to some party was the last thing he wanted to do, even if Leah was there.
He’d had a shit night for sleep and didn’t even care that he should stay out of her bed. He was looking forward to sleeping next to her.
“I’ll just get Leah and come over a for a bit,” Nikon said when they’d reached the door.
Lucan nodded and opened the door. Sweet vanilla floated in the air. Nikon turned and found Leah chatting with a group of men in Lucan’s apartment.
Leah was wearing a black flowy shirt with beaded straps and a short black skirt she clearly wasn’t used to wearing since she kept tugging on the end.
She had on a little more makeup than he was used to seeing her in, and although she looked beautiful, she didn’t look like his Leah.
Not even bothering to give a reason, Nikon stepped into the apartment ahead of Lucan.
Her eyes found his, and he watched as a smile spread across her face.
His heart hammered in his chest. He took a step forward but stopped as a very angry Jamie came barreling their way.
“You said you’d be on time,” she huffed, shaking her fist.
Lucan pulled out the flowers he’d hidden behind his back. “I wanted to stop and get you these.”
As if magic, her frown melted away as she gushed over the flowers.
Nikon rolled his eyes and moved away from the rabid couple.
“Hi,” Leah said.
He hadn’t even noticed she’d walked over toward him. Her bright reddish lips stood out.
“Did you find your donuts?” he asked. Nikon ran a hand nervously through his hair, looking anywhere but at the pretty woman in front of him. Cleavage that should good should be illegal.
“I did.” She smiled. “Thanks!”
“Leah!”
Jamie called her over to another group of people. There were far too many men for Nikon’s taste, but he had no claim on her. He’d made that clear.
Nikon sulked over to the cooler and picked out a beer as he watched her.
A tall, thin man stood too close to her. His body shifted in just the right way so she’d have to touch him every so often, and each time she did, Nikon could feel the growl growing inside him.
“I’m surprised you’re not with Leah,” Cato said from behind him.
He turned to glare at his leader. “She’s free to do what she wants.”
Cato shrugged. “I wouldn’t be so comfortable letting my woman around so many men.”
Nikon snorted. “You mean, like she is right now?”
Cato frowned and found his mate Wendy now next to Leah with all the men. Nikon watched with snarky joy as the other hybrid stomped over and protectively placed an arm over his woman.
Several of the humans stepped back as Cato clearly marked what was his.
Nikon’s gaze shifted over to Leah as she laughed at something. He thought about doing the same thing and make sure the punks knew where they stood.
He downed the beer he had been nursing and set it on the counter. He stepped back into the living room.
“Okay,” Jamie shouted, stopping him in his tracks. “How about a little game?”
Several people cheered loudly. His gaze returned to Leah who was staring nervously back at him.
“Okay, form a circle, and I’ll break out the rules,” Jamie said.
Nikon tried to get over to where she was but got edged out by the other men near her. Instead, he ended up diagonal from her. Their eyes locked for a moment as she chewed her lip.
Damn that lip. It did something to his lower half.
Jamie stepped into the middle of the circle and set a bottle on the floor. Several people groaned but stopped when she held up a hand.
“It’s called dirty bottle,” Jamie said. “A little twist on a classic.”
Several people laughed, but Nikon frowned. He’d never heard of this game. When he glanced over to Leah, she looked halfway between panic and embarrassment.
“One person spins the bottle, but they do it blindfolded. Whoever it lands on gets to kiss that person where ever they wish.”
Nikon bit down a growl. Oh hell no. What kind of ridiculous game was this?
He looked back over to Leah, waiting for her to stand up and leave the circle. Instead she stayed right were she was.
“Okay, me first,” Jamie said, and giggled. She blindfolded herself and spun the bottle.
The glass whirred as it rotated on the wood floor. When it stopped, it was pointing directly at him.
Nikon grunted and looked over to Lucan who stared at him with murder in his eyes. He nodded to his friend who placed a hard kiss on his woman.
Several of the people jeered.
“Cheaters!” someone shouted.
After a moment, Jamie pulled the blindfold off, slightly breathless.
Lucan handed Nikon the blindfold. He glanced over to Leah again who smiled nervously.
Whatever happened, he wasn’t letting someone else kiss him or her, no matter what. With irritation, he placed the blindfold on and spun the bottle quickly.
It felt like ages before it stopped.
Nikon breathed in deeply and listened as people shuffled around.
Soft vanilla got closer, and he knew it was her before she’d even stepped over to him.
Leah placed her hands against his chest and then pressed her soft lips to his.
Nikon leaned into her, taking her mouth as his. If she was going to play this game, he was going to let every other man there know just who they were up against.
When she pulled back, Nikon slipped down the blindfold to stare at her. Both took ragged breaths.
“Damn, that was hot,” someone whispered.
It was hot. Scorching hot.
Leah pulled the cloth from his hand and made her way back to her seat. Just before she placed the blindfold on, Leah stared at him with a desire he’d never seen before.
She reached out and fumbled with the bottle before giving it a small spin. Round and round it went before landing on the tall, skinny guy.
Nikon could feel the anger welling in him as the man readied himself for a kiss like the one she’d given before.
“Not happening,” he grunted.
Faster than many of them could even process, Nikon shot out of his seat. He hoisted Leah onto his shoulder and was barreling toward the door.
“What about my blindfold?” Jamie shouted.
Nikon snorted at her from the door. “It’s in fucking use,” he grunted before shutting the door on the laughter that followed.