Well, hopefully he would see that with time. She wasn’t sure how long they would need her around for the whole operation of taking out the scientists. But she was starting to think she might stick around even after that was over. And, if his actions outside the dressing room earlier today were any indication, he was starting to think that way, too.
“All set,” Ben said, giving the plane an affectionate slap on the side. “She’s ready to go. Are you?”
“Yup, I’m ready,” Rhythm said, hopping down from the box she was sitting on and heading toward the plane. Ben directed her to the passenger seat, and she settled in and buckled her seatbelt while he climbed in to the pilot seat. He checked her seatbelt, and then handed her a headset.
“Wear this,” he said. “It gets pretty loud in these tiny planes, but these will block out most of the noise. And they’ll allow us to talk to each other. Anything you say in that little microphone will be transmitted to my headset.”
Rhythm nodded and adjusted the headset over her ears. The noise of the plane’s engine, which Ben had already started, instantly faded. Rhythm settled in while Ben taxied out to the runway and then took off into the dark Alaskan sky. For several minutes, the only sound Rhythm heard was Ben, speaking back and forth with Kodiak’s air traffic control.
Rhythm looked around, taking in the view with wonder. The stars looked incredible from up here. The further they got away from Kodiak, the darker the ground became, but the brighter the stars. The night sky was one of the things Rhythm loved about Alaska. It was always so beautiful. Whether it was lit up by stars, the Northern Lights, or lightning—it was a spectacle that never failed to disappoint. She admired the breathtaking view for several minutes as they flew.
Ben hadn’t been kidding when he told her that riding in an airplane this small would be a little bit of a different experience. Rhythm was so close to the small window that she felt like she was almost completely open to the sky around her. It was a feeling that was both exhilarating and slightly unsettling.
“Having fun?” Ben’s voice came crackling in over her headset. Rhythm looked over at him and smiled.
“Yeah. You were right. It’s a little weird to be up here in such a small plane. It’s kinda cool, though.”
Ben smiled at her, his eyes crinkling up in an adorable fashion that set Rhythm’s heart beating faster once again.
“It is cool, I think. I’m glad you like it. Some people don’t.”
Rhythm smiled back at him. “How much longer until we get there?”
“About an hour. The winds are against us, but they’re not very strong tonight, so we should still make good time. Sorry, there won’t be any in-flight beverage service, though. You’ll have to wait until we land.”
Rhythm laughed. “I think I’ll manage.”
“Good,” Ben said. “Because there isn’t really room for a beverage cart in this plane. There’s no in-flight movie, either. But if you want some entertainment I could always try to tell you a story.”
Rhythm laughed again. “What about your life story?” she asked. “How does someone become a bear shifter? I’ve been dying to know how this works since I discovered that you all exist, but things have been so busy that I haven’t had a good time to ask.”
Ben tilted his head sideways in Rhythm’s direction. “Oh, I didn’t realize no one had explained it to you. I would have thought Evan did, when you first realized that he was a bear shifter.”
Rhythm shook her head. “No, by the time that I found Evan, he was having trouble coming up with the energy to have long conversations. He told me that there were a lot of different kinds of bear shifters around, and that the scientists were trying to kill them all, but that was about it. He didn’t explain how bear shifters came to be in the first place.”
“Gotcha,” Ben said. “Well, bear shifters have been around for a long time. It’s not something that someone just ‘becomes’ at some point in their life. It’s a genetic mutation that allows shifting, and it’s been around for generations. Long enough that no one really knows when it started. It’s a dominant gene, so it’s passed down even when a bear shifter mates with a human. It hasn’t become widespread though, because shifters tend to marry other shifters instead of full humans. A lot of humans don’t like or trust shifters, as you’ve seen.”
“Wait, what do you mean the dominant gene is passed down?” Rhythm asked, interrupting him. “Like, if you and I were to have a kid, the kid would be a shifter even though I’m fully human.”
Ben glanced over at Rhythm with an amused look. “Yes, the kid would be a shifter. Are you saying you want to have a cub with me?”
Rhythm felt her face heating up, and she was sure it was bright red, although thankfully it was so dark out that Ben probably couldn’t tell. “Shit, no, that came out wrong. I just meant, hypothetically speaking. I was just trying to understand what you meant by the dominant gene being passed on. That’s all. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Uh-huh. Sure. Okay,” Ben said, clearly enjoying how flustered Rhythm was acting.
“Oh, shut up,” Rhythm said, feeling defensive. “You know what I meant.”
Ben just laughed, and Rhythm leaned back in her seat in a huff, folding her arms across her chest. She looked out the window again, trying to regain her composure. Not only was she embarrassed, but now that the thought of having Ben’s baby had crossed her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about how that would mean getting to sleep with him. And if what she had seen of his body so far was any indication, she was willing to bet that the rest of him was pretty smoking hot as well. She had to stop thinking about that right now, though. Being stuck with him in a tiny airplane was not the ideal situation for letting her feelings for him run wild. She could feel the heat and moisture growing between her legs the more she thought about sex with Ben, but there was nothing she could do about the feeling right now. In fact, she wasn’t entirely sure whether there was anything she could do about it ever. She had to change the subject.
“So, what kind of bear are you?” Rhythm asked. “I’ve heard there are several different kinds of bears. Polar? Grizzly? Black bear?”
“Panda,” Ben said.
“Panda?” Rhythm repeated, surprised. “I thought all the pandas were gone.”
Ben looked over at her, his expression guarded and surprised. “Who told you that?” he asked.
“Evan. When he was first explaining to me that he was a bear shifter, he told me that there were all kinds of bears, and that there even used to be pandas. But he said that the scientists had wiped them all out years ago with a virus. He seemed to think that there were none left at all.”
Ben’s expression darkened, and he was silent for several minutes. The silence was awkward and uncomfortable, but Rhythm didn’t push Ben. She could tell that he was struggling with whether or not to tell her something of great importance to him, and she didn’t want to push him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet and sad as it came crackling over her headset.
“Evan wasn’t entirely correct. The scientists did send out a virus specifically aimed at pandas, and it did wipe out most of us. But not all. Panda alphas carry a special alpha gene that makes them extremely resilient and disease-resistant. The virus was supposed to be strong enough to wipe out even the alphas but it didn’t. Not all of us, anyway. Most of the alphas did die, but Brett, Ace, Lance and I managed to survive. Brett actually came really close to dying. We thought we had lost him several times, but he managed to pull through.”
“Wow,” Rhythm said. It was the only word that seemed appropriate at this moment.
“Yeah, so, I guess the four of us were lucky. But that ‘luck’ of surviving the virus left us with a pretty shitty life. We went from being leaders of big clans to having no one. All our friends and family were gone, killed senselessly by small-minded people who spend their lives fearing what they don’t understand.”
Ben’s eyes were watering, and Rhythm looked away to give him privacy for a momen
t. Her heart ached for him. No wonder he burned with so much anger toward the scientists. They had taken away everyone he cared about.
“I’m so sorry,” she finally said. It seemed like a hollow sentiment in light of everything he had just told her, but it was all she had to offer.
“Thanks,” he said. “I know I probably seem a little crazy sometimes, with this overwhelming obsession I have with catching the scientists. But they took away everything that mattered to me. I’ll stop them, or die trying.”
“And I’ll do whatever I can to help you,” Rhythm promised. And she meant it. She had seen enough of her former employer’s evil actions. She would stand by Ben and help him until this threat to the bear shifters was eliminated.
When she got her degree in chemistry, she had done so because she wanted to study medicine and make the world a healthier, better place for everyone. Now, she had inside information on a group of people who were doing the exact opposite of that, and she was making it her mission to stop them. Everyone, even bear shifters, deserved a happy healthy life.
“We’ll get them,” Rhythm said. “Don’t worry. We’ll stop them, and none of the bear shifters will ever have to fear them again.”
Ben looked over at her and smiled, his usual, happy expression back in place. “Thanks, babe,” he said. “I know we will. And I can’t thank you enough.”
Rhythm smiled, and then looked out the opposite window, biting her lip to keep down the happiness filling her from the simple fact that Ben had so nonchalantly called her “babe.”
He was definitely flirting, and she was definitely interested.
Chapter Eight
Ben taxied the tiny Cessna into the waiting hangar, and killed the engine, happy to have the flight over and done with. He loved flying, but he had a hard time concentrating on anything but Rhythm when she was sitting right next to him. Her smile and laugh were intoxicating, and every time he took a chance on acting a little bit flirty, she seemed to respond positively.
He wanted so badly to pull her into his arms and hold her close, stroking her long, silky hair and feeling her body pressed against his. But he obviously couldn’t do that while flying a plane, and he doubted there would be many chances to make a move over the next day. They were here for a somber occasion, and he didn’t want to let his own desires get in the way of honoring a bear who had passed.
But, oh, how strong those desires were. They seemed to grow and intensify with every passing minute. The more time he spent around Rhythm, the harder it was to get her out of his head. Ben sighed and put on the most neutral expression that he could, then reached over to help Rhythm open the door and exit the plane. When his skin brushed her skin, he felt a jolt of electricity shooting through his body, centering itself on the area between his legs.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Sawyer was waiting for them in the far corner of the hangar, and Ben gave himself a mental pep talk. He had to get himself together and focus on the task at hand. He needed to speak with Sawyer about plans for tracking down the scientists, and he needed to help Rhythm through the funeral tomorrow. He had a feeling that it was going to be an emotional experience for her.
“Ben, Rhythm,” Sawyer called out to them in greeting. “Good to see you again. Thanks for coming out.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Ben said, reaching out to shake Sawyer’s massive hand. It was almost comical how large grizzly shifters were, even next to a giant panda shifter like himself.
Sawyer shook Rhythm’s hand next, and planted a kiss on the top of her hand. “My lady,” he said. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot to Evan’s family.”
Ben felt himself bristling with jealousy as he watched Sawyer’s lips touch Rhythm’s hand, even though he could tell that the gesture had been completely friendly without any ulterior motives. He had to get a hold of himself. His bear was growling and clawing at him, demanding that he claim Rhythm for his own. But this wasn’t the time or place for such actions.
“I’m so glad to be here,” Rhythm was saying, her soft voice sounding shaky with emotion. “I’m honored that Evan’s family wanted me here.”
Sawyer let out a deep, weary breath. “Hopefully, this will be the last of our clan to suffer this fate. Ben tells me you’re going to help with the efforts to stop the scientists?”
Rhythm glanced at Ben, and then back at Sawyer. “Yes. I’m not sure how much I really know, but whatever I can do to help, I’m happy to do. These guys have to be stopped.”
“I agree,” Sawyer said. “On behalf of all the bear shifters, and my clan in particular, we deeply appreciate your help.”
“We need to talk while I’m here,” Ben said to Sawyer. “I’m hoping you have some ideas for how to get a network of shifters organized and mobilized to keep an eye on the scientists, so that they don’t snatch up any more test subjects. We have to stop what happened to Evan from happening to any more bears.”
“I have some ideas, and I’m sure you do as well,” Sawyer said. “If we put our heads together, we can figure this out. But let’s save the strategizing for tomorrow. It’s getting late, and you two must be exhausted. Let me show you to the cabin that you’ll be staying in. Follow me.”
Ben saw Rhythm reaching for her duffel bag, and he stepped in quickly to grab it. “Let me,” he said, and then felt his heart melting when Rhythm smiled up at him in appreciation. He really had to get in control of his emotions, damn it.
Sawyer walked a few paces ahead of them, talking back to them over his shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind, but I put you in the same cabin. We just don’t have enough empty spots right now to give you each your own cabin.”
Ben coughed nervously. Did that mean they were sharing a bedroom? Because he didn’t think he’d be able to sleep in the same bed as Rhythm and keep his bear under control He might be spending the next two nights on the couch. Or the floor, if there wasn’t a couch.
As if reading Ben’s mind, Sawyer glanced back again and said, “Don’t worry, though, it’s a two bedroom cabin, so you’ll have plenty of space.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Ben said a little too quickly. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Sawyer said, stopping at one of the charming little cabins that lined the street near the hangar. This is you guys. The place should be stocked with food, towels, and blankets, but let me know if you need anything. You have my cell number, right Ben?”
Ben nodded. “Yup. I’ve got it. But I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Sawyer nodded, and held the door to the cabin open for Ben and Rhythm to step inside. “Alright, then, I’ll leave you two so you can get some rest. The funeral is at ten a.m. tomorrow, at the main meeting hall in town. Just go south to the end of this street and take a right. It’ll run you straight into the corner on Main Street where the center is located.”
“Thanks,” Ben said. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
With a little wave, Sawyer disappeared into the night, and Ben closed the door behind him. When he turned around, he came face to face with Rhythm, who was inches from his face and looking up at him with determined, almost defiant eyes.
“Rhythm?” he asked, feeling confused and a little alarmed. “Is everything okay? You look like you have something to say.”
“I do,” she said. “Listen, I want to help you, and the entire bear shifter community out. But if we’re going to work together, we can’t constantly be dancing around our feelings like this.”
“What do you mean?” Ben asked warily.
“I mean enough with this flirting like high schoolers. We’re both adults. If we’re going to share a living space, we can’t act like there’s no chemistry between us when there clearly is. Are you interested, or not? If you’re not, that’s okay. But I don’t think I can continue to live in the same house as you, seeing you every day, if you’re not. Because I am interested. And it’s starting to feel like torture, sitting here pretending that I’m not burning up inside every time I see you.”
<
br /> Ben was floored. He had thought that Rhythm was sending off a few signals that she might be interested, but he had never expected this. She had seemed almost shy about his advances, and not like the type of person who would get in his face and demand that he be in or out. But if she wanted an answer, then he was in. All in. He knew he was going to catch hell from his clan for starting things up with a woman, after all the teasing he had done to them about their girls. But he didn’t give a damn anymore. He had to admit that, after being around Rhythm, he now understood what they meant when they said that you couldn’t stop yourself from wanting a relationship with your lifemate once you found her. He couldn’t stop himself around Rhythm. Just the sight of her intoxicated him.
He took a step toward her, intending to smother her with a kiss so intense that she wouldn’t know what hit her. But then he forced himself to stop. He could stop himself around Rhythm, and he would stop himself. He couldn’t in good conscience go down this path and sleep with her until she understood what being with him would mean. Sure, she knew about his being a bear shifter, and about the fact that he was a hunted man right now, thanks to these idiot scientists. She even knew that, if they ever had children, their children would be bear shifters. But she didn’t know about the concept of lifemates. She didn’t know that if they slept together and bonded, she would never truly be able to escape him again. She would be tied to him forever, their souls intertwined.
Rhythm saw his hesitation, and her face fell. She must have mistaken the pause for disinterest, and he rushed to assure her that this wasn’t the case. Far from it. He reached out and took her hands in his own.
“Rhythm, listen,” he said, his voice deep and brimming with desire. “I want to be with you. I’ve been captivated by you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. But, if we’re going to be together, there’s something you have to know. Bear shifters all have someone out there who is meant for them. This person is known as their lifemate. Lifemates are tied to each other, and drawn to each other like a magnet throughout their lives until they finally find each other. When they do cross paths, the attraction is strong, and nearly inescapable. That’s what I feel for you, Rhythm.”
An Alpha's Tempest (Water Bear Shifters 4) Page 7
