Slide

11

Everyone laughed as they began walking again. Ember lagged in the back, telling herself that it was prudent to watch for any stealth attacks. Her friend Tjon waited for her as they stepped hard upon the dirt road.

“That looks like a fun ride,” he quipped.

Ember held onto the straps of her backpack, then bit her bottom lip. It wasn’t in a sexy way, but in a way to keep any of her snide comments at bay.

It was one of the defense mechanisms she had applied ever since moving from the United States. She would learn soon that it was just anger wearing the cape of sarcasm.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Ember said.

She shot her eyes down to the ground.

Keep going. Just keep going.

SLIDE

Slide approached a rock formation, knowing that it wasn’t a known place by locals. He still had Layla on his back. She had settled onto his back for the entire ride.

He had to get all of them home. That was the main point of the mission. He felt an inclination to help these people, especially the ones who were suffering the most, which was a strange feeling for him.

He had a one-track mind when he arrived in the country that had betrayed him ... get in and get out. But then he had met Ember, who enticed him beyond measure. Her empathy had fired up something inside him that he thought had been killed long ago by his time in the Supermax prison.

Slide turned to face the group behind him. They were all breathing heavily.

“We will stay here for tonight,” he announced.

Gasps are relief were emitted, which made Slide smile. He placed Layla down softly near a rock she could lean against, then patted her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded, then leaned against the rock like it was the softest mattress in existence.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “I don’t think I could have made that whole trip.”

Her eyes shined in the light with genuine gratitude. Slide felt a stir of appreciation himself, which made him scowl. The last time he had cared about anyone, he had lost his parents. What good had caring done for him then?

Slide shook the thought away, then turned back to the group.

“I’m going to check inside the cave to make sure that it's safe,” he said. “Wait here.”

He turned to look at Ember, who was the last person walking in the long stream of people. Her hair was in a messy bun, and the remnants of the day’s light caressed her exquisite skin. She smiled at him and nodded, making him want to fall at her feet like a beggar.

Instead, he swiveled and approached the cave. He could smell dampness as he tapped his fingers against the opening. The sounds of settling evening birds were replaced by the steady flow of a nearby spring. At least he hoped that was what it was because he could do with a good wash.

Slide flicked on his flashlight and walked through the dark cave. It was taller than most in the region, and it accommodated his massive height. There appeared to be enough space for all thirteen people, which Slide was happy about.

He was slow and cautious as he approached the back of the cave, knowing cougars and coyotes often housed themselves deeper within such a dwelling. But he did not see any indications of mammals, only large insects and bats.

A sign of carcasses or remnants of bone would indicate wildlife, but Slide came upon none of them. He was thankful because he felt more exhausted than he could have anticipated.

Slide came back out of the cave and waved at the group. He spotted Ember looking up at him, so gorgeous and strong.

He nearly lost his voice and ripped himself from her gaze. “We’re good to go!”

The group let out light applause as they formed a line into the cavern. Slide stood by the entrance like a doorman.

His heart was beating hard within his chest as he saw Ember approach in his peripheral vision.

“Welcome, miss,” he said, pretending to tip his invisible hat.

Ember let out a surprised giggle, then clutched her chest. He noticed how large her arms were as she flexed her bicep and forearm, making his d**k twitch in his pants. His mouth ached for her bare neck too.

“Good lord,” she muttered. “It’s like I’m new to laughing.”

Slide smiled back in return. For a moment, he felt like he was back home, out of the prison, and back in his old life. He imagined meeting her outside a restaurant somewhere, flirting with her, and charming her until neither could bear the insinuations anymore.

She walked past him with her hand brushing her chest. Her lush scents of vanilla and sage thrilled him, making him feel slightly faint in the evening air.

Slide breathed deeply, telling himself to get his s**t together. It had been a long time since he had been with a woman, both physically and romantically, so he regarded his intense attraction to Ember as a simple matter of pheromones and biology.

But what I would do with her, Christ!

Slide floated into the cave, making sure they hadn’t left any traces behind. He held out his flashlight as he trailed into the back, noticing another opening, that led to a calm, fresh spring.

“There’s a water out back,” Slide said, his voice echoing in the cave. “If anyone wants to wash up and fill up your canteen, now is your chance.”

Like a supermarket sale, everyone rushed past Slide. He smiled as everyone frantically moved toward the water, leaving Slide and Ember alone in the cave.

Slide felt like his groin was on fire as he looked at her. She unrolled her blanket, crouching, the large muscles in her thighs rippling through her pants.

He made himself look away as she stood, holding a towel in her hands.

“Aren't you going to get yourself cleaned up?” she asked with a smirk.

She was magnetic to him. He looked at her and felt every wonderful feeling a shifter like him could ever feel.

“I’ll go last,” he said softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t stink everyone out.”

Ember giggled, then pulled the elastic out of her hair. Her long, golden locks fell to her shoulders as she shook away the bun, wrinkling her nose most adorably.