Why did they have to discuss this? "Yes. There's the answer. Enough." He moved to put her back in her seat.
She stopped him, her arms winding around his neck. "That's one of the sweetest things I've ever heard."
Geez. He rolled his eyes. "Good. Let's stop talking about it."
She kissed his nose. "Why don't you want people to know you're a nice guy?"
His ears got even hotter, and he could see Garrett's shoulders shaking up ahead with what had to be muffled laughter. Hopefully the kid choked on his chortles. Bear pressed a hard kiss to Nessa's lips. "The alpha leader of a shifter nation isn't a nice guy. Ever." There was no way she could understand that.
She leaned back. "Of course. Your secret is very safe with me."
Why wasn't she understanding him? "It's not a secret. I just don't go around telling everybody about it." He wanted another taste of her. So he leaned in and indulged himself. If she thought he was sweet, he'd run with it. Within seconds, the kiss deepened, engaging his whole body.
She pulled back first, her expression bemused.
They weren't alone on the plane. He had to get himself under control as they moved into battle mode. He'd shared his secrets, and it was time for her to share hers.
The tablet next to her seat dinged.
She stiffened, head to toe.
He caressed down her arms. "You understand how to do this?"
Her eyebrows rose. "I've been doing this a long time." With that statement, she rolled off him and back into her seat to grab the tablet.
He stood and crossed to sit facing her as she straightened and pressed buttons on the tablet.
A male voice came through the speakers. "Hello, Nessa. Are you alone?"
Bear shut down all emotion before he lost his mind. The familiarity in the voice made him want to crush the other male's throat with his bare hands. He would at some point.
Nessa's face remained mildly polite. "George. Where's my uncle?" So that was good ole George's voice. Kind of nasal.
"He's safe. A little the worse for wear, but still spitting fire." George had a grating chuckle. "Well, not fire. But you know what I mean."
Nessa's expression didn't alter. Not by an inch. "I see." If anything, she sounded bored.
Bear watched her, his admiration growing. She was a helluva lot tougher than he'd realized. His interest piqued, he forgot all about temper and murder.
"Are you in the air?" George asked.
"Aye. Should be over Los Angeles in about ten minutes," she said as if reciting a recipe. "What's the plan?" Her gaze remained on the tablet screen as if there was nothing else to look at in the plane. "This is getting tedious."
George laughed again. "You are so cool under pressure. I've always liked that about you."
Bear focused on Nessa. Just how well did the two know each other?
Nessa sighed. "I've never thought much of you. The plan?"
"I'm assuming you're in a Guard private plane?" George asked.
"No." Nessa shook her head, and her hair tumbled. "You said to keep the Guard out of this. I borrowed a plane from a friend."
Nice job. George's question had been a trap, and Nessa had easily sidestepped it. Bear rubbed his chin as the men behind him remained perfectly silent. Nessa was interesting to watch in action. She truly was a phenomenal actress.
Should that concern him?
George cleared his throat. "I'm sending you the coordinates of a private airstrip in southern Oregon. You might need your pilot to turn around. Come here, land, and get out of that plane alone, or I'll send orders to have your uncle beheaded." There was silence for a moment. "By the way, I like your hair down. A lot."
Nessa waited and then slammed the tablet down, screen first.
Bear reached for her hands. They shook so hard he enfolded them, trying to add warmth. Tears gathered in her eyes, and her shoulders trembled. Wow. She had given away nothing-not one bit of the turmoil that was consuming her. He pulled her across the way and snuggled her into his arms.
Lucas reached around Bear and grabbed the tablet. "I'll give the pilots the new coordinates." Without waiting for an answer, he moved toward the cockpit.
Bear ran a soothing hand down her back. "I can take you home and send forces, Nessa. Just say the word."
She lifted her face to his, tears on her lashes. "He's my uncle. My only family."
Bear brushed tears off her smooth skin. "He was your only family. Now you have me." His job was to protect her.
Her eyes softened. "The plan is good. Are you sure you don't mind jumping from a plane?"