Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 17 - Well, Hello

"Who the hell are you?” I asked.

Manuel and the General laughed and walked over to the man, patting him on the back.

“Hello? You still didn’t answer my question, dude. Who. The. Hell. Are. You?”

The man walked further into the room and my breath ceased, my eyes dilated and my heart took up the tango. The man was gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. His eyes were the most amazing shade of blue green I had ever seen. His black brown hair had natural highlights of blonde through the top. His body was amazing. He was built but not overly muscled. He was tall, six-feet-three or four of pure sex in shoes. I noticed I was still staring but so was he.

He held his hand out. “My name is Rivera, well, my last name is Rivera. My first name is Matheus. I know your face but not your name. I was shown a picture of you when I was walking to my house - the one you’re standing in.”

I shook his hand, still a little dazed. I felt as if I knew this man. As if I had already met him. “Sorry, the name I’m going by is Seri but my name is actually Selina. Sorry about taking up residence in your house. But, you can blame your friend,” I whispered, pointing at Manuel and throwing him under the bus, backing up, and running him over again.

Manuel gave me incredulous look. “That wasn’t me, it was my evil twin brother. And, way to throw me under the car.”

The General, Matheus, and I laughed at his wrong wording but the General replied, “It’s under the bus, Manuel.”

I rolled my eyes.

“But, we don’t have buses here,” he deadpanned.

“You don’t have cars either,” I pointed out.

The guys laughed loudly, while I snickered quietly.

The General pulled Matheus over toward the bed. “You need to see what Seri showed us. It’s amazing.” The General handed the map to Matheus, showing him everything I had written.

Matheus looked up at me. I knew what he saw when he looked at me but him looking at me didn't creep me out. I wanted to brush my hair with my hands but I didn't want him to think I was primping for him. But, if I ever wanted to primp for a man he would be that man. My heart hadn't quit pounding. It wasn't fear but I didn't know what it was.

“To let you know, I set up cameras and mics up all along the way from the river to the village around my house. I can watch everything from here.” He stood up and walked to a section on his wall, sliding over a section. “All the camera’s are set up to be viewed from here. Sorry, General, I may have or may not have set up my security system to work with the satellite you used to see the compound here.”

All four of us laughed.

The General made a face at Rivera. “And, I may have or may not have known about it,” he countered with a smirk.

The men walked outside while I thought I would make some food. I needed something to do to keep me from going crazy. I had never been cooped up, caged but not cooped up. I was a person who did things, even if those things were to train.

I grabbed a hunk of ham from the cooler, noticing we needed more ice. “Hey, Manuel, did the General bring some more ice?”

“Yes. Hold on I’m bringing it in.” He walked in and helped me to put the meat and ice in the cooler, walking back out when he was done. I got busy making ham and potatoes, planning to cut up some fruit too. I put the ham in the Dutch oven, turning the propane on and lighting the burner.

I added some water and added basil, a pinch of thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot, stirring everything together. Considering it was not exactly a warm piece of meat, I would have to cook it just enough for it not to hurt our human form.

I still had time until I had to peel potatoes or the fruit. It might be a better idea to put the fruit in a bowl on the table. I was worried about having fresh fruit inside. I wasn’t sure if it would draw bugs or not. I didn’t look at the bugs in the rainforest. I was only worried about the animals, snakes and poisonous frogs. The bugs didn’t bother jaguar shifters. Don’t ask me why, they just don’t.

I needed to pee and I was embarrassed to ask, so I was doing the pee-pee dance. This was ridiculous. Everyone had to pee.

“What’s wrong?” Matheus asked whispering.

“How do you know anything is wrong? I’ve been quiet, I know I have,” I muttered defensively.

“I just do,” he answered.

“I need to pee, bad,” I grumbled, blushing.

Matheus walked in grumbling about stupid friends who don’t show a lady where the bathroom is. He walked over to a door I had mistakenly thought was a closet and opened the door. “There’s a toilet and shower in here. The toilet is a compost toilet but the shower works if you like cold showers,” he murmured, saying he was going to need one after meeting. He stopped his words and nodded his head, walking quickly out the door.

I used the toilet, thinking a shower sounded nice. I decided I deserved one but I was afraid the monsters men would smell me. I decided I didn’t care. I went and checked the food, then gathered my clothes and all natural hair and bath products. Everything I had was unscented and wouldn’t mess up the ecosystem. I hurried back to the bathroom and closed the door.

After washing my hair and body, getting dressed and putting my harness back on, shoving my weapons in the appropriate places I was ready to put my scent masking spray on. Only I didn’t want to put it on in the house. I wanted to put it on outside - not that I could.

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