Page 13 of Loaned to the Leonid Knight
SASHA PRESSED THE PANELoutside the door of Gideon’s quarters, calling into the intercom as she held down the button. “Hi. It’s Sasha Cordovair. I... I came to welcome you aboard. I called in the med bay when you just arrived and—oh!” Sasha jumped back when the sliding doors on Gideon’s quarters opened and revealed the most startlingly handsome Leonid she’d ever seen.
Jet black, with a wild mane that shone like shimmering silk in the lights. He had on loose cream-colored trousers and bare feet. A bare chest.
Were all Leonids this muscular? This striking?
Upon reflection, Farhet reminded her of a pompous politician, the same kind you saw on Sapien-Three on all the media ads and boring newscasts; the kind that made promises and never delivered. Since his departure, she’d realized that every race must have a subclass of person—the slimy, pompous ass.
Gideon’s golden eyes widened when he saw her, and he extended both paws to take her hand, catching it and then bowing low over it. His huge frame already towered over her, but he bent double to rest his forehead on her hand.
Thick, soft fur that almost swallowed up her bare fingers caressed her hand, and his mane reached to under her chin.
Okay. Not afraid of touching me. That’s a plus.
Gorgeous and looks like he could take out a wall. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet...
“I am so very honored to make your acquaintance. I am Gideon, of Imazi Hills. In the Leonid culture, it is rare to use a surname. Please, just call me Gideon, Miss Cordovair.”
“That’s fine. I’m Sasha. A-and I’m honored, too.” She bent her knees, not sure if she should bow, curtsey, or try to put her head on his paws. “I’m still learning Leonid customs, but I noticed that. Everyone just goes by their first names.”
Gideon rose as she bent.
Their heads bumped lightly, and they were nose to nose, a massive, broad face that was twice the size of hers engulfing her with a flowing, wayward mane. “Oh,” she let out a little laugh.
“My apologies.” He let out the same sort of nervous chuckle and brushed his mane back. “Please, come in. I brought a gift for you from Leonid-One. Well, I know Farhet gave you the necklace I purchased—”
“No. He didn’t. But that’s okay! I wasn’t expecting a gift.” Sasha straightened up and tucked her hair behind her ear.
Gideon fixed her with his luminous golden eyes. “You are willing to offer him a child, and a child is the only way a Pride continues. All the jewels in the galaxy aren’t enough. I... I brought you this. It is just something I picked up in the Bastet Mercy gift shop, but I thought it was fitting.” He hurried to one of two large metal cases by the foot of the bed, opening one and drawing out a large white box.
“Oh! You really didn’t have to.” Sasha’s jaw clenched involuntarily. She hadn’t received a gift in the last four years, not since Abuela last gave her a birthday present. Her roommate had remembered once and gotten her something that was supposed to be chocolate but tasted like plastic and sugar. “It’s... It’s not even going to be your cub. I mean, it is, but you said it would help the Pride continue. This baby won’t be part of your Pride. Will it? Are you like—a relative of Farhet’s?”
Gideon gave her a bitter, lopsided smile and held out the box. “If you are unfamiliar with Leonid ways, Miss Cordovair—”
“Sasha, please.”
“Sasha, I’m not a relative of Farhet’s, and if I were, he would shun me. If you look at me, you’ll see that with a surplus of Knights and Kings, and a fraction of the Queens there should be, I will never have my own cubs or Pride. I will never have a Queen—not as things stand now.”
Sasha blinked and took the box, her eyes raking over the beautiful Leonid in front of her. “Why? I’m sorry if that’s rude. I’m looking at you, and you’re um—well, you’re not missing anything. You must be healthy, or Dr. Marcus wouldn’t let you into the program. You’re gorgeous. Sorry. I mean that objectively. Sorry. I think I’m nervous after my meeting with Farhet. He didn’t like me.”
I didn’t like him, either, but Gideon? I already like him.
GORGEOUS.
The human Queen was looking at him with her beautiful eyes and speaking to him with her soft voice, which was coming from such unusual lips. No wide, split muzzle for her, just soft little red berries that looked so plump and tender. Bitable. Lickable.
He shook himself away from the first praise he had ever heard from a female of any species—not counting his mother and sisters, who praised his kindness and his intellect and never dwelt on his unusual appearance.
“You are most kind. I’m not the right color for a Leonid, not a Leonid on Leonid-One, where the best and brightest reside. I also have this—” he turned around and showed her the white sprinkling of spots on his back, “all markers of a genetic mutation. A rare one, not necessarily something I would pass on. They ran tests at the hospital, at Farhet’s insistence. The likelihood that a cub I produce will have this coloring is less than 1%. It’s an acceptable risk.”
“Right... But you could have a child of your own, couldn’t you, if looks weren’t important? Or, even if they were, I guess?”
“I suppose. But the child wouldn’t have a very advantageous life. And I would prefer to leave Leonid-One and settle elsewhere. To be frank, Sasha, that’s what Farhet has promised me. A new life and a huge amount of credits to start a new life in a place where I won’t be a servant that people look on with pity or shock. Other planets in the systems aren’t so rigid. I may even find a Queen of my own—somewhere else. If you think that’s dishonorable, I wouldn’t blame you. You can end things right now, and I would understand fully.” Another bow, and he pushed the box more firmly into her hands.
Coming from the materialistic culture of such a prestigious and pompous district, he was used to gifts being opened and expected, their value boasted about at once. Sasha put it in her lap and sat on his bed, looking at him with sympathy. Not pity.
On his bed.
His heart hammered in his chest, even though he knew it was surely a misplaced excitement.
