Zen (3 page)

Ten minutes later he arrived to his suite and headed straight to his bathroom. He dimmed the lights and took out his contacts. He really hated the things. But he couldn’t risk surgery and sunglasses had to be taken off when he entered the cage. That only left the contacts that filtered the harmful lights.

Zen looked up at the mirror and stared at his reflection. He didn’t see what others saw when they looked at him. He saw a scar on his left chin that he received when he was at the breeding facility. It never fully healed. There were other scars all over his body, but his particular species, Felons, had a glow to their skin that helped to camouflage imperfections.

He pushed away from the vanity and turned on the hot water for the shower. He pulled his clothes off and threw them to the floor. He stepped into the shower stall and let the water run over his muscles. It helped loosen him up a little but he still felt tight all over. He needed to soak his body in the tub for an hour or have one of the masseuses come and rub him down. He sighed. The latter would offer him more than what he actually needed. Zen didn't want any company at that moment. He was too tired to soak. He would take a full bath in the morning.

Zen lathered his chest with the non-fragrance soap. Most halfsies couldn’t stand to be around humans because of their smell. They always used strong smelling fragrances. Zen was especially sensitive to smells. His senses overloaded if he was subjected to prolonged loud noises and heavy annoying scents.

Zen finished his shower and dried himself off. He didn’t bother with underwear or pajamas. He headed straight for his bed and laid down. He closed his eyes and pictured the pretty brunette he saw earlier. There was a spark of intelligence behind her eyes that drew him.
Damn, she had been fine.

Lying there alone, he was filled with sadness. He wasn’t sure why. The most popular sought after fighter for the GCFA was the loneliest. He hoped his friends never found out or he would never hear the end of it.

Shawna grabbed her laptop and typed in the search field for Zen the Sin. Images popped up of Zen and his matches. There were many publicity campaigns that featured Zen. He was their very own cover boy. Following those were numerous newsreels of Zen with a different woman or sometimes multiple women at the same time.

Yeah, he was a real player. She frowned thinking about what Zen was doing at that moment. He was probably fucking the two bimbos that were all over him at the banquet. She had gotten sick of watching them rub themselves all over him. She headed back to her suite. She had to meet with him first thing in the morning and get a schedule together.

She basically had to tag along with him all day for two weeks. It was a suck job. She could be investigating something that really mattered, but she didn’t convince her bosses to give her this assignment because the subject matter appealed to her. No, she had a totally different purpose. After her time with Zen tomorrow, she would begin her real mission for being here. She couldn’t wait.

The next morning Shawna quickly showered and dressed. She had a meeting with Zen and the GCFA Assistant Director Nigel at one of the ship’s restaurants. She also had to stop by the lobby front desk to see if her cameraman, Jimmie, had checked in yet.

She dressed in a mid-thigh grey wool skirt with black knee high boots and a silky white button up blouse. She pulled her hair up on top of her head in a top knot and wore her square rimmed glasses. She didn’t really need the glasses except for reading, but they made her appear more professional.

She liked to use her professional uptight appearance as a way to keep men away. She wasn’t looking for a romantic relationship currently. She decided to focus solely on her career, limiting her social life. She checked herself in the mirror one last time. She was dressed the part of a cold and harsh reporter. There was no way Zen would be interested in her now. No way at all. She grabbed her minicomputer and bag.

It took about ten minutes to locate the right restaurant. The GCFA ship had three of them, plus two sports bars. She took a deep breath before going inside. The sounds of different conversations going on at the same time were distracting and her eyes took time to adjust to the dim lighting of the restaurant.

“May I help you?” a maître d' asked her.

“Yes. My name is Shawna Baker with the Galactic Times. I am here to meet with Nigel, the GCFA assistant director,” Shawna told her.

The woman looked at the reservation listing and saw Shawna’s name. “This way.” She turned and started walking through the restaurant toward the back right corner.

Shawna followed four paces behind her. She didn’t draw attention. People looked at her and turned away without acknowledging her. That’s exactly the way she preferred it.

She learned early on how to cover up her natural looks. She had inherited a classic beauty much like her mother. It drew attention, too much attention and the wrong kind of attention. She had struggled for years to get people to take her seriously.

During a horrendous high school experience, she decided to downplay her looks. It worked great when she went off to college. Her looks were ignored and her intelligence was revered. She graduated at the top of her class with honors. It was the only time her father, Senator Baker, ever acted the littlest bit proud of her. Her mother, on the other hand, didn’t care about Shawna’s academic achievements. She was always on Shawna about how she looked.

Her mother's favorite saying was, “Men want a beautiful woman to warm them at night, not a cold computer.” But Shawna doubted that even her drop dead gorgeous mother warmed her father at night. They slept in adjoining rooms the entire time she lived at home.

After college, Shawna kept up her disguise to ensure that her career as a reporter was based solely on her skills. With her putting her studies and career first, it left little time for a personal life. Her mother was constantly trying to set her up with an “appropriate” husband-to-be. They were all the same to her. The men were wealthy, had political ties, good looking, but not very intelligent. Also, they all expected Shawna to fit in the mold like her mother.

She suspected one or more of her suitors had actually slept with her mother but she could never prove it. She couldn’t trust her mother and her father was absent most of the time. So she moved out as soon as she could and rarely visited unless her father demanded she put in an appearance for his political photo shoot of the perfect family. She felt she owed him that at least. Otherwise, she would rather not see her parents at all. She wished her family had been different. Even now she longed for the family like other's had, with a loving mother, doting father, and a sibling or two.

Her attention came back to the maître d' who stopped walking and stood at a table in the corner. Shawna noticed Nigel first. He was attractive, a little older than her. She knew he was a halfsie but she couldn’t tell what kind. Nigel stood as she came to take her seat, and so did the other man at the table. Zen.

His name whispered through her head.
Zen Zen Zen
. God the man was beyond beautiful. She could see why women would throw themselves at his feet and worship him. She tried to keep her focus on Nigel.

“Mr. Nigel. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She reached out a hand to shake his. He had a nice warm grip.

“Miss Baker? It is good to finally put a face to the name. Zen, this is Shawna Baker. She is the reporter from the Galactic Times that will be covering you for the next few weeks. Miss Baker, this is Zen the Sin.” He motioned for her to turn and face the other man.

Shawna held her breath and turned with an outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Zen. Or should I call you Mr. Sin?”

Zen took the female’s hand in his and felt the sizzle from the gentle touch. It went from his hand, up his arm, over his chest and abs, and straight down to his cock. He had struggled when he first saw her enter the restaurant to get her scent with all the people around. Now her scent covered him. It was sweet and addicting. It made him want to take her to his suite and keep her in his bed forever.
Holy shit!

“You can call me yours if you like,” he said silkily, bending his head and kissing her soft knuckles.

Shawna’s eyes glazed over for just a moment. She felt this small kiss all the way to her toes. The man was dangerous to all women everywhere. She came back to her senses and pulled her hand out of his grasp.

Zen felt the loss immediately. Who was this female? She appeared at first like a simple businesswoman. No emotions showed and the glasses she wore were not stylish, but on her it looked kind of hot. She reminded him of the old Earth movie the
Music Man
where Marian the Librarian was more than what she appeared. Yeah, she was definitely giving off a
fuck off
vibe, but her bedroom eyes and sexy body screamed
fuck me!

“Mr. Zen, I will be following you around along with my photographer, Jimmie, when he arrives. Just go about your regular routine as if we aren't even there.”

Was she serious?
There was no way in hell he would be able to ignore her. Not now that he had her scent and the feel of her skin branded to his memory. His cock was full and aching. Her voice was sexy too and it seemed to wrap around him, caressing him. No woman made him feel this way and she hadn’t even laid hands on his body yet.

“Just tell me where you want me,” he told her, giving her his sexy wink that always got the females hot and bothered. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to work the same way on her.

Shawna narrowed her eyes at Zen and pulled her shoulders back stiffly. He was a shameless flirt. She had to be the least appealing woman in the restaurant but he was looking at her as if she was the only woman there. She almost moaned when he licked his luscious lips.

The waitress came by and took everyone’s order. She flirted outrageously with Zen. Zen flirted back lightly, giving her a wink. Shawna felt nauseous from watching the whole thing. She turned her attention back to Nigel.

“Will I have full access?” Shawna asked.

“Yes. Both you and your photographer will have all access to all the events, after parties, and photo shoots. Also any publicity events that Zen attends will be open to you as well.”

“That sounds great. Thank you, Nigel.”

Zen didn’t like having all of Shawna’s attention taken away from him. It was practically unheard of. He was Zen the Sin, the Zen Master.
Come on!

The waitress arrived with their food. There was silence as the three of them ate. Zen kept trying to get Shawna’s attention but she wouldn’t look up at him. He needed to get her alone. Get her to talk using her sexy voice.

“If you will excuse us, Nigel. There are some things I need to discuss with Miss Baker,” Zen said, giving Nigel a nod to leave.

Nigel didn’t look happy about being dismissed. However, he nodded at Zen anyway. “Well, it looks like you two have your work cut out for you. I’ll leave you to it.” Nigel stood to leave.

“Wait! Mr. Nigel, I assumed you would be accompanying us with most of the interviewing process.” She looked up at him, hoping to convince him to stay.

He gave Shawna a charming smile. “Perhaps we can share a dinner this evening and discuss how things are going?”

She smiled up at Nigel with gratitude. It was a small reprieve that she needed. Especially since she was going to have to follow Zen around like a puppy for most of the next two weeks.

“That sounds lovely.” Shawna reached up to shake his hand goodbye. But Nigel surprised her by lifting her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles like Zen had just moments ago. His lips were warm and his breath caused tingles to go up her arm. She looked up into his warm brown eyes. She saw a twinkle in his eyes and realized that Nigel was interested in her.
Wow, he was really attractive.
She was trapped in his gaze until a clearing of a throat reminded her where she was.

Nigel released her hand and nodded toward, Zen before he left. Shawna watched him leave, wishing that she was going with him. She reluctantly turned to face Zen. He was glaring at her for some reason.

Zen wanted nothing more than to rip Nigel limb by limb. He had never felt so jealous over another male before now. There was something about Shawna that made his Felon side feel possessive.

She took a bite of the omelet the waitress had brought her. Maybe she could get through this without much talking. But he wasn’t going to let that happen.