I raise an eyebrow. "Maybe I mean them.”
Something dangerous flashes in his eyes. He kisses me again and it’s harder this time. His hands grip my hips like he's afraid I'll disappear, but I can’t imagine ever leaving his side. I hook my fingers through his belt loops and tug him closer. I need more contact, more friction… more of him.
Buzz. Buzz.
He pulls back with a groan and fishes his phone out of his pocket. "Damn it. Sorry, let me just—" We're both breathless. His forehead drops to mine and I can feel his heart pounding against my palm where it rests on his chest. He glances at the screen, and his expression shifts. "It's base. I have to take this."
I nod and step back to give him space. He walks a few feet away. His voice is low and clipped as he talks. I can't hear what he's saying, but I can see the tension in his shoulders.
I take the moment to inhale the magic of this place. The crisp mountain air fills my lungs, carrying hints of pine and wildflowers. Sunlight dapples the ground in shifting patterns of gold. This is what the world looks like with Blaze in it.
It seems impossible. Not that long ago, I didn't even know his name. Now I don’t want to spend a single minute without him by my side. But maybe this could be my life. I could wake up wrapped in his strong arms. I could spend evenings on a porchwatching the sun sink behind the mountains with him by my side.
I stand here and watch the broad stretch of his back while he paces back and forth as he talks. With every minute the door I've kept bolted shut cracks open a little wider. I can't help it. Everything in me screams the truth.I want this. I want him.
When Blaze comes back, there’s a noticeable shift in him. His jaw is tight.
"Hey, is everything okay?"
"Training schedule got moved up." He shoves the phone back in his pocket. "We've got a new group coming through next week. It’s the largest we’ve ever had at one time. Which means..."
"More physicals," I finish. "More exams. More chances for us to get caught."
"No, that’s not it." He hesitates. "They're assigning a field medic to shadow the training exercises. In case of injuries."
My stomach drops. "They want someone from the base clinic."
"They wantyou, Serena." He runs a hand through his hair. "You've been assigned to my unit for the next two weeks. They’re going to tell you on Monday."
Shit.
Two weeks of forced proximity. Two weeks of pretending we're nothing more than colleagues while every cell in my body screams for him.
"This is a disaster," I breathe.
"This is just a bump in the road.” He catches my hand, threading his fingers through mine. "We'll be careful and when the training is over, we'll figure out the rest."
We walk back to the parking lot hand in hand. It's stupid and risky and exactly what I promised myself I wouldn't do. My stomach turns and clenches from the news of my new assignment.
But I don't let go of him and that’s a start.
CHAPTER 9
BLAZE
It’s day three of training, and I'm losing my mind and it isn’t the exercises. I could run SERE drills in my sleep. Navigation challenges, evasion tactics, and simulated captures that make green recruits piss themselves are muscle memory at this point.
What's killing me isher.
Normally I could do this work blindfolded. But today I'm distracted by the woman standing fifty yards away, arms crossed, pretending she's not watching my every move. Serena is everywhere and it’s driving me insane.
She’s hovering at the edge of the training grounds with her medical kit. Then she’s checking vitals during water breaks. She’s watching me too, but her eyes don’t give anything away. She’s professional and distant. It looks too easy for her.
"Reynolds! Head in the game."
I snap back to reality just in time to dodge a grappling hook from one of the trainees. We're running a capture-resistance scenario. Four recruits try to apprehend me while I demonstrate evasion techniques.
"Sorry, Sergeant." I roll my shoulders, refocusing. "Won't happen again."
