"He's never been accused of subtlety."
She settles back against my chest. "I like them. Your team."
"Good. They liked you too."
We drift toward sleep, tangled together in the dark. But my mind keeps circling back to the same thought.
Somewhere between the parking lot and now, between breakfast arguments and midnight kisses, between professional distance and sharing a bed—I fell for her.
And unlike every other threat I've faced, I have no tactical response for this one.
Just the knowledge that keeping Gwen Abernathy safe isn't just about the investigation anymore.
It's personal.
And that terrifies me more than any firefight ever did.
7
GWEN
Iwake tangled in Thatcher's sheets with the early light warming my face. Solid muscle presses against my back, an arm heavy around my waist, his breath steady against my neck. Sometime between falling asleep and now, we shifted completely. My body curves into his, his hand splayed flat against my stomach like even unconscious he's protecting me.
Moving seems wrong. Creating space feels impossible.
His breathing changes. His muscles tense as awareness returns. Neither of us shifts position.
"Morning," he says finally, voice rough with sleep.
I turn in his arms to face him. "Hey."
Eyes search mine, looking for regret maybe, for hesitation. He won't find either.
"Sleep okay?" he asks.
"Better than I have in a while." I trace the line of his jaw, feel stubble rough under my fingertips. "You?"
"Same." His thumb brushes my cheekbone. "My team is going to have a field day with this."
"Sullivan's going to be unbearable."
"He's already unbearable. This just gives him more material." His mouth curves into a smile. "Worth it though."
"Definitely worth it."
His phone buzzes on the nightstand. We both freeze.
The phone buzzes again, then again in rapid succession that can only mean group texts. Thatcher groans and reaches for it. He squints at the screen, then shows me.
Sullivan: Pretty sure the captain woke up with the doc this morning.
Garcia: About damn time he made a move.
Sullivan: Think he's actually gonna seal the deal or just keep pining?
Garcia: My money's on tonight. Think they’ll make their move.
Hayes: Good for them.
