I still didn’t move. Didn’t touch her. I stayed exactly where I was—open, grounded, letting her feel the space instead of filling it for her.
Then my voice shifted. Not playful anymore. Steady. Certain.
“What happens next,” I said evenly, meeting her gaze and holding it, “is entirely up to you.”
Her eyes flicked to my mouth.
Back to my eyes.
She hesitated for a moment, like she was second guessing herself. I was about to say something, but her eyes quickly shifted from hesitation to determination. Like she made a decision she wasn’t going to turn back from. And fucking hell I sure hope she didn’t. My hands tensed slightly on her hips without meaning to and before I could loosen them, her lips crashed into mine.
Not tentative.
Not careful.
Hard. Desperate.
I kissed her back before my brain caught up.
The second her mouth pressed to mine, the room tilted. Weeks of restraint snapped tight and burned through all at once. She made a low sound that was surprised and breathless. It made my grip tightened automatically, pulling her body closer to mine.
Her knees gripped tighter around my waist and in that moment I wanted nothing more but to be able to rip her clothes off and show her how special she truly was. But I held back. She was fully in control and I wanted her to know that.
Her fingers dug into my shoulders like she needed something to hold onto.
I forced myself to slow it for half a second, mouth moving against hers just enough to give her space to choose.
“If this isn’t what you want, tell me to stop,” I murmured.
Her answer came without hesitation. “Don’t.”
That was it.
I kissed her again, deeper this time, heat and urgency everywhere at once. Her legs locked around my waist, body clinging like she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go.
The door opened.
“Movement.”
Ghost’s voice cut through the room, flat and precise.
I pulled back instantly, chest heaving, hands braced on either side of her head. Amanda’s cheeks were flushed, lips swollen, eyes wide like she’d just been dragged out of something she hadn’t wanted to leave.
Ghost stood in the doorway, mask unreadable.
“You two—later,” he added. “We’ve got activity coming together.”
I growled under my breath.
Amanda cleared her throat and loosened her legs around me. We got up from the floor slowly, keeping my hands on her a second longer than necessary to make sure she stayed steady.
“Contact?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Ghost said. “Chatter. Perimeter pings. Ranger’s confirming.”
“How long?” I demanded.
A pause. Calculated.
