Christ above. That’s my cue.
I roll off the counter and make for the stairs.
“Ah, where do you think you’re going?” Kels says.
London slaps him, muttering something inaudible before burying her head in her hands with a mortified groan.
“Back to work. I suggest you do the same.” I point at the front door and take the stairs two at a time.
“God, I see what you mean,” Kel says, not bothering to be quiet at all, “that man is hot and cold and every season in between.”
Excuse me?
Shaking my head, I stalk for my quarters. It’s far too early for this shit. Whatever London’s told him, I guess it’s none of my business.
Dammit, I thought we were friends. It sure felt that way.
Friends is safe. Friends is acceptable.
We’re not crossing any of the lines I’m tempted to annihilate on the daily.
I slam my door, and the sound echoes down the hallway. Dropping on the bunk, I shuck off my boots and stretch out. I could use a time out from humanity after—I glance at my watch—a grand total of eleven minutes with that guy.
And London... The glimmer of betrayal sliding into my chest pinches tight. It shouldn’t bother me the way it does.
A soft knock taps my door.
Fucking hell, can’t a guy have two seconds to himself?
I tug the door open. “What?”
Surprise flattens London’s face before she schools it to annoyance.
I run a hand through my hair. “Sorry, Tennison, I need a few min?—”
“Kel—he’s... I’m sorry, he shouldn’t have come here. He shouldn’t have said that stuff.”
Her chest snaps up and down at a rapid shallow pace.
My gaze drops to her mouth. My own parts, breath puffing past my lips as I tighten my grip around the edge of the door.
“Forget it. Go rest.”
She opens her mouth to say something but pushes up a tight smile and turns on her heel, heading for her quarters, two doors down and across the hall.
I close the door and my forehead meets the hard, cool surface. “Fuck.”
London and me are a hardno.
Every inch of my body is alive, even with that tiny interaction.
Starting something with London, despite the fact I’ve never been so affected by a woman close to this, would be a mistake.
I lose the will to deny myself... and the door opens under my hand.
My palm slams down on the other side, shutting it.
One of the few barriers between me and her.
