Page 160 of Resurgent

“Is that a promise, Sir?” I ask sweetly, watching the last Delta recruit disappear through the gym doors.

His jaw tightens, dark gaze dragging over me slow enough to make my pulse kick.

“Locker rooms. Now. You have ten minutes.”

A grin tugs at my lips as I walk toward the women’s locker rooms, “Aw…so disappointing. I thought you liked a challenge.”

“Oh, I love a challenge, Seiri, I’m just giving you ten minutes to get over how it felt losing to me back there. Can’t have you crying in there all night.”

Without breaking stride, I throw my middle finger up at him.

His low, dangerous chuckle echoes through the now-empty arena, all the confirmation I need that he saw it as I push the locker room door open.

Chapter forty-eight

Annalise

Hot water pours over my head and already tightening muscles as I work my conditioner through my hair, fingertips massaging the dirt and debris from the dust storm we flew through from my scalp, while the steam slowly eases the ache my muscles are already feeling.

Hunter’s smug grin flashes through my mind. “Wouldn’t want you crying all night.”

Arrogant asshole.

Sure, he’d won on the mat. Sure, the recruits had seen him pin me and probably walked away thinking I’m still weak.

But I’m not, and Hunter has forgotten one very important thing—I’m not just another combat student, I’m a Ghost Walker. And I don’t lose.

A slow, wicked idea forms as quickly as I rinse the conditioner from my hair. Thirty seconds later, my hair wrapped in a towel, clothes clinging to my still damp skin as I slip soundlessly into the empty hallway connecting the locker rooms.

The steady sound of running water greets me, and it’s almost impossible to contain my excitement.

Without a sound, I open the door just enough to squeeze through.

My bare feet are silent as I slink across the tile floors to where Hunter’s towel and clean clothes are hanging, with his bunched-up, sweaty workout gear in a messy pile just below.

This is too easy.

I creep closer—slow, steady movements to avoid gaining his attention—until I’m mere inches away, my fingers already reaching, when the water suddenly stops.

Not daring to waste a second, I curl my fingers around his towel and clean clothes before scooping up his dirty pile from the floor.

“Don’t. Even. Think. About it,” Hunter says, cocky that he’s caught me, and so sure that I’ll listen that he hasn’t even stepped out of the shower.

“Don’t what?” I ask innocently.

“You’re playing a very dangerous game,” he warns, his tone more serious.

“You’re right…” I concede, watching as he relaxes slightly. “Or, at least you would be, if you could actually chase me.”

Swinging the door open, I take off down the hall, trying to decide where to hide in the short amount of time it’ll take him to steal something from a recruit’s lock—

Oh shit!

The sound of his bare feet pounding after me sends adrenaline crackling straight through my chest.

I risk a glance over my shoulder and immediately regret it.

He’s gaining on me. Fast. And completely naked.