Page 172 of Aviatrix

“An attack?” she guesses.

“Yes.”

“Human?”

“No.”

“Shit,” Sasha curses under her breath. “That’s not good.”

“We’re sealed in, too,” I admit. “But we’re working on a way out. I don’t know if we’ll make it in time, but you have to do what you can. Get as many people out as possible.”

“I’ll try, Kinley.”

“And… thank you,” I say. “For taking care of Amber. I owe you one.”

“Save my ass and we’ll call it even,” she replies dryly.

“Deal.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Sasha says. “Fly safe.”

“I will.”

Click.

I sink back into the chair and take a long breath. When I turn, Eli is standing in the doorway.

“I asked you to do one thing.” He huffs as I stand and circle the desk. “Now half the damn base knows!”

I shrug. “Someone has to do something.”

“The General is working on it,” he fires back, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him with a firm click.

“Like he was working on making sure no one died at the funeral?” I return, my tone sharp.

“Quay,” he says my name and my stupid heart short-circuits. “I know you. You don’t like being caged in.” He takes a step closer.

I take one back. My hip bumps the desk.

“You’d rather risk your life than see anyone else get hurt.” Another step. I can’t move. Don’t want to.

He’s standing right in front of me now.

“You’re incapable of seeing clearly when it comes to the people you care about.” His words land like a blow and a balm at the same time.

“What are you saying?” I frown

He threads his fingers through my hair and tips my head back.

“I’m saying,” he says with a smirk, “you did exactly what I hoped you’d do.”

Then, his mouth is on mine.

His tongue slides along my bottom lip before dipping inside, tangling with mine. His hands are firm, greedy, confident as he wraps them around my waist and lifts me onto the desk. He settles between my legs like he belongs there, and maybe he does.

All the kissing we’ve done until now? Chaste. Sweet. Safe.

This? This is heat and hunger and chaos. This is desperation disguised as control.