9

Vivien leaned against her closed door and tried to regain her composure. The composure she’d lost and had yet to see again since meeting Chase Fisk.

Way to make a complete ass of yourself, Brooks.

She’d invited him inside, admitted that she had some types of feelings about what was happening between them, and he’d basically told her to keep it to herself.

Dear God, he’d seen her stark-ass naked at the hospital. And he’d still walked away.

She’d known better than to tempt him, than to tempt herself. But after today she’d needed something. Comfort. Distraction. Both things she knew he was capable of providing. But would it be worth what it could cost them? Clearly it wasn’t worth it to him, judging from his reaction.

That night she fell into a restless sleep that was plagued by nightmares. Nightmares in which she was trapped inside the space suit from hell and Chase was walking away, watching her burn.

Watching her suffocate without the air it felt like only he could provide.

***

The following morning, Vivien sat in front of her laptop in her room. For the first time in weeks, she was dreading EOD training. Not only had her entire unit seen her drop like a ton of bricks, she’d made a humiliating pass at Chase and he’d turned her down flat. She’d spent a mostly sleepless night weighing her options.

There were other specialties she could focus on. She’d tested high enough to pick nearly any department she wanted.

There was a need for soldiers in strategical and tactical intelligence.

There was still time to apply for a transfer to the military police department.

There was only one problem.

No matter which field she transferred to, the first requirement on the form was going to be excruciating to obtain: a signature of approval from her current CO.

Her teeth ground together involuntarily while she made the trek to the training field. She could do this. Get through one more session, hang out and wait until everyone was gone, then adios. She could officially start over in a new unit with a new CO. One she hadn’t banged in a back alley behind a bar.

Knowing she should feel relief instead of the heavy weight of regret pressing against her chest, Vivien swallowed her pride and joined the formation on the field as soon as she arrived. She opted for a spot in back this time instead of in the front.

Today’s exercise didn’t involve the suit. Vivien thanked the Powers that Be for that small favor and smiled when she realized today’s activity involved using a PAN disrupter to detonate small explosives. Basically it was target practice. This she could do with her eyes closed.

Corporal Fisk marched up and down the aisles giving instructions. Vivien’s heartbeat sped to a full gallop when he came close to her, but she maintained her poker face. He paired her with Private Allison Lindsey, one of the other female soldiers and Private Devon Lawson, a black guy who looked enough like Shemar Moore to distract every female within a five-mile radius.

The trio finished in record time, with Lawson giving her a loud “Damn, girl” when she nailed the target on her first try. She smiled and fist bumped him, realizing that transferring would mean starting over with a new group when she’d just started to feel at home with this one.

Just when she began to have second thoughts, the main reason her transfer was necessary reared its ugly head.

The suit.

Several soldiers were wearing them to retrieve the remnants of the IEDs.

Vivien’s mouth went instantly dry and swallowing became nearly impossible.

As if he could sense her discomfort, Corporal Fisk made eye contact from across the field. She clenched her jaw and ignored him.

There was no point in second-guessing what she already knew to be true. That damn suit had beaten her. Denying it would only lead to wasting her time specializing in a field she’d never be successful in. Her failure to overcome her weaknesses could put lives in danger.

Once the training session was complete, Vivien took her time lingering toward the edge of the field. Corporal Fisk stood chatting amicably with two other soldiers she didn’t recognize. One of them kind of looked like one of the guys he’d been with at the bar—the biggest one. But the other stood too far away for her to make out. After several moments she began to wonder if he was purposely avoiding her.

Until her phone buzzed.

It was a text from an unknown number.

Go to my office. It’s across from the classroom. Be there as soon as I can.

She glanced over to where he stood, squinting in the bright sunshine. He held his phone but barely even looked at it. She frowned and texted back.

How’d you get my number?

He waited several more minutes before even glancing down at his screen. The other two men seemed oblivious.

I’m your CO. I have access to your file. Go.

So he’d checked it for her number then. She couldn’t help but smirk as she saved him as Corporal Perfect Cock in her contacts list.

Is that a direct order, Corporal?

His response came quicker.

It is.

Knowing she was transferring out of his unit after today made her bold. She fired off another quick response.

And if I don’t?

She bit her lip, wondering if she was pushing it a little too far.

It’s the military, Private. You know how we feel about punishment.

Don’t do it, Brooks, she chastised herself. She’d already embarrassed herself enough the day before. But what the hell? She might never see him again.

How do you feel about punishment, Corporal Fisk? Personally, I’m for it.

She felt her cheeks flush, but teasing him via text message was the most fun she’d had since their night together.

She didn’t wait around for his response. She just tucked her phone away and headed toward his office.

Once she arrived, she checked and saw that he had, in fact, messaged her back.

Don’t ask questions you can’t handle the answers to.

Oh, she could handle it all right. And now that she was exiting his command, she had every intention of showing him just how much she could handle.