Page 109 of Secret Gifts
Mmm.
“Baby, I can read your thoughts, feel your desire, and taste your love, but mine is still just as strong without the overly heightened senses. Separation has been hard for me too - more so than I care to admit. It’s necessary though." He sighs while shifting to first and speeding away from the intoxicating seduction offered by the Catagar.
“Care to explain?”
I lean over to him, my head falling on his arm as my arms wrap around it. He smiles as his hand slides to be on my leg once the final gear has shifted.
“We’re chasing after a group, and you’re grounded. I need to know I’m out there keeping you safe.”
Grounded. Not for fucking long.
“What does that mean?” he asks, suspicion in his tone.
“Nothing,” I grumble, my mind drawing up a white screen in place of my thoughts until I think of flowers, candy, cats, crazy spider web patterns.
“Aria, tell me. What’s going on?”
“I think my mother called the damn commander,” I say to deter his interrogation.
“Oh?” he says in a strange octave.
“Yeah. Anyway, I’m going to find him and have a word with him about my grounding.”
He smiles lightly, and then I feel his lips against my head as his breath cools my hair.
“I see. I heard he’s out on silent stalk right now. Besides, he’s just trying to keep you safe.”
I sit up, my hands dropping from his body while wiping his hand away from my leg.
“I’m sick of people keeping me safe. My dad did it, my mom has done it for far too long, Uncle Clay did it, along with Uncle Grayson, Aunt Angelica, Rex, and Uncle Brazen. I’m tired of everyone treating me like I’m so damn breakable. Maybe my hybrid wouldn’t be so dormant if everyone stopped treating me like some fragile little human. The commander is a stupid, cowardly son of a bitch if he’s giving into my mother’s wishes. I don’t deserve to be grounded. I’m a tracker. Trackers track. So what if I suck at using my gift? I’m just supposed to be leading the others to the threats that could end this war, and I’m damn good at my job.”
He sighs out heavily while his hand forces my body back to him, and then he grips me a little tighter.
“You really hate the commander, don’t you?”
His body tenses as though he’s holding his breath for my answer.
“Honestly?” I derisively snort. “Yes. I don’t think he has the balls to lead, and he’ll never be the man my father or my Uncle Clay was. I’m sure you’re ready to defend him though.”
His lips tighten to a thin line, and then he shakes his head.
“Not tonight. I just want to spend some time with you before I head back out. My team leaves at dawn, which is now just three hours away. I really didn’t have time to come back, but I had to see you.”
Now I feel like a jerk for sparking an argument, and my anger flees as I curl into his body. He feels a little stiffer now though. I shouldn’t have said anything about the commander. Everyone in the United is so loyal to the faceless phantom. Everyone is so used to being led by someone they love, they’re willing to love the next leader.
“I’m sorry. I just hate being tied to the compound again. My dad always pissed me off because he didn’t think I was good enough to be in the field. I don’t appreciate every breath I take being doubted.”
“You’re not doubted, Aria, you’re adored. There’s a difference, and you should stop acting so childish about it.”
Whoa. Childish?
“So much for not fighting,” I gripe.
His head flops back, and then he runs a hand through his hair to tousle the sexy tendrils.
“I’m not trying to fight, I’m trying to reason. You’re very important in so many ways. Your tech expertise alone is invaluable. Your abilities in tracking are unparalleled, but you’re a liability in the field right now. They want you. What’s worse, no one can know they want you because they’ll want to know why they want you. It paints you a target, so I happen to agree with the commander because I love you too fucking much to watch you be ripped from my life, since I’m planning on spending eternity with you,” he admonishes, and my lips edge up in an involuntary grin.
He rolls his eyes angrily for his over-sharing slip, and then he gasses the car harder, avoiding my eyes.
