Page 9 of Flame Kissed

Leilani shot her coworkers a look before following the captain into the small room. It was sparse but homey, with pictures of her wife on her wall. Only once the door was shut did Captain Hunter say a word.

“Have a seat.” She motioned to the chair in front of her desk.

Leilani did, chewing on her lip as she braced for the reprimand she knew she was about to get for her insubordination.

“Want to tell me what got into you back there?” Captain Hunter asked in a natural tone.

Leilani grit her teeth. Did she want her to dig her own grave?

“I won’t apologize if that’s what you’re after.” She crossed her arms, grim determination on her face. “The woman might not even be alive right now if I hadn’t done it. I don’t—I won’t—I can’t regret it. All I did was my job.”

Captain Hunter paused, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not asking you to apologize. Yes, what you did was reckless, but you did save her and there’s no guarantee we would have been able to save her if you hadn’t. You did a good job. You should be proud.”

“Oh? So I’m not in trouble? But then why am I here?”

She laughed. “What? Do you think the only reason I can call you in here is to reprimand you?”

“Um, yes?” She gave a nervous smile.

She rolled her eyes. “I wanted to tell you you did good. You really went above and beyond out there today.”

“I was just doing my job.”

“Really? Because from where I was sitting, you weren’t the only one on that boat, but you were the only one in the water.”

She rubbed the back of her head. “Well, that’s what I was hired for, water rescue specialty. Swimming is as easy as walking to me. And I understand the ocean. I can read it; become one with it. It was nothing.”

“I disagree, and I’m willing to bet the woman you saved would disagree too. Did I hear you went to check on her in the hospital?”

“I did. Don’t worry, I used my break, yeah. I wanted to make sure she had a ride home.”

“And how was she?”

“She seemed to be holding up well considering everything. Adaze is an incredibly strong person.”

“That’s good, and no, you didn’t use your break. Checking on someone you saved like that absolutely counts as work to me. Did you even get a chance to hit the showers yet?”

“No, Captain.”

“Alright, I’ve got work to do. You can get going. Get yourself cleaned up then go wait for the next call with the others.

“Thanks, Boss.” She shot her a smile and all but raced back to the lounge.

Even when she wasn’t in trouble, there was something about being in the office that always made her feel like a kid being called to the principal’s office.

She slipped into the locker room and walked over to the rows of showers at the back. Grabbing a few of the soaps out of the waiting baskets, she washed the sea, salt and sweat from her skin. She wondered if Adaze was in the shower now as well.

Long smooth limbs. Lovely curves of her breasts and ass. Mmmm.

She hoped she was relaxing, treating herself. Maybe she would take a bubble bath, have a glass of wine. Or maybe she would just rinse off really quick and curl up on the sofa with a comfort show and a cup of tea.

Maybe she had a dog or a cat of her own curled up with her to keep her company. Or a friend she could call on for support.

Leilani just hoped the other woman wasn’t alone after her ordeal.

She would have offered to stay and keep her company herself, but she needed to get back to work.

Also, she wasn’t entirely sure she would be welcome in her space.

---