Page 17 of Passions Ignite

Lux wanted to argue, to push back, but she found herself hesitating. She couldn’t get past the way Zoey’s voice sounded, strong but soft, commanding but somehow gentle at the same time. It was throwing her off balance.

“Fine,” Lux said after a moment. “We can run the simulation your way and see how it goes.”

Zoey nodded, stepping closer to the control panel. Their arms brushed, just barely, and Lux felt a jolt she didn’t expect. She turned away quickly, staring at the screen.

Zoey’s fingers moved over the controls, setting up the simulation to prioritize evacuation. The scenario started, and they both watched as the screens displayed the spreading fire and the rescue operations in action. Lux could feel Zoey’s presence beside her, the heat from her body almost making Lux’s skin tingle.

“We’re losing too much time on these evacuations. The fire’s spreading faster than we can handle.”

Zoey didn’t look up, her attention trained on the screen. “We’re saving lives. That’s what matters. Be patient.”

Lux clenched her fists, her frustration mixing with something else she couldn’t quite name. “But we’re not containing the fire. It’s going to get out of control if we don’t act fast.”

“We’ll get it under control,” Zoey said. “Once we know people are safe.”

Lux was about to argue more, but she caught sight of Zoey’s profile, the curve of her jaw, and the way her hair fell just slightly into her eyes. She looked so composed, so sure of herself, and Lux found herself caught in the moment, forgetting what she was going to say.

Zoey glanced at her, and Lux quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the simulation. But her mind was still on Zoey, on the way she looked, the way she sounded, the way she made Lux feel something she didn’t want to acknowledge.

The simulation ended, and Zoey turned to Lux, a small smile on her lips. “See? We managed to handle both. People are safe, and the fire’s contained.”

Lux nodded, trying to hide the turmoil inside her. In some ways, Zoey had a point, but she wasn’t going to admit that. “I still think containment should be the priority.”

Zoey’s smile widened a fraction. “We’ll find a way to balance both. We’re on the same team, after all.”

There was something in her eyes, something intense, something that made it hard for Lux to breathe.

“Maybe you’re right,” Lux conceded. “About finding a balance. It’s just…this job is dangerous.”

“That’s why we have to be smart about it.”

Lux nodded, her eyes flicking down to Zoey’s lips and back up. She didn’t mean to; it just happened, like some magnetic pull she couldn’t resist. Zoey took another step forward, and suddenly, they were standing too close, their breaths mingling in the space between them.

“Zoey,” Lux began, but she didn’t know what she was going to say. The words died in her throat as Zoey’s eyes dropped to her lips, and Lux felt a rush of heat through her body.

Kiss her, Lux.

It was as though everything around them faded, leaving just the two of them in that small room, the air thick with the unspoken. Zoey moved closer, and Lux felt her heart skip, her breath catching as their faces were now inches apart.

“Chief Valentine,” Zoey whispered.

Lux’s mind was a whirl, part of her screaming to stop, the other part wanting nothing more than to close the distance. She could feel Zoey’s breath on her skin, warm and steady.

But she wanted more than just a kiss. Her thighs shuddered with a sudden burst of desire, wanting—no, needing—this stubborn lieutenant in front of her. She leaned in yet again, their lips almost touching, the anticipation coiling tight in her chest.

The blaring sound of the alarm shattered the moment.

Lux jerked back, her heart pounding, the spell broken. She glanced at the red alarm lights blinking in a corner then hurried toward the door.

“Shit, there’s a fire.”

Shit.

6

ZOEY

Zoey stepped out of the simulation room, the sound of the alarm still ringing in her ears. The fire station was a flurry of activity.

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