Page 21 of Breathless Recruiter

“Janet!”

“Want me to take my shirt off? I will.” I didn’t doubt it.

A clang echoed throughout the lobby. A figure rose into the air, and I expected to see Dustin. I’d never forgive myself if he?—

“Prowler?” The villain landed a few feet away. Licks of flame erupted along his shoulders and back. He groaned but didn’t getup. With the bad guy out of commission, I needed to make sure Dustin was okay.

I ran into the cloud. “Dustin?”

Spinning about, I scoured the floor, looking for— I smashed into somebody. Even in the white cloud, I could make out dark scruff along his jaw. Covered in a layer of sweat and panting, he didn’t have a scratch on him.

“You could have gotten hurt.” I continued scouring, refusing to believe he hadn’t been burned… or at least scratched.

“It’s my job,” he said.

As I turned his head to the side, I realized we were still touching. He didn’t pull away. Neither did I. After saving me and Janet, I wanted to touch him in any way he’d allow. Though I wish his shirt had been burned away as well.

“You’re…” I didn’t understand the feeling bubbling in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to cheer and crush him in a bear hug all at the same time.

The extinguisher hit the floor with a clunk. His hand moved to my chest, fingertips grazing my muscles. He gave me a couple of quick pats. I blushed as cheering took place in my pants.

I moved without thinking. A hand gripped his hips, pulling him in tight. He didn’t resist as I leaned in for a kiss. Dustin’s hand snaked behind my neck as he returned the kiss with fervor. This wasn’t how supervillain showdowns went, but I wouldn’t argue.

I liked kissing. I liked kissing Dustin.

His tongue grazed mine, and my eyes shot open. When his thigh brushed against my cock, I thought I’d lose control and turn into a vibrating heap. At the same time, I didn’t want it to end. He pulled away, and my lips chased him, refusing to let go.

With a final peck, he leaned back. My eyes blurred from the powder, but I wanted to keep looking at him, my hero. I couldn’t wait to tell Earth Mom I had my first kiss.

“If you ever need rescuing, let me know.” The words were soft as he patted the side of my face. “Or maybe next time you can rescue me.”

I blushed. Scared to stop Prowler, I had let a human confront a supervillain. Embarrassment turned my cheeks hotter than the pyro. Next time, and knowing Vanguard, therewouldbe a next time, I wanted to be the one doing the saving.

“You dare come into my house?” Janet’s shouting brought me back to reality. Dustin stepped back, straightening his uniform. If he thought I missed him adjusting his package, he was sorely mistaken.

“Try it again, and you won’t be walking out of here.” Janet brought back her shoe and, with a swift kick, sent Prowler rolling onto his back. The villain brought up his arms, defending himself from her next strike.

“We should save him,” Dustin said.

I didn’t want to, not if it meant no more kissing.

“Tell your bad guy buddies to be on alert.” Janet held out her elbow and jumped into the air before slamming it into his chest. “I’ve got plenty to go around.”

I dashed over, pulling Janet off Prowler. Dustin whipped out zip ties, cinching them around the villain’s wrists. Grabbing him by the arms, he hoisted the man to his feet. Cheers erupted around the lobby. The scientists had inched their way inside. Had they seen our kiss, or had the cloud hidden us?

I dipped down, flipping Janet over my shoulder. She pounded at my back before she slapped my ass. I should have seen it coming.

“We make a good team,” Dustin winked.

I agreed. Though it had nothing to do with tackling bad guys, just tackling one another.

7

“Your greatest weakness will be…”My father’s final words filled my thoughts. I was no closer to filling in the end of his statement.

Hundreds of feet above Vanguard, the breeze tried throwing me back and forth. My cape whipped about as I drifted with the wind. The sun had reached the horizon and nearly vanished. In its last moments, the world turned a vibrant orange.

“Home.” The words were lost amidst the whooshing of the wind. For a few seconds, dusk reminded me of Halo, one of the few memories I had of my world. When the sun hit the atmosphere, its inhabitants were basked in orange light. I remembered lifting my face to the sky, imagining the light becoming one with my body. By necessity, Earth had become my home, but after years of trying, I still felt like an outsider.

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