Page 6 of Battle of Hearts

Sawyer wasn’t really one for any kind of attraction. An introverted person since childhood, she had spent her entire life and career keeping her emotions in check, never allowing herself to get too close to anyone, let alone enough to form any kind of bond or relationship. But here, in this isolated outpost, in the warmth of the fire and Mirren’s presence while a vicious stormraged outside, it was becoming harder to ignore and even harder to resist. Mirren lulled her with a strange sense of security, a feeling that was as dangerous as Sawyer’s attraction for her.

The lieutenant must have sensed the shift in the air because she stood to her feet all of the sudden and brushed off her hands. “I should check the weather data,” she said, her voice a little too quick, a little too forced, matching the look of confliction in her eyes. “Those winds are getting strong. It’s beginning to worry me.”

Sawyer nodded, grateful for the reprieve. “Good idea. We need to know what we’re up against.”

She stayed in her seat and watched as Mirren moved to the small table where she had set up her equipment, her back to Sawyer as she busied herself with the weather instruments. Sawyer watched her for a moment, her mind churning. She needed to regain control, to focus on the mission and not on the way Mirren’s presence made her heart race.

She stood, moving to the other side of the room to busy herself with the map of the area. The outpost was just a small dot on the vast expanse of the Arctic wilderness, surrounded by mountains and ice fields. The terrain was unforgiving, and the storm that was approaching would only make it more treacherous.

“Looks like the storm’s going to hit sooner than expected,” Mirren said.

Sawyer looked up from the map, meeting Mirren’s gaze. There was a seriousness in her eyes that mirrored her own. “How soon?”

“Within the next few hours. It’s going to be intense—a lot of snow, high winds, and temperatures dropping even further. We’re in for a rough night.”

Sawyer nodded, feeling the weight of the situation settle on her shoulders. “We’ll be ready.”

Mirren smiled, a hint of tension still lingering in the curve of her lips. “We’ll manage. We’re well prepared.”

Sawyer returned the smile, albeit briefly, before turning her attention back to the map. The storm would complicate things, but Mirren was right. They were prepared. They had to be. But as she traced the routes and marked potential hazards, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the real storm was brewing not outside the outpost but within its walls.

Behind her, the fire crackled softly. Outside, the wind howled louder each minute that passed, as if it were a warning of the vicious storm to come. Sawyer let out a sigh and steeled herself. The storm would come, and perhaps it would be severe, but it would pass. She had experienced enough horrific storms out here to know that no matter how bad they got, they always passed. They’d stay here in the safety of the outpost for however long it took before they returned to base and were able to begin the training mission.

But no matter how much she tried to focus on the storm or the training or anything else, her mind always shifted back to Mirren. She shifted back to the image of Mirren sitting in front of the fire’s glow, the way lights danced across her perfect, pretty features. The way her eyes creased as she smiled and how her mouth moved when she talked. The blush of her cheeks. Her soft lips.

No matter how much Sawyer tried to battle her feelings, they always returned stronger, deadlier, taking over her body and mind entirely to the point where she could no longer deny their existence. Something had shifted between them, something that couldn’t be ignored forever.

As the night closed in, the storm began to build in earnest, the winds rattling the walls of the outpost and the snow piling up outside. Inside, the warmth of the fire contrasted sharply with the cold tension that had settled between Sawyer and Mirren.They were both professionals, both dedicated to their duties, but there was no denying that they were also human with all the vulnerabilities and desires that came with that.

Sawyer laid down on one of the bunks, staring up at the ceiling as she listened to the storm outside. She had changed out of her uniform gear and had opted for a thick jacket instead, also adding another long-sleeved shirt to her multiple layers.

She could hear Mirren moving about quietly, her soft steps muffled by the thick carpet of snow outside. Sawyer rolled onto her side, staring into the darkness. The warmth of the fire was a welcome relief, but it did little to quell the freezing temperatures outside, let alone the conundrum of emotions stirring within her.

The storm grew fiercer as the night progressed. The wind battered the walls of the outpost, and the thudding against the door signaled the snow piling up in ever-increasing drifts. Sawyer could hear the occasional creak of the building, and despite the reassurance of the sturdy construction, the noise was unnerving. It was predicted the storm would be quite horrific, but every moment that passed made her realize it was going to be much worse than what they’d originally thought.

Mirren emerged from the small work area and let out a deep sigh as she neared the heat of the stove. She stood there for a few moments to collect as much warmth as possible before she moved to one of the bunks, her gaze falling on Sawyer. “The storm’s getting worse,” she said, her voice barely audible over the wind’s roar. “We should try to get some rest while we can.”

Sawyer nodded, pushing herself up on her elbows. “Agreed. We’ll need to be well-rested for tomorrow. The training will be intense, and we have to be ready for anything.”

Mirren smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of exhaustion. “I’m not so sure we’ll be able to hold training,” she said. “It’s pretty bad out there.”

Sawyer watched her. There was something reassuring about Mirren’s presence, despite the tension that lingered between them. “We’ll see,” Sawyer said firmly. “Maybe it’ll clear up by morning.”

While Mirren looked doubtful, especially with the data she’d recently perused, she didn’t say anything in response. Sawyer watched as she settled into her respective bunk in front of hers, the dimly lit room making it hard to make out the woman’s expressions. Sawyer put her head down on her pillow and tried to return her focus on the tasks ahead and on the mission, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Mirren. The subtle attraction she felt was hard to ignore, especially in the quiet of the night, away from the distractions of their day-to-day lives.

Within minutes, Mirren’s breathing grew steady, a sign that she had fallen asleep. Sawyer laid there, eyes open, staring into the darkness. Again, she tried to push her thoughts aside, to focus on the mission, but it was difficult. Eventually, Sawyer gave up her efforts and instead finally allowed herself to close her eyes, trying to force her mind into a more peaceful state. She could still feel the weight of Mirren’s gaze, the lingering touch of their hands earlier. It was the touch that had sparked something inside her she couldn’t easily dismiss.

Not too long after, Sawyer finally drifted off with a sense of unease, both about the storm outside and the one brewing within her.

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The next morning arrived with the harsh light of dawn breaking through the small windows of the outpost. Sawyer woke to find the storm still raging, the wind howling and the snow continuing to fall in heavy, relentless sheets. She rose fromher bunk, stretching and trying to shake off the remnants of her restless sleep.

Mirren was already up, working on her weather equipment and taking readings. Her movements were methodical as she switched between pacing across the floor and typing furiously at her laptop. Sawyer admired her dedication, but she couldn’t ignore the pang of attraction that still lingered.

“Morning, Lieutenant,” Sawyer said, her voice rough from sleep.

Mirren looked up, offering a sleepy but sweet smile. “Good morning, Captain,” she replied. “As I thought, the storm hasn’t let up much, but the charts show that it should peak soon. We may see a brief pause before it starts up again.”

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