Page 24 of Battle of Hearts

Mirren turned to face Sawyer, her chest tight with anticipation. "Sawyer…" Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with the weight of her unsaid feelings.

Sawyer’s green eyes darkened as they met hers, the intensity in them nearly overwhelming. "I know." Her voice was rough, low, but there was a vulnerability there too, something Mirren had never seen before. "I’ve been trying to hold it back... but I can’t anymore."

The tension in the room was palpable now, like the air itself had thickened with the unspoken desire between them. Mirren stepped closer, her breath catching in her throat. "You don’t have to hold back with me," she whispered, her hand coming up to rest on Sawyer’s chest. She could feel the rapid beatof Sawyer’s heart beneath her palm, mirroring her own racing pulse.

Sawyer’s hand came up to cover Mirren’s, her touch warm and steady despite the storm of emotions swirling between them. "You know, I once thought I could keep this professional, keep my distance. But after everything that’s happened..." Her voice broke slightly, and she took a step closer, her gaze locking onto Mirren’s. "I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to pretend like this doesn’t mean something…incredible. Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before."

Mirren’s breath hitched at the raw honesty in Sawyer’s words. This was the woman who’d led them through the storm, who had been a beacon of strength and control in the worst possible circumstances.

And now, she was standing in front of Mirren, vulnerable and exposed in a way she had never been before. It made Mirren’s heart ache and burn with the intensity of her own feelings.

"You won’t lose me," Mirren said softly, her hand sliding up to cup Sawyer’s jaw, her thumb brushing over the sharp edge of her cheekbone. "I’m right here. I’ve always been here."

Sawyer’s eyes flickered with something dark and consuming, and in the next breath, she closed the distance between them, her lips crashing against Mirren’s in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was fierce, desperate, as if Sawyer was pouring everything she had into that one moment, into that one kiss.

Mirren responded in kind, her hands tangling in Sawyer’s short hair, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. It was like a dam had broken, all the restraint they had held onto for so long shattering in an instant.

There was no more room for uncertainty or hesitation.

This was real. This was them.

Sawyer’s hands found their way to Mirren’s waist, pulling her flush against her body as the kiss grew more heated,more urgent. Their breaths mingled, and the room seemed to shrink around them as the intensity of the moment consumed everything else. Mirren’s head spun, her body alive with sensation as Sawyer’s lips moved against hers, hot and demanding.

With a low growl, Sawyer broke the kiss, her lips trailing down to Mirren’s jaw, then her throat. Mirren gasped, her head falling back as Sawyer’s mouth found the sensitive skin of her neck, kissing and biting softly, sending shivers down her spine. "Sawyer…" Mirren’s voice was breathless, barely a whisper, but it was enough to spur Sawyer on.

Sawyer’s hands were everywhere now, sliding under Mirren’s shirt, her fingers tracing the curve of her waist, the dip of her spine. The heat of her touch was almost unbearable, setting Mirren’s skin alight with every brush of her fingers. Mirren’s own hands roamed over Sawyer’s back, feeling the taut muscles beneath her uniform, the strength that had carried them both through the storm.

They stumbled toward the bed, their movements clumsy with urgency, and Mirren’s back hit the edge of the mattress. Sawyer paused for a brief moment, her breathing ragged as she looked down at Mirren, her eyes dark with desire but also something deeper, something tender. "I want you," Sawyer whispered, her voice rough with emotion. "I need you."

Mirren’s heart skipped a beat. It was clear to her now that all of Sawyer’s barriers had officially been taken down, all of her walls had crumbled, and the once hardened, stoic captain was now ready to be completely and totally vulnerable with her.

Mirren’s passion grew stronger as she nodded, unable to form words, her body already trembling with anticipation. She pulled Sawyer back down, capturing her lips in another fierce kiss, her hands moving to unbutton Sawyer’s shirt, needing to feel more of her, to be closer.

Sawyer helped her, quickly shrugging off the fabric, and then her hands were on Mirren’s shirt, tugging it over her head with a sense of purpose that made Mirren’s pulse race even faster. The cool air of the room hit her bare skin for a brief moment before Sawyer’s warm hands were on her, sliding up her sides, cupping her breasts through the thin fabric of her bra.

Mirren let out a soft moan as Sawyer’s lips found her throat again, kissing a trail down to her collarbone, then lower. "You’re so beautiful," Sawyer murmured against her skin, her voice husky with desire.

Mirren’s breath came in short, ragged bursts as Sawyer’s hands and lips worked in tandem, sending waves of heat crashing through her body. Every touch, every kiss was electric, and it was all too much, yet not enough at the same time. She wanted more,neededmore, and from the way Sawyer’s hands were moving, it was clear she felt the same. Sawyer’s mouth traveled lower, planting heated kisses down Mirren’s throat, then across her chest, while her hands slid up to cup Mirren’s breasts, her thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks. Mirren’s back arched, her body straining toward Sawyer’s touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

“I love you,” Mirren gasped, then immediately her face went red. Sawyer immediately froze, and as she watched her, Mirren suddenly felt anxious, vulnerable, thinking perhaps she’d made the wrong decision to say what she’d just said.

For a moment, a pause that was too long, Sawyer held Mirren’s stare as she pulled away. Then carefully, Sawyer’s lips curled into a smile as she pressed her lips against Mirren’s.

“I love you, too,” Sawyer whispered, then pressed their lips together once more.

This time when Sawyer fucked her, it felt different. Like the raw desperation with which she had received Sawyer was gone and replaced by a feeling of safety and electric satisfaction when Sawyer was inside of her.

“You want more, baby?” Sawyer was on top of her, her weight pinning Mirren down deliciously so. Her fingers were deep inside Mirren and they were looking into each other’s eyes.

Mirren nodded. “I want to take all of you,” she said huskily.

Sawyer nodded. They were on the same page.

“I want to see and feel you take all of me,” Sawyer said, not breaking eye contact for a second.

This time she watched as Sawyer coated the outside of her hand in Mirren’s slick wetness before pressing again at her opening. Mirren tried to relax and open her legs further to allow the ultimate penetration and seconds later she felt Sawyer’s whole hand push slowly inside of her and she held Sawyer’s gaze as Sawyer’s hand opened her wider than ever before.

It hurt, a little, and Mirren yelped.

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