Page 5 of Attraction

“You know, maybe I should come back later?” Kat says.

“No, it’s okay, you can come in. Rosie’s just goin’ home, we’re finished up here.”

“Oh….” Kat’s surprised that Rosie doesn’t live here. Surprised, but pleased. She sighs, watching as they kiss again—a long and embarrassing goodbye, and Rosie leaves, blowing kisses from the path like an infatuated fan-girl.

“So… did you wanna get physical with me or not?”

“What?!” Kat chokes, shocked because she misinterprets his teasing. “Oh no… no I’m not here for that… What I mean, is I’m not here for your body… about your physical… your health,” she stammers. “No, not yet, tomorrow… tomorrow we’ll work on you… I meanthat! Yourhealth, we’ll work onthat tomorrow,” she says. Looking at him, Kat thinks he isn’t joking about being in his prime. She struggles to hide her excitement. A pulse of electricity throbs in her now—damp panties. Sure, she’s been without for a while but standing here, tongue out, salivating, is not a good look for a highly skilled medic.

But here she is, acting like aRosie,practically drooling, in a daze, and it’s as if he’s cast a sex-spell on her. Then, taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and clears the lustful thoughts from her mind. Finally, she considers the actual reason she’s here—accommodation.

“I’m Lieutenant Morgan, and Commander Edwards said he’s spoken with you about me staying here?”

“Stayin’ here?You? He wantsyouto stayhere…withme?” He frowns. “Are you serious? Edwards said that he wantsyouto stay here?” He smiles before erupting into a fit of laughter. When she doesn’t move and maintains the serious look on her face, he stops laughing. “Are you sure Edwards told you to do that? Because really that don’t sound like something he, or anyone else, would do. Least, not anyone who knows me.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. There’s no female-only housing and nowhere else I could go. With us being attached to the same unit, and you having a spare room, he thought it would make sense for me to stay here.”

“Now wait just a freakin’ minute…. back the fuck up and rewind.Same Unit?What the fuck does that mean? Honey, I’m sorry but you’re not goin’ to be in my unit, it’s just not possible.” He frowns, “This has to be a mistake? Some sort of misunderstanding because this doesn’t happen. Are you sure you got the right place?”

“Yes, it’s the right place. See….” She hands him a scrap of paper with his name and address on it.

“Okay, so this is a damn joke, right?” He looks outside the front door and along the street, calling out loudly, “hey…. yeah, yeah, hilarious guys.” But the streets are quiet and empty.

“No, it’s not a joke. I guess I’m your new bunk-mate?” She smiles.

“What the fuck? No, you don’t understand, I don’t share - not with anyone. I mean, no disrespect to you honey, because you aredamn hot, but I don’t share my personal space. I’m a lone wolf and that’s the way it stays. Plus, I don’t have a spare room—well, not an empty one.”

“First of all, thanks. You’redamn hotyourself. And I’m sorry, but you’ll have to make an exception, at least for tonight.” Kat sighs and continues, “look, I’m sure it’s just temporary, and they’ll sort something in a day or two but in all fairness, I just need a place to crash for tonight. I’ll get back to them first thing in the morning. I promise.” Kat’s tired and even though staring at his body is a welcome distraction, what she really wants is to take a shower and get some sleep. Her patience is running out and her mood is changing. She was ready for all the testosterone-fueled bullshit and hell, she anticipates plenty more, but she will not be bulldozed without a fight. “So what, you’d rather I sleep out here on the step? Rather than let me use your spare room?”

“No…” Digby says. He gestures to his step with his big hand and continues, “because you’re not sleepin’ on my damn step. Go sleep someplace else!” He takes a deep breath and watches as her vivid green eyes flicker in anger. Then he smiles—he likes it, her fiery rage is turning him on. “Though, you know…” He wets his lip with his tongue. “If you wanna come in andfuck,then I might make an exception for that.”

She sighs. “What… me and you, right now?” She can’t help but laugh. Seriously, is she really giving his proposition consideration?

No.

But she does phrase her rejection carefully—even if she’s not up for it right now, it doesn’t mean she might not be open to it another time. “Digby.I don’t wanna fuck, not now or…. well, I just don’t.” She holds back from saying ever.I mean, a girl doesn’t need to limit her options, right?Not when thoseoptionslook like him, after all.You never know whatneeds you could have in the future, Kat.Pulling her mind out of the gutter, she focuses on the now. “I just need a place to take a shower and sleep.” She’s tired and sighs loudly. “I won’t bother you. I promise I’m quiet, clean, tidy and you won’t notice I’m here and I don’t mind if you invite Rosie back and have loud, noisy sex, honestly. Do whatever you want, I won’t stop you.”

“Oh my god… this is fuckin’ crazy… this is Edwards settin’ me up, right?” He frowns. “Okay, okay come in, but you just wait right there by the front door… you don’t move. I need to make a call and sort this shit out.”

Taking his cell from his rear pocket, he mumbles quietly to himself. “In the same freakin’ unit. What the hell medications is this woman takin’?”

“Hey…Yeah Darius, it’s me… Yeah, man. Yeah, forget that. I need you to get your ass over here to my place… No, no… Don’t give me that damn bullshit, that can wait. No, you get the fuck over here,now.”

As he makes the call, she listens, but she can’t hear the conversation on the other end, so she waits patiently.

“Yeah, well then answer me this…,” he continues ranting into the phone. “Why the hell am I looking at some damn woman… says she’s a medic?Saysshe’s been told to stay at my place?… By who? By Edwards, that’s who… yeah right… yeah… well that ain’t my problem… Right! Good! Thanks…. I’ll see ya ass in a few minutes.” He sighs, throwing his cell on the couch before looking at her. “Right, Darius is on his way.”

“Oh great…” She sighs, rolling her eyes.Yeah … that’s just great, that’s exactly who I want to see right now—Darius.

Chapter 3

Still standing in the entrance to Digby’s house, Kat sighs as she casts another quick look at her watch. They’ve been stood waiting for quite some time and her patience is waning fast. “You know it’s getting late, and I just wondered how long we are going to have to stand here?”

Digby doesn’t respond. Taking another deep breath, she stares at him standing in the entrance to the hall, his arms stretched above his head, fingers gripping the top of the frame. He looks huge and his well-toned body fills the entire doorway. Making a desperate attempt not to look at his sexy chest and perfectly toned abs, Kat instead keeps her eyes focused on the picture hanging on the wall behind him.

He’s doing the exact opposite; he can’t stop looking at her, something about her excites him. She has this unique and mysterious beauty and he’s mesmerized by her. Her stunning vivid-green eyes are like deep pools of Aegean water he could drown in. He’s also bored with the waiting, but unlike her, he doesn’t move, his sniper training means he can hold the same position for hours. “We’re waiting ‘til Darius gets here to sort this fuckin’ mess out.” He frowns, watching as frustrated she rolls hergorgeousgreen eyes. Then, almost out of the blue, he says, “who the fuck are you and why are you here?”

“What? Sorry, I’m not sure I understand what you mean. I told you before, I’m a medical officer and Edwards told me to stay here.” Giving up on the picture she returns her gaze to Digby. She’s like an addict unable to get enough of him. His eyes are like blue crystal-meth hooking her in. He’s turning her on. Again.

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