Page 60 of Attraction

Digby is less receptive to her mood than she thought he’d be. He’s controlled in his excitement, and it quickly dampens her spirit. It’s a quiet, subdued Digby that untangles her arms from around his neck as Darius steps forward towards her.

As always, he’s cool and calm—expressionless—and now, holding the blade, obvious, in his hand, he growls. “So, are we doing this?”

Digby nods and Kat grows even more concerned.

“Wait, are we doing what?” Kat glances between them, looking for some explanation. “Ryan?Ryan?I said, doing what?” A nervous dread fills her as the pair exchange glances. She’s worried and the tension feels like a huge cloud—heavy in the air.

“Kat, it’s down to you now but you have to trust him, okay?” Digby nods as Darius concentrates his stare on her.

Wait… what the hell’s going on here?”

“You want to make this team?” Darius asks seriously, “Well then, now’s your chance. This is it, the final test. But it’s the most important because you’re going to have to trust me—completely.”

She stares at him apprehensively and the dark tone of his voices turns her blood cold in her veins—even inside, Luna is slightly afraid and the look on Digby’s face offers her no reassurance. “Alright, so do you want to explain what’s going on? I thought you said Imadethe team already, so what the hell is this about?” She looks at the knife and then back at Darius. Her stomach somersaults and a knot fills her throat in a tightening, choking grip.

“Kat, it’s what he said, it’s about trust. About trusting each other. Now you need to do that. Can you trust him?”

“Yeah, sure I can. But I don’t understand. What’s with the knife?”

“It’s somethin’ we do. They’ve all done it. It makes a bond—and it can’t be broken. But it’ll help keep you safe. I’m sorry, I can’t tell more. But do you understand?”

“No. No, I don’t understand. But please know I trust you, I do really.” She turns to Darius. “I can trust you too, you just have to believe that.”

Darius looks at the others—all silent, heads down, not making any eye contact. “Hit the racks, boys. Helo’ll be here to exfil at 0500.” Immediately Zak leads them away, back to their temporary beds on the ground.

Oz looks back, smiling at Kat. “It’ll be okay,” he whispers.

She sighs, taking a deep breath. The lines on her forehead wrinkle as Darius steps in front of her and Digby positions himself behind—stopping her from moving away.

“So,Lieutenant Morgan… it’s just you and me now.” He looks at her as she turns away from his gaze. “I need you to show me how much you want to be in this team. How much you trust me and what I ask you do.”

“Believe me I do—trust you.”

“Then prove it—show me you mean it.”

“Okay. What do you want me to do?”

“Take your clothes off.”

The words slam against her chest taking the air from her lungs in shocked surprise. That really wasn’t what she was expecting him to say and for a long silent moment, she just stares at him.

“What?” She laughs. “Are you serious? Is this a joke? Okay, okay, I get it.” She sighs—they’re teasing. But then she notices the calm, unmoving look on their faces, they’re not. Darius’ face is deadly serious and Digby the same. “What? Are youactuallyserious? No! No, I’m not taking my damn clothes off.” She turns around. “Ryan c’mon, seriously? You want me to take my clothes off for him? This is a prank, right?” Turning back, she questions Darius. “What you really want to see me naked? That’ll get you off, will it? Because you know, I’m thinking command might have something to say about this. Oh, but I get it, more macho I’m-in-charge bullshit? Well, I’ve had enough of that this week. You’re all the fucking same! I’ll bet you didn’t ask any of them…” She points to the rest of the team. “To get naked? No! No,fuck you!I’m done with this. I did everything you asked of me. I can’t believe you’re actually serious?”

“I told you she’s not up for it.” Darius sighs.

“No, just wait … wait! Kat, come here.” Digby beckons her over, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Please… This won’t work if you don’t do it.” He hushes his voice. “Kat, you have to trust him when you’re at your most vulnerable. And also, I don’t know how you’re gonna react to this, so I’ll just say it. Aside from Darius’ reasons, there’s one other thing to consider. I mean, you don’t wanna… you know…shiftfully clothed.” He smiles, stroking the side of her face.

“What? Why the hell would I do that? I-I don’t… and I’m certainly not doingthatin front of him. Wait, did you tell him?” She frowns.

“No… No, I’ve not said anything—not yet. But you trust me, I mean, you trusted me the other day? So then, trust me now and do this.”

Her forehead furrows as she tries to work out if this just an elaborate joke—a ruse to test her, to see if she can take the banter and ‘fit in’?But then why should she if this is just some misogynistic stunt? Then again, does she really want to risk her place on the team over the sake of a few clothes?I mean they’re gonna see me naked at some point, may as well just get it over with, right?

“You know…” She sighs. “I can’t believe after everything between us you really want me to go along with his bullshit? That you wanthimto see me naked?”

“Believe me I don’t. And this is killin’ me as much as it is you, but it has to be done.”

“Hah,” she laughs. “Has to be done? No, this is bullshit is what it is. I can’t believe I’m even considering doing it. You know I should report both your ass’, is what I should do. So what is this like a fetish that gets the pair of you off? Like the idea of a threesome? Oh God, I don’t wanna know.” She rubs her hand over the face and thinks. “Okay. Alright, I’ll do it. You two wanna perv over me that bad—then fine.”

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