Page 6 of Attraction

The pair may have only just met, but there’s a connection. It’s a primitive subconscious emotional tie. And there’s a lingering sweet-scented odor surrounding them as they both feel the intoxicating sexual tension zapping back and forth between them.

Captivated by her and stepping forward, he leans in close, and then with no warning, puts his nose to the curve of her neck and sniffs. It’s a long-sustained breath drawing in her aroma. “Mmm… What the hell’s that perfume you’re wearin’?”

“Perfume?” She frowns.

His question confuses because she isn’t wearing any perfume, maybe it’s her antiperspirant or shower gel? Though the last shower she took was two days ago and having slept in her seat on the overnight bus, it would astonish her if he could still smell that.

“Yeah, it smells good, I mean…really,really good!”

His reaction is a little disconcerting. It’s the first time a guy told her she smells good and she decides to accept it for what it is —a compliment. “You know, it’s late; is there no way I could just stay here tonight? I promise I’ll find somewhere else tomorrow, but I’m so tired and I really could do with a shower to clean up.”

“I told you I don’t do sharin’, well… though maybe I could make an exception and share my bed,” he says.

He’s so full of himself and with that flash of a self-satisfied grin, it annoys her. “You know something?” she says, looking straight at him, staring into those gorgeous blue eyes. “This is bullshit. You’re right, we should forget it. I’ll find a motel for the night.” She bends down to pick up her duffel bag, and Digby’s eyes light up as he gives the curve of her firm-round-ass the once-over. Even though he doesn’t want her staying here, he has to admit she’s incredibly attractive, and her powerful perfume is sending his overactive sense of smell into hyper-drive. But before he’s able to change his mind, and tell her not to leave, the door bursts open, and Darius steps inside.

“What the fuck is going on here?” he snaps furiously. He can probably be heard two blocks away. He’s seriously ticked off, and it shows in his bullish tone and the way his purple eyes glow, concentrated on her. “You know I was about to get busy so please tell me why the hell youcouldn’t handle this between the two of you?” He stares long and hard, questioning. But really he knows why Digby called him: it was purposeful, so that it’s him, the one now telling her to go, and it’s also him putting her out on the street in the dark. But what’s pissed him off most is that he had to leave an attractive and sassy blonde with an oh-so-curvaceous ass strapped to his bed.

Digby and women: the cause of so many of the team’s problems. So Darius considers pissing him off by telling her to stay. He’s so tempted by the thought it even brings a wry smile to his face. He knows, though, if he lets her stay, then he risks her being on the base longer than he wants. Plus, leaving a woman, any woman alone with Digby never ends well, and Edwards had already cautioned him, many times, to ‘keep a leash on that.’

Finally, Darius decides. He says, “you need to leave… right now.”

She’s had enough of him and his arrogant attitude for today.C’mon, you joined this team by not taking no for an answer, so it’s time to stand up for yourself and stop taking this bullshit.

“Senior Chief Westwood has a spare-room, and Commander Edwards said that I was to stay here. You can try all you want to kick me out, but you’ll need to take it up with him because I’m just following orders.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? I don’t give a fuck what Edwards says. You being here, it’s upsetting the flow of my team, so you need to get the hell out.” He’s up close in her face, threatening and overbearing, and again he uses his height to intimidate as he tells her to go.

All she can do is stand and stare, his aggressive attitude is way over-the-top, and she’s frustrated by their lack of willingness to compromise. “You want me to go, even though he has a spare room?” she asks one more time.

“Yes, correct, you got it—smart girl.” He claps, mocking her. “Digby doesn’t want you here so get the fuck out!”

“So where am I going to stay? What, you don’t care that one of your team has nowhere to go? I thought this was a unit, a family. What happened to all that team bonded bullshit you guys bang on about?”

“Are you shittin’ me?” He laughs, almost speechless that she would dare to answer him back. “Youare not a part of my team. So no bonding! I don’t care where the hell you go. Get a motel, sleep in the street, I really don’t give a crap. I just don’t want to be dealing with this situation because right now, I have something a lot more enjoyable to get back to.”

“No.” She sighs defiantly, holding her ground. “No, I’m not leaving, I’m staying here.” As she takes a breath, the thud of her heart beats hard against her chest as something inside her wills this defiance, despite on the outside struggling to hold her nerve. But her goading him is not one of her better ideas and pushing his tolerance to the limit is making him more furious.

Digby looks away. He can’t help but snigger under his breath. He has to hand it to her, there are very few people he’s ever known—that are still living—to challenge Darius like this. He doesn’t move and folds his arms listening to the stand-off between them—enjoying it. He also knows had she been a guy, Darius would have put her on her ass. But looking at her, that doesn’t feel right, and he’s no longer sure what to do. That said… Darius isn’t used to people not doing as they’re told, and he rounds on her refusal.

“I said, I’m staying here tonight. Look, I don’t have anywhere else to go, it’s late and I need a shower and some sleep.”

“Oh, but that’s the thing… youareleaving, even if I have to carry you out.” They both stare at each other, but still, she doesn’t move, and he groans loudly. “Okay, fine! Have it your way.” Then, picking up her duffel, he opens the door and tosses it outside onto the path, pointing as he gestures for her to follow. She sighs, and not saying a word heads out of the door behind it. Darius laughs, “Right, that’s sorted.” Then, turning to Digby, he asks, “Are you happy now?”

“Yeah… kinda.” Digby frowns, he’s not sure now if he actually wanted her gone. “Hey, you want a beer before you go?” He heads to the kitchen area, of the open-plan room, and taking two cold bottles from the refrigerator he hands one over.

Darius straightens his hair, brushes it back with his fingers, and sighs. “Can you fuckin’ believe Edwards pulling shit like that? What the fuck did he think we were going to do with her?”

“Well, you know she went a helluva lot easier than I thought she would,” Digby says. “There was a moment there I thought she was goin’ to go toe-to-toe with you.”

“Yeah, she sure as hell has some balls, I’ll give her that.” Darius smiles as he samples the beer. “You know it’s a shame they sent a woman, I mean a guy with an attitude like that would have fit in well.”

***

There’s a sound and as they turnaround they can see the front door open and Kat returns to the house. The heavy bag is slung over her shoulder and she ignores them both as she marches down the hallway, opening each of the closed doors, searching for the spare room.

“Bathroom… bedroom…spare.”She frowns, staring into the small, brightly lit room. It’s filled with an array of cardboard boxes, all identical. “What the hell?” She’s confused by the number of boxes, but being honest, she couldn’t care what they are. All she wants is the small single fold-out bed in the corner.

Setting her bag down, she takes a breath and wonders what the hell she’s thinking. She knows it’s a massive gamble. To go up against the team’s commander like this is madness, she knows that. But she’s too tired to think and she couldn’t care less right now. She grabs the hem of her shirt, pulls it up over her head, and undresses. Then, reaching inside her bag, she searches for her toiletries and a fresh set of underwear.

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