Page 107 of Homecoming

“Uh, yeah. Same.” Kat looks up nervously from where she sits on the ground. “So… like Zak said, what’s going on?

“Sorry but you gotta run it again—and you too Zak.”

“What the fuck?” Zak snarls. “Wait, a damn minute… you want me to run it again? But why?”

“You didn’t make the time. It’s not my call, I’m justfollowin’orders.”

“Right… And Darius said I need to run it again? So where the hell is he now?”

“Zak, leave it. Trust me, you didn’t make the time. That’s it. You know the rules: you don’t make it, you run it again.”

“Fuck. But it was… I… I was justtryin’to help…” he looks at Kat. “Fine. Fine, I’ll run it again. No problem.”

“Digby… I can’t do this.” Kat’s brow crumples. “I’m not going to make it, am I?”

“Kat, you can do this—I know you can.C’mon, I’ll run pace for you. It’ll be just like our morning run. Kat, it’s fine. Me and Zak, we got your six on this. You got this far, you’re gonna do it.”

“If I can just make that training exercise… I know I have a chance.”

“I know that too.” Digby smiles as he quickly kisses her. “You got this.”

“I hope so. I’m not sure I’m going to beat Rocky, though. Did you take a look at that guy? He’s afuckin’bear. I mean seriously, how can anyone compete with that?”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t have your medical skills. Though Rocky is a helluva sniper, so…”

“But Darius is not looking at weapons handling. He’s looking at the scoring… the course time. The exercise. That’s where I have to beat him.”

“Well then, show him you can do it. It’s in your hands now.”

“Okay… Okay, let’s run it again.” She smiles at Zak as he grabs her arm reassuringly. “Thank you. Both of you… Thank you. It was my fault you didn’t make the time, Zak, but I appreciate what you did.”

“Hey, you’re my pack. Fuck the shifter. I’m here for you. Kat, I got your six—always.C’mon, let’s show that asshole that Katrina Morgan has still got what it takes.”

Dariuswaitsattheentrance to the locker room, arms folded, watching. “Hey there…” he smiles.

Alone in the room, Kat is already stripped of her dirty training fatigues. “Did you want me for something? Only I was just about to take a shower.”

“Dressed like that—I always want you.” He growls under his breath, staring at her half-naked body. Her skin is flushed red and her eyes betray her exhaustion. Her blonde curls are scraped back in a tight bun, revealing the curve of her neck and even without makeup, she still looks beautiful. Her lightly bronzed skin is lit by the sunlight streaming through the small window at the top of the wall.

She looks fit, her muscles toned more than they have been in a long time. Stripped to the waist, the stretch of the spandex bra caresses the ample curves of her breasts. Darius's eyes widen as he stands before her and Kat can hear the low growling snarls escape his lip as he can’t resist squeezing her ass.

“Will you stop that.” She pushes him away. “We said we wouldn’t do this here.”

“I know, but I can’t help myself around you. Anyway, I just came to let you know I’ve booked the ‘set’ for Thursday. You think you’ll be ready to go? Digby said you eventually made the time.”

“Yeah, I did—they helped me finish the course.” She nods as if resigned to her fate. “You know, I told Digby he needs to lose more weight, but I did what was asked. I carried him to the end.”

“Good. I knew that you would.” He smiles as he closes the door. Stepping forward he grabs Kat by the waist, spins her around, and forces her back against the metal door of the locker. “You looked so fucking sexy out there,” he purrs in her ear.

“Darius, I said stop it.” Kat’s lips are a crimson shade of red and the heated blush in her cheeks is evidence of the blistering afternoons training.

He offers a smile, gently brushes a kiss on her neck and closing his eyes, he draws in a breath, absorbing her scent. “Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?”

“No, I want to spend some time with the pups. Especially if we’re going away for a few days. Evelyn… well, she’s… Luna needs to spend some time with her. With all this training, I’ve not given them my full attention… or Noah, for that matter. He’s nearly finished the cabin and I think we’re going to spend the night there tonight. Are you okay about that?”

“No, but I guess I’ll live with it.” He places his lips against her and kisses her passionately, taking in the subtle scent of her sweat, grassy mud, and gun powder from the rifle range. “If I have to?”

“You do,” she smiles coyly. “Darius, will you stop it? Someone might come in. And don’t look at me like that!”

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