Page 168 of Silver Elite

“Are you going to tell me you got me out of your system again?” he asks, sounding amused.

“No.” There’s no point in lying. The attraction between us only grows stronger. “I’m going to want to see you naked again.”

“That’s progress.”

“It’s as far as it will go,” I warn.

“You trust me with your body but nothing else.”

“Correct.”

He props up on one elbow and runs his hand through his hair. “It should go without saying, but…” His expression turns serious. “This stays between us, Darlington. I’m your CO. Nobody can know that I’m—”

“Servicing your subordinate?”

He snorts.

“Don’t worry, Captain. Your secret is safe with me. Now…” I give him an expectant look.

That gets me another snort. “Got it. My services are no longer needed.”

“Also correct.”

Laughing, he gets to his feet and searches for his pants. I try not to notice the way his muscles ripple as he moves. So graceful. Like the sleek cats in the Blacklands. A brave one made it into the clearing once, and I remember shivering as I watched him move. Muscles undulating beneath sleek fur. Almost rhythmic. That cat was so beautiful and so deadly. Just like Cross.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” he says.

I’m almost disappointed, but as much as I’d like to stay in bed with him all night, I need to set boundaries, manage his expectations. I’m using him. He needs to know it.

I walk him to the door, where he suddenly grabs me and pushes me up against it. One hand grips my ass, bringing me tight to his body. The other cups my cheek as he kisses me. I’m gasping for air by the time he pulls his mouth away.

“I’m doing it your way for now, Dove. But only until I no longer feel like it.”

He smiles as he releases me. Hands shaking, I open the door to let him out.

Cross steps into the hall just as Ivy walks up.

We all freeze. His expression shutters, shoulders straightening. After a long, uncomfortable moment, he nods at Ivy and strides off.

She stares at me, then scans her thumb on the keypad at the door across from mine.

I had no idea her quarters were right there.

Shit.

Face devoid of emotion, she walks through the door and shuts it with a firm click.

Chapter 38

“I’m going to my first briefing.”

I check in with Declan the following day on my way to the war room. Apparently, Silver Elite has an entire block of rooms on the base.

“Report when you’re done,”Declan says.“We need to know what their current objectives are.”

“Copy that.”

The Elite war room is dimly lit, of course, since windows play no role on this base. A long table takes up most of the room, surrounded by black padded chairs, and there’s a holoscreen against the wall. I was excited to finally see who else makes up this mysterious unit, so I can’t hide my disappointment when I walk in to find only Ford, Struck, and the other five new additions.

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