Page 186 of Silver Elite

The way his eyes smolder at the sight of me, you’d think I was naked rather than in full uniform.

“I haven’t seen you all day,” he accuses.

“You’ve been off base all day,” I remind him.

“You’re right. It’s my fault.” He inches me toward the wall, his voice lowering to a wicked pitch. “I’ve been a bad boy.”

The moment his body touches mine, my brain completely meltsand I forget my own name. I forget everything except for how much I want him. It happens all the time. It catches me off guard during the day. I’ll be talking to Kaine, or reading a dossier on my source, and suddenly I’m thinking about Cross’s intense gaze, his skillful touch. It’s maddening, this relentless pull that seems to grow stronger with each passing day.

As much as I try to deny it, I can’t ignore the truth any longer. I am hopelessly, helplessly infatuated with Cross Redden.

“Wait while I grab something and then we’ll go to your quarters?” he says, his breath warm against my skin.

I nod toward the war room. “Your brother’s waiting for you in there.”

“Shit. Right. We’re supposed to discuss security for the Silver Jubilee. Okay. I’ll come by in an hour or so.” He brings his mouth close to my ear. “Be waiting for me in bed.”

I know I should say no. But we both know I’ll be waiting.

—

I have breakfast with Lyddie in the mess hall the following week. It’s good to see her, and I love watching her grow into her own. This morning, her hair is not in a braid but streaming around her shoulders. She’s practically glowing as she tells me about the colonel she’s working under in Intelligence. She loves her new assignment.

“I miss you so much,” she says.

“I miss you, too,” I answer, and I actually mean it.

We manage to catch a meal here and there on the base, but the Elite schedule is so inconsistent. I’ll be assigned to a three-day op out of nowhere, or randomly spend an entire day undercover in the Point with Kaine, so it’s difficult to make time for her sometimes.

Lyddie studies me over her coffee cup. “Kaine thinks you’re seeing someone.”

I tense slightly. “Why does he think that?”

“He says you look like you’re getting laid.”Shelooks like she’s trying not to grin.

“Tell him to mind his business.”

“So it’s not true?” she pushes.

“Nope. My sex life is painfully nonexistent. How about you?”

Lyddie’s cheeks turn pink. “Same.”

Our meal is interrupted by a summons from Xavier. It comes via my source, since we only wear our earpieces out in the field.

War Room. Now.

“Shit. I have to go.” I chug the rest of my coffee before getting to my feet.

“Everything okay?” she frets.

“Just a briefing.”

“I’ll comm you later. We need to plan our shopping trip for Jubilee dresses.”

The last thing I’m thinking about is the General’s ridiculous Silver Jubilee. Who wants to celebrate twenty-five years of that man’s iron fist up our asses?

Everyone here.

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