Page 27 of Stripe for the Picking
"Southern bridge, then vertical climb. I'll clear the handholds."
She watched him pivot without hesitation, trusting her guidance completely. The realization sent a thrill through her that had nothing to do with the simulation and everything to do with the man following her instructions with absolute faith.
We're perfect together.
Their synchronization felt almost supernatural as the minutes ticked by. Wren effortlessly anticipated his movements before he made them, creating solutions he needed before he realized the problems even existed. When a platform begancollapsing unexpectedly—an element she hadn't predicted—Rylan froze for a split second.
"West wall, three meters up," she said, her voice calm and precise. "Handholds are solid."
He moved without question, trusting her assessment completely. The conscious act of faith took her breath away, especially from a man she sensed trusted very few people.
As the simulation wound down, Rylan retrieved the final civilian and crossed the completion threshold. His chest rose and fell steadily, sweat glistening on his forehead but his breathing completely controlled.
"The real Trials will be more dangerous," he said, scanning the arena with professional assessment. "More unpredictable. The threats will be genuine, not holographic."
"But now you have me," Wren replied, confidence ringing in her voice.
"Yes," he said quietly, his blue eyes meeting hers through the arena barrier. "Now I have you."
The weight of his words, the gratitude and something deeper in his expression, made her heart skip a beat.
"I'm going to go shower in the military facilities," he said, his voice slightly rougher than before. "Meet you back at our workstations in thirty minutes?"
"I'll be there."
As she watched him stride toward the locker room facilities, Wren marveled at how completely her life had transformed. Three days ago, she'd been sitting in a Vermont coffee shop, complaining about the predictability of her life. Now, she was controlling advanced alien technology, preparing for a competition that determined planetary leadership roles, and working alongside the most magnificent man she'd ever encountered.
Every day here is an adventure waiting to happen.
TWELVE
RYLAN
Rylan's pulse quickened as he approached their workstation area thirty minutes later, carrying two paper bags from the café down the street. The military locker room shower had done nothing to cool the fire burning through his veins after their intense arena session. If anything, the brief separation had only intensified his need to be near Wren again.
She sat hunched over her holographic display, completely absorbed in her work. Her green short-sleeved blouse showcased her curves in ways that made his tiger roar with approval, and the modest neckline revealed just enough cleavage to drive him to distraction. Her tight khaki pants emphasized her long legs, and her dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail that left the delicate curve of her neck completely exposed.
Mine,his tiger growled.
Rylan forced his breathing to remain steady as he set one bag beside her workstation. "Thought you might be hungry."
Wren looked up, her green eyes lighting up with surprise and something that looked like delight. "You brought me lunch?"
"Same sandwich you enjoyed on your first day here." He couldn't quite suppress the satisfaction in his voice. "Figured you'd worked up an appetite after our trial run."
"I'm starving, actually." Her smile was radiant. "That trial run was incredible, Rylan. Your abilities in the arena, and the way you moved through those obstacles like they were nothing. I was seriously impressed."
Heat slowly crawled up his neck at her praise. "It was only because you made me look good. Your maneuvering of the environment and the way you anticipated what I needed before I even realized it myself..." He shook his head, genuine admiration coloring his tone. "You were masterful. Like you'd been doing it for years."
A pretty blush stained her cheeks as she unwrapped her sandwich. "Well, I do love a good challenge."
Rylan watched her take the first bite, transfixed by the small sound of satisfaction she made. Every tiny reaction from her seemed designed to test his self-control.
"Wren, I owe you an apology."
She paused mid-chew, tilting her head questioningly.
"For yesterday. Dismissing you so abruptly from work." He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, disrupting the order he usually maintained. "I was feeling overwhelmed by you unraveling this conspiracy with Arvox and fending off cyber attacks I couldn't after weeks of trying..."
