Our lips meet, and it's like a dam breaking. Soft at first, tentative, but then hunger takes over. I kiss her deeper, my other hand sliding to her waist, pulling her against me. She gasps into my mouth, her fingers tangling in my shirt, and I lose myself in the taste of her—salt from the sweat, a hint of the mint tea she drank earlier. It's everything I've suppressed these past few days, pouring out in this one moment.
She responds with equal fervor, her body molding to mine. I back her up against the wall, careful not to hurt her, but urgent. My mind races: This is wrong. Stop. Think about Gavin. But the thoughts drown in sensation—the curve of her hips under my palms, the way she arches into me, a soft moan escaping her.
I break the kiss for air, trailing my lips down her neck. "God, Fiona," I breathe against her skin. "I've wanted this..."
She tilts her head back, exposing more of her throat. "Me too," she whispers, her voice husky. "But... Chase, we can't?—"
I pull back slightly, searching her face. Doubt flickers there, mirroring my own. "I know," I say, though my body screams otherwise. "Your safety comes first. But damn it, you drive me crazy."
Her hands slide up my chest, resting over my heart, which is pounding like a war drum. "It's just... with everything going on..."
I nod, forcing myself to step back, though it takes every ounce of willpower. My skin tingles where she touched me, and the achehasn't faded—if anything, it's worse. "You're right. We stop here. For now."
But even as I say it, I know it's a lie. The kiss has changed everything. The cabin feels charged, the night stretching ahead with possibilities and risks. I glance out the window into the darkness, half-expecting to see Gavin's shadow lurking. Paranoia? Maybe. But it's kept me alive this long.
Fiona straightens her shirt, her cheeks even redder now. "Goodnight, Chase."
"Goodnight." I watch her disappear into the guest room, the door clicking shut softly.
Alone, I sink onto the couch, head in my hands. What the hell was that? I replay the kiss in my mind, the softness of her lips, the heat of her body. It's addictive, and that's the problem. Distractions get people killed. I need to refocus—check the alarms, review the escape plan. Her ex-boyfriend is out there, somewhere, and he's not the type to give up.
I grab my laptop from the coffee table, pulling up the security feed. The cameras show nothing but swaying trees and empty trails. Good. For now. But my thoughts keep drifting back to her, to the way she felt in my arms. I shouldn't have kissed her. Shouldn't have let it get this far.
Yet, part of me doesn't regret it. In this mess of danger and uncertainty, that kiss was a spark of something real. Something worth fighting for. I close the laptop and lean back, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, we'll train again. And I'll try to keep my hands—and my thoughts—to myself. But deep down, I know it's a losing battle.
The clock ticks past midnight, and sleep evades me. I pace the living room, muscles still wired from the session and the kiss. The cabin is my fortress—reinforced doors, hidden weapons stash, even a panic room in the basement.
As soon as I decide to head to my room, Fiona’s door opens. She steps out, and I worry she’s had another bad dream.
“Can’t sleep?” I ask her.
She shakes her head slowly from side to side. “No.”
My heart pounds in my chest because I can’t stop the feeling I’ve got for her. I can’t stop the way I rush toward her and fold her into my arms. I crash my lips to hers, the hunger growing heavy in my heart.
“Fuck, baby. You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
ELEVEN
FIONA
There’s something to be said about Chase Callahan. The man is a god. Big, strong shoulders. Fire in his eyes. The man should have statues built in his honor.
“What do I do to you?” I answer back.
Chase bends, hooks one arm under my knees, the other behind my back, and lifts me like I weigh nothing. A surprised squeak escapes me as my arms loop around his neck.
"Chase—"
"Easy, baby," he murmurs against my temple, carrying me down the short hallway toward his bedroom. His chest is solid and warm, his heartbeat steady against my side. "I've got you."
My stomach flips with nerves. I've never done this. Never even come close. My ex, Marcus always pushed, but I held back, and after everything, I was glad. But with Chase... it's different. Terrifying and thrilling at the same time.
He shoulders open his bedroom door and carries me to the big bed, laying me down gently on the soft quilt. Moonlight spillsthrough the window, silvering his face as he leans over me, bracing his hands on either side of my head.
"You're shaking," he says softly.
"I'm nervous," I admit, voice barely above a whisper. "I've never... I'm a virgin."