Page 49 of Under His Watch

We’d fallen in a more domesticated routine of being roommates, but with a serious tension that neither of us would talk about. I was living with her but forcing myself to keep things as platonic as possible.

Until she made a move, I had to keep my wits about me.

“Like this?” she asked, her voice breathy and low, suggesting that she struggled with her ass against my groin, my arms brushing over the sides of her breasts.

Ever so slightly, she turned her head toward mine. Her smooth cheek rubbed along mine, and I damn near shook with need.

All it would take was one inch of a pivot, a single shift to the side to bring my mouth to hers and steal a kiss. A kiss I’d been thinking about and dreaming about daily and nightly.

This woman was on my mind constantly, and I wasn’t sure which of us might snap first.

“Yes.” I stepped back, unable to handle the temptation of her in my arms and leaning back toward me like she wordlessly had to tell me that she needed me near.

The next night, I supervised her learning how to get out of a chokehold. The Constella soldier who sparred with her and gave her the basics of self-defense was an older man, a good guy who wouldn’t cop a feel. Watching from the sides of the private gym I had here, I sighed and wondered how I might getmyhands on her. Not to fight, but?—

“How’s she been doing?” Danicia asked. She’d come by to check on my arm, and I was glad that she approved of my progress so far. My gunshot wound was the reason I wasn’t the one training Tessa on the mats over there. But even if I did have all of my normal range of motion, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to control my desire. Holding her. Tugging her close. Overpowering her and dropping her to the mat. It was all for an educational purpose, but with her…

“Good,” I answered quickly.

Danicia laughed. “Good?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“No more hints of trauma she’s struggling to cope with?” She looked at her smart watch. “It’s only been three weeks since that night. Sometimes, that kind of recovery takes months. Years.”

I shrugged the shoulder of the arm that wasn’t shot. “I haven’t heard her crying in the middle of the night anymore.”

Danicia raised her brows. “How?”

I frowned, not wanting to discuss anything too personal. I had yet to share a bed with Tess again, but that wasn’t any of Danicia’s business. “She leaves her door cracked open, and I leave mine cracked open as well. I’d hear her.”

The former doctor crossed her arms. “And if she was, what would you do?”

Memories of the one night of vanilla sex filled me with both elation and dread. I enjoyed having Tess in the deepest way possible, but I also wanted to cringe at how mild it was. I wanted her again. I had since that night, but I grew despondent in realizing I’d never be able to ask her for whatIwanted.

If the woman couldn’t find the courage to tell me what she wanted or what she felt about me, then how could I ever expect her to be favorable to anything kinky at all?

“I would comfort her however she wanted me to,” I replied, watching her with the man on the mat again. She nodded at his instructions, determined to be a good student and do as expected.

Shewasstill getting over her trauma. I had to keep that forefront in my mind because it wasn’t right for me to lust after her and wish for more, to be greedy with the person I wanted to take utmost care of.

“I won’t push her,” I added, glancing at Danicia and catching her studying me.

“You like her,” she surmised, smiling sloppily.

I deadpanned.

“You have to if you want to keep her close like this.” She grinned and patted my back. “Like you’d be lost without her in your life.”

I exhaled a deep whoosh of air, taking a risk to be open and honest. “Iwouldbe lost without her. I don’t know how she got under my skin so quickly, but she has.”

“Does she know?”

I frowned. “I don’t know how she can’t.” I made love with her, letting her take charge of it all. I held her hand when she looked unsure. I provided all her necessities, making a mental list of her little quirks and preferences for what she seemed to like to eat, drink, and wear.

“Well, with her limited experience, always busy working and never actually dating a man, maybe she needs you to be direct and explain it all. Less miscommunication and all.”

I had to be direct and explain that I wanted to pound into her tight pussy without mercy?Yeah, right. Not happening.

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