Page 15 of Under Pressure

“I’ll go with you,” he added.

“With me?” she repeated.

“Sure, and you don’t have to crest the top.” His eyes glimmered as he checked her out, his gaze trailing up and down. “You’ve got this.”

She took in a deep breath, following behind him as he positioned them at the starting line. She surprised herself as she breathed him in, relishing the masculine scent of his body. Something mounted inside her, like an awakening.

“I won’t let you fall,” he added, seeming to understand. His golden hair glinted in the raging sunlight as he gazed down, continually assessing her.

She only could guess what he was thinking.

“Thanks,” she squeaked out before trying to appear more relaxed.

“Do you want me to stay behind you?” he asked, exposing the fact that he was the only man in the entire group who gave a fuck.

She bit her lip again, glancing back up at the ridiculous obstacle, then at him.

“I don’t want to put you out,” she replied, feeling guilty for being fucking dead weight. “I’m sure you want to do your best. You don’t have to follow me around.”

Delta laughed, dismissing her. “Nah, I do this one all the time. I’d rather get you through it. Come on.”

She blinked back at him, lost for words. His casual confidence was more than reassuring. In the sea of chaos and male grunting in the background, no one seemed to notice what was happening between them—no one except Hunter, who stood off to the side, giving the SEAL a fierce side-eye.

It didn’t take long for all the other teams to get through the obstacles, and the timekeeper yelled at them to go. Right away, a huffing Hunter made for the ropes, likely attempting to prove his masculinity was equal to that of the SEALs.

“So, what do you say?” Delta focused on her, watching Hunter race off.

She gazed at him, realizing he was the only guy left standing beside her. She bit her lip and nodded.

“Okay. Sure.”

Sprinting with him to the first obstacle, she realized that he made her feel like she could do it. Absorbing the energy off his body as he ran behind her, she realized he was staying close. Not weirdly close, but close enough to be promising. He was there.

He had her back.

Abruptly halting before the first obstacle—the rope structure—she glanced up, watching Hunter climb to what seemed like impossible heights.

“You can do this.” Delta’s voice was quiet but firm as he motioned for her to come beside him, stepping on the first rope. “Come on.”

Kendra sucked in a bottomless breath and jumped up onto the first rope beside Delta to start her climb. For the first time, she felt like it was going to be okay. She began to feel relief washing over her, knowing that she wasn’t going to have to do it alone.

The ropes swayed in the wind. It was damn hard, testing her physically and mentally. She climbed up and up, feeling Delta beside her, watching her. He stayed right there, close enough to grab her if she fell. On the other side, Hunter was already climbing down and glaring at her through the ropes.

Seeing that she wasn’t far from the top, her next question was—how the hell am I supposed to flip myself over the top and climb back down the other side? Her body shook when she understood her problem.

“Please, legs, don’t fail me now,” she begged.

“Just don’t look down,” Delta ordered, and she realized he was reaching out to hold her.

His warm touch assured her just a little—just enough to get her nodding her understanding.

He continued, unrelenting, “Just pretend you’re hopping a fence. Crest the top, and crawl down the other side.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered again as she grabbed the top, trying to heave herself up and over. “Like I’m hopping a fence? Who do you think I am?”

He laughed, working to get her to the top. She tensed, unsure if it was the fear of heights or just the feeling of his hands on her.

White-knuckled and gripping the top rope, she grumbled to him, “This isn’t my thing. I like thinking and books and stuff.”

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