Page 11 of Duty and Desire
Ros hadn’t kissed anyone in a very long time.
She relaxed into the kiss, her hand reaching around to the back of Scarlett’s neck, pulling her in closer, deepening the kiss until it threatened to consume her. The force of it stole Ros's breath, her carefully constructed walls crumbling as she kissed Scarlett back with all the intensity she’d been holding in. Scarlett’s lips were chapped from her recent excursions, and Ros gently ran her tongue over them, the taste of whiskey coatingthem. She felt Scarlett’s hands bunching in her jacket, pulling her hips forward. The world around them blurred, reduced to the press of lips and the taste of whiskey.
The kiss was fierce, hungry, and a release of everything they’d both been trying to deny. Ros could feel Scarlett’s heartbeat against her chest, matching the frantic rhythm of her own. For the first time in so long, Ros felt alive, the fire inside her burning brighter than ever.
But then, with a sharp intake of breath, Ros pulled away. The loss of contact was like a slap to the face, and she was left gasping, her heart racing as she struggled to regain control.
Scarlett’s breath was ragged, her lips swollen from the kiss. She stared at Ros, confusion and longing written all over her face.
“We can’t,” Ros said, her voice rough, barely able to form the words. “You know we can’t. The consequences…” Ros ran a trembling hand through her hair, trying to steady herself. The reality of what they’d just done hit her like a wave, cold and unforgiving. “We have to stop this before it goes too far. If anyone finds out, it could ruin us both.”
Scarlett’s jaw tightened, but she nodded, the fire in her eyes dimming to a smolder. “I understand,” she said, though the words were heavy with disappointment.
They sat there, inches apart, but it felt like miles. The kiss hung between them, a forbidden act that neither of them could take back.
“Sorry, I-I thought...” “No, no. Don’t be sorry. I shouldn’t have invited you back here. I should have better control of myself.”
“Control? Oh.”
“Scarlett. Captain, I shouldn’t have encouraged this. There can be nothing between us. Fraternization simply isn’t worththe consequences. God, you’d think I’d be old enough to know better.”
“Ros”—Scarlett sighed as Ros turned away from her—“you’re right, I should go. Thank you for the drink and the chat.”
Ros didn’t answer. She didn’t trust herself to speak as she watched Scarlett stand, her movements stiff, as though she was fighting every urge to stay.
“Good night, Captain. Strictly professional from now on.”
“Yes, General, good night.” She gave a sad smile.
Their eyes met one last time, and in that moment, Ros wanted nothing more than to reach out, to pull Scarlett back, and feel what she’d denied herself for so long.
But she didn’t. She let Scarlett walk away, the door closing softly behind her, leaving Ros alone with the echoes of what had just happened.
Ros stared at where Scarlett had stood. The door, so cold and solid, a reminder of all the reasons she could never have the love life she wanted.
The couch groaned as Ros collapsed on it, her head in her hands, breathing in Scarlett’s scent still lingering on the fabric. Her lips still tingled, and she ran her finger over them. How was she ever going to be able to look at her again?
She sat alone in the dim light, the taste of the kiss still fresh in her mind, and the weight of what had just happened settling heavily on her shoulders. She had always prided herself on her discipline, on keeping her emotions in check. But now, she felt that control slipping away.
And as much as she tried to push it aside, she couldn’t bring herself to regret the kiss. For the first time in years, Ros felt truly alive, even if it meant she was now walking a dangerous line.
As Scarlett left Ros’s quarters; she felt a rush of emotions surge through her. Her heart was still pounding, and her lips tingled from the kiss they had just shared. She walked down the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing in the stillness of the night.
As she walked, she struggled to keep her emotions in check. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing was still uneven. She felt exposed, as if the lingering heat from their kiss was visible to anyone who might see her. Scarlett turned down an empty corridor, heading toward her own quarters, her thoughts tangled between what had just happened and what it meant for her future.
Scarlett couldn’t deny the longing that still lingered, the desire to turn back, to return to Ros's quarters and continue what they had started. But that longing was tempered by a deep sense of uncertainty.
Where did they go from here? Could they really keep things professional after crossing such a line? And more pressing—did she even want to?
5
SCARLETT
Ablare startled Scarlett from her rest. Hurriedly, she threw off the comforter and got dressed. That alarm meant she was needed for something urgent; the faster she made it to the briefing room, the better.
Reaching the large planning room, Scarlett saw several other officers awaiting orders. Ros was not there yet, though it likely wouldn’t be long before her arrival.
General Carson strode through the doors, pointedly not looking in Scarlett’s direction. She was stern. Gray eyes impenetrable. Her short gray hair immaculate and neat. The sharp angles of her face set as though in granite. The softness Scarlett had seen inside was nowhere to be seen. The pure lust Scarlett had seen in Ros’s hungry gaze was completely gone.