Page 8 of Duty and Desire
Carson’s eyes flashed. “And maybe you’ve done something good, but maybe you haven’t. Captain, you have to understand you are responsible for the lives of every member of your squad. There will be times when you need to weigh the value of one life against many. You have to make those hard decisions with the bigger picture in mind.”
“I get that!” Scarlett shot back, moving closer to Carson’s desk. “But you don’t know what it’s like to look into their eyes, to see them as real people and not just numbers on a report!”
Carson stood, her chair scraping back, and closed the distance between them. “And you don’t know what it’s like to be the one making those tough calls, to carry the weight of every decision on your shoulders.”
Their faces were inches apart now, the charged air between them palpable. Scarlett’s breath quickened, and Carson’s steely grey gaze softened momentarily, the sternness giving way to something more personal.
“And don’t even get me started on you shutting down the comms line,” Carson continued, her voice lower but no lessintense. “If you ever do that again, I will have your rank stripped. Do you understand me? You may disagree with me, but you do not cut me off. Those soldiers are mine too.”
Scarlett’s eyes locked onto Carson’s, the unspoken tension hanging heavy between them. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Carson took a deep breath, her own composure faltering. She stepped back, forcing space between them, but the energy lingered. “Dismissed, Captain. Get some rest. I’ll expect the intelligence report on my desk first thing tomorrow.”
“Understood, General. Good night,” Scarlett said, her voice softer now, though her eyes still held a trace of defiance.
Scarlett needed to clear her head. She felt hot and flushed, like her head was filled with steam. The general reprimanding her should not have made her feel this way. Nervous, angry, yes. But turned on? What was wrong with her?
Without wasting time, she turned on the shower and adjusted the water to its coldest setting. As the icy spray hit her, she gasped, her body tensing at the shock. The cold was harsh and invigorating, cutting through the fog of attraction and frustration that had settled over her. Scarlett stood under the frigid water, letting it wash over her. Still, the general’s gray eyes flashing with anger wouldn’t leave her mind.
The water beat down relentlessly, and Scarlett closed her eyes, focusing on the chill and the way it made her skin tingle. She forced herself to concentrate on the here and now, pushing aside the lingering thoughts of General Carson.
After she fully acclimated to the temperature, Scarlett turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel.She could still feel the lingering chill on her skin. The clarity she sought was beginning to surface, but the exhaustion was creeping in.
Collapsing onto her bed, Scarlett let out a weary sigh. The soft, cool sheets felt comforting against her skin, a welcome respite after the day’s turmoil. Her mind continued to buzz with the echoes of her interaction with General Carson, but her body was too tired to fight the exhaustion any longer.
4
ROS
The days at the base had grown increasingly intense. Each mission brought new challenges, and the pressure on General Carson to maintain a tight grip on her command was relentless. But it wasn’t just the military operations that weighed on her; it was the constant, growing tension between her and Captain Scarlett Bennett.
Scarlett had proven herself time and again, her quick thinking and sharp instincts repeatedly turning the tide in their favor. She was a natural leader, commanding respect from her peers and admiration from her superiors. But for Ros, there was something more. Every time they worked together, every time Scarlett looked at her with those clear, confident hazel eyes, Ros felt her control slipping.
Today had been no different. Intelligence suggested that the insurgents were planning to sabotage supply routes crucial to the base’s operations, so Ros tasked Scarlett with leading a small team to deliver supplies to an outpost while gathering information on insurgent movements. It was only due to Captain Bennett’s quick thinking that her entire platoon had avoided the ambush planned to take out the supply route. If she hadn’tnoticed the signs of the insurgents’ presence, Fort Independence would have been without supplies for some time.
“Captain, good work today out there. Color me impressed.”
“Thank you, General. Just doing my job.”
“Of course, of course. Still, such competence deserves some recognition. Why don’t you swing by my quarters this evening? We can share a drink to celebrate.”
Ros saw the tips of Scarlett’s ears tinge with pink.
Damn, I’ve pushed too quickly. Why would she even want to spend time with her general?
She began to retract the invitation.“Not that—” “I’d love to, yes. Thank you, General.” She smiled.
Relief and warmth rushed through Ros.Phew, she hadn’t pushed the captivating captain away. Not that the drink would mean anything, of course. Just rewarding a promising young soldier for her good work. Just getting to know her better, making her comfortable in her new posting.
Ros’s mind suddenly flooded with images of her making the young captain very comfortable indeed. The bed would be the most comfortable, naturally, though the couch could suffice in a pinch.
I wonder what her beautiful red hair looks like released from that harsh bun and splayed across my pillows? I wonder what her face looks like when she climaxes?
What was she thinking? Captain Bennett was her junior; she couldn’t abuse her position of power like that. And while she got the impression the captain found her interesting, she wouldn’t want to shack up with an old soldier like her. Feeling a coiling in the pit of her stomach, she looked up to where the subject of her reveries had not moved and was still staring at her.
“Ahem, good. Well then, Captain. I’ll see you later for that drink. Dismissed.”
“Yes, General.” Bennett saluted, a bemused expression on her face, before leaving the room.