Page 15 of Aliens Love Curves
Casey turns to face me, closer than I expected. "Speaking of Harlan..." She bites her lower lip, and my eyes are drawn to the motion. "There's something I need to tell you."
My tail stiffens. "What did he want?"
"He... he offered me a chance to race the prototype. In the Annual Sky Race."
The words hit me like a physical blow. "Absolutely not."
Casey's eyes narrow. "Excuse me?"
"It's too dangerous," I growl. "That prototype hasn't been properly tested. And putting you in such a public position could compromise the mission. There might be someone i the crowd who knows you are an Enforcer."
"What!? That’s ridiculous.” Casey’s voice raises an octave. “I’ve only just graduated. I’ve not been on patrol... Anyway, it's not your decision to make," she snaps, taking a step closer. I can feel her hot breath caressing my face as she looks up at me. "You're not my superior anymore,partner.Or did you forget that?"
Her proximity is intoxicating, her defiance making my blood simmer. "I haven't forgotten anything. Including how recklessly you flew yesterday."
"Recklessly?" She jabs a finger into my chest. "I flew brilliantly and you know it. You're just—"
"Just what?" I lean down, bringing our faces inches apart.
"Jealous," she breathes, her eyes flickering to my lips. Now I can practically taste her delicious breath.
The tension between us crackles like static electricity. For a moment, I think about closing that small distance, about showing her exactly what she does to me. Her breath hitches, and I realize she's thinking the same thing.
Instead, I step back, running a hand through my hair. "This isn't about jealousy, Casey. It's about the mission. About your safety."
"My safety?" She laughs, but it's not a happy sound. "Since when does an enforcer prioritize safety over gathering intelligence? This could be our chance to get closer to whatever Harlan's hiding."
"Or it could be a trap," I counter. "Why you? Why now? It's too convenient."
Casey crosses her arms, emphasizing her curves in a way that makes it hard to maintain my train of thought. "Maybe becauseI'm actuallygood.Did that occur to you? Or do you think the only reason anyone would be interested in me is because of some hidden agenda?"
The hurt in her voice makes me wince. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean, Stryker? Because ever since we got here, you've been acting like... like..."
"Like what?"
"Like a jealous lover instead of a partner!"
The words echo in the space between us, and I take an involuntary step back. Casey advances, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something else – something that makes my pulse race.
A growl rumbles up my throat. "You want to talk about jealousy?" my control slipping. "Fine. Let's talk about how you preened under Harlan's attention. How you deliberately pushed that prototype to its limits just to spite me. How you—"
"How I what?" Casey challenges, stepping closer. "How I dared to excel at my job? How I managed to get closer to our target in one lunch than we have in days of surveillance? Or how I refused to play the meek little cadet anymore?"
She's so close now I can see the flecks of gold in her eyes, count each rapid breath as her chest rises and falls. My tail lashes with agitation, accidentally brushing her leg. The contact sends a jolt through both of us, but neither of us moves away.
"You have no idea," my voice is rough around the edges, "how hard it is to watch you put yourself at risk. To see you throw yourself into danger without a thought for—"
A sound from behind the containers makes us both freeze. Casey reacts instantly, pressing closer to me as if we're sharing an intimate moment – the perfect cover for two people who shouldn't be in this area. Her body fits against mine like it was made to be there, and I have to stifle a groan.
Footsteps approach, then pass. A maintenance worker, from the sound of the tool belt. But the interruption has shattered the tension of the moment, reminding us both of where we are and why we're here.
Unspoken words hang between us, heavy with implication. Casey's cheeks flush, but she doesn't back down, her chest rising and falling rapidly with emotion. It takes all my willpower not to pull her closer to me so as to feel them press into my chest.
"I'm trying to protect you," I say finally, my voice still rough, but less harsh.
"I don't need protection," she replies softly. "I need you to trust me. To treat me as an equal."