Page 22 of Love and Loyalty

With that, she got up and walked away, leaving Drew feeling foolish and humiliated. The other soldiers snickered and whispered to each other, their eyes fixed on her.

Her face burned with unshed tears. She felt like she had been wounded. She didn't know what to do, so she just sat there, frozen in discomfort.

The sergeant who'd made the joke patted her on the back, his voice sympathetic. "Don't worry, Major. She's just stressed out. It's not you."

But Drew knew better. She knew she had crossed a line, their connection had been too intense it was terrifying for Izzy to have let go with her on such a level and Izzy was done with her.

As she sat there, a realization dawned on her. The joke, Izzy’s anger, the whispers and snickers from the men, it all clicked. Talk had been spreading about them, about their relationship, and Isabel was trying to distance herself to avoid any repercussions.

Her mind raced as she thought about the potential consequences. They were both high-ranking officers, and their relationship would be a problem, they both knew that.

It could ruin their careers, undermine their authority, and create tension within the unit.

Suddenly, Izzy’s behavior made sense. She was trying to protect herself, her reputation, and her career. And she couldn't blame her for that.

But that didn't make it any easier. She felt a pang of sadness and loss. She had thought they had something real, something special. But now it seemed like it was all being torn apart by gossip and speculation.

Drew took a deep breath, trying to process her emotions. She knew she had to be professional and maintain her composure. But it was hard, especially as all she wanted to do was talk to Isabel, clear the air and figure out what was going on.

Instead, she got up and strolled to the briefing room, trying to focus on the mission ahead. But her heart was heavy, and her mind raced with thoughts of what could have been, even as she saw no way out of the present ordeal.

She had barely walked a few steps when the general’s deep baritone stopped her.

"Major Drew Mitchell, kindly come to my office now."

Chapter Five

Izzy

Izzy was terrified. Terrified of being found out. The rumors about her and Drew were swirling around the base. Her reputation was in jeopardy.

Izzy was terrified of how much she had enjoyed the sex with Drew. It was life changing sex. Drew had made her body sing in ways she hadn’t even known were possible. And what Izzy was mostly terrified of was her own feelings that were bubbling up inside and she had to keep shutting them down.

Her feelings for Drew were more than just sex and that was totally not the plan.

Izzy was a woman for plans. And when things happened that messed with her plan… well, she couldn’t handle that.

She couldn’t handle the feelings she was having whenever she saw Drew. A complex mix of crazy lust and desire combined with…. well, she liked her. She liked the easy intimacy they shared.

And she desperately wanted Drew to take her and fuck her. Every day. Every night. Forever.

It had to just be a sex thing, right? Great sex complicating things and making her believe she had feelings?

Isabel couldn't shake the feeling of regret weighing her down since the previous week. She had pushed Drew away, trying to maintain a professional boundary, but now she couldn't stop thinking about the hurt she might have caused.

As she lay in bed, Izzy's mind wandered to the moment she had rejected Drew's advances. She remembered the disappointment and confusion on Drew's face, and it pierced her heart like a dagger. Izzy had tried to convince herself she was doing the right thing, but now she wasn't so sure.

She couldn't stop thinking about how Drew probably hated her now. Had she ruined their working relationship forever? Had she lost the trust and respect of her most valued team member? The thoughts swirled in her head like a vortex, making it hard to sleep.

Izzy tossed and turned, her sheets tangled around her legs. She felt like she was losing control, like she was drowning in her own emotions. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and it scared her.

She thought about reaching out to Drew to apologize and explain herself, but she hesitated. What if Drew didn't want to hear from her? What if she had already written off Izzy as a lost cause?

As the night wore on, Izzy's regret only deepened. She realized that she had been so focused on maintaining her authority and control that she had forgotten how to be human. She had forgotten how to connect with others, how to be vulnerable.

The storm outside seemed to mirror her inner turmoil, the thunder booming and the lightning flashing like a strobe light. Izzy felt like she was trapped in her own personal storm, with no escape in sight.

As the first light of dawn crept into her room, Izzy made a decision. She would reach out to Drew, despite the potential risk.She would apologize and try to make things right. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Drew's trust and respect forever.