Page 16 of The Commander

Like Noah.

Stop thinking about him.

A few other BHS team members step out of the building, and I almost curse out loud. Talk about rounding up every hot as hell male from the entire armed forces and dropping them in front of me.

Jesus fuck.

I turn away from Liam, hiking my bag on my shoulder. “It’s going to be grueling, I’m sure. As for the social side of things, I’m not really a big drinker.”

“You never could hold your liquor.”

I spin around as the rich, masculine voice sets my body alight and find myself face to face with Noah Jenkins.

Oh my God.

This can’t be happening.

Noah stands far too close, as he always has. He’s slightly unshaven, his hair has grown a little, and his deep brown eyes glower with a sexually charged challenge.

I try not to respond, but I’m pretty sure I fail.

The short-sleeved polo does nothing to cover his large biceps, which bulge out of the cotton, and there’s no mistaking the size of his thighs inside his cargo pants.

Do not think about the inside of his pants.

God, Quinn.

I swallow, feeling my entire body quiver, and hate how he makes me feel with one single sentence.

“Hello, Quinn.” Noah slides his hands into his pants pockets, looking confident as hell.

“Noa—” I clear my throat. “Captain.”

“Noah is fine. Now.”

It really isn’t. Not now. Not ever.

But I don’t miss his pointed comment, which hangs heavily between us. No one else would have a clue how charged those four words are.

I want to cringe, but I don’t. Instead, my eyes dip to his lips, remembering how they felt against mine the night I drank too much; hence his comment.

The night they shouldn’t have.

It was before he stopped giving me a ride home on his motorbike, when our attraction to one another still felt fun. Before it crossed into more dangerous territory.

Noah Jenkins doesn’t do anything by chance. He’s incredibly smart and controlled, despite his outward happy exterior he puts on for the world. I know the real man. I studied him for days, weeks and years.

Noah knew I would be here; I know that without question, as our gazes remain glued and my heart rate escalates.

What are you doing, Noah?

We agreed this cannot happen.

Well, he didn’t agree, but...whatever.

“XO Bones, nice to meet you.” Noah shakes her hand.

“How’s working in private?”