Page 24 of The Commander

Instead of losing interest in one another, it was becoming almost impossible to ignore when he was near me. Noah was frequently on my mind.

“You’re fucking shivering, Parker.” Noah dragged his eyes off the road a few times and reached over, tugging the bottom of my top. “Get it off.”

“It’s fine. I’ll get in the shower when I get home.” I slapped at his hand.

“Take it off,” he growled.

“I bet you say that to all the girls.” I tried to make light of it, but my teeth were chattering.

Gripping the steering wheel, he drew in a deep breath, as if seeking patience. But he didn’t tell me I was wrong. He never said he didn’t have a girlfriend waiting for him at home, and a pang of jealousy plowed through me.

“I’m sure they just rip their clothes off.” I glanced out the window, angry with myself because I could have had this man. Maybe for one night. Maybe it would have meant more, and...then all my success would be attributed to the relationship I was in with Noah.

My father had already stated that Captain Jenkins was an excellent commander who is known to support female GIs, so you’re lucky to be in his platoon.

As if that was why I’d been doing well.

“I work hard. Nothing is handed to me.”

Dad’s eyes had lifted from his book that night. “Newsflash, Quinn, the Army doesn’t treat both sexes the same. It just doesn’t happen.”

I’d seethed.

I could earn a Purple Heart, and he’d still tell me I got the girl version.

Noah slowed for a light while I shivered and wished things were different. His body turned. “There are no women, Quinn; you know that.”

I did.

I knew far more about Noah Jenkins than I pretended. I paid attention to what people said; I walked past his office building instead of taking other, faster routes. I parked near his SUV when I saw it.

I didn’t even admit these things to myself, but I did them and felt stupid for it.

We pulled up outside my house, and my mouth fell open as the realization that I hadn’t given him my address hit. I turned and found him staring, waiting for me to say something. But I didn’t; I just felt myself soften. He had no girlfriend and knew where I lived. A feeling unlike anything I’d felt before enveloped me.

Noah felt familiar, safe—and something far more important that I couldn’t acknowledge.

Mine.

“Stay there.” He got out, rounded the hood, and opened the passenger door. “Give me the keys; you’re shaking like a leaf.”

I hadn’t realized just how cold I’d gotten until I handed them to him, and the keys rattled loudly.

“God, I’m cold.” I climbed out, and we ran across the lawn.

Inside, Noah turned on the lights and heat while I dropped my bags and fumbled with my zipper.

“Here,” Noah rasped, unzipping it and tugging it off my arms. He dropped it on the floor and cupped my face. “Quinn, I need you to strip off and get in the shower.”

I froze in a different way.

Strip in front of this shirtless man I’d craved sexually for over two years and couldn’t sleep with? Oh no, that was a bad idea.

His eyes dipped, taking in my top which clung to my breasts. “Can you do that?”

He was right. I needed to get out of these wet clothes.

“Yes.” I nodded but didn’t move.