Page 45 of My Forbidden Commander

“Is that why you run the base the way you do?” he asks eventually.

“Order kept that house from falling apart when he wasn’t there to hold it up,” I reply. “I suppose I never stopped believing I’d do the same for everyone else.”

“And now?”

I turn my head enough to look at him, at the mess of brown hair against my pillow, at the long dark lashes, at the eyes that don’t look at me with caution anymore.

“Now I got a specialist in my bunk and a hole in my shoulder, and I’m breaking every rule I built this house on,” I say. “And I can’t work out anymore if I’m furious about it or grateful.”

Reyes’s mouth curves. It’s slow, and it’s exhausted, and most importantly, it’s real.

“Pick grateful, sir,” he breathes sleepily. “It’s a better bedtime story.”

I don’t answer him. I just let my eyes close, his hand still folded around mine, and for the first time I can remember, I don’t feel alone in the dark.

22

NOAH

Iwake up to darkness and a bigger bed than I’m used to. It takes me a minute to piece it together. This is Gabriel’s bunk, and the light is off. The warmth I fell asleep against is gone, and there’s murmuring near the door.

I hold still and keep my breathing low, listening.

“Thanks for checking in, Sergeant, but I’m fine.” Gabriel’s voice, quiet, rough with sleep.

A hum from the other side of the door. I know that hum. It’s Okafor. Of course it’s Okafor.

“Reyes isn’t in his bunk. Thought you might want to know.”

My pulse spikes so hard it makes my ears ring. I crack my eyes open enough to see Gabriel’s silhouette in the doorframe, and I watch him tilt his head. Casual. He’s good.

“Must be wandering around the base again. I’m sure he’ll turn up.”

“As you say, sir.” A pause follows, long enough to let me imagine my court-martial. “I’ll do another headcount at oh-three-hundred. If he’s not there, I’ll come back and let you know.”

Gabriel doesn’t hesitate. “Thank you, Sergeant.”

“Make sure you don’t strain your stitches, sir,” Okafor adds. “We need you in fighting condition ASAP.”

Then gravel crunching under his boots, fading away. The door clicks shut, and Gabriel stands there with his good hand still resting on it, and I see his shoulders drop an inch.

He turns, and I lift the edge of the blanket in invitation. He crosses the room and eases in beside me, careful of the sling, and the bunk groans again.

“Think he knows, sir?” I murmur into the dark.

Gabriel sighs. “He knows something.”

I narrow my eyes in thought. “So why isn’t he doing something about it? Why isn’t he reporting us?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I can almost feel him thinking. “I’m not sure yet. But you should head back to your bunk.”

I smirk, then slide my hand onto his chest, stopping right over where his heart is beating. “He said oh-three hundred, didn’t he?” I tilt my chin at the clock glowing green on the footlocker. “Means I have two and a half hours.”

“For what exactly?” he asks, sounding suspicious.

I let my grin spread wider. “For this.”

Then I slide down his body before he can argue.