“I…” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “I suppose I can see how that might be…ungentlemanly?”
Her jaw dropped. “Ungentlemanly? That’s the best you’ve got?”
He chuckled softly before dropping his head again. “You know, when he wouldn’t move you, I asked the Hi Seisho to swap me with another Squad Leader for this team?”
“What?” she sputtered, any trace of levity vanishing. “Why? You’re the Wolf in Wolf Squad.You’reour Squad Leader.” She gestured toward the ground below. “You’re their Squad Leader. We need you. Not some other Ryosh.”
When he looked up, his expression was tight with pain, his brows drawn together. “The Hi Seisho refused, anyway, but...how can I lead you? How can I be responsible for all of you if… if…” He turned his back to her, both hands raking through his hair before he faced her again. “If you’re the only thing on my mind from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep.”
“Kiba,” she whispered, reaching for his hand, but he pulled away before she could touch him.
“I know it’s wrong, Aimee. Even with whatever strange past life experience you’ve had…you’re still a student. And I’m still your Squad Leader. I’m supposed to be teaching you, all of you. But most days, all I do is watch you. The way you move, the way you laugh, the way you do more for the squad than I ever have. It’s not some great opportunity I’m offering, letting you teach them.” He clenched his fists, his voice breaking. “It’s because I’m not capable of anything else.”
“Hey.” She lifted his chin. “Look at me, Kiba.”
His gaze met hers, but it was clouded, like a man lost at sea, adrift with no sense of direction.
“I’m sorry,” she continued, her voice steady.
He snorted and tried to turn away, but she caught his face between her hands, holding him in place.
“I’m sorry you’ve felt this conflict for the last six months.” She paused, her thumb brushing his cheek. “I understand. Seeing you, being so close, and not…” She sighed, biting her lip. “It’s been hard.” Her voice softened. “But do you think, maybe, we’re making it harder than it needs to be?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think the reason it’s been so difficult is because we’re trying so hard tonotdo something that came so naturally the first time we met?”
“It’s wrong,” he muttered.
“You know what?” She traced the rough stubble on his cheek, mirroring the way he’d touched her in the barn. “I don’t think I believe that. Do you?”
He exhaled.
“We’re stuck together here on Wolf Squad. Neither of us chose it. But here we are, each with our own missions and duties,” she said quietly.
Aimee wasn’t sure if she’d ever done anything so selfish, but she wanted this man more than she’d ever wanted anything that she could remember. Would taking him for herself endanger her Mission? Possibly endanger the whole world? She didn’t know, and right then, she didn’t care.
“Can we have both Wolf Squad and each other?” she asked. “Or at least see if it’s something we actually want?”
“You mean, you want to trade the tension and stolen glances for something more?” he asked with a faint snort, though the edges of his mouth softened, the guarded walls beginning to crumble.
“Gosh, why on earth would I want that?” She rolled her eyes as her hands slid down his front, savoring the hard lines of his body beneath her fingertips before she let her hands fall to her sides.
“What if it doesn’t work out?” His voice was hesitant.
“What if you die tomorrow?” Aimee countered. “Nobody wins the ‘what if’ game.”
He looked away, doubt clouding his eyes. “But what if I make a mistake because I’m worried about you, and one of them dies?”
Ah, she thought.This is his real worry.
“I won’t let you.” She pushed all the TRUTH of the universe into her voice, in that moment, becoming more than just a girl. “You have my word.”
“Damn, Aimee.” He reached for her hand. “I feel like I have no other choice than to believe you.”
You don’t, she thought.It is TRUTH.
“Are you sure?” he asked again, pulling her closer, hand shifting to the band of her pants. “Anything between us would need to remain a secret. At least for now.”
