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Of course he had.
Because that was what soldiers did, even after women pushed them aside like used toys.
That was what heroes did, protecting the land those women lived in even after that kind of shit happened.
That was what warriors did, because they’d been called by fate to make the world a better place, even if that meant sacrificing their lives.
But he didn’t see all that, even now. He didn’t have time for self-pity, because he still saw only his duty. He didn’t even have room for anger at Abbie, because he was too busy spending it on himself. Fighting so hard to control the situation, he even took over the mental floggings. Because if he controlled the pain, it would hurt less, right?
The thought alone made her heart crack—and her vision open wider. She brushed fingers over his intense face, seeing so much as if for the first time. The line of his jaw, always fixed at the same ruthless angle. The constant tension behind his temples. The perpetual darkness in his gaze. Restraints, she now realized, not there to keep himself in check…
But to keep the pain at bay.
It wasn’t just the mental games Abbie had played with him. It was the tremendous toll of his “day job”, the profession he gave over ten years of his life for, only to be abruptly ordered to step down and figure out his life all over again. It was the loss of himself, beyond what his battalion mates or even his family could help with. That shit had to come from deeper…a corner in his soul even he didn’t know about.
She knew about that corner.
From firsthand experience.
The knowledge provided at least a little balm to her heart. She let it seep in through a long silence, knowing Franz filled the minutes by sorting through his own thoughts and memories. Finally, she broke the stillness by murmuring, “And when you got back from the mission? Did you try to contact her again?”
She hoped he’d say no but knew he’d say yes. The single dip of his head confirmed the latter without words. “Nothing was different. We tried to see if it would be, but…we just talked. Not for long. About the weather. About her show. About how my last mission was crap, but I couldn’t talk about it.”
You can talk about it to me.
But now wasn’t the time or the place. Now, all she wanted to do was clutch him close, sealing the fissures in his spirit with the passion of her kisses. She started with one, offering her mouth in open surrender, letting him softly take whatever he needed, for as long as he wanted. God knew, it was what she needed. His heat. His power. And yes, even his pain. Everything about this man—his chemistry, his biology, his energy—felt so perfect, so right, to all the corresponding parts of her.
Holy hell.
She’d fallen for him.
Maybe even a little more. Maybe even…a lot more.
Yeah. She had. And would pay for it later.
Joyfully.
Right now, even as he lifted his lips away from hers, the resolve sealed itself to her spirit, her heart. Later. The fine for this would come later—meaning she was damn well going to enjoy every magical drop of it now.
“So,” she whispered. “Captain Franzen.”
“Madame President.” One corner of his mouth hitched. “May I be of service?”
“You may.” She wrapped a hand against his skull, savoring the feel of his harsh spikes between her fingers. “I’m issuing a new executive order.”
“Well, shit.” He went on, underlined by her soft laugh, “Should I be scared?”
“Hmmm. Scared is a good thing, remember?”
“Ahhh.” He kicked up the end, adding that mix of cocky and sexy deserving its own trademark. “Indeed I do.”
Tracy let a smile burst across her lips. Framed the back of his head with her other hand, just to ensure she had his full attention for this. “From now on, the ghost of Abbie stays in the graveyard of the past.”
His stare turned the shade of a smoky sunset. He pulled in a sizable breath. “Now that’s an order I like.” But as he released the air, another piece of him seemed to drain out too. His arrogance. Tracy blinked. It was so much a part of him, she almost didn’t recognize the man left behind: a person gone raw—and beautiful—with vulnerability. “I just can’t promise I’ll be good at delivering.”
She dug her fingertips into his scalp. God, the man even had a perfectly shaped head. “Of course you will…because you’ll have a new submissive to keep you focused.” She joined the whisper to more determined tugs, guiding his face down again. “A kitten, here to give you all her trust and surrender.”
A deep groan escaped him in two seconds, before he took her lips once more. Tenderly, he suckled on her. Sighed into her. Captured so much of her heat while giving the fullness of his own.
