Chapter 6

6

ROS

B ack in her quarters, Ros lay awake, her eyes fixed on the door Scarlett had just closed behind her. The warmth of Scarlett's body beside her had already begun to fade, leaving Ros alone with her thoughts. She knew she should feel regret and be preparing herself for the fallout of what they had done. But instead, all she could think about was how alive she felt and how Scarlett had reignited something within her that she had thought long been extinguished.

Ros ran a hand through her hair, mussed from sleep, and let out a long breath. She was in dangerous territory now, both professionally and personally. She had spent her entire career upholding the rules, setting an example, and maintaining the strict boundaries that came with her rank. And yet, in one night, she had shattered them all for the sake of one woman.

She was a general, a leader, someone who was supposed to uphold the rules, not break them. And yet, here she was, having crossed a line she knew could have serious consequences.

She moved slowly to the window, pushing the curtain aside to watch the first light of dawn creeping across the base. The horizon was tinged with pink and gold, the promise of a new day. But all Ros could think about was Scarlett—how she had felt in her arms, the way she had looked at her with such intensity, such raw emotion. It had been years since Ros had let anyone in like that, years since she had allowed herself to be vulnerable, and now that she had, she wasn't sure what to do next.

The base was a buzzing hive of activity as the details of the counterinsurgency operation were laid out. General Carson stood at the front of the operations room, pointing at a digital map displayed on the wall. The town was spattered with red dots, marking where intelligence had identified potential insurgent locations. The mission was clear: remove the insurgents' influence on the townsfolk, disrupt their activities, and prevent any attempts of sabotage.

Scarlett was seated toward the back, her eyes firmly fixed on the map. The water supply and power grid were crucial targets; if the insurgents gained control over them or caused any damage, the consequences could be severe. The last thing they wanted was for the insurgents to gain control over the town's infrastructure. If that happened, the insurgents could ransom them back in return for civilians joining their force. The base couldn't risk the insurgents' numbers growing so drastically, even if they were inflated by unwilling hostages. She had her platoons of engineers and soldiers at the ready, just waiting on the order to ship out.

Ros, too, felt the weight of her decisions. She could feel Scarlett's presence in the room like a magnet, tugging incessantly at her thoughts. Her focus flickered, and her heart drummed in her chest each time she found herself glancing in the captain's direction. Each time their eyes met, a jolt of electricity surged between them. It was becoming more of a strain to shove down those feelings that had been simmering within her since their last encounter.

Ros cleared her throat and continued, "Captain Bennett, your role is crucial. You're to secure the main water treatment plant and the electrical substation. If the insurgents manage to sabotage either, it'll cripple the town's infrastructure and make it impossible for us to maintain a stable presence. Make sure nothing happens to those facilities."

Scarlett nodded, her expression serious. "Understood, General. We'll hold the line."

Ros quickly moved on to the next part of the briefing, trying to steady her voice to keep it from betraying the turmoil within her. She knew that every soldier in that room depended on her calm, strategic mind. But her thoughts were fragmented, split between the mission and the growing, unbearable pull toward Scarlett.

Scarlett crouched low behind a crumbling stone wall, her heart thudding against her ribs. The town spread out before her in a chaotic maze of narrow alleyways, snow-covered buildings, and broken windows. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the faint cries of children mixed with the urgent shouts of soldiers moving into position. The air was thick with tension, frost swirling around her boots as she glanced over her shoulder at her team.

Her fingers tightened around the radio clipped to her vest. "All units, maintain your positions. Keep an eye on the northern approach; it's where they're most exposed. Watch for any sudden movement," she ordered, her voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around her. Her eyes scanned the rooftops, the darkened windows, any place where insurgents might be hiding.

The water treatment plant loomed nearby, its massive tanks glinting under the pale sun. She knew how vital it was to keep this facility intact. Without it, the entire town would be at the mercy of the insurgents, and any chance of winning over the locals would be lost. Scarlett wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and glanced toward the plant's entrance where two of her engineers were busy fortifying the gate.

Just then, a loud crack split the air—a gunshot. Her breath caught in her throat, and she ducked instinctively, her eyes snapping toward the direction of the sound. Down the street, a figure darted between two buildings, carrying a rifle. A civilian or an insurgent? She couldn't tell, but she had to assume the worst.

"Contact! East side, moving toward the high street!" Scarlett barked into her radio, motioning for her team to take cover. "Keep your eyes open. No one shoots unless we're certain of the target."

She felt a pang of anxiety twist in her gut. The insurgents had been trying to blend in with the locals, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a potential threat and someone just trying to survive. Her eyes flickered to the water plant again. She had to make sure it stayed secure.

"Stephens, Jackson, cover the entrance. Don't let anyone through!" she called to two soldiers positioned by the gates. The two men nodded and raised their weapons, eyes scanning the street.

Scarlett moved quickly along the wall, heading for higher ground. She needed a better view of the eastern approach, a chance to spot any potential threats before they got too close. Her heart pounded in her ears, her boots crunching on the ice as she climbed a set of stairs up to a balcony overlooking the main road.

From this vantage point, she could see more clearly that a small group of insurgents was moving through the narrow alleyways, weaving between parked cars and overflowing trash cans. Her breath hitched. They were heading straight for the substation.

She pressed her radio. "General Carson, we've got insurgents moving toward the substation. Five, maybe six men. I'm repositioning my team to intercept."

Ros's voice came through, sharp and immediate. "Negative, Captain Bennett. Reinforcements are on their way. Hold your position. Don't engage directly."

Scarlett gritted her teeth. She could hear the urgency in Ros's voice, the edge of concern. But she could see the insurgents closing in, moving with clear intent. They wouldn't wait for reinforcements.

"I understand, General, but if they reach the substation, we'll lose control of the entire grid," Scarlett argued, her hand tightening around her rifle. "We need to move now."

She could hear the shouts and see the glint of metal as the insurgents rounded the corner.

"We're going in," she muttered, gesturing for her team to follow.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her rifle against her shoulder, the familiar comfort of the grip in her hand. She moved quickly, signaling her team to advance. They darted from cover to cover, pushing through the alleyways, their footsteps muffled against the dirt and debris. Her heart raced and adrenaline coursed through her veins as she approached the substation. The insurgents were closer now, their figures clearer. She could see their rifles and ski masks covering their faces. She raised her weapon.

"On my mark," she whispered, her team fanning out beside her.

The insurgents were seconds away from the substation. She couldn't afford to wait any longer.

"Now!" Scarlett shouted.

Her team opened fire, short, controlled bursts that echoed through the narrow streets. The insurgents scrambled for cover, some ducking behind market stalls, others diving into doorways. Scarlett kept moving, her focus razor-sharp, her every move calculated. She was in the zone, and nothing else mattered but the mission. The gunfire intensified, bullets whizzing past her head, striking the walls around her. Her team was holding their ground, covering the approaches, but the insurgents were relentless. Scarlett caught a glimpse of one, closer now, trying to flank them.

She pivoted and fired a shot; the insurgent crumpled to the ground.

Her breath was ragged, her muscles taut. She glanced toward the substation and relief washed over her as she saw her team still holding the entrance. "Keep them back! Don't let them get any closer!" Another insurgent darted out from behind cover, spraying bullets toward them. Scarlett dropped to a knee, took aim, and fired, her shot finding its mark. The insurgent fell, and the street was suddenly quieter, the immediate threat neutralized. Scarlett exhaled a shaky breath, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any more signs of movement. Her heart was still pounding, the rush of adrenaline leaving her hands trembling slightly. She pressed her radio again.

"General, we've secured the substation," she reported, a mixture of relief and exhaustion in her voice.

Ros's voice came through, tight but relieved. "Good work, Captain. Hold your position until the reinforcements arrive. And, Bennett"—er voice softened, just for a moment—"be careful."

Scarlett felt a smile tug at her lips despite everything. "Always, General."

She lowered her weapon slightly, her eyes still scanning the street. She knew this wasn't over, but for now, they had won this round.

Monitors lining the room flickered with incoming information. Troop and enemy locations alike were indicated by colored dots moving across the map in a flashing game of cat and mouse.

Each time the dots would collide, Ros's heart would stop. Every crackle of gunfire that echoed across the radios had her head spiraling, conjuring image after image of Scarlett laid out on the frozen ground, her life blood seeping into the snow. Never to return. Never to be held in her arms or sleep in her bed again.

The chaos of the control room was nothing new to Ros; it was her life's work, after all. But today? Today, her mind would not focus. She usually had no fear for her soldiers. Concern, yes, but now fear gripped her heart in its iron-like vice. Her focus should have been razor sharp, as it always was during operations like this. She knew the stakes and had been trained to manage the weight of command under the most extreme conditions. But today, her mind was fractured, unable to push past the gnawing fear that had taken root deep inside her.

Scarlett was out there in the thick of it, countering the insurgents who had overrun the nearby town. Ros had assigned her to the mission knowing full well the dangers. Scarlett had insisted, her resolve unshakable, and Ros, bound by duty and professionalism, had no grounds to refuse. Scarlett was one of the best, and Ros knew it.

Ros tried to push the thoughts away, tried to drown them in the chaos of the command center. But they kept resurfacing, stronger each time, pulling her deeper into a spiraling pit of dread. She couldn't allow this; she couldn't let her emotions compromise the mission. Lives depended on her clarity and decisions.

She forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Reports were coming in from the frontlines detailing the insurgents' movements. Ros moved to the map, studying the shifting patterns, the ebb and flow of the battle. She began issuing orders, directing reinforcements to where they were needed most, coordinating air support, and guiding troops through the maze of streets where the fighting was most intense.

But every time she gave an order, her mind circled back to Scarlett. Was she safe? Was she pinned down? Was she hurt? The questions battered at her relentlessly until they drowned out everything else.

"General Carson, we need your approval on the airstrike coordinates," one of the officers said, snapping Ros out of her thoughts. She blinked, trying to pull herself back to the present, to the here and now.

"Send them to me," Ros replied, her voice betraying none of the turmoil raging inside her.

She stared at the map, at the cluster of dots representing insurgents in the town square. She knew what she needed to do, knew the risks, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Scarlett. "General," the officer pressed, "we need those coordinates now."

Ros looked at the screen, the coordinates blurring as her mind split between duty and dread. She nodded, finally issuing the command, but her heart wasn't in it.

Then it happened. A sudden, jarring crackle over the radio—a voice calling out for backup, urgent and strained. Ros's heart seized. She recognized the voice. It was one of Scarlett's team members. The words were muddled, barely coherent over the noise of gunfire, but the desperation was clear.

"Carson!" the officer at her side shouted, trying to pull her attention back. "The airstrike! You're about to?—"

The warning came too late. Ros's hand hovered over the control panel, her mind still caught on the radio transmission. She had given the go-ahead for an airstrike that could hit friendly forces, including Scarlett.

She froze, panic surging through her, paralyzing her as the realization struck. If she didn't cancel the strike in the next few seconds, it would be too late. Her world narrowed down to a single point: the lives she was about to end because of her distraction, because of her fear for Scarlett.

"Abort the strike!" she shouted, slamming her hand on the radio. "Abort! Friendly forces in the vicinity! Abort!"

The room erupted into action as officers scrambled to relay the command to the pilots already en route. Seconds stretched into an eternity as Ros waited, breathless, for confirmation that the strike had been called off. She gripped the edge of the table, every muscle in her body tense, her heart hammering in her chest.

Finally, the confirmation came through.

The airstrike was aborted just in time, and the planes pulled back. Ros exhaled, and the tension in her body slowly ebbed away. But the relief was short-lived and replaced by a cold, harsh realization: She had almost made a fatal mistake. And for what? For the fear that had clouded her judgment, for letting her emotions take control when she needed to be at her sharpest.

She straightened, forcing her thoughts back to the task at hand. The map still glowed on the screen, and the dots still danced in their deadly patterns. She let the cold, clinical part of her mind take over, the part she had relied on for years to make the hard calls, to keep her emotions at bay when lives were on the line.

"Status update," Ros barked, her voice cutting through the noise of the control room.

One of the officers, a young lieutenant with worry etched on his face, stepped forward. "We've managed to hold the northern perimeter, but the insurgents are pushing hard on the east side. We've got reports of heavy casualties, and the comms are down in that sector."

Ros's eyes flicked to the map, taking in the shifting dots on the eastern edge. The insurgents were concentrating their forces there, trying to break through the weaker defenses. She could see it clearly now, the pattern of their attack and the steps she needed to take to counter it. Her mind locked onto the solution, each move falling into place like pieces on a chessboard.

"Send reinforcements to the east. Pull two squads from the north and have them flank the insurgents from the south. And get those comms back online. I want to know what's happening on the ground. Every second counts," she ordered, her voice steady and commanding.

"Yes, ma'am," the lieutenant responded, snapping off a salute before rushing to relay the orders.

Ros watched the screen, her focus sharpening as she saw the dots shift according to her commands. The chaos of the battle started to make sense again, the strategy forming in her mind like a blueprint. This was what she was trained for, what she excelled at: keeping her soldiers alive and making the tough decisions. She couldn't afford to lose sight of that, not even for a moment. But as the operation continued, a single thought kept intruding, no matter how hard she tried to push it away. She knew what she had to do when this was over. The near- disaster with the airstrike had shown her just how dangerous her distraction was. How dangerous it could be to both her and Scarlett. She couldn't let her feelings for Scarlett cloud her judgment again. She couldn't afford to make a mistake like that, not with lives on the line.

She took a deep breath, the decision settling like a stone in her chest. She would have to talk to Scarlett and end things before they went any further. It was the only way to protect them both and ensure that neither of them would be compromised by…this. Whatever this was between them.

The thought tore at her, the idea of pushing Scarlett away when all she wanted was to hold her close. But she knew, deep down, that it was the right thing to do. She had to protect Scarlett, even if it meant breaking both of their hearts.

The battle raged on outside, the sounds of gunfire and explosions filtering faintly through the thick walls of the command center. But inside Ros, another battle was taking place—one between duty and desire, between the life she had built and the one she suddenly found herself wanting. And as much as it hurt, she knew which side had to win.

She turned back to the map, forcing herself to focus, to let the mission consume her. There would be time to deal with Scarlett later once this was over. Once the base was secure and her people were safe, then she would do what she had to do, no matter how much it hurt her.

After the mission ended, Ros waited in her office, her body tense and thoughts a storm of emotions. When Scarlett finally arrived, Ros's eyes locked onto hers, a mix of frustration, fear, and longing.

"We need to talk," Ros began, her voice strained. She walked over to the door and shut it firmly behind Scarlett, the click echoing through the room.

Scarlett crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Is this about the mission, General? Because I think we handled it well, given the circumstances."

Ros let out a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "Yes, we completed the mission, but…I was distracted, Scarlett. I was thinking about you. Worrying about you. And it nearly cost us everything."

Scarlett's eyes softened slightly, but she kept her stance. "Ros, you can't blame yourself for caring. It's human."

"That's the problem, Scarlett. I can't afford to be human right now. Not when everyone is counting on me to be perfect. We need to stop this…whatever this is before we both lose everything."

For a moment, Scarlett seemed taken aback. Her face flashed with hurt, but then her jaw set with determination. "Stop pretending you can just turn off how you feel, Ros. You and I both know this isn't going away."

Ros stepped closer, her resolve wavering as she felt the pull between them again. "We have to try," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But Scarlett took a step forward, closing the gap between them. "Tell me you don't want this," she murmured, her breath warm against Ros's cheek.

Ros's hand trembled as she reached up, cupping Scarlett's face, her thumb brushing over her lips. "I can't," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. And in that moment, all her resolve crumbled.

They collided with a desperate, fervent kiss, all the fear, frustration, and longing pouring out of them in a rush of passion. Ros pulled Scarlett closer, her hands threading through her hair as she gave in to the feelings she had fought so hard to suppress.

They stumbled back toward the bed, tearing at each other's clothes, their breaths ragged and filled with need. The world outside their quarters faded away as they found solace in each other's arms, their bodies moving together with a frantic, desperate rhythm. Ros feverishly kissed any bare skin she could reach, as though making sure that each and every part of Scarlett had returned from action safely. Teeth clacked against teeth as they kissed harshly, biting, pulling, finding solace in the very real possibility that one of them might not have come home that day.

For Ros, it was a release she hadn't allowed herself in years. Every touch, every kiss felt like reclaiming a piece of herself she had long thought lost. She felt alive and her senses heightened, every nerve on fire with the intensity of their connection. It was reckless, it was dangerous, but in Scarlett's arms, it felt right.

They were both naked and their right hands reached between each others legs in perfect synchronisation.

Scarlett removed her hand and grabbed her and pushed her onto her front. This turned her on so very much.

She felt Scarlett's hands on her hips raising her ass into the air as her face was still in the pillow. She felt shivers running through the entirety of her body as Scarlett's hands held her hips firmly. She was open and exposed for her and never more excited than right here, in this moment.

"Please…uh.." she heard her own voice and it was shaky and desperate with need for her.

Scarlett wasted no time in feeding her desperate need with her fingers plunging inside her. They slid in easily, but then she was so wet, she wasn't surprised. She felt them curling downwards to reach her G spot and then Scarlett's rich lyrical voice that always tipped her right over the edge.

"I'm going to fuck you now, baby."

Scarlett's fingers began to move in and out and fucking her and Ros felt herself straight away flying towards the edge unnervingly quickly.

"Oh my god…" she gasped and Scarlett's fingers responded by stretching her further and beginning to move harder.

"That's it, baby. Stretch for me. Open up for me," she purred, her voice like smooth red wine.

Ros felt herself opening to Scarlett's hand in a way she never had before. She felt Scarlett stretching her further, adding more and pressing again to push inside of her.

Ros had completely lost track of what… how many…whatever Scarlett was doing to her felt magical and Ros felt transported to another realm.

She felt a firm pressure pushing into her again.

"It's my whole hand, baby. Just relax and take it. Relax for me, baby. Relax and your body will take it." Scarlett purred.

Ros tried to breathe slowly and do as commanded. She felt zoned out anyway from the pleasure. She felt the pressure increase before a pop as what must have been Scarlett's whole hand slid inside of her.

"Oh, fuck…"

"Breathe, baby. Breathe. You are ok. I've got you."

Ros stayed calm and breathed through it and her body seemed to adjust to the intrusion.

She felt relaxed again and she felt something else. A feeling of deep fullness that was satisfying in a way she never imagined existed. A feeling of real stretch that offered pleasure upon pleasure rolling through her body.

"Oh, my god. This feels… this feels like nothing else in the world."

"My whole hand is inside you. Right up to the wrist. You are going to come with all of me inside of you, Ros." Scarlett was close now, whispering right in Ros's ear. Ros could feel the brush of her nipples on Ros's back and the touch of her hair.

Ros felt like her whole world was about to explode and nothing would be the same again. She felt an orgasm building deep within her. Closer and closer. Higher and higher.

She felt the fingers of Scarlett's other hand slide against her clitoris suddenly as the fist rocked deep inside of her.

"Come for me, baby," Scarlett growled and Ros felt herself fall over the edge there and then tumbling, spinning, falling over and over again, she was screaming, she was crying. She felt all the emotions she had ever buried within her coming flooding out of her.

Scarlett's hand stayed deep within her as she rode out orgasm after orgasm and collapsed forward onto her belly on the bed. She lost track of where she ended and Scarlett began.

She felt Scarlett's slick wetness on the back of her thigh and she heard Scarlett's breath quickening. It was then she realized that Scarlett was straddling Ros's thigh and grinding out her own orgasm on the back of her thigh.

Ros had no energy left to speak or offer to join in, and aside from that, she was pinned down by Scarlett's body and also her fist still buried deep within her. But it didn't seem to matter to Scarlett whose moans were getting louder.

Ros listened as Scarlett came loudly and wetness gushed around the back of her thigh trickling down onto the bedsheets. Scarlett fell forwards and slowly and surely her hand slid out of Ros.

Oh my god.

As they lay tangled together in the aftermath, their breaths panting as their pulses slowed, Ros knew the consequences would come. But for now, she allowed herself this moment, this stolen time in the dimly lit room, the feel of Scarlett's skin against hers, the steady rhythm of their hearts.