Chapter 4

Austin muttered a curse as he stared at his phone Wednesday morning. The message from his CO at oh five hundred wasn’t a complete surprise. Of course they were heading out. It was what they did. Calculating the timing in his head, he realized he wouldn’t be able to see Alexa before he left. She had a sunrise photo session and would be getting back to her place as he was already going into base.

Hell.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, reality sinking in. He wouldn’t be able to see her before he left. Austin never really had a girl he cared about before when he deployed on an op. Certainly not someone he wanted to say goodbye to—that he’d think about while he was gone.

And after the past couple of nights together?

Damn.

There had been fireworks. Explosions. The best sex he’d ever had. Because Alexa needed to work early this morning, he’d headed back to his own place yesterday evening after they’d had dinner—and each other several times. While they hadn’t exactly labeled what they were to one another yet, they spent a hell of a lot of their free time together. Austin knew she wasn’t dating anyone else.

He’d already spent hours exploring her gorgeous body, making her come apart in his arms. Alexa had no qualms about showing him how enthusiastic she was in bed, and hell if he wasn’t happy to reciprocate. She wore sexy lace bras and thongs under her clothes, and he loved peeling them off of her, touching her everywhere, then sinking into her silken channel, his cock hot and hard.

They’d spent their downtime together, too. She’d edit photos on her laptop while he relaxed beside her on the sofa, watching her work. Alexa had cooked dinner for him several times, and he’d made breakfast for her in bed, loving the look of delight on her face when he’d surprised her with it.

His lips quirked.

Seeing Alexa happy and smiling had quickly become one of his favorite things. Happiness practically radiated from her, and while they’d both told their friends they were simply having fun, she was important to him.

His phone buzzed, and he saw a message from Wyatt above the one from his commanding officer.

Wyatt: You get the CO’s text? We’re going wheel’s up.

Austin: Yep. See you on base in thirty.

He stared at his phone, deciding to text Alexa when he arrived at work. He needed to quickly shower and dress, then toss a few things in his bag. It was rare that they were sent out so quickly, but it happened. They’d meet with their commanding officer, pack their weapons and gear, and hop on a C-17. Just another day on the job—except this time, he was leaving his girl behind.

Austin huffed out a sigh.

They’d just gotten sent out recently to rescue hostages on a cargo ship. Such was life on the teams. When an emergency arose, they needed to be ready to roll out. He strode across his bedroom, briefly considering that he’d never had Alexa over to his place yet. He’d remedy that when he returned. Cook her dinner. Spread her out on his sheets. Make love to her all night.

His goodbye text today might need to be brief, but when he returned, he’d show her exactly what she meant to him, because he couldn’t imagine not having her in his life.