7. Hallie

7

HALLIE

S immering with impatient desire, Hallie trails her hands lower, grazing Kaia's hips with her blunt nails. Anxiety dances at the back of her mind, the reminder that they can't linger here too long. But the temptation of Kaia's naked body is too much to bear, and Hallie's attention is quickly consumed with chasing the rivulets of water down Kaia's abs with her tongue.

Dropping to her knees, Hallie locks eyes with the panting rookie. She can't help but smirk as Kaia's gaze widens in surprise.

"You better clean that grime off your skin sharpish, rookie. I've got things covered down here."

Kaia's head drops back against the wall as Hallie hoists her leg over her shoulder and sucks a line of bruising kisses from her knee to the apex of her spread thighs. Then, running her nose through the thick curls gathered there, the lieutenant glances up again.

"Am I distracting you, Kaia? Soap. Now."

The rookie huffs out a small giggle and grabs the shower gel from the shelf beside her. She squirts it into her hand, but promptly has to shove her face into the crook of her elbow to muffle a strangled moan. Hallie has clamped her lips around her swollen clit. Almost rolling her eyes back at the musky taste, the lieutenant laps and sucks at Kaia's slick pussy, wishing she had the time to really draw this out.

As it is, she has to get this done fast.

She doesn't want to leave this cubicle until Kaia has come apart right on her face.

Spreading Kaia more with her other hand, Hallie plunges two fingers inside her, pumping a few times before adding another and curling them both towards her palm. Kaia is wet and ready. Kaia's breaths are coming short and sharp now, her hips grinding against Hallie's greedy mouth as she starts to fuck herself on Hallie's fingers.

When Kaia's legs begin to shake, the lieutenant is certain she's getting close. Hallie dives back in to suck her clit into her mouth, all the while thrusting her fingers in and out in a punishing rhythm.

In just seconds, Hallie feels Kaia clenching and pulsing around her hand. The lieutenant grunts as the rookie's weight presses down on her shoulder. She is clearly struggling to stand through the onslaught of her sudden climax. Hallie's cheeks begin to ache with a satisfied grin as she continues to lap and kiss until she feels the aftershocks begin to fade.

Rising to her feet, Hallie reaches for the soap for herself, relishing Kaia's blissed out expression. She leans in to plant a tender kiss on the rookie's lips.

Two. Three.

The two of them share a breathless chuckle as they lean their foreheads against each other. But when Kaia moves toreach between Hallie's legs, she grabs her by the wrist and shakes her head.

"Go get dried off, Montgomery. You better be at debriefing before your scary lieutenant arrives."

"Hunter, a moment please."

Captain Hewitt's gruff summons stops Hallie in her tracks as she strides past his office, having just dismissed her crew from the house-fire debriefing.

Unease pools thickly in her stomach.

She steps into the captain's dimly lit office, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind her. She can't shake the ominous certainty that this conversation will center around a certain headstrong recruit.

"Sir," she greets with a respectful nod, lowering herself into the chair across from his, knuckles white where they grip its polished wooden arms. "What can I do for you?"

Hewitt steeples his fingers beneath his chin, his piercing gaze pinning Hallie like a hapless butterfly to a board. She fights the urge to squirm under that penetrating assessment, forcibly calming her breathing as she braces for his response.

"Just checking in on the progress of the rookie class in light of the call out today," the captain begins, his tone carefully neutral. "Your initial estimation of their capabilities, problem areas that need addressing. The usual."

Hallie gives a stiff nod, her jaw working as she chews over her response. She knows she needs to tread cautiously here, avoid drawing undue attention to any single recruit. Especially one whose mere presence seems to light Hallie's blood on fire these days.

The lieutenant clears her throat and blinks rapidly as images of Kaia's naked, dripping curves merrily flit behind her eyelids.

She can still taste Kaia's orgasm on her tongue and she likes it.

"Overall, they're shaping up to be a solid crew," she says, hoping her voice reflects only cool professionalism. "A few attitude adjustments needed here and there, but nothing that can't be corrected with more time and experience in the field."

Hewitt hums, his expression inscrutable as he leans back in his chair, fingers drumming an idle rhythm against the desktop.

"Attitude adjustments," he muses, bushy brows drawing together. "That's a rather diplomatic way of putting it."

Hallie feels her cheeks flush hotly at the captain's pointed observation, cursing herself for reacting to his obvious bait.

"Sir, I can assure you, Montgomery's...willful methods are being addressed in our private training."

"Ah yes, about that." Hewitt's lips thin into a grim line, his tone sharpening. "Tell me, Hunter, how is that going? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like your recruit is still prone to acting on dangerous impulse with zero regard for the safety of herself or her team."

A lance of possessive fury pierces through Hallie's chest at the captain's blunt accusation, the knee-jerk instinct to defend Kaia's character rearing its stubborn head.

"With respect, Captain," Hallie grits out, "Montgomery's actions, while ill-advised, directly saved the life of a trapped civilian. Her quick thinking and fearless initiative are assets to this department, not liabilities."

Hewitt's steely eyes narrow, his chin jutting forward in unmistakable challenge.

"That defense reeks of bullshit, Lieutenant. What's going on with you? Are you really prepared to stake your reputation on the actions of a green recruit you've known for less than a month?"

Hallie opens her mouth to argue, to insist on Kaia's potential, but Hewitt cuts her off with a sharp raise of his hand.

"I'm not finished. Your job as commanding officer is to assess and lead this rookie class with complete objectivity. To make the hard calls regarding their abilities and adherence to protocol, without allowing personal feelings to cloud your judgment."

The captain's voice gentles slightly, taking on an almost fatherly edge that raises the fine hairs at Hallie's nape.

"I understand you want to champion Montgomery as a fellow woman. Hell, I want to see her succeed just as badly, if she's truly got the goods. But you cannot appear to play favorites here, Hunter. Not when your position in this department is at stake."

Hewitt leans forward again, his gaze boring into Hallie's with unnerving intensity.

"If you keep leaping to defend a single recruit's poor choices at the expense of the group, you risk losing the respect of the very men and women you've fought to lead. Is coddling Montgomery really worth throwing all that away?"

Silence stretches between them, heavy with the weight of Hewitt's warning. Hallie can feel the blood drain from her face as the gravity of the situation sinks in, chilling her to the bone. Because as much as she wants to keep arguing on Kaia's behalf, a small, traitorously rational voice whispers that the captain is right. Hallie's feelings for Kaia, as fierce and intoxicating as they are, are clouding her objectivity. Influencing her to make allowances that she wouldn't dream of extending to any other rookie under her command.

Shame burns like acrid bile in the back of Hallie's throat as she averts her eyes, unable to hold Hewitt's probing stare a second longer.

"You're right, sir," she responds, the admission tasting like bitter ashes on her tongue. "It won't happen again. I'll be...stricter with Montgomery going forward. Rein in the reckless behavior."

"Good." Hewitt settles back in his chair, looking appeased. "You're one of the best lieutenants I've ever seen, Hunter. I'd hate to see you throw away such a promising future over a rookie who still has a hell of a lot to learn about being a team player."

Hallie can only nod, her heart twisting painfully in her chest. Continuing to play the hard-ass, uncompromising lieutenant is the last thing she wants to do now when it comes to Kaia. Not with the terrifying emotion that's burrowing its way into her chest. Lingering on her skin.

But it's clear that she doesn't have a choice. Not if she wants to protect both their careers and maintain the integrity of her team.

Hewitt clears his throat, drawing Hallie from her sullen spiral with a start.

"That'll be all, Lieutenant. Keep me updated on the progress of the rookie evaluations. Especially any...problem areas that need further addressing."

The clear dismissal rings with unspoken warning, a reminder of the scrutiny Hallie and Kaia will now be under. Hallie rises on leaden legs, throwing a mock salute before making her escape. She marches down the hallway in a daze, her head swimming as she tries to process the rollercoaster of a day.

As much as she wants to keep denying it, to cling to the feverish belief that this infatuation with Kaia is harmless, she knows deep in her bones that it's a lit fuse poised to blow.

And when it does, the collateral damage won't be limited to singed fingers and wounded pride. It will be the total destruction of everything Hallie has sacrificed and strived for. The inevitable implosion of her own career and Kaia's right along with it.

The certainty of that danger galvanizes Hallie's resolve as she reaches the locker room, grateful to find it empty. She sinks onto a bench, dropping her face into trembling hands.

She has to end this dance with Kaia before it's too late. Before her growing attachment compromises her ability to be the firm lieutenant. How could she train Kaia's brazen attitude into strict obedience when it's the very thing that draws her in?

But damn if the mere thought of pushing Kaia away, of watching the hope gutter and die in those molten eyes, doesn't flay Hallie raw. Peel back the layers of staunch discipline and self-control to expose the ravenous ache beneath. The intense yearning for even a fleeting taste of the inferno raging between them, consequences be damned.

She huffs out an exasperated groan, scrubbing at her eyes.

How the hell am I gonna deal with this?