Chapter 34 #2
But that night, there was a different energy in the air. I couldn’t quite place it, but it was there—subtle, lingering right beneath the surface.
“Cobra,” she mumbled suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper, breaking the stillness.
I looked up from my book, brow furrowed in confusion. The firelight caught her face right as she spoke, and for a moment, I thought I had misheard. “What?”
She cleared her throat, and I noticed a faint flush creeping across her cheeks.
The usual confidence in her demeanor wavered, replaced by something a little more vulnerable.
“You, uh, remind me of a cobra,” she explained, her gaze dropping to the floor as if she was already second-guessing her words.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise, amusement and curiosity flickering in my mind. The leather creaked as I leaned forward, then rested my elbows on my knees, studying her. “A cobra?” I repeated, barely suppressing a grin. “Why?”
She shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable now, but I wasn’t about to let this go. I watched as she fumbled for an explanation, her fingers playing with the corner of her book.
“Because you lure people in with your charm and then end them with your venom. Cobras do the same,” she said, meeting my stare briefly before looking away.
A sly smile tugged at my lips. “This is the second time you’ve called me charming.”
She rolled her eyes, clearly trying to downplay it. “I was being ironic both times.”
"Still counts." I leaned back in my chair, letting my smirk widen, watching the way she tried to brush it off like it didn’t matter.
She crossed her arms, giving me a pointed, skeptical look. "It’s not a compliment."
"You sure about that?" I tilted my head slightly, letting a playful glint spark in my eyes. For a second, I saw a flicker of doubt in hers.
"Yeah. Pretty much," she replied, trying for confidence, but a tiny hesitation betrayed her.
I leaned in just a fraction, dropping my voice. "I think it means you’re charmed by me, little nightcrawler."
Her brows furrowed. "Little what?"
"Nightcrawler. Like the black widow—quiet, lethal, sneaky as hell."
She scoffed. "Ah. Another charming nickname."
"Again, with calling me charming."
Her countenance hardened as she met my gaze head-on “I think ‘charming’ is a euphemism for ‘untrustworthy.’”
Her words hit harder than I expected. I stiffened, the playful grin fading from my face almost instantly. She hadn’t just thrown around a playful jab—she’d meant it.
I took a long, slow sip from my Scotch, the burn of the alcohol doing little to ease the sudden weight pressing against my chest. Of course, she had every reason not to trust me, after what we’d done to her.
I couldn’t blame her for still holding onto it, even if a part of me wished things were different. I shifted in my chair, forcing myself to swallow the bitter taste of regret.
Maybe it was time to stop hoping for forgiveness I didn’t deserve.
Petru’s message came through at 15:57.
By 16:00, my team was gathered, the atmosphere thick with unspoken concern.
Conversations had died down, replaced by a quiet unease which lingered like the calm before a storm.
The Radicals had moved again, this time edging dangerously close to Petru’s borders.
That alone would have been cause for concern, but there was more.
Slava Offensives had detected something unusual traveling with them—an energy field. Unfamiliar, unidentified, and moving with intent.
With rumors of the Amplifier being on the move, the sudden shift in Radical activity felt deliberate, too well-timed to be a coincidence.
We had no confirmation of where the Amplifier actually was, whether it was near Slava or somewhere else entirely, but one thing was certain: this wasn’t a routine maneuver.
Another recon mission was inevitable.
While the team started discussing possibilities, I found myself stealing glances at Emma more often than I should.
The way she held herself—focused, unwavering, entirely absorbed in the plan—it captivated me.
Her posture, her stillness, the quiet intensity in the way she listened and analyzed every detail drew me in.
And whenever I stared at her for too long, my mind began to drift to places I knew it shouldn’t.
Her serious expression, the way she always kept her emotions in check, only fueled my inappropriate thoughts. What would she look like when her mask of control slipped? When her composure crumbled under me, her walls coming down, leaving her vulnerable for me?
I started to imagine her shivering under my touch, her breath hitching as I traced every inch of her skin with my tongue. What would she look like with my hands exploring her, with my mouth bringing her closer and closer to the edge?
I thought about her coming undone, lips parted, whispering my name, pleasure lighting up her eyes—pleasure only I could give her.
What would her voice sound like when she begged for more?
Would she tremble beneath me, gasping for air, her body giving into the waves of bliss?
Would she bite her lip, trying to hold it all in, or would she let it out, raw and desperate?
I could see her now, her lips wrapping around my cock, taking me deep as I groaned from the sensation. The thought of her gaze locked on mine, full of desire, made my pulse quicken. Her body, soft and pliant, made for me to explore.
I imagined her breasts covered in my cum, her skin flushed from the intensity of it all. What would she look like, completely wrecked, every inch of her body, her sounds, her orgasms only mine to claim?
What would she look like, marked by me, utterly consumed by me in every way?
What would she look like if she were…mine?
My control wavered as my imagination ran wild.
I forced myself to snap out of it, to focus on the mission, but ignoring the magnetic pull between us was getting harder by the second. I needed to keep my fucking distance. She was still in love with James and letting myself think about her like that only dangled the certain promise of heartbreak.
Heartbreak? It was just a damn sexual fantasy. Get over yourself, Colt.
I shook my head, trying to will away the thoughts.
Emma turned, her eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment. There was something there—something I couldn’t quite decipher. For a second, I wondered if she’d noticed the way my gaze lingered, if she somehow knew where my thoughts had drifted.
But then she shifted her attention back to the map, bringing us back to the matter at hand. “We need to determine the source of the energy field and what it means for the Amplifier’s location. If the Radicals are involved, we can’t afford to wait.”
Her tone was all business, and I shook the thoughts away. Focus. There was no room for distractions.
Fuck, I really needed to keep my distance from her.
For both our sakes. And the mission’s sake. And every other reason I could think of.
“I’ll move out at dawn,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “Saoirse will join me.”