She is already standing by Knox and reviewing the day's schedule on her clipboard like she didn’t spend the night tearing me apart and walking out like it was no big deal.
I make my way over, nodding casually to the other guys as I join the group. “Morning, boss,” I say, my tone light as if nothing happened.
Amelia doesn’t even blink. When she glances up, her expression is calm and professional. “Carr, glad to see you managed to be on time.”
Smirking, I say, “Wouldn’t miss it, Phoenix. You’ve got my undivided attention.”
Her eyes narrow just slightly, and for a split second, I think I see something flash behind them. Something that might say she’s just pretending to be unaffected by me. But it is gone as fast as it came.
“Good,” she says simply, turning back to the clipboard. “Because I’m expecting nothing less than perfection from you today.”
“Oh, you’ll get it,” I reply smoothly. “Don’t you worry, Commander.”
Knox snorts, clearly oblivious to the tension between us. “Alright, lovebirds, save the banter for the bedroom. We’ve got work to do.”
Amelia shoots him a sharp glance, and I just grin, playing it cool.
She might think she has the upper hand here, but little does she know, I can tease the hell out of her and make her want me every day until she’s back in my bed.
Another day, another round of rookies trying to prove themselves. I stand on the tarmac with my clipboard in hand, sunglasses shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun. Noah and Ash are side by side, waiting for me to hand out the day’s assignments.
“Carr,” I call, my voice sharp enough to cut through the chatter. “Think you can follow orders today, or are you planning to freestyle again?”
His lips twitch into that infuriating smirk. “Whatever you say, Commander. I’m at your command.”
I ignore the heat prickling the back of my neck and tap the clipboard. “You’re in the right-wing position today. That means staying in formation—tight and clean. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says smoothly, and damn it, he makes the honorific sound like it belongs in a bedroom instead of an airfield.
I turn to Noah, rattling off his role for the day, but I can feel Ash’s eyes on me the whole time. That cocky confidence of his is both infuriating and… well, infuriating.
When the briefing is done, I head back to the hangar to grab my flight jacket. The rookies scatter, and I think I have amoment to myself—until I hear footsteps behind me. And that smell that is becoming all too familiar.
“Carr, if you’re not in your aircraft in five minutes—” I start, turning around, only to find him standing closer than I expected, a sly grin on his face.
He leans in, his voice low in my ear. “You’d think someone who got off twice last night would be in a better mood.”
Heat shoots through me—anger, embarrassment, and something else I don’t want to name. I turn to face him, keeping my expression cold.
“You’re out of line, Lieutenant,” I say, my voice sharp enough to cut steel.
He just grins, stepping back with an infuriating lack of urgency. “Just making an observation, Commander. I’ll be in position.”
I watch him walk away, my grip tightening on the clipboard.
He wants to play games? Fine. But I am not about to let him win.
The following day,I’m standing in front of my desk, arms crossed, staring at the neat stack of papers and my carefully written schedule for the day. The plan is simple: Keep Ash Carr in line, keep my head on straight, and—most importantly—keep him out of my pants.
Easier said than done.
My brain has been screaming at me since the second I left his apartment. Stay away, Amelia. He’s cocky, arrogant, and now officially off-limits. But my body? Yeah, my body hasn’t gottenthe memo. Every time I close my eyes, I see those damn dimples, that smirk, and remember the way his hands felt on me, like he knew exactly where to touch to drive me wild.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair and straightening my spine. Focus, Maddox. You’re better than this.
The key is boundaries. Keep it professional, keep it distant, and remind him who is in charge—both in the air and on the ground. He wants to flirt? Fine. But I won’t bite.
Grabbing my clipboard, I flip through today’s agenda, already rehearsing what I’ll say to him when he inevitably tries to push my buttons. Cool, calm, and collected—that is the plan.
