Our War Zone

12

Tanasha materialized swiftly in front of Alex as he was making his way toward the training site, her presence commanding attention even amidst the bustling camp. Her heart raced, but she kept her voice steady, hoping for a chance to speak to him in a less formal capacity.

"Sir, may I speak?" Tanasha asked, her voice firm, though she waited tensely for his response.

Alex had always taken note of Tanasha. She was one of the fiercest warriors he had ever encountered. Her courage was undeniable, her strength was legendary, and she was attractive—undoubtedly so. She truly had it all. But despite all of this, Tanasha failed to captivate his interest in the way she might have hoped. There was something missing, something that kept him emotionally detached from her.

"Permission granted," he said, his tone clipped, waiting for her to continue.

Tanasha squared her shoulders and made her statement, her eyes locked onto his. "I would love it if I could fight alongside you," she said, her voice brimming with determination.

"Is that all?" Alex responded, not even a flicker of emotion crossing his stern face. He didn’t acknowledge her words in any significant way, as though her request had barely registered.

"No," Tanasha replied, her voice a bit sharper now, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She wasn’t finished, not by a long shot.

"Then what else do you have to say, soldier?" Alex asked, the use of the word "soldier" stinging Tanasha more than she cared to admit. It wasn’t just the formality of it—it was the impersonal coldness behind it, as though he refused to see her as anything more than just another member of the team.

Determined to prove herself, not just as a warrior but as a woman worthy of his attention, Tanasha stepped forward, closing the space between them with deliberate intent. She could feel the intensity of his presence, the raw masculinity that seemed to radiate from him like heat. At 5'8", she was able to lean in close, her lips brushing the air near his ear, while her slender fingers ghosted over his broad chest.

To her surprise, Alex didn’t pull away. In fact, it seemed as though he didn’t mind where things were headed, which only fueled her boldness.

As her fingers lightly traced his chest, she felt his calm yet heavy breathing beneath her touch. Tanasha smirked inwardly, confident that she was getting under his skin, that perhaps she was finally breaking through the armor of his indifference.

"I like you, Commander," she whispered hotly into his ear, her breath warm against his skin.

Suddenly, Alex’s hand shot out and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him in one swift motion. The force of it caught Tanasha off guard, and she gasped softly, her eyes widening in surprise.

"You’re playing with fire, soldier," he whispered harshly, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine. But Tanasha, ever defiant, didn’t appreciate him calling her "soldier" in this moment.

"My name is Tanasha, Commander," she pointed out, her voice laced with desperation as she sought to break through the barrier he kept between them.

"I know your name," Alex said, his piercing gaze scanning her face, his eyes narrowing. "But my question is—do you know exactly what you’re doing, Tanasha?"

His gaze roamed over her appearance, taking in her strength, her beauty. She was stunning, that much was true, but still, something about her didn’t meet his elusive standards. It wasn’t enough.

Before he could react, Tanasha made a bold move. She wrenched herself from his grip and closed the remaining distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a sudden, fierce kiss.