Page 46 of My All American Girl

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness. “Are you testing me, Lieutenant Thomas?”

She took a step closer, her chin tilted up in challenge. “Maybe I am. What are you going to do about it?”

We were almost nose to nose now, the air between us crackling with tension. Her smile was daring, her eyes sparkling with mischief. All I could think about was kissing her. My hands itched to reach out, to pull her close, to feel her body pressed against mine. The attraction was electric and it was getting harder to resist. I was trying to convince myself that it wasn’t really breaking any rules if she and I hooked up. It wasn’t like she was going to run back to her dad and tell on me. What would it hurt if we satisfied the craving we both had?

“Careful, Sarah,” I warned, my voice low. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

She didn’t back down. “I’m not afraid of danger.”

I leaned in slightly, our faces inches apart. “You should be.”

For a moment, neither of us moved. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us locked in this intense, heated moment. I could feel the warmth of her breath, see the rapid rise and fall of her chest. I knew she felt the same pull I did. I had flashbacks to the night I had my tongue halfway down her throat. She had tasted so good. It dominated my thoughts. She was like an addiction.

Just as I was about to close the gap between us, the sound of footsteps broke the spell. I turned to see Mo walking toward us, his expression unreadable.

“Dean, Sarah,” he greeted, his voice even but carrying a weight of authority. “Everything alright here?”

I stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between Sarah and me. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just finishing up her water break.”

Sarah quickly fell back into her role, her demeanor professional once more. “Yes, sir. Ready to get back to it.”

Mo looked between us, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he didn’t press the matter. “Good. Keep up the good work, Sarah.”

“What are you doing in town?” Sarah asked him.

“I’m meeting some old friends tonight, but I’d like to take you to dinner later. Catch up on how things are going.”

Sarah nodded, though she didn’t seem thrilled. “Sure, dinner sounds good.”

“How is she doing?” Mo asked me.

Sarah looked at me, obviously wondering what I would tell her father.

I nodded, totally serious now. This mattered too much to Sarah to joke around. “She’s been exceeding my expectations, sir. We’re getting her ready for the most challenging parts of UPT.”

“Will she be ready?”

Sarah flinched. I knew she hated that he was talking about her like she wasn’t standing two feet away from him. It happened all the time in the military but it wasn’t usually a father discussing his daughter.

“She’s training harder than anyone else in the program.” I shrugged. “We’re out here making sure she’s ready.”

Mo nodded. “Good. I’ll let you guys get back to it. Push hard, Sarah.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, Mo gave us a final nod and headed off, leaving the two of us alone once again.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Sarah turned to me. I saw the flash of anger in her eyes. She was pissed. “You’re such a kiss ass,” she hissed.

I pointed at the ground, my expression hardening. “Give me a hundred push-ups.”

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t move. “Seriously?”

I stepped closer, leaning in so our faces were inches apart once again. “Survival training is going to test every limit you have. I suggest you stop being a spoiled brat and start taking things seriously.”

She glared at me but dropped to the ground, beginning her push-ups. I crouched down beside her, watching her form closely as she pumped up and down.

“Slower,” I instructed, my voice firm.