Page 63 of Triton

We ran back into the sand, and I held her hand. A jolt shot to my cock. Her touch always ignitedme.

“One, two, three, go.” I dropped herhand.

We ran together, but I stepped out of the way. She leaped up and pulled her body up with her forearms.

She started to struggle, but I cheered her on. “That’s it, champ. You got it! Pull yourself up. Don’t lookdown.”

She wrapped her body around the bar using her legs and did it again on the higher hurdle, before jumpingdown.

“You didit!”

I ran toward her and scooped her up into my arms. Before I could stop myself, our lips met. I kissed her despite my vow that this was just business and she was no different than any other candidate. We were out in the open for the whole base to see. My mind wanted to stop by my lips didn’t listen. I grabbed the back of her neck and ravished her mouth, claiming it formine.

Fornow.

Forever.

She kissed me back furiously, her hands pressing against my chest before I found the strength to pullaway.

“Erik, I can’t thank you enough. I couldn’t have done it without you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I loveyou.”

At that moment, I knew that I still lovedher.

That I had never stopped.

And I refused to ever let hergo.

“I love you, too.”

Tears stained her cheeks. I hadn’t seen her cry once during BUD/S untilnow.

I looked at her face in the moonlight, and I finally realized that she was going to make it. I was staring at the first female NavySEAL.

And I was proud to be herman.

I lifted her chin up. “Stop it, champ. SEALs don’tcry.”