Page 45 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Sterling snorted. “If he’s lucky. If I know HQ, that would be foreplay.”

“Yikes.”

Silence settled between them and Roni toyed with his chest hair. She really liked a man with chest hair. But hell, she’d like Sterling if he were shaved bald. One thing bothered her though…

“Sterling?”

“Mmm hmm?”

“Who’s…Dancer?”

She hated that he stiffened the way he did. Hated the pain that flashed through his eyes. “Where did you hear that name?”

She shrugged. “I’m a reporter. I eavesdrop.”

He laced his fingers in her hair and held her still, frowning at her. “Baby. You can’t eavesdrop here. You might hear something that would put you at risk.”

“I thought I was part of the team. That’s what Steele said.” She tried not to sound petulant. But seriously.

“You are. You are. But…it could still be dangerous.”

She tipped her head to the side and studied him. “Are you trying to change the subject?”

He flushed. “Kinda.”

She huffed out a breath. “If you don’t want to tell me who Dancer is, that’s fine. Don’t.” But damn, it hurt. She didn’t know why.

She turned away but he pulled her back. Pulled her back into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin. “No, baby. It’s just painful, is all.” He sighed. “She was my…”

She? Hell. “Your what?”

“My girlfriend, I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

He chuckled at her tone. “We met in basic. Went into Special Forces together, though she was on another team. We hooked up when we could. We…played together. But there was never anything serious between us.”

“What happened to her?” She knew from his tone, just knew, something had. Something bad.

His arms closed around her. “We were on a mission. A joint-forces op. It…went squirrely. Lots of people… Well, they didn’t make it. Dancer died right before my eyes. Caught in an explosion.” He shuddered. “I always felt guilty.”

“Was it your fault?”

He stiffened. “Of course it was my fault.”

“Why? Did you pull the pin? Did you push her into the blast?”

He lurched back and glared at her. “No. Of course not.”

“Then how was it your fault?”

“She went into Special Forces because I did.”

Roni quirked a brow. “Did she like Special Forces?”

His frown was fierce. “Hell, yes.”

“Then maybe she did it because she wanted to.” She shot him a mischievous smile. “It is very exciting.”