Page 83 of Elite Metal: Warriors

This was nothing like that.

“Besotted, then.”

“I’m not besotted, either.”

Sterling studied him with a skeptical expression. “I know the look, my brother.”

“What look?” Why didn’t he just shut up and drive?

“The look of a man lost.”

“You’ve never been lost a day in your life.” Of all his compatriots, Sterling was the most like him. The coldest. The hardest of heart. The man least likely to succumb to something as sentimental as love.

“I have been. I have been lost.” His tone was somber, flat. It caught Benedict’s attention. He shifted to the side and stared at his buddy. The lines on his face, the tightness of his muscles, the vulnerability were fascinating.

“Oh?”

Sterling nodded. A sharp dip of his head.

“Do tell.”

“I…met someone.”

Duh. “And?”

He lifted a shoulder. “And nothing.”

“Are you in love with her?”

“Might be.”

“Really?” How…interesting. Benedict leaned closer. “What does she look like?”

It was freaking hysterical the way Sterling’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “None of your fucking beeswax what she fucking looks like.”

Benedict snorted. “Just thought I should know. So I don’t shoot her or something.” He turned away so Sterling couldn’t see his smirk, even though he didn’t care if he did.

“Be careful I don’t shoot you, buddy,” Sterling snapped. “It would be so easy to do.”

“Just drive.”

“Right.” Sterling set his teeth and focused on the road. But he didn’t stay quiet for long. He never did when there was needling to be done. “How are you going to explain it to Titanium?”

Benedict glared at him. “Explain what?”

“That you want to keep her. You know, when this is done.”

Keep her?

Why did that make heat howl thought him? Heat and something sweet.

“I don’t want to keep her.”

Oh. He did. He did.

Sterling just grunted.

“I don’t.”