ent had never

ars and the memory of his arms wrapped around her waist lingering on her skin like smoke. Her body had gon

ng had

ically. N

de

ly was d

Hot shower. Strong coffee. Three spoonfuls of peanut but

walls she built, the unspoken expectations of being a Colonel's daughter-Alia was nothing if not relentles

her focus b

pharmacokine

lism looked like a love le

tered, slamming t

hone

dying, or

the screen,

avoid things.

m outside. Don'

fr

h

ere he was-leaning against his car, casual in a black hoodi

ew hours since he le

urse

hen her body gave up and she pretended it didn't. Even before she'd ever said hi

ed, heart racing. "Didn't the A

I could've stayed at the barracks. But I figured watching yo

e herself. "So, yo

ling. "No. I came to watch a g

e ridi

're brea

rmed her with just words. She looked away, hiding a smile. "If

comfortable at the dining table, pulling a

en grabbed her textbook and

two hours,

ed thoughtful questions, cross-checked notes from her c

murmured, cheeks pink fro

t looking up. "You talk about phar

t him a

eyes. "You're always working. Always fightin

t him for a b

ll onto the table with a soft groan.

er face. "You're not. You're swimmi

hed her temple.

ween them s

e, Alia didn't pull away. She didn't shrink from the intensity i

ng alone," he said. "You don't ha

ecause I'm a woman. Because I'm the daughte

," Jamal said quietly. "Let me be your

bli

it was

acked her open when she

eady," she

id. "But I am.

e stre

movement with his eyes. As she turned back toward him, they crossed

d to ste

dn't

ightly on the wall behind her, caging he

dies did

elt like

gan its wild

the street," Jamal said softly. "When you moved here... I made sure I could sti

allowed

he one I'd love until my l

to scoff-to push hi

he co

s were

ng her feel. And yet... sh

k me," she whisper

sed. "I've waited t

could respond,

between th

owever, stay