In the Likely Event

by Rebecca Yarros

moisture racing down my neck, soaking into my collar, was water from a recent swim instead of my own sweat. Almost.

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down with some kind of virus last night, and I didn’t want to ask Ward to skip his leave. He has kids.” I shifted the shoulder strap of my rifle as the C-130 touched down on the runway. “Now I’m on babysitting duty for Senator Lauren’s aide.” “Well, I’m with you, like always.” “I appreciate that.” My best friend hadn’t left my side since Special Forces selection. Hell, even before that. “Hopefully by next week, Jenkins

helicopters when they get here next week are the same guys telling you to drive,” Graham quipped, keeping adequate distance from the lead car. “Gotta love politicians.” We passed the two-kilometer mark; we were making good time. “How the visit is perceived is important,” Izzy argued. What? Every

History didn’t even cut it. We were bound in ways I’d never understood. “No shit, Sherlock. Is it going to be a liability? Because your replacement should be up and about in a few days, and you can be on your way to the Maldives.” “I’m processing.” I hadn’t even given my little prepaid overwater bungalow a thought since Izzy had stepped onto the tarmac. I glanced at Torres. “Why are you looking at me like I have anything to say that you don’t already know?”

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“That would explain the pain. I think I did something to my shoulder too.” She brushed her hand over my forehead and into my hair. “You have a nasty cut just beneath your hairline.” “That’s okay. It will just increase my appeal. Chicks dig scars, you know.” I studied her blown pupils, which were consuming way too much of those beautiful brown eyes. “Help!” someone else shouted. Izzy lurched forward. “Nope. You stay

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we’ll put her on the helicopter, and I’ll bring her home with me.” Disbelief mixed with a heavy dose of anger raced through my veins, and I took a step backward. “You’re using yourself as bait?” Her eyes narrowed. “Please don’t pretend that you’re concerned about my welfare.” “Your welfare has been my concern for the last ten fucking years!” I snapped, immediately regretting the slip. Damn it, this woman pushed me to the edge faster than anyone on the planet. Silence stretched between us as I fought to level my head. “Let’s go.” I turned around and walked out of the room, holding the door so she could walk through first.

where I am to quit.” I pressed my lips between my teeth and fought the immediate burning in my eyes. The very passion I’d always admired about Serena had the potential to get her killed, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

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about leave. Maybe not this year, since you’ll be in the middle of classes when I’ll get block leave—aka, vacation—but maybe next year we can pick a place neither of us has been and just go. Just leave everything behind for a week or two and just . . . be. And I know you’ve probably traveled a lot more than I have. There wasn’t money for that growing up, but the only good thing about deployment is the ridiculous amount of money I’ve been able to save. So, if you’re down,

heaven,” he said, and I lifted my head long enough to lock eyes with him as he lowered his mouth again, sending a bolt of pure pleasure spiraling through me. He was the hottest man I’d ever seen, and he was mine to touch tonight. My head fell back as sensation ruled my body. Every lick of his tongue made my back arch. Every time he sucked my clit between his lips, I trembled. When his fingers slid inside me, first one, then two, I couldn’t help but rock back against him, seeking more, demanding it with my moans. He pinned my hips to the table with his forearm so I could only take what he wanted to give, and then he drove me toward madness. He teased when I wanted him to take. He flicked when I wanted him to linger. He took me to the edge of orgasm, when I could almost taste how sweet that release would be, only to lessen the pressure before I tumbled over. “Nate!” I tugged on his head as the delicious torture began again. “What do you need, Izzy?” he asked, blowing softly against my heated skin. I gasped, my back bowing. “I need you!” In every way possible. It was the closest I could come to letting him know how I felt. “Like you’ll scream if you can’t have me?” He flicked his tongue over my clit. “Yes!” “Like you’ll die if you have to take one more breath without me inside you?” He looked up at me, his eyes holding me as a willing prisoner. “Yes.” It was a whisper. He nodded. “Good. Because that’s exactly how I need you.” He lowered his head between my thighs, and the wor...

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have been giving you a choice, and I’m so sorry.” “Nate, I don’t think you’re thinking clearly. You seriously want us to get married when I’ve never so much as seen where you live? We’ve never spent more than a week together at a time—” “Nine days,” I argued. “I don’t even know where you are half the time, or what you’re being selected for. Listen to yourself.” “Exactly.” Shit, I was doing this wrong. “But you love me, and I just need you to choose, Iz. I’ll do whatever

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