Page 5

And stop looking at her ass.

CHAPTER TWO

Jess

Warm fingers brushed over my side.

I pressed my lips together and focused on the comm screen. But of course, I didn’t see anything, I only felt North’s touch as he checked my bandage again. He had nice hands—strong, with well-shaped fingers.

I released a breath.Get a grip, Jess. The man doesn’t even like you.

“How’s the pain?” he asked.

“At about a two. The injection did its thing.”

He nodded and rose. “Good.”

He towered over me. My belly fluttered.Stupid belly. I stood as well and felt my side tug. I ruthlessly ignored it.

The man was built how I liked—tall, broad shoulders, lean hips, fit. I knew he had some tattoos because I had seen them on his arm in the squad locker room. He had thick, brown hair, with a few streaks of gold and a jaw that could cut steel.

He studied my damaged chest armor, frowning at the burned areas. “You can’t put this back on.”

“I’ll be fine without it.” I cocked my head. “I’m glad to see you have a decent bedside manner, especially when your general personality leans toward dislike and disapproval.”

He frowned at me. “I don’t dislike you.”

I snorted. “Really? Ignoring me and glaring at me says otherwise.”

He looked past me, toward the waves lapping the sand, and scraped a hand through his hair. “I don’t hate you, Jess. I just don’t trust you. These men—” he gestured to the squad in the distance “—are like brothers to me.”

And I was the outsider.

“I just…don’t want anything that will upset the balance of the squad,” he added.

A part of me understood that. I couldn’t argue with his need to protect his friends. I gave him a small nod. “I’ve got their back, North. And I’ve got yours, whether you believe it or not.”

He was quiet for a beat. “And you’ll always get the best medical treatment from me. I took an oath.”

That’s right. North wasn’t just a medic, but a fully trained doctor. I wondered why he was on Hunter Squad and not working in a clinic or hospital somewhere.

“Hey.” Jameson and the others jogged over. “Jess, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“She’s got some burns from that substance in the monster. I treated her, but she’ll need nano-meds when we get back to base.”

Jameson nodded. “Okay, let’s?—”

“Jameson.” Sasha’s voice cut through the comm line.

Everyone straightened.

“I’m tracking a lone creature. It made it into the trees and is headed for the ruins of an abandoned town near your location.”

Jameson cursed. “Okay, we’re on it.” He looked at us. “We can’t let a monster with this acid stuff inside it stay on the loose around here.” He eyed me. “I don’t like that you don’t have any chest armor.”

“It’s one creature.” I lifted my chin. “I’ll be fine, and I’ll make sure I stay back.”