Page 29 of Under Her Command

But she did. More than she wanted to admit.

An hour passed. Then another. Victoria had hoped time would settle her nerves, but if anything, the van had gotten smaller.She was hyper-aware of every movement Isabel made. The shift of her legs, the way her fingers drummed idly against the console, the heat radiating off her body in the confined space.

At some point, Isabel reached for her phone, her fingers brushing Victoria’s where they rested near the radio. It was nothing. A fleeting touch.

And yet,Victoria felt it everywhere.

Her breath caught. Isabel didn’t move away.

Victoria should have pulled back. Sheshould have.But for some reason, she stayed right there, fingers barely grazingIsabel’s, pulse hammering against her ribs. The air between them thickened.

“Careful, Captain,” Isabel murmured, her voice soft butknowing.“You may give me the wrong idea.”

Victoria forced herself to pull away, turning back to the lot outside. “Focus, Torres.”

Isabel watched her for a long moment, then chuckled under her breath. “You’re really struggling, aren’t you?”

Victoria refused to answer. Becauseyes.She was struggling.

With the way Isabel smelled—something warm anddangerous. With the way she talked—like sheknewVictoria wanted her.

With the fact that right now,she did.

Sometime after two a.m., Isabel stretched again, rolling her shoulders.

“I don’t know how you do this,” she muttered. “Sitting still for this long. Feels like my bones are turning to dust.”

“You get used to it,” Victoria said.

Isabel smirked. “I doubt you’re used to beingthisclose to someone for this long without cracking.”

Victoria shot her a look. “You’re exhausting.”

“And yet,” Isabel murmured, leaning in just slightly, “you’re still here.”

Victoria’s breath hitched.

Too close. Too much.

For a split second, the world narrowed. Isabel’s eyes flicked to her mouth. Victoria’s resolve nearly broke. Then—a radio crackled. They both jerked back, the spell shattering as a voice came through the line.

“Movement near the lot,” Collins’ voice reported. “Unmarked van just pulled in. No visual on the occupants yet.”

Victoria exhaled sharply, gripping the radio. “Copy that. Hold positions.”

She barely registered what she’d said.

Because her pulse was still hammering.

Because she had almost—almost…She refused to finish the thought.

Isabel’s gaze lingered for a second longer, as if she knew exactly what had almost happened. Then she smirked, leaning back into her seat.

“We should do this more often,” she murmured.

Victoria didn’t answer. Because if she did, she wasn’t sure what would come out.

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