Page 31 of Under Her Command

They pulled up in front of her apartment. Isabel unbuckled, glancing at Victoria.

“Well,” she murmured. “That was fun.”

Victoria exhaled. “Go get some sleep, Torres.”

Isabel hesitated. The thought of letting this moment end felt nearly unbearable. Before she could think twice about it, Isabel grasped at this opportunity with both hands.

“Unless,” she lowered her voice deliberately teasing, “you want to come upstairs.”

Victoria’s hands flexed against the wheel. She didn’t answer right away. She looked at Isabel. Really looked.

And Isabel thought—this is it.Leaning further into the car, Isabel threw out one more line, praying that Victoria would bite.

“I’ve got a brand new bottle of whiskey. Jameson.”

Victoria’s eyes widened before she quietly, as if only to herself, admitted, “That’s my favorite.”

Isabel felt a lick of fire at the admission. She hid her pleasure with a smirk and simply replied, “I know.”

Victoria’s hand hovered over the gear selector as she leaned further toward Isabel. Isabel shifted closer, breathing deep. The warm scents of leather and amber filled her lungs, swarming her senses. She wasso close.

Before she lost control and dragged Victoria across the seats, Isabel reminded herself,Make her come to me. Using the last shreds of her restraint, Isabel straightened and quirked an eyebrow.

Victoria’s voice came out shaky and quiet. “Just one drink.”

Excitement flooded through Isabel, making her skin tingle and her head light. Her smile widened as her heart began to pump faster. She was the wolf, and her lamb was timidly stepping forward.

Nodding with reassurance, Isabel responded. “Just one drink.”

Victoria sighed as she threw the car in park. Isabel silently watched every minute movement she made, marking each breath closer to having Victoria inside her apartment. When the driver’s side door opened, Isabel moved around the front of the car. By the time Victoria had one foot on the ground, Isabel was standing in front of her, hand outstretched.

Victoria didn’t take Isabel’s hand.

Not at first.

She hesitated, her fingers hovering in the air like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to cross this line. But Isabel could see it—theway her chest rose and fell just a little too fast, the way her hand twitched like she was fighting herself.

Isabel didn’t move. Didn’t push.

Come to me.

And after a breath—just one—Victoria did.

Her palm met Isabel’s, warm and dry, and Isabel squeezed gently before stepping back, leading the way toward the building entrance. She didn’t look back to see if Victoria followed. She knew she would.

The walk to her apartment felt electric. Every step, every breath, every inch of space between them was charged. Simmering. The elevator ride up was torturous. The space was small, the air thick, and Victoria didn’t look at her once. But Isabel saw the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands flexed at her sides.

She wanted to ask—Are you afraid of me, Captain?

But no. Not yet.

Let her come to me.

When they reached the apartment, Isabel unlocked the door and stepped inside, flicking on the lamp by the couch. The soft glow illuminated the room, warm and intimate.

Victoria hesitated on the threshold.

One last chance to walk away.