"…sound off as I call your name," Sgt. Cruz commanded, throwing more force behind his already intimidating voice.

My mind began to wander again, wondering how I would make it through the next six weeks unscathed by my thoughtless actions. If even half of my brain had been with me that night, I would have never allowed myself to go to places I didn't normally go. I would have never allowed that dance session to take place, and I certainly wouldn't have allowed myself to get swept up in that kiss that I swore took my breath away. What the hell was I thinking? Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but in a military town I should have known better.

"… Private First Class Cassie Bennett." My name came out of his mouth, and I lifted my head ever so slightly to meet his hardened gaze, silently praying that I was unrecognizable to him.

"Here, Sergeant," I sounded off, turning my head away and catching a glimpse of Sgt. Jensen's face. Dammit. He recognized me almost instantly. His eyes lowered, and his face twitched, making me nervous as sweat beads began trickling down the back of my neck. I tried hard to remain calm, not wanting to look like a total ass in front of the entire class, but Jensen's gaze seared me on the spot, indicating that Sgt. Cruz would be next.

Now my heart was pumping overtime, beating to a very erratic drum. As I stood with my hands clenched, the sweat began pouring out, and I felt the sudden urge to pee.

Only I couldn't move because I was stuck under the watchful eye of Sgt. Jensen.

When I finally gathered up the courage to look back to Cruz, he was fixed on me, furious lust filling his eyes. My eyes locked with his, and even though they were hooded by the brim of his cover, I could feel the intensity his gaze poured into me, damn near stifling all of the air from my outdoor surroundings. I didn't know what to do or what to say as he stood there like a hungry wolf, ready to devour its prey. He had definitely recognized me, and all I could hope for was that we could move on like mature adults.

Cruz swallowed hard, accentuating the large Adam's apple poking out in his throat. He cleared his throat and continued on.

"Private First Class Angelica Ruiz," he bellowed out, annoyance seeming to seep into his voice this time.

"Here, Sergeant," Angelica called out, her smirk slowly creeping back in.

Cruz quickly moved on, not even bothering to look at her a second longer than he had to.

My skin began to tingle as parts of my body went numb, and I felt the color drain from my face. This was not a good situation I had found myself in, and I just wasn't sure how I was going to work my way out of it. I hadn't slept with my instructor, but I’d got pretty damn close.

"Be back here at zero eight with your binders," Cruz roughly commanded. The brashness of his tone brought feeling back to me, even though it should have done nothing of the sort.

"Yes Sergeant," we all yelled in unison, only I barely contributed since I was feeling weak and feeble. I mouthed it to make it look believable.

"Dismissed," he barked, standing almost directly in front of me with both hands behind his back. Our eyes locked again, only this time a sinister, seductive gleam went off in his, almost like the gaze he gave off at the bar. He didn't look away, and neither did I. His tall, muscular body was highlighted in his cammies, causing dark, enticing thoughts to scour my brain.

Sgt. Jensen walked up behind him and whispered something into his ear, finally breaking our stare down. He slightly turned his head to listen to what was being said then nodded, looking back at me with narrowed eyes before turning and walking off in the opposite direction with Jensen.

"Well, damn. If you haven't been fucked twice by Sgt. Cruz in only a matter of days," Angelica said, laughing wildly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play stupid. You've been dry fucked and eye fucked by that man."

"That doesn't even matter. We have jobs to do."

"Right. We have jobs to do, and none of these lustrous feelings you two have are going to get in the way." She laughed again. "Like I said, glad it was you and not me. For once, I'm happy I didn't get the guy."

"Right. Because your attitude all weekend proves how badly you didn't want him," I sarcastically retorted, annoyed by the fact that she seemed to be taking pleasure in my torment.

She rolled her eyes and walked off, leaving me standing there, pissed at myself and turned on at the same time. I looked at my watch and realized it was 7:30AM, leaving me only thirty minutes before I had to be back.

All feeling had come back to my body, leaving my nipples standing so hard from our intense stare down that they were beginning to throb. I kicked the cement pillar next to me, my boot making a low thud, hoping to let out some of the sexual tension and frustration that had crept into my body just a few minutes before. I ached with need, hunger and want.

And none of the three looked like they'd be quelled anytime soon. 

Chapter 3

Alex

"Fuck!" I yelled, anger touching on every nerve ending in me. How the fuck did I allow myself to get into this situation? As soon as I was back in my shared office, I yanked my now sweat slicked cover off of my head and heaved it onto the desk before violently thrusting my body down into my chair. Leaning my head back and shutting my eyes, I thought about that night and how I missed the fact that she was a Marine because I was too fucking drunk for my own good. Nothing good comes from being that plastered. Nothing.

"Shut this shit down now!" Jensen snarled, removing his cover and slamming the door behind him. His eyes were full of fury, and I couldn't blame him. I felt the same way. "What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking," I bit back, finally sitting up in my chair. "It doesn't fucking matter anyway. It didn't go very far, and that's where it ends."

"You're damn right about that," he quickly responded, taking a seat in his own chair.

The realization that I had just embarked on one of the biggest forbidden regulations in the Marine Corps made me sick to my stomach. I felt sicker than I had at Coyotes on Friday night. The walls felt as if they were closing in on me, and at any second I was going to throw up in hopes of quelling the sudden nausea that had overtaken me.

Fraternization was a serious offense, one that could derail everything that I had worked so hard for up to this point. Even though I had kissed her without knowledge of who she was, it didn't matter. If anyone said anything, especially with her being in my class, I could lose everything. I had to make sure that she--and her fucking friend--didn’t say a word.

"I have to get her out of my class," I lowly growled, standing to retrieve a bottle of water, downing the contents in one large gulp. My throat felt as if someone had shoved it full of glass shards.

"What? Why?"

"Because, I can't remain her instructor after what happened on Friday night. It's fuckin' awkward, man."

Jensen stood and walked over to me. "She remains in the class. If you go to First Sergeant and request that she be removed, questions will be asked, and you'll rat yourself out. Think, man!"

"I can't fuckin' think when she's around me," I bellowed out, growing more and more frustrated by the second. "My dick swelled up out there. How do you think I'll make it through six weeks of having to look at her every fucking day?"

"Because you need to remember that a pussy isn't worth throwing everything down the drain. You're about to pick up Staff Sergeant in six very short fuckin' years. That the oath you took when you swore to protect your country and the promise to uphold the morals and values of the Marine Corps means more than some chick who gets your dick excited." Thick, angry and over worked veins bulged from his neck as he spoke, his eyes filled with rage.