Free In His Sights (Don't Tell) by Rie Warren

seconds interval, appearing as any other regulation soldier when she flashed her ID.
    “Special detail. Doing the charity-thing for our citizens tonight. I’ve got MREs in the back to deliver.”
    When she was let through without questions, she stomped on the gas, roaring out of the Quad. The sectors sped by, each defined by how much destruction they’d taken. Nerves prickled across my skin like needles pushing into my pressure points as we drove farther and farther away from Mayce. I didn’t know if this was a rescue op or another new level of torture.
    “Where are you takin’ me?” I pushed my face forward over the front seat.
    “I told you to shut your trap, pretty boy.” Veering around sandbags and swerving through roadblocks, she mumbled, “Stupid. Asinine. Just need a little help , he said.”
    The vehicle stopped at the unguarded gate I’d shown Mayce before, the first night I’d taken him outside. When I’d known I loved him.
    “That wasn’t half as dicey as I expected it to be. Damn.” The woman hopped out and hauled me from the back. “ Just a career-ending move , he didn’t mention.”
    She released my wrists from the cuffs that had marked me with deep fresh cuts. “He who?” I asked, not daring to hope.
    Twisting her strawberry blonde hair into a tight ponytail, she pointed behind me. “Him, who.” She scuffed her boot on the ground, grinning. “Asshole.”
    “Nice moves, Darwin. But we’re not out of the woods yet.” The deep husky voice caused vibrations to sing through my body. Then the man’s hand appeared, grasping my face, a red string tied around his fourth finger.
    “You mean you’re not in the woods yet,” she sassed back.
    I ignored her to turn to my captor, my savior, my lover. I dragged his hood off, crumpling against him. “Mayce.”
    “I’ll never let anyone hurt you again, Hawke. Fuck!” His arms wrapped around me.
    I felt his wet tears and his warm lips, the profound solace of his strong body. All the living, breathing sensations I thought I’d lost forever. His mouth found mine in the gentlest whisper of a kiss.
    “Okay, boys, how about giving a girl a chance here?”
    We broke apart only to stare at each other, hands never stopping touching. Need for more than these soft caresses was on the horizon.
    “Ahem. I’m standing right here.” The woman crossed her arms over her chest.
    “Who’s that?” I asked, murmuring against Mayce’s neck.
    “Don’t worry, she’s a friendly.” He stationed me against the Cruiser and made his way over to her. “Are you coming with us or staying, Darwin?”
    “I think I can do more good on the inside.”
    “You mean more damage.” Mayce knuckled her head.
    She grinned fiercely. “That too.”
    “You’ll guard your back?” He hugged her.
    “I’ll do better than that. I’ll kick some ass for the Revolution.” With one last look and a final salute, Darwin hopped into the vehicle. The Cruiser disappeared from sight, fishtailing into the depths of the Territory.
    My ankle hurt, my many cuts bled. Mayce took most of my weight as I hobbled outside of Alpha. I hadn’t been permanently maimed, but I sure wasn’t pretty.
    The enormity of what he’d done, the crime he’d committed to save me made me halt. “You know what you’re doing? You’re a traitor now.”
    “No I’m not. I’m a freedom fighter.” Tension rolled across his shoulders, no matter what he said.
    “You can turn back.”
    He hauled me against him, quietly apologizing when I flinched because of the bruises littering just about every part of my body. “Are you dense, Hawke?” For the first time in over a week, his mouth slanted unforgivingly across mine. Hypnotic hunger arced between us. He pulled back, his thumb passing over my lips. “Number one: fuck you. Number two: don’t ever try to take the fall for me again. Number three…” His voice lowered, his fingertips skating softly over my body until he held me tight. “Don’t you ever