Page 17 of Triton

“No, Instructor Walsh,” they yelled in unison.

Ha. Control, Pat had complete control over them. Pretty soon, it would be my turn to be their master.

We walked past the men, and I led her to the beach overlooking the “O” Course. A group of SEAL trainees was practicing their obstacles. We sat on in the sand. The competing sounds of cars whizzing by on the nearby road and the crash of the waves against the shore stirred in myhead.

“Wow. This is so cool! Thank you for taking me here. I’ve read about the course and seen videos, but it’s so awesome to see up close.”

“Thought you would like it. I became a man on this course. It’s harder than it looks.” I pointed to my nemesis. “That fucking obstacle, Dirty Name, almost cost me my Trident. It doesn’t look that challenging, but if you don’t jump at the right angle, you are screwed.”

She exhaled. “Well, I’d love to tryit.”

Ha. That would be the day when a woman could master our course. Even an athlete like Aria. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll let you take a crack at it sometime.”

She licked her lips and leaned into me. “But what if I’m a badgirl?”

“Then I’ll definitely let you try it.” My hand moved slowly through her windblown hair, and her head tilted. I leaned in as the sunset beckoned me to her lips. Claiming her hot sweet mouth, my tongue tangled with hers, and she tasted like pure bliss.

It was the type of kiss that could get me through a long deployment.

I’d kissed many women in my life, but something told me that this would be a lip lock that I would remember for the rest of mylife.