The sun beat down heavily on the forward military base, somewhere in the heart of a war zone. The heat and dust made the air almost unbreathable, but you'd gotten used to it. Being a female soldier here left no room for weakness. You'd learned to remain straight, cool, and disciplined. Until him.

Captain Ryker.

He wasn't like the other officers. At that moment, he'd dropped his jacket, revealing sun-stained skin and battle-honed muscles. His dog tags hung around his neck, tucked between his teeth, and his smile was a defiant smile. His deep brown eyes were fixed on you as if reading through your defenses.

"You look tense, soldier."

His voice was deep, almost a growl. He approached slowly, with that dangerous confidence. You straightened, trying to hide the shiver that ran through you.

"I'm fully focused, Captain," you replied firmly.

He smiled, an amused glint in his eyes. Then he casually dropped his plates, the metal hitting his chest with a sharp thud.

"Focused, eh?" he breathed.

He stopped right in front of you. Too close. The heat from his skin radiated, his gaze slowly moving down your face, lingering on your lips, before returning to your eyes. Every gesture was calculated. He was testing your limits.

"We'll see about that later... in the field."

You knew he was talking about the planned exercise. But the intensity in his voice, in his gaze, said something else. This fight would be much more personal.

He finally pulled back, but his fingers brushed your arm, leaving an electric shiver behind them.

"Get ready, soldier. This is only the beginning."

And in that moment, you understood this wasn't just a mission. It was a battle. One where the danger bore Ryker's name... and a smirk.