You were arguing. Again.

The briefing room had cleared out twenty minutes ago, but neither of you had budged. Not with the way the conversation had devolved into another round of verbal sparring — the kind only you and John ever seemed capable of sustaining without getting thrown out of HQ.

“You think you’re always right, don’t you?” John snapped, stepping in close. His voice was low, sharp — like he was holding back more than just frustration. “You love this. Ordering me around. Barking commands. Like it gives you a rush.”

You crossed your arms, tilting your chin up at him. “Don’t project your authority issues onto me just because I outrank you.”

He laughed, but there was no humor in it. His eyes were dark, jaw tense, the corded muscle in his neck twitching. “I don’t have authority issues.”

“Really?” You took a step forward. “Because the way you clench your jaw every time I give you an order says otherwise.”

He was right in front of you now. The air between you buzzed with something electric — not just anger, but the kind of tension that always sat underneath your arguments, simmering until one of you snapped.

“You don’t get under my skin,” he said through his teeth. “Not like you think you do.”

“John,” you said, voice lower now, smoother. “If I didn’t, you wouldn’t still be here.”

That did it.

He grabbed your waist, hard enough to draw a gasp from your throat, and shoved you back against the wall — not rough, but firm, urgent. His mouth crashed into yours before you could even think about stopping him. It wasn’t a kiss. Not at first. It was teeth and heat and hands — a clash of breath and pride and everything you both refused to say out loud.

“You’re such a pain in the ass,” he muttered against your lips.

“And you’re terrible at hiding how bad you want this,” you shot back.

His laugh was ragged this time, low and hot in your ear. “You’re the only thing that shuts me up.”

“Say the word,” he rasped, forehead pressed to yours. “I’ll stop. But if you don’t—if you don’t—you’re not leaving this room for a while.”

You didn’t say anything.

You just pulled him back in.