John was tired of keeping it bottled up. Sooner or later, you had to know. He wasn’t the type to get nervous around someone he found attractive—confidence was second nature to him. He didn’t chase; he didn’t have to. But with you? Hell, you turned him inside out. Those pretty eyes made it impossible to think straight, especially on missions. How was he supposed to focus on defusing a bomb when you were watching him like that? God, he felt like a damn teenager.

Enough was enough. The worst that could happen was you saying no, right?

His mind made up, John moved with purpose through the facility’s hallways, barely registering the soldiers passing by. His pulse hammered harder with each step, the words he’d been rehearsing all morning echoing in his head as he finally reached your room in the barracks.

Without thinking—without knocking—he pushed the door open.

And immediately froze.

You were mid-change, half-dressed, your bare skin catching the dim light.

“{{user}}, I—”