Hello...

The following chapter is one of the reasons why this piece has a M Rating. So, if you're not interested or can't take the content please feel free to skip onto the next chapter. I promise to give future warnings as well.

Comments are of course welcome. Thank you for reading and extra thanks for those who are following the story!

Kim

Central steps off the bridge into the corridor. He stands feet from her quarters, he looks at the door and thinks perhaps he should just walk on past and continue with his evening, but that is the last thing he wants. She had been slightly cold the last time they spoke. He could feel she was annoyed with him. At least that is what she thought. He understood her better than anyone. Her frustration was with herself and until she realized that he would stand in as her punching bag. He didn't mind it, in fact he likes their sparring.

As he makes his final decision he looks up to see her step off the lift at the other end of the hall.

Holding back a smile he straightens up and steps forward to meet her. With a slight formal nod he greets her, "Commander."

"Central." She is stone-faced. Bradford wonders what it will take to ease the worry she has. She steps forward and the door to her quarters slides opens. "May I speak with you a moment?" She steps aside and gestures to the room before her.

"Of course," he says entering.

The door closes behind them as she walks past him. He places his hands behind his back and stands quietly at slight attention waiting for her. "I spoke with Captain Zhang this evening," she tells him. Bradford doesn't respond he has made his views clear on this subject; it is her prerogative as Commander to take his counsel or leave it.

She looks back at him, his silence bothers her. Talking with Zhang helped her see she was being foolish. Since Central had brought her back she had been so worried about failing him that she had forgotten the promise she made to herself back in the situation room the first day they meet.

"I owe you an apology, Central," she says. He holds his smirk back letting her continue, no sense in rubbing salt into this wound he thinks. No, that wasn't it. He wasn't so much right as he had had longer to come to grips with their situation than she did.

"For, Commander?" He asks as he watches her lean against the bench. Her legs stretched out in front of her and her hand resting on either side.

"Remember when we spoke about the day we met?"

He nods. Of course he remembers; he told her he had thought she was beautiful and that he had planned on asking out that gorgeous brunette if she hadn't been assigned to Mission Control. There was something about her even back then he thought, looking at her now.

"When you walked in the room, I knew who you were instantly. I had read your file, seen your profile picture. I thought with your long military service and your time under Ravel that you might have issue serving under me." She tells him.

"Commander, I would nev-"

She puts her hand up to stop him, "I know now you wouldn't. Back then I knew nothing about you, except what was on record. Standing there I made myself a promise that I would keep an open mind, in hopes that you would extend me the same courtesy. After twenty years of us working together I've broken that promise." He thinks of walking over to her and taking her into his arms, but he can't-she is his Commander now. She needs to say this, so that she can move on. "Back then I always trusted you when it came to the troops. I don't think I ever once second guess your recommendations." She crosses her arms. "I don't know why I'm starting now. You are the reason - you and Dr. Shen and the Spokesman are why there is still an XCom. Why there is anything here for me to lead. You pulled together this team and you believe in them." She tells him and he gives her a smirk. "And I believe in you. I'm sorry Central."

He smiles at her telling her, "Apology accepted, Commander."

They stand there in silence. The Commander looks at the CO still standing slightly at attention. He accepted her apology, but he hasn't relaxed or come to her. Perhaps he won't. She realizes that it's entirely possibly her behavior has damaged whatever it is they have started. Wouldn't be the first time in her life, but with him she thinks it will hurt a little more - especially now.

Bradford can see her thinking behind those grey eyes of hers. It has taken everything in him to stand there, alone with her this close to him and not take her in his arms, but he has to let her be the Commander for a little longer. To let her clear what was between them and yet he can still see worry in her brow.

As he walks to her and she slowly straightens up, getting to her feet. They stand close to one another, his hands still behind his back. He looks at her, giving her a sly smile and whispers "Commander?" and she feels herself tremble under his gaze. She can't understand how a simple look from him can excite her so.

She looks at him giving him her own little mischievous grin. He is that soldier in the situation room that first day when the Spokesman signed off leaving the two of them alone. He stood at slight attention, not knowing what to expect from her, this civilian. Her mind had started to wander again in those moments, wondering what he would be like between the sheets. Would he be cold and rigid or was there more to Central Officer John Bradford from Kansas then she could read in a military file? He waited for her lead as they stood there.

He does the same now twenty years later. The Commander leans in as close as she can, she whispers in his ear. Her voice is low and husky as she says, "Stand at ease soldier." He makes the necessary adjustment, slipping his feet further apart, he straightens his posture, bracing his arms fully back and moving his hands into place behind his back. He glances at her, feeling himself growing hard at her order. She is smiling in approval.

"Eyes front!" She orders softly and she sees his eyes snap forward. She slowly circles him, reviewing his form. She likes looking at his body, she always has. She would find herself missing whole bits of conversation with him in those early days just watching him. That damn uniform made her rely on her imagination quite a bit, until the day she caught him in the gym. He had amazing calves she thought - and his arms. Made her wonder what it would be like to be held by him.

He can hear her heels clicking on the floor behind him. He knows she's looking at him and it is arousing. She leans in as she comes around to his other side. He smells her perfume and feels her breath on his ear and neck. "Mmm...Very nice," she says when she finishes her inspection. Her voice is dreamy and he can hear the catch in her breath.

She walks away from him. Central is enjoying this. He glances down watching her ass before snapping his eyes forward as she starts to turn back towards him. The Commander looks him up and down letting her eyes rove over him. She feels herself getting wet just thinking of him. "It has come to my attention that things have become…" reaching up, she unbuttons the top button of her blouse, "...sloppy in my absence." She bites her bottom lip and undoes another button moving close to him again. He wants to be the one to bite that lip. "Would you agree Central?" She says, her lips just shy of touching his. She lets her hand slide up his chest - not touching him, hovering over an invisible armor that she has encased him in. She knows he wants that as much as she does - for her to feel him, for him to caress her.

"Yes, Ma'am," he replies dutifully. The sound of his voice stirs her. He hears a soft groan from her. She's aching for him, but she wants to play with him, tease him a little longer.

He can feel her heat, the sexual energy courses around them. He inhales her. Her scent is intoxicating, and his head spins a little. He lets his eyes refocus on a fixed point on the wall across from him, before she slips into his view blocking it. He sees the edge of her eye. As she blinks he thinks he can hear the flutter of his lash - everything about this moment is heightened. He exhales slowly through his mouth and then quickly inhales as he feels her hand touch his belt.

"I believe disciplinary action is required Central," she tells him in a tone equally seductive and commanding. He feels himself smirk within. He wants her now with every fiber of his being.

"Yes, Ma'am." No inkling of emotion, excitement - nothing.

Standing eye to eye with her CO, she unbuckles his belt. Her fingers moving deftly over the fastenings and the zipper. She loves his control, it spurs her on. She knows she will break before he does. She can feel her resolve already dwindling. She's desperate for his hands to be on her.

He feels her touch final as her hand reaching inside his uniform. She traces her fingers down the sides of his shaft with her palm gently pressing against the front of his cock through his boxer briefs. He throbs under her touch - it is his only movement. He stands ever still, never wavering at ease.

The Commander leans in pressing her breasts against his chest as she places a quick soft kiss on his lips as she pulls him from his briefs. She is quivering against him. He can feel it, her breathing quickening - her heart pounding in her chest against his. Bradford wants her and still he stands - letting her take him. She gives him a grin as she slips out of his line of sight. He feels her slide down his body, her hands on his thighs steadying herself. There is the feeling of warm breath on his cock. He does not close his eyes, keeping them fixed as she takes him into her mouth. He falters for an instant, letting an almost silent groan escape his lips. Her mouth is like soft velvet around him. Her tongue caressing the underside of his shaft and he hears her moan. No - he feels it, the vibrations around him.

Her nails grip his thighs through his pants. Oh God he thinks feeling his heart quicken. She sucks him gently - working her mouth to take as much of him as she can. Her lips tightly gripping him. His left hand squeezes his right behind his back and he lets out a moan.

She hears him this time and pulls him from her mouth ever so slowly. There is another soft groan from above - this time of disappointment. She rises to stand before him, wiping the saliva from the corner of her mouth. "Did you have something to say Central?" She says with a deep breath. Reaching up, her finger touches his ear and then traces down to the lobe to his neck and then down the sharp line of his jaw.

He softly gasps and answers "no Ma'am". He feels himself weakening but he won't let her have it. Reaching down she begins to hike up the fabric of her skirt. He feels the cloth brush the tip of his cock. "Stand easy," she whispers. She reaches behind him taking his hand and pulling it forward. She places it between her legs pulling back the fabric of her panties letting him touch her wetness. "We have an issue Central," she says panting as she rubs herself against his fingers.

The Commander pulls away and struts around the side of the bench. She looks at him gesturing for him to come and sit. He obeys without a word - his silence is sexy she thinks. He's always been the strong silent type. In her fantasies he would come to her at night, not saying a word, just taking her. She would dream he came up behind her, she would feel the rough wool of his sweater on her skin. Those strong hands, that she would watch tap at the terminals for hours in the sit room going over recruit records with her - they would be on her, touching her all over.

Before he sits, she slides his pants down slightly and then gives him a push to the bench. He looks up at her, he can see wildness in her eyes. Climbing on his lap she straddles him, placing her hands on his shoulders. She whispers in his ear, "Permission to touch Central." He has his orders. One of his hands goes up to the back of her head pulling her to his mouth, kissing her with such fervor. His other hand grasps her ass, pulling her against him, his cock slipping inside her - she moans into his mouth. Her body starts to move. She rides him, taking her pleasure from him with one hand gripping the cold metal bench and the other the back of his neck as he bucks against her.

He buries his face in her neck and hair, whispering "yes Ma'am" over and over urging her on. That voice - his voice, she has always loved hearing it. All that time hearing him in her ear on the comms, his whispers. Never sexual before, but always stirring her. She would touch herself at night to the thought of it, before she had the pleasure of knowing him like this. Would it shock him to learn she dreamt of crawling into his bunk back then?

That CO excited her as much as this one does. "Oh yes...Central, yes…" she moans to him. He carefully picks her up, and lays her on the bench. She reaches out and grips the edge of the table to steady herself. He draws her left leg in front of him, placing it against his shoulder as he enters her again. He grips her calf as he thrusts into her, eliciting a deep throaty moan from her lips. Holding her leg to him, he kisses the flesh.

She needs to come, her moans tell him, "Please...oh...please…" He feels her squeeze him. Looking down at her, seeing her head thrown back and biting her bottom lip. She looks up at him and they lock eyes. "Eyes front Central …" she moans through her teeth. He never looks away. His eyes make love to her as much as his body. She feels her orgasm grip her, crying out her hand reaches for him. He takes it and squeezes it as he comes with her, both of their bodies shaking from the release.

Now lying together in her bed, Bradford leans against the wall with a pillow behind his back, her head resting on his stomach. His fingers stroking her long chocolate hair. As much as he enjoys their lovemaking, he loves these moments, when they can just be. He touches her face feeling her soft skin. She looks up at him and smiles, taking his hand. "I'm sorry I was terrible before," she tells him. He grins at her.

"I wouldn't say terrible - difficult maybe." he chuckles. She rolls her eyes at him.

"I don't know what I would do without Bradford," she tells him, as her comm rings. Furrowing her brow she glances at the terminal before sitting up. It's late and she wonders if they tried to reach him and couldn't locate the CO.

"At least they waited until we finished this time."

She shushes him, then opens the audio comm and says, "Commander here."

"Sorry to disturb you Commander, but I believe I may have found something Mum." She glances over at Central who sits up slightly hearing Banks' voice. "You asked me to alert you as soon as I -"

"Yes, Banks. Very good. Report to my quarters in ten -" she looks at the CO again and realizes she will have some explaining to do. "Why don't you make it twenty minutes."

"Yes Mum. Banks out." the comm connection is severed.

Turning back to Bradford she says, "Let me explain."

"Of course Commander," he says and she knows she deserves that.

She had given Lieutenant Banks his assignment before they happened. She had her reasons for keeping it from him, but now... She is in for what she thinks is a well-deserved scolding. This is where the line between being his Commander and his lover blurs. She opens her mouth to answer and then rethinks her approach.

"What is Banks working on?" he asks getting up. He starts to collect his clothes, getting dressed.

"I asked him to help me look for some information about my abduction," she says, getting up herself.

"And you didn't think I could help with that?" He snaps back. She can see he is hurt.

"Bradford it was before -," she starts as she goes to him. "You had already done so much." She touches his face looking into his eyes.

"What has he been looking for?"

"He's been going through the communication archives looking for some - keywords I gave him." She tells him. "Once I found something I was going to tell - but until then I didn't want to worry you. You seemed upset with me when I first came back and I didn't understand what was wrong."

Bradford looks at her, "How could you ever think that?" He kisses her softly.

Giving him a look she tells him. "You do have your moments Central," with a soft smile. He knows he might have seemed put off when she first came back, but it was that damn chair and - well his guilt.

"And Banks - how did you -"

"Shen. I asked if there was someone outside the senior staff I could trust. She said Banks - he was your man."

"Apparently not," he quipped moving for his boots.

"Knock it off - it's because of his loyalty to you I could trust him," she wasn't going to hear this. "Banks was just following orders. Don't be angry at him, blame me."

He stands fully dressed. "Fine, but that doesn't -" he starts to argue with her and she goes to him quickly.

"Please -," she says to him placing her finger to his mouth. "I need to know why they did this to me." She searches his face looking for understanding.

He takes a deep breath, "alright - but moving forward you tell me." She smiles at him and mouths thank you then leans in and kisses him on the lips. Closing his eyes he lets go of his anger and takes her into his arms.
They rest their foreheads against one another. "Anything else I should be aware of?" He asks giving her an uneven smile.

"Well -" she says and he sighs. "I asked him to expand his search to include you." She says quickly, hoping it would be like pulling off a bandage. "He doesn't know any details not even about me." He looks at her, keeping his temper in check. "I asked him to look at intel or communications in 2019. Anything in general that mentioned you, Vahlen and Project Lilith. Bradford, we need to know what it is and what her involvement was." He looks at her knowing she's right. He nods and holds her a little tighter for a moment.

"You better get dressed. You only gave me twenty minutes to be angry at you." She laughs and kisses him again.

When Banks enters the Commander's quarters he is surprised to see his CO leaning against her workstation arms folded across his chest. He glances nervously at the Commander.

"It's alright - I brought Central up to speed on what I asked you to work on, Lieutenant."

He starts to explain he had taken the new period she had given him and started to search the region for references of the CO, Dr. Vahlen and the project. "I found a communication referring to her in June 2019." The Commander glanced at Central. He gives her a confirming nod. "The transmission noted a set of samples being transferred from a temporary facility to the Chicago area - well specifically an ADVENT facility in Downers Grove." He stops for a moment before continuing on. "The way it reads it is unclear if they were from her or pertaining to her. The local resistance picked it up and attempted to intercept but were unable to take possession of the package, Mum." He shows them the transcripts of the communications. "The package was tagged as 'primary'. So I started searching for that, which - well it's a bit too general."

"Did you -" the Commander starts to ask.

"I did Mum," he says quickly, cutting her off. Central clears his throat, reminding the Lieutenant of his place.

"Sorry Commander."

"Its fine, go on," she glances at Bradford raising an eyebrow. He uncrosses his arms and stands up moving next to her.

"I combined it with Lilith to narrow the search," Banks tells her.

"And?"

"Nothing-" She sighs heavily. He quickly continues "For eleven months, Mum. I'm positive that the use of the word 'primary' is different in this transmission then the original, but it did get the result we were looking for."

"What was the transmission?" Bradford asks the officer.

"Yes, Sir. It simply read- Primary Lilith Extraction Complete," Banks says nervously.

"The source?" Bradford presses on.

"The source was the Downer Grove facility but the recipient is unclear." He looks up at him from the Commander's chair. "I'm still searching for references of the project going forward from that point, Sir."

Bradford glances at the Commander. She doesn't know what to make of it. Central steps aside giving Banks room to get up. "Good work Lieutenant," he tells him. Banks smiles weakly, feeling that the CO doesn't exactly approve of his involvement. He felt his disapproving eyes on him since he entered the room. He takes his leave with the Commanders thanks.

"What do you think?" she asks Central once they're alone.

He sits down on a bench and leans back, "I don't know. The message about the samples and the extraction could be completely coincidentally."

"If not for the Doctor's subscript about Lilith in your file," she reminds him as she walks up behind him. She starts to rub his shoulders.

"He still hasn't found anything more about you? And your abduction?" He asks as he lets his head fall forward as she rubs his neck.

"No. Nothing- yet," she says in a whisper.

"You believe he will though?" He says with a groan of pleasure. He closes his eyes, enjoying what she is doing with her hands.

"I do. We just need to find the right words."

He reaches back and takes her hands, pulling her forward against him. He holds them against his chest. "All this is secondary to the Blacksite, of course?"

"Of course," she repeats.