A/N: I'm not looking for any art. I'm not looking to make any money on these. I do these for fun and well, boredom. So please stop reaching out regarding art. This is just for me to get my thoughts out and tell a very mediocre story about the two characters I really adore. Thank you.

Chapter 2

I moaned as warm lips pressed against my neck, lingering at my pulse point, sucking just enough to send a shiver down my spine. God, they were so soft, so warm. My body instinctively leaned into the touch, tilting my head to the side to grant more access. My hands found their way to a toned back, nails grazing skin, feeling the steady rise and fall of deep breaths.

Golden strands tickled my shoulder, the familiar scent of shampoo mixed with the faintest hint of perfume making my head spin. Everything felt right in this moment—right, in a way I hadn't felt in months. It smelled fruity and flowery and something really warm and joyful. I couldn't put my finger on what that scent was but it was comforting.

Then a voice broke through the haze.

"Baby, wake up."

My breath hitched, and my body tensed. The voice wasn't right.

I opened my eyes, and my stomach twisted into a tight knot. Blue eyes stared back at me, but they weren't the ones I thought they would be.

The sudden wave of nausea that hit me wasn't just from the hangover. My mind scrambled for an excuse, something that would make this moment less of a disaster. But then I glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand.

4:17 AM.

Shit.

Less than forty minutes to get home, shower, change, and drive to Arizona's place for my morning shift. Arizona? She and I are not on a first name basis. I'm bodyguard C. Torres to her and she's just a client who I have to protect.

I sat up so fast my head pounded in protest. Jesus Christ, Callie, how much did you drink last night? The room tilted slightly, but I forced myself to move, gathering my clothes as quickly as possible.

"Erica, let's pick this up later, okay?" I said, forcing my voice to sound casual as I reached for my jeans. "I'm running late."

"You're always running, Callie."

Her voice was sharp, cutting through the thick air between us. I didn't have to turn around to know she was propped up on one elbow, watching me with that same unreadable expression she always had when she was trying to figure me out.

"You ran to the Marines," she continued, voice lower now. "Then you ran right back out—"

"I didn't run out—" I snapped, cutting her off as I yanked my shirt over my head.

She let out a dry laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You didn't even tell me you were back."

Her words should've made me feel guilty. Maybe a part of me did feel guilty. But I was too focused on finding my shoes, too busy cursing myself for being so reckless last night. Why the hell did I let myself drink that much? I already knew what I was like when I drank too much—reckless, impulsive, stupid.

I found one shoe, then the other, shoving my feet into them before searching for my keys. They weren't in my jeans pocket. Not on the nightstand either.

Then I saw them.

In Erica's hand.

"Talk to me, baby."

I froze for half a second. Baby.

The word made me cringe, and I prayed she didn't see it on my face. That word wasn't hers to say anymore. It hadn't been hers for a long time.

I reached for the keys, but her fingers curled around them before I could grab them.

"I'm late," I said, trying to keep my voice light, normal, like I wasn't standing here regretting everything about last night. I forced a smile, even though it felt tight and fake. "I'll call you tonight, okay?"

We both knew that was a lie.

For a moment, she just looked at me, and something in her eyes told me she knew the truth—the same way I did. That I hadn't been here with her last night. Not really.

But she didn't say anything. She just let out a quiet sigh and slowly uncurled her fingers.

I snatched my keys and was out the door before she could change her mind.

By the time I reached my car, my hands were shaking, and my stomach was still twisted in knots.

I was about 99% sure I had just slept with Erica while wishing she was someone else.

I needed to snap out of this.

As I drove home, my hands clenched the steering wheel tighter than necessary, my jaw locked as I tried to force the last three hours out of my mind. Erica was a mistake. A big one. One I shouldn't have made, especially when I knew exactly why I'd ended up there. It wasn't about Erica.

It was about Arizona.

I exhaled sharply, pressing my foot harder against the gas pedal as if speeding through the empty streets of early-morning Seattle could outrun the thoughts clawing at my brain.

Arizona Robbins is just a client.

Tim's baby sister.

I was doing this for him. Because I promised him.

He was going to wake up. He had to.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, my grip on the wheel tightening further. It was easier to focus on the mission—on my duty—than to think about the fact that he was still unconscious in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines keeping him alive.

I remembered the promise I made him before he left. 'If anything happens to me, protect my baby sister. Keep her safe.'

I had laughed at the time. Nothing's gonna happen to you, Tim.

I should have known better.

Tim had uncovered something—something big, something dangerous. I had received his message, the heavily coded transmission that made little sense at first, filled with debris and digital distortion. But I'd pieced together enough to know an attempt had been made on his life. Because of what he found out.

And I knew exactly how his enemies would come for him next.

Arizona.

She was the only civilian in the Robbins family. Even their mother had served—back when Tim was a child, she'd worked as a nurse on the bases we grew up on. But Arizona? She was innocent. A civilian. A good person. She had no idea what kind of world her brother had been operating in. No idea that someone out there wanted her dead.

And I had to make sure that didn't happen.

The problem?

I hadn't expected his sister to be hot.

I hadn't expected her to be beautiful.

I definitely hadn't expected to be so damn drawn to her.

I exhaled sharply and shook my head, forcing my focus back onto the road. It didn't matter. She probably wasn't even gay. And even if she was, it wouldn't change anything. I wasn't here to get involved. I was here to protect her. That was it.

I pulled into my driveway and shut the car off, rubbing a hand down my face. My entire body ached with exhaustion, but there was no time for that.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately heading for the bathroom. Stripping out of last night's clothes, I turned the water on as hot as it would go and stepped under the spray. The scalding heat burned against my skin, but I welcomed it. I needed to wake up. I needed to clear my head.

Arizona wasn't just some girl I was interested in.

She was Tim's baby sister.

She was off-limits.

I shut my eyes, pressing my hands against the shower tiles. I had to be sharper than this. Focused. Alert. Because if Tim was right, if the people he had been investigating were still after him, they wouldn't stop just because he was in a coma. They'd come for Arizona, and I needed to be ready.

I finished quickly, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around my waist. As soon as I caught my reflection in the mirror, my breath hitched slightly.

I barely recognized myself.

My hair was still damp, but the short cut made it easy to slick back with some gel. It was practical. Necessary. Pretending to be a guy had been the easiest way to get close to Arizona without suspicion to blend in, be her bodyguard. I could blend in, disappear into the background, and do what I needed to do. The Robbins could never find out about my real identity or why I was protecting her.

If they did, it would put all of us in even more danger.

I grabbed a fresh roll of ace bandages, wrapping them tightly around my chest before securing them in place. The pressure was uncomfortable, but just like my hair its something else I need to get used to. Once I was dressed—a crisp white button-down, some loose slacks, boots—I reached for my pack, making sure everything was where it needed to be before tucking it into my waistband.

It was stupid.

But necessary.

I could never be too careful.

I grabbed my black sunglasses, slipping them on before heading back to my car. By the time I pulled onto the road, the sun was starting to rise, casting a pale golden hue over the skyline. The city was waking up, but my mind had been running all night.

The Robbins family was already under surveillance. I had seen the signs—subtle shifts in the patterns of people on their block, unfamiliar cars parked too long in the same places. I wasn't the only one watching Arizona.

But the difference was, I wasn't planning on hurting her.

The others?

I wasn't so sure.

My hands tightened around the steering wheel as I pulled up to her house. I had no idea if she would even be awake yet. But I needed to be here. I needed to make sure she was safe.

I exhaled one last breath, willing away the tension in my chest, and stepped out of the car.

Time to work.

I arrived at Arizona's place a minute before I had to, just in time to relieve the night shift bodyguard. He was the only other person besides me assigned to her, covering the graveyard shift from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.—the only free time I was allowed away from her. Every other moment, she was my responsibility.

Our transition was seamless. He gave me a silent nod, then walked off, disappearing into the morning darkness. I took my post, adjusting my sunglasses before slipping my earpiece into place. I had it hooked up to the police radio, tuned into any criminal activity happening around Arizona's home or workplace.

Most people wouldn't notice the things I did.

The unmarked cars that lingered too long in the area. The occasional flicker of movement across the street when there shouldn't have been anyone there. The subtle feeling of being watched.

I didn't like it.

It meant someone else was watching her too.

I entered her apartment and secured the door behind me, instinctively double-checking the locks. I moved through her place with quiet efficiency, checking every window to ensure they were sealed. My hands grazed over the closet doors, pressing them lightly before opening each one to clear them.

Just as I was finishing my routine sweep, I heard it—a soft plea.

My body tensed, my senses kicking into high alert.

I reached for my gun, flipping the safety off in one smooth motion. My pulse remained steady as I listened, the sound coming from Arizona's bedroom. It was muffled, but distinct.

Voices.

I didn't draw my weapon yet, but I moved carefully toward the door. My breath slowed, my muscles coiled. I reached the knob, twisting it open just enough to see inside.

And then—oh, fuck.

Arizona was sprawled out naked on her bed, her golden hair splayed over the pillows, one of her hands flicking her champagne pink nipples while the other interlaced with the dark head of hair in between her thighs leaving her body exposed in the dim morning light. And between her legs, a woman with dark, shoulder-length hair was going down on her, her hands gripping Arizona's thighs as if she had every right to touch her like that.

My brain short-circuited.

Jesus. Shit. I slammed the door shut, stepping back as if I'd been burned.

"GET OUT, YOU CREEP!" Arizona's voice cut through the air, followed by a loud thud—probably something being thrown in my direction.

I let out a breath, turning my back to the door, putting the safety back on my gun. What the fuck had I just walked into?

I saw Arizona naked. I had seen her naked. And not just naked—naked while someone else was making her come undone.

My face burned. Shit.

The bedroom door flew open a moment later, and the woman with dark hair stormed out, dressed haphazardly, her face flushed with frustration and embarrassment. She barely spared me a glance before throwing her hands up.

"You could have told me you have men guarding your place!" she spat over her shoulder at Arizona.

Arizona groaned from inside her room. "I don't! This is just—this is some stupid thing my father is pulling, okay? Please don't leave—"

But the woman wasn't having it. "Yeah, well, this is fucking humiliating. A complete stranger just saw me—" She gestured vaguely, shaking her head before bolting for the door.

Arizona groaned louder. "Ugh!"

The door slammed behind her, leaving only silence in its wake.

I exhaled, running a hand down my face. Well, that just happened.

A few moments later, Arizona emerged from her bedroom, now wrapped in a fluffy pink robe. Her face was still flushed, though whether it was from embarrassment or anger, I wasn't sure.

She crossed her arms over her chest, eyes burning into me.

I cleared my throat. "I—uh—sorry."

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Did you seriously just walk in on me?"

"In my defense," I said, keeping my face blank, "I thought someone was attacking you."

Arizona groaned again, rubbing her temples. "I can't believe this."

I shifted on my feet, keeping my gaze anywhere but on the expanse of smooth skin peeking from the folds of her robe. "I should have knocked." Even thought I knew I shouldn't have knocked, even thought I knew it could have easily been an intruder, but my head kept playing the naked images of Arizona in my head.

"No shit," she snapped.

I resisted the urge to smirk. Even when she was mortified, she was kind of adorable.

No, she is a client. She is Tim's baby sister!

"Look," I said, more serious now, "I'm here to protect you. That means I have to check for threats. I didn't expect to find…" I gestured vaguely toward the bedroom.

Arizona's cheeks darkened.

A beat of silence stretched between us before she exhaled heavily, waving a hand. "Fine. Whatever. Just—next time, can you at least try not to scar me for life?"

"Yeah. Sure," I said.

But what I didn't say?

I was already scarred for life.

Arizona stormed into the kitchen, her pink robe swishing around her legs as she opened the refrigerator with a little more force than necessary. She grabbed a bottle of water, twisting the cap off with a quick flick of her wrist before spinning around to face me.

"You talk?" she asked, her voice sharp and demanding.

Shit. My stomach dropped. I hadn't even realized I'd spoken earlier. Had I slipped up? Had I just given away my identity? My mind raced through the last few minutes, replaying every word I'd said.

I stayed quiet, hoping she'd let it go.

She didn't.

"Don't be silent now, Connor!" she snapped, taking a step closer.

I blinked. "What?" I said in a deeper voice. Fuck! If I'm talking to her I gotta keep this facade up.

"C. Torres," she said, her tone dripping with accusation. "You won't give your name away, but I'm not stupid. You've been following me for over a week now. So I'm going to try a couple of names that start with a C until I find a one that fits."

My throat tightened. She was sharp—sharper than I'd anticipated. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but her piercing blue eyes were locked onto mine like a laser.

"I'm not following you," I said firmly, though the words sounded weak even to my own ears but I'm going to try to dodge her trying to zero in on my name. My name was not common, but it wasn't unusual either. But I guess if she's thinking boy names only she not going to find out my name. She never will.

Arizona laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, really?"

I shifted my weight, debating how much to say. "I'm your bodyguard," I reminded her, keeping my voice calm.

"Bodyguard," she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what we're calling it? Okay."

Arizona crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "Then what is happening? Because from where I'm standing, you're not just some random guy hired to protect me. You know things—about me, about my family. And now you're slipping up, talking to me like we've had conversations before. So why don't you tell me the truth, Cameron? Cassie?"

I froze, my jaw clenching. She was too close to the truth, too close to unraveling everything I'd been working so hard to keep hidden.

"Look," I said finally, carefully choosing my words. "I'm here to do a job. To keep you safe. That's all you need to know."

Arizona's eyes narrowed. "That's not good enough. I know Cassie is a girl's name but I was feeling it out. Kinds suits you not gonna lie," she said as she stuck her tongue out.

I wanted to say something to that but Callie and Cassie sound too alike so I'm going to keep my mouth shut instead.

She took a step closer, her frustration rolling off her in waves. "Why are you so secretive? Why won't you tell me anything about yourself? Do you even have a real name,?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she just stared at me, as if trying to read my mind. Finally, she sighed, shaking her head.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered. She turned away, taking a long sip of her water. "You know, I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask for a bodyguard. I didn't ask for someone to barge into my life and make me feel like a prisoner in my own home."

Her words hit harder than I expected. My heart broke

"I'm not here to make your life difficult," I said softly.

She glanced over her shoulder at me, her expression unreadable. "Then what are you here for?"

To protect you. To honor Tim's last wish. To make sure nothing happens to you.

But I couldn't say any of that.

Instead, I said the only thing I could.

"To do my job."

Arizona sighed again, her shoulders slumping. "Fine. Do your job, then. But maybe next time, knock before you come barging into my room, okay?"

I nodded.

She gave me one last look before turning and walking away, leaving me standing in between her kitchen and the bedroom, my where together in front of me.

I stared front, my chest tight.

This wasn't supposed to be this hard. Keeping her safe wasn't supposed to feel like this. But every time she looked at me with those piercing blue eyes, every time she spoke to me, I felt the walls I'd built around myself cracking. She was a client.

And that terrified me more than anything.

"I'm gonna go shower and get ready for work. For what worth, you have a really nice voice Cal!"

I froze. My friends called me Cal from time to time but she could not have known that.

"No Calvin doesn't suit you."

A/N: Sorry for the late update. The next one might take a long one too, I've just been a bit busy and not 100% sure what direction I want to take these in, but I will finish this and it will be a Calzona story.