DESIRE ME IF YOU CAN [EN] - Chapter 22

***

Seeing Ezra, usually calm and steady, return with a flushed face, his colleagues were flustered.

What's with him?

“What happened? Why do you look like that?”

“Why did it take so long? Did something happen with that jerk?”

“What did he do to you? Tell us, we'll get him back!”

The team immediately surrounded Ezra, bombarding him with questions. Grinding his teeth, Ezra only glared in Grayson’s direction.

“That bastard messed with me. That's all.”

The hell does that mean?

The team was dying to know, but seeing that Ezra had no intention of elaborating, someone else finally offered a guess.

“He said he wouldn't come, didn't he? That's why you were forced to drag him here.”

“Correct.”

Ezra spoke reluctantly. To the teammates wondering how he finally convinced him, Ezra gave an honest answer.

“He was flirting with Beth, refusing to move an inch. I delivered the Captain's warning: if he doesn't show up, he's excluded from calls. He thought about it briefly, then followed.”

“Really? That worked?”

The teammates exchanged surprised glances.

“I thought he'd prefer staying in the office.”

“Yeah, didn't he come here to slack off?”

“Going on calls makes you look like a badass. The Captain had Miller figured out.”

“He's that type? Didn't see that coming.”

“He screws around with women every day; naturally, he needs to look impressive.”

“Ahem.”

While they chattered, Wilkins cleared his throat to get their attention. As the men fell silent, he looked up at Grayson and finally spoke.

“I called you here for a task, Miller.”

Grayson gazed down at him without answering. Assuming he was listening, Wilkins cleared his throat again before continuing.

“I don't know if you're aware, but we all became firefighters after passing rigorous tests. The field requires immense stamina and skill. You've got the build for it. But there's a huge difference between functional muscle and vanity muscles.”

He scanned Grayson’s body critically, frowning as if the man were merely decorative.

“Charging into a fire means risking your life. We are responsible for each other's safety. If you can't pull your weight, you endanger the rest of us. Do you understand?”

If he didn't get the point after that speech, he's a total moron.

“So.”

Grayson swept his hair back with a short sigh.

“The point is, you want to test my physical fitness?”

“Um, well, yes.”

If Grayson refused, claiming this wasn't agreed upon, there was nothing they could do. The Chief didn't even know about this.

In that case, they planned to call him a ‘coward’ or ‘show muscles.’ Even if Miller didn't care about such insults, refusing the test would essentially damage his reputation.

Wilkins hadn't lied. Since they entrusted their lives to one another, any firefighter unable to do their share would be weeded out. Being a woman was no exception; they underwent the same training and tests. Running away without proving himself would be a significant strike against him.

This will deal a huge blow to Grayson Miller.

Just as they all shared this thought—

“Understood.”

Grayson accepted easily.

“I just need to pass a fitness test? I'll do it.”

Wilkins smiled slyly. Naturally, they had a contingency plan.

“You just have to complete the course we've prepared. However.”

He paused for effect, turning around.

“Speed matters, so you're racing one of ours. Dane!”

At the beckoning finger, a man with reddish-blond hair standing far back sighed deeply. Clearly annoyed. Still, shrugging as if he had no choice, Dane walked forward sluggishly.

Grayson’s eyebrow twitched briefly. The other man possessed solid shoulders and a balanced physique, his red hair glinting in the sunlight. Dane stopped, his face displaying open irritation.

With two tall men standing in the center, all eyes focused on them. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Ignoring Dane's reluctance, Wilkins puffed out his chest.

“If you can beat Dane, we'll acknowledge you as a team member.”

“Ah...”

Grayson’s long eyes narrowed. Fixing his gaze on Dane's face, he slowly stroked his chin.

“Interesting.”

A flash of gold flickered within his deep purple irises before vanishing. Though he seemed to suppress his anger toward Dane, he couldn't hide the intensifying scent.

A heavy fragrance permeated the air. The thick, intense pheromones of an Extreme Alpha. The moment the scent spread, Dane’s expression shifted subtly. However, wrinkling his nose once, he lightly shrugged and turned back to Wilkins.

The group then headed to the prepared testing ground.

“Hah...”

Trailing at the very back, Dane sighed deeply. ...What a pain in the ass.

He felt a strong urge to claim he ate bad yogurt yesterday and fake a stomachache to escape. As if piercing through that thought, Wilkins looked back. Pointing to his own eyes and then at Dane twice, the Captain turned away. Defeated, Dane dragged his ass along.

***

A few hours earlier.

The rhythmic clanking of heavy iron echoed in a corner of the fitness room.

Lying on a bench, Dane slowly lifted dumbbells. Veins bulged along his long forearms; back and shoulder muscles contracted tightly. Sweat rolled down his forehead, but he continued his reps with a stoic expression.

Hearing the ridiculous scheme while training, Dane frowned deeply. Letting out a sharp breath, he rubbed the back of his head, protesting in disbelief.

“Okay, fine. But why me?”

Crossing his arms, his eyebrows twitched with irritation. His voice dripped with annoyance. Before the question even landed, Ezra answered as if waiting for it.

“Because you're the best.”

Another teammate chimed in immediately.

“We came up with this plan; can't let it be a bust. You have to do it.”

“Seeing that bastard just roll around on the ground isn't enough.”

“Right, we gotta humiliate him. That’ll knock him down a peg.”

“It has to be you, Dane.”

“Yeah, you've got the best skills and the only physique that rivals his.”

They swept the atmosphere in their desired direction instantly.

How was he supposed to deal with this bullshit?

Facing the unanimous pressure, Dane looked at Wilkins in disbelief. He spread his arms, palms up, asking what this was all about. Wilkins spoke with a solemn face.

“I agree with them. Since it's come to this, I need you to save face for the team.”

Then he added slyly, “Actually, this was my brainchild.”

Dane immediately leaned back, looking disgusted. As if he didn't even want to be near him.