I managed to get into the staff quarters unscaved again. I headed straight for the shower block, desperately needing to get out of these wet clothes and to cleanse my hair and body.

I striped naked immediately and placed my wet clothes into a plastic bag tying it into a knot at the top and dumping it on the floor.

Then I opened the shower door and switched the water on to heat it up for a few seconds while I used the bathroom.

As I sat on the toilet I inspected the palms of my hands which still hurt from doing all of that body lifting up and down the ten foot fence.

Blisters had started form on the friction burns layering the surface of my skin.

Once I was done in the bathroom I opened the toilet door to be hit with the warm steam from the shower and I smiled to myself knowing how warm and luxurious this was going to feel after the day from hell I just had.

As I made my way to the shower the door handle started moving and I could hear the commanders voice talking to someone on the other side. I froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.

I was stark naked, inside a shower block that was strictly off limits. I was already on my first disciplinary and if I was caught in here then I would definitely be sent away.

I looked to the shower door, I could hide in there.

The commander would likely see and hear it's occupied then leave.

The door handle shook again, this time getting pulled down and as fast as my sore legs could carry me I opened the shower door and stepped inside.

"What the fu—" I slammed my hand over his mouth.

He looked like he had seen a ghost, shocked, pale, confused, angry. It was honestly the most human I had seen him yet.

In silence we stared at one another as the water fell over our bodies. I could feel his frantic breaths hitting my hand from his flaring nostrils. He must have entered the shower while I was using the toilet.

As hard as it was I managed to keep my eyes from travelling anywhere but his face but I did note he was still wearing his dog tags on a chain around his neck.

"Axel are you in here?" The commander called from behind the shower door.

I closed my eyes, screwing up my face tightly for how utterly bad I had just fucked up right now. I knew I was as good as dead but I had no choice but to release my hand from his lips and wait for him to rat me out.

He hesitated to reply, staring at me with alarmed eyes as if my face alone could offer him an explanation. Instead it only silently pleaded for him to protect me.

"Yes Sir." Axel replied, sounding a little startled.

"Okay son, let me know when you're done." The commander shouted and then the sound of the door filled the room once more.

Axel stared at me, only at my eyes of course and I stared at him. I could see him trying to understand what had just happened, or rather what was happening now but I could also see him coming up blank.

The warm water fell all around our bodies, it trickled from his hair and gathered in his eyelashes. The water soaked his lips and landed on the surface of his skin.

His naked, tattooed skin.

"Um..." I began, he blinked at me blankly.

"I swear to god Harper, if you're going ask me if you're in trouble for this then save yourself the bother because the answer is always yes. Fuck yes." I sucked in my lips and took a deep breath through my nose.

"Actually, I was going to ask..." he clenched his jaw with anger, "should I be casting my eyes downwards right now?" I bit back a smile at the horror on his face.

He clutched his hand around the water knob and turned it off. Reaching out and grabbing his towel. At first he went to wrap the towel around his own waist but then he sighed and handed it over to me.

"Cover yourself." He muttered displeasingly and then he stepped out of the cubicle.

I was torn between following him out and listening to the chastising or switching the water back on and continuing the shower that I came here for.

My hand hovered over the water lever, I was already in trouble so what's a few extra laps or push-ups.

I switched the water back on.

"What are you doing?" I heard him shout from behind the door. I ignored him, lathering the shampoo into my hair. "Get your ass out here now Williams or I'll slam you with another disciplinary."

I arched my back, dipping my head back into the water and letting the warmness cascade down my flesh. Then I grabbed the conditioner, repeating the same motion.

"Harper!" He protested. "If you don't step out of the shower right now I will come in there and drag you out myself."

I tipped my head back, rinsing all of the conditioner away. It was lavender scented and reminded me of my nanas garden when all of the flowers bloomed in the early spring. The soapy suds enclosed around my body and pooled beneath my feet. It made my skin have a mild sheen.

"Harper!"

I grabbed the shower gel, squirting a decent amount into my hand and slowly I glided my fingers over my body, caressing my skin in circular motions.

"I swear to god Harper, I'm calling the commander back."

I turned the water off, standing beneath the shower until my body had caught every last drop. I twisted my hair in my hands and waited until the rush of drips calmed down. Then I opened the door, reached my hand out for my own towel, wrapping it around my body.

"I'm sorry, did you say something? I couldn't hear you over the shower water." I blinked at him innocently.

He looked possessed, veins popped out of his forearms because of how tightly he clenched his fists. I honestly thought he was going to hit me at any given moment and I don't think he would have stopped there. Murder, perhaps.

He was fully dressed now wearing Nike sweats and a simple T-shirt. I ignored his glare and stood in front of the mirror combing through my hair.

"Are you fucking serious?" He roared. I looked back at him through the reflection, his face was very red and I'm not entirely sure if it was because of his anger or the fact that we had been naked and showering together only moments ago.

"For once" I said with a sigh, "can't you just pretend to be a nice guy?" His eyebrows raised suddenly in surprise and then something about his eyes softened.

"Tomorrow I'll do your extra laps, I'll do the push-ups. Whatever you deem necessary as punishment. Please just let me shower, change and dry my hair." He searched my eyes and I waited for his permission to continue.

"I could lose my rank for this." He finally said, sounding unsure about himself. Then he nodded, having made his mind up. "On one condition."

I waited patiently for him to continue.

"You show me the upmost respect at all times, especially when we're out in the field in front of everybody else. Don't back chat, don't refuse, don't argue. You follow my orders. You perform the drill to the best of your abilities. No questions asked. I don't want to hear a peep out of you, you fall in line instead of standing out from the crowd."

"I promise." I said with a grateful smile. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "I mean ... sir, yes sir." He pointed his head at the hair dryer, silently telling me to continue.

I glanced at him a few times in the reflection, he appeared to be deep in thought and no doubt full of regrets. Once I got done with my hair he turned away while I dressed.

"You can get back unnoticed?" He asked with interest.

"Sir, yes sir." He allowed me to see a small smile on his lips and it made my insides flutter.

I made him smile.

"You don't want to tell me how exactly?" He queried but I didn't want to tell him that because I knew he would put a stop to it immediately.

"Um... sir, no sir?" He laughed, and inside I felt like I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. He had such a sexy laugh.

"You go first and Harper?" I turned back to face him "you tell nobody about this." He warned. I simply nodded in reply.

Time to be the model solider, or at least try.