Captain, my Captain (Ch. 1)

a contemporary romance book. Explicit content in following chapters

I felt like I was dead. Not literally, obviously, ‘bad weeds grow tall’ they say.
New name, new job, new house. Yeah, new everything. It was like I was killing my previous self to become Irving, the newest recruit for the popularly called ‘Secret Squad’.
Two days ago, around the same time as right now, I received an offer I couldn’t refuse (literally) from a department no one really believed existed. The ‘9th Division’.
I received that offer via email from the squad boss. Apparently, I met some of the requirements to get into his division, and they were short on people and blah blah blah.
To be honest, I haven’t exactly read the reasons why I was the one chosen for such a job, but I ended up having to accept the proposal, because 1: the raise was ridiculous (like, a 150%. What the actual fuck?). 2: they'd actually provide food and a place to stay (meaning I could sleep in and no need to spend money on those things). 3: it was a secret squad (who would think twice?). 4: they would possibly kill me if I didn't accept the proposal.
Creepy, right? But I wasn’t a scared little kid, so I did as my new boss ordered.
During my next shift, I messed up and disrespected my ex-current boss as much as I could and couldn’t, until he fired me (totally justified, by the way).
Then, all I had to do was stay at my old house, pack my stuff and wait until my new job sent me a vehicle to take it all to my new life. It took them a long 24 hours, time I guess they used to fake my death or something equally cool.
A sleek black car pulled up outside my place like I was in a spy movie. Only one man was inside. He took everything I had packed and put it in the car, making me follow him without a word needed. I was in awe, like, come on! It was so cool! I felt like a kid when I first got obsessed with samurais and would only wear black and run around the house with a stick trying to cut random things.
Once inside the car, he drove us the same way I used to take every morning for the last five years. We ended up in the same building I used to work at!
I couldn't believe the secret squad has been under our noses all this damn time. But oh well, at least now I know, suck it, Kevin!
The driver didn't say a word to me during the ride either, but it wasn't exactly necessary since a man was already waiting for me when I opened the car's door to leave. I looked around, not giving the man much attention. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful on my first day at work, but damn! That parking lot was NOT the same one I was used to parking my bicycle at, starting with the fact that it had actually functioning lights and didn't smell like dust and cement... Was that a Bugatti?!
"You must be Irving, welcome"
The man that was waiting for me spoke, calling my attention back to him. He was smiling without the eyes.
"Oh, yes! Hello!" I offered my hand for him to shake while looking at his chest for a nametag. Nothing. He didn't shake my hand either. "What's your name?"
"I'm Kyle. The Captain couldn't be present today, so I took charge to show you around. Don't worry about your luggage, Luka will take it to your room. For now, I'd appreciate it if you could follow me"
The man that drove me there started to move my things, so I just assumed he was Luka. I gave him a quick ‘thank you’ nod and followed Kyle. He called the lift and we went straight to the 12th floor... though I could swear the building only had 10. Was that really the same building?
Kyle stepped out and I followed right behind, looking around while trying to commit every detail to memory like an overstimulated puppy. It was clear to me that Kyle wasn't exactly enjoying the little tour (that hadn't even started yet), but sighing was a bit rude, even for an elite agent who probably had a ton of better, cooler things to do.
"So, if you stop shaking your head like a wet dog and look to your right, you'll see..." Did he finish the sentence? Probably, but my excitement and reaction time were at their peak. He said ‘right’, I was already getting inside the room. A good reaction skill I’d say. He soon followed me, annoyed tone could be heard in his voice "Don't go entering anywhere without permission, dumbass"
He didn't repeat where we were, but it wasn't necessary. A big dining room appeared in front of me, very less luxurious than you'd expect from a place that had a Bugatti in its parking lot, but still light years better than the one the 8th Division used. A big table occupied the center of the room, a simple cloth and around 16 chairs around it, an open kitchen with way more compartments than I’d have thought necessary.
It was empty, so I looked at him.
"Where 's everyone?"
"It's 9 A.M. Why would anyone be at the canteen right now?"
"Breakfast?"
"I see you'll have to create a very different routine to adapt to our schedules" He gave me two small, friendly pats on the back before turning around and leaving the room. I really considered asking him to let me take a break and enjoy some breakfast, but I considered the pat a small improvement in our relationship and didn't what to fuck it all up right at the begining.
"If you walk straight ahead, the first door to the left is our office. We'll go there later. Captain probably left your schedule for this first week on your desk, and I'll introduce you to everyone"
Oh! People!
"Why later? I could say ‘hi’ right now"
"Yeah, nice try, you puppy, but no. I can see already you getting distracted with the attention and distracting everyone else too"
I laughed. Has he figured me out already?
I looked at him as if asking for permission to go inside the next door, but couldn't really control my excitement. The room already smelled like a place I had so much familiarity with that I couldn't wait for permission at all. Sorry, Kyle.
I pushed the door open and he didn't sigh, a great sign. In front of me, the prettiest, biggest, best-equipped gym I've ever seen took place. It was just... WOW... If this new job wasn't heaven, I couldn't imagine what heaven looked like.
"As you can see, the gym. We normally have mandatory training every morning from 7 A.M. to 8 A.M. After work, you can use it as you wish" Yup, it was indeed heaven. They had everything a man could ask for, and the gym rat in me couldn't stop thinking about the new machines I had to experiment with. Damn, they even had a box ring... Was that a sumo ring?!
Get it together, man, you're probably drooling.
"So... as in as I wish... No need to sign a list to reserve the equipment? No time restriction? Just show up and...?" He nodded. Damn.
"Okay, you little freak, you can enjoy it later, let's continue the tour"
Next door, this time on the right, almost right in front of heaven... Yeah, fuck permission. I opened it.
"Infirmary. We have everything here for small injuries... If for some reason you need surgery, or if you're with someone who needs it, take them to the next floor. Just don't go there out of curiosity"
"Why not?" He had the audacity to look at me, top to bottom, with a small disgusted face, like he had just found a hair in his food.
"You don't look very clean..." And with that, he went to the next room, right beside the infirmary, "Spa, pretty useful after long missions or even longer sparring sessions"
I peeked inside. Not as big as the training room, but damn, I loved my new job already.
"And I can use it as I please, too?" He nodded. HE NODDED.
"But if you need a massage, you gotta schedule it 8 hours beforehand. And we only have space for two at the same time, so keep that in mind"
"Will do..." I followed the next door without waiting for a prompt. Locked
"This is the armoury. You'll get a key when you adapt to our system. For now, train only with your body" That's something I was ready to comply with; weapons weren't really my thing, besides my little samurai obsession as a kid, I liked to use the little guns I was born with: my lovely biceps. Nothing better than crushing an enemy with bare hands, right?
The next door was a shooting training room. Boring and stinky. NEXT! But the corridor ended there, with only one more door to the stairs. I looked at Kyle, intrigued.
"What?" He looked at me, probably dreading my expression.
"Is that all?" He frowned. How cute. That moment I realised I'd have a lot of fun making him frown like that.
"What else were you expecting?"
"I don't know... Maybe my room?"
"Oh, right..." He started going back to where we came, so I followed. "Our rooms are on the 11th floor. I'll take you to yours"
Stepping out of the lift, the corridor looked pretty similar to the one on the floor up. It was still the same building, of course. Secret squad or not, they couldn’t bend physics. But... would I have my own bathroom? A tub?!
My neck was starting to hurt as I looked left and right constantly, trying to find the door that would soon take me to my new apartment, but my excitement was soon cut short by a woman who had just stepped out of one of the rooms, by the end of the corridor.
My vision wasn't exactly 20/20, but I could tell the same instant my eyes lay on her that she was, indeed, pretty much my type. I was just more and more certain as she approached us. And there I was thinking that the place couldn't get better...
Had I paid more attention to the man beside me, I'd have seen him bowing politely, greeting the new character that just appeared out of nowhere. But I couldn't really take my eyes off her.
Perfect, sharp face, taller than the average woman, wavy brown hair, still wet, and, for as long as I could tell through all those clothes, a killer body. I soon extended my hand to take hers, not really waiting for any movement on her part to close the distance and bring her hand to my mouth, where I deposited a very charming and heart melting kiss.
"You crazy bastard!" My smooth flirting seemed to shock Kyle, which pulled me back through my shirt neck, making me release her hand as the distance grew between me and that hottie. Not cool, man.
"Kyle... Is that our new agent?"
The woman spoke for the first time, and how melodic it sounded. Velvety and sweet, with a little bit of spice. She didn't even bother to look at me, like I wasn't worth the time.
"Yes, Captain. This is Irving, I was just taking him to his room" My easy smile froze for a second. Did he say... Captain?
I couldn't help but chuckle. I mean, come on! It would be easier to believe that she was a masseuse or, I don't know, a model. Not the damn Captain of the secret squad. Yeah, right. I guess even the secret squad does freshman pranks. My chuckle called her attention for the first time. I swear I could see a hint of surprise before she hid it behind a perfect stoic face. Such big round eyes one me... I couldn't NOT talk.
"Nice try, very nice. What's your name, sweetheart?" I would have walked closer if Kyle hadn't held my shirt again. Again, not cool, the shirt was new.
"I'm Lilith”
“Adam's first woman? Damn...You sure look like a hell of a Succubus"
We stayed silent after that for a few seconds, like both of them needed to process my words.
"Excuse me?" She broke it first, her frown, incredulous expression became my favourite the same second.
My shirt neck received another strong pull, this time almost making me fall back. I looked at Kyle for the first time since that woman appeared, and he sure didn’t look happy.
“What?” I asked, getting a little bit annoyed with all the choking and shirt pulling
"What what, you idiot?This is our Captain, you're talking to! Apologize! NOW!"
Kyle looked as desperate as he sounded. Great actors, the secret squad had... maybe it's required for some missions.
"Come on, man” I pulled my shirt on the front, getting rid of his annoyed claws “I already discovered it all. Nice prank, but this cute little thing could never be the Captain"
I raised one arm and pinched her left cheek... so soft, I wondered how it would feel to bite it… She soon slapped my hand away, and maybe she knew exactly where to hit, but damn, it hurt.
"Irving, was it?" She didn't wait for my confirmation to keep talking. Yeah, I’m just that memorable. "Look, I don't usually care about how my men act as long as they complete their missions. But everything has a limit..." She stepped closer and tapped my shoulder once, twice, just to squeeze it painfully tight. OUCH?!
The pain soon went away when she let me go and kept walking away, towards the lift. But she kept talking until the door closed, like every second of what she’d say had been planned beforehand.
"Next time we meet, I’ll introduce myself properly, so I’m letting it slide. And Kyle, I gotta step out for today. His schedule is over my table"
And with those last words, the lift door closed. Leaving me and a very shocked/pissed man alone.
Kyle soon turned to me, clearly contemplating whether he should comment on it or not. I was faster.
"Truly, though. Who was she?"
"You can’t seriously be that stupid"
"I'm serious! She's hot as hell itself. And has a killer grip... Have you ever wondered how it would feel to have that grip wrapped around..."
"DON'T. Just don't finish that sentence. I already have enough things to talk about with my therapist... Let's go to the office now. I'll introduce you to those who are there and give you the schedule. And for the love of God, don't touch anyone or anything!"
“I was going to say around my shoulders, you pervert. What were you thinking?”
My smirk only grew when his face got redder, his teeth grinding. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder while laughing. What an amazing job it’d be.