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Whiplash let out a laugh so loud it made others look our way. She leaned across the table to give Solo a high five.
“Good one.”
“I thought so,” Solo said as he leaned back in the booth and widened his straddle, fucking tease.
“Yeah, yeah,” Houdini grumbled as he mirrored Solo’s position. “I was just fuckin’ around.”
“Well, don’t,” Solo said in a tone that was much more serious than the conversation warranted. “I don’t like the idea of people touching what’s mine.”
Fuck, okay, that was seriously hot. I shifted on the seat beside him.
“What’s yours, huh?” Whiplash looked my way. “So this thing you two have going is serious? Not just some fun to blow off steam while we’re all stuck here on base?”
Like a deer caught in headlights, all thought left my mind. I stared across the table and tried to think of an appropriate response. I knew there was more between us than simple fuck buddies. But since neither of us had actually broached the subject at length, it was difficult to know just how deep our feelings ran, and this was the last place I wanted to have that discussion.
Solo apparently had no problem discussing it at all. His hand found mine under the table and he drew it up between his spread thighs.
“Oh, it’s fun, all right, and there’s definitely a lot of blowing going on. And other than kicking your asses at every opportunity I can get, I’d say this is the only other thing in my life I’ve ever taken seriously.”
Silence fell as Solo leaned over and brushed a kiss across my lips. When he pulled back, I felt a French fry hit my cheek as Houdini groaned.
“Oh, for the love of God, can you two quit? I’m gonna revisit my lunch.”
16 Solo
THE SHOCK ON Panther’s handsome face was worth the risk of putting myself out there and opening up in front of our friends about my thoughts on our relationship. As I settled back into my side of the booth and reached for my burger, I was happy to note that he was still staring at me.
We’d been skirting around this issue for weeks now, the “are we or are we not more than just a hot roll between the sheets.” While it was pretty obvious that the answer was a resounding yes, neither of us had started the conversation that would officially confirm it.
It was as if talking about it might somehow change the dynamics between us, might make one of us—or both of us—feel hemmed in. But fuck that shit. There was no way I could hide how I felt about Panther, and no reason I should. This thing we’d found together was real, scary, and totally amazing, and I wanted him to know just what I was thinking.
“Well, I think it’s great,” Whiplash said as she chomped down on another fry. “Maybe a little sketchy that the two of you are partners up there and down here. But I have to believe your dicks won’t get in the way of your competitive side.”
That seemed to get Panther’s attention. His head whipped in her direction, a frown between his brows.
“Of course it won’t. Is that what people think?”
Houdini shook his head and took another sip of his milkshake. “Nah. Only that tool Utah, but you already knew that.”
I nodded as I swallowed my bite of burger. “Yeah, but he’s a fucking idiot, so he doesn’t count.”
“Agreed,” Whiplash said, and then grimaced as she turned Panther’s way. “How’d your dad take all of this? I did not envy you two that night of the ball. I mean, I was so proud of you both, but shit. I would’ve been pissing my pants having to face down with Captain Hugh—I mean, your father.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. That night had been tense. Coming out to not only our fellow trainees but also Panther’s father had been a huge deal. Although that seemed forever ago now, and luckily there’d been no repercussions as far as I was aware.
“He’s fine,” Panther finally said. “He was shocked, but he just wants what’s best for me.”
God, I hoped that was true. But since neither of us had seen his father since that night, I was just going to have to take Panther’s word for it. He’d know if his father was on the warpath…right?
“That’s cool. I mean, what’s he gonna do?” Houdini said, with a raised eyebrow. “Forbid you two to see each other?”
Panther shook his head, but I could sense he was starting to get uncomfortable with all the personal questions.
“What about you two?” I said. “Talk about an unlikely hookup. I get there’s limited choices, Whiplash, but even my boy Gooch would’ve been a better option than this guy, don’t you think?”
Houdini scoffed. “What? Muscle man? I’m surprised he can fit in a cockpit.”
