Some might’ve seen that as running, but I saw it as self-preservation. The guy was dangerous to my well-being. Not to mention my living. I needed to be one hundred percent locked in and focused on why I was here. Flying. Winning. Proving to myself I was meant to be here. The problem was that all I seemed to be able to lock in on lately was the gorgeous man now staring at me from across the bonfire.
With the flames flickering between us, I couldn’t help but notice the way the light danced across Solo’s smooth, tanned skin. He’d left his shirt off, as had most of us, the warm summer air inviting us to enjoy it to its full capacity. Some of the guys had found a willing woman to hook up with, and as they enjoyed a freedom I wasn’t able to, I wondered what it would be like if I could just walk over to where Solo stood and take him back behind one of the dunes.
He wouldn’t protest, of that I was one hundred percent positive. But the mere thought of anyone finding out the secret I’d kept so close, of that kind of gossip getting back to my dad, had me reaching for my shirt and tugging it on over my head.
Once I was fully clothed, I chanced another quick look in Solo’s direction to see him watching me closely. He was cradling a beer in one hand and his other was in his pocket, and as he ran his eyes down over me, he tongued his full lower lip in a way that made my cock ache.
Fuck, he was hot, hotter than the flames burning between us, and as he brought his eyes back to mine and grinned, I knew I had to get out of there.
With Houdini occupied, having made it clear to everyone not to go near Whiplash, I was able to leave without anyone noticing. Well, almost anyone. I could practically feel Solo’s gaze on me as I straddled my bike and started it up.
With any luck, he’d stay there and find some random guy to screw. I didn’t want to think about that, but it was what needed to happen. It was clear the attraction between us wasn’t going anywhere, and I needed to keep myself out of temptation’s way.
It was while I was lost in thought that I heard the purr of a motorcycle and glanced in my side mirror to see Solo catching up behind me.
Shit. What the hell is he doing?
Problem was that I knew exactly what he was doing, and it was what I’d been trying to avoid. God, had anyone seen us leave around the same time? The guy was entirely too obvious. What did he think was about to go down by following me? That because everyone was at the beach I’d fall at his feet and go at it? Maybe that was his MO, but I didn’t work that way. Never had, never would.
I gunned it, speeding through the streets, but if I’d been hoping to lose him, I was shit out of luck. Solo stayed on my tail without missing a beat, the two of us flying through the night, weaving in and out of traffic so smoothly that you would’ve thought our moves were choreographed. For the moment, I tried to put the impending confrontation out of my mind and focus on the sheer power of my bike and the wind whipping around me. Maybe I’d just ride all night, stay away until the sun came up.
My subconscious seemed to be in control, though, and before I knew it, I was turning into the base. After going through security, I slowed down to a crawl, not wanting to attract attention, but Solo tore past me, glancing over his shoulder and lifting his chin.
What the hell did that mean? If he was trying to race, he would’ve done it already. If he thought I’d follow him, he was out of his mind.
But follow him I did, unintentionally, because as I turned into the barracks, Solo was there, his bike idling between his thighs, like he was ready to take off in a moment’s notice if I’d turned around.
I pulled into my spot beside his, silently cursing the housing gods that had put us together. Without shutting off the engine, I looked over to Solo, who looked right back at me, though with his helmet still on, I couldn’t see his face. If I could, I imagined it would look smug as hell, as though he figured he’d somehow won by meeting me here. Though if he could see past my helmet, he’d probably get off on the scowl I couldn’t seem to stop when he was around.
For a long time, neither of us made a move. Stuck in a face-off we both wanted to win.