Apparently happy to follow orders when it came to the bedroom, Solo quickly sat up on the edge of the bed and spread his legs wider. As I moved up in between them, he went to reach for my waist, but I shook my head. “Hands flat on the mattress.”
And just like that, Solo planted his palms on the covers.
He stared up at me, those gorgeous eyes framed by his thick, luscious lashes, and I couldn’t help myself—I had to touch him in some way or another. I reached out and gently ran my fingers down his jaw line to his chin, and once I had a hold of it, I tilted it up and whispered, “Stand up.”
Solo’s lips parted, and he slicked his tongue over his lower lip as he slowly pushed up to his feet. His breathing was rapid now, his eyes heavy-lidded, and I reached for his wrist and spun him around until his back was up against my door. As I crowded in against him, I dragged his hands up over his head and pinned them in place.
Solo arched forward against me, trying to find something to grind against, trying to find something to ease the ache we were both feeling, but I had a different idea. I leaned in close until our mouths were barely an inch apart and said, “We might be partners in the sky, but when it comes to this, you’re gonna have to get used to flying solo.”
Then I reached down with one hand, flicked the lock, turned the handle, and shoved him out the door. As Solo stumbled back, his mouth open wide, I quickly picked up his shirt, tossed it out the door at him, and said, “See you tomorrow…partner.”
Then I slammed the door in his face.
16 Panther
BRIGHT AND EARLY Monday morning, and I’d managed to keep the rest of my weekend Solo-free. The look on his face as I tossed him out and slammed the door had been priceless, and it had given me a good chuckle all weekend—along with a severe case of blue balls, the fucker.
If he was embarrassed about what had gone down, though, Solo didn’t show it. He was just as carefree as ever, making everything a joke and sending an occasional wink my way. The guy was incorrigible in an almost endearing way.
Almost.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special guest today,” Commander Levy said as he paced the front of the room. “He’s a former top commander here at NAFTA and one of the best fighter pilots in the history of the Navy. Please welcome Captain Franklin Hughes, call sign Razor.”
My blood turned to ice, freezing the flow to my heart as I slowly turned around and watched as the door opened and my father stepped into the room. In an instant, the whole mood changed, or maybe that was just me projecting. My father was a dominating force, one that radiated power, whether it was in or out of the Navy. He was no different at home, always controlling, always carrying himself with a certain amount of importance.
The fact that I hadn’t heard from him after Solo’s impromptu air design, that he hadn’t given me a heads-up about his visit at all but had decided to show up first thing this morning? It wasn’t a good sign. Not at all.
A few of my peers were glancing my way, and I quickly schooled my face into nonchalance and forced a few steady breaths. I didn’t want anyone to see the cold sweat that had broken out all over my body or to think I had any reason to be intimidated by anyone—including my father.
The man had a way of scaring you shitless, though.
Down the row in front of me, Solo leaned back, looking my way, and then lifted a brow in question. Whether that question was did you know he was coming? or you okay with him being here? I didn’t know, and I wasn’t about to answer. Not with my father turning to face us at the front of the room.
“Thank you for being here, captain.” Commander Levy gestured for my father to have the floor.
He stood tall, his demeanor making him seem larger than his six-foot frame. He still had a headful of silver hair, and combined with his full service dress, he looked as distinguished as ever. Slowly, taking all the time in the world, my father ran his keen gaze over each and every one of us, as if measuring our worth. I’d never heard the room so pin-drop silent, and even Solo seemed to have the good sense to keep his mouth shut.
As my father’s eyes locked briefly with mine, the look he gave was indecipherable, and he quickly moved on to the next person. Tension corded my body as I waited for the reason why he’d come.