Chaos erupted, all of us scrambling out of our seats, curses ringing out as we realized we were in for some serious shit for missing even a few seconds of our training class. It was a race through the halls, but my mind wandered, an idea forming that had nothing to do with what we’d be learning from Commander Levy today.
As the rest of my fellow officers filed into the room, I hung back, and before Panther could follow the others, I blocked his path.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Yes, but not right now,” he said, but before he could move past me to open the door, I stepped in front of him.
“What’s the rush? We’re already late.”
Panther hesitated and then gestured for me to go on, and I felt a small victory at making him break a rule.
“You like Mexican food?”
His brow furrowed. “That’s what you’re making us late for? To find out my food preferences?”
“Another minute isn’t gonna kill us. So…?”
Panther rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Yeah, I like Mexican food, why?”
“I’ll be at Salsa’s off Boundary around six.”
Seconds passed as Panther stared at me like he was waiting for the shoe to drop. “Is that your way of asking me to go?”
“Why else would I tell you?”
“Well, you could ask me.” Amusement played on his face, making his lips curve.
“Fine. Maybe you should be at Salsa’s off Boundary at six.”
“I think I’m busy then.” Panther moved past me, but before he could open the door, I grabbed his wrist and made him face me.
“Grant, I’m going to be fucking starving and ready to devour something delicious around six, and I’d like it if it could be you.” When Panther’s mouth fell open, I smirked. “I mean, I’d like it if you could join me.”
Panther’s eyes dropped to my mouth, and when he swallowed, all I could think about was the way he deep-throated my dick, and damn if that didn’t make me hard right then and there.
It was gonna be fun walking into class with an erection, said no one ever.
“Gentlemen, is there a reason you’re standing outside the classroom instead of in it?”
Panther jerked his arm from my hold.
When I turned around, the newest instructor at NAFTA sighed. “Lieutenant Morgan. Why am I not surprised to see you disrupting the halls?”
“Apologies, commander,” I said. “We were just clearing the air.”
Commander Heinz narrowed her eyes at us over her glasses, and even though she was only about five foot six, she still made it seem somehow like she was looking down at us. “After yesterday’s performance, I would think the two of you would avoid any more confrontations.”
“Less of a confrontation, commander, more of a”—I raised an eyebrow at Panther—“confirmation. I believe Lieutenant Hughes and I have reached a compromise. Isn’t that right, lieutenant?”
Panther eyed me for a beat, making me wait out his answer, and just when I thought he’d disagree, he nodded. “Yes, it looks like we’ve made a deal.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and then gave Commander Heinz my most charming smile. “See? No punches necessary.”
“Then I suggest you take a seat inside before Commander Levy grounds your plane indefinitely.” She looked at Panther. “Yours too, lieutenant. I doubt your father would like to hear about the continued incidents between you and Lieutenant Morgan.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Apologies, commander.” Panther inclined his head toward her and then glanced at me before heading inside. I took my time following, unable to wipe the grin off my face.
Not only did I have Panther breaking the rules, but I had a date with him tonight. Not even the verbal lashing I’d get from Commander Levy could bring me down.
30 Panther
AT FIVE FIFTY-FIVE p.m. I turned into the parking lot of Salsa’s and made my way through the rows of cars, looking for, and spotting, Solo’s ruby-red crotch rocket.
The entire way over here tonight I’d been going back and forth on whether this was a smart idea. But as I pulled my bike in beside Solo’s, and my heart began to thump a little harder, I knew there’d really been no choice in the end.
From the moment he’d left me at the Black Rock Cliffs yesterday, I’d wanted a repeat. In fact, it’d taken every ounce of willpower I possessed not to knock on his door when I’d arrived back on base, enter his room, and strip him naked. My mind had fixated on him even more since I’d finally gotten my hands on him.
What would he look like naked?
What would he be like in bed?
How would he sound when I finally entered his body?
And how would it feel when he entered mine?
Those were the questions I couldn’t seem to shake. They were also the questions I’d imagined the answers to very vividly in my shower last night, then later in my bed.