Need for Speed (The Elite, #2)

by Brooke Blaine

“Hey.” I grabbed his hand and pulled it onto my thigh. “Don’t overthink this. Yes, you went through something shitty, but it could happen to any of us. You came out of this pretty fucking unscathed, at least physically, so we just need your mind to catch up.” “But what if—” “Ah uh. No more what ifs. You’re one of the best fighter pilots in the world. The world, Panther. You’re too good and you’ve worked too hard to pussy out now.” Panther reared back, his eyes wide. “Excuse me?” “You heard me. Hesitation’s for pussies. Fear? Same thing. And trust me, I’ve been in the sky with you and in bed with you, and you’re not a fucking pussy.”

“What?” I said, when the silence shifted from comfortable to something much more intense—nothing bad, but nothing quite as simple as companionship. “Hmm?” “You’re looking at me funny.” “Am I? And here I thought I was just looking at you.” I swallowed, a sudden case of nerves making me feel as anxious as I had on my first date ever, and all because Panther was looking at me as though he were seeing me for the first time. Trying to muster up some of that bravado I was so well known for, I scoffed and settled back in my seat. “Oh yeah? And what do you see?” Panther grazed his thumb over the top of my knuckles, and holy shit, he might as well have stroked his palm between my legs. Heat infused my body, flames licking along my veins as his eyes roamed over my face and down my neck, then he licked his lips, making me shift in my seat. “I see a man I wasn’t looking for. A man I didn’t even know was there, until right now. And Solo?” “Yeah?” “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than sitting with him in this car right now, holding his hand.”

“Did I make you uncomfortable?” Solo shook his head. “No. I just… It’s…” I smiled as Solo tried to form a sentence. But when nothing came out and his cheeks flushed—actually fucking flushed—I full-on grinned. Nothing made Solo nervous, except, apparently, me. “You don’t want that?” “Want what?” “Me thinking about how good your hand feels in mine?” “Jesus.” Solo rubbed his face. “You’ve done, like, a total one-eighty on me. I guess my, um, brain is trying to catch-up.” With my hand firmly wrapped around his, I tugged him across the console and leaned in until my lips ghosted over the top of his. “You don’t mind if I kiss you until it does, do you?” “What the hell happened to you up there in that plane?” I nipped at his lower lip, and when Solo moaned and opened for me, I whispered, “I realized what’s important.”

“Thank you for bringing me out here today.” Solo took in a shuddering breath, and again I found it interesting that he seemed almost shy, as he nodded and reached up to squeeze my hand, drawing it down between us. “Like you said, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than sitting in this car, sharing this meal, with a man I never knew I was looking for until today.”

“Someone has to. And I’d prefer that someone was me.” “Ahh, feeling possessive? How about I check my calendar and get back to you. So many men to do, so little time.” “Solo…” I practically growled, and he laughed. “You’re not looking pissed off enough. Pretend I just said something horrible.” “That’s ridiculous.” “Your mom’s ridiculous.” I rolled my eyes. “What are you, ten?” “When I’m hard.” Solo waggled his brows as he finished the first set of reps. “But you already know that.”

“Jesus.” I whipped my head around, searching the immediate area to see if anyone was close by, and Panther started to laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re suddenly worried someone might overhear us.” I looked back and licked my lips. “I’m not worried for me.” “Hmm, but worried for me, huh?” Panther waggled his brows and then unbuckled his belt. “All signs that point to caring.” As he climbed out, I followed suit, grabbing my water and towel and meeting him in front of the car. “Or signs that I’m being cautious, in case it turns out you sustained a serious head wound from your accident and will wake up tomorrow and regret half of the things you’ve said to me.” Panther’s eyes narrowed as he took a step forward until our toes were all but touching. Then he lowered his voice and said in a throb-worthy tone, “The only thing I would regret tomorrow morning was if I woke up and you weren’t there.”