“So is this a true love thing, or are you two in cahoots to make sure you win?”
“Don’t be an asshole,” Phantom said, shooting Utah a look that didn’t do anything to shut him up.
“I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.” Utah pushed off his locker and walked toward us. “Tell us. How long have you two been fucking around?”
Solo’s jaw twitched. “None of your damn business.”
“Isn’t it? Pretty sure you made it our business when you walked into the Navy Ball pulling this stunt.”
Solo lunged forward, and I had to act fast to haul him back.
“He’s just trying to get a reaction. Don’t give him one,” I said.
“Isn’t it convenient, though,” Utah continued, “that you two happen to be partners, Panther’s dad happens to be a legacy here, and then you both happen to be sitting at the top of the leaderboard. Coincidence? Or cheating?”
“We don’t have to cheat to win,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, even though the insinuation of my father having anything to do with me being here or doing well rankled.
Utah turned his attention to me. “I thought your old man would stroke out when he saw you walk in with that one, and I can’t blame him. If you wanted a decent date, you could’ve done better than the degenerate of the Elite.”
Before Solo or anyone else could stop me, I had Utah pinned against his locker with my hand tight around his throat.
“I’ll only say this once, so you better listen close, you piece of shit,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “That so-called degenerate of the Elite? He could outmaneuver you in the air blindfolded with one hand tied behind his back.”
Utah snarled at me, his eyes ping-ponging between the two of us. “Yeah, well, if anyone would know what he’s capable of in a blindfold, I guess it’d be you.”
I dug my fingers into his throat a little tighter as I leaned in real close. “You know, we haven’t quite gotten to that. But now that you mention it…”
I glanced back at Solo, who was watching me with a mixture of awe and—lust? Yes, it was, fucking troublemaker. So much for behaving. Hell, if anyone was out of line right now, it was me.
But I’d be fucked if I could find it in me to care.
Instead, I smirked at Solo, and I knew he could tell exactly where my mind had gone. “Write that down for later, would you?”
6 Solo
WRITE IT DOWN? Uh, pretty sure there was no need, considering that idea was now permanently ingrained in my brain. Me, Panther, and a blindfold? Count me in—or him; I wasn’t picky.
“Get your fucking hands off me, Panther,” Utah said. My lips tipped up as I thought of Panther’s warning that I behave before we’d arrived today.
Call me juvenile or immature, but seeing Panther riled up in my honor was all kinds of hot, and if anyone in this locker room thought I’d put an end to this display of testosterone, they were delusional.
“You think you should maybe step in?”
I turned to see Gucci eyeing the new wall hanging Panther had decided the locker room needed. “Why? You don’t think Panther can handle it?”
“Uh, no. I think the real problem might be he’s handling it too well. But if he goes much further, it’ll be grounds for suspension.” He bumped shoulders with me. “Unless, of course, that’s your goal.”
“What?”
“You know, knock two birds out with one stone.”
What the fuck? Did Gooch actually believe I would do something like that? And did Panther? Not about to give him the opportunity to even go there, I shoved forward, took hold of Panther’s bulging bicep, and shook him.
“Panther, come on. He’s not worth it.”
Panther’s penetrating stare found mine, and as the ice melted away and the heat resurfaced, he dropped his hands and took a step back.
I turned to Utah. “How ’bout you get the fuck out of here and go over today’s flight plan? Prove there’s an actual reason you’re here other than to run your mouth and act like a fucking asshole.”
Utah shoved off the wall and straightened his spine, puffing his chest out like he hadn’t just been overpowered and shown as the lowlife he was in front of his fellow trainees. Then he shoved past us and headed out to the bay area.
As everyone else followed, Panther turned his attention to me. “What?”
“Don’t start anything, huh?” Panther arched a brow, and I chuckled. “I can see you were really committed to that.”
“Did you hear what he said about you?”
“Yes.”
Panther took a step forward until we were toe to toe. Though the anger had drained out of him, the fire still flickered just beneath the surface. “And you’re okay with that?”
“I don’t give a shit what Utah thinks of me.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “Really.”
“Well, I don’t fucking like it.”
“Hmm, I know.” I cocked my head and took in the flush that still lingered on his cheeks. When I lowered my eyes to his mouth, Panther licked his lips. “That’s hot as hell.”
“What is?”
“The way you got all protective. Utah’s lucky I want to watch you kick his ass in the sky today, otherwise I might’ve settled for watching you kick it in here.”
Panther shoved his hands into his pockets and scowled. “I don’t like people talking about you like that. Talking about us.”
Something about the tone of Panther’s voice sent a frisson of excitement racing through me. It was a thrill knowing that this smart, confident badass thought I was worth fighting for. But at the same time, I wasn’t about to let him throw away his chance of being number one in the Elite because of some dipshit like Utah.
We’d earned our places at the top of that damn leaderboard, and there would be no question about it when this was all said and done.
“I know,” I said. “But you can’t let him get to you. Not about me, and not about us. That’s what he wants. To psych you out. It’s the only way in hell he has a chance of climbing his way up from the fucking bottom.”
Panther took in a deep breath and let it out. “You’re right. I know you’re right. I don’t know why I let him get to me like that.”
Wanting to ease the tension as much as I could, I placed my hands on Panther’s chest and grinned. “Because you have a crush on me.”
Panther’s lips twitched, but just as I suspected, it worked. “A crush? What am I, a schoolgirl?”
I glanced around the empty locker room and then smoothed a hand below his belt to cop a quick feel of his growing hard-on. Panther groaned and grabbed my arms, and I placed my lips to his jaw and said, “Definitely not a girl…”
“Jesus, Solo. You gotta stop. We have to get changed and outside before Levy comes looking for us.”
“You’re right,” I said, and reluctantly let him go. “But just know that the whole time I’m up there flying today, I’ll be thinking about blindfolds and the fact that you think I’d look really fucking good in one.”
His muttered curse as I walked out the locker room made me laugh. I was well aware that the rush I felt had nothing to do with suiting up and getting in the cockpit, and everything to do with the anticipation of being alone again with Panther.
When the hell had that happened?
7 Panther
“SORRY, LADIES AND gentlemen, but you won’t be flying today.”
We’d barely sat down for the first class of the day when Commander Levy dropped that bomb on us. Yesterday had been a grueling fourteen hours of physical and mental fitness tests, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who had been looking forward to getting up in the air.
A chorus of groans confirmed my thoughts, but before I could get too settled in for a day in the classroom, Commander Levy snapped his fingers.
“All right, on your feet. Leave your belongings here.”
As we all stood up, I could see the same curiosity written on everyone’s faces.
>
Commander Levy led the way, all of us single-filing it out of the room after him. Behind me, Houdini whispered, “What do you think is goin’ on?”
“Public flogging?” Solo suggested. “Maybe Utah’s finally getting what’s coming to him.”
I laughed as we pushed through the doors leading to the airfield, half wishing that were the case, but once I saw what was waiting for us, I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Holy shit.”
“What?” Solo asked, but as he came to a stop beside me, he let out a whoop. “What are the Blue Angels doing here?”
I stared out at the navy and gold F/A-18 jets parked along the runway and wondered the same thing. The Blue Angels were the definitive Navy pilots, the ones who were handpicked to represent the fleet and showcase what we could do. It was a huge honor to be selected, and it was one thing my father never did do. One of the only things, I thought.
We followed Commander Levy to the hangar, where the pilots stood stock-still, hands behind their backs and dressed in their blue flight suits. There was something about seeing them that always sent a thrill through me. It’d been that way since I was a boy and my father had taken me to their first show. The insane aerobatics, combined with all that speed, had been one of the things that made me want to pilot a fighter jet in the first place.
Commander Levy stopped in front of the man at the far end of the lineup, the “boss.” He was the commanding officer of the Blue Angels and the one who flew the number one jet. They greeted one another with a clipped nod before turning back to face us, and we moved to form a similar lineup opposite the Angels.
Murmurs rang out through the trainees as our excitement grew. We knew exactly what was about to happen today. The Blue Angels were scheduled for a show here this weekend, and we were about to get a VIP seat for their practice. It was clear we were all pumped to watch instead of do for a change.
As we waited silently for Levy to address us, Solo bumped shoulders with me.
“Think I’d look good in that getup?” he said quietly enough that no one else would hear. When I looked in his direction, he waggled his eyebrows at me.
Ignoring his teasing, I returned my attention to Levy, who pivoted on his heel and walked up the center of the two lines.
“I don’t know about you, but one of the most inspiring things to me as a young man and eventually as an experienced pilot was to watch these incredible pilots standing before you soar through the sky at rip-roaring speed and execute some of the most eye-popping moves I have ever seen in my life.”
All of us agreed, and Levy continued down the line, a tight smile on his lips.
“Not only are they some of the best fighter pilots the Navy has turned out through the years, they also go on to be some of the best showmen and women in the world.”
He wasn’t lying. If you asked anyone if they’d ever seen a flyover by the Blue Angels, the response was always the same—It was one of the best things I’ve ever seen. They inspired a sense of awe, patriotism, and wonder that not much else could do, and no matter how many times you saw them, the feeling never changed.
“You are the best of the best when it comes to combat flying. You are quick, focused, and methodical. We train you to take to the sky, hunt down a target, and neutralize the threat. Today, I want you to remember why you became a pilot. Remember the joy of taking to the sky and relax a little. You’ve been here for weeks with one goal and focus. Take the time now to really think about why you’re here, because after this comes real life, and what you’re signing up for is not a show.”
As Levy passed by, he locked eyes with me, and something in his stare made my hands twist behind my back. What did that look mean? Surely he wasn’t questioning my desire to be here. After that one freak-out I’d had my first day back, things had pretty much gone back to normal—if you didn’t count the occasional nightmare.
But that wasn’t all that unusual after what I’d been through, right?
Solo shuffled in close to me again as Levy walked by. “What was that look about?”
Great, so it hadn’t just been in my head. “I don’t know.”
Solo’s eyes narrowed, and I could tell he knew I was lying, but I wasn’t about to get into it here.
“Okay, guys,” Levy said when he again reached the head of the group. “If you’ll all go take a seat outside, we’ll let these guys get up in the air and do what they do best.” He turned to the Angels. “Be safe up there, and show us what you got.”
8 Solo
IT’D BEEN YEARS since I’d seen the Blue Angels flying overhead in perfect formation, their maneuvers so tight it looked like you couldn’t fit a penny between them. They were even closer than they looked. I’d heard at one point they were something like eighteen inches from each other, which blew my mind, considering the point of combat was to get the hell away from the other jets. Or, you know, blow them the fuck out of the sky.
The six jets broke apart suddenly, two going left, three going right, while the number one shot straight up and began a series of solo maneuvers that I wasn’t sure were choreographed. Did they all have a chance to show off with whatever they wanted when the spotlight was theirs? Or were even their individual moments planned in advance by someone else? The latter didn’t excite me much, but if each pilot got to make up their own shit? Badass. I made a mental note to ask them later.
The remaining jets roared toward each other below the number one, and from our vantage point, they looked like they were headed for a collision.
“Oh, shit, I can’t watch,” Gucci said, and I found myself holding my breath as the jets passed each other in such close proximity that I couldn’t see the sky between them.
Panther whistled from where he sat on the ground beside me, his long legs pulled in and his arms resting on top of them. His eyes were wide with interest, and I found my lips curving as I watched him. He looked so innocent right then, like a mesmerized kid who was seeing planes for the first time.
“You’re staring,” he said, his eyes still on the sky.
“Can I help it if I find you more interesting?”
He shook his head and then looked at me. “Be serious.”
“I am being serious.”
Panther narrowed his eyes like he was calling my bluff, but the loud rumble of approaching jets made him look back up. The Angels were diving down from the sky, splintering off in different directions, contrails left in their wake. It looked seriously impressive, and the smile that lit up Panther’s face told me he thought so too.
“You like this,” I said.
“Who doesn’t?”
“To watch, maybe. But some of us don’t play well with others.”
Panther snort-laughed, dropping his hands behind him and stretching out his legs. “Yeah, I’m not sure if I can see you doing this. You’d be more likely to play bumper jets if you got too close.”
“Now that sounds like fun.” I cocked my head, thinking. “Maybe if I was the number one and they had to follow my rules.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“Then yeah. Bumper jets or I’m out.”
Panther grinned.
“What about you? Do you play well with others?” I said, moving my hand so that it lined up alongside his.
“You tell me.”
Damn. The answer to that was fuck yes he played well. In my bed, in his, in the shower…
“I’d tell you, but I only want you playing with me.”
Panther’s eyes turned heated, and he opened his mouth to respond, but Gucci was right there, cockblocking fucker.
“Seriously, you two go get a room or shut the hell up. My ears are bleeding.”
I leaned around Panther to glare the asshole down. “Aww, you jealous? I know you’ve always had a thing for me.”
Gucci flipped me the bird and then looked to Panther. “You only hooked up with him so you could shut him up whenever you want, right? I mean, there really is only one way with him.”
I wasn’t sure how Panther would react to such a blunt statement, but when he turned to face me and chuckled, I thought it a testament to just how relaxed he was. His eyes fell to my mouth, and he grinned.
“It’s definitely one of the reasons.”
Gucci groaned and rolled his eyes before looking back to the sky, but Panther, that teasing bastard, kept his eyes locked on me.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what the other reasons are?”
Judging by the twinkle in his seriously blue eyes, I wasn’t sure I could handle hearing them in public. Not if they were half as good as the first one. As if he sensed my hesitation, a wicked grin curved Panther’s lips.
“Scared?”
Hell no. I was just worried I’d do something I shouldn’t, like attack him right there in front of everyone.
“Do I look scared?”
“Honestly? Kinda.”
“Fuck you.”
Panther laughed and leaned over, placing his hand on the seat behind my ass, his fingers grazing the back of my pants. Then his mouth was by my ear, and just as the jets flew by, he said in a raspy tone that made my balls tingle, “The other reason is because I would’ve done just about anything for the opportunity to get my dick inside you.”
Thank fuck the roar of the jets tore through the sky, because there was no way in hell I would’ve been able to stop my groan. Panther raised his head and locked eyes with mine, and I swallowed.
“That works both ways, you know.”
“Oh, trust me, I know.” Panther moved back to his original position and winked at me. Then he looked to the sky. “That’s the other reason.”
And fuck me, I was done. I was so damn done when it came to other guys.
I knew it, he knew it, and judging by the morons all around us looking our way now…they knew it too.
9 Panther
THE WEEK ROLLED on, and so did the competition. I was neck and neck with Solo on the leaderboard, both of us taking out our opponents with relative ease. Normally I’d feel the pressure of having someone hot on my heels, trying to take the trophy out of my unwilling hands, but right now? To my utter surprise, I found myself…unbothered. Whether that was because the challenger was Solo or whether winning and proving myself to my father suddenly didn’t seem so important, I didn’t know. Would I like to see my name at the top of the winner’s plaque? Fuck yeah. But the all-consuming desire to win at any cost no longer haunted my every waking hour.
Classified (The Elite Book 3) Page 3