Chapter 9
MITCHELL
Iwoke up in an empty bed in a hotel room. That was normal, but something felt off. My eyes popped open. “Shit,” I murmured.
My lady for the night had been the luscious inspector.
Last night, I had drunk a little. Not enough to black out, but enough to let down my inhibitions.
I supposed I didn’t really need the alcohol because I had already decided I wanted her.
I knew I was going to have her. And damn was it so much better than I thought it would be. The woman rocked my world.
I could hear the shower running. I wasn’t surprised she was up before I was.
She was dedicated to her job. Normally, I was as well.
But I wasn’t flying and didn’t see any reason to get up at the crack of dawn.
I wasn’t doing any flyovers or practicing.
I got out of bed and found my boxers. After pulling them on, I started some of the cheap coffee in the coffeemaker before walking to the window to check out the sky.
There were a few stray clouds, but it looked like a great day for flying.
It was going to be a great show. The thought bummed me out.
I knew it was my own fault. I stood by my original explanation.
I wanted to elevate the show. I wasn’t afraid to take the risks that might ultimately save a fighter pilot’s life in combat. I wanted to be a trailblazer.
I poured her a cup and then myself one. I added a little cream and sugar to mine.
I wasn’t a coffee snob, but I hated the hotel coffee.
She was still in the shower when I walked back to the window.
I didn’t want to run out on her like a thief in the night.
I had a little more game than that. Plus, I was hoping to schedule another date.
Maybe not so much a date but a hookup. Last night was way too good to happen only once.
I heard the bathroom door open. I glanced over my shoulder to find she was completely dressed. That was unfortunate. I was hoping for another glimpse of that body that begged to be touched. “Good morning,” I said. “I made coffee.”
“Thanks,” she said without making eye contact.
“Are you a coffee drinker?” She didn’t look all that excited about the coffee.
“I am,” she said.
I got the impression she was feeling a little awkward. Most of the women I took to bed were a little more used to this kind of thing. It was an ego boost to know she didn’t take just any dude to bed. I was the lucky one. She chose me.
“We good?” I asked.
“Yeah. Sure. Why?”
I turned to face her. “Do you have regrets?” I asked. “Do you want me to leave?”
“I just—this isn’t what I do,” she said.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” I said. “We’re adults. I assume you’re single. I’m single. We were attracted to one another and we acted on it. I didn’t get the impression you were drunk. Were you?”
“No!”
“Then, relax,” I said with a shrug. “It was good.”
I turned back around to stare down at the pool. Maybe I would have time to go for a swim before I had to head to the airfield. It would relax me. Although there was something else that would help relax me.
“Can I ask you something?” she said and came to stand beside me.
I steeled myself for what I knew she was going to ask. I was usually a little more careful. “Sure,” I answered.
“I don’t want to be rude, but?—”
“My back,” I said.
“Yes. I’m sorry. Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it isn’t, but since you’ve had your hands all over the scars and you’ve seen me naked, you’re curious,” I said without looking at her. “You’re not the first person to ask.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I wasn’t trying to be rude or pry. I just thought maybe you’d like to talk about it.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I answered.
“But you’re not being rude. There was a training accident.
A friend, the pilot, had a bad takeoff. He crashed and the aircraft burst into flames.
I was the first on scene. Well, technically, it wasn’t just me on the scene, but I was the one that pulled him out while they waited for the firetrucks to get there. ”
“You went into a burning plane?” she asked.
“It’s not like there was much left to go into,” I clarified.
She was quiet for a few seconds. “Did the pilot survive?”
“No.”
She sipped her coffee. I walked away and pulled on the T-shirt I’d been wearing. Knowing nothing was going to happen this morning, I went ahead and got dressed.
“So, I guess we should probably talk about this,” she said.
“Talk about what?”
“What happened last night was a one-time thing,” she said.
“We were drinking, and I think we both let go of some of our inhibitions. I had a great time, but I want to make it clear it can’t happen again.
I would also appreciate if we could keep this between us.
I take my work very seriously and I don’t want people thinking I’m the civilian looking to sleep with all the Blue Angels. ”
“I don’t think Medusa swings that way, but I can put in a good word for you,” I teased.
“You know what I mean,” she said. “Us sleeping together breaks the rules. I don’t break rules. That’s not who I am.”
“Rules?” I asked. “You’re not military. You don’t outrank me and vice versa.”
“But we’re supposed to treat each other like we are equals,” she said.
“Your CO, Honcho, made it very clear he didn’t want me messing with his pilots.
I don’t want him to think I ignored his instructions.
He was pretty clear about what he expected.
I don’t like to disappoint people. Especially those that put a lot of trust in me.
My job, your job, they’re a really big deal. We can’t afford to be screwing around.”
“Literally,” I said.
“Yes, literally,” she said with a sigh. “Honcho explicitly said he didn’t want me to be a distraction to his pilots. I know how hard you all train. It isn’t just a couple shows a week. You have a lot to do to stay in shape and at the top of your game. Like right now, what should you be doing?”
I looked her up and down. “I know what I want to be doing.”
“That’s exactly why we can’t do this,” she said.
I wasn’t one to give up on anything. I walked toward her with my eyes locked on hers. “I want to be riding you again. I want to be between your legs plunging deep into your wet heat.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. “Stop! You can’t talk like that!”
“I can.”
“We can’t let what happened last night happen again,” she said. “A distraction could get you or one of your fellow pilots killed.”
“You’re going to be a distraction whether I’m inside you or not,” I said in a gruff voice.
“I’m going to be thinking about last night for a long, long time.
I’m going to be thinking about how good it feels to be inside you.
I’m going to be thinking about all those noises that came out of you when I was fucking you. ”
Her face was turning the prettiest shade of pink. I knew I was pushing her. It wasn’t going to change anything. The woman was kicking me out of her bed. I didn’t like that. I wanted her again. The more she told me we couldn’t, the more I wanted her.
“Mitch, please,” she whispered.
“You didn’t ask so nicely last night,” I said.
She stepped away from me. “I can’t. We can’t. I have to focus on this job. I wasn’t lying when I told you the first time there was too much at stake. I would never, ever, ever be able to go on with my life if something were to happen to you or anyone else.”
“Do you know how many people we have inspecting those jets?” I asked her.
“We have men and women that have been working on these things for the better part of their adult lives. I trust them with my life. They aren’t going to fuck up.
They know those machines better than anyone else on this planet—including you. ”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to say that,” she said. “I’m here because I know just as much, if not more than ninety-five percent of the people on this planet.”
“And the other five work on our team,” I shot back.
“I’m not going to get into a pissing contest,” she said and put up a hand.
“I respect the maintenance crew. They are professional and extremely good at their jobs. I also respect you and the rest of the team. I can’t be distracted.
Maybe I’m not as good as you. Maybe I can’t quite compartmentalize like you. I need to keep my head in the game.”
I scoffed. “Whatever.”
“Look, if you’re serious about wanting to see me again, I wouldn’t mind talking to you after the season is over,” she said. “But for now, I need you to go. And please keep this to yourself.”
The last thing I was going to do was beg a woman to have sex with me. I had some pride. “Whatever,” I said with disgust. I grabbed my wallet and phone from the table and shoved them in my back pocket.
“Mitch—”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “We both got off. Have a nice fucking day.”
“Don’t act like you think this is a good idea,” she called out.
“Of course not,” I said.
I jerked open the door and walked out without another word.
I couldn’t believe I was getting thrown out of a woman’s hotel room.
That was a first. Usually I was the one trying to sneak out to avoid an awkward conversation.
If I wasn’t sneaking out, I was casually blowing the woman off with promises of calling her when I was back in town.
They knew I wasn’t going to call. They didn’t expect anything more than that.
My room was one floor down. Thankfully, I had my own room for this trip.
It wasn’t always that way. It was seriously disappointing to think I would not get the chance to be with her again.
I couldn’t say what it was, but the woman had put a spell on me.
I was entranced. Maybe it was because she told me no.
I couldn’t explain what it was that had me craving her touch.
I had been with plenty of women, but none of them had ever left such an impression on me.
How in the hell was I going to see her every day and not want to touch her?
I wasn’t going to be able to look at her.
If I did, I was certain everyone would see just how badly I wanted her.
They might even be able to guess what happened.
No matter what happened, I had to get back in the air.
It was cruel and unusual punishment to be near her and not touch, but it was what it was.
I stepped into the shower and washed away the scent of her. I could try and satisfy the craving I had for her with another woman. That might make this a little easier to deal with. “Yeah right.”
That was not going to happen. She’d ruined me.