Chapter 20
SAMANTHA
He looked at me with his face barely visible in the night. We had found a nice little place to hide away in. I liked the idea of being able to watch without being seen. I loved that he watched planes as well. There was something to be said for finding a man that shared so many interests.
“You’re smiling,” he said.
“I’m happy.”
“You don’t want to kick my ass for teasing you earlier?” he said.
“No. But I do want to kiss you. Is that against the rules?”
“You’re the one with the rule book,” he replied. “You tell me.”
I leaned forward and kissed him. It was a brush of our lips, nothing more.
He reached behind me, slid his hand up the back of my neck, and held my head steady.
He kissed me with the passion I remembered from the first night we were together.
His tongue slid inside my mouth. Our tongues dueled with the backdrop of another airliner coming in for a landing.
Just when things were really heating up, he pulled back.
“You said you would be okay with us seeing each other after the season was over. Is that still an option?” he asked.
“Mitch, I hope you understand why I follow the rules,” I said. “It’s nothing against you. I have to be able to keep work and my personal life separate.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “You’re probably right. But if you ever change your mind, you should know I can do two things at once. I can manage to have a relationship and fly at the same time.”
“Relationship?” I asked. “Is that really what you’re interested in?”
He let out a long sigh. “I’m not going to pretend I know anything about relationships, but I do want to try with you.”
“Try?” I laughed.
“You know what I mean,” he said. “If there’s a manual or something, I’d be happy to review it.”
He was teasing me. There was something about the way he teased me that made me feel special and not insulted.
“If I’m being honest, I don’t know how to do the traditional relationship thing either, but I’d like to try too.
We can fumble together. All I know is when I’m with you, I like the way I feel.
You make me laugh. We have so many things in common it is almost scary.
I know I shouldn’t be messing around with some cocky, slightly obnoxious flyboy, but here I am. ”
“Obnoxious?” he said, pretending to be insulted.
“You know you are,” I said.
“Okay, I probably am a little obnoxious,” he said. “I don’t try to be.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s just the way you are. I wouldn’t be sitting here in the grass with you if I didn’t know that and maybe like it just a little.”
“You like that I’m obnoxious?” he whispered. His fingers trailed down my cheek before pushing back a few stray hairs.
“I do. You want to know something else I like?”
His fingertips slid down my arm. “I could guess, but I’m afraid you might pop me if I said the wrong thing.”
I gave him a quick kiss. “I like that you defended my honor. You really didn’t have to, but I liked that you did it.
I’ve always been a fiercely independent woman.
I’ve lived in a man’s world for my whole career.
I’m always the one woman in the hangar. I’ve heard all the crude remarks.
Usually, I ignore it. Sometimes, I fight back, but every time I give in to the temptation to defend myself, it gives them just a little more ammunition. It fires them up.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that,” he said.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m used to it, but it is nice to know I’m not alone. Although I will say it’s been nice to have Medusa as a friend. She’s been great. Honestly, she’s about the only girlfriend I’ve had in a long time. I’m going to miss her when the season is over.”
“Baby?” he said in the sweetest voice. Chills ran over my body at the term. It made me feel like the most treasured woman in the world.
“Yes,” I said and leaned in close.
“I’ve heard there are these really cool little things called cell phones,” he said with his hand sliding up my arm. “You can call Medusa. She’ll be in Pensacola with the rest of us. You live there, right?”
“Yes, Warrington,” I said.
“We’ll be able to see each other, and you’ll be able to see Medusa.”
He was right of course. It seemed like everything in my life was changing. I was talking about having a boyfriend, a girlfriend, and a baby all in the next few months. That was a lot.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked him.
“Yes.”
He kissed my forehead and then the tip of my nose. The sweet touches were romantic and gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that made it feel like I was standing in the warm sunlight on a cool spring day.
“Since we, uh, you know,” I stammered. “Since we were together that one night—”
“The night we had sex,” he said. “Wild, hot sex. I remember the night quite vividly.”
I shuddered at the memory. It made me hot and flustered. “Yes, that night. Has there, I mean, have you—”
“Sam?”
“Yes,” I sighed. I was stumbling. I really had no business asking him about his personal life.
“Spit it out. What do you want to know?”
I closed my eyes. “Are you sleeping with other women?”
“Are you jealous?” he said.
“I’m not sure it’s jealousy, but although I’m not an expert in the world of relationships, I know I’m not going to be the kind of person that does the open thing.
If I’m going to be with someone, I’m all in.
I’m not very good at sharing. I suppose that could be because I was an only child.
I won’t share you. If you’re going to pick up women at every stop on the tour, I won’t be with you. ”
“Hmm,” he furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin, “monogamy. That’s a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” I said and pulled back just a little.
I couldn’t believe he actually thought I would agree to be with him while he screwed around with every woman he got his hands on.
“Relationships are a step toward commitment. If you’re not ready to take that step, so be it.
I’m not going to push you into anything.
This thing we’re doing, it doesn’t need to be a thing.
I won’t be involved with you while we’re on the road. We can be friends, but it stops there.”
He started laughing, which was slightly insulting. “Slow down, woman. You’re already jumping to conclusions. First of all, I have been with no other woman since you. I think I would embarrass myself if I tried to be with another woman.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means, I wouldn’t be able to get it up with another woman,” he said. “You’ve ruined me. I want only you. It’s taken me a few weeks to figure that out. But I know it now. I want to be with you. I’m cool with monogamy. Just know I expect the same. I could not tolerate another man touching you.”
I found myself smiling. “You shouldn’t tease me so much,” I said.
“If I didn’t tease you, I wouldn’t get to see you smile like this,” he said. “Or do this.”
He leaned forward and kissed me. The kiss sent heat spiraling through my veins. My body leaned forward. I needed to be closer to him. I told myself we couldn’t do anything, not until after the season ended. But right now, we were away from all that. It was just the two of us.
He broke the kiss once again. I reached up and cupped his cheek. “You’re making this very difficult.”
“That may or may not have been my plan,” he said with a laugh.
“I have another question,” I said.
“Oh lord,” he groaned. “I’m O positive. Single. Never been married. I grew up in Texas. I don’t really have a relationship with my family, but we’ll have to save that sad story for another day. I’m six two and weigh around two twenty.”
“Very funny.” I giggled.
“What is it?” he asked. “I’ll try and tell you everything you want to know.”
“Why me?” I asked in a little girl voice that was completely unintentional.
“What are you talking about?” he asked. “What do you mean, why you? It’s recently been pointed out to me you are probably the one woman in the world that could put up with my shit. You are the one woman that understands my love for flying.”
“I see,” I said in a tight voice. It was a little insulting. I was a suitable match because I liked flying. It felt like I was being matched by one of those dating apps. Similar interests? Check. None of the other stuff mattered.
“Oh, then there’s the part about the amazing sex,” he said. “And your beauty. Your beautiful smile.”
“And the boobs.” I laughed.
“Please don’t threaten to ground me, but yes, you have an amazing rack.”
We both laughed. I wasn’t even insulted. It was far more flattering coming from him than hearing it come from a bunch of morons. I reached for his wrist and brought his hand to my breast. “I really do have an amazing rack,” I replied.
He took my hand and put it on his crotch. To anyone looking from the outside, we probably looked ridiculous with his hand on my boob and my hand on his dick. “And I’m going to go out on a limb and say I’ve got a pretty amazing package.”
We laughed again. I couldn’t remember ever laughing and feeling so carefree.
It had been a long time since I got to just be me.
He leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss.
With my free hand, I grabbed the back of his head and kissed him again.
I nibbled on his lower lip before passionately kissing him.
His erection grew beneath my hand. His hand gently massaged my breast through the thin fabric of my dress.
I heard a groan escape my lips. He shifted his body and wound up straddling me as he slowly pushed me back to the ground.
I lay in the grass with him over me. His mouth slid over my jaw and down my neck. He sucked my flesh between his teeth.
I arched against him and pulled him closer to me. I was lost in the moment, ready to take him right there next to the airfield with planes taxiing down the runway.
“Hey!”
Mitch stiffened above me. “Shit,” he whispered against my lips.
“Oh my gosh,” I hissed.
A beam of light flashed over us. “Shit,” he said again. He slid off me, fixed the bodice of my dress, and sat up. “Stay down,” he said.
I lay perfectly still in the grass. Mitch got to his feet with the beam of light shining directly on him. “Hello,” Mitch said.
“This area is off limits,” a gruff voice called out. “You’re trespassing.”
“Yes, sir, I know,” Mitch said. “My name is Mitchell Peters. I’m with the Blue Angels. I wasn’t doing anything. I was just enjoying the quiet night before our show tomorrow.”
The beam of light was directly in his face. “Aren’t you that hotshot solo pilot?” the security guard asked.
“Number Five,” Mitch said with a bright smile.
“You can’t be out here,” the guard said. “I don’t want to have to run you off, but you can’t be here.”
“I understand,” Mitch said. “I’ll get out of here.”
“Thank you. You’ll need to take your lady friend as well.”
I wanted to melt into the ground. Mitch laughed. “Yes, sir.”
“Have a good night,” the guard said.
I didn’t move. “Stay down,” Mitch said without turning to look at me.
I took his advice. I appreciated him looking out for me. That seemed to be a thing with him. I heard what sounded like a car engine start and then fade away. “He’s gone,” Mitch said.
He came back to me and helped me up.
“That was very high school.” I laughed. “How embarrassing.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said. “I haven’t been caught like that since high school.”
“Oh, this is a normal thing for you?” I pulled some grass from my hair. “How often do you roll around in the grass with women?”
He stepped up and pulled me against him. “Not often enough.”