Her cheeks pink as she stands and covers her mouth with a dainty, grease-covered hand. “The phone,” she exclaims. “It’s in my bed. I’m not used to carrying something like that around with me. I’m so sorry. You messaged me?” Her blue eyes are clear and hopeful. If Aidan didn’t realize I had her so completely before, he does now—his narrowed eyes and pinched mouth a clear indicator of defeat. “What does it say?” she says, lowering her hand to show black streaks now on her face.
I tilt my head toward my friend. “We’re in mixed company right now,” I say as an explanation. “Read it later.”
“Aidan knows a lot about planes. I didn’t realize that jumping out of them and working on them went hand in hand,” she explains, looking between us.
“Not all of us have that kind of interest,” Aidan replies, a small smirk appearing as he looks at Caroline. “I’ve always loved aircrafts.”
“Why didn’t you become a Navy pilot then?” she asks, genuinely curious.
We both scoff. This is common ground. “SEALs have more fun,” Aidan says, relaying both of our sentiments exactly. “It’s the hardest thing you can do in the Navy.”
She shuffles one foot forward and backward. “It’s not like you guys are having that much fun here,” she says, but it’s more of a question. “I had the news on last night, and there’s a lot going on over on the West Coast. SEALs are always handling something, it seems.”
She looks up at me. “Not that I watch the news very often, but I was curious.”
Aidan says something about how he’s glad he’s in Florida because of the operation tempo. “There’s plenty of stuff going on that’s not on the news, Caroline. We’re all happy to be here for more than one reason.”
Aidan clears his throat. “I’ll see you next Friday,” he says, gaze lingering on her face longer than I’m comfortable with. She responds with her sweet smile. “I’ll have this part taken apart by then. You can take a look when you have downtime,” she says, gazing at the huge metal piece like a mad scientist. Aidan says goodbye, lets his eyes slide to me briefly, and exits intothe sunshine.
“You forgave him awfully quick,” I growl.
She spins, a screwdriver in one hand and the other perched on her hip. “Well, he does know a lot about aircrafts. That sped things up a touch. Women never forget, Tyler,” she says, using my given name, sending a shock of lust to my dick.
Swallowing, I let my eyes skirt down her midsection, down her tan, bare legs. “Why are you wearing a dress to do work? It’s almost as if you’re showing off for someone.”
Her lips form a thin line. “Just because I’m a woman who can turn a wrench doesn’t mean I’m not a woman. It is too hot for pants. Shorts are restricting. Plus, I was in the office going through accounting stuff for most of the morning.”
“Don’t make excuses on my behalf,” I reply, grinning. “Unless you say you wore it for me. Because you know how much I want to fuck you when you have it on.”
Her blue eyes widen the moment her mouth pops open. “Is that what the text message said?” she says, her voice a small whisper.
I move in and use my thumb to try to smear the black grease spot off her face. “In some form or another. Yes,” I reply. Caroline licks her lips. Sighing, I say, “What time is dinner? I have a dumpster arriving at the B and B in a couple hours,” I say, looking at my watch. Now that I have the mission, I have a lot of planning to do and not a second to waste. “I’ll pick you up after, and we can rideup the hill together?”
She grins. “You’re catching on.”
I shrug. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t?”
“The kind that kisses his girlfriend even though she’s covered in grease?” she replies. My heart does that melty thing it tends to do anytime she says something so sweet. Leif is right, my fucking testosterone is being demolished a little day by day.
Leaning over, I press my lips against hers. She tastes like fresh air and the indescribable scent that is…Caroline. She pulls closer, but I don’t let her, breaking the kiss before it truly begins. It gets harder and harder to remember why I wanted to wait to fuck her. Quite literally. “Tonight after dinner, how about we go a little faster? Your place?” I say, tone low. “I need more of you.” Does she know what it costs to ask? That it causes me physical pain to not have her in all ways?
“A little faster?” she asks, breathless, dropping the screwdriver on the cement floor to place both hands on my chest. “What does that mean exactly?”
My breaths come quicker as her question sparks a million ideas of what I want to do to her and with her. “It means you trust me not to fuck you tonight.”
She nods, complete compliance, utter infatuation with the idea of fucking me. It’s so obvious anyone can see it. I wish Aidan were here right now. “Careful with Aidan,” I say.
She smirks. “I only want you.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t try.” He’s a solid player—weaseling in at any sign of interest. I’d pat him on the back on a normal day. Now, I’ll sleep with both eyes open.
“Stake your claim,” she retorts.
I raise my eyebrows. “Okay then.”
She swallows hard and backs away. “You’re finished jumping for the day?”
I nod. “See you in a bit.”
