Fighting for Flight

by JB Salsbury

  “How many?”

  He makes a circle with his finger and thumb. “Zilch. Never.”

  I stare at Blake, trying to figure out exactly what he’s telling me and hoping like heck I don’t misunderstand.

  “We’re just friends.” Thankfully, I’m wearing sunglasses so he can’t see my eyes betraying my words.

  “Just friends, huh?” He rubs his chin then shrugs. “Perfect. I’ll see if a couple of my dates want to hang with Jonah tonight after the barbeque.” He braces his hands on his knees to stand.

  No. “Wait.” Reflexes have me grabbing his arm. My heartbeat throbs with panic.

  He looks at me. “You got something you wanna say, baby girl?”

  I like Jonah.

  The words are there, but I can’t bring myself to say them. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? I won’t be able to work with him after suffering that kind of embarrassment. Putting myself out there like . . . No, I need to keep my feelings private. His friendship means too much to me. And really, what kind of chance do I have with a guy like Jonah Slade?

  “Yeah, I just wanted to say . . .” I let go of Blake’s arm and lean back on my lounger. “Go ahead. Jonah’s free to date, er, um, be with whoever he wants.” Gosh, that hurt.

  Blake studies me for a second before leaning in. “Jonah’s a lot of things.” He looks around the pool then back at me before sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “But from what I’ve seen tonight, he’s not free—at least, not anymore.”

  He struts away, acting completely unaware of the shock-and-awe devastation he left behind. “Raven, a little later we can play Titanic,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll yell ice burg and you can go down.”

  A laugh rips from my chest, fueled by giddiness from Blake’s admission.

  He’s not free . . . not anymore.

  Could Blake be right? Is it possible that Jonah could be feeling the same thing I’m feeling?

  Eve comes back from the bar and sits at the spot Blake just vacated. “Finally, he’s gone. He’s a sweet piece of eye candy, but the second he opens his mouth . . .” She shakes her head and takes a sip from her water bottle. “Why do you think he’s so funny?” She points her grimace in Blake’s direction.

  “I think he’s hilarious.”

  I lie back, a face-splitting smile aching my cheeks that has nothing to do with Blake.

  Seven

  Raven

  “My woman can cook,” Owen bellows from the doorway of the kitchen as he brings in a stack of dirty and very empty plates.

  Nikki takes the plates from his hands and kisses him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you, baby. Now get out of here before I put you to work.”

  These two look like a famous Hollywood couple. Owen has deep mocha skin and short cropped hair. His body is similar to the others: athletic, bulky, and the perfect mix of captivating and terrifying. His rugged masculinity is a contrast to his wife’s caramel-colored skin, soft curves, and long, wavy hair. He gives her a playful swat on the bottom, making her squeak and jump, her light brown eyes sparkling.

  She drops the plates in the soapy water. “Thanks for helping me clean up, girl. I’m usually the only other female around that does more than stick my tits out.” She rolls her eyes at the obvious reference to the women Blake brought with him.

  “It’s the least I could do. That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. You’re an incredible cook.” I rinse out a huge bowl that once held a delicious fruit salad.

  “Thanks. I get a lot of practice hanging around this group.”

  That doesn’t surprise me. The guys alone ate enough to feed a small country. I think Jonah grilled an entire cow.

  “Nikki, where do you want me to put these?” Eve asks from the doorway, her arms filled with more plates.

  Jonah follows behind her, a few bottles of condiments in hand. He walks to the fridge to put them away.

  My gaze is soldered to his form, and I nearly slice open my finger with a soapy steak knife. It shouldn’t be legal for him to walk around without a shirt on. Reckless endangerment.

  “You girls don’t have to do this. My cleaning lady comes in the morning.”

  “Like dealing with your dirty drawers isn’t enough, you’re going to make that poor woman clean up after the five of you? Uh-uh.” Nikki turns Jonah around and shoos him from the room.

  “All right, all right, I’ll go.” He wraps Nikki in a one-arm hug.

  She leans in with a grin.

  His eyes find mine. “But, Nik, don’t work my girl too hard. She needs to take care of those hands. Can’t have tools sliding from her grip because you overworked them.” He hits me with a wink and walks away.

  Nikki chuckles. “Damn, girl. He’s sprung.”

  Eve snickers in the corner, stacking clean dishes to the side.

  I can’t believe he just called me his girl! And something about the way he talked about tools sliding in my hand. Sure, it sounded like simple shop talk, but the way he held my eyes made me feel like he was as if her were talking about using my hands for something entirely different. First Blake and now Nikki. Could they be right? They’ve known Jonah a lot longer than I have. Is it possible that he could be feeling something? For me?

  I rushed through the rest of the dishes, anxious to get back to Jonah. The kitchen is spotless in record time.

  “Well, girls.” Nikki wipes her hands on a dishtowel before hanging it perfectly on the rack. “I think we’ve just earned ourselves a little hot-tub time.”

  Minutes later, I’m submerged in liquid heaven. I lean my head back as the warm bubbles caress my body. Everyone around is either in the water or sitting on the edge, dangling in their legs. Conversation hums around me. Relaxing, I allow my eyes to slide shut, a soft moan drifting from my lips.

  “. . . then tell her to swallow.” Blake’s punch line has me giggling despite the fact that I didn’t hear the joke.

  Eve’s responding snort drags me from my relaxed state and has me laughing harder.

  Feeling eyes on me, I turn my head away from Eve and Blake. My laughter dies instantly.

  The carnal stare from Jonah’s eyes has me mesmerized. I’m unable to look away from the smoldering hazel. My blood heats and pounds in my ears. A yearning, deep and delicious, stirs in my belly. The intensity making it hard to breath, my chest rises and falls erratically. He tilts his head as his eyes travel from my face to my breasts and back again. I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, and my mind conjures images of him coming at me from across the warm water. I squirm.

  “I’ll be right back,” I mumble to whoever’s listening and excuse myself from the hot tub.

  I push up and swing a leg over to jump out. A hiss sounds from behind me, like someone sucking air through his teeth. I turn and find Jonah with an expression that looks like pain mixed with something new I can’t name. Whatever it is makes my stomach plummet and land low. Really low. I grab my towel and head for the bathroom.

  Locked inside, I flip the toilet seat closed and sit. What was that? I fan my flaming cheeks. What that was, was hot. And it had nothing to do with the water temperature. It’s happening more often: our eyes lock on each other, and the world around us fades away. But why? I can’t explain it, only that he must feel some attraction or . . . God, what is wrong with me?

  I step to the mirror and let down my hair, running my fingers through the tangles. This is crazy. I have a major crush on a UFL fighter who probably looks at me and sees nothing more than a score: a naïve girl who will fall for his charm and meet some need on a physical level. If that’s true, why hasn’t he made a move? What would I do if he did? My lips curl and my stomach flips.

  Fed up with staring at my goofy grin, I wrap my towel around my waist to head back to the party. I duck my chin to my chest as I push through the door, hoping to shake my love-sick-puppy smile before I face Jonah.

  “Raven, right?”

  I jump at the sound of a female voice. The blond girl who came with Blake i
s standing just outside the bathroom. Her arms are crossed at her chest as she glares in my direction.

  My smile fades. “Yes?”

  She looks me up and down as if I’m covered in cockroaches. Her lips peel back in disgust. This feels so much like high school. I curl into myself.

  “I’m just trying to figure out what Jonah would want with a little grease monkey like you.” Her icy stare continues to scrutinize me from bare feet to bikini top. “What are you? Eighteen? Do you really think a silly little girl like you could satisfy a man like him?”

  I jerk from the truth in her statement.

  The words he’s just a friend itch at the back of my throat. Something tells me we’re more than that, but uncertainty seals my lips.

  But she’s right. I’m inexperienced and young. Men want women who are confident and know how to please them. My shoulders sink as I consider all the ways I’m not good enough for Jonah. Maybe she’s right and I’ve been misreading things.

  “Jonah and I . . . We’re just friends. You want him, he’s yours.” My voice is dull, and my heart sinks like a lead balloon.

  I push past her with every intention of getting as far away as I can before I do something stupid, like cry. A firm grip on my elbow halts my getaway. In shock, I lean away from the blonde, who is sneering inches away from my face.

  “Want him?” She flashes a heartless smile that tells me she’s going to enjoy whatever she’s about to say. “I’ve had him. He fucked my brains out last week.”

  I turn my face away, trying to escape the vulgarity of her words.

  “Yeah, that’s right. And he screamed my name, begging me for more.” She leans in so close I can smell the liquor on her breath. “He said I had the sweetest pussy he’s ever tasted.”

  My eyes burn, tears threatening to spill.

  “Keep your filthy fucking hands off of him. He doesn’t want you. You’re nothing but a worthless piece of white trash, and he—”

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  An enraged male voice breaks her concentration. In unison, we turn toward the source.

  Oh, crud.

  “Jonah.” His name escapes on a whisper.

  His jaw is tense and ticking, his fists balled at his sides. The fierceness in his stare is terrifying, and it’s not directed at me.

  “Get the hell out of my house,” he spits out through clenched teeth while glaring at Candy.

  “Jonah, honey, I don’t know what you thought you heard.” Like a sneaky little viper, she tries to backpedal. “We were just having a little girl talk.” She releases her hold on me and brushes my hair over my shoulder.

  Jonah’s eyes dart to mine then move back to glare at Candy. “Out. Now.” His voice trembles with rage.

  Candy lifts her head and squares her shoulders. Lithely, she moves past Jonah, stopping to look him in the eye. “You’re really going to pass this up?” She looks down at me from over her shoulder. “For that?”

  Her reference to me being an object rather than a person has me studying the concrete at my feet.

  Jonah grumbles a reply I can’t make out. Whatever he said makes Candy finch before she struts away.

  My heart is beating out of my chest. I peer at Jonah from behind my hair. His head falls forward, hands resting on his hips. I hear the sound of him breathing deep and blowing air from his mouth as if he were trying to calm down.

  He looks up at me, concern etched on his face. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” I’m unable to control the quiver in my voice.

  He steps to me and interlaces his fingers with mine. “Come on.”

  He leads me into the bathroom and locks the door behind us. Releasing my hand, he leans against the door. My arms wrap protectively around my body in an attempt to hold myself together. His face is more relaxed, but his eyes are still angry.

  “Raven, I owe you an apology.”

  I stumble back a step. An apology? I wasn’t expecting that. “No, Jonah you don’t owe me—”

  “I slept with Candy.”

  My body stills along with my words. I close my gaping mouth, surprised at his honesty. “Um, I know that.”

  He shifts on his feet and rubs the back of his neck. “I slept with her.” He takes a deep breath. “Why is this so hard?” He mumbles to the floor before his eyes meet mine. “I slept with her a week ago.”

  This, too, I already knew because of Candy’s less than ladylike admission. “Okay.”

  Is that all I can say? Okay?

  “I didn’t invite her here. I’m not interested in her.” His eyes study my face for a few silent seconds.

  “Jonah, you don’t need to explain—”

  “There’s something else.” He takes a step toward me.

  I pull in a large breath through my nose and blow out my mouth. Can I handle his something else? I nod.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  Yes, I can handle that.

  My cheeks hurt as I wrestle against an embarrassing grin. “Okay.”

  He takes another step in my direction. “You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

  My breathing picks up, my heart pounds, and something begins to unfurl and flutter in my chest. “Okay.”

  “I want to be with you.”

  Is this really freaking happening?

  “Okay.”

  He closes the final few feet between us. His arms surround my waist and lock at my lower back, forcing my hands to his bare chest. The heat from his skin ignites a fire in my palms that shoots down my spine and awakens my senses. The gentle rise and fall of his breath, the rhythmic beat of his heart, all magnified. My bikini-clad breasts brush against his rib cage. The friction makes me shiver in his arms.

  He slides his hands up my back, trailing his fingers across my skin. Goose bumps skate across my flesh. A bright smile lights his face at my response to his touch. His eyes become hooded. His hands rest against either side of my neck, rubbing my jaw with slow swipes of his thumbs. I watch in amazement as his eyes travel from my eyes to my lips before they drop to the side of my neck.

  “I’ve wanted to do this since the first day I met you.”

  Bending forward, he brings his lips just a breath away from mine. I lean in and close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of his mouth. He uses his hold to tip my chin down and kiss my forehead. I sigh and melt into the tenderness of his touch.

  Gently, he runs his nose down my hairline to my ear. “Mmm, you smell so good.”

  My fingers flex against his firm chest at the husky sound in his voice. A second chill races through my body. Heat floods my system. I welcome every new feeling, every fragile emotion that courses through me.

  He makes a fist in my hair and tilts my head. The soft heat of his lips brushes against my earlobe then my neck, trailing kisses to my shoulder. He lingers there, licking and nipping with his teeth. The abrasive stubble of his chin against my collarbone electrifies my body. I press my aching breasts into him as my bones liquefy beneath his touch. His hard, strong body accepts my weight, and a moan tumbles from my throat.

  I feel him smile against my skin. “You like that, baby?”

  He called me baby! I’m thankful he can’t see my eyes as they stare at the ceiling, wide in shock.

  The silky moisture from his open-mouth kisses at my neck have my eyelids falling shut. “Sweet, just like I knew you’d be.” His breath tickles my skin.

  Something coils deep inside, a damn on the verge of collapsing. “Jonah . . .” My mind scrambles with how to communicate everything I want from him right now. His lips on mine, the weight of his body, his hands . . .

  He places a final kiss against my neck and pulls his head up. My eyelids, suddenly heavy, fight to stay open. My body trembles with a raw need I’ve never felt before. And our lips haven’t even touched.

  “I want to take you inside,” he whispers, through a dark, sexy smile.

  “Okay.”

  “Send Eve home. You’re staying with me t
onight.”

  His proposition douses the fire raging in my body.

  “You want me to spend the night?” Panic creeps in.

  His lips curve at the ends. “Yeah, you can borrow something to sleep in.”

  I try to think of something logical, some reason why I can’t spend the night, but with his hands running up and down my back, it’s hard to concentrate. How can I say no? Jonah Slade asks for a sleepover, the answer is always yes. It’s in the female handbook. She says no, she gets her membership revoked, right? If not, she should.

  “Okay.”

  The corners of his mouth twitch. “Raven, you gotta give me something besides okay.”

  Here he just confessed to having feelings for me and asked me to spend the night, and he want’s something besides okay? My brain is on overload, not to mention the other parts of my body that have just woken up for the first time in . . . well, forever. They may even short circuit if he gets anywhere near them with that skilled mouth of his. I laugh inwardly at the thought of Jonah’s vast experience with women compared to my complete lack of experience with men.

  Oh, no.

  “I can’t have sex with you.” I blurt out the words, my hand covering my mouth too late.

  I’m an idiot.

  His eyes light up, dancing with laughter, making my idiocy totally worth it.

  “That’s all right. I’m not asking you to stay over so I can have sex with you.” He lifts one eyebrow and gives me a one-dimpled grin. “Can we make out?”

  Heat bursts against my cheeks and floods down my neck. I bury my face against his chest to hide my embarrassment. “Okay.”

  He throws his head back and laughs while holding me to him. Instantly, his touch calms my nerves and my lungs take in a full breath. His warm skin smells like coconut sunblock mixed with his usual masculine spice. I relax deeper into his hold.

  “Jonah?’

  “Hmm?”

  “I like you too.”

  He pulls back just enough to see my face, determination flashing in his eyes. He leans down and, knowing what he’s after, I lift up on my toes. Our lips touch for the first time in a soft caress. I’ve wondered what it would be like to kiss Jonah, and even my best fantasies weren’t this good.