Page 20 of Praise Me: Pilot
Without responding, he walks me to the stack of towels and nods at me to pick one up, which I do, before he escorts me to an unoccupied spot on the other side of the pool, where a pair of discarded swim trunks lays in a heap. He uses a firm hand on my shoulder and makes me sit on one of the loungers, while he stands in front of me, blocking the pool from view.
I’m given no warning when he removes his shirt.
“Wow,” I whisper, my mouth going dry.
Even though I haven’t seen Joel shirtless, I knew he was strong. But I wasn’t aware of the physique that wasresponsiblefor that strength. He’s somehow thick and toned at the same time. Big biceps and sculpted pecs have my jaw on the floor, to say nothing of the Air Force tattoo spanning the length of his collarbone. The removal of his shirt has caused his hair to muss and nowI’mwishing he’d punched my V-card in the bathroom.
Because I don’t like the interest he’s attracting from my sorority sisters.
They’re gaping at him. As if he’s theirs to look at!
Well, he’snot.
“Are you okay?” Joel asks, raising an eyebrow, while fashioning the towel around his waist, those abs shifting in the sunlight. “You look pissed.”
“I’m not.” My high-pitched giggle says otherwise. “Maybe I’m just trying to look intimidating, so the other teams know we’re about to kick their butts.”
“She has a competitive streak,” he drawls, flashing me a grin.
God, he’s so hot. Iknewhe was hot, but it’s, like, way too obvious right now.
I arch my back and bite my lip, thinking his attention on my body will make me feel less…jealous? Is that what I’m feeling? Whatever I’m doing, it works, because when he drops his jeans, the buckle hitting the brick patio, his erection strains out through the opening of the towel. “Could you do me a favor and wait until we’re alone to tease me?” His voice is as dark as sin. “Somewhere I can get on my knees and worship that wet pussy.”
“I just like having you focused on me,” I whisper, honestly. “Only me.”
He leans down to take hold of his trunks, drawing them on beneath the towel, his heated gaze glued to my bathing suit bottoms. “I can’t focus on anything else.” He tosses the towel aside and narrows his eyes on me, looking thoughtful, as if he’s dissecting my confession. “Not all pilots are the same, angel. There will be no other women for me, now that we’re together. Period.”
“We’re not together.”
Joel ignores my weak protest. “While we’re on the subject, there won’t be any other men for you.”
“Would you worry about that?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Or is it only the women who have the trust issues?”
“I can trust you and still worry.” He cups the side of my face, stroking his thumb across my bottom lip. “I’d be an idiot notto worry about someone trying to steal you. If you belonged to someone else, I’d be waging a fucking war against him.”
I’m getting lost in the rasp of his deep voice. “Mmm.”
“The fact that I’m not an idiot and would do anything to keep you means you’re going to be spoiled rotten. You’re going to stay well fucked and well groomed, smiling because you’ve got your man’s sperm swimming in your tummy.”
Am I on the verge of hyperventilating? “You want to get me pregnant?”
“No. I’mgoingto get you pregnant. It’s just a matter of when.”
I stand up abruptly, but my legs are wobbly, and I stumble into Joel, his strong arm banding around my back to catch me against his chest. I open my mouth to…to what? To tell him I don’twantto be spoiled and pregnant? Because there’s a chance that might be a lie. His firm and unwavering plans for me, for us, give me a sense of security I’ve never had. Even if this non-relationship is moving at the speed of light.
Anyway, before I can say a word, a whistle is blown from behind me in the pool.
“All competitors, please take your place in the water.”
Joel palms my backside, giving it a firm pat. “After you.”
Still reeling from Joel promising to impregnate me, I execute a pencil jump into the pool, grateful when the cool water envelops my feverishly hot skin. Joel, however, is right behind me, raising my body temperature again just by surfacing with wet hair, pool water running in tantalizing rivers down his incredible chest.
The girl beside me isn’t even bothering to hide her perusal, her cataloging gaze slithering all the way down his happy trail.Take a picture, Candice. It’ll last longer.I’m very close to making that snappy sentiment out loud, but there’s no need, because Joe turns me to face him in the water, tilting my chinup and looking me in the eye. Wetting his lips. Stroking my hair. And just…staring. Staring at me without cease or distraction. The fear that I have to compete for his attention ebbs slowly and eventually vanishes.
“Good god…” he mutters, his palm smoothing back my hair. “Just when I think you can’t get any more beautiful, you’re surrounded by blue…and the water makes your eyes pop like emeralds.” He shakes his head, like he can’t believe I’m real. “You keep distracting me like this, we’ll have no chance of winning.”
“Oh no,” I flirt, my whole body flushed with pleasure as it brushes against him. Teasing. “But first prize is a gift card for the local fro-yo shop.”
