Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury (easy readers TXT) 📕

white teeth dig into her plump lower lip. She finger walks her hand up my chest to wrap it around the back of my neck. Her other hand lies flat against my stomach.

“Candy, get your hands off me.” I command in a low voice to avoid making a scene in front of Raven.

I’m grateful to see her engaged in conversation with Eve and Nikki who joined them by the pool.

Candy follows my gaze and sneers in Raven’s direction. “Oh, I get it.” She looks back at me and pulls her hand from my neck, making sure to drag her long fingernails against my skin. “Fresh meat.” She looks back to Raven before spinning on her high heel. Her short, tight skirt looks more like a belt as she swings her ass. “You’ll be back. Can’t live on SPAM forever.”

Her sidekicks squeal with laughter, and I glare at Blake. He shakes his head and throws his hands in the air mouthing, “I didn’t know.”

I’m not familiar with the sick feeling that gnaws at my insides. From the hateful look Candy gave Raven, there’s no way she’ll keep her mouth shut about our night together. My reputation is no secret, but having it confirmed is unsettling.

It shouldn’t matter because I slept with Candy before I knew Raven, but the thought of Raven knowing the intimate details of my sexual history makes me insecure. I want her to see me as worthy. And sleeping around, especially to the daughter of a prostitute, doesn’t say ideal boyfriend material.

Is that what I want? To be her boyfriend?

It’s on this eye-bulging thought that Nikki walks up with Raven and Eve flanking her.

“Blake, I see you’ve brought the entertainment.” Nikki’s smile is the farthest thing from friendly.

“Oh, come on, Nik. Don’t hate the player; hate the game.” Blake laughs and the tension rippling off Nikki intensifies.

Raven and Eve, eyes wide as saucers, look back and forth between the two.

Owen stands from his barstool and grabs his wife by the hand. “Nik, baby. Inside. Now.”

She allows herself to be led away, but maintains a death glare on the strippers until she’s out of sight.

Blake’s eyes follow Nikki into the house before he sets his sights on Raven and Eve. He pushes past his dates. “And who do we have here?” His cocky-ass smile has the girls giggling.

Fucking Blake.

I give a quick growled introduction.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Raven extends her hand graciously. She motions to me with the hand that Blake is still holding. “Jonah mentioned you the other day.”

My eyes burn at their connection. I try to figure out a way to get him to let her go without breaking her hand in the process.

“Raven. Why haven’t I met you before?” Blake’s gaze leaves Raven to narrow on me.

Raven shifts at my side. I spear Blake with a glare. He gets the message and lets her go. Smart man.

“Raven’s helping me with my Impala.”

Blake throws his head back, roaring with laughter. Raven stiffens at my side. I drape my arm over her shoulder, and she presses softly into my hold. Her body feels so small and delicate under my arm. The intimacy of her bare shoulder against my shirtless torso has me gathering her deeper into my side. Her mild fruity scent combined with the comfort of her body calms my nerves. I resist the urge to bury my face in her hair.

“Dude, you have a smokin’ hot mechanic. What the hell?” He’s back to looking at Raven, and as his eyes dance up and down her body, I thank God she’s still in her cover up. “Gives a whole new meaning to the term body shop.” His eyes settle on her legs. “Nice legs, what time do they open?”

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth.” My jaw locks down. A warm, familiar buzz stirs in my head. My hand squeezes Raven’s shoulder on reflex.

Silence hangs thick in the air as everyone stares between Blake and me. Even the Stripper Sisters have ceased their obnoxious babbling.

Blake focuses on me, his eyebrows low and questioning.

A soft giggle breaks the silence. In unison, all eyes move to Raven.

“Thanks for the compliment, Blake.” Raven rolls her lips between her teeth, her face red with withheld laughter.

The buzz in my head retreats.

“Jonah didn’t tell me you were so funny.” She loses the battle, a burst of laughter escaping her lips. The melodic sound further calms my temper.

Small talk erupts all around me, but I don’t hear a word. I’m stuck analyzing what the hell just came over me. I never get possessive over girls. I was half a second away from giving my best friend a beat down.

Raven and Eve go back to the lounger, and I throw Blake a chin lift. He responds in true Blake form, cocky smile and the middle finger salute.

The Stripper Sisters saunter to one of the lounging areas and whisper back and forth to each other. I relax seeing they’ve decided to sit on the opposite side of the pool from Raven and Eve who are back to their loungers by the bar.

Damn, I need a beer.

I walk behind the bar where the guys are camped out in front of the television.

“What the hell was that about?” Blake shoves a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“You almost flipped the switch on your boy for spewing the kind of shit he says to every girl he meets.” Rex laughs and rubs the back of his neck. “One more word and I’d have been pulling your ass off him.”

I nod and grab a beer. No doubt in my mind I would have beaten Blake for disrespecting Raven.

“Never thought I’d see it.” Owen’s back from settling down his wife and caught up on recent events. “You got it bad, my man.”

Dress removed, I’m staring at a bikini-clad Raven. She’s not covering or sucking in her stomach. No bashful body language that would expose her insecurities. Her olive skin glistens in the sun as she