Chapter 10
Serena
The plane shudders violently as we approach LAX, and I grip the armrests so tightly my knuckles turn white.
Rain lashes against the small window beside me, and I can barely make out the lights of the runway through the storm.
What started as a perfect Thanksgiving with Nova in Florida has turned into a nightmare flight home.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing some turbulence because of weather conditions," the pilot's voice crackles over the intercom, but I can hear the tension beneath his calm professional tone. "Please ensure your seatbelts are securely fastened."
The elderly woman next to me reaches over and pats my hand. "First time flying in weather like this?" she asks kindly.
"No, but it never gets easier," I manage, my voice shaky. All I want is to be back on solid ground, back in Colt's arms. The week away from him felt like an eternity, and now I just need to get home safely.
The plane drops suddenly, making my stomach lurch. Several passengers gasp, and I close my eyes, trying to center myself the way I do when I'm working with my herbs. But nothing works. The plane continues to buck and roll, and I can feel the pilot fighting to maintain control.
When we finally break through the clouds, I am able to see the runway ahead, slick with rain and dotted with emergency vehicles. My heart pounds harder. Why are there fire trucks waiting?
The landing is rough, rougher than anything I've ever experienced.
We hit the tarmac hard, and I feel the plane bounce once, twice, and then settle with a jarring impact that rattles my teeth.
But instead of slowing normally, we seem to slide, as if the wheels were sliding helplessly across the wet runway.
"Hold on!" someone shouts, and then everything becomes a blur of motion and noise.
The plane skids sideways, and through my window I can see sparks flying as we slide past the normal stopping point.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I realize we're heading straight for the grass median.
The aircraft tilts at an unnatural angle, and luggage compartments spring open, sending bags tumbling into the aisles.
We finally come to a stop with a shuddering crash that throws me forward against my seatbelt. For a moment, there's complete silence except for the sound of rain drumming on the fuselage.
Then chaos erupts.
Flight attendants are shouting instructions, passengers are crying, and through the windows I see firefighters and emergency personnel rushing toward us. The acrid smell of burnt rubber fills the cabin, and I realize I'm shaking uncontrollably.
"Everyone remain calm," a flight attendant calls out. "We're going to evacuate in an orderly fashion. The aircraft is stable."
It takes what feels like hours but is probably only minutes before I finally stumble down the emergency slide into the arms of a firefighter. My legs are so weak I can barely stand, and he has to steady me as I try to process what just happened.
"You're okay, miss," he says kindly. "Just a little scare. The plane's fine, everyone's safe."
But I don't feel safe. I feel like I've just cheated death, and all I can think about is Colt. He's waiting for me at the airport. I need him.
The terminal is chaotic as passengers are checked by paramedics and reunited with worried family members. I'm scanning the crowd frantically when I see my love pushing through the barriers, his face pale and desperate.
"Serena!" he shouts, and then he's running toward me.
I crash into his arms with such force it nearly knocks us both over, and he holds me so tightly I can barely breathe. But I don't care. I bury my face in his neck and cry, all the fear and terror of the last hour pouring out of me.
"I heard about the crash on the radio while driving here and was scared I was losing you," he says against my hair, his voice rough with emotion.
"I'm okay," I whisper, pulling back to look at his face. "I'm okay. I'm here."
"Holy shit, I love you so much," he says, cupping my face in his hands. "When I thought something might happen to you, I realized I can't imagine my life without you. I can't do this without you."
We take a shuttle to the quiet parking lot where his truck is. After throwing my bag into the cab, Colt turns to me and, with the rain beating down on us, falls to one knee.
"What are you doing?" I say, my heart beating a mile a minute, with raindrops already soaking through my clothes. "We're going to get drenched."
"I don't care," he says, turning to face me.
The rain has plastered his shaggy hair to his forehead, and his shirt is already clinging to his chest. "I almost lost you today, and I realized I've been wasting time.
Serena Tuttle, I love you more than I thought it was possible to love another person.
I want to wake up next to you every morning, I want to work the land with you, I want to build a life with you.
I know this is sudden, and I need to buy a ring, but will you marry me? "
"Yes," I sob, falling to my knees in front of him. "Yes, yes, of course yes."
We kiss desperately in the rain, our mouths hungry and grateful. The storm continues around us, but I don't feel cold. I feel alive, as if lightning is running through my veins.
"I love you," I gasp between kisses. "I love you so much."
Grabbing my fiancé's hand, I drag him into his truck, the rain beating on the roof, and climb onto Colt from the passenger seat. Grinding into him, I steal his mouth with mine and feel him harden immediately.
"Here?" he asks roughly.
"It's dark and raining, no one can see us," I say, enjoying how his arousal feels against my throbbing pussy.
"You're wearing pants."
"Cheap yoga pants that have a hole in the crotch," I say with a giggle, "rip them open."
My fiancé gives a low growl in the back of his throat and reaches down, finding the hole with his fingers and tears it open. I help him release his ready cock from his jeans and, sliding my panties to the side, and help my grumpy cowboy enter me. His thickness stretches me as I moan into his ear.
"You're so warm and tight," he breathes, while the rain patters against the windshield.
Our lovemaking is desperate and rough. Within minutes, we shatter together, groaning out each other's names when we come. Colt wraps his muscular arms around me, holding me close as we recover, listening to the rain.
After a few minutes, he says, "Let's get my future wife back home."