30. Flynn
Chapter Thirty
FLYNN
I waited just outside the security area at the airport. I’d replied to Daphne’s text to ask what time she would land, but all she’d said was she was renting a car. I’d been surprised to get an email to our business email from Daphne’s mother this morning. With Daphne’s travel itinerary, of all things. Her mother had also very politely asked if someone could pick Daphne up at the airport because she didn’t think Daphne would ask herself. Her mother was worried about her taking a long drive on her own even though she knew she’d already done it before.
People started to file through the doors, cueing me that the flight landed. I waited impatiently to see Daphne’s auburn hair. Although she was short, I was tall enough to see over most of the crowd, and I didn’t miss the moment she came into my line of sight.
My pulse started rioting, and that familiar electricity sizzled through my body. When she came through the glass doors, I stepped away from the wall. Her gaze was aimed down at the floor, so I took a moment to absorb her.
She was wearing a blouse with a skirt and boots again, and my heart nearly kicked its way out of my chest. I forgot how damn cute she was in a skirt.
“Daphne.”
Her head whipped up. She looked the other way first, and it took several seconds for her gaze to land on me. But when she saw me, her eyes widened, and she crossed to me immediately. “Flynn,” she began, her tone wondering. “I didn’t know you were coming to get me. I was going to rent a car.”
With emotion rushing through me, I found I couldn’t speak, so I just stepped closer and pulled her into my arms. She relaxed against me immediately, winding her arms around my waist and tucking her head into my shoulder.
Resting my cheek against her hair, I simply breathed her in—the feel of her, the scent of her, just her. Her mere presence steadied me and helped me get my internal bearings again. She lifted her head, her eyes searching mine.
“Your mom emailed and asked someone to come get you. I wanted to anyway, but you were kinda vague about your landing time.”
I couldn’t hold back my chuckle when Daphne’s eyes widened comically. “My mother emailed you? Are you serious?”
“Oh yeah. I’m glad because that was way better than showing up here and waiting all day. I didn’t know your connecting flight, so I wasn’t sure where you were coming from.”
Her nose wrinkled, and she cast a sheepish smile. “I didn’t want to impose.”
“I love it when you impose,” I said in a teasing tone, but I was dead serious.
She bit her lip, her smile unfurling slowly. “It’s good to see you.”
Someone bumped into her from behind. “Do you have luggage?” I asked, tucking her to my side as I turned.
“Just one bag.”
“Let’s go get it.” I couldn’t stop touching her, so I curled my hand around hers as we walked.
“How was your trip?” I asked when we paused to wait near the baggage claim.
She looked up at me with those gorgeous green eyes, her gaze thoughtful. “It was what I needed. It’s good to be back.”
“It’s good to have you back.”
* * *
With winter approaching, the days were getting shorter. We watched the sun make its glorious bow as we drove south along Turnagain Arm, where the road hugged the feet of the mountains on one side with the waters of Cook Inlet immediately to the other side of the road. The view was stark and stunning.
“Oh, wow,” Daphne breathed as she looked ahead to the snow-covered mountain peaks stained by the setting sun in a translucent pink and lavender.
“That’s alpenglow.” I felt Daphne look my way and glanced sideways briefly, getting a little jolt just from meeting her eyes before I brought mine back to the road. “It’s the reflection from the sun.”
“It looks like termination dust has fallen,” she commented.
“Princess, you sound like an Alaskan now talking about termination dust,” I teased.
Because I couldn’t resist, I peeked her way again, quickly bringing my eyes back to the winding highway in front of me. That brief look was enough to see her cheeks stained pink.
“Cat told me about it.”
I chuckled. “Good. You know, you’ve come a long way since the day I found you waving in the middle of the road.”
I felt rather than saw Daphne’s smile. “I’ve never been one to back down from learning something new. I like it here. However, I don’t see myself flying a plane or fighting off bears.”
I laughed. “I might fly planes almost every day, but I’m not stupid enough to try to fight off a bear.”
“How is Cat?” Daphne asked next.
Taking a deep breath, I didn’t even try to hide my sigh. “I had to pick her up yesterday at that kid’s house. I grounded her for a week again, and she’s not allowed to go anywhere with him. She was crying, and it was awful. In fact, she locked herself in her room last night and hasn’t spoken to me since. She came out to go to school, so I actually saw her, but she refused to speak.”
“Oh, Cat,” Daphne said, the empathy clear in her voice. “Being a teenager is miserable, especially a teenage girl.”
“Can you please tell me why she would skip classes with him again? After what happened the last time, I don’t really get it. I did tell her that guys are kind of jerks, and they’re horny. I didn’t say it like that, though,” I added hurriedly.
Daphne’s giggle made me want to stop driving and kiss her, but I didn’t. Darkness was falling as I continued driving.
“I’m not Cat, so I don’t really know. Most teenage girls have poor self-esteem. There’s even research on this. Obviously, she liked this guy before, so he probably convinced her he wasn’t going to pressure her.”
“But Cat is so bossy and strong and…” I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
Daphne reached over and squeezed my knee. The moment her hand moved away, I wanted it back. “It’s not that simple. Cat can be bossy and strong and confident in some areas and still not feel great about herself in other areas. We don’t live in a world that’s kind to girls. It’s particularly brutal when you’re a teenager.”
“Soooo,” I began slowly, “it’s probably a bad idea if I show up at this guy’s house and give him hell?”
“Absolutely. Unless he pushed her too far after she told him no. If that’s the case, you’re still going to be reasonable and talk to his parents. Even if he is an asshole, he’s only sixteen too. Did she tell you what happened?”
“Did you miss the part when I told you she didn’t talk to me last night and this morning?” I asked dryly.
This time, Daphne’s laugh was soft and understanding. “Got it. Do you think she’s talked to Nora about it?”
“Nora said she didn’t. I was kind of hoping Cat would talk to you.”
“Me?” Daphne’s voice squeaked, and she sounded startled.
“Yes, you. It’s that thing. I might not have experience being a teenage girl, but I have experience being a teenager. I do remember that sometimes it’s easier to talk to people where there’s not as much—” I stopped talking abruptly because I didn’t know how to describe what I meant.
“Emotional crap?” Daphne offered helpfully.
“Yes, that. She trusts you. Do you mind trying to talk to her?”
“Of course not, but not tonight. By the time I get there, it’ll be late, so I’ll try tomorrow. Maybe I can pick her up after school and take her for coffee or something.”
“Whatever you think will work.” I was so relieved Daphne was willing to try to talk with Cat, I honestly didn’t care what she did.
“Car rides are great because she can talk without having to deal with eye contact.”
I chuckled. “True.” I paused before prompting, “So tell me about your trip.”
Deafening quiet fell for a moment, and my heart started thumping erratically. I had enough sense to know her going home was filled with emotional landmines. As open and honest as Daphne was about what had happened, I didn’t know what she wanted to share with me. It was big, really big, for me to be trying to traverse this emotional territory.
I almost sagged with relief when she spoke. “It was hard, but it was good. Since I know you haven’t seen the best of my mother, you might be surprised to learn we’re sort of at peace right now.”
“Good to know,” I said gruffly, and I meant it. Even though I thought Daphne’s mother had been harsh, I’d been through enough in life to know people were messy and complicated. You could do shitty things and still love a person.
My hand found its way to Daphne’s as I drove through the darkness. The silence between us felt comfortable. As the miles passed, the air around us began to feel charged. Emotions were bouncing around inside my chest, and there was so much I wanted to say. There was one small problem: words had never been my strong suit. I was definitely an action kind of guy.
The depth of how much I missed Daphne twined like a vine within my unexpected feelings for her. That vine tangled even more strongly around the powerful and unrelenting need I felt for her. I wasn’t even thinking when I hastily turned off the highway to an overlook through a small copse of trees.
“Where—?” Daphne’s question cut off abruptly when I stopped the truck and put it in park.
For the first time ever, I was annoyed at the presence of the console between the two front seats in my truck. Given my height, my seat was already as far back as it could go. The moment Daphne’s eyes caught mine, I saw the answering flare of desire in hers. It felt as if we created our own electricity, so blazing hot that it heated the space around us.
Leaning over the console, I slid my hand roughly in her hair and claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss. I growled in my throat. Daphne didn’t hesitate to open her mouth and glide her tongue against mine. There was nothing graceful or controlled about the next few minutes as I pulled her over onto my lap.
Her head bumped against the roof, and I murmured, “Sorry,” against her throat when her elbow hit the driver’s side window.
“You should wear skirts more often,” I gasped as my head fell against the seat, and I slid my palms up her thighs. Goose bumps pebbled over the surface of her skin. “Baby, you’re cold.”
“It wasn’t cold when I got on the plane.” Her words ended on a little moan as I reached her panties and dragged a knuckle over the damp silk.
She gasped again when I push the silk out of the way to find her hot and slick with arousal.
“Flynn,” she murmured into my throat when her forehead fell to my neck and her hips rocked into my touch.
“Yeah, princess?”
She reached between us and boldly dragged her palm over the hard ridge of my arousal. My cock was so swollen that I could feel the tines of my zipper pressing against it.
Then I was groaning when she unzipped me quickly and shoved my jeans just far enough out of the way that my cock bounced free. “Daphne,” I groaned, my voice a guttural, rough sound.
We fumbled, and then my cockhead was pressing at her entrance, and I slid home in one stroke.
I might not have the words, but I knew how to love Daphne with my hands, with my mouth, with my lips, my tongue, my teeth, and all of me. The moment I was buried to the hilt inside her and felt the ripple of her around me, I pressed an open-mouthed kiss against her neck. I tugged roughly at her blouse, snapping a few buttons. I savored every little sound she made.