Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Good evening, sir,” Liam says as Mr. Cartwright walks on board. “How was California? The competition?”
I get up from my seat and make my way to the cockpit door, standing back as my co-pilot welcomes them on board. Mr. Cartwright’s cheeks are tinged pink, the faint smell of cigar smoke and champagne wafting from his breath as he smiles widely.
“California was amazing because my little girl won gold!” he gushes, tugging Pippa’s arm and tucking her into his side. “Show him your medal, sweetheart.”
“Dad,” Pippa groans as Mr. Cartwright holds up the medal hanging around her neck.
“Congratulations,” Liam exclaims. “My sister was watching the entire thing; she wanted me to tell you that she thought you were fantastic.”
She smiles, but she doesn’t linger on him for long. Her gaze flicks behind him, locking with mine, and it feels like we’re the only ones on the plane. I want to tell her how proud I am, not just through text. I want to wrap her in my arms, kiss her, worship her, celebrate her.
Looping my hands behind my back, I grab one of my wrists, squeezing like a vice, relishing the sharp bite of pain before nodding politely. “Miss Cartwright.”
“Captain,” she says, the breathiness of my title making my cock twitch behind my zipper.
“We need to crack open more champagne,” Mr. Cartwright announces, ushering Pippa farther into the plane.
“I think we’ve had enough,” Nancy giggles as she climbs the last stair. She pats Liam's arm, leaning in to whisper, albeit loudly. “I apologize now; we may have overindulged at the Exhibition Gala.”
“No need, ma’am,” Liam replies tactfully. “Enjoy your celebrations.”
Nancy follows her husband and stepdaughter, laughing as Mr. Cartwright practically tugs her onto his knee. Liam turns around, his eyes wide, and he makes a face when we hear a champagne cork popping. I raise an eyebrow disapprovingly. This is their plane. They can do what they like.
Liam nods and straightens his tie. “Ready whenever you are, Captain.”
Wordlessly, I return to my seat, reviewing the completed pre-flight checklist, my mind in a haze as I listen to the faint laughter from the cabin. Flicking the noise-canceling switch on my headphones, it disappears, and I focus on checking the weather radar once more instead of on the way I want to smash Pippa’s lips to mine, taste her joy at her win, let her feel mine back.
Liam glances at me, giving me a thumbs up. I nod curtly back, my mood souring as we get our approval and are pushed back, ready to head to the runway for the flight back to Westchester.
The night sky sparkles, the stars shining brightly as we reach the halfway mark of our cruise. The celebrations died down rapidly once we took off.
Apparently, Mr. Cartwright can’t handle his overindulgence, so he promptly reclined his chair, gathered Nancy in his arms, and fell asleep.
Everything’s looking great. The autopilot is on, the fuel gauge is fine, and the weather is clear, but my skin crawls like it’s covered with fire ants, nipping and biting.
I tap Liam’s arm, getting his attention from his Sudoku book. “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”
He gives me a tight-lipped smile, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration as he returns to his puzzle. Removing my headset, I place it on the arm of my chair and unfasten the belt.
The cabin is dim as I walk through it, the quiet hum of the engines the only sound. I pass my soundly sleeping boss, guilt prickling my stomach as I look at him.
Mr. Cartwright is a great boss. He pays well and takes care of his employees. There is no doubt as to why he was named the top CEO to work for if he treats the staff working for his business the same way he treats his flight crew. But my feelings for the man won’t stop the lying and the secrecy. Not when I pass Pippa next, her eyelashes resting above her cheekbones, her lips slightly parted as she breathes.
No matter how many times I see her sleeping form, I still can’t get enough.
I drag myself away and close the bathroom door behind me, doing what I came here to do and washing my hands. As I flatten them on either side of the sink, I stare at the man in the mirror. It would be so much easier to turn back into the uncaring playboy, as my brothers liked to call me—the one who wasn’t obsessed with anyone or anything except flying.
But that’s not what you really want, is it?
Splashing water on my face, I dry it off with the soft cotton towel, not feeling any better. The ants are still there, they’re just not biting as hard anymore. Opening the door, I’m about to step out when small hands press against my chest, stopping me in my tracks, gray eyes meeting mine.
Pippa glances down the cabin quickly before whispering, “Did you come?”
“Not yet,” I tease.
“Insatiable.” Her lips twitch as she rolls her eyes. “I mean, did you come to the competition? I left you a ticket. I tried to look for you, even text after, but I was just so busy and…”
I dig into my pants pocket as she speaks, pulling out my wallet and holding a now crinkled piece of paper. “I would never have missed it.” She stares at the ticket stub, and vulnerability in the form of unadulterated relief crosses her face. “You were amazing. I’ve never seen anyone skate the way you do, baby. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Pippa’s groans turn feral as we collide, crashing backward into the small bathroom, her kiss visceral, like she was genuinely surprised I showed up. I open my eyes, leaning forward as she clings to me, and I flick the lock on the door.
We’ve never done this before, kiss so desperately when others are on board, but as her fingers lace into my hair, holding my head, I don’t care. It’s reckless and needy as she pours everything I was feeling into it. We part when breathing becomes an issue, her glistening swollen lips an invitation I’d never decline.
I nip her bottom one, sucking it into my mouth to ease the sting from my teeth.
“You called me baby, again,” she whispers in a daze, like that was the only word she heard.
I shrug, feeling embarrassed because the first time I said that, I was sinking inside her. “Is that okay?”
She nods, saying her words against my lips. “I like it.”
My hands slip down to her ass, hauling her against me, my elbows bashing against either wall of the small bathroom. She groans, uncaring about the lack of space, her tongue tangling with mine as she deepens the kiss.
“I need to get back to the flight deck,” I murmur as I trail a line of open-mouthed kisses along her jaw.
“I want to see you when we land,” she breathes, baring her neck for me to suck.
“Then come to my place.”
“I can’t. We leave for Colorado tomorrow. Dad will ask questions if I don’t go straight home.”
Her hips buck against me, my cock tenting my pants in a way I should control, considering I’m still working with her goddamn father asleep on the other side of the thin wall.
“Stay with me when we get back to Colorado. Don’t go home.”
I freeze. “I can’t.”
She rears back, “Why? Don’t—?”
“I have to fly your father to Chicago on Tuesday.”
“Wednesday then?”
“Pippa,” I warn, not sure this is a good idea.
She reaches up, biting my jaw. “Don’t make me use the boss card.”
“Brat,” I murmur, finding her lips again. I’m unable to do anything but kiss this girl. “Fine. For one night, though.”
“Where have I heard that before?” she teases. Reaching behind her, Pippa pauses before she unlocks the door. Trailing a hand down my tie, she fidgets with the end as her expression turns serious before she says, “I meant to ask earlier, but between training and the Championship, things got a little…crazy.” She winces as if she’s not sure she should continue. “But I wanted to check if you were okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask, trying not to bristle.
She sighs. “I mean, with everything going on with Fiona.”
I close my eyes, knowing that sooner or later she’d want to talk about my meltdown. “I’m fine.”
Frowning, she reaches up and cups my cheek. “Don’t shut me out, Wyatt. Let me be there for you.”
I turn my head and place a kiss to the inside of her hand. “I know, and I appreciate it, but there isn’t anything to talk about.” She gives me a disbelieving look. “I promise, I’m okay,” I assure her.
She nods, but her eyebrows are still pinched together.
Smiling softly, I prod at the lines. “Be careful, you’ll get wrinkles.”
She huffs a laugh, smacking my hand. “You ass.”
With one last kiss, she slips back into the cabin. I inhale, long and deep, into my lungs, counting to sixty in my head before returning to the front of the plane to finish the flight.
By the time we land, Mr. Cartwright is bleary-eyed, still half asleep as he trudges off the plane, Nancy following. Like every time we land, I stand at the front door, telling them goodbye with Liam beside me. My gaze lands on Pippa as she walks toward me, the forbidden pull unbearable. She looks up, her gray eyes shining as my heart thuds so powerfully I’m surprised Liam can’t hear it.
“Will I be seeing you tomorrow, Liam?” she asks as she approaches us.
He smiles, but shakes his head. “No, ma’am. The Bombardier is ready and waiting for its first solo flight to Colorado with Captain Grant.”
“That’s a shame,” she replies, almost sounding disappointed. She angles her body toward him and almost shuts me out as they continue to talk. But then she pushes the boundaries, dares to reveal our secret as her hand brushes mine, a soft and fleeting touch, the tips of our fingers sending sparks between them. She lingers longer than she should, each beat of time slowing, reduced to this stolen moment in front of my co-pilot, just a few feet away, oblivious to everything.
“See you tomorrow, Wyatt,” she says, my hand feeling cold as she breaks the contact and walks to the door. She glances over her shoulder, the tension electric, every nerve in my body on high alert. Her smile is just for me as she faces the front, descending the stairs, both pretending that nothing happens when we’re alone and knowing that if we were caught, it would be a plane crash.