Chapter 11 Selene
ELEVEN
SELENE
Turns out Holt has brought me to his penthouse apartment in Midtown Manhattan.
It’s one of his many places throughout the city. I’ve only ever been to the one he owns in Brooklyn. The sight of the glamourous, modern architectural building is drastically different from the one I stepped into over the years for countless get togethers and parties.
I try to suppress my ironic laugh, realizing he lives in what those of us who live in other, less expensive parts of the city call Billionaires’ Row.
Why has this place not been his go-to when it comes to holding parties and events with the social elites of New York City?
I pick up my jaw as he ushers us inside the incredibly tall building that’s shaped like a pencil reaching for the sky.
The inside of Holt’s building is decked out in sharp lines of marble and chrome accents.
He pulls me behind him, never allowing my hand to slip from his as he waves to the door attendant, then heads straight for the glaringly shiny elevator.
We ride it to the top floor. Once the doors open, we’re on the roof.
The view from here takes my breath away, and I barely have time to take it in before Holt is pulling me toward the open, waiting helicopter.
“Holt.” I grind his name out slow and low, my stomach fluttering with nerves. “What are we doing?”
“We need to take my helicopter to get to where we’re going,” he says over his shoulder. “Beats sitting in traffic. Plus, the view is better.”
The gravel under my heels crunches before I’m met with solid, smooth black tarmac. I tug on his hand to try and slow down his oddly quick pace.
“Wait, Holt.” I squeeze his hand harder just outside the open helicopter door. There are two open seats in the back, with a headset hanging above each one. The pilot sits in front, adjusting knobs and switches.
Holt stops and spins around. His blue eyes immediately find mine, his hand still wrapped around mine. “What is it?”
I dart my attention between him and the helicopter. My stomach is queasy. “I don’t know.”
Nerves overtake me, and I finger my necklace, rolling the gem between my fingertips. Finally, Holt pulls his hand from mine, but he places it over mine holding my necklace.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Selene.”
An odd sensation comes over me. I can’t explain it other than Holt seems to have the ability to peer into my soul in this exact moment.
He knows what my mind is thinking before I’ve even said it out loud.
Strange, considering we’ve spent more time together in the past hour than over the years we’ve known each other.
This Holt is completely different from the one I’ve always known.
This one is intuitive and patient. Kinder, even.
“I’ve never flown in a helicopter,” I admit.
The corner of his mouth lifts, and he chuckles, slipping his hand easily into mine.
I want to kiss him again. It’s crazy and maniacal. Completely irrational.
His eyebrows rise. “There’s a first time for everything, right?”
“Yeah, but…” I blink.
“You’re safe with me, Selene.”
I press my mouth together and surprise myself when I nod once in agreement.
My grandmother would be so proud.
Holt helps me inside, then follows behind. Once I slide into my seat, I look around, taking in the number of knobs, buttons, and switches. It’s all too much and confusing as fuck. How is it possible to need this many controls?
“Are you sure this is safe?” I shiver. “I know you said it was outside, but now we’re here…”
Holt reaches across my lap for my belt. He buckles me in as if he’s done this a million times. The buckle clicks, and he’s tugging on the straps, pulling them tightly across my body. Then he reaches up to the headset and places it carefully on my head.
Everything about him surrounds me again. His scent, his presence, his shining blue eyes. Nerves shoot down my spine as he smiles. He won’t stop smiling at me.
“I meant what I said. You’re safe as long as you’re with me.”
I scoff. “Not if something goes wrong. Then we’re both fucked.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
“I don’t know.” I wave my hand in the air. “Have you ever watched the news? A bird could fly into the propeller. The engine could malfunction, then we’re suddenly crashing into a bridge or the Hudson in a raging ball of fire.”
Holt stiffens, staring at me with amusement in his eyes.
“What?” I scowl.
“Nothing.” He laughs, shaking his head.
“That laugh wasn’t nothing. Are you making fun of me?”
“I’m not making fun of you.” He pauses then sighs, staring into my eyes. “Okay, fine. First of all, we aren’t flying over the Hudson, so you don’t have to worry about crashing into water.”
I glare at him.
“Second, my helicopter goes through multiple maintenance checks.” He frowns and tosses his head to the side. “Birds on the other hand, no guarantees.”
I harden my glare.
“You’re cute when you get fired up, you know that?” He chuckles. “No wonder you’re a writer. Your mind has a wild imagination.”
“I’d rather not die at twenty-eight, thank you very much.” I huff, then snap my mouth shut. This is why I don’t open myself up to others often.
“Is this the sort of stuff that goes through your mind all day?”
I close my eyes and rest my head back. “What if it was?”
I feel him shift beside me followed by the sound of his seat belt buckling. Then his voice is in my ear, coming through the headset.
“Sounds exhausting,” he mutters.
I roll my head against the headrest and open my eyes. He’s staring at me. He’s sexy yet beautiful sitting beside me, with dark brown strands hanging above his brow, framing his blue eyes. “It isn’t exhausting.”
“Worrying about what could happen instead of living in the moment sounds incredibly exhausting.”
I inhale a deep breath and force myself to think calmly.
I try to use the tactics my therapist has taught me over the years when I start to feel overwhelmed and consumed by thoughts.
Or as Holt calls it, exhausted thoughts.
But none of it works. Not until Holt’s hand rests on my thigh.
Electricity crackles across my skin. His fingers press into the muscle of my leg, only separated by the thin linen fabric of my skirt.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.” He laughs.
I playfully slap his arm. “What are you, five?”
He rolls his eyes while mine drop to the crease on the corner of his mouth. I want to drag my tongue across it.
Fire grows in my belly.
I roll my head back to face forward. The noise of the helicopter grows louder, causing a vibration through my seat and body.
I close my eyes and breathe. I don’t know what has me more of a nervous wreck: this damn helicopter ride, or the fact I’m going to spend the whole night with Holt, just the two of us.
“What was your question?” Holt’s voice comes through the headset, breaking my concentration. It’s oddly comforting.
I don’t move, instead focusing on the feeling of us lifting off the ground. I don’t open my eyes even to peek at the earth growing smaller beneath us.
Swallowing, I stiffen as the helicopter dips slightly, then I slap my hand on top of Holt’s, hoping it’ll steady me.
“I’m sorry, Selene.” His voice is soft in my ear. “Please, ask your question. It’ll distract you.”
“Do you think our lives flash before our eyes before we die, or is that just a myth?”
I’ve often asked myself this question ever since my parents’ death. Did my mother’s life flash through her mind as she stared down the barrel of the gun? Did my father’s when he turned his gaze on me before pulling the trigger?
“I’m not sure, Wallflower.” Holt clears his throat, sliding his hand closer to the inside of my thigh. My skin is white hot, the electricity from his touch jumpstarting my heart. “But I guess if we’re going to go down in a raging ball of fire, we’re about to find out.”
I finally open my eyes and turn to see Holt staring at me. We’re thousands of feet in the air at this point, heading to God knows where, but I have this sudden urge to both slap him and kiss him at the same time.
Maybe by the end of the night, I’ll end up doing both.
That’s if we make it out alive.