Chapter 7
“All Sable Airline flights are flying out at some point tomorrow. You should have a text with specific info about your flight,” Sylas said.
We’d spent the whole day naked and in bed, .
. . talking, eating food we’d ordered through room service, watching television, and of course, fucking.
It had been a long time since my body had been worked over that way.
Sylas was a very attentive lover, ensuring I had a pleasurable experience every time, something I didn’t realize I was missing in my previous relationships.
We talked about marriage and children, something we both wanted eventually, but neither of us was in a rush to make it happen.
As a thirty-three-year-old woman, I probably should be thinking about my biological clock, but it was the furthest thing from my mind.
I’d rather be a mature mother who had her shit together than rush into motherhood when I was truly not ready.
I loved how easy it was to talk to Sylas and how effortlessly our conversations flowed. He wasn’t judgmental when I shared some of the mistakes I’d made in life, and he didn’t hesitate to share his past mistakes. It was hard not to think about the possibility of a future together.
I grabbed my company-issued phone and checked my messages. As expected, there was a message with the details I needed for my flight tomorrow. I read over the information before grabbing my personal phone.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a text from Evelyn, checking on me and asking if I wanted to grab dinner tonight.
It was the first time she’d reached out since we’d parted ways the day before.
We barely knew each other, so I didn’t expect us to hang out, but I thought it was nice of her to reach out.
After sending a text to my family chat and Mena to update them on my travel, I went back to the thread with Evelyn to respond, but I didn’t know what to say.
“Evelyn invited me to dinner tonight.”
Sylas was lying next to me in bed, checking his messages as well, and he turned his head to look at me.
“You going?”
“Honestly, I hadn’t planned on leaving this room again until I checked out. Do you think it’ll be rude if I decline?”
“No. It’s after six. Tell her you already ate.”
“Good idea.”
I sent the text to Evelyn, and she responded right away, saying she’d see me in the morning.
“How do you like Evelyn?” Sylas asked.
“She seems cool and was very helpful on my first day.”
“I’ve never flown with her, but we cross paths often, and I get good vibes from her.
I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about her.
One thing about working for an airline, word travels because these people gossip like old ladies talking about their soap operas.
It’s cool to listen but never engage or give input. ”
“I’m not big on gossip, and catty women annoy me, so I’ll be sure to take your advice. What do you know about Kendall?”
“Did he flirt with you?”
I laughed. “No. He was very professional, but Evelyn said he gets around.”
“I’ve flown with Kendall several times, and he can spot a woman who is single and ready to mingle from a mile away. He makes the most of his time in every city, that’s for sure, but I’ve never heard anything about him shitting where he eats. I think co-workers are off-limits for him.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Am I the only co-worker you’ve slept with? Or do you not consider me a co-worker?”
He put his phone on the bedside table and turned his body toward mine, giving me his full attention.
“I do consider you a co-worker.”
“Should I be worried about anyone coming to me as a woman?”
He chuckled. “My first month on the job, I witnessed a knockdown, drag out fight between two female flight attendants who were both sleeping with one of the pilots, who just so happened to be married. All three of them were fired, and his wife divorced him. As entertaining as it was, I took it as a warning. There are too many other women in the world for me to risk the career I worked so hard for.”
“If that’s the case, how did this happen?”
“This was out of my control and, obviously, a risk I was willing to take.”
“But why?”
“You don’t think you’re worth the risk?”
“I can’t answer that question in a way that won’t make me sound like I have low self-esteem, which couldn’t be further from the truth. You’ve gotten to know a few things about me, but you don’t know if I’m crazy.”
“We could both be crazy, but you know as well as I do that we’re both in our right minds. I honestly can’t tell you why I ignored my rules with you, or why, before I knew anything about you, I felt like you were worth the risk. Regardless of what happens, I don’t have any regrets. Do you?”
Although we’d talked about the future, it was more in the general sense, and we tiptoed around the topic of us and the possibility of a future together. I refused to bring it up because we’d only known each other for twenty-four hours.
The more time I spent with Sylas, the more I liked him, but when I decided to have sex with him, I had no expectations beyond our time in Denver. It was the best Valentine’s Day I’d had in several years, and if I had to do this all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
“I have no regrets, but I also have no expectations.”
“No expectations? Damn. I don’t know how to take that.”
“I’ve enjoyed our time together, but if this is it, I’m okay with that too.”
“Damn. You don’t give a damn about breaking a nigga’s heart, huh?”
“That’s not my intention, but I’m being realistic. This could be nothing more than an extended one-night stand.”
“Or it could be the beginning of our future. Consider last night the first date of many.”
“I like you, so I guess I can do that.”
“Now that we’re on the same page, what are you eating for dinner, because I’m about to eat your pussy?”
Sylas’s flight was at eight o’clock, and mine was at eleven, so he had to leave before I did. We exchanged numbers, and I couldn’t help but smile when I received a text a few minutes after he disappeared down the hall.
Sylas:
I miss your fine ass already. What the fuck did you do to me?
Me:
I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to do it again.
Sylas:
Be safe and don’t forget to hit me up when you get home.
Me:
You do the same.
Several hours later, we landed at O’Hare, and it felt good to be home. I had the following day off and didn’t plan to do much. There wasn’t enough time to hang out with Mena, and I was planning to have dinner with my family tonight.
It was a little after four when I finally arrived home. After a quick shower, I was right back out the door and headed to my parents’ house, twenty minutes away. I talked to Mena for the entire ride.
“I know you let him blow your back out because I haven’t talked to you since after you landed in Denver,” Mena said.
“I texted you.”
“I didn’t say text, friend. I said talk. Tell me about the nigga.”
“Fine, with your nosy ass.”
“Don’t do that. We don’t keep secrets, so spill it.”
“He’s from the Chicago—”
“What side?”
“Southside.”
“Okay, proceed.”
“He went to SIU at the same time as Blaine. They met through Jamal and used to kick it on occasion.”
“No shit! He must be good people because Blaine don’t fuck with niggas who ain’t about shit.”
“True. My brother has never kept company with niggas on bullshit. I can’t wait to find out what Blaine knows about Sylas.”
“You think Sylas is hiding something?”
“No, but if Blaine gives his stamp of approval, it means a lot because he’s never liked anyone I’ve ever dated.”
“And he ain’t been wrong about them either,” she added.
“Don’t remind me. He does a good enough job reminding me of my poor choice in men.”
“Will he be at your parents’ house?”
“I’m not sure. If not, I’ll call him tonight or tomorrow.”
My dashboard lit up, and I felt giddy when I saw Sylas’s name.
“I’ll call you when I get back home. Sylas is calling me.”
“Damn. That dick must have been good if you’re kicking me to the curb already. Love you, bye.”
“Love you, too.” I connected Sylas’s call. “Hello.”
“Per my research, your flight landed almost three hours ago, and I haven’t received a text or call from you letting me know you made it home safely.”
“My bad, Sylas. I made it home safely, and I’m headed to my parents’ house for dinner.”
“Thank you. Was that hard?”
“No. Reaching out to you slipped my mind.”
“Oh, is that what it is? You’re not thinking about me.”
“What? No, that’s not true. I was just talking to Mena about you.”
“I’ll let you slide this time,” he teased.
“You’re a sweetheart.”
“Did you think I was a sweetheart when I was in that pussy?”
The memories of being filled by his length and girth sent chills through my body. He knew when to go slow or fast, when to go shallow or deep, and when to go soft or hard. I was looking forward to the next time Sylas took my mind and body to heights no other man had ever come close to taking me.
“Well, you are a Gemini.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Part sweetheart, part savage.”
“Which part do you like best?”
“I could never choose.”
“Good answer. So, how was your flight?”
“Much better than the first one. How was yours?”
“Smooth sailing. I fly out again tomorrow evening and won’t be back home for three days, then I’ll have three days off.”
“I have tomorrow off, then I’ll have some round-trip flights for a few days before I have two days off. At least I’ll get to sleep in my bed each night, though.”
“New hires get the worst schedules. I’ll see if I can talk to—”
“No, Sylas. I don’t need you to talk to anyone. I’m good with whatever schedule they give me. At this point, I’m grateful to have a job.”
He sighed loud enough for me to hear before saying, “I’ll chill for now, but if our schedules don’t align within the next two weeks for us to spend some time together, I’m using my status and connections to do something about it.”
“I don’t—”