Chapter Sixteen
A Holbrook newspaper reporter spotted the explosions and rushed to the scene, thinking it was an airplane crash. Instead, he came across me slumped over Max’s neck with Edgar perched behind me and Bodacious standing guard. The photo made me a ten-day wonder. Every news station in the country wanted an interview. Ugh. The Sheriff talked me into doing two, even though I was still battered and bruised.
Thankfully, the little girl’s mother had seen the news reports about a missing Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy and had called right away. As a reward Dad invited them to spend a weekend at the Refuge.
My grandfather survived the explosion with only minor injuries and was included in the FBI task force going after James Bass aka Eric Roberts.
The Cochise Cowboys derailed the train five miles outside of Winslow and were loading boxes of stolen Nikes and smuggled fentanyl into several trucks when the CIA showed up. Yep, the CIA. In the ensuing gun battle James Bass was shot twenty-two times and none of his gang survived either.
Let’s just say Agent Grimes and Grandpa were seriously pissed.
The whole ordeal had left me more than a little jumpy and I knew everyone was worried about me. Looking for a little peace, I went out to the vegetable garden and started pulling weeds.
“What are you doing?” Dante growled.
“Weeding.”
“You are supposed to be resting.”
I snorted. “Kinda hard to do with everyone stopping by to check on me.”
“You scared the hell out of all of us.”
A jackrabbit shot out of the tomato plants with Edgar in hot pursuit. His neon orange collar was very eye-catching.
“I know.” I pulled out another weed.
“What you need is a change of scenery. How do you feel about a nice, relaxing vacation on Kauai?”
“Uh huh. How are we going to pay for it?”
Dante scooped me up. “Your grandfather has arranged everything.”
“And how does Dad feel about that?”
“He organized our transportation.”
“Which is?” I had people running up to me at the supermarket, gas stations and the nail salon to give me a hug or ask for an autograph. Like I was famous or something.
“A private jet will fly us to Kauai.” Dante gently brushed his mouth across mine.
“A jet?”
“Yes. Your grandfather got us a luxury condo on the North Shore. He also booked us a Zodiac boat tour around the Napali Coast, a sunset dinner cruise, and there’s snorkeling and kayaking.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a long, voracious kiss. “When do we leave?”
“Now.”
“What? I’m not packed or anything.”
Julie rolled my suitcase across the patio. “Everything you need is in there. Your mom is waiting in the Huey to take you to the airport.”
Dante headed for the helipad. “We can join the Mile High club, and we won’t have to do it in the bathroom.”
Julie laughed. “You’ll have the entire plane to yourselves.”
“Are you talking to Lucas yet?”
Her laughter died. “No.”
“Sorry.” Why was Lucas being such a jerk?
“It’s not your fault.”
Time to change the subject. “Is Sergeant Bergman okay with me taking time off?”
“He is.”
Dad was standing by the Huey. “You ready to go kitten?”
“I am.”
Dante dropped me on my feet.
“You take care of her,” Dad growled and shoved a handful of condoms into Dante’s hand. “The women in this family are very fertile.”
His eyes full of laughter, Dante nodded. “I had noticed.”
I wrapped my arms around Dad’s waist. “I can take care of myself, and I’m on the pill.”
“Good to know.” He kissed the top of my head. “Go. Have some fun.”
“We will.” I climbed into the helicopter and strapped into the co-pilot’s seat. Before I could say a word, the Huey shot into the air. Yikes, Dante was a white-knuckle flier.
I blew out a long breath. Mom still blamed herself for what happened. Putting the headset on, I keyed the mic, “Eric Roberts is dead. He can never hurt our family again. You are not responsible for that lunatic’s actions.”
“He could have killed you.”
“But he didn’t, and I don’t blame you, or Grandpa or Dad for what happened.”
Mom flashed me a watery smile. “When I knew he had you, it was the worst day of my life.”
I grinned. “Coming after us was the worst decision of his life.”
“That it was.” Mom landed at the Litchfield Air Park. “The Learjet is yours.”
“Wow! I’ve always wanted to fly in one.” I released my seatbelt, leaned over and kissed Mom’s cheek. “You and Dad should spend some time at the Refuge.”
“We will.”
I climbed out of the helicopter and joined Dante on the tarmac. “Ready for some fun in the sun.”
“I am.” He rolled our suitcase over to the jet.
A man in a pilot’s suit eyed me for a moment, then smiled and held out his hand to Dante. “My name is Josh Webber and I’m your pilot.”
Dante shook his hand. “How long is the flight to Kauai?”
“Six hours and forty minutes,” Josh replied, putting our luggage in the cargo hold.
I gave Dante my best come-hither smile. “Plenty of time.”
“Yes, it is.” We hurried up the stairs.
Huh? There wasn’t a bed, just plush leather seats, a tiny galley and a small bathroom.
We took our seats and buckled in.
I whispered, “What happened to the bed?”
“Your father got us a jet without one, and the condoms are his idea of a joke.”
Dad was sneaky like that.
The pilot secured the outer door. “We’ll be in the air shortly. Help yourselves to any of the beverages and there are some sandwiches in the refrigerator.
“Thanks,” I said politely.
Josh eyed me again.
“Yes, I’m that deputy on the local news.”
Nodding, he hurried into the cockpit and closed the door.
“Well, hell. We can do it in the chair, on the floor or squeeze into the bathroom.
The jet taxied to the runway.
Dante waggled his eyebrows. “Let’s try the bathroom. I don’t want him walking in on us.”
The jet lifted into the air.
Our lips met in a heady kiss.
Dante scooped me up and carried me into the restroom. The door closed behind him. “Damn. I can’t move.”
A giggle escaped me at the disgust on his face. His shoulders filled the tiny space, and the ceiling was only inches from our heads. “Guess this bathroom is only for Lilliputians like Julie.”
“This isn’t going to work.”
“Give me a second.” I wiggled until I was sitting on the closed toilet seat. There was a sizeable bulge in his pants. “Poor little guy needs some air.”
Dante snorted. “Little? I don’t think so.”
Unbuckling his belt, I lowered the zipper and out popped his penis. “What happened to your tighty whities?”
“Didn’t pack any.”
“Well, it does make bathroom sex easier.” Precum beaded on the head of his penis. I licked it off.
Dante shuddered.
“Like that?”
“God yes.”
I scraped my teeth along the tender flesh of his penis.
Dante jerked and smacked his head on the ceiling. “Sonovabitch.”
“Want me to stop?”
“Hell no.”
I ran my tongue over his long, hard length and licked him like he was my favorite chocolate ice cream.
A low, husky growl of raw desire escaped Dante.
The jet rocked violently.
Dante fell on top of me and his penis pushed against my throbbing pussy. I moaned.
A second later, the jet went into free fall.
We bounced off the ceiling and hit the floor hard. “Shit! Are we crashing?”
“Dunno.” Dante struggled to get off me.
The ridge of his penis slide across my mouth. I instinctively squeezed it with my teeth.
Dante’s hips bucked. “You’re killing me.”
More turbulence shook the jet.
“Then we’ll die with a smile on our faces,” I replied. I sucked his cock into my mouth. There was an easy way to get your guy to climax. Squeeze. Release. Squeeze. Release. For the piece de resistance, I pushed the tip of his dick into the roof of my mouth.
Dante’s body bowed and shook violently as I launched him into an orgasmic tsunami.
The aircraft bucked wildly, and we smacked into the ceiling again. A second later, Dante’s semen spurted all over the mirror. Ooops.
“You are amazing, querida .”
“I aim to please, but I’m getting a Charley horse in my right leg. Can you get the door open?”
“Let me try.” Dante wiggled this way and that. “Damn. I can’t reach the doorknob.”
I examined the bathroom. “I’ll stand up on the toilet and lean to the left. If you lean to the right, I should be able to open the door.
Dante squeezed against the wall.
I threw the door open and dived out. Thump! I hit the wall hard. Ouch! I rubbed my head.
“Are you hurt?” Dante helped me to my feet.
The cockpit door opened. “You two okay. We hit a bit of turbulence.”
A bit?
“We’re fine.” Dante quickly tucked his penis away.
The jet shook violently.
I scrambled into a chair and buckled my seatbelt. “If this jet crashes, I’m killing the pilot.”
“How do you feel about marriage?” Dante asked out of the blue.
I gaped at him. “What? You want to get married?”
“We are soul mates, my family loves you, your family is adjusting to me. We have the same interests. The kidnapping made me realize I can’t imagine life without you.” Dante held up a small black velvet box. “Want to give it a try?”
My mouth worked, but nothing came out.
“Is that a yes or a no?”
I knew he loved me, but wow! Marriage? And what had happened to my romantic Latino? He was acting more like a gawky nerd.
“Gemma?”
I knew from the minute we met; he was the one I had been waiting for. “Yes! I will marry you.”
Dante’s worried expression melted into a dazzling smile. He opened the box and placed a sapphire petals engagement ring on my finger.
“It’s perfect.”
“I know this isn’t the romantic proposal most women expect, but…”
I placed the tip of my finger against his lips. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“Yes, querida .” His mouth closed over mine.
The End