Chapter Seventeen
Wolf
I’m not a fan of long-haul international flights. I used to love them; being inside the cockpit of a huge plane is truly amazing. However, the majority of the flight is now done on autopilot, which can get old after a while. I’m too restless to sit for long these days.
When I get a call in the morning that another captain has come down with the flu and left a transatlantic route to Heathrow uncovered, I surprise myself by saying yes. Maybe it’s the gloomy Seattle day, or maybe it’s the last text I got from Audrey saying if I keep showing up in her dreams, she might think it means something.
After accepting the flight, I call Audrey. This requires a conversation, not texting. She answers on the second ring.
“Good morning, Sexy,” she says, her voice cascading over me like warm sunshine.
“Have you ever wanted to fly to London in the cockpit of a 787?” I ask, praying she says yes. I’ve never asked a woman to do this before, never wanted it to happen, but I want this desperately.
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. I’ve shocked her. I don’t say anything, just wait, praying she’ll come. Nearly a full minute passes.
“Yes,” she finally says, her voice seeming almost shocked. I want to jump up and shout, I’m so happy. Then again, I’ve been walking on clouds since meeting Audrey. It’s so strange, yet amazing at the same time. I wonder if this is how my father felt when he met my mother. Am I falling in love with this woman? We’re still new and feelings can change. I don’t see that happening, but I’m well aware it can.
“You’ll need your passport, to leave your fears of cramped quarters at home, along with your inability to sit still for hours.”
“The sitting still will be hard, but well worth it,” she assures me. I laugh.
“Meet me at SeaTac in two hours. Pack for a few days in case we decide to have fun.”
She laughs. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
We hang up, and I begin packing, excited for the trip I’d normally dread, then pace the house until it’s time to leave. I finally make my way to the airport I’ve been to so many times I couldn’t possibly count them.
Stepping inside, I zero in on Audrey, who’s sitting in a waiting area, looking at her phone with a smile on her lips. I have no doubt she’s watching funny videos, most likely about besties doing terrible things to their men. This should worry me, but I find it quite endearing.
She’s wearing jeans, boots, and a navy peacoat, looking like she belongs on the cover of a travel magazine. Her eyes immediately sparkle as she looks up, her lips parting. Damn, this woman turns me inside out. She stands, and I’m well aware that all eyes are on her. Every man in the area wishes she could be his. Somehow, though, she’s mine, and I appreciate this more and more each day.
Wearing my crisp uniform, my pilot cap tucked beneath my arm, I move with confidence to her, wanting to pull her against me and kiss her until neither of us can breathe. The passion I feel for this woman continues to grow. I don’t see it stopping.
“Mmm, I’ve never had pilot fantasies before meeting you, but you’re damn sexy,” she purrs as I stop with less than a foot separating us. I have to remember I’m in uniform and there are many sets of eyes on us. I wish I didn’t care, but since I’m a major owner of the company I’m wearing the uniform for, I know I’d better behave.
“I can make a few of those fantasies come true,” I promise as I give her a wicked smile and lean over to give her a very unsatisfying kiss. The flash in her eyes assures me she wants much more than that as well. Soon. Very, very soon, I assure myself.
Walking quickly through security, we take the back corridors only staff are allowed to enter. We get through the airport in no time and onto the plane. Audrey’s beaming as I introduce her to the flight crew.
Inside the cockpit, Audrey stops, her eyes wide as she gazes around. “This is so amazing,” she says with awe, making me and my co-pilot laugh. I try to see it from her eyes, and remember my reaction the first time I entered, knowing I was going to be controlling this beast. It was pretty damn awe-inspiring.
Every button, switch, and glowing screen is lit up around area like a futuristic dream. The view through the front glass is unobstructed, and the airport stretches out into the horizon. There is so much freedom in managing something this powerful. There’s also real humility in knowing I’m responsible for the lives of more than two hundred people. I never forget this fact.
“I have to admit I love your office,” Audrey tells me as I take my seat. She moves up next to me, careful not to touch anything. I grab her hand and place it on the throttle, then wink at her. She blushes as my co-pilot laughs.
“I think most kids dream of being a pilot at some point in their lives, just as they dream of being a firefighter or soldier. We might all have a bit of a hero complex,” I tell her. “Most kids grow out of that phase, but there are a few overgrown children like me who live for it long into old age.”
She backs away as I begin my pre-flight checklist, leaning back in the jumpseat where she can still see everything but has no chance of bumping into anything. The flight attendant shows her how to buckle up and hands her headphones. She smiles as she hears all of the chatter that most people never know about. I’m feeling about ten feet tall giving her this experience.
It takes a while for everything to get done, but soon we’re loaded, shut, and ready to push back. Audrey laughs as the plane starts moving. We unhook from the tug and taxi to the runway.
“Cleared for takeoff,” I tell the flight attendants before making an announcement to the passengers about a nice and easy flight to London, letting them know they can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. I line the plane up, press down the throttle, then feel the familiar thrill as we lift off, this beast fully under my control.
As Seattle falls away below us, we pierce through a layer of soft, cotton clouds. Audrey practically has her face pressed to the glass as she gazes at everything. I need to take her up in a smaller craft. She’ll be in love. I want to give her every new experience I possibly can.
When we’re at cruising altitude, I lean back, set the controls on autopilot, then turn and smile at Audrey, who’s still beaming. “I feel like we’re backstage at a music festival and all of my favorite artists are standing in line to meet me.”
I laugh. “That’s a slightly bigger crowd than this cockpit.”
She beams at me, making my heart twist in my chest. Damn, I love her smile. I chat with my co-pilot, and Audrey asks us both about a thousand questions, making us feel a bit like superstars.
After a few hours, it’s time to move. I rise and give a good stretch. “Want to take a walk?” I ask. She looks confused as she gazes at the panels. “Don’t worry, Tony has this.”
“You like to leave this cockpit,” she says with a nervous laugh.
“Only when there’s a beautiful woman worth leaving it for,” I assure her. She shakes her head, but rises as well. We step out of the cockpit and stand in the galley as I walk in place. “I don’t normally like these longer flights because my body locks up. We aren’t meant to sit still for too long.”
“I don’t even care if that seat isn’t the most comfortable thing. This experience is phenomenal,” she says.
“I’m glad you’re having a good time.” The flight attendant hands us drinks and food, and we stand in the galley and have a quick meal that most definitely isn’t the best, but adequate fuel to get us through the rest of the flight. Audrey was already munching on snacks she brought in her bag. I love that she’s gorges on junk food when she travels. I find it adorable.
With the curtain shut, and the flight attendants busy, I back Audrey into the corner, making sure no eyes are on us. Her gaze burns back at me as she wraps her hands around my neck.
“You’d better behave. Someone could burst in on us at any moment,” she warns.
“Then they’ll get a show.” Our lips meet, soft and exploratory for a brief moment, but soon the burn that always ignites between us grows more urgent as I pull her tightly against me and we unravel together at 38,000 feet in the air.
I want to tug her clothes away, lift her against the wall, and plunge deep inside her, but I’d never put her at risk like that. Instead, I rip my mouth from hers, trail my lips down the side of her neck, and run my tongue over her pounding pulse. She sighs against my shoulder as she bites her lip in that delicious way that drives me crazy when she’s trying not to scream in pleasure.
When I’m with this woman our bodies move in a perfect rhythm, unlike anything I’ve ever known before. It’s intense, intimate, and always amplified in mystical ways. My favorite time with her is the intimate moments after we’ve both felt pleasure, those moments where we lie pressed together, our hearts beating as one, when I feel like nothing in the world can ever come between us. This woman makes me want things I’ve never known I wanted.
Too soon, I have to let her go, and we head back into the cockpit. My co-pilot heads out for a little bit to stretch his legs and grab a bite to eat. We spend our time in the air talking, singing, and entertaining each other to stay awake on the nine-hour red-eye flight. We get up twice more to stretch, and then finally we’re making our descent into London Heathrow.
The wheels touch down and jolt Audrey from a restless doze. Her eyes immediately widen as she looks out at the afternoon sun streaming into the airplane. I taxi to the gate then let out a relieved sigh as I shut the plane down.
“Great flying, Captain,” my co-pilot says. We do all we need to do to get off this bird and walk for a bit. I’m tired. When I travel long distances, I don’t like to mess with my schedule too much, but I could use a nap.
We step off the plane, Audrey’s hand in mine as we drag our luggage with the other. “Welcome to the land of tea, royals, and constant drizzle,” I tell her.
We’re half zombies by the time we get to our hotel in Mayfair. Our room’s luxurious, but we’re both so tired, all we can do is fall into bed, where we’re asleep within minutes.
A few hours later, I wake up and order coffee and pastries. Audrey reluctantly sits up in bed and smiles. “Is it already time to wake up?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“If we don’t, we’ll sleep all day and mess up our routine.”
“You’re right.” She yawns and heads into the bathroom. I hear the shower turn on and groan. Food and coffee are on the way, or I’d join her. The shower shuts off as a knock sounds on the door. I bring the food in, then turn as the bathroom door opens and she comes out looking pink-cheeked and refreshed, a smile on her lips.
“Sugar,” she says with joy as she moves to the table and picks up a cheese Danish before doctoring her coffee. “Delicious.”
I take a lonely shower and get dressed. We leave the room thirty minutes later, fueled by coffee and way too much sugar, but I want to explore this busy city with the woman I’m obsessed with.
“I want to experience London like every other tourist,” she tells me.
“How else would we?”
“I want the double-decker bus,” she says. I groan.
“We can do a private tour.” She shakes her head, and I give in. Soon, we’re crammed into the rear of a red double-decker, but laughing as we try to outdo each other with horrible British accents. Many people around us are amused... some are not.
We laugh as we take selfies at the Tower Bridge and she drags me through Notting Hill, looking for Hugh Grant. I pose as if I’m in a rom-com, making Audrey jump up and down and clap while several tourists giggle, quickly seeing exactly what I’m doing. It’s more fun than I’d ever expect, being this dorky.
By the time we arrive at Kensington Palace for our final stop of the day, my face is a bit sore from smiling so much. No other woman has made me want to be this man. I’m changing, but not in a bad way. Audrey brings me to life, making me want to be more than I ever thought I could.
We’re touring the grounds when a voice calls out Audrey’s name. Who in the world could be here who knows Audrey? We both turn to see a smiling woman with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
I notice Audrey’s spine straighten as she looks at me with panic. What is happening? I’m not sure who I’m supposed to fight right now. I look for danger, but don’t see any.
A woman with perfectly coiled auburn hair, cheekbones sharp enough to slice through protocol, and the kind of trench coat that screams designer royalty , stands with her arms crossed. Her smile is off.
“Lady Catherine,” Audrey says, her lips tight. I see her give a slight shake of her head as if trying to warn this woman of something. I’m utterly confused.
“We thought that was you,” she says, stepping forward, and to my utter shock, pulling Audrey into a hug. “Did you honestly think you could sneak in here, act like a tourist, then sneak out?” She pauses as Audrey nods. “We have cameras everywhere.”
There are two uniformed security guards lingering behind the woman, very polite, but clearly on alert to people moving about the room. A lot of eyes are on us, wondering what’s going on. They’re all hoping for some drama to occur, so they can share it on social media.
“Well, great to see you. We’ll be on our way,” Audrey tells the woman, who throws her head back and laughs.
“Oh no, it’s not going to be that way at all. Your uncle and cousins are here, and they’re going to send out the royal guard if you don’t come with me right now.”
My gaze widens. “What is happening here?” I ask Audrey.
Her false smile fades away. ”I knew better than to come on a tour here. You just had to visit the palace,” she says.
“It’s London and visiting the royal palace is essential,” I tell her. This makes the woman, Lady Catherine, throw back her head in laughter. I look at her.
“Of course she hasn’t told you,” she says. She leans a little closer to me. “She acts like it’s a dirty little secret. This isn’t the 1500s, there’s no more incest.”
“What in the world?” I ask, totally lost.
Audrey lets out a sigh. “Okay, okay, well, you see, my mother, before she met my father, might’ve been related to a few people in the royal family.”
I’m shocked as I think back to meeting with Audrey’s parents. My mind plays back my conversation with her mother, and I guess there was a slight accent, but it was so minor I hadn’t really placed it. She’s clearly been in the US for a very long time.
Lady Catherine laughs again. “What she’s trying to say is that her mother’s a princess.”
Audrey glares at Lady Catherine, who isn’t offended at all.
“She was a princess,” Audrey corrects.
“Once a royal, always a royal, darling,” Lady Catherine says.
“Soooo... does that make you a pri—”
“No!” Audrey says a bit too loudly before lowering her voice. “Absolutely not! I have zero desire to be scrutinized under a microscope and have no say in my life. Sure, a lot of little girls dream of being a princess, but the reality isn’t nearly as glamorous as Hollywood makes it out to be. You have to be perfect at all times. That’s not me. It wasn’t my mother either. I respect the royals, admire them even, but I want nothing to do with it.”
“Yes,” Catherine interjects. “She is a princess, but just as stubborn as her mother. It doesn’t matter, though. She’s always welcome and missed, even if she won’t take a crown.”
“I have no need for a crown,” she mutters. “I do want a cheeseburger, though.”
“That can be arranged,” Catherine says.
“You could’ve warned me before we arrived in London,” I tell her. The shock is wearing off, but this one might have to go in the books. I’ve never had a royal fantasy, but I’ve got to admit, it’s sort of hot that I’ve been getting to do all sorts of naughty things with a royal.
“I came for the fish and chips,” Audrey says, looking defiant.
“We’d better get going or the guard really will be here any minute.”
Audrey gives up. Clearly, a person can’t defy a summons. We’re led outside and ushered into a sleek black car, then taken through a gate entrance most tourists never get to see. The castle — not a house or mansion, but a real castle — looms in the distance.
When we finally stop and get out, I look at the sprawling historic wonderland and whistle. “I knew your family was well-off, but I had no clue you were historic.” I laugh. Audrey’s not as amused as I am at the situation.
We get inside, and things become even more surreal as I’m introduced to family members with titles, a few of whom look me up and down in a clearly less than impressed way as I stand before them in worn jeans and an aviator jacket.
I smile at the crowd. “Who wants to show me the dungeon?” I ask with a wink. This makes several people chuckle and a few purse their lips. I look at Audrey, who giggles.
Her opinion is the only one that I care about. The rest of these people are interesting, but they really don’t matter. This is simply one more puzzle piece in who Audrey is. She’s unique, but I’ve known this about her from the moment we met. I’m falling a little harder. I have no idea when I’ll land, and don’t care. I’m on the trip of a lifetime, and it can go on for an eternity.