Chapter 11
WYLDER
Neo folds his arms over his chest with a scowl. “I’m not getting in that death trap.”
My lips twitch. Taunting someone who assassinates others as part of his job is fine, but stepping foot on a helicopter is apparently where Neo draws the line. “It’s perfectly safe.”
“Fuck off it is.” He pulls out his phone and taps at the screen for a few moments. “Ah-ha, see? Thirteen helicopter-related deaths last year. Safe, my ass.”
I waver. This is my chance. He’s giving me the perfect out. If he won’t get on the helicopter, then the date is called off. I will have fulfilled The Firm’s end of the bargain without actually having to see it through. It’s such an easy option.
Instead, I find myself plucking his phone from his hands. I search another question before turning the screen back to him. “There. Almost fifty thousand people died from tripping. Your odds of dying are far higher on the ground than in a helicopter.”
“Why’d you tell me that?” He snatches his phone back and pockets it with a scowl. “Now I’ll be stressed just walking around.”
I take his elbow, steering him toward the helicopter. As we draw closer, I have to raise my voice to be heard over the whirring blades. “If I promise to catch you, will you stop whining so we can go?”
“You’re going to catch me if we crash?”
“No.” I roll my eyes. “If you trip, which we established is far more likely to happen.”
“I’m holding you to that.” He glares at the step. “How am I supposed to get into this thing? It’s fucking high.”
Sighing, I put my hand on his ass to boost him. I pause, the curve of his rear oddly fascinating. My fingers clench, marveling at the feel. The round, hard muscle. It feels so…right under my palm. Is he wearing a plug again? If I move my hand slightly, will I feel it?
“Are you finished groping me? I think the pilot is ready to go.”
I swallow hard as I realize I’ve just been standing here feeling him up. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Nothing. This is who you are.
“Yes. Grab onto the handle, and I’ll boost you.”
When he’s safely in the fuselage, he waggles his brows at me. “If we don’t die on this date, I’ll let you feel me up later all you want. Maybe you’ll see what I have hidden on me…in me.”
My cock thickens as I haul myself up and drop into the seat beside him. “That won’t be happening. This isn’t a real date.”
“It’s not?” He cocks his head toward the door. “In that case, I’ll get out. I asked The Firm for a real date with Wylder Buckingham, not a fake one.”
I grind my teeth together and count to ten silently.
As much as I’d like to let him go just so I don’t have to go through with this, that would be going against the terms of the request. Knowing him, he’ll just insist I plan another one that satisfies his conditions.
“Fine. It’s a real date. Now buckle up so we can go. ”
Neo’s face shines so brightly that it has me rubbing my chest, trying to figure out what odd sensation is unraveling there.
“Great. Knew you wouldn’t let me down. Well, I didn’t know it, but I was hoping you wouldn’t.”
“Of course I wouldn’t,” I say stiffly as I fasten my harness automatically. “I gave you my word.”
Neo shrugs. “Meh. A lot of people have given me their word over the years. Doesn’t really mean much, to be honest. It’s easy to give a promise, but much harder to follow through.”
I rub at my chest harder, wondering why it’s feeling so odd. Do I need to see a doctor?
Neo lets a curse slip as he fumbles with his buckle. I bat his hands away impatiently. “Here. Let me do it.”
He sits docilely as I fasten him in securely, running my fingers up the inside of the straps as I check the fit. Neo shivers under my touch, but I don’t acknowledge it.
Even if it makes my monster happy. Very fucking happy. He’s grinning widely, eyes twinkling, hands curled around the bars.
I’ve locked him away tightly. Last night cannot happen again.
Once we’re both secured, I silently hand Neo his headphones before donning my own. After I nod at the pilot, the door slams shut, and we’re ready to go.
“I’m not ready for this.” Neo’s wavering voice rings through my headphones. “I don’t think I can do it.”
I glance over to see that all the color has drained from his face. His knuckles are white from where he’s digging his fingers into his thighs. I don’t like that. He’ll have bruises if he’s not careful.
Taking each of his hands in mine, I lace my fingers through his. “Squeeze me instead.”
“I’d rather squeeze something else of yours,” he mutters, screwing his eyes shut. “Like your cock with my hole. That would really help distract me.”
It’s so unexpected, yet so typically Neo, that I find myself laughing.
His eyes fly open. “Are you…laughing?”
“Yes,” I say dryly. “I do that sometimes. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not actually a robot.”
“No one thinks that.” Neo frowns. “But you don’t laugh often.”
“I don’t.”
“You should.” His gaze is intense, so much so that I find myself wanting to look away. “You’re always attractive, but when you laugh? You’re breathtaking.”
He thinks I’m…breathtaking? Why does he think that when he’s the one who makes it harder for me to breathe?
I’m saved from a response by the helicopter rising into the air. Neo squeaks, his eyes slamming shut again. His fingers crush mine, but I don’t mind. I’m too busy taking advantage of his gaze being off mine by searching his face for answers.
Trouble is, I don’t even know what the questions are.
I have no idea what’s happening between Neo and me.
More terrifyingly…I’m not sure I want it to stop.
By the time we land thirty minutes later, Neo is positively green. He has himself unclipped a mere second after the pilot gives us the go-ahead, lunging for the door.
I hurry to follow, assuming he’ll need a hand down, but Neo’s way ahead of me. He leaps from the step, falling to his knees on the concrete. “Oh, sweet, sweet ground. How I’ve missed you.”
I step down beside him, grinning in amusement. “Anyone would think you haven’t flown before.”
“I haven’t.” He rubs at his temples, shivering from the cold winter air. “That was a first for me.”
“Your first time in a helicopter? I gathered that.”
“No, my first time flying ever.”
I frown. How is that possible? Even without leaving the states, most places require a flight unless you want to spend several days in a car. “Really?”
“Really,” he mutters. “Not all of us were born with silver spoons in our mouths. Flying is expensive.”
It’s silly. I knew Neo grew up in a different world from mine, but it’s not until this moment that I realize how different. Just how much of the stuff I take for granted is new for him?
He groans, rubbing at his stomach. “When will the nausea stop?”
I type out a quick text to the pilot, who hops out of the fuselage to do my bidding. “Soon.”
A few moments later, the pilot returns, passing me a brown bag. I nod in thanks before crouching down next to Neo. “Here.”
“What’s this?”
“Dramamine and ginger ale,” I say, my voice clipped. “It should help.”
“You got this for me?”
“Technically, Johnson did.” I open the bag when he doesn’t take it from me, shaking a pill out of the tube. “Open up.”
Neo does as I ask. For someone who strives to annoy me, he sure does like to follow my orders when it suits him.
My monster loves it; the blend of brattiness and submission that shouldn’t be so appealing.
But fuck, it really is. It has me wanting to see how far I can push him before he pushes back.
I wait until he’s drunk half the ginger ale. “Feeling better?”
He nods, some of the color returning to his cheeks. “Yeah. Thank you.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Fuck yes. You’re not getting out of this that easily.”
“That’s not why I was asking.” I straighten, extending a hand to him. “I don’t want you pushing yourself if you’re not feeling up to it.”
“I’m fine.” The strange feeling is back in my chest as he allows me to pull him from the ground. “Where are we going, anyway? I hope it’s nowhere fancy. They won’t let me in.”
I turn us in the direction of our destination, typing out a couple of quick messages on my phone before returning it to my pocket.
There. At least I know the return journey will be smoother now, albeit much longer.
I can see the guards trailing behind us, and I breathe out a sigh of relief that we’re protected here.
Not that I need them to protect Neo. I’m perfectly capable of doing so myself.
But knowing I have several sets of eyes and that I can focus on Neo instead of our surroundings? That, I’m grateful for.
It takes me a few seconds to process Neo’s words. When I do, I’m confused. “Why on earth wouldn’t they let you in?”
Neo gives me a pointed look. “Come on, Wylder, look at me.”
I do, my gaze sweeping over his Converse, ripped jeans, and t-shirt. Today’s shirt has the slogan Open Source: No Closets. “I fail to see the issue.”
He blows out a short breath.
“Where do I start? I’ve never been somewhere with a dress code, but I doubt what I’m wearing would meet the expected standards. And that’s before we even start with my hair.”
Now I’m frowning. “What’s wrong with your hair?”
“It’s blue.”
“And?”
“And most people don’t have blue hair.” He throws his hands up in exasperation. “They wouldn’t like it.”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“The snobs in the fancy place you’re taking me to.” He kicks at a stone as we walk. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
Okay, I might be confused, but I know I need to fix this. “Stop.”
My monster growls in satisfaction as Neo stops walking immediately. It doesn’t even mind the scowl on his face or the pissy arch to his brows as he tilts his face up to mine.
No, I think it likes it. I think we both do.
“What?” he demands.
“Do you like your hair? Your clothes?”
“Obviously.” He rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t look like this if I didn’t like it.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
Neo gives a startled laugh. “You really don’t see it? Wylder, if you take me into some snobby place, we’ll be laughed out. I don’t look…normal.”
He shifts on his feet, his gaze anywhere but on my face. My eyes narrow. I don’t like that. I don’t like that this is bothering him so much. Where’s his usual confidence? The “I don’t give a fuck” attitude that he wears so well?
Grabbing his chin, I force him to look at me. “You shouldn’t ever change yourself to meet anyone else’s expectations. Understand?”
His hazel eyes glitter. “You realize how fucking hypocritical that is?”
I wince internally but keep my face impassive. “Yes. That’s why I know how important it is. Keep being you, and never be ashamed of it. That path only leads to misery.”
“Is that how you feel? Miserable?”
His words hit me square in the chest. My hand falls away from his chin as I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Right now, I just feel hungry.”
To his credit, Neo doesn’t push. “Well, that’s no good if they won’t let us in with me looking like this.”
“You’re worrying over nothing,” I say as we begin walking again. “We aren’t going to a ‘fancy-ass place’ as you put it. And, even if we were, no one would dare look at you twice, let alone refuse to serve you.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because you’d be with me,” I say simply. “I would not allow it.”
Neo doesn’t say another word until we’re before our destination. His hand tightens in surprise, and it’s only then that I realize it’s still clasped in mine. “Is this what we’re doing?”
“Yes,” I murmur distractedly. Now that I’m aware of how I’m gripping him, I don’t know what to do. Do I pull away discreetly?
Absolutely not. My monster is incensed at the thought of letting him go. We’re in public. Who knows what danger is around the corner!
We’re going to an arcade—it’s hardly a meth house. And I’m not your average Joe. I can sense danger coming a mile off. Not to mention the guards around us.
Unless Neo is the one instigating the danger, of course. Somehow, he slips under all my defenses.
Because he’d never hurt us.
My hand tightens around his. No. I don’t think he would.
Neo grins up at me, and the delight there catches me off guard. “I fucking knew it. You come up with this yourself?”
I nod stiffly. “You mentioned the arcade near one of your group homes growing up—how it was an escape for you.”
His throat bobs. “I didn’t realize you paid any attention to that.”
“I always pay attention to you.”
He tilts his head, his eyes searching my face. Then he clears his throat and tugs his hand away. “Okay. Where are we going to start?”