Chapter 15 Alina
Chapter fifteen
Alina
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re expecting some turbulence, so we ask that you remain seated at this time. Thank you.” The pilot’s voice crackles over the loudspeakers, and the cabin settles as the plane dips slightly.
“This is amazing,” I breathe in awe, staring out the window beside me at the abundance of puffy clouds, my nose pressed against the glass.
I’ve never been on a private plane, and the thought of going back to sardine-packed commercial flights makes me cringe.
“Mauro, have you ever seen clouds that look like this?” A grin spreads across my face as I peek over my shoulder at Mauro beside me.
But my smile immediately falters as I notice his eyes pinched shut while his fingers dig into his armrests.
“Hey, what's wrong?” I lean closer to him, placing my hand over the back of his. The plane jolts with the first hint of turbulence, and his face tightens further, lips pressed into a thin line. That’s when it hits me.
He’s scared. “You…don’t like flying?” I ask softly so no one around us can hear.
Hesitantly, he nods.
“It’s okay to be afraid.” I intertwine our fingers.
“A lot of people don’t like to fly. When I get scared, I take myself to my happy place, Paris.
” I shrug, letting the thought hang in the air.
“I’ve never actually been there, but my dad told me it was my mom’s favorite city.
A place where the two of them spent a lot of time because she always felt most at home there.
So, I like to imagine that we’d have that in common.
And maybe someday, I’ll actually go and see for myself. ”
I smile, leaning back in my seat, letting the warmth of the memory of my mother wash over me.
A slight bump in the air jolts the plane, and his fingers tighten around mine.
“But turbulence is totally normal,” I add quickly.
“It’s actually expected. I heard you’re supposed to think of it like we’re stuck in Jell-O.
” He cracks one eye open, lifting a brow.
“Meaning we’re not going to fall out of the sky just because we’re wobbling.
” I gesture toward the front of the cabin.
“See the flight attendants? They’re smiling.
That’s how you know everything’s fine and that the plane is not about to fall from the sky.
Smile, good. No smile, bad. That’s my very professional method. ”
I laugh at my own joke, but stop when I realize he isn’t exactly amused.
“I mean, planes don’t just fall from the sky,” I rush on.
“Okay, I guess technically they could, but this one won’t.
Definitely won’t.” I shake my head. “Flying is one of the safest ways to travel.” I squeeze his hand, grounding us both.
“Besides,” I say more quietly, meeting his gaze, “I won’t let anything happen to you. ”
He relaxes just a fraction, both eyes opening…until the plane hits another patch of turbulence, harder this time. In one swift motion, he lifts me onto his lap and secures me against his body. His arms tighten, pressing me to his chest as if holding me close could keep us both safe.
Maybe he’s thinking that if the plane goes down, he can use me as a flotation device.
“It’s okay. I promise.” I place my palm on his chest and move it in a slow circular motion. His heart beats rapidly beneath my touch. Positioning my head against his shoulder, I look up at him and ask, “How can I help you relax?”
His body strains beneath me, his muscles locking into place. His eyes darken, and his tongue sweeps across his bottom lip. He leans forward, lips brushing my ear. “Distract…me.”
He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, and my heart skips in response.
Laughter from the front of the plane catches my attention, and I suddenly remember we have an audience that includes all of his siblings. They bicker back and forth over some game they’re currently in the middle of, not paying us any attention, but I don’t want to take the chance.
With a slight tremble in my knees, I try to rise, but Mauro won’t let me up.
“Do you trust me?”
He hesitates, but finally releases me. The moment I stand, I take his hand and pull him up. His brows draw together as I lead us down the aisle toward the back of the plane and push open the bedroom door. The instant it shuts behind us, I guide him toward the bed. “Sit.”
Without wavering, he does.
I swallow, steadying my racing heart, and grip his shoulders. Slowly, I lift one leg, then the other, straddling his lap. A low breath escapes him, and his hands settle on my hips as if trying to anchor us both.
Licking my lips, I drag my palm across his scruff, his eyes closing as he melts into my touch.
Summoning courage I don’t quite feel, I lean forward, letting my lips brush against his. His fingers dig into me, restraining himself, the tension between us electric.
“Let me distract you,” I whisper right before closing the distance and pressing my lips to his.
And it’s as if something snaps inside me as I force myself against his chest, greedily devouring whatever I can get from him.
Like his taste. That addictive, mouthwatering taste I’ve been dreaming about since we got married. All it does is send me into a frenzy as he fists my hair with one hand and slides his other up my torso beneath my shirt, his fingers splaying out over my ribs.
The feel of his palm grazing my skin sends a shiver down my spine. His thumb brushing back and forth, right beneath my breast, leaves me wanting, no, needing more.
His lips pull back, and I inhale as much oxygen into my lungs in one breath as I can.
At the same time, he peppers my skin in a trail of hungry kisses down my neck, sucking and nipping along his way, which creates a pulsing ache between my legs so intense I can’t help but shift my hips forward on his lap, seeking the pressure my clit desperately needs.
I freeze.
He freezes.
We both freeze.
Because I felt it. His cock. His hard cock. His hard cock that I just rubbed myself against like a wild animal in heat.
Oh my God.
My lips part and close, no words escaping. My throat feels tight, the apology stuck somewhere in the black hole currently overtaking my mind. Finally, I manage, voice trembling, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
Knock. Knock. “The Captain has advised that everyone take their seats as we prepare for landing.” The flight attendant’s voice passes through the other side of the door.
I scramble off Mauro’s lap, smoothing down my shirt as heat rushes to my cheeks.
What did I just do? Internally, I cringe.
We made rules for a reason. Rules to keep things clean, not messy.
And this… This is definitely messy. I push back my hair and take a shaky breath.
“Mauro, I’m sorry, I took it too far. I don’t know what I was thinking. ”
His fingers catch my chin, tilting my face until our eyes lock. With his free hand, he signs, Thank you.
A small smile breaks free over my face. “Well, we’d better get back out there.”
He nods and opens the door for me, leading us back to our seats, where I spend the next ten minutes wondering what would have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted.
“Welcome to paradise, ladies.” Madeleine adjusts her oversized designer glasses. “Eli, can you get my bags?” she calls over her shoulder before exiting the plane and disappearing down the stairs.
“Of course, love,” he responds, reaching inside the luggage compartments.
Leo shakes his head with a grin growing on his face. “She has you so whipped.”
Eli scoffs. “Have you looked in the mirror recently?”
Leo laughs and glides an arm around Scarlett’s waist, who willingly falls into his embrace. “Yeah, but for her, I’d do anything.”
Scarlett stands on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to his lips. “Right back at you.”
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out to see a message from Andrea.
Andrea
Everything is good here. Enjoy your trip! I’ll keep you posted if anything changes.
Relief washes over me.
I’ve never been this far from my father before, but at least I can be assured that he’s in good hands with Andrea.
My relief is short-lived when I see I have three missed calls from the same number. The same number that always sends a wave of unease through me. Swallowing down the nerves within me, I slide my phone into my back pocket just as Mauro appears by my side with our luggage.
“Oh, I can carry mine.” I reach for my bag, but he pulls it away and shakes his head.
I roll my eyes, a grin tugging at my lips, as I step off the plane into the sunlight. The ocean air hits me, wrapping around me like a warm embrace I never want to escape. I sling my tote bag over my shoulder, shielding my eyes from the sunlight with my forearm, and carefully descend the stairs.
When I take the last step, I look around and…
“Wow,” I breathe, admiring the view. White sands stretch endlessly, meeting crystal-clear water where every colorful fish beneath the surface is visible.
To the left, large cabanas perch above the water, connected by a wooden deck, swaying slightly with the tide. “I can’t believe this place is real.”
As I move forward, my sandal gets caught in the sand, sending me flying forward. That is, until two large hands encircle my waist, hauling me up.
My back collides against Mauro’s chest, his fingers splayed out possessively over my stomach. A sudden flash of heat ignites in my core, my chest slightly heaving too fast.
“Can’t you two wait until you get to your room?” Madeleine teases, sending me flinching forward. Only…Mauro doesn’t let me go. He keeps me plastered to his body, his head suddenly tilting down, his lips skimming up the side of my neck before pressing a soft kiss to my skin.
He’s playing his role of the doting husband perfectly.
Almost too perfectly.