4. Wilson
four
wilson
I sniffed her hair for the hundredth time in the last hour and let myself soak in the peace the soft scent filled me with.
She had fallen asleep about an hour into our flight and had rested her head against my shoulder five seconds afterwards. I liked her close to me. She had tried to take a seat across from me, but I hadn’t put up with it. I’d even gone as far as asking the pilot to keep the seat belt sign on the entire flight on my private plane to make sure she stayed seated next to me.
As I glanced down at her, my heart softened. I had no idea who the fuck I was anymore. Jesus, she was pretty. She had the kind of face that stopped traffic and a body that wouldn’t quit. And she is mine. I might not be sure of how to make that happen, and the lies I’d told and things I’d done could definitely jeopardize everything, but I would figure it out. Lana was my forever. I just needed to get her to believe it, too.
“Sir?” the flight attendant called. I nodded, holding a finger up to try and keep the space silent.
I didn’t bother to watch her walk away. No, my eyes stayed on the beautiful girl resting against me. The soft sounds of her steady breathing made me feel complete. The plane had landed twenty minutes ago, but I hadn’t wanted to wake her up.
“Lana, beautiful,” I murmured against the top of her head, and she sighed.
“Wils,” she mumbled softly, so sweetly my dick twitched beneath my pants. It was probably an asinine thought, but I liked thinking she was dreaming about me. Maybe she thinks about me like I do her?
“Baby, it’s time to wake up.” I gently tried to stir her awake. My gaze was pinned to her profile as I watched her eyes open slowly and her brows bunch with confusion as she looked out in front of her.
“What?” Her head rose, just a bit, not completely. Almost like her body knew it belonged pressed against mine. And when she turned to look at me, those pretty eyes of hers widened. “Shit! I mean crap. I mean sorry!” She shook her head, and just like that, I lost her head on my shoulder.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” I mumbled. “We’re here.”
I rose and extended my hand. I wasn’t sure if it was because Lana’s head was still fuzzy with sleep or because she wanted to take it, but her fingers tangled with mine. In doing so, feeding the feral thing inside of me. Without exchanging another word, I led the way to the waiting SUV and helped her into the passenger seat. My driver looked at me, his brow rose, but I shook my head.
“I got it,” I rumbled, taking the key from his hand. “Everything I asked for in the car and cabin?”
“Yes, sir. But…”
“What?” I clipped. She was in the running car waiting for me to return.
“Sir, are you sure about this?” He looked around. I grunted my confirmation, but by the look on his face, he didn’t look convinced. “Sir, if I may, there is quite a bit of snow on the roads, and it looks like more bad weather is on the horizon.”
“Did you get everything I asked for?” I repeated, ignoring his warning in a tone that left no leeway for argument.
Tor shut his mouth and nodded.
I could tell by his expression he didn’t like this. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving. Not when he was not only my driver but bodyguard. To him, this was highly unusual. I was a hermit addicted to his work. Other than the day I’d gone off and driven myself to my grandfather’s funeral, he was always with me. Not because I was a shit driver but because time on the road was time wasted. Waste not, want not, the old man would repeat in my head over and over until he’d convinced me to hire Tor three years ago.
For the last week, I’d been acting out of the norm, and now I’d flown a woman and me on a little hidden getaway out of the blue and right into a blizzard. Not only was I acting weird by disappearing at all hours of the day, because I couldn’t stand being away from her, I was taking a woman somewhere.
Me! The man who practically lived like a monk. If monks were obsessed with their work.
“Keys to the cabin are on the ring.” His chin pointed at the ones in my hand. “I’ve also texted you the code to the security system. The kitchen and the pantry were fully stocked, as well as the extra things you requested. Wood and a second generator. I was told instructions were left in a binder on the kitchen table.” I took a deep exhale.
“Good,” I muttered. My shoulders relaxed. “I got it from here, Tor. You should fly back. I’ll call when we’re ready to return.”
“Sir, there is a blizzard coming in and?—“
“I know,” I cut him off. “That’s why we flew here.” I was banking on that blizzard to be what gained me extra time with my girl.
“Excuse me?” he asked, confusion growing on his face. Confusion I understood.
I wasn’t the kind of man who went somewhere without staff or without a return date or straight into bad weather. I’d never done something like this before. But then again, I’d never met Lana before, either.
“I’ll let you know when it’s time to call the plane back.” I stood straighter, popping the top button of my dress shirt.
Despite the snow on the ground and icy air, I felt hot. I was so close to having my way, to gaining more time with her, I could almost taste it. And fuck, I couldn’t wait to taste her.
“Yes, sir.” He nodded and walked away.
I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Tor got on the plane. He reached the steps and turned. Our eyes connected, and I saw just how conflicted he was. I nodded, and he did the same. Tor was a good man. Not only as my driver and a bodyguard, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend I wasn’t related to.
I knew he had noticed how erratic my behavior had been since my grandfather’s celebration of life. Tor had been close to him. The old man had liked him. But now, with Lana in my car, he knew what was really driving off the cliff of sanity.
I shook the thought away. Focus, Wilson! You have her where you want her. Now you just have to convince her to take a chance on you.