Chapter 3 #2
Laughing, he shook his head. “Let’s just say I’m more in charge of security both for the employees and our customers.”
“Ah, you cater to the rich and famous.”
“In a manner of speaking.”
As we approached the gate, I finally grabbed the handle of my suitcase and when I did, our fingers collided.
I immediately gasped, my eyes opening wide. Not from the connection as much as the shock of the sheer voltage. I’d read about the crazy sensations in books, but had thought the concept just another well-written fantasy.
But he felt it too, his eyes narrowing to the point his eyelids were hooded. Just how much sexier could the man get?
“Oh, shit.” With a decent eye roll, I laughed, snapping my head so I could feel whatever admonishment he could provide.
As usual, he was suave in his mannerisms, shifting his hand so he could fully capture mine. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had that kind of reaction from a lady.”
“Well, the wine has created a monster.”
“Another little secret. I adore monsters. They are far more interesting than spending time with people who pretend to be something they are not.”
The moment was frozen in time until we were waved forward, our interaction holding up the line. “Well, what you see is what you get. Whether you like it or not.”
We both laughed as the attendant checked our tickets.
“Have a nice flight.” As soon as she made the statement, I tensed and my companion sensed it, placing his hand on the small of my back.
“You have my word everything will be okay.” Not only was his voice soothing, but the way he bent his head, whispering the words while nuzzling against me completely drove away the fears.
I shuddered physically in response, my grip on the cheap plastic tightening.
Once inside the plane, I took a deep breath before being guided to my pod. “Thank you for one of the most enjoyable moments of the trip.”
“I assume your cousin will be joining you?”
“Uh, no. She found herself a sexy Italian prince who swept her off her feet. If you ask me, he’s really the prince of darkness, but that’s another story. I’m flying alone.”
He hesitated as if determining whether to say anything else. Deciding against it, he winked and moved away.
While he was close, both of us in seated in first class, I instantly felt a sense of loneliness.
The two huge seats were a reminder that I was traveling alone. I watched him disappear into the last pod in first class while I was in the first, which offered even more privacy while also slightly suffocating.
As soon as I stored my bag and sat down, I was a nervous nelly.
If Kathleen were here, she’d be jabbering already, keeping the mental wolves at bay.
I cursed her mentally once again, the names colorful and covering the spectrum.
I was envious of her chutzpa and enjoyment of living while my pleasure was derived from working.
And I couldn’t fault her for being happy.
But goddamn it, couldn’t she find a nice American boy instead?
Grousing wasn’t going to help. I studied the state-of-the-art cabin, reminding myself that I’d likely never get an experience like this again. I lifted a bag from the console, trying to figure out what I was looking at.
“Those are complimentary pajamas,” a happy, way too perky female voice said from behind me. “In the bag, which is also complimentary, you’ll find a toothbrush, earplugs, lotion, and several other essentials.”
Was it that obvious I’d never flown first class with luxury accommodations before? In flying over, we’d barely managed to get two adjoining seats in economy. Even that had caught me off guard. This was… different.
“Oh, okay. Thank you.” My voice was squeaky. This was going to be a nightmare.
The flight attendant crowded in. “Would you like some champagne? That might calm your nerves, but I assure you I’ve made this flight dozens of times. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Only then did I realize I had a death grip on the plastic bag and that my entire arm was shaking. “Champagne would be amazing.” Maybe additional alcohol wasn’t in my best interest, but I did have ten plus hours before I needed to be coherent. Why not?
The crystal flute was placed on the table in front of me within seconds.
As soon as I brought the rim to my lips, the bubbles tickled my nose and my imagination began creating fantasy scenarios.
At least it was good to see I hadn’t lost my sense of desire.
How was that possible when I’d enjoyed a seductive afternoon with Kirill?
I settled in, trying to sip my drink and not gulp, but as soon as the seatbelt sign flicked on, I was petrified.
What I hadn’t expected was the level of fear to be so high.
I’d thought the first flight would be the worst, especially since Kathleen and I had been jammed in the center of the plane. I’d been wrong.
When the attendant came to collect my glass for takeoff, I glared at her, certain I’d bite her hand off if she dared try to snatch it before I finished. I glugged the rest, which was a crime in every state of the union as far as I was concerned but necessary.
“Don’t worry. I’ll come back around,” she said, trying and failing to keep amusement off her face.
Now my death grip was centered around the leather chair while taking gasping breaths.
While the engine hummed and the plane started moving, I cinched my eyes and mouth shut.
The takeoffs and landings were the worst, but with three windows smack in front of me, I had no doubt I’d experience a heavy bout of acrophobia the entire trip.
I was the girl who’d never been to the top of the Empire State Building.
And forget about Ferris wheels. People who were brazen enough to go on those rides were nuts.
When the plane lurched, I let off a strangled sound that was dangerously close to what I thought a hyena would sound like in the wild.
If anyone dared tell me I was disturbing the peace, I would go ballistic.
I tried very hard not to make a scene, but I sensed my breathing was creating the strangest sounds.
With my head down, I pressed my hands on either side of my face, even rocking like some child terrified of the demon under her bed.
The analogy wasn’t helping.
A sudden slip of movement had a distinctive sound. Someone had come into my pod.
No words were needed before knowing who was daring enough to interrupt a woman having a panic attack.
With the plane racing down the runway, I was too petrified to look at man perhaps trying to be my knight in shining armor.
“Just breathe, malen’kiy yagnenok. Everything will be fine. We’ll be in the air in moments.”
His voice was soothing but did nothing to quell my hyperventilation or the fog descending on my brain. Or the moans escalating in volume. Being unable to move or breathe, let alone speak, I had no way of countering his determined healing attempts with sarcasm.
But I could tell even with being inside a pod that the closest passengers weren’t happy that I now sounded like a sasquatch eager to feast on humans.
Maybe my confused state of mind was slow on the uptake, but I vaguely realized my seatbelt was being removed. Even though I tried my best to lift my head to stop him from pushing me to the wolves, even moving my fingers to his, the only change was another jolt of electricity.
“It’s alright. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Maybe the man had seen one too many superhero movies, his next action a complete surprise. Kirill slipped one arm under my legs, the other behind my back. I was lifted as if weighing nothing, moved a few inches and when he sat down on the second chair, he cradled me in his lap.
Like he would in comforting a baby.
Only he wasn’t about to rock me to sleep.
He had something else on his mind to quiet my nerves.
With one hand, he cupped my face, using his thumb to tip my head. After that, he did the unthinkable.
He crushed his mouth over mine.