Chapter 19
Cole
“Y ou’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?” Lauren asked as we were getting ready to take off.
She’d been surprised this morning when we’d headed toward Tanner’s house instead of toward the freeway to get to Billings.
I’d explained that I’d gotten permission from Tanner to use the airstrip that my cousins shared for convenience.
“You’ll know soon enough,” I told her as I reached over to grab her seatbelt and buckle her into the seat next to me.
One thing I’d never compromised on was the comfort of my private jet.
When Asher and I had owned our tech company, we’d traveled a lot.
Sleep and comfort while I was flying had been critical to my mental and physical health.
Lauren’s eyes had almost popped out of her head when I’d given her a tour.
She’d admitted flying in Tanner’s jet a few times after he’d gotten it, but she’d apparently never really explored the entire aircraft or made herself at home in it. She’d simply used it to travel back and forth to Crystal Fork to visit when she’d lived in Boston.
Hell, I’d never really looked at my jet through someone else’s eyes.
It had always been like a second home to me whenever I had to be in the air for long periods of time.
Luxury was something I’d gotten used to a long time ago.
I didn’t really think about having extravagant things that most people didn’t anymore.
It was just…normal for me.
She crossed her arms over her gorgeous breasts. “Okay, I’ll just wait until we take off and see what direction we’re headed.”
I grinned at her.
Fuck! She was so damn adorable when she was excited.
And she was excited.
I could see the anticipation in her inquisitive gaze.
Yeah, she’d probably figure out our destination eventually.
She was smart, and once we started to head north for an extended amount of time, she’d probably catch on.
I grinned at her as the jet started to race down the airstrip. “Let me know when you figure it out.”
She reached over and took my hand, squeezing it so tightly that I knew that her iron grip was a little more than anticipation.
“You okay?” I asked, concerned.
She nodded, but she looked incredibly tense. “I’m kind of a nervous flier. I don’t fly very often, and takeoffs and landings make me a little anxious. I’ll be fine in a minute.”
I threaded my fingers through hers, trying to comfort her until we were in the air.
I wasn’t surprised that she got anxious during what was known as the two most dangerous parts of flying.
Christ! I hated the frightened look on Lauren’s face.
“We’re headed for Alaska,” I said gruffly to try to distract her as the wheels left the airstrip.
I needed to do something until we got to our cruising altitude.
“What?” she squeaked as she turned her head to gape at me.
Well, at least my strategy had worked.
She didn’t look frightened anymore.
“Fairbanks,” I shared. “The northern lights forecast is excellent for tonight. You said you were really disappointed that you didn’t get a glimpse of the aurora when we were able to see it in Montana. So, I decided to take you to the northern lights instead.”
We’d had some really intense solar activity a few months ago, but Lauren had been on an important project and had missed seeing the aurora near Billings.
I’d hated seeing the deep regret Lauren had harbored because she’d missed an opportunity that didn’t happen very often.
Hence, our journey to Fairbanks.
Her face lit up, and she sent me a dimpled smile that made my damn heart hammer against my chest wall.
Fucking hell!
If this first date was going to make her this happy, I could think of better ones I could arrange in the future.
“You’re actually doing this just for me?” she said in an awed voice. “You told me you’ve seen the northern lights more than once in great locations.”
I had.
But this little trip wasn’t about me.
I shrugged. “It’s your trip.”
“But I don’t even have my camera,” she exclaimed.
“I bought you one,” I told her. “A good one that takes the best photos of the aurora.”
“I’m just a novice photographer.”
“Which is why we’ll have a guide who can help you get the best photos. She’s an expert photographer.”
“Do I need to ask if you’re prepared for the frigid temperatures so close to the Arctic Circle?” she asked teasingly.
“Nope,” I said as I felt the grip that Lauren had on my hand ease up just a little.
“I have every item of clothing you need, and we’ll be set up for frigid weather at the viewing area.
All you have to do is enjoy the views. There’s never any guarantee that we’ll get a spectacular view, but tonight is our best bet.
The skies are clear, and the forecast is excellent. ”
There was a distinctive ding as we reached our cruising altitude, and the Fasten Seatbelt sign turned off.
Lauren’s expression morphed into one of surprise. “We’re up,” she murmured. She cocked her head and gave me a suspicious look. “Did you just tell me about Alaska to distract me?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. I’m thinking it might have worked.”
She unbuckled her seatbelt. “You know it worked.”
I slipped my seatbelt off, lifted Lauren out of her seat, and carried her to the sitting area at the front of the jet.
I sat on the sofa and pulled her on top of me until she was straddling me.
I wanted my cock inside of this woman more than I’d ever wanted anything in my entire life, but since that wasn’t going to happen right at the moment, having her straddling my dick would have to do.
It was our first fucking date.
I’d gotten myself off the night before.
Twice!
I’d stroked myself to completion in the damn shower this morning, too.
None of those things had helped one damn bit.
The second I’d seen her beautiful face early this morning, my cock had sprung to life like I hadn’t just relieved myself three times in the last twelve hours.
Lauren Collier was my kryptonite.
I didn’t like having that kind of weakness, but there was nothing I could do about it unless I wanted to give her up.
And that sure as hell wasn’t happening.
She gripped my shoulders as she looked down at me adoringly. “Have I told you today what an amazing man you are?”
Okay, maybe having some kind of weakness wasn’t all that horrible.
“No,” I grumbled.
“You’re the most incredible guy I’ve ever known,” she said in a genuine tone. “I’ve never had a guy put in any kind of effort to do something to make me happy, much less something this spectacular. It means everything to me, Cole. Thank you.”
As far as I was concerned, men should have been falling all over themselves to make Lauren happy.
But in some ways, I was glad they hadn’t.
I liked being the man who put a smile on her face. If that was selfish of me, I really didn’t give a shit.
“It’s my goal to make you happy, angel,” I said hoarsely as I gripped the back of her neck. “I want to spoil you until you forget that there’s any other men on the planet except me.”
“Mission accomplished,” she said in a sultry voice as she stared down into my eyes.
I shook my head. “Don’t let me off that easily. I still have a lot of work to do.”
“I don’t know,” she said with a sigh as she squirmed in my lap. “I feel pretty damn elated right now.”
I gripped her ass.
Hard!
“If you don’t stop moving that gorgeous pussy against my cock, I’ll show you exactly how good I can make you feel,” I growled. “A guy can only take so much of the torture, angel.”
Her face fell immediately. “I’m sorry,” she said as she started to move off my lap. “I didn’t know this was difficult for you.”
I yanked her back onto my lap.
Shit!
I kept forgetting just how innocent Lauren was and how she took my words literally sometimes.
“It’s sensual torture, sweetheart,” I explained.
“That’s not always a bad thing. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted a woman, Lauren, but I can manage to keep my dick in check.
Sometimes the anticipation makes things sweeter.
I know I’m going to taste your pretty pussy someday.
I also know I’m going to bury my cock inside you until you’re screaming my name while you come like you’ve never come before.
” I pulled her hips tightly against my rock-hard dick.
“It’s not really torture. It’s foreplay, and it’s sexy as hell.
I’m not sure how long I can take it before I lose it.
But I’m willing to find out. I’d rather be close to you like this than not to be close to you at all. ”
She leaned her face closer to mine, and the feel of her silky hair trailing over the side of my face and my neck made me grip her nape tighter.
“I think you already know I’m yours whenever you’ve had enough of the sensual torture,” she said in a hushed voice.
Mine!
Fuck yeah, she was mine , and it floored me just how much I needed to lay claim to this woman.
I’d never been a possessive guy, so that particular instinct felt completely foreign to me.
I pulled her lips closer to mine. “When it happens, I’m going to make it damn good for you this time, angel,” I vowed.
“I know,” she whispered right before she lowered her head and kissed me.
I kept that embrace from getting completely out of control.
Barely.
I had no idea how an asshole like me had gained the trust of a woman like Lauren, but I vowed right then and there that I’d never take that gift for granted.
She was going to be mine, and once she was, I was never going to be dumb enough to let her go.