Chapter Six
Marcel
Juliet was nervous about the turbulence and overwhelmed by her first sexual experience. She was beautiful and accommodating and despite being nervous and inexperienced it was a delightful moment I am glad I got to share with her.
It has been a rough fifteen minutes but finally the wheels touch down.
I've been holding Juliet's hand because she's terrified.
And if I'm being honest, I'm a little nervous too because the minute the plane touches the ground we slide for a good long while before we're able to reduce our speed and come to a stop.
The moment we do, the plane erupts into applause.
Juliet and I remain holding hands because she's still a little shell-shocked.
“Well, we made it,” I announce just to give her that extra level of reassurance.
“Thank you for your patience everyone,” the pilot comes on the overhead speaker and says.
“We just landed at Bradley Airport in Connecticut.
The weather is extremely dangerous with blizzard conditions; all flights have been grounded.
There are a few restaurants open for those of you who need to get something to eat, but passengers are being advised to stay within the airport as most ground transportation is not operating at this time.
We'd like you all to be careful when opening overhead compartments and mindful of one another.
It's going to be a long night for everyone.
When you get into the airport, staff will help you find accommodation for the evening.
We don't expect the weather to let up until midafternoon tomorrow with most airlines remaining out of service until further notice. Thank you for flying with us.”
Ah, for fuck’s sake is all I can think.
I have a meeting tomorrow morning at nine a.m. in Rhode Island and I’m meant to be back on a plane tomorrow night to New York.
This fucks up all of those plans. But I can push my meeting a day or two and there's no reason I need to be in New York other than who wants to spend the holidays alone in Rhode Island of all places.
Juliet lets go of my hand and starts collecting her things.
“Thank you, Marcel,” she says with a gorgeous smile, probably just relieved to be done with the eventful flight. “This has been one to remember.” She sounds much calmer and more collected.
I pick up her hand and kiss it. “For me as well,” I say as I let her walk in front of me and follow her out of the airplane.
Once we get into the airport it is total madness. People are hounding the airline agents to rebook tickets, the restaurants are teeming with diners and the lines extend well past their entrances with dozens of people standing in queues waiting for food.
I hear Juliet sigh as she takes in the surroundings.
“Do we say goodbye here?” She looks at me and her eyes are a little swollen and sad from tears she’s already shed.
“If you’d like,” as soon as I say it my heart hurts a little. I’m doubtful that I will ever meet another Juliet.
“Um, I guess.” Her voice cracks a little and I can tell she’s getting emotional. It will only be worse if I leave her later, so I decide it’s best just to end this now.
I’d ruin Juliet’s life. The moment she finds out what a complete emotionless piece of shit I am, she’ll run with a fair amount of trauma to work through.
It’s best with me just taking her virginity in a one night stand and leaving the rest to mystery.
It’s mean and heartless, but I told her I’d give her a good orgasm and she had three.
Mine was so mind blowing I hardly remember much of anything.
It was awkward and sweet ... fuck I need to block it out or I’ll obsess over something that will never be.
“Okay, Juliet. It was lovely meeting you. I guarantee that I will never meet another soul as sweet as yours.” I lean forward and kiss her soft pretty lips.
“I want to give you some cash, not for anything other than some expensive airport food.” I dip my hand into my jeans to fish out my wallet, but she’s already got her backpack slung over her shoulder and she’s walking away.
“I’m good,” she says with her head bowed down and I know for a fact she’s tearing up again.
Better just leave it, I think to myself, it will only get worse, so I watch her go.
She gets in the astronomical Starbucks line and sets her backpack down.
They don’t have vegan food at Starbucks.
Ugh. I want to worry about her, but instead I walk to the first class lounge which is packed with passengers, but I belong to the exclusive executive flyers club and blissfully there are only a few passengers enjoying champagne and caviar.
I walk to the concierge and book the last airport suite.
Thank God. I can dine in peace and finally get a little sleep before figuring out what the hell I’m going to do tomorrow.
As I’m texting my business associates and ordering a glass of champagne, I think of Juliet eating whatever vegan scraps they have available at Starbucks and just know that she isn’t going to eat properly tonight. I brush it off.
“I’ll have caviar, 2 bellini’s, the smoked salmon, herbed creme fraiche, and filet mignon. And do you buy any chance serve vegan items?” Fuck me for asking.
“We have a full vegan menu, sir.” Wow, really? Okay.
“And how late do you serve?” I mean, I should know, just in case I want to try something vegan.
This is the idiotic thing I tell myself.
I do a fairly good job of trying to forget Juliet for a few hours.
I eat my meal; I go to the suite and have a shower.
I even dress for a proper night of sleep when I start to toss and turn.
All I can think of is Juliet lost in the mass stranded people, starving on Starbucks.
I put my clothes back on and leave the suite, which I have for the next two days in case we’re stuck here that long.
I walk out into the airport and think, where would Juliet go?
I know she’s flying to Rhode Island and chances are she’s going to stay on the same airline so she isn’t probably going to be too far away from where I left her.
And it turns out my sleuthing is correct.
My heart explodes when I see her auburn hair peeking out of the hood of her jacket.
Her head is resting on her backpack and she has her beautiful legs tucked up underneath her.
Beside her is a cup with her name Juliet written in black ink and the remnants of a spicy falafel ball or something similar .
.. which now explains why Starbucks was the restaurant of choice.
She’s curled up near the window tucked as far away from other sleeping people as she can get and looks small, sad, and lonely.
I know I’m going to burn in Hell for this, but I don’t care.
I march right over and crouch beside her.
“Juliet,” I gently shake her shoulder. “Ma chérie,” I say softly. She’s wearing ear buds so I pluck one out and speak again. “Ma chérie,” I repeat.
And I should have anticipated what happens next, but of course I’m not thinking about the consequences of my actions.
Juliet awakens disoriented and freaked out as she slaps my face and starts kicking me frantically. People all around us are starting to wake up until I grab her feet and force her to look at me.
“It’s me, Juliet. It’s Marcel.” Finally it registers and her eyes go wide.
“Marcel?” She looks like she might cry again.
“Come on,” I offer her my hand and she lifts herself up from the floor but it looks like it’s a pretty painful move as she rolls the kinks out of her body.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“I have a better place for you to sleep,” I tell her.
Seriously what the fuck am I doing?
Not only is she half my age, she’s twice as sparkling and beautiful.
She deserves a nice man to whisk her off her feet, not a Grinch.
I tell myself it’s just one more night. No fucking, just vegan food, and sleep.
She sort of hobbles by my side and I’m tempted to carry her bridal style, but the lounge isn’t that much further.
Since she’s so sleepy, she doesn’t say anything on our trek across the airport.
When we get to the lounge the attendant lets us in and I take her up the elevator to the executive section.
“Fancy,” she manages to say with a smile.
“I couldn’t let you sleep on the floor when I had this,” I finally confess.
“You’re rich enough to afford it, Marcel. I’m not, I understand.” She yawns as the elevator doors open and bring us to the lounge where I stand for a moment. Since it is nearly midnight only one other couple is in the dining room.
“They have vegan food. It’s included in the price of the first class ticket, and I have a feeling you might be starving.” By the sparkle in her eyes, I’m not wrong.
“I am a little hungry. What do you think they have at this hour?” She bites her lip and by that I can tell she’s beyond a little anything ...
“Well, let’s have a seat and find out.” We sit and the waiter comes. “What are your vegan options?” I ask, expecting nothing to sound good, but I’m pleasantly surprised.
“We have mac-n-cheese with truffle oil, a soy-based cheese, roasted garlic, thyme, and almond cream base. We also have a vegan duck souffle with basil and lime, the duck is plant-based and grilled. I have to say, it’s quite nice, very tender, and flavorful.
And then we also have a chickpea bowl with legumes, tree nuts, and a sweet onion sauce. ”
I look at Juliet and her eyes are wide with delight.
“Which one would you get?” She gives me a questioning glance as if I had any clue.
“Chérie, you’re the vegan, but the duck sounds nice.”
A little smile dances across her face and she nods. “Okay. I’ll have that.” She looks genuinely delighted.
“And I’ll have your best champagne; do you want a glass of wine or something else?” I ask since she hasn’t ordered anything to drink.
“Just water,” her smile remains bright. “I need to re-hydrate.”
“Oh, yes you do,” I make light of the fact that a few hours ago I was balls deep inside of her rocking one of the most explosive orgasms I’ve ever had.
Which reminds me that I have to engage in a very uncomfortable conversation with her about birth control.
While I was able to pull out at the end of my climax, I guarantee some of my swimmers made it in.
“So, why did you come get me?” she asks, taking a breadstick from the basket on our table.
“I have a room and a very large bed. The idea of you being out there with the masses broke my heart.”
“That’s sweet, Marcel. I thought I wasn’t going to see you again. It’s nice to have a little more time.” She is definitely guarding her heart as she is overly polite and diplomatic.
“It is nice. So. I have question I should asked you before I popped your cherry.” Crass though it may be, I’m trying to keep the conversation light.
“About?” She now looks worried.
“Birth control. Do we need to contact the airport infirmary for an emergency contraception?” Though I am dreading the answer, there are a few solutions to the problem, even in blizzard conditions.
“We’re good.” She gave me a thumbs up and I visibly exhaled.
“Thank God,” I am so relieved that she’s being responsible. “That makes things much more pleasant for both of us. No babies to worry about.”
Her face falls just a little, but the waiter comes with her food and our drinks and that changes the mood.
“Thank you.” She gives a big flirty smile to the waiter and I don’t think she even knows she’s done it. “I’m so excited to try this.”
He returns the flirty grin and I believe I may punch him in the face. “It’s so good. I’m a vegan too,” is his sly confession.
Now he’s needs to die.
“Thanks,” I dismiss. “I’m sure it’s delicious. Can I try a bite, chérie?”
She gives me an odd look, but sets out balancing the perfect bite for me, even before she’s taken one of her own.
“Well, enjoy,” the waiter says and looks a bit defeated—good. He may have thought I’m her father, but now he knows.
“Here.” She holds the fork in front of my mouth and I take it since I set myself up for this and surprisingly, it is really good.
“Wow, that’s a shock!” I genuinely like it, very flavorful.
“See, being a vegan isn’t so bad,” she coos.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I laugh, but surprisingly it is much better than I ever thought it would be.
“So, do you always get a room on the plane and at the airport?” She's making small talk, clearly a little nervous.
“Well, yes on an overnight flight, but this is an extenuating circumstance because of the weather. What are your plans? How will you get to Rhode Island?”
“Whenever the roads are clear I’m going to get a ride home.
I haven’t figured that out. The airline is offering a flight, but they’re saying it might be a few days.
I don’t think I can sleep on the floor that long, it’s pretty brutal down there.
” She laughs like she’s not talking to a billionaire who could take care of her so she wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor—ever.
“Well, let’s see how tomorrow goes,” I say, not wanting to think about another goodbye just yet.