Chapter 9 #3
“What’s wrong?” Taio asks, his face flooding with concern. “You look pale all of a sudden.”
“Not a good flyer,” I mumble. “Just takeoff and touchdown. In the air I’m okay.” My words are coming out in short staccatos as I try to calm the raging flames of anxiety with cool-headed logic. “Sage, now, please?”
The plane jolts forward, trading its leisurely stroll for an all-out sprint.
“No time,” Taio mumbles, quickly trading seats so he’s right next to me. He folds my arm around his like twisted pretzels and holds my hand tightly. So tight the pressure is almost painful.
“Ow, that hurts.”
“Oh come on, tough girl. Squeeze back. I know you have more endurance than that.” But he lessens his grip just a touch. “Show me how strong you are.”
“Not interested in your mind games, Taio. I know what you’re doing.”
He smirks. “I’ll tell you what, if you can make me say ‘ow’ with that tiny bunny paw you’re sporting, I’ll…I don’t know, what’s something you want?”
“A kiss,” I reply like a reflex.
He quirks a brow. “Had that one locked and loaded, did you?”
“Taio…” I whine as the front half of the plane starts to levitate. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Shh, shh,” he coos. “Just squeeze. As hard as you can.”
I do. I squeeze his hand like I’m trying to crush it, until my forearm aches and my veins are bulging.
It’s actually exhausting, and from this day forward I will be in full support of arm wrestling entering the Summer Olympics.
Fatigued, I have to take deep breaths, and my sole focus becomes making Taio squirm in his seat.
I want that kiss. But he’s barely flinching.
I have to pull in my other hand, wrapping around the bottom of his, trying to double the amount of pressure.
I press with all my might and then his pinky finger twists, buckling under the pressure from both sides. “Oof,” he huffs, shaking out his hand.
“That counts,” I say, releasing the pressure. “Oof counts.”
He smiles at me, his perfect dazzling teeth all giving me a standing ovation. “Great job, Tweety. That was ferocious.”
I glower at him. “You’re placating me. That didn’t hurt, did it?”
“Like a chubby puppy falling into a bed of blankets. All soft.”
“You’re the worst,” I grumble, shaking my head.
“Maybe, but you’re breathing normal now, and we’ve already leveled out.” He points to the window. I slide open the shade to see us dancing just above the clouds.
Understanding his game of distraction, I smile and nod in gratitude. “Thank you. That was very nice, and far less stressful than the warrior speech Sage always gives me.”
“Yeah, she’s a little scary.”
I let out a light laugh. “She’s not a fan of your cat, hate to tell you.”
“More concerning is that she’s not a fan of me.”
“Oh she is,” I assure him. “This is Sage being nice.”
“Dear God, I fear for her enemies.”
I nod solemnly. “As do I. Try not to make that list.”
He winks at me. “Noted. Now, if you’re okay, I need to attend to the other lady in my life—which is a spoiled, overweight black cat, who’s been mean-mugging me since I put him in a carrier.”
I’m the lady in Taio’s life now? Huh. I like how that sounds.
Except, aside from his death-grip trust exercise, he seems like he doesn’t want to get too close.
I mean, I tried to undress in front of him, and we tossed around a vibrator like a hot potato, and now all of a sudden he’s offering me high fives.
“Can I meet your cat?”
Taio’s smile fades. “Absolutely. As long as you don’t call him ‘my cat.’ He’s a passerby. I just couldn’t abandon him at my apartment for four months straight. And I didn’t have enough notice to find a more permanent solution.”
“Sorry, we did sort of pluck you from your life without warning, didn’t we?”
Taio rises to his feet, having to duck his head to avoid the overhead storage compartments. “It’s fine. It worked out. I’ll go get Black Cat.”
“What’s his name?” I ask.
I have no idea why, but Taio rolls his eyes before heading down the aisle to the back of the plane storage area where his cat’s carrier is probably buckled down for safety.
I let out a deep breath when I’m finally alone, letting the residual nerves fall off me like raindrops on a freshly waxed car. I always feel better when we’re mid-flight. Up here in the sky, it’s serene. I’m safe. Untouchable. At peace.
“Hey,” Taio says, sending my heart rate right back to the moon. He leans over the outer seat, getting as close as he can.
“Jesus,” I say to his face which is mere inches from mine. “Scared me.”
“Sorry, I forgot. I owe you this.” His lips graze my cheek, so soft, but they linger.
My pulse surges, sending electric currents of curiosity through me like Frankenstein coming to life.
The moment he pulls away, I replace his lips with my hand, trying to hold the warmth in place. “A deal’s a deal. I’ll be right back.”
With that, he disappears again, leaving me far more confused than before.
He wants me?
He wants me not?
It was a kiss on the cheek.
But still a kiss…
I touch my cheek again, my smile growing.
Yeah, still a kiss.