Chapter 4
If anyone ever wanted to create chaos in an airport during the winter holidays, all they had to say was ‘flight delayed’. Ethan leaned back in his chair and observed the panicked passengers storming the desk, making demands. It was like every frayed nerve in the room snapped at the same time.
Brielle appeared levelheaded and was scrolling on her phone for answers.
With her legs stretched out across her carry-on bag, she seemed calm and relaxed in the moment.
However, her expressive face belied her every thought, whether she was furrowing her eyebrows or biting her lip.
He yearned to do that, to taste those full lips and feel her warmth.
He would kiss her slowly and deeply, treasuring every sensation.
Her long nails would scrape his scalp as she raked her fingers through his hair, sending his arousal skyrocketing, but he wouldn’t change the pace.
He would take the time to ignite every spark of passion in her until she was begging him to touch her.
“Mechanical issues! That could mean anything!” Bri’s head snapped up at the same time as his, hearing the rant of a man stomping away from the harried attendant.
“How much of a hurry are you in to get to DC?” he asked, leaning across the armrest. This opportunity was too good not to seize. A little forced proximity was the perfect way to spend time together while they had the chance.
“What did you have in mind?” She shot him a sly smile, looking at him through her long, dark lashes.
“There’s no other direct flight out tonight. If we try to find an alternative, we’re competing with everyone else. They’ll tell us when they’re ready. It’s up to you, but if you’re going to stick around for this one, would you have a drink with me while we wait?”
“Alright, Americano, let’s see how this plays out.” He held his hand to her and helped her up. Then he spun her around and brought her into his chest. Maybe he was cheating, but holding her in his arms, if only for a moment, was like a dream.
“Just to be clear, we’re only hanging out until the flight. There’s nothing else to this. Right?”
“Sure. But we could pretend for a little while.” He wouldn’t deny he was disappointed she was friend-zoning him.
With more time, he might be able to convince her otherwise.
For the moment, he would relish any time she gave him.
With his bag slung over his shoulder, he rolled her case off the carpeted waiting area and onto the tile of the main walkway.
“Okay, I’ll play, but only until we get on that plane.”
“Hmm, a lovely night in the city.” He offered her his elbow, like they were going for a stroll in a park.
“Uh… Oh! Yes. Yes, it is. I can’t seem to remember the last time we were here.” Her nose scrunched in that cute way when she was trying to figure something out. He could see a spark of understanding in her eyes as she looked around and continued the imaginary narrative.
“It’s been a while, but you see that playground over there?
” He asked, pointing toward nothing in particular at the far end of the terminal.
“That’s where we first met when we were kids because our moms were best friends.
” It was a little fun distraction for a couple of hours, and it kept him from having to divulge his secrets that could ruin his brief time with her.
“Which meant we were, too?” She looked up at him like she needed to believe that they would have been friends in another lifetime.
“Inseparable.” He imagined that he would have had a crush on her from the moment he saw her and would have followed her everywhere.
“It’s a shame we lost touch after…”
“When I left for college.” He finished for her.
“You didn’t stay for me?” Her sweet question had him wondering what would happen when they got on the plane, and this was over.
“I didn’t think you wanted me to.”
“Maybe I was shy and intimidated by you being a big football star.” He laughed at her caricature of him.
“I don’t think you remember the skinny computer geek with oversized glasses and baggy clothes the way I do.”
“Aww, you must have been so cute,” she cooed, diverting from the story.
“I think only my mom would have agreed with you.” Even with all of the effort he put into bulking up his muscles and appearing more attractive, he liked knowing that she may have appreciated his former self.
“I don’t believe that. Those eyes and that smile had to have melted a few panties over the years.”
“Ahem. I recall this is your favorite restaurant.” Opening the door for her, he attempted to return to the imaginary scenario.
He schooled his expression and refrained from responding to her comment, but that didn’t mean his mind wasn’t between her thighs the way he wished his face could be.
Did she prefer lace or something more practical?
If he had her stripped down and kneeling between her legs, would she smell as sweet with the musk of her arousal?
Would she taste like vanilla as she dripped across his tongue or as he plunged deeper inside her?
“It’s sweet of you to remember. I love the new decor they’ve added,” she laughed, continuing the story, seemingly oblivious to his reaction to her.
Finding an open spot at the end of the bar, he pulled the stool out for her.
The space was packed, and the noise level of anxious, hungry travelers was jarring.
All that stopped when a series of phone alarms sounded through the bar, including his, and at the same time, the voice came on the overhead speakers.
“Flight 1122, direct to Washington DC, Reagan National Airport, has been canceled. Passengers will be rebooked on the next available flight. If you need assistance, please contact the airline’s customer service.”
“I guess we need to go fight the crowds. Too bad we don’t get to have our drink.” She sounded disappointed as she slowly pushed her chair away from the bar.
“Who says we don’t?” A frisson of excitement went through him at the gift the universe just handed him while chaos broke out around them again.