Chapter 24
The drive to Nice C?te d’Azur Airport took just under thirty minutes, winding down from Monaco’s hills through picturesque coastal roads. Claudia sat close to Sam in the back of the car, their fingers intertwined, both lost in their own thoughts about the whirlwind weekend they were leaving behind.
Jacques navigated the traffic with the ease of someone who knew these roads intimately, occasionally catching Sam’s eye in the rearview mirror but otherwise giving them privacy.
When they finally pulled up to the private aviation terminal, Claudia felt a mix of relief and melancholy. Monaco had been beautiful, dangerous, and life changing. But home was calling.
Jacques came around to open their door, his expression warm as Sam helped Claudia out of the car.
“Alpha, Miss Claudia,” Jacques said, already moving to retrieve their luggage from the trunk. “It has been an honor serving you this weekend.”
“The honor was ours, Jacques,” Sam said, clasping the other man’s shoulder. “Your help was invaluable. I won’t forget it.”
“Just doing my job, sir.” But Jacques’s pleased smile suggested the praise meant something to him. He glanced at Claudia. “And congratulations. The Clan will be overjoyed at the news of the Alpha’s mating.”
Claudia knew she was blushing. “Thank you, Jacques. That’s very kind.”
“Not kind, just truthful.” Jacques finished stacking their luggage on a cart provided by the terminal. “Safe travels home. And Alpha—” He lowered his voice. “If you need anything handled on this side of the Atlantic, you know where to find me.”
“I do. And I’ll be in touch.” Sam shook Jacques’s hand firmly.
They watched Jacques drive away, then turned toward the terminal where Amelia and Marco were already approaching with wide smiles.
“There they are,” Amelia called out. “We were starting to wonder if you’d decided to stay in Monaco permanently.”
“Tempting, but no,” Sam said, returning her smile. “How was your weekend?”
“Relaxing,” Marco said, taking control of their luggage cart. “We did some sightseeing, ate too much good food, and didn’t have to deal with any rich lunatics. I’d call that a win.”
Claudia caught the subtle emphasis on those last words and realized that Mark or Nick must have briefed the pilots on at least some of what had happened.
“Definitely a win by those standards,” Sam agreed. “Is the plane ready?”
“Fueled, inspected, and ready to go,” Amelia confirmed. “We can be wheels up in about twenty minutes if you’d like.”
“The sooner the better,” Claudia said. “I’m ready to be home.”
The four of them made their way through the terminal and out onto the tarmac where the sleek Learjet waited. Claudia had been impressed by it on the flight over, but now, it represented something more. This was the vehicle that would carry them home to start their new life together.
Marco supervised the loading of their luggage while Amelia completed the final pre-flight checks. Within minutes, they were climbing the stairs into the plane’s luxurious interior.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Amelia said over her shoulder as she headed to the cockpit. “We’ll have you back in Houston before you know it. There’s food in the galley whenever you’re hungry, and the bedroom in back is made up if either of you want to rest during the flight.”
“Thank you,” Sam said, his hand warm at Claudia’s lower back as he guided her into the cabin.
The door sealed shut, and moments later, the engines powered up with a low, steady hum. Claudia settled into one of the plush leather seats as they taxied toward the runway, watching the Nice airport slip past the windows.
“Ten to eleven hours,” Sam said, taking the seat across from her. “Depending on winds. What do you want to do with all that time?”
Claudia met his eyes and saw the heat there, the barely restrained want that had been simmering between them all morning.
They’d been so busy dealing with the aftermath of last night’s confrontation, with Kettering’s capture and the brunch and packing, that they hadn’t had a moment alone. Not really alone.
But now, they had eleven hours of privacy, with a closed cockpit door between them and the pilots. And there was an empty bed in the back of the plane behind another door that they could lock.
“I may have a few ideas.”
Sam’s eyes darkened to molten gold. “Is that so?”
The plane accelerated down the runway, and the plane lifted off. The wheels left the ground, and they were airborne. Free.
Once they reached cruising altitude, Sam stood and offered his hand. “Come with me.”
Claudia took his hand and let him pull her to her feet.
He led her through the small main cabin toward the back of the plane where a door led to a small but elegantly appointed bedroom.
The space was compact but luxurious, dominated by a bed built into the fuselage with crisp white linens and plenty of pillows.
Sam closed and locked the door behind them, then turned to face her. In the confined space, he seemed even larger, more overwhelming. More hers.
“I’ve been wanting to get you alone all day,” he said, his voice dropping to that rough timbre that made her knees weak.
“We’ve been alone several times today,” Claudia pointed out, though she was already moving closer to him.
“Not like this. Not where I can take my time with you.” His hands came up to frame her face. “Not where I can show you exactly how much I love you without worrying about threats or responsibilities or anything beyond this moment right here.”
“Then show me,” Claudia whispered, going up on her toes to kiss him.
The kiss was slow and deep and thorough, a claiming that made her head spin. Sam’s hands moved from her face to her shoulders, down her arms, learning the shape of her through the elegant fabric of her outfit.
“I was thinking about this all through brunch,” he murmured against her lips. “Watching you smile and talk to everyone, all while knowing that underneath that composed exterior, you’re mine. My mate. My love.”
“I am,” Claudia agreed, her hands working at the buttons of his shirt. “Just like you’re mine.”
They undressed each other slowly, despite the urgency building between them.
Each piece of clothing removed was accompanied by kisses and caresses, by whispered words of love and need.
When they finally tumbled onto the bed together, skin against skin, Claudia knew this was where she was always meant to be.
This was home. Not Houston, not any physical place, but here in Sam’s arms with their magic twining together and their hearts beating in sync.
Sam took his time, exploring every inch of her body with hands and lips and tongue.
He found places that made her gasp, discovered touches that made her arch off the bed, learned the exact rhythm and pressure that drove her wild.
And when she was trembling and desperate and begging, he finally gave her what she needed, joining their bodies with a gentleness that made tears prick her eyes.
“I love you,” he said, holding himself still inside her, his forehead pressed to hers. “I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being scared of anything. Don’t be, Sam,” Claudia managed, her hands gripping his shoulders. “Just love me. That’s all I need.”
They moved together, finding that perfect rhythm they’d discovered over the past nights, but this time, it was different. More profound. As if the act of flying home together, of crossing an ocean with their future spreading out before them, had added new layers to their bond.
Claudia’s magic rose unbidden, and Sam’s shifter magic rose to meet it. Gold and silver light filled the small cabin, sparkling and dancing around them like living fireworks. She felt the moment their magic fully merged, becoming something neither purely hers nor purely his, but theirs together.
When they reached their peak, it was together, crying out in unison as pleasure crashed over them.
The light surrounding them blazed bright enough that Claudia had to close her eyes against it, and she felt rather than saw the moment when their bond deepened even further, anchoring them to each other in ways that could never be undone.
They collapsed together, breathing hard, hearts racing, magic still humming contentedly around them.
“That was…” Sam started.
“I know,” Claudia finished, because words seemed inadequate for what they’d just experienced.
They lay tangled together as their breathing slowly returned to normal, neither willing to break the connection between them. Through the small window, Claudia could see clouds drifting past and the deep blue of the sky at this altitude.
“We just joined the mile high club,” she said eventually, unable to suppress a slightly giddy laugh.
Sam’s chuckle rumbled through his chest. “I suppose we did. Though I think our version was considerably more spectacular than most people’s.”
“The magic does add a certain flair,” Claudia agreed. She traced lazy patterns on his chest with one finger. “Do you think Amelia and Marco noticed?”
“If they did, they’re too professional to mention it.” Sam pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if they felt something. That was a lot of power we just released.”
“Mmm.” Claudia was drowsy, and sated, and perfectly content. “Should we get dressed and go back out there?”
“Eventually.” Sam’s arms tightened around her. “But not yet. Right now, I just want to hold you and enjoy this moment.”
They dozed together, waking occasionally to make love again, each time with the same intensity and magic. The hours of the flight passed in a haze of pleasure and connection and the deep satisfaction of belonging completely to another person.
Finally, as Claudia’s stomach reminded her that they hadn’t eaten since brunch, Sam stirred and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“We should probably eat something before we land,” he said reluctantly. “And make ourselves presentable.”
“Probably,” Claudia agreed, though she made no move to get up.
Sam laughed and swatted her rear gently. “Come on, love. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get home and continue this in our own bed.”
That was motivation enough. They dressed and tidied the small cabin as best they could, though Claudia suspected they both still looked thoroughly ravished when they finally emerged.
Amelia was just coming back from the cockpit as they entered the main cabin, and her knowing smile suggested she’d guessed exactly what they’d been doing for the past several hours.
“Good timing,” she said cheerfully. “We’ll be landing in about ninety minutes. I warmed up the meals the catering service left for us. There’s quite a spread if you’re hungry.”
“Starving,” Sam admitted, settling into one of the seats and pulling Claudia down beside him.
They ate companionably, enjoying the excellent food while watching the landscape below change from ocean to coastline to the familiar sprawl of Texas. As they began their descent toward Houston, Claudia felt anticipation building in her chest.
Home. They were going home. To the Clan, to responsibilities, to the life they’d build together from this point forward.
“Ready?” Sam asked softly as the plane touched down with barely a bump.
“Ready,” Claudia confirmed, lacing her fingers through his.
Whatever came next—announcing their mating to the Clan, dealing with the intelligence from Marta, strengthening their defenses against future Venifucus threats—they’d face it together. As mates. As partners. As two people who’d found something rare and precious in the midst of danger and intrigue.
The plane taxied to the private terminal, and through the window, Claudia could see Gavin waiting with a car. Back to reality, she thought. But it was a reality that now included Sam in every aspect of her life, and that made all the difference.
As they gathered their things and prepared to disembark, Sam pulled her close for one more kiss.
“Welcome home, my love,” he murmured against her lips.
“Welcome home,” Claudia echoed, and stepped out into the warm Texas evening with her mate at her side, ready for whatever came next.