14. Hazel
This whole moment was surreal. I was still mad at Jareth about taking away my choices today, and we’d get to that in a minute, but holy macaroni! I was sitting in Jareth’s lap, and the press of his hardened cock against my core had me wanting to act like a cat in heat.
But before we could resume that kiss and everything I wanted to come after it, I needed to clear up a few things with him. And wait until we were off the plane and away from prying eyes. I didn’t need my inexperience broadcasted to his staff.
He nuzzled into the crook of my neck. I laughed at the tickle of his nose until he kissed and licked his way up to the shell of my ear. Wow. My breathing picked up and my knees squeezed tighter into him as my hips rolled forward. His lips feathered across my jaw and by the time they reached my mouth, tiny shudders shocked me each time my center connected with his dick.
I stiffened at the rattling of dishes in the galley. I’d lost myself for a second. We needed to stop. His hands slid up under my shirt to cup my heavy breasts, his thumbs rubbing my nipples through my bra. I shuddered at his touch, almost losing my resolve once again.
He and I still had a lot to discuss before we went any further. While I’d put aside my anger to discuss the development about his dad and for us to come to an agreement about our relationship, it hadn’t just disappeared.
Jareth’s mouth softened, his tongue swiped the edge of my lips seeking entrance. I squirmed in his lap, fighting the need for him crashing over me. I had to put a stop to this now or I’d never have the strength.
I gently tugged on his hair to pull his head back. “We need to talk.”
“Later would be good for that.” He leaned into me again.
I tugged harder when he didn’t listen, not minding his wince. “Did you really cancel my date?”
His face darkened and the desire in his eyes switched to a swirling, simmering anger. “You’re damned right I did.”
“How did you even know about it?”
“You might want to ask Jess about that.”
“I’m asking you. Communication is good for this stuff, too. Not just the bedroom things.” I wondered if the heat filling my cheeks and spreading down my throat and chest would ever stop when we discussed being sexual.
His thumb rubbed over my bottom lip, a pensive look on his face.
I shuddered at the contact. My tongue slid out to lick at the pad of Jareth’s thumb. I was doing a terrible job at curbing our need for each other.
“Fuck. The places we are going to experiment on using that tongue.” His raspy voice skated up and down my spine like a caress.
“We need to stop or I’m going to have to move to my own seat,” I teased.
His eyebrows slashed in a V, and his hands gripped my hips tighter. Clearly, he was not on board with that suggestion.
“Jareth,” I cupped his cheeks in my hands, loving how his sexy stubble rubbed against my palms. My mind immediately roamed where it shouldn’t and imagined other places I might want to feel it against my skin.
“Sunshine, you can’t look at me that way and expect me not to do something about it,” he growled.
I sighed. He was right. “Tell me, please.”
“Jess called me last night while you all were discussing this date.” I had to hold back my laughter at the way he spat out the word date.
“I was with Jess the whole time. She never stepped away to make a call.”
Jareth kneaded my hips, loosening my muscles and making me melt into him. “You wouldn’t have known. She didn’t talk to me. She let me hear the conversation, knowing it would likely set me down this path.”
“I would’ve told you.” I swallowed down the frustration that we had to get to this point before he admitted he wanted something with me. Not that we’d defined what we were. When I asked him to promise to try, there was my unspoken agreement to not ask for more than what he was ready to give.
He nodded. “I know. I wasn’t angry at you or thought that you’d hide it from me. I was pissed that I’d pushed you away so many times you’d given up.”
I rested my head on his shoulder. “I kind of was giving up.” Admitting it out loud brought back the utter sadness that weighed on me last night.
“I hated that you were going on a date. I might have overreacted and booked this trip when Terri told me that I needed to be here.”
“You think next time you could ask me first?” I asked, wryly.
“Now that I know you won’t be on any other dates without me, I’ll be sure to discuss future trips with you.” His fingertips trailed up and down my back.
I traced a random pattern on his dress shirt, not quite ready to meet his gaze for this next question. “So, I’m assuming we’re not seeing other people.” I wanted to say that I’d scratch out the eyes of any woman on your arm that’s not me, but I didn’t want to scare him off.
His hands moved so fast and I yelped as he lifted me up until I was looking at him. “There had better not be anyone else.” The possession in his eyes sent a rush of happiness through me.
“There isn’t, but the same goes for you too.” I gave him my best, ‘you need to listen to me’ glare.
His grip relaxed, and he kissed my forehead before settling me into his arms again. “That’s a given. I don’t want anyone but you. I haven’t since I saw that fucking dating profile. Of which you’re deleting immediately.”
I nodded. “Done.”
Light speared in through the window near us. Until now, I’d been so focused on Jareth, I hadn’t noticed the sun poking through the clouds. I gave him a questioning glance.
“Bali.”
“Seriously? I’ve always wanted to go there.” Travel had always been at the top of my list, but I never had the money to afford it.
“I know. You have that list of all the places you want to travel to.” I loved how well he knew me. It eased my irritation the tiniest bit.
“I do, but even taking me to one of my dream destinations doesn’t excuse the fact that you’re making me miss the holidays with my family.” I settled my disappointed gaze on him. He at least had the decency to flinch.
“I can fly your Gran to meet us here.” At least he was offering a suggestion.
“She can’t make a flight like that by herself.” Gran was in decent health but without the use of her legs it was too dangerous for her to travel alone.
“We can include your friends Niki and Lacey. Their whole family if you wish.”
“I know you think you’re helping, but uprooting everyone’s lives to make this better isn’t the way to do it.”
His eyes flashed. “I’m not sending you back.
“You will if I tell you too.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“When did you get so bossy?” A rakish smirk settled on his lips.
I decided to give him this moment. There was nothing we could do while we were in the air. I’d make my decision when we got to the resort and I called my family. “When I started to work for you. You’re the only one I feel comfortable enough to challenge.”
His chest puffed up as though I’d paid him the highest compliment.
“You like that I argue with you?” I was utterly baffled by his response.
“Nobody else does. Well, except for Jess, but she doesn’t count. She challenges everyone.” He shifted in the seat and flicked his wrist in a come here gesture to someone behind us.
My eyes grew wide as I tried to wiggle off his lap. I needed to get out of this compromising position. I’d known his flight crew for the past three years and had established myself as a professional. I didn’t need them to think I had this job because I slept with the boss.
Jareth’s hands tightened, not allowing me to move.
Shoot me now.
I couldn’t back down or show any fear. Or was it a lack of confidence? Either way, I needed to pretend this situation didn’t bother me. I was so angry with Jareth that I didn’t notice which staff was on board. I desperately hoped it wasn’t Katia. She and Jareth had gotten close. I had a feeling this would not only be awkward, but a slap in her face. Katia didn’t deserve that.
“Katia.” Jareth said as her muffled steps grew closer.
Internally I cringed and took a breath. “Hi, Katia. So nice to see you again,” I said, my voice overly perky. Ugh, I was making this situation so much worse.
She barely paid me any mind. “Hazel. Sir, what can I do for you?”
I wanted to groan.
I had no idea what Katia was thinking about this turn of events. Jareth’s firm grip didn’t allow me to turn to face her without twisting my back into an awkward angle. Perhaps, their time together didn’t mean anything to her.
“Grab us breakfast. It’s a long flight.” Jareth sounded like his normal bossy self.
She nodded. “Of course, sir.” I wasn’t sure if it was that all my senses were heightened with my discomfort or that her voice really did sound higher than usual. “I’ll be right back with your meals.”
“Let me go,” I whisper-shouted.
“Why?”
“Jareth, this just got weirdly uncomfortable.”
An incredulous stare settled on his face.
I tipped my head to the galley where Katia was preparing our meal and likely spitting on mine. “Are you dense?”
He frowned.
“You and Katia… ” I let my voice trail off.
He looked at me, not bothering to spare a glance in Katia’s direction. “I don’t know what the problem is. I didn’t make her any promises, and now she clearly knows we’re together.” His matter-of-fact tone made me angry.
“For such a smart man, you can be pretty stupid sometimes.” I rested my hands on his shoulders. “You might not think of her anymore, but from the sound of her voice, she thinks of you.”
He looked from me to the galley, sputtering a nonsense reply.
I slipped out of his grasp. “I’m going to apologize to Katia, and before we land, I expect you to do the same.”
“Why—”
I pointed at him. “Do not finish that statement. Do it. Make things right.”
My stomach churned as I made my way to where Katia was pulling together our food. When I turned the corner, she jumped and hastily wiped at her eyes. “Can I do anything to help you, Hazel?” she asked.
“I’m sorry for that. I know you and Jareth?—”
She cut me off, her tone brisk. “It doesn’t matter.”
I risked her wrath and laid my hand on her arm. “It does.”
She sighed and let out a shaky breath.
“I didn’t know today was going to go this way or that Jareth and I would… do… be this,” I stumbled over my words, unsure what to say.
She gave me a slight smile. “I know. I heard pieces of your conversation.”
My cheeks heated, and I wanted to hide, but I continued to look her in the eye, knowing I’d appreciate someone doing this for me. “I’m sorry. That probably made this even worse for you.”
She shrugged. “I shouldn’t be surprised. We’ve all seen how you two looked at each other when you didn’t think the other noticed.”
My mouth opened and closed a few times. I had no idea how to respond to that.
“I appreciate your apology, Hazel, and what you said to Jareth. I think you’ll be good for him.” She gave me an awkward, impromptu hug. “I’ll be fine. Go back to your seat.”
“If you’re sure… ” I was happy she helped to lessen the strangeness of our conversation. I turned to leave.
“Hazel,” Katia called out to me. “This really is for the best. Maybe now I’ll move on instead of hoping things will be different.”
“Good luck, Katia. You deserve to be loved with someone’s whole heart.”
“You do too.” I strode back to my empty seat, her parting words echoing in my head. She was right, and I hoped with every cell in my body that I could knock down Jareth’s walls so that he could love me with all of his.
I already suspected my feelings for him were heading in that direction.