Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 189782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 949(@200wpm)___ 759(@250wpm)___ 633(@300wpm)
“Stop.” She laughs, the sound warming my skin.
I continue my routine with the buckle, deliberately fumbling and drawing out the task. “I might need to check it another twenty times, just to be sure. You know, safety first.”
Brushing my thumb against the waistband of her jeans, I deftly release her button and hook a finger in the opening, teasing her zipper.
“Kody,” she whispers.
“Or maybe I just like coming up with excuses to touch you.”
“You never need an excuse to touch me.” Her smile widens, and her grip on the armrests loosens as she watches my exaggerated concentration on the buckle.
“That right?” With one hand, I blunder my attempts with the latch while my other hand sinks deeper into the heat behind her zipper.
“If you play with it much longer, I might think you’re doubting your handiwork.”
“Never.” I click the buckle securely and with the hand I still hold in her pants, give the latch and her zipper a tug. “See? Just had to make sure it’s as strong and resilient as the person wearing it.”
Her laughter, more genuine this time, fills the cabin, easing the stiffness from her shoulders. “I know what you’re doing, you wicked man.”
“Tell me.” I shift forward, wedging my hips between her legs.
“You’re trying to make this less terrifying.”
“Tell me it’s working.”
“You know it is.” She leans closer.
“Sorry to interrupt.” The female crew member, dressed impeccably in a navy uniform, approaches with a polite smile.
With a growl, I remove my hand from Frankie’s jeans and keep it tucked against her waist.
“We’re about to take off. Please, take your seat.” The pretty Black woman blushes as she meets my eyes. “My name is Tanya. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Bourbon for her. Vodka for me.”
“Please and thank you,” Frankie adds.
I grunt.
Tanya nods and moves on.
“We need to work on your manners, caveman.” Frankie taps my lips.
I bite her finger, making her yelp. “Trying to tame me already?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She zips up her pants, shutting down my advances. “You’re supposed to be in your seat.”
“I’d rather be in your seat.”
“Sir?” Tanya calls out. “Where are you going?”
I glance up and find Leo stepping out of the plane.
“Taking a leak.” He’s already unzipping.
“Outside?” Tanya gasps. “There’s a lavatory on board.” She points to the rear.
“Fine.” He ambles toward us, pausing to caress Frankie’s cheek. “Want to hold my cock while I pee?”
I catch Tanya’s wide-eyed stare. “We found him in the wild. He’s not potty trained.”
“Fuck off.” He continues toward the back. “What the—? How am I supposed to fit in here? How does it even work?”
“Figure it out.” Frankie laughs.
He proceeds to piss with the door open, bumping around and cursing over the sound of his stream.
“Wipe off the seat,” she yells.
“What seat?”
“Oh, God.” She covers her face.
At least he washes his hands before returning to us. “The bathroom is a no-go, but that divan is the perfect place to fuck like animals.” He glances at the cockpit. “We have a few minutes before—”
“You’re a barbarian.” She smacks his abs, grinning. “Get out of here.”
“Love you.” He winks his one gold eye and stalks back to the cockpit.
I can’t fault him for being an ass. Everything he did was an attempt to calm her down. Most of it, anyway. I’m certain he meant to piss on the tarmac.
“Feeling better?” I brush a strand of hair from her face, my movements tender.
“Yeah.”
Our eyes lock, and the world outside the plane, with all its threats and uncertainties, falls away. It’s just the two of us, connected and safe in the knowledge that our bond is the constant we can rely on.
I test the connection points where her seat belt bolts to the frame with a focus born of a crash that still haunts us both. Then I check the latch once, twice, three times, each click a reassurance that I silently whisper to both of us.
As Tanya closes the air stair door, my gaze stays on Frankie, searching for any trace of fear, ready to soothe it away.
“Brave, beautiful thing.” I inch closer, my lips finding hers.
I pour all my love and devotion into the kiss, all my promises of protection. She’s going to make it. We all are.
When our mouths part, the heat lingers, suspended in the electricity that travels between us.
Until I look up.
Monty stands just inside the doorway to the cockpit, his features twisted into a barely contained rage. His blue eyes sharpen into lethal blades, his body tense as if ready to spring into a fight. The dark bruises that Leo gave him only add to his manic appearance.
But he catches himself, his jaw clenching as he battles his fury. Then, with visible effort, he reins it in, his face smoothing into the cultured facade he wears so well as he turns and closes the door.