Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
“Just water.” I flick her a stoic face. A warning face. I think she gets the message if her prompt escape and falling smile are a measure. I remove Ava’s shoes and start rubbing her feet. “Okay?”
“Not really.” Surprisingly, she appears oblivious to Kimberly’s obvious friendliness, her attention pointed out of the window. “There were regular flights available, weren’t there?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t check,” I admit. “We don’t do commercial, Ava.”
“You don’t. I do,” she mutters. “I haven’t got swollen feet yet, you know.”
Prevention is better than cure. “Close your eyes,” I order, seeing Kimberly on her way back with our water. Ava sighs and settles, her petite body sinking into the huge leather seat, my thumbs rubbing firm circles in the soles of her feet. I nod at the table, prompting Kimberly to set the drinks down without a word, then I focus on Ava, watching a small smile creep onto her face. She’s thinking of me. I’m not being presumptuous.
I get comfortable, hearing the door being closed, but I don’t take my attention off Ava. I love watching her. I love wondering what’s running through her mind. I love rubbing her feet, seeing her lashes flutter. Her breathing deepen. Her chest rise and fall. I know she’s out for the count when her chin drops slightly.
My gaze falls to her stomach, the corner of my mouth twitching. Watching her belly grow with our babies is going to be incredible. My future will be filled with nothing but amazing things. And my past is full of horror.
Don’t look back.
“Don’t look back,” I whisper, sinking deeper into the seat. She’s with me, and London is far behind us. Our troubles are far behind us.
For now.
The jet starts moving smoothly toward the runway, and we’re soon speeding down it, the glorious weightless feeling coming over me. She doesn’t stir once. Dreaming. Sleeping for fucking England again. I just can’t see how work is an option for her at the moment. It seems the second she sits or lies down, she dozes off. I pull the camera up on my phone and snap a picture of her sleeping.
“Can I get you anything, Mr. Ward?” Kimberley asks, hovering over my seat.
“Just more water, thanks,” I reply, and she’s soon placing two glasses down. “There will be nothing else.” This will be the easiest flight she’s worked on. I want nothing. Just peace.
I lift Ava’s foot to my lips and lick her instep, chuckling when she shifts in her seat, eyes still closed. My tongue drags across to her toe. Her leg stiffens and one eye opens.
“Dreaming?”
“Of you,” she breathes, settling again. “Tell me when we take off so I can put my head between my legs.”
“I’ll put my head between your legs.” I nip her toe, feeling her tremble.
“Just tell me.”
“Look out the window, baby,” I say softly, watching as she leans up and checks. She gasps lightly and looks around. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“And miss the sounds and looks you were making?” I kiss her toes and place her feet back down. There’s too much space between us. “Come here.” Reaching for her, I undo her belt and help her across to me, getting her comfortable on my lap. “Go back to sleep and dream of me, lady.”
She settles, and I relax back, my head falling to the side to look out of the window. Paradise. It’s been years since I’ve been. The risk of bumping into people I didn’t want to see was too high. I never dared take a break at my villa. It would have been too lonely on my own. Too secluded. No sex.
Now? Seclusion is just what we need.
I fasten the belt around us and rest my head on her, closing my eyes, feeling content and settled. There’s something special about falling asleep together. The closeness. The equal vulnerability.
And now as we fly away from the UK to another country, I can say, hand on heart, I feel the most relaxed I’ve ever felt.
It’s going to be a hard feeling to let go of.
30
My ears pop, telling me we’re descending, and a quick check out of the window confirms it. “Mr. Ward, we’re landing.” Kimberly looks at Ava curled up in my arms, and I nod to the seat belt around both of us. I know she could put her foot down. I know I could be met by the police when we land if I refuse to adhere to safety instructions. But . . .
I smile and Kimberly deflates, wandering to her own seat and buckling up. The landing is as smooth as takeoff, as it always is with Captain. Which has been demonstrated by Ava’s lack of stirring.
Kimberly approaches again as the plane rolls to a stop by the private hangar. “You’ll get me fired,” she says, waving a finger at my head.