Page 14 of Betrothed
As we walked from the club, his presence was even more oppressive. However, I felt completely protected, which was silly in an airport crawling with security personnel.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you heading to New York?”
He took a deep breath, his exhale loud. “Business. I’m always working. This time helping a friend’s cousin get a recently renovated and newly purchased hotel off the ground.”
“Oh, wow. You’re a marketing expert?”
Laughing, he shook his head. “Let’s just say I’m more in charge of security both for the employees and our customers.”
“Ah, you cater to the rich and famous.”
“In a manner of speaking.”
As we approached the gate, I finally grabbed the handle of my suitcase and when I did, our fingers collided.
I immediately gasped, my eyes opening wide. Not from the connection as much as the shock of the sheer voltage. I’d read about the crazy sensations in books, but had thought the concept just another well-written fantasy.
But he felt it too, his eyes narrowing to the point his eyelids were hooded. Just how much sexier could the man get?
“Oh, shit.” With a decent eye roll, I laughed, snapping my head so I could feel whatever admonishment he could provide.
As usual, he was suave in his mannerisms, shifting his hand so he could fully capture mine. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had that kind of reaction from a lady.”
“Well, the wine has created a monster.”
“Another little secret. I adore monsters. They are far more interesting than spending time with people who pretend to be something they are not.”
The moment was frozen in time until we were waved forward, our interaction holding up the line. “Well, what you see is what you get. Whether you like it or not.”
We both laughed as the attendant checked our tickets.
“Have a nice flight.” As soon as she made the statement, I tensed and my companion sensed it, placing his hand on the small of my back.
“You have my word everything will be okay.” Not only was his voice soothing, but the way he bent his head, whispering the words while nuzzling against me completely drove away the fears.
I shuddered physically in response, my grip on the cheap plastic tightening.
Once inside the plane, I took a deep breath before being guided to my pod. “Thank you for one of the most enjoyable moments of the trip.”
“I assume your cousin will be joining you?”
“Uh, no. She found herself a sexy Italian prince who swept her off her feet. If you ask me, he’s really the prince of darkness, but that’s another story. I’m flying alone.”
He hesitated as if determining whether to say anything else. Deciding against it, he winked and moved away.
While he was close, both of us in seated in first class, I instantly felt a sense of loneliness.
The two huge seats were a reminder that I was traveling alone. I watched him disappear into the last pod in first class while I was in the first, which offered even more privacy while also slightly suffocating.
As soon as I stored my bag and sat down, I was a nervous nelly. If Kathleen were here, she’d be jabbering already, keeping the mental wolves at bay. I cursed her mentally once again, the names colorful and covering the spectrum. I was envious of her chutzpa and enjoyment of living while my pleasure was derived from working. And I couldn’t fault her for being happy. But goddamn it, couldn’t she find a nice American boy instead?
Grousing wasn’t going to help. I studied the state-of-the-art cabin, reminding myself that I’d likely never get an experience like this again. I lifted a bag from the console, trying to figure out what I was looking at.
“Those are complimentary pajamas,” a happy, way too perky female voice said from behind me. “In the bag, which is also complimentary, you’ll find a toothbrush, earplugs, lotion, and several other essentials.”
Was it that obvious I’d never flown first class with luxury accommodations before? In flying over, we’d barely managed to get two adjoining seats in economy. Even that had caught me off guard. This was… different.
“Oh, okay. Thank you.” My voice was squeaky. This was going to be a nightmare.
