Kidnapping His Bride

“We’re on a private plane. I would’ve made it happen regardless of you having your passport or not.” He still couldn’t believe she agreed to come with him. He’d gentled his approach, promising to take her wherever she wished to go. Even went as far to promise he wouldn’t touch her unless she wanted him to.

It would be difficult, but he would hold true as best he could.

She glared at him from over her shoulder. “Isn’t that illegal?”

He shrugged. This woman—his woman—was rather uptight. She needed to loosen up. “Who cares? A little thing like proper paperwork isn’t going to stop us from traveling together, am I right?”

“Do you always get your way?” Cat stopped short when they entered the plane and he stood behind her, watching as she drank in the luxurious interior. “This is beautiful. I must say I’ve never flown like this before.”

Gripping her shoulders, he gave them a gentle squeeze. “You’ll learn quickly I almost always get my way.” He smoothed his hands down her back before letting them fall. “And I’m glad you like it. The Worths know how to fly in style.”

The seats were covered in soft leather, with low tables in between them. Televisions rested overhead, a full spread of fruit, pastries, juice and hot coffee awaited them as their early morning breakfast. Had he even slept a wink last night? He didn’t think so. The scent of coffee certainly perked him up. “There’s a small bedroom too.”

“A bedroom?” she squeaked, moving deeper into the plane before she settled in one of the chairs. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.” He shrugged, sitting in the chair next to her, his shoulder brushing against hers. “If you get tired, you can sleep in there.”

“Do you always fly in a private plane?” she asked incredulously, her eyes wide.

“No, this isn’t even my plane, remember? It belongs to Worth Luxury. I only use it in emergency situations or when it’s readily available and I need to get somewhere quick.” Emergency situations—like when he was kidnapping a beautiful woman. His beautiful woman.

Hell. He was going to pay for this dearly if this plan backfired.

“So, why were you in Italy, Rafe?”

“Work purposes. I had to visit the Milan location, as did Matteo. Then we visited with our mother, who was none too pleased that Matteo didn’t bring her grandchildren for her to dote on.” His mother spoiled Matteo’s two children rotten, not that Rafe could blame her. Matty and baby Gia were adorable. She did the same to Stasia’s child too. Claudia Renaldi was the epitome of the indulgent grandma. “She’ll be flying back to New York in a few days as well, so she can alternate the next few weeks spending her time with Paige and Matteo or Stasia and Gavin.”

“You have a very close family, don’t you?” The envious tone in her voice was unmistakable.

“We’ve become closer lately, yes. Children have a way of doing that.” Funny how tragedy and scandal could help bring them together. At one point, he’d been positive it was all going to rip them apart.

“I envy that.” She looked away from him with a little sigh, her gaze zeroing in on the food spread before them. “This looks amazing. I’m starving.”

“Then eat. We won’t take off for at least another fifteen minutes.” He watched as she eagerly picked up a croissant and bit into it, a little moan of pleasure escaping her as she chewed. Damn, she was sexy even when she ate. “Are you going to join me?” she asked after she swallowed.

He slowly shook his head. Nerves ate at his gut, rendering him unwilling to choke down anything at the moment. What if he was doing the wrong thing? Whisking her away on a private jet, taking her from her family, her job, so she could spend a little time with him in New York. Not as if she would be gone for an extended length of time. A few days, tops. He would ask her to call her sister and mother tomorrow, so she could reassure them she was fine.

Then he was going to take her around New York, show her the sights, seduce her with words and touches and kisses until she had no choice but to give in to him and agree that they belonged together.

A man could hope, at least.

“You did leave a note for your sister, right? And your mother?” He sounded like a doddering old man, but he couldn’t risk the thought of those two women discovering Cat was gone—and then doing something drastic about it. Like call the police. The very last thing he wanted was them involved. If he didn’t watch it, he could probably get arrested.