Flight Risk

“The luggage is in the car, sir, and your suite is ready to be checked in,” I hear someone say, but I keep my eyes closed.

I don’t know why I won’t open them. Maybe I’m feeling a little shy. I’m worried about the words that will be exchanged if I do, like where this all goes from here. I don’t want this to end. He said he’d take me to Pairs, and I’m guessing we are here. But what happens now?

“You hungry, sweet pea, or are you still pretending to sleep?” Lincoln asks, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Hungry,” I say against his neck, brushing my lips across his skin. I don’t remember the last time I ate, but I also feel hungry for something else and I don’t want to let him go. I squeeze a little tighter around his neck and finally open my eyes to see the plane sitting on the tarmac. I can’t believe I’m here. This all seems so impossible.

“Have my favorites from Pierre Hermé delivered to my room,” Lincoln says as he slides into the back of a limo. I think he’s going to sit me down in my own seat, but he doesn’t.

“I didn’t dream that, did I?” I let go of his neck and start to slide my hand between my legs to feel what he did to me, but he grabs my wrist, stopping me. I pull back a little to look at him. His eyes are trained on me. Dark and intense.

“I marked that and now it belongs to me.” I lick my lips, unsure of what to say to that. But my body seems to like it. The idea of belonging to this man is powerful. Him wanting me like I’ve never felt before excites me. “And yes, we did that. I had to. I couldn’t stop myself. Something about you calls to me.”

He stares at me like he’s trying to figure me out. Like I’m the one doing something to him.

“I don’t understand,” I admit. Two words play over in my mind: why me?

He brings my hand to his mouth before kissing my palm and putting my hand back on his shoulder, clearly wanting me to wrap myself around him. I do it, but at the same time I slide over, straddling him, wanting to look straight into his eyes now, to try to understand what’s happening. But instead my eyes go to his mouth. Okay, maybe I just want to go back to kissing again and not thinking about anything else. What he does to my body is unreal, and I want it all over again.

“All you need to understand is I’ll take care of you and you belong to me.” He cups my jaw with a gentle hand and traces my lips slowly with his thumb. “I didn’t know lips could be so soft. Like rose petals.” He trails his thumb down my throat and to the V at the top of my dress. “You’re soft everywhere. I’m going to have to lotion you up three times a day to make sure your skin stays safe, aren’t I?”

His eyes are following his fingers, and I’m not even sure he’s talking to me right now. It’s more to himself, as if he’s making a mental note.

A small lump forms in my throat at someone wanting to take care of me like that. Larsa took care of me, but she was paid to. Not that I don’t think she cared about me, but it was still different. To have someone want to do it because they desire it feels different. It makes me feel special, and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that before.

His eyes come back to mine. “What’s wrong?” His face hardens, and the softness he had a moment ago slips away. I can tell the tears in my eyes bother him.

“Nothing. I just want you to kiss m—” My words are cut off as his mouth takes mine in a deep kiss.

His tongue pushes past my lips, and I close my eyes, letting him take over, letting him have me. I’ll let him take care of me, I’ll let him have me in any way he wants. I’ve never felt so precious to anyone, and it’s addicting.

He pulls back a few moments later and he’s out of breath. I can tell he’s holding himself back and that he had to force himself to put distance between us. He looks between my lips and my eyes longingly.

“Anything else I can do for you?” he asks, and I can tell from his eyes that I could ask for anything right now and he’d do it for me. My mind blanks for some reason. All I want to do is sit right here and I’d be content. “We’re here, so hold that thought.”