“If I taste so good, then why did you stop?”
She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him down again. As soon as their lips touched, her tongue was in his mouth. His gut clenched down hard, twisting and turning with need. She kissed him as if she couldn’t get enough. Like she might even want him as much as he wanted her.
She shifted closer—or as close as she could get with the seat divider between them—and her nails raked down his sweater. She then slid her hands underneath the hem, touching bare skin. When she caressed his chest, he reached under the blanket and ran his fingers up her thigh and under her skirt. He brushed against her panties, just a little bit, and she whimpered in response.
Footsteps approached, and he froze.
Was he really doing this with her, on a plane where anyone could see them? What the hell was wrong with him? She deserved better than a public groping. She should have flowers and jewelry and a real hero instead of someone masquerading as one.
He let go of her and extracted his hand from between her legs. “Flight attendant,” he whispered.
Kayla covered her face with shaking hands. With a little squeak, she cried into her hands, “Oh my God. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have to feel bad.”
“Yes, I did,” she moaned through her hands. “I don’t even know you.”
“You know enough. Trust me.” He reached out to squeeze her thigh, and she scooted back from him as if his touch would burn her skin.
“Can I get you two anything else?” the attendant asked, eyeing Kayla’s covered face with concern, then looking at the blanket that covered them both. “Everything okay?”
He tried to sound poised and calm, but need was ripping through him like a knife. “No thanks. We’re good.”
The flight attendant hesitated. “Can I get you anything, miss?”
“No, I’m fine,” Kayla muttered. Though the attendant looked uncertain of this, she turned around and left. After they were alone again, Kayla dropped her hands and watched him as if he might bite. “I don’t do this. This isn’t me. I don’t kiss strangers on planes.”
He couldn’t help but notice the last word was more of a whisper than a word. “Then we can wait till we’re off,” he said quickly.
She laughed and smacked his arm. “You know what I mean.”
Reaching out, he grabbed her hands and squeezed them both. “It was just a kiss. We don’t have to do it again if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t.” She flushed and bit down on her lower lip. “But, God help me, I do.”
Oh, thank God. His ego had been taking a hit for a second. “You’re over-thinking again.”
“You’re right. It was nothing.”
Well, he wouldn’t say that…
“Right.” He raised a brow. “It’s not like there’s an actuary law against kissing ex-Marines. Or is there? Will you be fired or arrested? Burned in the town square as an example?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course there isn’t,” she huffed. Then her lips turned up. “But if there was, I’d so be on that stake.”
He grinned. “I’m going to tell you something about me now. I don’t often kiss girls on planes, either, but you’re fucking beautiful and interesting as hell. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun with someone. If you want to kiss me again, then I’m here waiting. If not, that’s fine, too.”
She opened her mouth, started to speak, then gave a slight shake of her head. “I might want to, but I won’t.”
“I think you’re protesting too much.” But at least she wanted to kiss him, and this passion wasn’t one sided. “You don’t want a relationship, and neither do I. And I’m leaving the country next week. Some might say our situation is perfect for both of us.”
She eyed him suspiciously and sank back against the seat. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“How about if we go back to the topic of your fake boyfriend. We need to flesh him out more. You want him to be realistic, right?”
She dropped her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. “Yeah…I guess.”
“Then how about we base your guy on me? You ask me any questions you want, and I’ll answer them truthfully. Then, when you’re with your family the answers will come easily.”