Turbulent Desires (Billionaire Aviators 2)
“What do you want to talk to me about?” she said. He didn’t appear to be in a hurry, but she figured the sooner he said whatever it was he wanted, the sooner he would let her escape. At least she hoped that was the plan.
“I want your help, and I’ve decided I can’t take no for an answer.”
“If it’s the fund-raising, I can’t do it,” she told him, deciding to be firm. She wished her voice came out a little less breathy.
“You’re going to help me, and in turn, I’m going to help you.”
“I don’t need your help with anything, Maverick,” she told him, tugging on her hand again. He didn’t release her. The thing was, she did need his help, but she had too much pride to ask for it. Plus, admitting she needed help would show just one more of her weaknesses, and she couldn’t do that.
He didn’t respond for several moments, and she began to chew on her bottom lip as she waited to see what he would say next. Lindsey felt him turn, even though she was looking out into the bay, gazing at the masts of several sailboats as they glided along the rolling water.
With his other hand, the one that had the cast all the way to the palm, he touched her chin. Her head went back, and she looked up at him, unable to pull away.
“You know I don’t like to be touched,” she warned. But the words didn’t actually come out as much of a warning. They were more of a panting request.
“I know, sugar. But you need to be,” he said, his eyes darkening again, though he made no more moves to invade her space.
“I’m not your sugar,” she informed him. “And if you know, then why aren’t you letting me go?”
“Because I also know that fear and pain are eating away at you, and I’ve decided I care too much to allow that to happen. It’s my duty to not give up on you.”
She was dumbfounded at his words. To her this seemed like so much more than him trying to get her back into his bed. It seemed like he meant what he was saying. And what was even more astounding than that was her response to him.
“Your duty?” she gasped. “Who in the world do you think you are? You don’t know me from more than a few conversations, a one-night stand, and a few failed flirting attempts. You have no idea who I even am or what I’m thinking or feeling.”
“I’ve been to hell, sug, and it’s not a great place to be. You’re hurting and there’s a connection between us. You know it, I know it.” Thankfully he didn’t comment on the sex part of their relationship. She was weak right now, and he seemed to know it, though she didn’t necessarily feel that he was taking advantage of that fact.
“That sounds like a line if ever I’ve heard one,” she said.
“No lines. I’ve decided we’re better off together right now. I need help, you have time, and this will be good for you and me both. I’ve been told I’m a bit arrogant. You can help me out with that since you seem to have no trouble holding back what you really think about me,” he said with a smirk. “And this fund-raiser is truly for a good cause. I know you will love being a part of it.”
She looked into those green eyes and found herself almost getting lost in them. If she didn’t know any better, she just might think there was a touch of vulnerability there. But that couldn’t possibly be the case. Not with a man like Maverick, who held the world in the palm of his hand.
“Even if I were foolish enough to accept this . . . kind . . . offer, what in the world do you think I need? And how do you plan on giving it to me?”
When his lips turned up in a wicked smile, Lindsey thought it might have been a good idea to rephrase those last sentences. But if he made some crude remark, she would at least be able to put him back in the sty where he belonged.
“I’m far too much of a gentleman to give in to that question,” he said with a laugh and a wink. “No plans. We will just plan the fund-raiser, make it better than ever, and see where it leads us. You got out the other night and the world didn’t end. Let’s take it a day at a time.”
What she should do was tell him thanks but no thanks, and then let him watch her backside as she disappeared. But dang it all to heck, she was intrigued by the idea. No pressure. He promised no pressure. But could he actually keep that promise? It seemed that there was always pressure building within her whenever he was around.
Oh, this was already messy and complicated. She was a fool to think spending more time with the man wouldn’t make that worse. But for some reason she wasn’t telling him no.
“I don’t know. You have to give me time to think about it.”
“I can give you time to think, but not too much. I don’t want you talking yourself out of this,” he said.
“I haven’t talked myself into it, so how could I talk myself out of it?” she pointed out.
At her words he laughed and tugged her against him. Her stomach stirred and she wanted to pull away—but at the same time she found she was exactly where she wanted to be.
Complicated. This just proved how complicated the situation was.
“And when we’re all done with planning,” he said as his lips widened in the biggest grin she’d ever seen, “we can celebrate.”
Lindsey had no doubt what kind of celebrating he had in mind. She wanted to tell him he really did need an adjustment in his arrogance if he thought he was getting her back in bed again, but the lashing she wanted to give him seemed to get lodged in her throat. o;What do you want to talk to me about?” she said. He didn’t appear to be in a hurry, but she figured the sooner he said whatever it was he wanted, the sooner he would let her escape. At least she hoped that was the plan.
“I want your help, and I’ve decided I can’t take no for an answer.”
“If it’s the fund-raising, I can’t do it,” she told him, deciding to be firm. She wished her voice came out a little less breathy.
“You’re going to help me, and in turn, I’m going to help you.”
“I don’t need your help with anything, Maverick,” she told him, tugging on her hand again. He didn’t release her. The thing was, she did need his help, but she had too much pride to ask for it. Plus, admitting she needed help would show just one more of her weaknesses, and she couldn’t do that.
He didn’t respond for several moments, and she began to chew on her bottom lip as she waited to see what he would say next. Lindsey felt him turn, even though she was looking out into the bay, gazing at the masts of several sailboats as they glided along the rolling water.
With his other hand, the one that had the cast all the way to the palm, he touched her chin. Her head went back, and she looked up at him, unable to pull away.
“You know I don’t like to be touched,” she warned. But the words didn’t actually come out as much of a warning. They were more of a panting request.
“I know, sugar. But you need to be,” he said, his eyes darkening again, though he made no more moves to invade her space.
“I’m not your sugar,” she informed him. “And if you know, then why aren’t you letting me go?”
“Because I also know that fear and pain are eating away at you, and I’ve decided I care too much to allow that to happen. It’s my duty to not give up on you.”
She was dumbfounded at his words. To her this seemed like so much more than him trying to get her back into his bed. It seemed like he meant what he was saying. And what was even more astounding than that was her response to him.
“Your duty?” she gasped. “Who in the world do you think you are? You don’t know me from more than a few conversations, a one-night stand, and a few failed flirting attempts. You have no idea who I even am or what I’m thinking or feeling.”
“I’ve been to hell, sug, and it’s not a great place to be. You’re hurting and there’s a connection between us. You know it, I know it.” Thankfully he didn’t comment on the sex part of their relationship. She was weak right now, and he seemed to know it, though she didn’t necessarily feel that he was taking advantage of that fact.
“That sounds like a line if ever I’ve heard one,” she said.
“No lines. I’ve decided we’re better off together right now. I need help, you have time, and this will be good for you and me both. I’ve been told I’m a bit arrogant. You can help me out with that since you seem to have no trouble holding back what you really think about me,” he said with a smirk. “And this fund-raiser is truly for a good cause. I know you will love being a part of it.”
She looked into those green eyes and found herself almost getting lost in them. If she didn’t know any better, she just might think there was a touch of vulnerability there. But that couldn’t possibly be the case. Not with a man like Maverick, who held the world in the palm of his hand.
“Even if I were foolish enough to accept this . . . kind . . . offer, what in the world do you think I need? And how do you plan on giving it to me?”
When his lips turned up in a wicked smile, Lindsey thought it might have been a good idea to rephrase those last sentences. But if he made some crude remark, she would at least be able to put him back in the sty where he belonged.
“I’m far too much of a gentleman to give in to that question,” he said with a laugh and a wink. “No plans. We will just plan the fund-raiser, make it better than ever, and see where it leads us. You got out the other night and the world didn’t end. Let’s take it a day at a time.”
What she should do was tell him thanks but no thanks, and then let him watch her backside as she disappeared. But dang it all to heck, she was intrigued by the idea. No pressure. He promised no pressure. But could he actually keep that promise? It seemed that there was always pressure building within her whenever he was around.
Oh, this was already messy and complicated. She was a fool to think spending more time with the man wouldn’t make that worse. But for some reason she wasn’t telling him no.
“I don’t know. You have to give me time to think about it.”
“I can give you time to think, but not too much. I don’t want you talking yourself out of this,” he said.
“I haven’t talked myself into it, so how could I talk myself out of it?” she pointed out.
At her words he laughed and tugged her against him. Her stomach stirred and she wanted to pull away—but at the same time she found she was exactly where she wanted to be.
Complicated. This just proved how complicated the situation was.
“And when we’re all done with planning,” he said as his lips widened in the biggest grin she’d ever seen, “we can celebrate.”
Lindsey had no doubt what kind of celebrating he had in mind. She wanted to tell him he really did need an adjustment in his arrogance if he thought he was getting her back in bed again, but the lashing she wanted to give him seemed to get lodged in her throat.