Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (28 page)

I glimpsed at the carefree Landon Davis.

I had an urge to kiss right then; on that
gorgeous dimple.

“Well if it's anything like the burger,
I'm in."

Jude surprised me with his attitude, but
then again he'd do anything to please his partner.

“I’m in too, but I'm afraid I'll have to
pass on the jet and run my way back to New York.”

Jenna pouted; she was never capable of
refusing dessert.

“Maybe you would rather we all walk to the
ice cream shop."

I offered; it was a chance for me to see
more of Chicago, and for Jenna to do some exercises.

“That would be a darned shame."

Uncle Robert said.

“The best ice cream on the planet happens
to be just past that kitchen door."

Oh? Okay!

“I am a man of many talents, Ice cream
coming up."

I
settled on one of the comfortable seats of Landon's jet. It was beautiful; very
bright. The color temperature felt cozy and elegant, a mixture of Cornsilk
white and cream seats; a big lounge with a table in the center and a bar.

It was also equipped with top of the line
technologies, a restroom, and a bathroom.

Jeez, who would take a shower flying up in
the air?

There was also a cabin, or rather a
bedroom, with a closet.

I never understood what was wrong with
first class.

Even when I traveled with my dad, it was
only security issues, government planes looked nothing like this, comfortable
yes, but not esthetic.

Ryan was enjoying the full experience,
chatting with the stewardess, sipping champagne, smooching all over Jude, and
grinning at me.

I was lost in my thoughts and music. I was
grinning at my song; it was a French track
‘Adieu’ by ’Coeur De Pirate’.

Jenna sat in front and got concentrated
into her course sheet. Landon was taking care of some work business frowning at
his laptop.

 I’d given my only distraction to
Alison; she was fascinated by Paris and wanted to attend a culinary internship,
so I gave her my romantic novel about an epic love story in the streets of the
city of lights, and talked to her about the movie, it was translated in
English, or maybe subtitled. Either way, I was empty-handed turning puce, which
I hated on airplanes because it made me anxious.

 I emerged with
‘The Lumineers’
and
‘Neon Trees’
glancing discreetly at Landon. He was seated on my left,
on the sofa concentrated on his screen.

I had an unprecedented occasion to study
him. He looked positively dashing; I loved how sedulous and attentive he was in
his way of clothing. He possessed a unique signature and style; very neat. He
wore a silk cotton pale blue raglan jersey. It fit perfectly with the line of
his biceps. The way his jeans hugged his perfect sculptured body made me go
blank when he’d first come out of the bedroom.

He was scrambling through a stack of
documents, his breath focused and controlled. I smiled at the slight freckles
on his nose, they were barely there, discretely shaped. I’d no idea freckles
would look that appealing.

I loved the way his hair formed its mess
on his own, rebelled or falling dark brown strands. They called for my touch. I
refrained to let him concentrate on his task.

When he came and sat next to me, I’d grown
sleepy. I simply grasped his arm, and shut my eyes.

I woke
up, and winced at the pressure in my ear, I hated when that happened. But we
were already on the ground. I’d slept through the whole flight, I didn't even
talk to Landon, or kissed him, it's been too long.

I blinked rapidly.

“Hello beautiful, sleep well?"

His low voice was so hot.

“Mmh, did anyone else sleep?"

I asked, stretching my legs. I glanced
around me.

“I’m afraid not, the boys started getting
a little drunk, and then when Jenna joined, it became an amusing contest."

He said with chuckles; his smoky gray eyes
sparkled.

I laughed at my childish friends; living
with Jenna was like living in a sorority house.

She possessed an unparalleled ability to
hold her alcohol.

“What about you baby?"

“Well, you were grasping my arm, and I
thought you might be having another erotic dream; hopefully about me
again.  So I decided not to disturb your sleep and read some case
files."

What in the hell was he talking about?

“When did I have an erotic dream? Jeez,
can you be anymore egocentric?"

I blinked at him in disbelief.

“Calm down baby, I have no need for an
ego-boost, and you did have an erotic dream about me.”

His tone was amused, his lips twitched.

“You did mumble something along my name.”

“Oh yeah; when was that exactly?”

I eyed him petulantly.

“This morning…’

He announced confidently.

“You gripped my arm moaning my name in
your sleep. You actually woke me up, but I didn’t mind the disturbance.”

He added with a smirk and leaned closer to
me.

My heart nearly skipped a beat.

“And I must say, you looked as delightful
as you were delighted."

His tone was sardonic.

“Shame I have no memory of it, probably as
forgettable as the way you woke me up."

Screw him!

“And what would that be?"

Egocentric bastard.

“Don’t play dumb with me Davis!"

I murmured frustrated.

“You know damn well what I'm talking
about."

A full-grown frown formed on his beautiful
face.

“But you asked for it, I told you we
shouldn't. “

The hurt was all over his features.

Oh dear God in heaven.

“I’m not talking about the ‘intense sex’.”

I motioned a quote; and glanced to see if
we were drawing my friend’s attention.

“I'm talking about how you woke me up. You
know... Down here.”

I gestured between my thighs; his face lit
up like a Christmas tree.

“See? Told you, you had an erotic dream
about me.”

Landon was amused again.

“Much to my regret; I didn't wake you
up."

He didn’t?

“You didn't?”

He shook his head no.

My face fell; I really had an erotic dream
about him.

 “Sadly No."

He grinned sheepishly, He was enjoying my perplexed
state.

“Oh whatever!"

I drove to my feet ready to head outside
of the damn plane.

“Hold on baby! I'm sorry; I promise I'll
wake you up tomorrow.”

He pulled me to him and nuzzled at my
hair.

“After all, breakfast is the most
important meal of the day."

His eyes were full of lust.

He took me in an embrace and we kissed.

“It felt so real!"

I breathed out.

“I know baby, it's because the orgasm is
real despite the sleep."

He explained.

I’d never had an erotic dream before; when
I opened my eyes, I’d seen him; his eyes sparkled with the dim lightning from
outside the window. His familiar hot breath against my skin, it felt real and
alive. I could’ve never guessed it was a dream; especially when I woke up to
find him gazing at me. I thought I’d scarcely shut my eyes for a few minutes to
cool myself off.

Jude,
Ryan, and Jenna were completely drunk during the ride home. Landon and I agreed
to alter nights. Turned out he had an apartment in the city, so tonight he
would stay with Jenna and me, and tomorrow I would stay with him. The clock was
closing on ten when we turned in front of my building.

By the time we made it through the stairs,
the guys were completely out of it; Jenna laughed at them, and proudly claimed
her victory.

I found a note from Maria on my apartment
door announcing I had received a package and that I could pick it up when I get
home.

Jenna
declared her defeat and went straight to sleep off her inebriety. Landon got in
the shower.

I set about getting my things ready for
work. I turned on the washing machine and let it work its way through the
night.

I used the distraction to avoid going
under the shower with Landon. I was still pretty sore yesterday. I crawled into
bed checking my emails, some were from work, and I went through them. It was
some new ideas from the creative team about the restaurant, and a memo for a
team building on Wednesday after work, at Eloise' house.

I wrote back to Carlos, a friend I’d met
in Spain, he was visiting New York next month and asked if we could meet.

Brandon sent me new photos of my sweet
angels. I set them on my screen and smiled tenderly at their first school trip.

The last e-mail was from Caden, probably
the millionth apology; I sent it to the trash folder and plugged in some music.

Landon walked in the room wearing some
alluring silk briefs, and naked from the waist up, the man was unfair.

He had no consideration, and he looked
delightful. I could’ve never got used to how magnetic he looked. Yesterday
night I was just too frustrated by all the women eyeing him as if he was their
last feast, flirting openly.

Landon Davis was too good-looking for his
own good. He was a constant prey, and I couldn't figure out, how I got so damn
lucky.

Just enjoy it while it lasts.

I’d thought to myself; as cynical as ever.

*****

The
next day, I woke up feeling very warm, a little too warm; Landon lay behind me,
his palms against my breasts. It had been an unusual and fresh way for me to
wake up; it was receding, and I loved it.

I stilled, enjoying the feeling. Last
night was fun; we talked a lot since we couldn't enjoy other activities. He had
rejected all my attempts of going beyond a kiss because of my soreness; I
pouted then got into the shower.

When I got back inside the bedroom, he
repeated the previous' day treat applying some moisturizer avoiding to push it.
But I could see he was dooming himself; his eyes were violently hungry.

I cherished that I affected him as much as
he did me.

I
turned to face him; glancing at the clock, I saw it was only half past five. I
never slept more than seven hours; I’d never needed an alarm clock since I was
thirteen and preferred waking up on my own instead of my nana's nagging in the
forenoon. I looked at the beautiful man beside me - in my bed – of all places.

He had a flawless skin under his morning
stubble, long dark lashes that intensified his consuming gray gaze. I could’ve
spent the day watching him like that, he looked peaceful, and nothing indicated
he had a stressful life, which he did.

It was too early for him to wake up; he
told me he had an appointment downtown, and that he would drive me to work on
his way there.

I slid slowly out of bed and decided to go
for a run. There was nothing better to cut my muscle ache better than a good
sweat.

I picked up my iPod and purse, and tiptoed
my way out of the room.

It was a little chilly outside; but
nothing a good run wouldn't alleviate.

I pushed my earplugs and started heading
towards the village. I’d thought I’d get breakfast from the bakery I used to
work at; then remembered it was closed on Monday.

I turned toward the park. I had an hour on
my hand, better make the best of it. I winced a little when speeding up my
rhythm, but it felt better than yesterday; hopefully I'd be good by tonight.

The run
was very beneficial for my state of mind. I had to take a step back and put the
whole weekend in retrospect. I thought about the first encounter with Landon
Davis; when he was only a mysterious and magnetic stranger. I was on edge, affected
by the way he looked, the way he sounded and the way he smelled.

All my defenses were going off the hook, I
felt a dark danger for my already-too-damaged soul, and I’d needed to get out
of that car.

Last Monday at the bar, I was taken by the
moment, by his sight, and it was the confirmation that Landon had affected me.

I wanted to run away, he was too intense
for my-own-good and I knew it. But the night he came to my house changed
everything.

I’d spent seven months thinking about
whether I would engage in at least some oral action with Caden, and never even
felt the urge to please him. But with Landon, I’d let down all my defenses,
something about him felt trustworthy.

He scared me that night on my couch, his voice,
and the way he could read me, the way his gaze traveled along my body. He
respected me enough to leave when he thought I wasn't ready for him, despite
the disappointment in his eyes.

I had put everything in perspective after
that night, with the help of Jen and Maria, I found the courage to just try and
do something myself, and I did.

It had been only a week, but for the first
time in a really long time, I was feeling beyond happy, and it had everything
to do with him.

It was all-too-good to last; but at least
I had that six months expiration date removed. The way he spoke when he’d
announced that he was willing to let go of it; I hung on every word. He drew an
interesting perspective with all those Law terms. I was his Ad Hoc…