Dangerous for You (4 page)

Before I could ask Gabriel about his plane, the captain came out of the cockpit. He said hello to Gabriel and introduced himself to me before assuring us that takeoff would be in a few minutes and we’d be at our destination in under two hours.

“Wonderful, Captain Johannson. Unlike Captain Mavis’s trip, this one will be a short one.”

“That it will, Mr. Gordon.”

It was only when the cockpit door closed that a nervous pit in my stomach opened up.

I buckled up and found my posture, keeping my shoulders relaxed and spine erect. I concentrated on breathing evenly while picking a point straight ahead as I waited for the plane to take off.

“Emma?”

I looked over at him silently, head tilted to the side in question.

“What do you think of my little jet?”

“It’s nice.”

Gabriel sighed. “Nice? Once again we’re back at nice.” He tutted and shook his head mournfully.

“I happen to like the word ‘nice.’ It’s…
nice
.”

“Nice is for grandmas. Nice is for paintings without pizzazz. Nice is for—”

“Billionaires who take their girlfriends to out-of-town dates and get there using their private jets.”

“That is not nice. That is being romantic.”

“One in the same, Gabriel.”

“Pfft! You’re doing it on purpose. I know you are.”

“And I think you’re trying to get me to stop saying it on purpose.”

Gabriel’s elegant eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch. “But of course I am. I thought you knew.”

“Gabriel. Gabriel. Gabriel.”

“Emma. Emma. Emma.”

Captain Johannson’s voice came over the speaker, interrupting anything I might have said. He directed us all to take our seats and buckle up. Instantly, I whipped my head forward. My heart started pounding in my chest.

Dimly I heard Gabriel call out my name. I threw him a glance and a decidedly weak smile. Then the plane started moving. I stared straight ahead again. Excitement and terror grappled in my gut, fighting for right to decide whether I’d laugh or scream.

I’d prefer to do neither.

So I concentrated on keeping my breathing even, summoning a Zen state to descend over me. With great effort, I turned my head and looked out the window. We were rolling slowly and smoothly away from the hangar. The irrational urge to hop out the window and sprint back to the limo played with my nerves.

I didn’t have time to really prepare myself before the jet picked up speed and then lifted off the runway. I didn’t like the upwards tilt of the plane nor the sensation of gravity pushing down on my body. Images of my mother flashed through my mind and the thought of what would happen if I died made my eyes prickle. I forcibly shoved those thoughts away.

I didn’t even want to imagine what Gabriel would think if I sobbed about how we were all going to die and that I missed my Mommy. We were close—but not
that
close. At least, I didn’t think we were. A few minutes later the plane thankfully leveled off.

My tenseness didn’t.

“You’re not afraid of flying, are you?” Gabriel crossed one long leg over the other as he waited for my stilted reply.

“Not really.” I had both arms on the armrests, feet planted firmly on the floor and fingertips barely digging into the leather. I thought I presented a picture of calm and stillness.

“You sure?”

I could see his faint smile out of the corner of my eye. “Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I was just wondering considering how loudly you’re gritting your teeth.”

The tip of his leather shoe reached across the aisle and nudged me. I stared straight ahead, doing my best not to look fully at Gabriel or the window next to him. Or the clouds.

And I definitely didn’t want to dwell on the fact that I knew gravity was real and there was no real reason as to why a small private plane, no matter how luxurious and well-appointed, was able to defy the principle of what goes up must come down.

In a big fiery crash.

“I’m fine.”

“Emma…” he crooned while propping his chin on his hand. “Look at me.”

Throwing a quick glance at the approaching steward, I turned to him and whispered, “I’m fine.”

“Do you know something? I’m this close to excising the words ‘fine’ and ‘nice’ from your vocabulary. I mean it, Emma. This. Close.” Two fingers pinched the space between us.

I muttered his name, knowing I didn’t have anything to say in my defense because those were typically my go-to words in times of duress. “Sorry.”

“You shouldn’t be keeping this to yourself.” Gabriel reached out and traced his fingertip across the back of my hand. “You’ve never flown before, have you?”

I let out a small huff of air. “No.”

Most people by my age had already taken trips to Europe, Asia, or at least the West Coast. I’d been saving every extra penny I had to buy that beautiful house for my Mom which meant no trips.

Damn! I felt gauche.

“Would you like something to drink, Ms. Adams?”

Managing a ghost of a smile for Patrick, I shook my head and said, “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Gabriel overrode me. “Patrick, please bring Ms. Adams something strong but fruity.”

“May I suggest a Bay Breeze?”

“That would hit the spot.”

“And anything for you, Mr. Gordon?”

“A plain ole scotch. Thank you.”

I waited until the gregarious steward was out of earshot. “Trying to get me drunk, Gordon?”

“Oh, I won’t be doing that until late tonight, Adams. Evening at the earliest.” He tilted his head in thought. “Although maybe I should do it now. There
is
a bedroom at the back of the plane. We could christen it, Emma, and get this plane to rocking at 20,000 feet. It’d be awesome!”

“Cute and filthy. How can I resist?”

“I know, right?”

I rolled my eyes, unable to resist my boyfriend’s preening charm.

“Ha! Made you smile!” Gabriel seemed to perk up when I let go off his hand and kicked him. A wicked light glimmered in his eyes. “Careful there, my sweet. This plane counts as my space, so you know what that means…” He let his words trail off, full of innuendo and lusty threat.

“Sorry, Gabriel.” I kissed my hand and reached down to quickly rub the attacked area on his leg. “I’ll be good.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very.”

Gabriel sighed, lips twisted in a delicious pout. “Then I guess I have no choice but to forgive you. Bummer.”

“I’m glad to know it. I’d hate for us to crash with that on my soul.”

He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. “I have the best pilots and the best planes in the world, Emma. We’re perfectly safe.”

“Tell that to Gravity.”

“I did and he told me any plane I was ever on would be the exception to his rules. Doubly so if you were on board. I even got Gravity to sign a notarized document. He tries to renege and I’ll have his butt in court from here until the end of time. I’m not to be fucked with—especially when it comes to you. Feel better?”

“Not quite, but I’m getting there.”

Patrick returned with our drinks on a silver tray. I accepted mine and immediately pursed my lips around the straw for a big sip. Gabriel held his drink and observed me with another small smile.

“Looking to get tipsy so soon, Emma?” he asked once Patrick left for the front of the plane.

“Maybe.”

He purred deep in his throat. “The back bedroom is looking more and more like the place to be.”

I tapped my finger against the pineapple slice once. “Maybe.” Plucking it from the glass, I slowly sucked the end, relishing the delicious tart taste with a soft moan.

Gabriel’s gaze zeroed in on my mouth. “Ooh, you naughty tease! I want some.” His fingers wrapped around my wrist, bringing my hand up to his mouth. Transfixed, I watched as Gabriel bit into the fruit. When the juice rolled down my arm he immediately swooped down and licked it clean.

I felt flutters in my stomach with each soft flick of Gabriel’s tongue. Shifting in my chair, I squeezed my thighs hard. The idea of spending time in his bedroom was becoming impossible to resist.

“Gabriel, I’d like to lay down if that’s okay with you.”

He paused, mouth still on my skin. “Lay down?”

“Yes.” My lover’s shameless grin made me squirm.

Gabriel unbuckled his belt and reached over to unbuckle mine. “Let’s do that, my sweet. Leave your drink. You won’t need it.” He then winked.

I stood up, gaze nervously going to the window and then the carpet. I hoped I’d get used to flying fast, especially since I was scheduled to go on a transatlantic flight in less than three months. Otherwise I pictured myself tethered to my seat for the whole time on the way to Paris.

Gabriel rested his hand on my back and whispered in my ear, “I’ve got you, Emma. Nothing bad is going to happen. Promise.”

FOUR

I nodded, believing him despite my natural fears. We walked together past the couch, TV, sleek cabinets, additional seating, and the small restroom. Gabriel slid the door open.

Although the room itself wasn’t exactly large, it was extremely well-appointed and designed to be a luxurious cocoon.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes. It’s very pretty.”

“Ooh, close one. I thought you were going to say ‘nice’ and then you were done for. Come on, Emma. Let’s get you tucked in. Oh, wait. You don’t like being tucked in, do you?”

“I might make an exception for you.”

Gabriel nuzzled the sensitive spot behind my ear. “I seem to command all your exceptions. I’m so lucky.”

“I think we’re both lucky.”

My lover smiled. “Nope. Just me.” He then picked me up and tossed me onto the bed. I barely had time to rise on my elbows before Gabriel pounced. As he crawled over me he commanded, “Now you’ll have to keep your adorable screams and moans to a whisper, all right?”

“I don’t scream…do I?”

“All the time. Deafening actually.”

“No, I don’t! Really—” Gabriel captured my mouth, swallowing my moans with a throaty chuckle.

Our tongues tangled deliciously. I ran my fingers through his soft hair, finally twisting them at the nape and using the pressure to clutch Gabriel closer to me.

As always, I was addicted to kissing Gabriel.

The more aggressive his kisses became, the firmer he held my jaw. His message was beautifully clear—I wasn’t going anywhere until he wanted to let me go.

I almost melted when he pulled back to groan, “I want to taste you, Emma. I want to taste all your sweet juices as you come for me.”

My heart hammered in excitement, especially when Gabriel kissed me long enough until I went limp. His warm lips then traveled down my body, strong teeth biting my nipples through my sweater and bra.

Closing my eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder what good things I must’ve done in another life to be underneath this marvelous man.

Gabriel slipped off my shoes. His fingers unbuttoned my pants and then my slacks slid down my legs in no time. Gabriel stopped me when I slipped my fingers beneath my panties waistband. I understood why when his lips peppered my mound with scores of tiny kisses.

They teased and tormented me, giving me stimulation but not nearly enough. Breathless, I arched beneath him. I wanted more. When Gabriel’s tongue gave me a long lick I nearly shot up. He pressed his hand across my stomach, effortlessly keeping me in place.

“Relax, Emma. Don’t rush it. Enjoy it. I know I will.” With a lupine grin, Gabriel tongued me through my satin scrap, thoroughly wetting it and me.

I fisted the comforter and gasped, “Is that a command, Sir?”

He slid his hand beneath my thigh and pushed my leg up. Gabriel took his time answering, more interested in kissing and sucking the highly sensitive area near my panty line.

It was all part of the tease. Gabriel was training me to appreciate it well.

“What were you asking, my sweet Emma? Oh, yes. I remember now.” Gabriel paused and stabbed his tongue through the soaked fabric covering me. Pleasure spread thicker with each drugging swipe. “You want to know if you can come, correct?”

I sighed an affirmative.

“Well of course you can, Emma. This is
all
for you.” Gabriel tugged my panties down until they were hanging off one ankle. He spread me open and stared at me with a blissful smile.

Fortunately I was too aroused to be embarrassed. Especially when his tongue swirled against me wetly. I spread my thighs further, greedy for every point of access. Gabriel’s finger teased my entrance, barely slipping inside and stimulating me incredibly. I moaned his name and then stuffed my fist against my mouth.

Gabriel reached for my hand and moved it out the way. Two fingers filled the space. I sucked on his elegant digits ferociously as he pleasured me with long, slow licks before pursing his lips on my pleasure pearl. I rocked against him, unable to hold the rising tide back.