I moved back to my seat. I’d been planning on standing until Hugh returned from the restroom, but I didn’t want to be near Caleb. As soon as I sat down, Caleb shut his laptop and swung the table out of his way to stand up. I tensed, wondering what he was planning on doing, but he ignored me and stood in the aisle.
Despite myself, my eyes drifted to his ass, and I remembered rolling around in bed with him last night and feeling every finely crafted detail of his body. I was shocked by the bolt of longing and mourning that hit me in the chest as I realized I was disappointed I’d never get the chance to feel his lips on mine again.
The man could kiss.
And I didn’t mind the scratch of his short beard. There was something so erotically masculine about it.
The sound of the restroom door opening brought my gaze up and I watched as Caleb strode toward Hugh as he came out of it. Instead of giving him space to pass, Caleb knocked his big shoulder into him, making him stumble.
“Sorry,” Hugh mumbled, looking up.
Why was he apologizing?
Caleb didn’t apologize. No, Caleb cut him a look so chilling, I shivered. Then he disappeared into the restroom, having to duck and maneuver his large body in there.
“Whoa.” Hugh was suddenly at my side, wearing a wide-eyed look. “Big guy. Scary guy.”
I nodded and got out of my seat.
“Wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him.” He laughed as he slid by me.
Apparently, you already did, I thought, disoriented by the idea. Did it bother Caleb that I couldn’t care less about our one-night stand? Why would it? He was the one who’d pretended to be asleep so I could sneak out and avoid any awkwardness.
Hugh talked about his work as a lawyer in Boston, but I was only half listening. I was too aware of the guy in the restroom. I looked out for him in my peripheral vision as he stepped out of the bathroom, and suddenly I remembered that Caleb was afraid of takeoff and landing.
I shouldn’t care.
I really, really shouldn’t care.
Dammit.
“So, maybe when we get back in Boston, Ava, you and I could meet for drinks or dinner?” Hugh asked as Caleb returned to his seat. I shot Caleb a look and found him staring back at me in derision.
I gave him a dismissive look and turned to Hugh. And in a not so quiet voice I responded, “I don’t date married men.”
He looked stunned. “Married? I’m not—Why would you—?”
“You slipped your ring off while you were taking your jacket off, right?” I guessed.
He flushed guiltily, giving himself away.
“Yeah. There’s a white ring of skin where your band usually sits. Oh, and your pickup lines are awful.” I gave him a wide, carefree smile and slipped out of my seat.
Crossing the aisle, my e-reader in hand, I began easing my way past Caleb’s legs.
“What the hell?” He pulled his laptop toward him as I clambered by his knees and fell into the seat beside him.
“Don’t say a word.” I glared into his scowling face. “This doesn’t mean anything. You are just currently the lesser of two evils, and do not tell me you wouldn’t rather have me beside you to annoy you and distract you during takeoff.”
Caleb glared at me. “I dinnae need you.”
Inwardly I flinched. Outwardly, I smirked. “Yeah, you do.”
He sighed and glanced over at Hugh, who was staring at us in confusion. Caleb turned to me, his upper lip curled in a sneer. “Realized he was married, did you?”
“I saw the white band on his finger the moment he sat down.”
“I saw him slip it off as soon as he saw you.”
“And if I hadn’t noticed it, were you planning on sharing that information?”
Ducking his head toward mine, Caleb put on a patronizing expression. “I’m not your rescuer, babe. You want tae screw a slimeball, that’s your business.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Last night I made my quota on slimeballs.”
He shrugged and sighed. “Guess I walked intae that one.”
One of the flight attendants interrupted us to announce that we were readying for takeoff. Caleb put away his laptop and stowed his tray table.
“So …” I shifted uncomfortably. “You heard everything I said last night?”
“You mean the part about me living up tae your grand expectations?”
I covered my eyes with my hand. “I blame it on being under the influence of endorphins. Postorgasmic chitchat.” I removed my hand and frowned. “That means it doesn’t count.”
“Oh, it counts.” He bent his head toward mine, eyes drifting over my face, to land on my mouth. “And I’m thinking you sitting here means you’re after more of the same when we get tae Boston.”
I jerked back from him in denial. “Uh, no. When we land in Boston, it is the last time we ever see each other. I’m not going to sit here and lie that last night wasn’t great sex—”
“Fantastic sex.”
I flushed, pleased that he thought so. “Okay, fantastic sex. But I still don’t like you.”
His expression chilled. “So? I still don’t like you either. Doesn’t mean I dinnae want tae sleep with ye again.”
“You weren’t of that opinion when you pretended to be asleep.”
Caleb grinned, and I hated how that flash of smile sent a ripple through my belly. “That really bugged you, eh? And that was last night. I’d just had you and didn’t expect tae want you again. Now that you’re here, though …” His eyes trailed down to my breasts and on down to my crossed legs. “Aye, I wouldn’t mind another go.”
Incredulity and fury raged through me. “Another go? Another go?”
His lips trembled with laughter. “Poor word choice?”
“You’re a pig. Last night I got what I needed and I don’t want to go there again.”
In answer, Caleb bent his head until his lips gently brushed my ear and he whispered, “Liar.”
I shivered, my breasts tightening at the mere caress of that mouth near my skin. His laughter warmed the skin at my neck and I whipped my head around until our lips were inches apart. “You are a cocky son of a bitch.”
“Aye.”
“Boston is filled with beautiful women. They’ll be happy to see to you. I’m sure that accent gets you pretty far here.”
“It usually does. It’s not my first trip tae Boston.”
Of course, I was just one in a long line of American women. My jaw locked with annoyance and I couldn’t help glaring at him.
Something flickered in his gaze, and I really hoped it wasn’t triumph, because I would swing for him if it was. And then his lips were back at my ear. “I can’t remember the last time any of them felt as good as you did, though, Ava.”
Heat flushed through me as I remembered just how good he felt. I licked my suddenly dry lips and somehow managed to turn to look him in the eyes. Leaning in, I brushed my lips over his, a barely-there kiss that made them tingle deliciously. “Like I said, Caleb … treasure that memory.” I sat back in my seat, staring defiantly at him.
Instead of blasting me with a dirty look like I’d half expected, he gazed at me with something new in his eyes. Something almost like respect. Then he seemed to remember where we were and he looked around, realizing we were already in the air.
His beautiful gaze bored into me with a thoroughness that made me tense. “Looks like I owe you again.”
I shook my head. “We’re not going to be around each other long enough for you to pay up.”
Hearing the sincerity in my words, Caleb finally nodded. “Your loss.”
Despite the niggling voice in my head that told me I was an idiot for not taking him up on his offer for another go-around of guilt-free best-sex-ever, I stared determinedly at my e-reader.
Minutes of silence stretched between us as Caleb got his laptop back out and started to work. I couldn’t concentrate on my book. I started to stew over the fact that I couldn’t deny I did feel a sense of longing for this guy. Did I really need to like him to have sex with him? Really? Wasn’t sex just sex?
I glanced at his hands typing away on his laptop and flushed, remembering how skillful those fingers were. I could feel myself giving in.
Just as I opened my mouth to tell him so, he spoke first. “Stop worrying yourself over there. Like you said, there’s plenty of beautiful women in Boston. I won’t go lonely.”
Arghh!
My fingers bit around my e-reader to the point I was afraid I might crack the screen. He was horrible.
Just horrible!
And I had had sex with him.
“I hope it falls off,” I muttered.