This was a bad idea.
Still, the fire lured me in, trying to read him more deeply, and I found myself shrugging and getting off his lap. “I don’t see why you want to try to compete with the boys I normally hang out with.”
“Because they are boys and I’m a man, huh?”
“Well, you’re definitely older,” I taunted and he squeezed my thigh as he smiled.
Before I could say anything else, he called to his driver, “Drive to the back, please.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me. Drive around.”
We sped through the terminal drop off and made a sharp turn into a private road that the driver had to use a card up to access. I glanced at Bastian and then at the driver. This wasn’t something I’d seen before. This was straight out of a slasher film.
Grandma would be pissed if I died here.
“So, you know my location share is on, right?”
“You were just about to ride me in the back of this car and now you’re concerned for your life?”
“Well, this is a private road.”
“I’m aware you have location share on. Feel free to call your friend or text them where you are if you want.”
“Where exactly are we going, then?” I grabbed my phone and waved it at him as if suddenly I was being responsible.
“To the back of the airport where the jets are located.”
“Jets?” I practically screeched as they came into view. “Please don’t tell me you own one.”
“I own more but one is here.”
“Oh, my God. You’re filthy rich. Like disgustingly rich, aren’t you?”
“Does it matter?”
I sort of wanted to hyperventilate. People like this made my skin itch and put me on edge about everything I did and said. They had to be intelligent to have so much, but also ruthless or mean or something just as terrible. “Sort of! I mean, people like you should be like giving back to the poor or whatever. Don’t you feel greedy?”
“Greedy that I’ve worked for all this?” He waved to the huge jet we pulled up to.
“I don’t understand this side of living.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m just asking for you to come on a ride with me.”
“I wanted to ride on you, not come on a ride with you!”
He stared before he started laughing. “I think I’m finally different than all the other men you’ve been with.”
“I mean, maybe. I don’t ever talk to them enough to see if they’re flying around on jets. They come in and zip out of my town. I don’t… this is… this is stupid rich, Bastian.”
“Alright, alright.” He waved away my gobsmacked shock. “Come for a quick flight to the island. It’s just a thirty minute ride.”
I was stunned. Speechless. The alcohol must’ve left my body faster than ever before.
“Come on, let’s see if I’m as boring as the VIP club in Miami.”
He opened the door and stepped out, then turned back and offered his hand to me. I took it.
Why the hell not? I’m already this far in.
What’s the worst that could happen?
4
Bastian
“Big private jet, Bastian. You must be making up for something very small.” She laughed at another one of her absurd jokes.
Morina had a whole vibe to her. She was scared of manmade things and money or maybe just didn’t really like them. Yet she was curious enough to walk up the jet stairs with me and talk the pilot’s ear off about how to fly the plane. He smiled at her the whole time as if she had some enamoring quality.
When she saw the flight attendants, I witnessed what made her so likable as she said, “I think you’re absolutely beautiful. Hopefully, he pays you for having to sit here waiting for him while he galivants around Miami.”
Spitfire. She was absolutely okay saying whatever the hell was in her head, barreling headfirst into whatever emotion was on the tip of her tongue, and not thinking about the consequences. It was unique. Around a man like me, most people mulled over their words, practically chewing them up before letting them creep from their mouths.
The flight attendant was one of the women I’d had the pleasure of knowing time and time again. She didn’t hesitate with her answer. “He pays me very well, in more ways than one.”
Morina’s eyebrows rose. “Well, then. Good for you both.”
The flight attendant made her way up to the front where she talked to the pilot. Morina whispered, “So, big plane, hot flight attendant that talks you up. You’re for sure making up for things, I think.” She smirked to herself.
Her insults and the way she doubted me added to my dick’s attraction to her. I’d barely been able to stop from fucking her in the SUV on the way over. This woman with her messy waves and lush curves wasn’t my usual but, damn, I wanted to violate that smirk off her face.
“You want to find out, piccola ragazza?”
“What does that mean?” Her deep blue eyes squinted.
“Little girl.” She was young, but the Italian I didn’t use much anymore had slipped.
“Little?” She giggled as we started taxiing down the runway. “Your flight attendant is small. I’m not. And I highly doubt I’m small compared to the women you normally date.”
“Shorter, that’s for sure.” I assessed her. “And younger, definitely younger.”
Why the fuck had I brought her here? She’d goaded me a little, but something about Miami had me doing stupid shit I never normally did.
I didn’t indulge in women the way I used to. I’d learned my lesson time and time again. They disappointed me like most everything in the world.
And this place was no different. I remembered being here as a child, remembered my father telling me to learn from the dark nights on streets where he exchanged briefcases and deals.
This place was somewhere I’d felt nothing. Been nothing.
Did I need to prove myself to her all of a sudden? To this city?
She scoffed like she wasn’t the least bit swayed. “I think I would have been more impressed if you’d fucked me in the car.”
I didn’t answer her. Instead, I let the flight attendant bring us each a glass of water, and we sat down and buckled in as she went over her normal lines with guests. We could have food made, but this flight was short, and we had to be sure to buckle for landing when the pilot made the announcement.
I looked Morina up and down. Her boots tap-tap-tapped on the carpet of the plane as we flew higher and higher over into the clouds. We would be over water soon but darkness would cloak the view. Not that it mattered. We were both looking at one another and her gaze was daring, like she wasn’t even sure I’d take her there.
“You know fucking in the car is never that comfortable, Morina.”
“And an airplane is comfortable?”
“This one can be. There is a bed in the back.”
“Of course there is. You’re accommodating then? That’s all this is? A business gentleman?”
“I can be.” I mulled over her assessment. “In most things, yes, I’m accommodating. And, let’s be clear, there’s also the possibility that maybe I just wanted someone to see the sunrise with.” It wasn’t exactly true but she didn’t have to know that.
“But you kissed me.”