Ian felt guilty about his actions with Maria. He’d already taken too much from her, and gone too far. He’d done exactly what he’d promised LaGuardia not to do. It was hard to regret the best sex of his life, but he knew he’d made a mistake. He was in over his head. How could he walk away now that he’d felt her come apart underneath him? One night would never be enough to satisfy him.
The plane took off and his thoughts fled. Ian had no idea if Pablo was a good pilot, because he had to squeeze his eyes shut against the wind velocity. Little bits of debris pelted his face and a deafening roar thundered through his ears. Maria stayed frozen with fear on his lap. She had a front-seat view of their high-speed escape. He turned to look at the ground below, but he couldn’t see much. Rows of cornfields stretched far and wide. He slouched down behind Maria, using her as a windbreak, and settled in for the ride.
The next thing he knew, he was jolted awake by a swift descent. They were heading toward an airstrip. The landscape looked completely different, sandy hills speckled with cactus. It was a jarring finish. The plane skimmed the tarmac, wheels bouncing several times before Pablo got it under control.
They rocketed across the strip and slowed, easing into an empty hangar. Maria scrambled out of the plane like it was on fire. His muscles were stiff and sore, so he took his time climbing down. When they were on solid ground, she yanked off the helmet and goggles.
“Did you have a nice nap?”
Ian massaged the nape of his neck, chagrined. He had fallen asleep, while she’d nearly peed herself with anxiety. “Sorry.”
She shoved the safety gear at him, eyes flashing with pique.
Pablo slapped Ian on the back in congratulations. “Ay se?or, you have your hands full with this woman. How I envy you.”
Ian gave him a hundred-dollar bill, which he accepted graciously. Pablo pointed them toward the highway and bid them a fond farewell. Maria walked away from Ian in a huff, cursing in Spanish, her hair a wild tangle down her back. His eyes were drawn to her cute, irritated little ass. He followed at a safe distance, enjoying the view.
Seeing her in a temper set his blood aflame. He loved her heat, her intensity, her passion for life. He wanted to grab her and kiss her hot, angry mouth. She’d probably go nuts if he put his hands on her. She might even slap him again. The thought made his pulse race with excitement.
Yeah, he was a bastard. A sick, horny bastard.
When he caught up with her, she whirled around to face him. “I was scared out of my mind, and you fell asleep.”
“Maria, come on—”
“Don’t touch me.”
He held up his palms, defeated.
“I thought we were going to crash!”
“You could’ve stayed there.”
She stabbed a finger into his chest. “You need me, menso. You’re just too stubborn to admit it. If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be in that barn, burning up with fever.”
He didn’t appreciate her poking at his chest after telling him not to touch her. He swatted her hand away. When she raised it once more, he grasped both of her wrists and trapped her arms behind her back. Hauling her against him, he crushed his mouth over hers. She didn’t melt in his embrace, acquiescent. She bit his lip and drew blood.
“Ow,” he yelled, releasing her. She turned away from him, but not before he saw her distraught expression. There were tears in her eyes. “What are you so upset about? I didn’t fall asleep on purpose. I was unconscious yesterday, in case you forgot.”
“I didn’t forget, you fool. I was worried about you!”
“Oh,” he said. He wasn’t used to anyone worrying about him. He’d learned to take care of himself at a very young age.
She swiped at her wet cheeks. “I walked all day to find help for you. I stayed up half the night. You are not well, but you insisted on leaving anyway. I was scared and worried, my heart beating like crazy, while you were taking naps and laughing at me.”
“I wasn’t laughing at you.”
“You were sharing jokes with him. Ha-ha, mile sex club. I don’t like being treated that way, like a pedazo de cuero.”
He raked a hand through his hair, frustrated. Don Pablo had treated her like a piece of ass, and Ian hadn’t objected. Then again, the plane had been their only escape. Ian probably wouldn’t have objected if Pablo had groped her ass. “What did you expect me to do? He was a horny old man. We’re all the same, just like I told you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You say that every time we argue. I think it’s a lie you tell to hide your true feelings.”
He made a scoffing sound, uncomfortable with her assessment. She saw through him too easily. Hiding his feelings was a defense mechanism, even a basic survival instinct. Sometimes it was easier to act like a jerk than a gentleman.
Sometimes it felt better too.
“Let’s go,” he said, spotting a tour bus in the distance. The sign across the front said Mazatlán, which worked for him. It would be easier to blend into the crowd of tourists along the coast. The driver charged him twenty dollars for the ride. He found two open spaces in the middle section. She took the aisle seat while he stared out the window.
“I’m sorry about Don Pablo,” he said. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”
Maria met his gaze warily.
“Men aren’t all the same, either. It is a lie I tell because I can’t stand the thought of you with someone else after I’m gone.”
Her expression softened. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“You will.”
“Will you?”
He shrugged, though he couldn’t imagine it. He’d been celibate for four years after spending a handful of hours with her, and it wasn’t as if he didn’t like sex. He did like it—a lot. But he’d never be satisfied by anonymous encounters again. She’d ruined him for other women. Instead of telling her that, he went quiet. It would be selfish to stake his claim on her under these circumstances. She was young and beautiful and resilient. She’d find another if he let her go.
“I haven’t been in an airplane before,” she said.
“I gathered that.”
“Do you know how I crossed the border the second time?”
“No.”