I didn’t know the make of the car, but I knew it was more expensive than the limo immediately. The leather was stitched more precisely and felt like butter instead of alligator skin to the touch.
He paused and spoke to the driver, maybe giving directions, before taking the seat beside me.
“Where are we headed?” I asked, aware that I was in a car with a man I didn’t know in a dark alley. The thought sobered me up more than a little.
“One of my favorite places to go is a little island off the coast. The sunrise over the ocean there is like a painting.”
“Interesting,” I murmured. “I pegged you differently.”
“Assuming? I figure you know the saying of what it makes out of you and me.”
“I do, but you have to admit everyone does it. It’s part of our makeup to try to piece things together to avoid being caught in a surprising situation, don’t you think?”
“I think you don’t mind a surprising situation considering you're sitting here with a man you barely know on your way to a place unknown.”
I stared out the window. In the distance, I saw lights I knew very well. His driver was heading straight to the airport and I pointed to the planes taking off. “Showing me the sunset with planes flying by?”
“Something like that.”
“Hm.” It was different, something I’d never watched, at least not close. “I decided I liked airports when I was young. I went to them a few times with my parents and got to people watch long before I was ever concerned about germs or security or anything like that. I used to love staring out at the big machines.”
“How many times have you flown?”
“Not many. Just enough to know I’m not a total basket case in the air but that I still have a fear of a landing.”
The corner of his mouth lifted just a hair. “You said you like your little town. Did you fly here?”
I smirked at him. He’d gotten more information from me than even the men in my town did. We’d been talking much longer than thirty minutes, and if Linny asked, I’d have to admit, it was intriguing building a sort of bond with another human that you might hook up with.
Yet the feeling tugged on me, warning me to run or to shut up and not say another word.
So I leaned in and whispered, “Does it really matter where I flew from, Bastian?” and took his full lips in mine.
He kissed with precision and a languid sort of lead, like he didn’t want to push too far even though I was the one who’d started it. I scooted closer and grabbed the lapel of his jacket for leverage. His hands gripped my hips as he let me climb on top of him and I felt his excitement, even if his mouth was all control.
I rolled my hips against him and could tell he was bigger than most men I got with. The rigidity of his muscles under my hands told me he must be feeling the bolts of pleasure I felt too. I moaned. We would work out just fine. This was what we both wanted anyway.
Watching a sunrise with a guy wasn’t going to happen, but I’d meet Linny back at the airport early in the morning and we’d be on our way home. At least I’d have this little adventure to remember our trip by.
He gripped my arms and eased me away when the car stopped at the terminal. “We’re here.”
“Should he just drive around?” I shrugged.
“You’re borderline insulting with just wanting to fuck me here, Morina.” His teased me as he quirked his head like he couldn’t figure me out.
I huffed out a breath. “No, it’s just…” I poked his shoulder. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t normally do all this talking, and I think the sunrise sounds nice but…”
“You said I couldn’t show you a good time.”
“I take it back. This will be a good enough time in the car.”
“No. This would be a time you’ve had with many other men.”
“Excuse me, not many.” I tsked and corrected him. “Some. Just what I need to fill a void. I don’t…”
“I don’t just fill voids, love. I obliterate them.” His dark eyes narrowed and it was the first time I saw what Bastian hid underneath his calm demeanor: dominance. “I’m not like any other man. I’ve had a shit day and you comparing me to everyone else is pissing me off.”
Fire in his eyes was not what I expected. The Bastian I’d met in the club had seemed so controlled, yet his grip on my arms tightened, just a touch. But he must’ve realized it, because a moment later he smoothed up and down my skin and goosebumps popped up. My heart fluttered like I cared.