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?”