Page 20 of One Billion Reasons

“A story? Oh, you mean for the dating thing? I guess so.” He sounds so tired, and an unwelcome flash of sympathy rises. Don’t feel bad for him. He burned down everything around him and it’s not your fault.

I can’t help but contrast who he is now with who he was before. Unsmiling, serious. When he used to joke and laugh. I hate it.

Before I can think better of it, I say, “How about, I rescued you from an evil queen and decided you were pretty enough to keep.” Not so far from the truth. He is that hot.

His lips tilt. “I rescued you from a biker gang. I like my version better.”

“I was running a biker gang, but I decided to settle down and be boring.”

“Baby, you know I’m never boring.” He winks, and I tip my head back against the seat and smile.

“Okay, okay. You were the head biker, and I was a rival gang leader.” We start taxiing, and I tighten my seatbelt in its buttery leather cover.

“And when we met up for a brawl, we decided there were way better ways to pass the time.” He wags his brows suggestively, and I giggle.

“I beat you up and took you prisoner.”

“And then we decided to find better ways to pass the time?” His voice is hopeful, and I laugh again, helplessly.

“Sure, yeah. I kept you as my prisoner, and now we’re back out in the real world.”

“You couldn’t hold me prisoner if you tried.” His eyes flash.

“I could.” I cross my arms.

“Try it.” He raises a brow in challenge, and a little thrill zips through me. “You’re like one hundred pounds soaking wet, and I’ve seen you fight. Like an angry little elf.”

I redden, reminded of all the times he rested an arm on my head or laughed at how short I was, usually with one of his statuesque dates on his arm. “Excuse me. I’d rather be an elf than a giant. It’s a wonder they even make planes big enough for you.” I roll my eyes, but he grins, sharp and all teeth.

“My size isn’t the insult you think it is.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Miles,” I hiss.

“But it’s so comfortable there,” he shoots back, leaning forward. He always used his size as an intimidation tactic, and I hated it then. Nothing has changed.

“Juvenile humor is the last resort of the unintelligent.” I narrow my eyes.

“So you think I’m funny?”

“I most definitely do not think you’re funny. You remain the most annoying man I’ve ever met.”

“Gonna have to tamp those feelings down for the next week. Your head might explode.” He smiles, finally, broad and happy, at the thought of my head exploding.

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

“God, yes.” He shuts his eyes, and a low sound comes from his throat. His throat works, and my stomach does an uncomfortable little pirouette as I watch his Adam’s apple bob. “Mmm. Yeah. Like that.”

“Are you fantasizing about my grisly demise?”

“Yeah, and it’s really doing it for me. I might actually need to use the private bedroom on here.” He opens his eyes, and they’re lit with fire. I redden at the thought of Miles in the back of the plane, hand wrapped around what I know is a thick cock, stroking himself and spending onto the plush carpet. I wish I didn’t know. I wish I’d never walked in on him and some random girl that summer after senior year. I wish I hadn’t seen him with his face buried between her legs, a filthy litany slipping from between his lips every time he came up for air. His cock was in his hand, long and impossibly hard, and she was writhing on the bed and moaning his name. And the only thing I could think was I would take her place in a heartbeat.

“Well, go ahead. See you when you’re done. Say one or two minutes?” I’m blushing, but I will not let him get the last word in.

He tips his head back and laughs.

11

Lane

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