Page 63 of My Forbidden Boss

“Say thank you, Adeline,” he says.

And then I can’t do anything else but what he says. It’s a demand, but not. He needs to hear this. Needs to do this for me. He wants to.

He’s an enigma, but he’s starting to make sense.

I lick my dry lips. “Th…thank you.”

His face lights, falls free from tension and then he’s kissing my cheek, lips pressed against my skin. I thought he might try to kiss me properly. Anticipation makes my lips tingle, but he moves back and his smile makes my heart sing.

“You’re welcome.”

Lines fan from the corner of his eyes, and a light shines from the deep wells in his eyes. He’s happy he bought me clothes and I make the connection. I made him smile. I…made him happy.

“Here you go.” A waitress places pancakes topped with maple syrup and strawberries in front of me. “And for you, sir.” David gets the sausages and mushrooms.

“I didn’t order…”

“Have you eaten breakfast?” David says.

I shake my head. I couldn’t stand the thought of breakfasting on Udon again. Besides, if I’d eaten my stomach and flayed nerves would have stopped me. “No.”

“Then let’s eat. I’m starving and this is much better than plane food,” he says.

My fingers curl around the cutlery and I watch as he cuts into his meal and begins to eat. I swallow a piece of pancake that melts in my mouth and nearly groan out loud at the taste. Taste buds, meet heaven.

“I’ve never eaten plane food,” I say.

His brows lift. “Never been brave enough?”

I huff, a smile dancing on my lips. “I’ve never been on a plane before.”

His grin is quick. His pleasure right there. So real I can touch it. “I’m happy I’ll be your first.”

He’s my first.

He might be my only.

The grit and darkness rise in the back of my mind. A tidal wave poised to consume me. To remind me I shouldn’t be here. With David. Taking pleasure where I don’t deserve it but David smiles and asks me how I like my pancakes and I tell him I they melt in my mouth and the darkness recoils because it has no place in the light.

I stuff more pancake into my mouth, ravenous. David’s calm voice talks about various trips he has taken and in a blink I’ve eaten every morsel. I listen. I’m hooked on every word. He’s opening me to a world I knew nothing about.

“There’s always been something missing on those trips,” he says.

“And what’s that?” I ask, because I have to know everything about him.

“You.”

And just like that all the breath leaves my lungs.

A voice sounds through the speakers, calling his name. The plane is boarding and they’re waiting for us. He chuckles, threads his fingers through mine and tingles race up my arm. “I never lose time. You’re a good influence, love.”

I don’t decipher his words as we dash along the wide corridor to the boarding gate and onto the plane. David mutters an easy apology and the flight assistants twitter in response. He puts my purse and coat into the overhead locker and sits me by the window.

The plane takes off. Our conversation is easy. He laughs often, as do I. My heart trips and flutters about my chest and my shoulders relax. In no time we’ve landed and a private car takes us to the Fontainebleau at Miami Beach. My feet don’t touch the ground because this is another world.

There’s a sense of unreality about being here. The air is warm and caresses my skin. Salt teases my nose. The air conditioning of the hotel is scented with luxury. People walk through the foyer without a care. Some carry bags and towels. Others are dressed as we are, coming in from the airport.

We check in and take the elevator to our rooms. He hands me a key and tells me his room is next to mine if I need him. I’m a mix of emotions. Relieved to have my own space, yet surprised I’m not in his room.

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