Page 99 of Something Forever

Like I am worth everything.

35

LIAM

“Your ticket, please?”

The flight attendant glances at my phone, then gestures towards the first-class seats that I booked for Whitney and me. I figured that since Whitney was willing to confront her fear of flying just to come home with me for the holidays, the least I could do is try to make the experience somewhat bearable.

“First class? Is that why you insisted on buying the tickets?” Whitney groans.

I turn to meet her challenging gaze. “If I let you buy them, you’d have me up at the crack of dawn like a drill sergeant again.”

She laughs and her eyes sparkle, the sound bringing a smile to my own lips. I could watch her laugh forever.

It’s been almost a month since the night in the kitchen when those damned words almost spilled from my lips.

I love you.

I’d almost said it. I was ready to, ready for the pressure in my chest to cease, to free myself from this torment once and for all. But I didn’t, and every night since, as I lose myself in the indescribable feeling of her, I’ve had to bite down on my tongue to stop the words from escaping.

“These must have cost a fortune. You shouldn’t have,” she says as the flight attendant takes her bag.

“Don’t tell anyone, but… ” I lower my voice to a whisper, smirking, “my wife is loaded.”

She shoves against me, and we slide into our seats, which are more like pods than actual seats.

“Abbi gave me a Xanax, so I think I’ll be fine,” she says, tapping her foot as she straps in. I rest my hand on her knee, stilling the jerky movement. Brushing my thumb lightly against the inside of her thigh, a sly grin spreads across my face.

“You’ll be fine. I’ve thought of the perfect way to keep you distracted.”

She glowers at me, but the bob of her throat as she swallows gives her away. “Liam,” she says in a scolding tone, but the sound of my name on her lips only fuels my excitement.

The flight attendant comes over and asks if we’d like anything to drink, so I ask for two sparkling waters. I draw soft circles against Whitney’s inner thigh while we wait, my hand slipping higher up her leg. Her eyes dart down to the movement, and she swallows again, but she says nothing. As the flight attendant starts the safety presentation, I leave my hand on her thigh. Soon enough, the plane is nearing takeoff, and I can feel her tightening beneath my grip.

“I should’ve taken the Xanax before we boarded. Shit,” she says, a hint of desperate trepidation in her tone.

Slipping my hand higher, I brush another circle with my thumb and lower my head towards her ear.

“I bet if I slid my hand into your leggings I’d find you wet right now, wouldn’t I?” I drop my voice to a low murmur, breathing against the shell of her ear. “Nobody on this plane knows how needy you are for me.”

“Liam,” she breathes, her eyes fluttering closed.

I slide my hand half an inch higher, tightening my grip on her thigh. “Maybe I’ll have to find out.” I inch higher. “Maybe I’ll let you ride my fingers if you can be quiet.” I smile as her breath hitches. “Maybe I’ll have to take you into that tiny bathroom and fuck you against the wall. See how quiet my good girl can be.”

She lets out a quiet moan, her face flushing with desire. The sight of her lips parting and her chest rising and falling in quick breaths sets my own pulse racing. Abruptly, I pull my hand away, sitting up straight. Her eyes fly open, and a flush of pink travels up her face as her shocked gaze meets mine.

“Look at that,” I say casually, glancing around at our surroundings. “We’ve taken off.”

She heaves a heavy breath and swallows, blinking. “You… you?—”

“I think I’ll watch Die Hard on my flight. What about you?”

She smacks my arm lightly, then huffs out a breath, her gaze softening. She slips her hand into mine and squeezes it.

“Thank you,” she says quietly. “Even though I’m all worked up now.”

“I think you mean horny like a cat in heat.”

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