Page 7 of Come Fly with Me

Jake lets out a long, slow breath, his hand moving to his chest and covering his heart. “That hurts. That really hurts. I just safely flew you across the Pacific, and you didn’t even hesitate in your answer.”

“Whoa there, cocky,” I say, my hand flying up, but a small smile tugs at my lips. His confidence is far more attractive than I thought it could ever be. “I’m pretty sure I had something to do with that too.”

“Of course you did,” he responds, his hand now up hailing a cab as he winks at me.

“So are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“What fun would that be?” He shrugs his shoulders and steps a little closer to me. His voice dips a little lower, his fingers brushing the inside of my wrist as he leans in and says, “Tell me, Taylor, when was the last time you did something for the first time?”

“I don’t know.” My hand covers the spot on my wrist where Jake’s fingers just were, trying to soothe the burn left by his touch. I take in a deep breath, but my resolve is failing fast.

“Then let’s change that. Let me be your first.”

His words drip with insinuation and the tension that builds between us burns hotter than the Australian sun. I swear if I were a cartoon character steam would be rising in lines from the top of my head.

I wet my lips, and his eyes dart to my mouth. Swallowing hard, he turns away from me, grabbing our bags as the cab pulls up to the curb.

I slide into the backseat as Jake puts our bags in the trunk and slips in next to me. Without missing a beat, he gives the cab driver an address. This whole not knowing where we’re going is killing me. I can feel the anxiety meeting the sexual tension as they vie for which will win out: butterflies or constriction, elation or nausea.

I can’t remember the last time my body warred against itself, but it’s making me feel alive for the first time in a long time.

“Are we going to your house?” I press, and Jake shakes his head, giving absolutely nothing away. “Just tell me.”

“Can you give up control for thirty minutes?” he asks, his voice firmer now, as if he knows I’m completely out of my comfort zone. “If it’s horrible, you can leave.”

“I don’t want to leave,” I blurt out, my cheeks growing hot from my admission. I begin to chew my lip, picking off the loose pieces of skin with my teeth.

“Good, because I don’t want you to.” He reaches over, and with his thumb, he pulls my lip from my teeth, and again my skin burns red hot at his touch.

I shift away from him, looking out the window and trying to settle myself down.

What the hell am I even doing?

He’s young and flirty and cheeky, and this can only lead to a whole lot of trouble. But I find myself drawn to him, like walking away now would be harder than staying.

“So, will you give me thirty minutes?”

“You can have the whole day.” As the words leave my lips, they sound far more seductive than I intend, breathy and soft. “What else do I have to do, anyway?” I tack the last sentence on in an attempt to appear casual and bored, but he sees right through me.

Jake laughs, his head falling back. “Keep telling yourself that, Captain.”

“Ok, maybe now we’re not working, Taylor is fine,” I quip back, and again Jake laughs, deep and sexy, and no matter what I say, he can pull me back in.

We eventually pull up outside a large industrial building with no windows, and it’s completely surrounded by a black wrought iron fence. There are cameras all around it along, with several keypad gates.

I give Jake a quick side-eye as he pays the driver and climbs out of the cab. Reluctantly, I follow him.

“Where are we?” I ask, looking around.

“How about this: for every question you ask me, I get to ask you one?” He crosses his arms over his chest, his muscular arms flexing against the sleeves of his uniform.

I pause, taking in his offer and wondering just how personal this could get. Throwing caution to the wind, I hesitantly agree.

“One more stipulation,” Jake adds, his eyes narrowing at me. “Only yes-or-no questions.”

“Are you trying to kill me?” I ask, in all seriousness.

“I’m trying to figure you out, Taylor Patterson.”