Page 70 of Bound By Revenge

“It’s tiny, Nik. Ridiculously tiny,” I protest, eyeing the plane like it might grow fangs and swallow me whole. "Is this about last night? Are you punishing me? Because I swear to God, I’ll drop to my knees right now and make it up to you. No questions asked.”

He throws his head back and laughs, the sound rich and unrestrained. “Tempting,” he says, his voice still laced with amusement, “but no dice. We’re doing this. Come on, I didn’t take you for a coward.”

Ignoring my protests, he climbs into the plane and crouches down, turning back to extend his hand to me. “Look, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. But I think you should give it a chance. It’s safe. I’ve done this a hundred times.”

“Nik—” I start, ready to list every reason this is a terrible idea, but he cuts me off with a simple question.

“Do you trust me?” His voice is calm, his hand still extended.

I falter. The wind tousles his dark hair, and his warm, searching gaze locks onto mine. He looks so heartbreakingly gorgeous it makes my chest ache. Against all better judgment, I wordlessly take his hand.

The smile that spreads across his face is devastating—like a fine glass of whiskey, warm and intoxicating, sliding through my chest and pooling low in my belly.

Effortlessly, he pulls me into the plane, his grip firm and unrelenting as he guides me to my seat. When he kneels in front of me to buckle me in, the air shifts.

His hands move with deliberate slowness, grazing the curve of my neck as he adjusts the straps. Then, his fingers trail down, brushing my thigh, my hip, the hollow of my waist. Each touch is deliberate, lingering just long enough to leave me breathless.

“You’re shaking,” he murmurs, his voice low and smooth, like honey poured over whiskey. His hands skim up the strap nearmy shoulder, his touch impossibly light. “What’s wrong, Kat? Nervous?”

My breath hitches, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Of course I’m nervous. I’m about to die in a flying death trap.”

His lips curve into a wicked, knowing smile, and his gaze hooks mine. “That’s funny. I thought it might be me making you nervous.”

I swallow hard, struggling to find words as his fingers slip down to the buckle near my ribs. His knuckles graze the underside of my breasts, slow and unhurried, the air thick with unspoken tension.

“You’d tell me if it was, wouldn’t you?” he asks, his tone light but laced with something darker—something that sends heat spiraling through me.

“Nik,” I grit out, my voice trembling, “are you done?”

“Not quite.” His voice dips lower, intimate and dangerous, as he finally fastens the buckle. His knuckles brush against my stomach, lingering for a fraction of a second before he leans back, his smirk entirely too smug. “There. Now you’re ready.”

The engine roars to life, snapping me out of the trance. Nik moves to the seat in front of me, and I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding as I fumble to slip on the headset.

Yuri’s voice crackles over the intercom, but the pounding of my heartbeat drowns out whatever he’s saying.

If Nik had given me even the slightest warning about this little adventure, I might have had time to prepare. Instead, I feel completely off-balance—like I’m already free-falling from the sky.

Nik reaches back and clasps my hand firmly, his grip steady and reassuring. When I look at him, my breath catches again. His eyes, molten and alive, hold a carefree light I’ve never seen before.

Without much warning, the plane takes off, and I clutch Nik’s hand in a death grip. He laughs softly, the sound warm and light, then grabs my other hand, holding both of mine tightly in his.

We climb higher and higher. My ears pop, and I slam my eyes shut, certain that the contents of my stomach are about to revolt.

A minute—or maybe an eternity—passes. I couldn’t say. The roar of the engine and the rush of the wind blur into an endless, overwhelming cacophony.

Then Nik squeezes my hand again, his grip grounding me. “Kat,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady. “Open your eyes.”

Reluctantly, I force my eyes open.

“Eyes up here,” he says softly, tilting his head to meet my gaze. “Just look at me.”

I lock onto his eyes, and for a moment, everything else fades away. The tension in my chest begins to loosen, just a little, and I start to breathe again.

“There you go,” he says gently, his voice a soothing and steady. “You’re doing great. Now, take a deep breath. Try to relax, even if it’s just a little.”

Still holding his gaze, I inhale deeply, then exhale slowly. To my surprise, the knot in my stomach begins to ease. “This… isn’t so bad,” I manage, my voice shaking but hopeful.

“It really isn’t,” he agrees, his smile warm, like he’s proud of me. “And we’re almost ready for Yuri to start the maneuvers.”

---