Page 71 of Bound By Revenge

“Maneuvers?!” My voice spikes, the tentative calm I’d found shattered in an instant. “You didn’t say anything about maneuvers!”

His laugh rumbles through the cabin, infuriatingly carefree. “It’s an aerobatic flight, Kat.”

“Oh god, I’m going to puke,” I groan, already regretting every decision that led me here.

“No, you’re not,” he says firmly, his grip on my hands tightening just enough to anchor me. His eyes stay locked onmine, steady and unwavering. “Just keep looking at me. You’re fine. You’re safe. And, believe it or not, you’re about to have fun.”

“Nik…” I gasp, unable to form anything more coherent.

His grip holds strong, his presence cutting through the chaos like a lifeline. Slowly, against all odds, the panic begins to ebb.

Here’s this gorgeous man who drives me wild, holding my hands tightly, sharing this moment with me—even after I shattered his trust the night before. I have a choice: cling to my fear and let it ruin the experience, or let go and embrace the unknown.

“Just let go,” he says, his brown eyes blazing with a mix of challenge and encouragement.

With a deep breath, I do.

And just in time. Yuri takes us through a complete loop, and I scream in surprise as my stomach drops to my feet. The world tilts and spins, a blur of blue and white, but somehow, I manage to look at Nik. The pure, unrestrained joy on his face steals what little breath I have left.

As Yuri rights the plane, Nik’s exhilarated voice cuts through the rush of wind and adrenaline. “Not so bad, right?”

I shake my head, my heart still pounding, and the infectious enthusiasm in his expression starts to seep into me, breaking through my nerves.

“Ready?” he asks, his grin widening, boyish and reckless. “Here we go again.” He laughs, his hand never letting go of mine.

This time, as Yuri sends us spiraling into a series of dizzying turns, I keep my focus on Nik. The tension I’d been holding onto melts away as laughter bubbles up from somewhere deep inside me. It bursts free as the plane flips and twists, and Nik’s laughter joins mine—a sound so full and carefree, it wraps around me like a shield.

Lost in the moment, I don’t care about the plane, the altitude, or the wild maneuvers. All I care about is him.

When the plane starts its descent, preparing for landing, I finally catch my breath. I steal glances at Nik, drinking in the sight of him. His smile is wide, his hair a beautiful mess, and yet no one—no one—could ever look so devastatingly handsome.

And to think, I almost missed this moment. If I hadn’t trusted him, if I hadn’t let go of my need to control the uncontrollable, I wouldn’t be here now, seeing him like this.

When we step out of the plane, my legs feel like Jell-O, and I nearly stumble. Before I can hit the ground, Nik catches me, his grip strong and steady as he pulls me against him. We both laugh, breathless from the adrenaline.

“You okay?” he asks, amusement flickering in his eyes.

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips as I realize he hasn’t let me go. I stay in his arms, gazing up at his face, unwilling to break the spell of this moment.

“Maxim and I used to do this all the time,” he says suddenly, his voice quieter, edged with something softer. “It was one of his favorite things.”

The admission catches me off guard, and I find myself staring at him, unsure of how to respond. There’s a vulnerability in his expression that roots me in place.

Finally, I find my voice. “Thank you.”

His brows lift slightly. “For what?”

“For sharing that with me. For this,” I say, gesturing back toward the plane. “And for letting go of last night.”

Nik nods, his gaze steady, unreadable, but something softens at the edges.

“This was fun, right?” he asks, his tone lightening just enough to break the tension.

“So much fun,” I say with a laugh. “I can’t even remember the last time I had this much of a blast.”

His smile shifts, transforming into something I’ve never seen before. It’s brighter, freer—a gigawatt smile, a take-no-prisonerssmile. He looks so happy, so completely unguarded, that I can’t stop myself.

Rising onto my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck and press a quick, hard kiss to his lips.

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