Page 56 of Billionaire Devil

“I’ll make sure you’re too distracted to worry about it, baby girl. You can trust me.”

Here he goes again with the saying-the-nicest-things-while-still-being-grumpily-gruff-and-totally-hot. It’s my weakness. “She did say my fellow fliers can help me cope with anxiety during the flight by avoiding my triggers.”

Colton lifts me into his arms and starts carrying me toward the steps of the plane. “There’s only one trigger I’m interested in. And since I’m youronlyfellow traveler, I’m going to make sure your trigger gets so much attention you end up in the fucking stratosphere.”

“Metaphorically speaking, I hope.”

“Orgasmically speaking.”

Oh.

It strikes me again that there haven’t been a lot of times in my life that I’ve felt so incrediblycared for. At all. My father bailed. My mother didn’t have time. My friends are my friends but they have their own lives.

Colton Maddox makes me feel like I’m the most important, most beautiful person in the world.

It’s a heady feeling.

And one you definitely should not be getting used to.

I can’t help wondering if he makes all his girls feel this way. I have to make an effort not to let the sting behind my eyes become tears.

Maybe I’m just emotional because I’m so wildly out of my comfort zone. I’m boarding an actualairplane.

Holy shit. And what an airplane it is.

It’s like something out of a Kardashians Instagram post. There are oversized leather seats next to the windows and abuilt-in table with two flutes of mimosas freshly poured. Through the doors of glass-fronted cabinets, I can see platters of food, ice and cold drinks.

Colton sets me on one of the seats next to the window and buckles me in, sitting next to me.

A man’s voice comes over the loudspeaker. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Maddox, Miss Bailey. Flight time through to Aspen is four hours and forty-nine minutes. Skies are clear and it should be a smooth flight. I’ll ask that you fasten your seatbelts for take-off. Once we’re airborne and the seat belt sign has been turned off, you can help yourselves to the platters and meals our acclaimed chef has prepared for you. Over 700 movies are available on our entertainment system, and there’s a super-king bedroom suite and full-sized ensuite with luxury amenities for your convenience. I’ll let you know when we’re beginning our descent into Aspen. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.”

Colton hands me the cocktail. “Drink it. It’ll calm your nerves. And it’s more fun than sleeping pills.”

I don’t argue. I take a sip. It tastes so good and I’m so nervous I end up drinking all of it.

As the jet engines are spooled up, the noise gets louder.

I give Colton an anxious glance. He’s cool as a freaking cucumber.

Colton takes my hand, weaving his fingers through mine. “Easy, Sunshine.”

We’re rolling forward!I squeeze Colton’s hand so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t complain.

“Good girl. You’re okay. Think of it as freedom. You’re fully alive, like a soaring eagle taking flight. You’ve never been more powerful than you are right now.”

I watch the blurred landscape. We’re going so fast now and we lift off the ground—“Holy shit, we’re in the air!”

“That’s the idea, baby.”

We’re over some buildings now, getting higher.

“Cole,” I gasp, because it’s actually…amazing. We get up to the clouds and then we gothroughthe clouds and from here they look all fluffy and surreal, like a giant layer of white cotton turned pink and silver by the sun. “Look.”

His grin is…beguiled.

“Isn’t itbeautiful? Colton, you’re not even looking at it.” He’s still watching me.

“It’s not as beautiful as what I’m looking at.”

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