Page 17 of Burning Beauty

Maria snorted her laughter. "I'll keep that in mind for the next time I'm abducted."

"There won't be a next time," he said mildly, and went back to work on his phone. After a few minutes he switched to a laptop, setting it up on a table in front of him and ignoring Maria.

The flight attendant approached and asked if she could get anything for her two passengers. Though Nic ignored the woman, Maria was grateful.

"I'd love a coffee, two creams, three sugars please. I'd also like something to eat if you have it. We were forced to skip breakfast this morning." She sent Nic a scathing look, but his entire focus was on his laptop. She turned back to the woman. "I'd also like some magazines or a book if you have them."

"Of course." the other woman smiled brightly and moved away. Moments later she was back with Maria's coffee and a wide selection of books and magazines. After assuring Maria that her breakfast would be ready in a few minutes she disappeared into the back of the plane again.

Maria fingered the magazines and finally chose one about fashion and makeup. She'd always loved magazines, the bright glossy pages with the sensational articles and the gasp-worthy gossip, but the expense was rarely worth the momentary pleasure she got from them.

She became so absorbed in a story about celebrities and winter fashions that she forgot about her food until it arrived at her elbow. Her stomach instantly reacted to the mouth-watering scent of toast, eggs and sliced fruit. She dropped the magazine and reached for the tray, smiling at the flower in a small vase accenting the tray.

"Thank you," she said enthusiastically and began eating almost before the attendant moved away.

After a few satisfying bites she finally looked up and saw Nic watching her again. He'd pushed his own table and laptop out of the way. She froze mid-bite and fell into the dark depths of his hypnotic gaze. It was like looking into the promise of pain and pleasure all at the same time. She didn't quite know what to do about him or her reaction to him.

"There's something about watching you..." he murmured and then caught himself as though he hadn't realized he was speaking out loud.

She didn't respond. Didn't know how to respond. If he wanted to be a creepy voyeur, that was his thing, she couldn't stop him. She ate as much as she could and then pushed the tray away and sat back in her seat feeling more relaxed and less anxious. So far, this whole kidnapping thing wasn't so bad. It included a private luxury jet and food. She'd even bet his place in Miami had a pool.

Nic reached for her plate and, picking up her fork, ate the rest of her eggs. She watched him, slightly embarrassed by the intimacy of sharing food and utensils with a virtual stranger. That fork that was entering his mouth had also been in hers. Yet she wasn't grossed out, not by a long shot. Heat shot through her veins and she felt the need to fan herself.

He dropped the fork and picked up the toast taking a generous bite and then washing it down with her leftover coffee. He made a face and dropped the coffee cup with a clatter. "Too sweet."

Maria smiled. "My mama told me I use too much sugar in my drinks."

"You do," he agreed.

As he settled back into work, leaving their strangely domestic scene behind, Maria tried to relax into another magazine. The flight attendant returned for the tray and gave them each a wet towel to wipe their hands. Maria lifted a brow and then followed Nic's actions since he was familiar with this kind of excessive luxury. No paper napkins for him apparently.

"We'll be landing in about three hours," he told her, still looking at his laptop. "You might want to get some sleep."

Maria wanted to ask him why she might need sleep. Did he want her rested for a little tickle and torture later? Or maybe so she could follow through on her new sex slave duties. She was naive but not stupid. She was well aware of what a man like Nic would want with someone like her. She just wondered how much of his interest was mixed up with thoughts of revenge. After all, she'd been a willing, if coerced, partner in his entrapment.

She didn't ask though. Instead she settled back into her seat and kept reading until her eyes grew heavy. Soon she was asleep, curled on her side in the plush chair, the magazine having slipped from her fingers onto the floor. When she woke, she felt groggy, as though she'd slept hard. Her hand was curled under her chin and a blanket was tucked around her body.

She straightened and pushed the blanket to the side. As she was in the process of stretching, her chest out and her arms up, she remembered Nic. Her gaze flew to him and her heart nearly stopped. He was watching her, but something in his gaze had shifted from coolly assessing to intensely heated. Maybe she'd been making sexy sounds in her sleep, although she doubted it. She was far more likely to drool all over herself.

"It's rude to stare," she said huskily, swallowing to wet her suddenly parched throat.

Instead of responding to her criticism, he said, "I'm ready for my kiss now."

"Oh," she gasped, dropping her hands to the arms of her seat and gripping them tightly. "I-I have morning breath."

His lip quirked and he lifted a brow. "Come here."

Her heart pounded at that simple command. She debated ignoring him, but he could easily force her into compliance. She'd rather maintain some measure of control. Plus, she was curious. Was kissing him today going to be different from kissing him last night? Their emotions had been high, he'd been angry, and she'd been terrified, making their kisses electric and intense.

Now, she was feeling sleepy and slightly disoriented while he had the look of a predator about him. As though he would devour her, but first he wanted her to crawl willingly into his cave and give him what he wanted.

A fanciful thought maybe, but then, her thoughts were flying so fast, hanging onto a single one took effort.

She stood and crossed the few steps between them. She started to bend over him awkwardly, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"Straddle me," he demanded, his own voice dropping in volume and depth, the tone capturing her, enshrining them in a bubble. She had a brief thought of the other staff on board but decided they didn't matter. This was Nic's airplane and Nic was the boss, they would be discreet.

A mixture of curiosity and fear drove her to climb onto his lap, her knees on either side of his thighs, sinking into the plush leather of the chair. Her arms rested at her sides. She was too afraid, too out of her element to know where to put them or to dare touch without permission. Though she was normally fiery and self-confident, something about this deadly man demanded all-encompassing obedience. And since she didn't know where his boundaries lay, she wasn't willing to push him. At least not physically. Not yet.

---