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She arches a brow.

“That wasn’t a complaint.”

Her lips curve into a sultry, reflective smile, and I shoot a quick prayer up to the creator of souls that this feeling never leaves me.

“I can’t believe you chartered a plane for me.”

“There will be a car waiting when you land to take you home.”

“Easton, it’s too much.”

“No, it’s not,” I defend, running my fingers through the curls resting on her shoulder.

“I hate that you spent the money.”

“Worth it for me, especially since I now know what death traps Texas highways are. I don’t want you driving on them, fuckingever, but that’s not something I can remedy tonight.” I lift my chin toward the window. “This is the fastest, safest way to get you home, and something tells me it won’t be your first time flying private.”

She nods, her neck reddening slightly. “Hearst Media owns a jet. So yeah, I can’t say it’s my first time on a private plane.” She glances at the waiting plane just outside the window. “But it’s a bit much.”

“You know that matters fuck all to me, right?”

“I just don’t want you to think I expect these things.”

“Expect a lot from me,” I urge her. “A lot.”

“Easton,” she murmurs back, our hands gathering momentum as we stroke each other, “you don’t have to cater to me.”

“I want to, so let me.”

“Okay,” she sighs, “as long as you allow me the same freedom.”

“We’ll see.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re an unbearable ass. So, are you going to keep me in suspense?”

“I want this to work,” I declare, putting her on guard, causing her smile to dim.

“Me too.”

“So, this is going to seem hard to navigate for a while, but there are some things we can agree on now to make it easier. Going caveman jealous last night . . . I hated the feeling.”

She laughs and shakes her head before ducking a little under my glare.

“Sorry, but it is a bit ridiculous. You are aware that by now, there are thousands of women just dying for you to bed them.”

“You could have just as easily had any man at that party by simply looking at them last night. We’re on an even playing field, and don’t think for one second that we aren’t.”

“I hate to disagree, but men don’t exactly toss their boxers on my desk while I’m working.”

“I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t take much to make that happen.”

She smiles, and as much as the sight of it lights me up, I have no choice but to dampen the mood. “We really need to have this conversation.”

“I’m listening.”

“Name all the people you trust.”

“Easy, my parents and my best friends Holly and Damon. I trust them all implicitly. Then there’s my dad’s sister, my Aunt Nikki, and his cousin, Sierra, but she lives in California now. Why?”

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