Page 48 of Turbulent Fires

“You like to leave this cockpit,” she says with a nervous laugh.

“Only when there’s a beautiful woman worth leaving it for,” I assure her. She shakes her head, but rises as well. We step out of the cockpit and stand in the galley as I walk in place. “I don’t normally like these longer flights because my body locks up. We aren’t meant to sit still for too long.”

“I don’t even care if that seat isn’t the most comfortable thing. This experience is phenomenal,” she says.

“I’m glad you’re having a good time.” The flight attendant hands us drinks and food, and we stand in the galley and have a quick meal that most definitely isn’t the best, but adequate fuel to get us through the rest of the flight. Audrey was already munching on snacks she brought in her bag. I love that she’s gorges on junk food when she travels. I find it adorable.

With the curtain shut, and the flight attendants busy, I back Audrey into the corner, making sure no eyes are on us. Her gaze burns back at me as she wraps her hands around my neck.

“You’d better behave. Someone could burst in on us at any moment,” she warns.

“Then they’ll get a show.” Our lips meet, soft and exploratory for a brief moment, but soon the burn that always ignites between us grows more urgent as I pull her tightly against me and we unravel together at 38,000 feet in the air.

I want to tug her clothes away, lift her against the wall, and plunge deep inside her, but I’d never put her at risk like that. Instead, I rip my mouth from hers, trail my lips down the side of her neck, and run my tongue over her pounding pulse. She sighs against my shoulder as she bites her lip in that delicious way that drives me crazy when she’s trying not to scream in pleasure.

When I’m with this woman our bodies move in a perfect rhythm, unlike anything I’ve ever known before. It’s intense, intimate, and always amplified in mystical ways. My favorite time with her is the intimate moments after we’ve both felt pleasure, those moments where we lie pressed together, our hearts beating as one, when I feel like nothing in the world can ever come between us. This woman makes me want things I’ve never known I wanted.

Too soon, I have to let her go, and we head back into the cockpit. My co-pilot heads out for a little bit to stretch his legs and grab a bite to eat. We spend our time in the air talking, singing, and entertaining each other to stay awake on the nine-hour red-eye flight. We get up twice more to stretch, and then finally we’re making our descent into London Heathrow.

The wheels touch down and jolt Audrey from a restless doze. Her eyes immediately widen as she looks out at the afternoon sun streaming into the airplane. I taxi to the gate then let out a relieved sigh as I shut the plane down.

“Great flying, Captain,” my co-pilot says. We do all we need to do to get off this bird and walk for a bit. I’m tired. When I travel long distances, I don’t like to mess with my schedule too much, but I could use a nap.

We step off the plane, Audrey’s hand in mine as we drag our luggage with the other. “Welcome to the land of tea, royals, and constant drizzle,” I tell her.

We’re half zombies by the time we get to our hotel in Mayfair. Our room’s luxurious, but we’re both so tired, all we can do is fall into bed, where we’re asleep within minutes.

A few hours later, I wake up and order coffee and pastries. Audrey reluctantly sits up in bed and smiles. “Is it already time to wake up?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.

“If we don’t, we’ll sleep all day and mess up our routine.”

“You’re right.” She yawns and heads into the bathroom. I hear the shower turn on and groan. Food and coffee are on the way, or I’d join her. The shower shuts off as a knock sounds on the door. I bring the food in, then turn as the bathroom door opens and she comes out looking pink-cheeked and refreshed, a smile on her lips.

“Sugar,” she says with joy as she moves to the table and picks up a cheese Danish before doctoring her coffee. “Delicious.”

I take a lonely shower and get dressed. We leave the room thirty minutes later, fueled by coffee and way too much sugar, but I want to explore this busy city with the woman I’m obsessed with.

“I want to experience London like every other tourist,” she tells me.

“How else would we?”

“I want the double-decker bus,” she says. I groan.

“We can do a private tour.” She shakes her head, and I give in. Soon, we’re crammed into the rear of a red double-decker, but laughing as we try to outdo each other with horrible British accents. Many people around us are amused... some are not.

We laugh as we take selfies at the Tower Bridge and she drags me through Notting Hill, looking for Hugh Grant. I pose as if I’m in a rom-com, making Audrey jump up and down and clap while several tourists giggle, quickly seeing exactly what I’m doing. It’s more fun than I’d ever expect, being this dorky.

By the time we arrive at Kensington Palace for our final stop of the day, my face is a bit sore from smiling so much. No other woman has made me want to be this man. I’m changing, but not in a bad way. Audrey brings me to life, making me want to be more than I ever thought I could.

We’re touring the grounds when a voice calls out Audrey’s name. Who in the world could be here who knows Audrey? We both turn to see a smiling woman with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

I notice Audrey’s spine straighten as she looks at me with panic. What is happening? I’m not sure who I’m supposed to fight right now. I look for danger, but don’t see any.

A woman with perfectly coiled auburn hair, cheekbones sharp enough to slice through protocol, and the kind of trench coat that screamsdesigner royalty, stands with her arms crossed. Her smile is off.

“Lady Catherine,” Audrey says, her lips tight. I see her give a slight shake of her head as if trying to warn this woman of something. I’m utterly confused.

“We thought that was you,” she says, stepping forward, and to my utter shock, pulling Audrey into a hug. “Did you honestly think you could sneak in here, act like a tourist, then sneak out?” She pauses as Audrey nods. “We have cameras everywhere.”

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