86
When I see her approach wearing the dress I’d bought her, the royal green chiffon that highlights her beautiful hair and brings out the colour of her eyes, it reminds me of the very first time I saw her, and my breath catches in my throat.
“You look beautiful, Angie,” I murmur as I open the helicopter door for her.
I expect her to step straight in, as she has every night I’ve come for her, but tonight as she reaches me she steps close, her face inches from mine and, without speaking, reaches one hand around to the back of my neck.
“Kiss me,” she whispers, staring up into my eyes.
87
His lips part and his breath catches as I stare up at him, waiting for him to take control as he always has in our lovemaking and kiss me as I’ve asked, but he makes no move, at first, to do so.
I’d walked down the hill to the helicopter with Yin’s words in mind: ‘Stop being a challenge’ and the new determination to have sex with him and show I’m no challenge. Quite the opposite, I’m easy, just a normal woman. He’d be better off with a suite of mistresses; I’m nothing special. But I’m beginning to think he’s already worked that out, because it doesn’t seem like he’s going to take me up on my offer. I shake my head and moveto step back just as he slides his arms around my waist, gently pulling me up against his hard body.
Relieved, and swallowing hard at his intent gaze, I try to ignore the thrill running through me from head to toe at our proximity, reminding myself that I need to perform the function like a prostitute; mind blank, body subjugated to a higher need. For a whore it’s money; for me, it’s freedom. But it’s fairly obvious as he runs one hand up my bare back and into my hair, that I’ve severely underestimated my body’s reaction to his. Tilting my head back even further, he leans in and gently presses his warm lips to my neck, just below my ear, sending a shiver of pleasure through my body.
I’m disappointed, and annoyed, when he pulls away.
“I’m pleased to see you too,” he murmurs, stepping back and clearing his throat.
“Falcon,” I whisper, trying to think what to say to cover my embarrassment and awkwardness.
“I have a special date planned for you tonight,” he smiles, taking my elbow and hoisting me up into the chopper before I can attempt any further assault upon his body.
“Thailand?” I frown as I start to smooth my dress down over my knees, changing my mind at the last moment and showing a great deal of leg. If I’m right, and we’ve been through all the places we went on The Games, this is the last destination for our dates.
“No,” he says quietly, his eyes drifting to my thighs before once again meeting my eyes. “Something better.”
“Falcon,” I shake my head, “I don’t really feel like going anywhere special tonight.”
“Oh? You’d just like to fly around in circles kissing me?”
“Something like that,” I blush.
“Later,” he winks, leaning over to snap on my seatbelt.
Sighing, I lean back into my seat and look out the window. This seduction thing is more difficult than I’d anticipated.
88
Her pleasure and surprise are genuine as we land near her parents’ house.
The flight over had been virtually silent, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. I was thinking over her kissing me and what this sudden change in her attitude towards me could mean. Something doesn’t sit right, but I can’t put my finger on it.
I’m not sure what she was thinking, but occasionally she flashed me quick looks, and blushed before looking away.
“No!” She gasps now as she recognises where we are.
“It’s safe,” I assure her quickly, “and it’s Sunday.”
“Sunday? Everyone’s here?”
I nod. When we were on The Games she’d told me this was her favourite day with her family. The Sunday roast was a time for all her brothers to come over, with all her nephews. She’d described their meal as being fed by love. I’ve never known that feeling, and she sure as hell hadn’t experienced it since meeting me, but I hope to give it to her once more, tonight. I also hope to win the approval of her family and seek her parents’ forgiveness for how I’ve treated her in the past.
If all goes well, she’ll agree to be mine again by the end of the evening.
Her tears start immediately, as I suspected they would, and I reach over and pull her onto my lap, surprised when she doesn’t resist, but instead wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face in my collar. I tighten my arms around her waist as her scent hits me. If she only knew how long I’ve waited for her to voluntarily be in my arms. If she only knew how much I’ve wanted to comfort her like this for a million wrongs.