Page 15 of Half Notes and Highlights
“I do!”
“Then get that sweet ass in here.” Ethan opened the car door, grabbed hold of Tyler’s wrist, and pulled him inside.
Tyler fell into Ethan’s lap, laughing, wrapped his arms around the rock star’s neck, and gave him a deep kiss with all the passion in his heart—and then some more for added effect.
Ethan smiled under the kiss and let out a small moan. “I missed you too, but let me shut the door.”
“Are we giving my neighbors a show?”
“Not yet.” Ethan slammed the door, pushed Tyler flat onto the back seat and hovered over him while nuzzling his neck.
Tyler wiggled out from underneath the feisty rock star. “Patience. I’m not in the habit of fooling around in the backseat of a car.” He smiled flirtatiously. “Not lately, anyway.”
“Spoilsport.”
Tyler straightened his shirt and fixed his hair. The car was already in motion, obviously on the way to a pre-determined destination, so he asked, “Where are we going on our first official date?”
“You’ll see.”
The mystery date held an air of intrigue. Tyler had never been taken on a surprise date before. “How exciting. Should I wear a blindfold?”
“Only if you’re into that sort of thing.”
Tyler grunted and smiled out the window, but didn’t elaborate.
The SUV turned off an exit and Tyler leaned closer to the window. “Van Nuys Airport?” He spun around to face Ethan. “Where are you taking me? I have to work tomorrow.”
“We’ll be back by then.”
He had no idea if Ethan was joking or not, but he didn’t care. The adrenaline spike brought out his adventurous side, and he couldn’t wait to find out the details of their date. But when they left the car and were escorted to the runway full of tiny private planes, he looked at Ethan quizzically. “What is this?”
“I’m taking you on a plane ride. I have my pilot’s license. Don’t worry. I have a lot of experience. I wouldn’t put you in danger.”
“That’s the plane you want me to fly in?” Tyler stopped dead in his tracks, despite Ethan’s reassurances, and eyed the small jet. It wasn’t much bigger than a bus. He looked around the private runway. “Where’s the co-pilot?”
“You’re the co-pilot,” Ethan teased.
“Don’t count on me. I’m grabbing my parachute and jumping at the first sign of trouble.”
Tyler followed Ethan into the plane with a mixture of excitement and nerves. He settled in the co-pilot’s seat, but before he had a chance to click his seatbelt closed, Ethan’s arm reached across his body and secured it. The slight brush of fingers against Tyler’s side made his pulse quicken. Ethan paused and smiled at him, only inches from his face, then leaned into a pocket near the seat and handed Tyler a folded piece of paper.
“In case you want to see this.”
A strong laugh bellowed from Tyler’s lungs as he read the pilot’s license. “Thank you. I feel totally at ease now.” If only it were true. Tyler’s heart was beating furiously with anticipation, but he couldn’t decide if it was nerves about the flight or because Ethan’s body was so close to his.
Ethan handed Tyler a headset, and then the engine started with a loud thunder. Tyler held his breath, and his stomach flip-flopped as the plane rose at a steady pace, and minutes later they were high in the sky. He tried to act like his heart wasn’t about to jump out of his chest and attempted to loosen his grip on his knees, but all he could do was smile.
Ethan periodically glanced at the dash. There were more switches and gauges than anyone could possibly keep track of. He pulled back on the control wheel, and the plane sailed a little higher.
“OK, hot shot,” Tyler teased. “I think that’s high enough.” The blood was rushing through his chest so loudly it pounded in his ears, but it was more from excitement than fear at this point.
Ethan placed a firm hand on Tyler’s thigh. “Relax. Enjoy the ride.”
Tyler’s eyes dropped to Ethan’s hand, still resting on his thigh. It was high enough to be more than a reassuring gesture, and it sent a tingle up Tyler’s leg. Ethan gave Tyler’s thigh a quick squeeze, and then returned his hand back to the controls. They could have been flying upside down, plummeting to their death, and Tyler wouldn’t have cared. He wanted that hand back on his thigh, between his legs and anywhere else Ethan’s fingers wanted to explore.
Ethan slowly turned to face Tyler with an intimate smile on his lips and his dark eyes covered in a warm haze. He touched a switch on the dash. “Autopilot.” He leaned over and pushed his fingers through Tyler’s long hair and gently massaged the knot of muscles on the back of Tyler’s neck that were tense with nerves.
They gazed at one another, their eyes occasionally dropping to the other’s lips. The plane was soaring on its own, and Tyler’s heart was sailing right next to it.
