In Flight (Up in the Air #1)(72)

I thought of how he was going out that night without me. I briefly considered meeting up with them after that. I knew, from other nights we’d gone out with these pilots, that they would have no problem staying out late and then getting up early.

“Maybe I’ll swing by the bar later,” I conceded. “I’ll have to play it by ear.”

Murphy whooped as though he’d won a victory. I met Damien’s eyes, and he was smiling warmly. I felt a little uncomfortable, and couldn’t place why. We’d gone out with these pilots many times and there was usually never an uncomfortable moment.

Am I just worried about what James would think? The thought troubled me.

We reached the hotel and got our room keys in short order. Everyone was lingering in the lobby, chatting with the hotel staff. Murphy was convincing them to join up at the bar after work. It sounded like he was succeeding. Murphy was nearly as charming as Stephan, in his own silly way.

“Ms. Karlsson.” A quiet voice spoke behind me.

I turned in surprise. It wasn’t the usual way I was addressed. I was a little surprised to see Clark standing there, both in New York and in our hotel. I hadn’t realized that he traveled with James outside of Las Vegas..

“Hi, Clark. How are you?” I asked, smiling.

“Great, Ms. Karlsson. The car is out front. Please, allow me to take your bag.” He did so without waiting for an answer.

Stephan kissed me on the forehead. “Have fun, Buttercup. Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded absently, seeing the strange looks on the rest of our crew’s faces as I made a somewhat hasty departure. I gave them all a quick wave as I departed.

James could have told me that he meant right away. He probably hadn’t told me for a reason, thinking I would argue with him. He may have been onto something.

Clark had already loaded my luggage and had the door open for me when I caught up to him. He was very fast. I smiled at him as I ducked into the low town car.

Strong arms startled a yelp out of me as I was plucked immediately into the now familiar lap of James. He hugged me tight, burying his face in my neck, nuzzling.

“You love that spot, huh?” I asked him, referring to the neck he was kissing.

“Oh, yes,” he murmured against me. “I love all of your spots.”

I rolled my eyes. “We both need a nap,” I told him, wondering at his plans.

“We can nap after. I’m dying to show you some things. All of my self-control has deserted me. And to think, I used to be a man who believed in delayed gratification.”

I raised my brows at him. “Seriously?”

He laughed richly, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound.

“Yes, believe it or not. I can’t seem to help breaking all of my rules with you, Bianca.”

James’s apartment was a scant five minute drive from my hotel, but there was a world of difference in those blocks. We were passing swank high-rise buildings when James addressed Clark. “Go through the garage, please. I don’t wish to use the front entrance today.”

It made me stiffen a little. He was hiding me away. In spite of myself, I felt hurt. He was embarrassed to be seen with me, and I was getting too involved with him emotionally to just shrug it off for long.

He must go on some dates, I thought. He was just choosing not to do so with me. A flight attendant was hardly in his league. I just tried to add my hurt to the list of reasons why this was going to be a short, if intense, affair.

Clark drove us into an underground parking garage that looked typical of New York. James pulled me quickly from the car when Clark stopped in front of an elevator, not even waiting for Clark to open the door.

“I’ll see you out front at 9:45,” James told Clark briskly, pushing the elevator button impatiently.

Clark slipped back into the car and drove away without a word.

The elevator door opened and James pulled me inside the expensive looking cab, using a key to push the penthouse button.

Of course it was a penthouse, I thought.

“I have something for you,” James said. “I’m not sure you’re going to like it at first, but I want you to give it a chance.”

That sounded ominous, and I just blinked at him.

He grinned at me. “I know you’re new to the whole BDSM thing. New to all of it. And I’m not sure how fair it is that I’ve shown you things rather than explaining them to you, but I’m not sorry for any of it. Perhaps I owe you more of an explanation for some of it, and I will get to that. But I had something made for you. It has significance for me, and I want you to wear it.”

I just pursed my lips and looked at him. “Is it some kind of a piercing?” I asked him.

He laughed, pulling me against him. He fondled me. I tried to elbow him away.

“That’s not an answer,” I told him.

“No, it’s not a piercing, though I’m not done trying to talk you into that, either.” As he spoke, he kneaded my br**sts.

“Well, I won’t agree to anything if you don’t tell me what I’m agreeing to.”

“I want you to be mine, Bianca. Will you be my submissive?” he whispered in my ear.

My heart stopped. I wasn’t exactly shocked by the submissive thing, but the formal way he asked it sounded almost like a romantic proposal on his lips.

“I don’t entirely understand what that means, James.”