“You better get that out of your system before we get on the road. You always get the horn blown at us because you stare so much. It’s sickening,” she laughed, turning in her seat and putting an imaginary mic in his face.
“Tell me, Mr. Pracher, what’s the reason for your ridiculous lustful staring problem?” She grinned and pushed her fake mic closer.
“Because I can.” His hand found hers on the center console, laced their fingers together. “Because you’re beautiful. Because you’re mine, and I still can’t believe you let me this close. My head finna be between yo legs all weekend.”
Her throat went tight. He said things like that so easily, like they didn’t completely make her nerves go haywire. “Ro...”
“I know.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m doing too much. But I’ve been waiting to get you to myself, and now I finally got you, and I don’t know how to act.” He pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward the highway. “Get comfortable, baby. We got a little drive.”
The drive to the airport was comfortable, her hand in his while music played. She didn’t ask where they were going; she watched the city pass by, feeling lighter than she had in years. Someone else had the plan. Someone else had control. All she had to do was show up.
At check-in, she noticed him watching her, waiting for questions that didn’t come.
“What?” she asked.
“You really not gonna interrogate me?”
“You told me to trust you.” She shrugged. “Plus, I like surprises when they come from you. You must want to tell me.”
He kissed her temple, leading her to the first-class lounge. Truthfully, he was excited. He’d never done anything like this for a woman, so he hoped he was going about this the right way. And he prayed that this was something she would remember for years to come.
“You’re different today,” he observed.
“I’m trying something new. Letting go. I’m happy.”
“I like it.”
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her emails one last time. Not because she was worried, but because it was a habit. When he returned with two waters and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries, she put the phone away without him having to ask.
“Here, baby,” he said, handing her a water.
“Thank you.” She accepted and took a sip.
He settled beside her, close enough that their thighs touched. She kicked off her heels and curled into his side until their flight was called.
She believed him. She believed that whatever he’d planned would be exactly what she needed, even if she didn’t know she needed it yet.
They sat there for the next thirty minutes, whispering sweet nothings. This was what she loved about him, the way he created space for them, made everything else fade into background noise.
When they called their flight, she stood without hesitation, followed him to the gate, and boarded the plane beside him. First class, window seats, extra legroom. Of course.
“You’re spoiling me,” she said as he helped her with her bag.
“That’s the goal.” He settled into the seat beside her, buckled in. “Get comfortable, baby.”
She smiled, leaned her head back against his shoulder. “I really do love surprises when they come from you.”
“Good. ‘Cause I got a lot more planned for this weekend.”
She closed her eyes, and the hum of the plane relaxed her. His heartbeat was steady under her ear, his fingers stretched on her shoulder.
When she woke up, they were descending.
“We’re here?” she asked, voice groggy.
“Almost.” He smiled down at her. “You slept the whole flight.”
“I did?” She sat up, rubbed her eyes and belly. “Damn. I didn’t mean to.”
