Page 33 of Air Affair

“Oh fuck,” he exclaimed, running his fingers through her hair. By God, he was delicious. Teasing and tantalizing, she took him deeper and deeper, enjoying each moan and jerk she elicited. Unlike Edward, he didn’t grab her head and thrust into her throat. He let her take him at her own pace. It was a pleasure to test his control. Every time his hips bucked, a little thrill went through her.

“Please, Rory. I need⁠—”

She sucked him deep, relaxing her throat to take him in all the way, and he cried out, “Oh, fuck! Yes!”

Her pilot was completely at her mercy, right where she wanted him. Cupping his balls in her hand, she licked and sucked him into a frenzy. He was clearly on the cusp. It was only moments before he cried out, and she felt a hot spurt of salty liquid dripping down her throat.

He collapsed back on the blanket and lay there catching his breath for a long moment. “I’m sorry for losing control. I shouldn’t have come in your mouth, but I couldn’t help it.”

“No need to apologize. You were delicious. Better than champagne.” And she meant it. He intoxicated her, and his seed was his quintessence.

He opened his arms, inviting her to join him. Snuggling against him, she rested her head against his heart, listening to its steady beat.

“You’re very good at that,” he said, kissing the top of her head and hugging her close. “That was… I have no words.”

“Well, I have had practice,” she said quietly and then immediately regretted it. Why would she bring up Archie at a time like this?

Hank’s muscles tensed.

“That bastard who ran out on you? I knew he didn’t deserve you, but now I’m questioning his sanity. How could he walk away when you…? Jesus Christ.”

She chuckled grimly. What could she possibly say? It was charming how loyal her pilot was. It was such a shame that this evening was all they could ever have together. But she intended to enjoy every minute of his attention and affection for as long as it lasted.

“You’ve got some luck with men, you know that?” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, filling her with warm languor. “I don’t know which is worse—Archie or Edward.”

“Let’s not talk about them. We were having such a nice time.”

“All right, but just promise me you won’t marry that skunk Edward,” Hank murmured into her hair. “I know you can’t be with me, but please don’t spend your life with him.”

“I won’t. Papa is demanding I reconsider, but I won’t relent. Edward Windham and I are finished.” She would rather be disinherited than go back to him.

“Good,” he said giving her a squeeze. “You deserve so much more.”

A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed it down. It wouldn’t do to get maudlin or sentimental about Hank. She had to guard her feelings before she got her heart broken. After all, he was just a man, and men, in her experience, had very short attention spans.

Pulling away from his embrace, she sat up and poured herself some more champagne.

He joined her, buttoning the bottom of his union suit and fastening his pants before he got himself a drink.

He took a long sip of champagne. “Why did you agree to marry Edward in the first place?” The question startled her. It must have shown on her face. “I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t talk about him anymore, and it’s none of my business.”

She sighed. It wasn’t surprising that he was curious, and he deserved an answer after all he’d done for her. “At first, I thought Edward was my knight in shining armor, rescuing me from my damaged reputation, and offering to let me take flying lessons after we wed. Obviously, I was mistaken. It didn’t take me long to realize how much more he cared about my father’s money than about me, and as time went on, he took less and less trouble to hide his affairs from me. I misjudged him, but at least I’ve gotten rid of him before it was too late.”

Hank nodded and stayed silent. She took a sip.

“How is it that a man like you is still single? Surely, the ladies must have been knocking down your door.”

He chuckled and took a drink. “I’ve always been a bit reckless. If I ever commit myself to a woman, I want to give her my whole self. I don’t want to drive her crazy with worry by continuing to fly. But I have yet to meet a woman I like better than danger, so I stick to women who want a little companionship with no strings attached.”

“What if you met a woman who likes danger?”

“You mean like you?”

She smiled. Yes, exactly like me.

“I’ve never met anyone like you. And, as we’ve discussed, you are out of the question.”

Alas, she was. She might be able to escape Edward Windham, but her father would never agree to let her marry a pilot. Not that she was looking to marry Hank. She hardly knew anything about him. What she truly wanted was the freedom to be his “companion with no strings attached” until she was ready to move on. It sounded like an ideal arrangement. Very modern. It was the most she could hope for within the constraints of her life—a furtive affair that gave her a taste of what it might have been like if she was truly free to fly from the cage of society’s expectations.