Page 63 of Air Affair

“Fuck,” he growled.

The sensation made her eyes roll back in her head. She rode him hard, swiveling her hips and meeting his upward thrusts. God, she wanted this. She wanted him. More, screamed everything inside her. Take all of him. Take everything. Fly through the air with him and never come down.

Her fingernails dug into his back as tremor after tremor took her. “Yes, come for me, princess, right here in the cockpit in the open air where anyone might see if they only knew to look. Show the world you’re mine.”

“Oh, Hank. Oh, Hank…” A spasm took her, squeezing, pulsing as he continued to thrust into her. The edges of her vision grew dark, and bliss overtook her. He was losing control, and she welcomed it. He thrust hard, and she felt the hot pulsation as he spent inside of her. Fortunately, she was wearing protection because what was happening right now between them was everything.

They collapsed against each other, panting. “I’m sorry I lost control,” Hank whispered in her ear. “I shouldn’t have come inside you.”

“I wanted you to lose control. I know there are risks, but I took precautions. It was worth it. You’re worth it.”

He looked at her with searching eyes. “Does that mean you’ve changed your mind?”

Oh dear. He means… For a moment, panic gripped her. Marriage was a trap, even with him, and she wasn’t ready to surrender her newfound freedom.

“Let’s go have our picnic,” she said brightly, hoping to distract him. Standing up, she started to reassemble her clothing as she watched Hank button up. Such a shame to put away all that decadent muscle, but she needed his attention diverted.

As soon as she was dressed, she slid down the side of the plane to the ground. He handed her the picnic basket and jumped down himself, then took it back from her.

Spreading out a blanket on the sand, he unpacked champagne, strawberries, Italian sandwiches cut into bite-sized pieces, and two delicious-looking chocolate cupcakes. All of it looked tasty and tempting.

He poured the champagne into two sturdy, metal and enamel cups. “I hope you don’t mind. I thought glasses would be impractical out here.”

“Not at all,” she said, raising her glass and catching his eye.

He clinked his cup against hers, holding her gaze, and took a sip. She did the same, her eyes dipping to his lips as she drank.

Hank served her a plate of sandwiches and strawberries and handed it to her. “I’m sorry about last week,” he began. “I should never have proposed when and where I did. You deserve better.”

She listened but said nothing. If he thought her only objection was the circumstances of the proposal, he didn’t understand her at all.

“I know this has been a difficult time for you, and your life has turned upside down. I understand why you want time.”

That’s a relief.

“For my part, I meant what I said. I can’t take it back because it’s true. But I’m happy to wait for you, Rory. I’ll wait as long as it takes. And I won’t stop trying until I get a yes.”

Her stomach clenched. He was still going to press. Why didn’t he understand? He’d had arrangements with women in the past. Why did this need to be different?

“You once told me you preferred no strings attached. Why can’t we enjoy each other’s company without making commitments?”

“That was before I met you. In case I haven’t made it clear, I want you in my life. I want to commit to you. You are the woman I want to wake up with every day for the rest of my life. I know this would mean sacrifice on your part. I’ll never be able to give you Belmont wealth, but I can give you a comfortable life, even a few luxuries.”

“Hank, that’s not⁠—”

“Wait,” he said. “Hear me out. I’m quitting the postal service. I resigned my commission earlier this week. Glenn Curtiss offered me a job overseeing a portion of his manufacturing operation. I’m going to make Jennies, Rory. And new aircraft too. I’m going to be at the forefront of aeronautical design. He’s offered me six thousand a year, which is enough to live like a king in Mineola. I can give you a good life. I swear I can.”

Oh, her poor pilot. So determined to solve all the wrong problems. “I never doubted that we would have a good life together. I hope you aren’t giving up flying for my sake. I could never forgive myself if I took you away from what you love.”

Hank shook his head. “It’s time. I need a job that isn’t trying to kill me. And I’m excited about getting to work on these machines I know so well, thinking about how to make them better, faster, more powerful.”

“I’m glad,” she said, “because nothing you do is going to change my mind. My hesitation has nothing to do with you. I care for you, but I need time to learn who I am aside from August Belmont’s wayward daughter. I need the freedom to live my life in the way I choose. I can’t tie myself down right now. I need to prove to myself I can stand on my own two feet.”

“What if there are consequences from today? Even with precautions, there’s a chance,” he asked quietly.

“If there are, we’ll discuss what to do, but for now, I need my freedom.”

He nodded slowly, not meeting her eyes. “I’ll wait. When you’re ready, I’ll be here.”