Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
My shoulders sink with relief. “That’s really nice of him. I was thinking we might be in coach and not even sitting next to each other, with the last-minute flight change.”
He grins. “Hunter’s your friend now, too. He also hates Macintire, and he said to tell you, ‘great fucking speech.’”
I smile weakly. “I’m probably uninvited from every family function for the rest of my life, so I’m not looking for compliments on it.”
“Your dad’s got your back, and he’s your family. And I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t think you’re missing much with your mom and sister.”
I sigh heavily. “Yeah. I kind of want to start my job search in other countries, so I can get a fresh start somewhere new.”
He pinches his brows together, concerned. “Other countries?”
I cringe, realizing my mistake. “I didn’t mean ... we need to talk about it. I don’t know that there will be a job opening for me in the Cleveland area.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to move to another fucking country.”
We’re waiting on the tarmac, and a woman walks down the plane’s stairs. Lucien walks toward her and I follow, regretting the way I told him I might need to move away.
“Mr. Beaumont?”
The flight attendant looks like a model, her body tight and toned and her smile flawless.
“Lucien.” He shakes her hand.
“And you must be Miss Turner.” She extends her hand to me and I shake it.
“Talia,” I say.
“I’m Kate, and I’ll be taking care of you on today’s flight. Are you ready to board?”
“Yeah, we’re all set,” Lucien says.
We follow her up the plane’s stairs, and then we set foot into a more luxurious plane interior than I’ve ever imagined. There are big leather seats, a few with views of TV screens, and a separate bedroom with a queen-size bed layered with a crisp white comforter, soft blankets and velvet pillows in a deep navy blue.
Our conversation is forgotten as we settle in, Kate bringing us water and snacks. I turn the power off on my phone and tuck it into my bag, promising I’ll spend less time on it for the next few weeks.
I’m embarrassed by my behavior yesterday, but I’m not going to keep watching the video and reading the comments. I need to move on. Put it behind me. Focus on the rest of my life.
Which I hope includes Lucien. I have to find a job, and I don’t know how I can work in my field and also see him regularly, considering his travel schedule.
There are so many unanswered questions. It’s overwhelming to think about them while my head is throbbing and I feel like walking death.
For now, I just want to get back to Cleveland. Our trip here was a lot more eventful than I expected.
Chapter Eighteen
Lucien
* * *
Talia grazes her fingertips up and down my chest, going a little bit lower each time. It feels so amazing that I pretend I’m still asleep, waiting for her to reach my cock.
Her breath is warm on the shell of my ear. When she finally gets her hand where I want it, I can’t help groaning.
We’ve been lying low at Isaac’s for the past couple of days, and this afternoon, we have to return to reality.
Coach gave us the morning off, but we’re practicing this afternoon and we have a home game tomorrow. I only have a few more hours of being mostly alone with Talia all day, every day.
Isaac’s been here, of course, since it’s his house. But we have a bedroom to ourselves, even if it’s nothing more than a queen-size bed. That’s all we really need, anyway. Our stuff is piled up on the floor.
“I want you,” Talia whispers in my ear.
My lips quirk with a smile. “I couldn’t tell.”
She nips at my earlobe. “I’ll take care of myself if I need to.”
I turn to face her. “The fuck you will.”
She smiles, her hair messy and her skin natural, without a bit of makeup. This is how I like her best. Only I get to see her this way, and I plan to keep it that way.
I slide my hand beneath the T-shirt she sleeps in, which is one of mine that I packed for our trip. Isaac offered to loan her some of his clothes, and I just laughed. Over my dead body will she wear another man’s clothes. I’ll go naked so she can wear mine if I have to.
Suki dropped off some clothes for both of us, but Talia slipped into my shirt before bed our first night here, and I don’t want her to sleep in anything else now.
When I cup one of her breasts and tease her nipple, she moans softly.
She must finally be feeling better. That hangover really took her down. Yesterday, she spent a lot of time curled up on Isaac’s couch, reading a book on her phone. She ate a can of chicken noodle soup, but that was it.