Page 46 of The Duke's Virgin
“No. You’ve done more than enough.” A smile ghosted around his lips. “You listened. I feel like I can breathe again. Thank you.”
My cheeks heated as he watched me, and self-consciousness washed through me. I tried to pretend that was all it was, but I knew better. Just sitting so close to him made me uncomfortable, and I couldn’t pretend otherwise.
“Listening isn’t so hard.” I grabbed my ginger ale, half watered down by now, and took a sip to wet my parched throat. “Not really.”
“You wouldn’t think so,” he said, voice light, almost playful.
Maybe that was why it took me off guard when he took my hand a moment later and lifted it to his lips. “But not that many people really know how to listen these days, Stacia. At least, that’s beenmyexperience in life.”
Heat fluttered in my belly at the feel of his mouth on my skin again.
I’d told myself that, after last night, it wouldn’t happen again. Even though this touch was chaste in comparison, I couldn’t quell the rush of heat between my thighs. Or the abrupt uptick in the beat of my heart.
* * *
We werea few hours from New York City when we hit bad weather.
I’d finally drifted off to sleep, but a rough bit of turbulence jolted me awake, and without thinking, I clamped my hand on the hard, muscled forearm so close to mine.
Luka covered my hand with his. “It’s just a storm,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “Nothing to worry about.”
“I bet those words have been said before almost every major airline disaster,” I said, trying to inject humor into the words and failing miserably.
He worked my fingers free of their death grip, then slid my hand down until he could press his palm to mine. “You probably have a point. I’ve got a brilliant idea. Let’s go to the toilet and join the mile-high club before we die.”
I gaped at him before breaking out into laughter. The airline attendant strode by just as I smacked his arm, and he went rigid, staring at me in horror. Luka sensed the reaction and looked over, waving the man on before shifting his attention back to me. “Be careful,” he said soberly. “You’ll have that man alerting the marshal on this flight, and you’ll be handcuffed for the duration of the flight for assaulting my delicate personage.”
“Ha.” Cheeks flushing, I went to cross my arms over my chest, but he caught my hand, bringing it once more to his lips.
“You’re laughing now. That’s better than being afraid, Stacia.”
“We’re in a giant tin can flying hundreds of feet over the ocean while thunder rattles the plane.” I rolled my eyes, trying to seem as unaffected. “It’s perfectlynaturalto be afraid. Just like it wasnaturalto be afraid while trapped in an elevator.”
“Oh.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “You wound me.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think your egocanbe wounded.”
“Not true.” He squeezed my fingers and lowered our joined hands to the armrest. “Let’s talk. I’ll distract you as you distracted me. It’s the least I can do. Is family meeting you at the airport in New York City?”
I grimaced, his words reminding me I hadn’t checked my mother’s messages in…days. “I doubt it. They have standing plans and coming to meet me would be aninconvenience,” I said, the words slipping out without me really thinking about just how much they gave away.
“Oh?” The polite inquiry hid a great deal.
I darted a look at him even as I grabbed my phone. Face heating, I said, “Ignore me. The storm’s making me irritable. I told them not to worry about it, we could set up a lunch date soon.” My face was hot as I clicked on the message bubble, the bright red notifications showing me what an ungrateful child I’d been, ignoring her texts.
Seven messages—three in the past twenty-four hours.
What time will you be in…dinner…blah, blah, blah…
Please respond, Stacia…plans…blah, blah, blah…
The last one had me straightening in the seat.
Let me know if you made your connection to New York. Tilly just reminded me that you’re arriving today and informed me that there’s a strike going on at JFK…
I shot her back a quick message to let her know I’d made my connection and that I’d call her once I’d had time to rest. Dread churning inside, I looked over at Luka.
I didn’t know if I should tell him now or not.
