Chapter Six

 

“Vadmir,” I said, gulping in a breath. He used up all the space in the confined area, and it seemed all of the oxygen, too. “Please, I’m at work.”

The evening light, seeping through the window, cast his face in shadow and beneath the rim of his hat his eyes had darkened to the color of the deepest part of the ocean.

“Yeah,” he said, “I can see that and I like it.” He reached out and touched the outer side of his index finger to my cheek, stroked from my ear to my chin and back again. “I like it a lot.”

His gentle caress sent a whole load of white-hot sensations bursting through my system. I gripped the preparation surface to my right for stability. My knees were shaky.

“Sweet little sexy uniform,” he murmured, darting out his tongue and licking his lips. “It’s got me having all kinds of dirty thoughts about you while I’ve been sitting there, watching you, wondering…remembering.”

“You shouldn’t be thinking that way,” I said as an insistent ache settled in my pelvis. He’d been having dirty thoughts about me. Remembering our time together. Well, yes, this was a sex-god hockey player I was dealing with, he was hardly reciting poetry in his head. “And you shouldn’t be watching me, either,” I managed.

“What else is there for me to do?” he whispered, “But think about what’s beneath that damn tight skirt of yours and how willing you were to share it with me last night. Damn, we had fun, didn’t we.”

My heart stuttered. I couldn’t deny the fun part, but then he hadn’t said it as a question. He knew full well I’d had fun. “There’s plenty to do onboard…watch a movie, read, listen to music. I don’t know, think of something.” I glanced around him at the cockpit door. It was thankfully still shut. “What happened last night between us is over. It was just sex, nothing more. I thought you understood that.”

He moved his hand from my face to my waist and tugged me close, until my breasts pushed up against his chest and my legs touched his.

I clenched my fist against his shoulder in an attempt to keep him at a semi-safe distance but it was no good, his grip was firm, and beneath the material of his top he was as solid as I remembered. His possessive hold was also as pussy-dampening as my memories served me.

“Just sex,” he whispered hotly against my cheek. “Yeah, it was just sex, but fuck me it was intense. You can’t deny that, Sammy.” He slipped his hand to the top curve of my butt and squeezed me closer still. “Intense for me and you.”

A long hard wedge of flesh that I’d become acquainted with the night before lodged against my stomach.

“I’m not denying it,” I gasped. “It was intense, yes, but it was just one night.”

He touched his lips to my ear. His breaths were loud and warm and trickled over my scalp and down my neck. “One perfect night of ecstasy.”

I shut my eyes and recalled the sound of him coming, of us coming together. For a moment I was back there, in the hotel room. We were hot, naked and writhing on the bed, as he’d just said, in ecstasy. I could still feel his thickly muscled arms and legs wrapped around me as his athletically-honed body drove us both to exquisite release. Fuck, his arms were around me now.

“Russian boy,” I whispered, releasing my grip on the counter and clinging to his biceps.

“Sammy…”

I tipped back my head and breathed in his scent. I brushed my lips against his jawline, the stubble there was abrasive and sensual, and I allowed my weight to press against him.

He was right. It had been perfect. We’d been so in tune, so well matched in the bedroom. Almost like we’d rehearsed everything even though we’d never met before.

He let out a small moan as his cock ground against me through our clothes.

Lust was pouring through my veins now. I could make out the girth and density of him. My chest was tight and my pussy trembling. I was sure there’d be a small damp patch on my knickers. Damn, as if I hadn’t got enough last night and here I was hungry for more.

A sudden sharp click rattled around the galley.

The cockpit door.

I opened my eyes and shoved at him. “Move!”

He’d already released me and taken a step back. With his arms at his sides and his cap pulled low he kept his gaze firmly on my face, apparently unconcerned by the telltale bulge in his jeans.

First Officer Jones stepped out, pressing his hat on.

“Oh, hello,” he said, stopping and staring up at Vadmir who was easily a head taller than him. “I’d seen on the passenger manifold that we had an all-star on board. It’s great to meet you.” He held out his hand. “Blake Jones.”

“Nice to meet you, sir,” Vadmir said, shaking hands. “But who is flying the plane if you are standing here?”

First Officer Jones laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m one of the co-pilots, there are still two guys up front keeping an eye on things.”

“Glad to hear it.” Vadmir moved from one foot to the other.

Perhaps he was uncomfortable, after all.

“Could I could get your autograph? If you don’t mind that is. My kid is a mad Vipers fan.”

“Sure, what’s his name?”

“Tristan.” First Officer Jones turned to me. “Samantha, do you have a pen and paper Mr. Arefyev could use?”

“Certainly. I’ll take it to his seat right now,” I said, nodding at the curtain and indicating that Vadmir should return to his chair. That was a close enough call, he needed to get out of the galley.

“That’s okay,” Vadmir said, “I’ll happily sign it here. I’m enjoying stretching my legs.”

“Yes, it gets like that for big guys, even in first,” First Officer Jones said. “But are you enjoying your flight so far? Do you have everything you need?”

“Oh, yes. I have everything I need.” He settled his attention on me again. “I have everything I need right here.”

“I’m pleased to hear it and it’s awesome to meet you.” He moved past Vadmir. It seemed the no-passengers-in-the-galley rule didn’t apply to hockey players.

“Oh,” First Officer Jones said, turning with his hand on the curtain. “One quick question.”

My stomach swirled. Fuck, did he somehow suspect the two people standing before him had caused his sleepless night? And if so would he still be as charming and polite? Would he still want Vadmir Arefyev’s autograph?

“Fire away,” Vadmir said, continuing to study me with an expression that made me wonder if he was considering eating me the second the first officer went from the galley.

I leaned against the wall again and gripped the side of the counter, kept my attention on him.

“Who do you think…?” Jones looked between the two of us, his mouth set in a serious line.

I held my breath. Shit.

“Will lift the cup at the end of the season?” he said with a smile.

“Vipers of course,” Vadmir said with a huff as if it were a stupid question. “No doubt about it.”

“Yep, I agree,” First Officer Jones said. “Let’s hope you’re not away from the team for too long, though. They’ve got a game tonight, haven’t they?”

“They’ll handle the Penguins without me just fine.”

“Hope so.” First Officer Jones slipped from the galley and with him went my invisible safety shield.

Damn, I’d nearly kissed Vadmir, a passenger, only moments earlier. That was a disciplinary offence, I was sure, or at the very least a caution. And it was very nearly an officer who’d caught us.

“You have to go,” I said in a harsh whisper.

He raised his eyebrows.

“Now, please. Return to your chair.”

“I will if you tell me one thing?”

“No, under aviation law, if a member of crew tells you to do something, you must do it. Go sit down.”

He grinned in a maddening way. “Oh, I love it when you get all bossy with me, just like you did last night when you flipped me on my back, shoved my hands over my head and rode on my face, that was just so—”

I marched up to him and slapped my hand over his mouth. “Shut the fuck up.”

Amusement sparkled in his eyes and beneath my palm I felt his mouth stretch into a grin.

Damn, I wanted to tie him up and tease him ’til tomorrow and back for that remark. Make him pay for saying those words out loud, up here, on my flight. “Shut up and sit down. I won’t tell you again.” Carefully I lifted my hand from his mouth. Moisture from his lips made my skin tingle.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “If you can do one thing for me.”

“What?”

“Give me a quick kiss. I missed out on a goodbye one, we were both in such a rush to catch this flight.”

“No, out of the question, not at all. I—”

My words were cut short as he swept me up against him and pressed a wild, ravenous kiss to my lips.

I wanted to squeal in protest but couldn’t risk anyone discovering us. And damn, the guy could kiss. His soft lips were pliant yet firm. He tasted divine, champagne and man, an intoxicating combination.

But still I didn’t give in completely and I writhed against him as he pulled me onto my tiptoes, deepening the kiss and slanting his head as his tongue tangled with mine.

I gathered his top in my fists, both wanting to pull him closer and shove him away. My mind was spinning. What was it about him that made me throw caution to the wind?

As suddenly as he’d snatched me to him he released me. I stumbled backward and clutched the counter. My lips felt bruised, my heart was racing and heat was burning between my legs.

He had smudges of lipstick over his mouth, bright sticky red lipstick that looked all the more startling on his pale skin.

“Just so you know,” he said. “That wasn’t a goodbye kiss.”

“What do you mean?” I managed, pulling in breaths that made my erect nipples scratch against the inside of my bra.

“That was just to remind you what you could have again…later.”

“Later!” I shook my head. “Are you always this cocky?”

He reached forward, his eyes blazing. “Yep.”

I thought he was going to grab me again but instead he plucked a damp napkin from a tray and wiped it over his face. The red stain of the makeup transferred to the material, leaving his face unblemished once more.

“Don’t forget that pen and paper, Sammy,” he said. “Wouldn’t want Tristan disappointed now, would we?”

He turned, and for a moment, I got to admire his ass that once again looked damn fine in his jeans. He might be a full-of-himself hockey player but jeez, that was a cute butt and the dark denim just made it all the cuter.

The curtain flicked closed and I spun and sagged against the window, staring down at the dark ocean. What was it about Vadmir that had made me act so unprofessionally? It was as if I couldn’t resist. Couldn’t say no. I wanted to simultaneously strap him to a bed and fuck him and have him grip me tight and fuck me. And that kiss, wow, that just reminded me of what I’d had… and what had he said about later?

He must be joking, right? There was no later for us.

I reached for my purse, delved inside for my lipstick and compact and set about repairing the damage to my mouth. I had a bee-stung look going on. It seemed Vadmir only did things hard and fast, including kissing, not that I was complaining.

Within a few minutes I’d composed myself. I had a glass of water, smoothed my hair and got my aroused body under control.

I stepped out of the galley and into the cabin. The lights were dim, most of the passengers sleeping or engrossed in movies. A few had overhead lights on that shone down in laser-straight beams onto their books. I handed out warm napkins, like the one Vadmir had helped himself to, and the majority of passengers took the opportunity to refresh.

When I reached Vadmir I set a pen and paper down on his tray without saying a word.

Two minutes later, just as I’d finished folding the used napkins, the call bell pinged quietly.

It was my Russian boy.

I brushed a few bits of fluff from my arms, the napkins had a habit of shedding, and went to him.

“What can I help you with, sir?” I asked curtly.

“Lots of things that I can’t tell you about up here,” he said, with a maddeningly cute, bad-boy grin.

I sighed. “Have you done the autograph?”

“Yep.” He wafted it in the air between us.

I reached for it.

“Ah, ah,” he said, not releasing the scrap of paper. “You have to take this first.”

“What is it?”

With one hand he folded another piece of paper in half. “It’s the name of the hotel I’m staying in tonight. Tomorrow I drive north, to see my family, but I have an early meeting in Moscow with my agent.” He paused and a hint of what I thought was vulnerability crossed over his eyes. “I’d like to see you again, Sammy, tonight.”

“You mean you’d like to…” I stopped myself saying anything more. I didn’t want to incriminate myself further.

“Yes,” he said, with a grin. “I would like to see you for that, but also for a beer and to watch the game.” He paused. “There’s a sports bar in the hotel and the NHL highlights will be on. Meet me there.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” I struggled to find an excuse even though I needed one. It was ridiculous what he was suggesting. I couldn’t head off across Moscow looking for some random hotel with a sports bar. I was flying out again within twelve hours of landing. It was out of the question.

“Please, Sammy.”

“No. What we had was a one-night thing.”

He passed me the autographed piece of paper and turned down his mouth. He gave a resigned shrug and his shoulders sagged. “Okay, can’t blame a guy for trying, though.”

I put both pieces of paper into my pocket and straightened. “Anything else…sir?”

He shook his head and reached for his earphones. “No, that will be all.”