I roll to my side, and my head lands on a hard shoulder. I wipe my mouth when I realize I’ve been drooling.

“I thought you’d never wake up.” He pulls my earphones out of his ear.

“Hey, what are you doing with those and my Kindle?” I reach out to get it, and he holds in up in the air.

“You obviously weren’t using it, so I borrowed it.” He laughs.

“More like stole it.” I snatch it from him.

“I think I made some wrong assumptions about you.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you mean?” I tuck the Kindle between my legs.

“That beasty book of yours says a lot about you.” His finger taps the edge of the Kindle.

“That’s not even my book!” I snarl.

“It’s on your Kindle.” He splays his hands out.

“My best friend downloaded it as a joke.”

“So you haven’t lost your virginity?”

The man across from us looks my way again, but this time has a ridiculous smile on his face. “Would you keep your voice down?” I grit between my teeth.

He goes into another one of his laughing fits. I’m beginning to wonder if he has seizures. I push the call button above me. In a few seconds, the flight attendant that was googly-eyeing him is standing beside him.

“What can I help you with?”

“Are there any other open seats on this plane? I’d like this man moved.”

“I’m sorry, miss. It’s a full flight.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll behave,” he tells her, and she walks away, but not without touching his shoulder.

“I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot.” He turns toward me. “Hi, my name is Decklan, and I promise to be a complete gentleman.” His face looks serious, but I see a little spark in his eyes. He sticks out his hand for me to shake.

“I doubt that very seriously. I’m not sure you know what that word means.” I put my hand in his anyway, and I’m stunned when his lips meet the back of my hand. There go all those tingly sensations again, and he’s only kissing the back of my hand. Imagine what it would feel like with his lips pressed to mine. I squeeze my thighs together.

A smile starts at his eyes. “And, I’m the bad one?” He lets go of my hand.

How does he know? Damn it. I’m going to act like one of his blow-up dolls and not move an inch or show any expressions on my face.

Over the next couple of hours, he keeps his word and acts like a gentleman. He’s originally from Wyoming. He grew up on a cattle farm, the second oldest of six other siblings. When he was seventeen, his dad died suddenly of a heart attack. His older sister wanted to quit college to help out with the bills, but he wouldn’t let her. That’s when he joined the army. He hasn’t said it, but from the way he talks, he sends all his money back home to help his mom support his brothers and sisters.

He doesn’t sound cocky at all. He sounds rather grounded and sweet. Maybe it’s a show he puts on for his men. Or he thinks it will get him laid. Maybe, just maybe it’s the opposite. It keeps him at arm’s length. He seems pretty focused on moving up in rank.

The lights finally dim, indicating it’s nighttime. The attendants walk around handing out pillows and blankets in first class. I tuck mine behind my head and draw the blanket up to my neck after I’ve laid my seat back. He lays on his side, facing me.

“Can I hold your hand?” he whispers.

I smile thinking how much different he seems since we first got on the plane. I pull my hand out from under the cover and take his hand in mine. He smiles and closes his eyes.

I wake to the announcement that we will be landing in the next hour. Breakfast will be served promptly. Little puffs of air are blowing in my hair. I turn my head see Decklan still sleeping. I move out from under his shoulder and stretch.

“Hey, it’s time to wake up.” I gently shake him.

He stirs, and his magnetic gray eyes are on me. I suddenly feel self-conscious. I need to get up and straighten out my wild auburn locks, and I really need to pee. “I need to get up.”

He stands and moves into the aisle for me to walk by him. There are two people in front of me. I lean against a small wall and look back toward my seat. Decklan is leaning out into the aisle, smiling at me. I give him a wave and both of the bathroom doors open at the same time.

I do my business, and I look into the warped mirror. I wet my hair, trying to control the frizz. I stop and stare for a minute, wondering how many people have actually had sex in here. Closing my eyes for a brief second, I try to imagine it. Decklan’s face is the one I see, not Luke’s. My hand goes underneath my blouse, and my fingers toy with my nipple. A groan escapes, and I’m brought back to reality. I straighten my bra and blouse before I open the door. As soon as the door opens, I’m shoved back inside by Decklan.

“What are you doing?” My voice is raspy.

“I wanted to kiss you.” His mouth is on mine, and then it’s on my neck. I feel his hand going under my blouse. Before I realize what I’m doing, my leg is snaked around his waist, and I can feel his hard cock between us. Never in my life have I been this turned on, but I can’t.

“Wait, stop. I can’t do this.” I put my feet on the floor, and my hand pushes at his chest.

“You can’t or don’t want to?”

“I want to. God help me, I want to, but it’s not right. Like you said, I’ve come all this way. I don’t want to be the girl that cheats on the guy.”

“Is it cheating if you don’t feel this way about him?” His mouth covers mine again.

“I can’t, I’m sorry.” I push him away and open the door.

I run my hands down my jeans to get the wrinkles out before I walk back to my seat.

The attendant brings us breakfast, and we eat in silence.

As soon as we finish eating, the attendant takes our trash. I feel the wheels of the plane come down. I fasten in tighter and grip the armrests. Decklan’s thumb is brushing the back of my hand.

“If things don’t work out with Luke, you can look me up. I’ll give you my number before we leave.”

For the first time in two years, I don’t know if I want things to work out with Luke. If I’m so easily turned on by this man that I barely know, maybe things aren’t meant to be. But, I’ve come all this way. I intend on finding out.

The plane lands, and he grabs my bags and his from the overhead storage. We are one of the first ones off the plane. We are both quiet as we make our way to the carousel of luggage. We steal glances at each other while we wait.

We gather our bags and head to the doors. He takes my hand, stopping me. “Do you need a ride? We’re going to the same place.”

“No, I’ve already arranged for a car.” I look down at my feet nervously.

“Give me your phone.”

I hand it to him, and he programs in his number. “Just in case.” He smiles. We start to head our separate ways, and he halts me again, this time pulling me against his body. Before I can react, his mouth is on mine. It’s not a sweet, gentle kiss like Luke’s. It’s a kiss that says, I want you to remember me.

I lick the taste of him off my lips when he releases me. “We’ll meet again, I’m sure of it. Do me a favor?”

“What’s that?” I soak in his gaze.

“Remember the man on the second half of the plane ride. He’s the real me.” He releases my hand and walks through the glass doors.

I touch my swollen lips. I don’t know what he meant by that. I might see him at the base, but like he said, it’s a big place. I don’t want to be looking for him the whole time I’m there. I want to focus on my relationship with Luke, not chase my libido around and miss out on something permanent.