Damon
Chapter 28
The week seemed to drag on. I barely saw Karis except for the time we had together on Tuesday and again on Thursday, but the rest of the week she mostly spent with Sabrina. I didn’t want to feel jealous, and it wasn’t really that. I just missed my mate.
On Friday, most of our classes were cancelled and we’d already planned on skipping those that didn’t in order to catch an early flight to Alaska. I was a nervous wreck, made worse by the fact that I hadn’t really talked to Karis enough that week. There were no classes Monday and Tuesday for fall break, so we had the better part of five days to spend with her family.
I tried to get her to spend Thursday night with me, but again she’d insisted staying in her room. I had no idea what the sleeping arrangements would be like once we got to her home, but I brought the dampener in hopes that they would let us share a room.
When I stopped by her room to get her at four in the morning, she was still groggy and looking sexy as hell. I knew I should have handled things myself while in the shower. It was going to be a long day, and possibly several more long days before I could have her again.
It was dark and I could only make out her outline, but something seemed different. It wasn’t until she came back from the bathroom, changed and grabbed her suitcase, rolling into the lighted hallway that I realized what it was.
“Holy shit, what happened to your hair?” I said, probably a little too loudly for that time of morning.
“Shh,” she shushed me and dragged me to the stairwell, down the stairs, and outside before turning to face me.
Her hair was dark, almost black, and straight. I reached out and let it flow between my fingertips. It was the silkiest thing I’d ever felt in my life. She still looked like my Karis, but she looked different too. Her red dreadlocks were gone, but she was every bit as beautiful like this.
“Oma hates it when I dye my hair, and really hated the dreads. I thought maybe it would soften her a little to go natural. Do you hate it?”
“No amore. I don’t hate it. It’s different, but it’s still you, and I like that I can run my hands through it.” I grinned. “I may not be able to keep my hands off it now.”
She laughed. “Don’t get too used to it. I plan on going back to me, soon.”
“You’re still you,” I said, leaning in to kiss her.
She sighed against my lips, then pushed me away. “Uber should be here, so we need to get moving. I don’t want to miss our flight.”
As we arrived at the small airport it was clear there was no way we were going to miss our flight, as her grandfather had sent a private jet to pick us up. I was immediately put on edge. My palms were sweaty with the anticipation of what a profound moment in my life this trip really was. I was meeting her family. I would be discussing mating their granddaughter. I was going to be introduced to her people with their knowledge that I would someday rule over them as Alpha. It was a lot of pressure.
Then Karis reached for my hand, leading me up the stairs as someone came to load our luggage. Her simple touch righted everything in my life. I stood a little taller, my chest puffed out in pride. She chose me. She thought I was worthy to assume such an important position. I knew I wouldn’t let her down.
As we settled into our seats, the pilot and co-pilot came out to speak with us. They apologized that with the last minute request they could not obtain a stewardess to assist us on the flight. They took a moment to show us around the cabin, where the food and drinks were stored, and the emergency procedures. There was an intercom we could use to reach them if we had any issues, but otherwise we’d be on our own for the six-hour flight.
I could imagine that there were people they dealt with on a regular basis that would have been furious to have to fix their own food or get up and get their own drinks, but the only thing going through my mind was that I had six uninterrupted hours completely alone with my mate. It had been five days since I’d last spent any real time alone with Karis.
We buckled into our seats and as the engine roared, she put a death grip on my hand. When I looked over at her, her eyes were closed and she was white as a sheet.
“Not big on flying?” I asked.
She shook her head, and then shrugged. “I’ve never been in a plane before,” she exclaimed. “The entire concept of it seems terrifying.”
I smiled, though she couldn’t see it. She squeaked in surprise when the plane started to move. I knew from experience that the sensations of takeoff were the worst. But after that it was no big deal, except for the claustrophobia that always kicked in for me on long flights. I just needed a way to distract her.
I looked her over and grinned. She was wearing a button up blouse and a short plaid skirt. I pulled her close to me. She was stiff as a board until our lips met. It took her only a moment before she melted into that kiss.
As our tongues danced together, I let my hand slide up her thigh and under her skirt. She gasped as the plane took flight, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with takeoff. She was lost in my touch and my kisses, so very responsive as her breathing became labored and she held on to me for dear life as she came apart in my arms.
I slowed my hands and our kiss, finding her ear to nibble on and whisper how much I loved her. She was far more relaxed after that and even managed to look out the window for a bit to the beautiful landscape below. Everything seemed so surreal from that high up. As the plane climbed even higher, all we saw were clouds surrounding us.
The pilot spoke through the speakers that it was okay for us to unbuckle our seatbelts and move about the cabin.
“Want a drink or something?” I asked.
Karis nodded. She had a fiery look in her eyes. “Just a water, please. So, um, was that like part of the mile high club or something?”
I chuckled. “Well, we weren’t a mile high yet, and it wasn’t sex, so I don’t think it counts.”
“Oh,” she pouted.
“But if that’s on the agenda, I’m sure I can accommodate.”
She blushed and grinned. “Oh, I’m certain you can.”
I handed her a bottle of water and just stared at her. I reached out and ran my fingers through her hair. It was just as silky as the first time I’d done it. I was mesmerized by it. I couldn’t wait to fist my hands in it as she screamed my name.
I got up and went back over to the bar, needing to move. While I was glad Karis had relaxed, I didn’t want her to realize how much I disliked flying. It wasn’t really that, I just hated that trapped feeling in a plane. This one wasn’t as bad as commercial flights. I had room to get up and wander around and I wasn’t confined to my seat, which was helping a lot.
I also needed some distance from her or we would be joining the mile-high club more than once on this trip. This past Sunday felt like an eternity since I’d last held her in my arms. I wanted, no, needed my mate physically, but I’d already pleasured her once and I could see in her eyes she was sleepy. If I did the right thing and left her alone, I knew she’d close her eyes and take a nap. I was trying to be good, but I didn’t want to.
I distracted myself by searching through the food options and finally settling on a microwave breakfast sandwich. I looked back at Karis, expecting to find her relaxed with her eyes closed. That was not the case. She looked hungry, and not for food. I gulped, and my pulse sped up.
“Would you like something to eat?” I asked.
She didn’t respond, but grinned. I could tell what she had on her mind. I abandoned my breakfast and quickly walked back to her. She stood and met me halfway, practically leaping into my arms. We were like two magnets drawn together, unable to resist each other.
My lips found hers and she aggressively swirled her tongue with mine. I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around me, grinding herself against me. I moaned in pleasure. The plane hit some turbulence and I somehow managed to keep us upright. Setting her back on the ground, I started removing her clothes slowly.
She pulled back to look at me and assist in taking off my clothes. Her hands were desperate as they fumbled for my shirt and she sighed in delight when it was finally off and lying on the floor.
Her cheeks were flushed and her hair fell over her shoulders, hiding her breasts from me. She was breathtaking. I had never seen a more beautiful sight. My hands played with the ends of her hair, brushing her breasts in the process. I delighted in her reaction to my touch.
Gently, I lowered her to the ground. She was panting and ready for me. I wasted no time on foreplay as I slowly made love to her. It felt different than any other time we’d been together. Our bond was strengthening and I was starting to feel her emotions, her needs. It heightened my own experience, and I sensed from her movements that she was feeling me in the same way.
As we picked up the pace and moved as one, closer and closer to the edge, my teeth elongated and my wolf surged, demanding I seal the bond. I pushed back against that urge.
When I collapsed against Karis, trying to catch my breath and slow my beating heart I smiled at her, showing my canines. Her eyes went wide in surprise. Then she smiled and showed me hers, too.
I rolled over and pulled her against my chest. “Soon,” I whispered.
She nodded against me. “Soon.”
It was a promise that made my heart flutter. Logically, I knew the importance of waiting. I’d been as patient as possible and tried not to pressure her. Knowing she was struggling in the same ways, made me feel more confident.
In just a few hours, I’d be meeting her grandparents and the wolves of her Pack. She was my true mate. I didn’t have to wait to claim her, but out of respect to them, to her, and to our future, I knew it was for the best, regardless of what my instincts screamed.
Karis looked up at me and grinned. “Now, did you induct me into the mile-high club?”
I laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “Yes, amore, I think we can claim to be members of that club now, but if you’re uncertain we can try again.”
She giggled. “Good plan. We better make certain.”