Chapter One
“I can’t believe it.”
“Can’t believe that you’re going to Paris with me? Don’t worry,” Jake said.
“I can’t believe—Jake, this is the second time you’ve kidnapped me!”
The flight attendant arrived, holding out drinks. She raised her eyebrows at my comment.
Jake handed me a glass of pink champagne.
“Could we have some privacy, please?” He smiled his dazzling smile at the flight attendant and she turned away, lowering her eyes at me with a knowing look.
“I was going to leave you with that going-away present,” he said.
“The earrings?” I sipped at my champagne.
“But I couldn’t very well do that.”
“It’s hard to wear earrings in unpierced ears,” I admitted.
“I can’t believe I messed that present up so bad.”
“Not your fault,” I said. I chuckled lightly. “I’m such a tomboy. I bet I’m the only woman in New York City without pierced ears.”
“I still messed up.”
I drew my finger along his arm.
“Is that why you’re taking me to Paris? To make up for buying me the wrong kind of diamond jewelry?”
“Yes.”
I burst into laughter.
“Wow. I didn’t know the rich and famous had such terrible problems to deal with.” I made a show of wiping my eyes of tears.
“Ha,” he said drily.
“I can’t wait until you buy me a pool as an apology. Then I’ll have to tell you I can’t swim.”
“You can’t swim?”
“I’m from Iowa. I can swim through a pool filled with corn, maybe.”
“Then I’ll fill the pool with corn,” Jake said.
“You would.”
“I absolutely would. Anything to make you happy. You seriously can’t swim?”
I grinned.
“You can give me swimming lessons when we get back from Paris.”
“I will. Finish your champagne.”
“We just took off!” I protested, leaning back in my leather chair.
“And you’re scared of heights. So finish your champagne.”
I obeyed. This was better than first class. The chairs were plush and comfortable. And I was going to Paris!
“What next?” I asked Jake. The champagne glass clinked lightly on the marble slate table, indented to fit the stemware perfectly.
“Next? Next, you kiss me.”
I leaned over to put a chaste kiss on his cheek. But Jake’s arms moved around me, unbuckling my seatbelt in one swift move. He lifted me up and into his seat. I squealed as he set me down sitting sideways on his lap.
“Kiss me again.”
“Jake! I’m supposed to be wearing a seatbelt right now.”
“I’ve got you tight, don’t worry.”
“I’m worried.”
“Kiss me.”
I should have known that he wouldn’t let me go with just a kiss. As he pressed his lips to mine, his hand snaked down between my thighs, slipping up under the silken hem of my dress.
“Jake!”
“Did you obey me?” he asked, reaching up to where I was already beginning to turn wet with desire. “Oh, yes, you did. Good girl.”
That’s right. He’d written it in a note he’d left for me: No underwear. I only hoped that he’d packed enough for our trip, because the only thing I had on was my blue chiffon dress. As Jake eased his fingers deeper into me, I wriggled in his arms.
“Jake, we’re on a plane!”
“Don’t you want to join the mile-high club?”
“I don’t think we’re at a mile yet,” I said. “We’re still climbing.”
“Good. Then we’ll have plenty of time for foreplay.”
I gasped as Jake pulled me in for another kiss. One hand cupped the back of my head, deepening the kiss as the plane roared through the sky. His other hand was still pressed firmly against my slick entrance, moving only slightly. Every brush of his fingers sent deep thrills through my nerves.
I could feel myself growing wet.
“Jake…” I whispered. “My dress.”
“What about it?”
“I don’t want it to get…uh…”
“Oh, of course.”
“I mean, it’s the only thing I have to wear.”
“Until we get to Paris. But I understand your concern.”
“Good,” I said.
“So we’d better take it off.”
Jake lifted me up and pulled the hem of the dress up to my waist. I shrieked and turned toward the back of the plane.
“Jake, the flight attendant is back there!” I cried. “What if she comes back and sees me half-naked and… and… completely unbuckled?”