28. Kat

Chapter 28

Kat

I stare at Nik, confused, and hold his gaze in silence.

He seems to mistake my reaction for hesitation. “It has nothing to do with Maxim or McGuire, I promise. Just something fun. Something I used to do a lot.”

That cryptic answer hooks me instantly. “Okay. Let’s go.” What else am I supposed to say? Now I have to know what Nikolai Stefanovich considers fun.

He nods and excuses himself, telling me to meet him at the door in five minutes. I spend the entire time trying not to pace, practically buzzing with curiosity.

When he finally shows up, he’s wearing a black leather jacket zipped all the way up. I can’t help but gawk as he slides his keys and phone into his jeans pocket. He looks good enough to eat—the whole meal in one sitting.

'Ready?” he asks, his smile reaching his eyes in a way that makes my stomach flip.

“You have no idea,” I reply, grinning.

He laughs softly, the sound doing dangerous things to my insides.

We ride the elevator down to the garage in silence. This time, he doesn’t retreat to the farthest corner. He’s so calm, so... relaxed, and it throws me off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. It’s unsettling—but not in a bad way.

In the garage, he leads me to a sleek black Lamborghini. When he opens the passenger door for me, I blink in surprise, and his lips quirk in a small smile.

“I’m driving today,” he says casually. “I think I’d rather it just be two of us for this.”

His words hang in the air, as enigmatic as the man himself.

I slide into the car, buckle up, and watch as circles to the driver’s side. He gets in, turns the car on with a growl of the engine, shifts into reverse, and pulls out of the parking spot with practiced ease.

As we pull out of the garage, I glance at him. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nah, I don’t think I will. It’s more fun as a surprise.” With a smirk, he slips on his sunglasses as we exit the garage and merge into traffic.

And, of course, the sight of him in those black Wayfarers is devastating. It takes every ounce of self-restraint not to ask him to pull over so I can jump his bones right there. Somehow, I manage. Barely.

Instead, I say, “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m not exactly great with surprises. I’m not a go-with-the-flow kind of girl.”

He glances at me, his smirk deepening. “I don’t know about that. You’ve been going with the flow just fine. But I can’t say I’d be shocked to learn you’re a bit of a control freak.”

I scoff, outraged by his hypocrisy. “Me? A control freak? Please. Look who’s talking.”

He laughs again, and the sound is infuriatingly lovely. The urge to throw myself at him is almost unbearable.

“Kat, you’re literally trying to control me through sex,” he teases, shooting me a side glance.

“I’m just making the most of what I’ve got,” I retort, shrugging. “It’s not like I can ignore the tools at my disposal.”

Over the rim of his sunglasses, he gives me a slow, deliberate once-over, his gaze so thorough I feel naked. He lets out a sigh, the corner of his mouth twitching. “I know exactly how you feel. I have a hard time ignoring your... tools myself. No pun intended.”

I blink, completely thrown. Grumpy Nik, I could handle. But smirking, flirty Nik? He’s a whole different beast, and way more than I signed up for.

“Listen,” I huff, trying to regain some dignity. “This is your fault, too. If you weren’t so damn bossy, I wouldn’t feel the need to wrestle some of the control back.”

“Bossy?” He flashes me another devastating grin. “I’m not bossy. I’m the boss. Of you, at least.”

My heart does a somersault as I roll my eyes, trying to act unimpressed. He laughs again, and damn it, I could really get used to that sound.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, I start to feel restless. He seems perfectly content just sitting there, driving, and looking unfairly gorgeous, while I’m fidgeting like a kid who’s had too much sugar.

“Hey, shotgun picks the music, right?” I ask, desperate for a distraction.

He glances at me, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Sure. Knock yourself out.”

I connect my phone to the car’s sound system and spend the rest of the drive curating a playlist—keeping it neutral. Nothing too romantic. Nothing too sexy.

Eventually, he turns onto a gravel road, slowing down as we approach an open field. I glance around from my seat, trying to make sense of the surroundings. There’s a stretch of asphalt ahead, flanked by an expanse of grass. Not much else.

After parking, he comes around to my side, opening my door and offering his hand.

“Where are we?” I ask, taking his hand as he helps me out of the car. The moment the words leave my mouth, it clicks. I stare at the asphalt in front of us, suddenly realizing what it is. “Wait... is that a runway?”

He smirks. “Something like that. I used to come here all the time.” He tugs me gently away from the car, leading me toward a small airplane parked nearby.

The bright red-and-white colors of the plane grab my attention, so much so that I don’t notice the man walking toward us until he’s close.

“Mr. Stefanovich,” the man greets, smiling warmly. “Good to see you. It’s been a while.”

“Yuri.” Nik shakes his hand firmly. Then he gestures toward me. “This is Kat. Kat, this is Yuri—our pilot for today.”

“Our pilot ?” I repeat, my voice shooting up an octave as I dart a glance between the two of them. “Wait... you’re telling me we’re going up in that thing?”

“Yep.” Nik flashes a grin, clearly enjoying my reaction. “It’ll be fun. Trust me.” He turns back to Yuri. “Ready?”

“Whenever you are,” Yuri replies cheerfully.

I cross my arms, digging my heels into the gravel. “Yeah, no. I’m not getting in that thing,” I say, my voice firm as I glare at Nik.

“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun. You’ll enjoy yourself, I promise.” He laughs softly, clearly amused by my hesitation.

“No, I won’t,” I snap, glaring at him. “I’m not going to enjoy plummeting to my death when that paper plane falls apart mid-air.”

He chuckles, tugging me closer to the aircraft. “It’s safe, Kat. I swear.”

“It’s tiny, Nik. Ridiculously tiny,” I protest, eyeing the plane like it might grow fangs and swallow me whole. "Is this about last night? Are you punishing me? Because I swear to God, I’ll drop to my knees right now and make it up to you. No questions asked.”

He throws his head back and laughs, the sound rich and unrestrained. “Tempting,” he says, his voice still laced with amusement, “but no dice. We’re doing this. Come on, I didn’t take you for a coward.”

Ignoring my protests, he climbs into the plane and crouches down, turning back to extend his hand to me. “Look, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. But I think you should give it a chance. It’s safe. I’ve done this a hundred times.”

“Nik—” I start, ready to list every reason this is a terrible idea, but he cuts me off with a simple question.

“Do you trust me?” His voice is calm, his hand still extended.

I falter. The wind tousles his dark hair, and his warm, searching gaze locks onto mine. He looks so heartbreakingly gorgeous it makes my chest ache. Against all better judgment, I wordlessly take his hand.

The smile that spreads across his face is devastating—like a fine glass of whiskey, warm and intoxicating, sliding through my chest and pooling low in my belly.

Effortlessly, he pulls me into the plane, his grip firm and unrelenting as he guides me to my seat. When he kneels in front of me to buckle me in, the air shifts.

His hands move with deliberate slowness, grazing the curve of my neck as he adjusts the straps. Then, his fingers trail down, brushing my thigh, my hip, the hollow of my waist. Each touch is deliberate, lingering just long enough to leave me breathless.

“You’re shaking,” he murmurs, his voice low and smooth, like honey poured over whiskey. His hands skim up the strap near my shoulder, his touch impossibly light. “What’s wrong, Kat? Nervous?”

My breath hitches, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Of course I’m nervous. I’m about to die in a flying death trap.”

His lips curve into a wicked, knowing smile, and his gaze hooks mine. “That’s funny. I thought it might be me making you nervous.”

I swallow hard, struggling to find words as his fingers slip down to the buckle near my ribs. His knuckles graze the underside of my breasts, slow and unhurried, the air thick with unspoken tension.

“You’d tell me if it was, wouldn’t you?” he asks, his tone light but laced with something darker—something that sends heat spiraling through me.

“Nik,” I grit out, my voice trembling, “are you done?”

“Not quite.” His voice dips lower, intimate and dangerous, as he finally fastens the buckle. His knuckles brush against my stomach, lingering for a fraction of a second before he leans back, his smirk entirely too smug. “There. Now you’re ready.”

The engine roars to life, snapping me out of the trance. Nik moves to the seat in front of me, and I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding as I fumble to slip on the headset.

Yuri’s voice crackles over the intercom, but the pounding of my heartbeat drowns out whatever he’s saying.

If Nik had given me even the slightest warning about this little adventure, I might have had time to prepare. Instead, I feel completely off-balance—like I’m already free-falling from the sky.

Nik reaches back and clasps my hand firmly, his grip steady and reassuring. When I look at him, my breath catches again. His eyes, molten and alive, hold a carefree light I’ve never seen before.

Without much warning, the plane takes off, and I clutch Nik’s hand in a death grip. He laughs softly, the sound warm and light, then grabs my other hand, holding both of mine tightly in his.

We climb higher and higher. My ears pop, and I slam my eyes shut, certain that the contents of my stomach are about to revolt.

A minute—or maybe an eternity—passes. I couldn’t say. The roar of the engine and the rush of the wind blur into an endless, overwhelming cacophony.

Then Nik squeezes my hand again, his grip grounding me. “Kat,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady. “Open your eyes.”

Reluctantly, I force my eyes open.

“Eyes up here,” he says softly, tilting his head to meet my gaze. “Just look at me.”

I lock onto his eyes, and for a moment, everything else fades away. The tension in my chest begins to loosen, just a little, and I start to breathe again.

“There you go,” he says gently, his voice a soothing and steady. “You’re doing great. Now, take a deep breath. Try to relax, even if it’s just a little.”

Still holding his gaze, I inhale deeply, then exhale slowly. To my surprise, the knot in my stomach begins to ease. “This… isn’t so bad,” I manage, my voice shaking but hopeful.

“It really isn’t,” he agrees, his smile warm, like he’s proud of me. “And we’re almost ready for Yuri to start the maneuvers.”

“ Maneuvers ?!” My voice spikes, the tentative calm I’d found shattered in an instant. “You didn’t say anything about maneuvers!”

His laugh rumbles through the cabin, infuriatingly carefree. “It’s an aerobatic flight, Kat.”

“Oh god, I’m going to puke,” I groan, already regretting every decision that led me here.

“No, you’re not,” he says firmly, his grip on my hands tightening just enough to anchor me. His eyes stay locked on mine, steady and unwavering. “Just keep looking at me. You’re fine. You’re safe. And, believe it or not, you’re about to have fun.”

“Nik…” I gasp, unable to form anything more coherent.

His grip holds strong, his presence cutting through the chaos like a lifeline. Slowly, against all odds, the panic begins to ebb.

Here’s this gorgeous man who drives me wild, holding my hands tightly, sharing this moment with me—even after I shattered his trust the night before. I have a choice: cling to my fear and let it ruin the experience, or let go and embrace the unknown.

“Just let go,” he says, his brown eyes blazing with a mix of challenge and encouragement.

With a deep breath, I do.

And just in time. Yuri takes us through a complete loop, and I scream in surprise as my stomach drops to my feet. The world tilts and spins, a blur of blue and white, but somehow, I manage to look at Nik. The pure, unrestrained joy on his face steals what little breath I have left.

As Yuri rights the plane, Nik’s exhilarated voice cuts through the rush of wind and adrenaline. “Not so bad, right?”

I shake my head, my heart still pounding, and the infectious enthusiasm in his expression starts to seep into me, breaking through my nerves.

“Ready?” he asks, his grin widening, boyish and reckless. “Here we go again.” He laughs, his hand never letting go of mine.

This time, as Yuri sends us spiraling into a series of dizzying turns, I keep my focus on Nik. The tension I’d been holding onto melts away as laughter bubbles up from somewhere deep inside me. It bursts free as the plane flips and twists, and Nik’s laughter joins mine—a sound so full and carefree, it wraps around me like a shield.

Lost in the moment, I don’t care about the plane, the altitude, or the wild maneuvers. All I care about is him.

When the plane starts its descent, preparing for landing, I finally catch my breath. I steal glances at Nik, drinking in the sight of him. His smile is wide, his hair a beautiful mess, and yet no one—no one—could ever look so devastatingly handsome.

And to think, I almost missed this moment. If I hadn’t trusted him, if I hadn’t let go of my need to control the uncontrollable, I wouldn’t be here now, seeing him like this.

When we step out of the plane, my legs feel like Jell-O, and I nearly stumble. Before I can hit the ground, Nik catches me, his grip strong and steady as he pulls me against him. We both laugh, breathless from the adrenaline.

“You okay?” he asks, amusement flickering in his eyes.

I nod, a smile tugging at my lips as I realize he hasn’t let me go. I stay in his arms, gazing up at his face, unwilling to break the spell of this moment.

“Maxim and I used to do this all the time,” he says suddenly, his voice quieter, edged with something softer. “It was one of his favorite things.”

The admission catches me off guard, and I find myself staring at him, unsure of how to respond. There’s a vulnerability in his expression that roots me in place.

Finally, I find my voice. “Thank you.”

His brows lift slightly. “For what?”

“For sharing that with me. For this,” I say, gesturing back toward the plane. “And for letting go of last night.”

Nik nods, his gaze steady, unreadable, but something softens at the edges.

“This was fun, right?” he asks, his tone lightening just enough to break the tension.

“So much fun,” I say with a laugh. “I can’t even remember the last time I had this much of a blast.”

His smile shifts, transforming into something I’ve never seen before. It’s brighter, freer—a gigawatt smile, a take-no-prisoners smile. He looks so happy, so completely unguarded, that I can’t stop myself.

Rising onto my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck and press a quick, hard kiss to his lips.

It’s over in a second, but when I pull back, the wide-eyed surprise on his face makes me grin.

“What was that for?” he asks, his tone curious but far from annoyed.

I shrug, still smiling. “You’re too hot sometimes. I couldn’t help myself.”

His chuckle is low, warm, and just slightly caught off guard.

Untangling myself from him, I grab his hand, lacing my fingers with his as we head back to the car.

The drive home is quiet, save for his good-natured grumbling about my music choices. Apparently, pop bops aren’t Nik’s thing—who knew?

When we return to the penthouse, a pang of disappointment settles in my chest. I don’t want the day to end, and the thought of parting from him feels heavier than it should. But he has work to do, and I won’t ruin what’s been a perfect day.

As we step out of the elevator, I glance at him carefully. “So... what’s the plan for us moving forward?”

He groans dramatically, his smile still lingering as he leans his head back, closing his eyes for a moment. “Can we worry about that tomorrow?”

I laugh softly, nodding. “It’s your call. You’re the master of my destiny, remember?”

His chuckle rumbles through the foyer as he steps toward his office, but he pauses, turning back to look at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, kiska .”

The warmth in his voice and the softness in his eyes stay with me long after he disappears from view, wrapping around me like his embrace.