3. Brielle

The engine roars, building to a crescendo as the plane prepares for takeoff. My heart races in my chest, the pounding syncopating with each rumble of the aircraft. Heights have never been my friend, and being trapped inside this metal sky-beast doesn't help. I grip the armrests of my seat desperately, knuckles turning white, trying to keep my breath even. If only I had an aisle seat, then at least I wouldn't have to look out the window.

Dad booked this flight for me, and I doubt he checked the seating arrangement. Not that I can blame him—he has enough on his plate.

As long as I don't look outside, I should be fine.

"Hey there," a raspy voice interrupts my thoughts. The man beside me is short and pudgy, his yellowed teeth clashing against his grimy smile. He reaches over and puts his hand on mine, sticky fingers intertwining with my own. "Everything's gonna work out, sweetheart."

His touch makes my skin crawl, but I hold back my initial reaction and offer him a strained smile. His eyes linger on me, a predatory gleam hidden behind his dirty spectacles. I try to hide how uncomfortable his touch makes me feel, focusing on breathing steadily while anticipating the moment when we finally reach cruising altitude.

"Name's Vinny," he says, his voice oily like a used-car salesman. "We're gonna be on a long trip together. Might as well get to know one another, right?"

Heck no. But, I don't want to be rude. Like he said, it's a long flight ahead of us.

I nod, swallowing my apprehension. A part of me wants to yank my hand away, but I fear the consequences if I do. I've always been too polite for my own good, and I can't risk provoking a crazy person.

"Nice to meet you, Vinny," I respond, my voice barely audible above the deafening engine.

"Likewise," he replies, his fingers tightening around mine as the plane speeds up for takeoff.

Vinny's laugh cuts through the air like a rusty chainsaw, each cackle a sign of his many years spent smoking. "You're beautiful, ya know?" he says, giving me a sly grin.

"Thank you," I reply with a tight-lipped smile, trying to maintain my composure. His presence is suffocating, and I long for an escape from his grasp.

As if on cue, a flight attendant appears beside our seats, her eyes flicking between us. "You two make such a cute couple!" she exclaims, oblivious to my discomfort.

"Actually, we—" I start, but Vinny interrupts, his grip on my hand tightening.

"Thanks! I'm a lucky guy, aren't I?" he boasts, devouring the attention like a starved animal.

My heart races in panic, and I swallow hard, forcing a smile. I can't let him see how unnerved I am; provoking a man like Vinny could be disastrous. Instead, I retreat into my own thoughts, praying that this flight will end sooner rather than later.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" the flight attendant asks, pulling me back to reality.

"Actually, is there a bathroom nearby?" I ask the flight attendant, desperate for an escape from Vinny's suffocating presence.

"Of course," Chelsea—if the name on her shirt is right—replies with a grin, pointing toward the back of the plane. "Just down the aisle."

"Thank you," I mumble, extracting my hand from Vinny's clammy grip and rising to my feet. He leers at me, a sluggish grin spreading across his face.

"Be sure to hurry back, beautiful," he drawls, and I suppress a shudder as I turn away.

The man has to be delusional.

I make my way down the aisle, feeling more like a caged animal with each step. The plane is small, its confined space only amplifying my unease. Thankfully, there aren't many passengers to witness my distress, but I can't shake the sensation that I'm walking on air, suspended miles above solid ground.

As if to confirm my fears, the plane gives a sudden jolt, throwing me off-balance. My heart leaps into my throat, and I stumble forward, bracing myself against the door to steady my trembling limbs. With a quick, shallow breath, I turn the doorknob and slip inside, seeking refuge in the cramped confines of the restroom.

I stumble into the room, my heart pounding in my chest. This isn't the kind of bathroom I was expecting, far more luxurious than any other airplane bathroom I've been in before. The space is adorned with plush seats, an opulent couch, and a bar stocked with top-shelf liquor. It's like stepping into another world, one that would never exist on a normal airplane.

And there are two ridiculously sexy older men staring at me.

Oddly enough, it's like they were expecting me, which can't be right.

"Sorry," I apologize.

"No need for apologies." One of the men has brown skin, contrasting beautifully against the rich surroundings. Bright eyes dance with excitement as he takes in my disheveled state. "You're breathtaking." He moves toward me almost playfully.

"Grayson, don't hog her all to yourself," scolds the other man, his hooked nose and deep auburn hair with gray streaks making him look like a fallen angel. He saunters toward me, his lean build betraying a hidden strength.

The heat in the room seems to intensify as Grayson grins and backs away, allowing the other man to approach me.

"We'll all have time for some fun," Grayson says, his voice low and sultry.

"Hello there," the other man greets, taking my hand, sending shivers up my spine. "I'm Conrad, and you are nothing short of a goddess."

Grayson laughs, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Levi didn't do you justice when he mentioned you." With a gentle touch, Conrad tucks a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, leaning in to whisper seductively, "We're going to have so much fun together."

My heart races, desire pooling within me at his words, tempting me beyond reason. These two men exude sex and money, yet I barely know them. As much as I want to give in, I can't help but shake my head, trying to resist their magnetic pull.

They must have been expecting someone else.

"I'm not who you think I am," I say, the words barely audible. Despite my protest, Conrad pulls me against his chest while Grayson runs a hand along my side from behind, their closeness sending shivers down my spine.

"Don't be nervous," Grayson murmurs, his breath hot on my neck.

"Is this your first time having a foursome?" Conrad asks, his voice dripping with seduction.

Did he just say foursome?

The question startles me, making me realize just how far I've been drawn into their world of temptation and desire. I struggle to find words, my mind racing with the forbidden thoughts they've planted within me.

"Um," I stammer, still caught in their embrace. "I…I don't think…I mean, I can't…"

"Shh," Grayson whispers, his voice like silk as he strokes my side. "It's okay. You can trust us. We'll guide you through it. We'll show you more pleasure than you've ever felt before."

My body betrays me, responding to their touch even as I try not to. My thoughts swirl with images of passion and surrender, of giving in to these magnetic strangers who promise me a taste of the forbidden.

What a way to lose my virginity.

A door in the back, that I hadn't noticed, opens, and another man walks out. It doesn't even take me a full second to realize who it is—the man from earlier who I spilled coffee all over…before having a steamy encounter in the bathroom.

Except now, he's wearing a different shirt.

He looks up, and his eyebrows immediately furrow when he sees me. The jig is up. "Are you stalking me?" he asks with a frown, his gray eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Wha—no!" I exclaim, my cheeks flushing crimson. "I was just…I got lost."

"Lost?" he echoes, his gaze flicking between me and the two men still holding me captive. "How do you get lost on an airplane?"

Grayson's grip on me loosens as confusion clouds his handsome features. "Did you send her here? Isn't she one of our groupies, Levi?"

"Definitely not," Levi replies, his voice firm. "She's nothing but a problem."

"A beautiful one," Grayson adds, although now he's put a little space between the two of us.

"Then how do you know her?" Conrad inquires, his intense blue eyes boring into mine. He hasn't let go of me, and I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

"That's our little secret." Levi smirks, sending an unmistakable shiver down my spine. I can't help but blush even more under his intense stare.

"Who are you?" Grayson demands, curiosity evident in his tone.

"I'm Brielle," I reply, my voice barely audible. "I was just trying to find the bathroom, and I ended up here. And look, it's really generous of you to offer, but I can't…I can't accept."

"Can't accept?" Conrad's lips twist into a knowing smirk. "Or you're just scared? You've never done anything like this before, have you?"

A hot wave of embarrassment washes over me, and against my better judgment, I find myself admitting the truth. "I'm…I'm a virgin."

All of the men grow silent, looking at me as if I've somehow grown a third head. I can only imagine what they're thinking. I bite into my bottom lip.

"A virgin?" Grayson repeats.

"What about what we did in the bathroom?" Levi raises an eyebrow at me.

"What you did in the bathroom?" Conrad repeats. "What happened between you two in the bathroom?"

"I've never done anything like that before," I admit.

"A virgin," Levi says again.

"I like them better that way," Conrad says. "That means you don't know what you like, and what better way to learn than to have three men teaching you?"

They still want me…even though I don't have a clue what I'm doing?

Conrad breathes against my neck. "Is it something you're interested in?"

Being sandwiched between three of the hottest men I've ever seen in my life? How often does a woman get offered that? Besides, I'm supposed to be living a little and getting over the ex I left behind.

This is crazy. I'm crazy. But I know what I want.

"Yes," I admit.

This is going to be a huge mistake, but whether or not I'll regret it is up in the air.