Preview

We lurch to the left, my body falling into his. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close as he caresses my back. Since we"re in the bulkhead row at the front of the plane, nobody can see us. It feels like we"re totally alone.

"I"m so sorry?—"

His strong hand slips up the back of my neck, sending all sorts of inappropriate and ill-timed sensations swirling through me as his fingers tangle in my hair. "Don"t be. I"ll take care of you."

I don"t know which is worse, for Riggs to think I"m trembling because I"m terrified, or because I"ve never been held by such a sexy man before. Though really, both are true. So does it matter?

He pulls away just enough to look into my eyes. Maybe the poor guy was hoping for a quiet flight and now he"s stuck with me. "Would leaning up against me help, Olivia?"

I"m already nodding. "Yeah. You"re, um, warm."

He looks over his shoulder, but the flight attendants have disappeared, probably strapped in themselves. One strong hand massages my knee, and the other caresses my back, making me feel enveloped by this huge man.

"Do you always fly first class?"

I stifle a snort. "Please. This is my first flight ever. The check in lady saw how nervous I was and upgraded me so I"d have more room."

"Here." He moves the armrest up and out of the way so that I can slide closer to him.

"Thanks." It"s like I"m in another world – normally I would never just cuddle up with a stranger. Yet as the plane lurches again, it feels natural to take comfort in the arms of a strong man who really does seem to think everything is fine.

"Big breath in, then blow it out slowly."

Mmm… Why do I love that commanding tone so much? Something about it makes me tingle in deep places that I"ve never paid any attention to. I"ve been told what to do and controlled my entire life, but Riggs is very different from my father"s overbearing suffocation. So again, I obey without thinking.

I dip my head to exhale into the broad chest of this total stranger who is caressing me as if he already knows me. As if he"s dreamed about touching me for years.

"I shouldn"t be doing this," he murmurs, reading my mind. "I should stop."

"Please don"t." I look up to meet his midnight eyes. "There"s something…" I trail off, lost for words. He"s a mountain man. I can almost smell the forest around him.

"I feel it too." His eyes tighten. "But I shouldn"t be taking advantage."

He tries to pull away, but I yank him closer. "Please. The way you"re touching me… It"s taking me away from all this."

Possessed by the Surly Pilotwill be released in May 2024.