“I look like a murderer to you?” He’s smirking.
“No, but since I took my eyes off of you for five seconds, you could’ve used that time to drug my drink.”
“You’ve only been able to take your eyes off of me for five seconds?”
“Were you listening to anything else I said?”
“Not a word.” He presses the call button above his seat.
“Yes sir?” A different flight attendant immediately appears by his side, making a failed attempt to hide her flushed cheeks.
“Can I have two more gin and tonics please? And could you hand them directly to my friend to ensure that I don’t slip any drugs into them?”
She nods and scurries away, quickly returning. After she hands them to me, she looks my seat-mate up and down, and murmurs, “Damn...”
“Is that better?” He looks at me and offers his hand. “I’m Blake.”
“I’m not interested, but I appreciate the drinks. I’ll pay you back when we land.”
“I can’t know your name?”
“Yes, if you give me back my iPod.”
“I’d rather not.” He leans forward and squints at the necklace I’m wearing. It’s a bouquet of roses with the letter “P” at the center. Then he gently touches my wrist, where my bracelet of red hearts and an Eiffel Tower charm are dangling. “Is your name Paris?”
My eyes widen. “No. Nice try though.”
“If you show me your ticket and that’s not your name, I’ll give you your iPod and leave you alone for the rest of this flight.”
“And if it is?”
“We get to know each other a little better...Is that not your name?”
My cheeks turn red and I know it’s pointless to lie.
“I thought so. Where are you really headed, Paris?”
“Florida.”
He raises his eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Yes. That is very so. That’s why I’m not dressed for the winter.”
“Hmmm.” His lips curve into a smile. “I hope you enjoy Florida whenever you get there.”
“I will. Where are you headed?”
“Washington. This is my final flight for the day.”
“Interesting.” I can’t take my eyes off him.
“Are you traveling to Florida to see your boyfriend?”
“To get away from him.”
He looks confused. “First-time break up?”
“Hundredth. But this time it’s really over.”
“I hope so,” he says, and I suddenly realize that his lips are a lot closer to mine than they were seconds ago.
I pull away and clear my throat. “What about you? Are you coming back from seeing your girlfriend?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Please. I don’t believe that.” I roll my eyes.
“Why not?”
Pick up a f**king mirror... “I just don’t.”
“If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn’t be telling you that you have the most f**kable lips I’ve ever seen.”
“What?!” I gasp. “What did you just say?”
“Do you want me to say it a little louder?”
“No...But you shouldn’t say things like that to strangers.”
“You’re not a stranger. I’m getting to know you better...” He looks directly into my eyes. “How long were you with your boyfriend?”
“Six years.”
“Is it really over?”
I don’t hesitate. “Forever.”
“If he happened to call you when we landed would you answer?”
I shake my head. His mouth is moving closer to mine again.
“What if he left a message saying that he missed you? Would you fly right back?”
“No...” My breathing slows as he places his hand on my thigh, as his mouth nearly brushes against mine.
“What city are you headed to again?”
“Boston.”
“I thought so,” he whispers. “How old are you?”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the pilot has turned on the seatbelt sign...” a voice on the intercom says, immediately breaking us out of our moment.
I lean back in my chair with a racing heart, wondering how the hell this man is having such an effect on me, why the hell I’m liking it. My eyes are facing forward, but I can feel him staring at me, feel him still caressing my thigh.
As good as it feels, I have to tell him to stop.
“I didn’t give you permission to touch me.” I push his hand away and face him.
“Then can I have permission to touch you?”
“No. And if you do it again, it’ll be called molestation. That’s a crime.”
“A relatively low misdemeanor with a very lenient punishment.”
“You sound like a lawyer.”
“I am a lawyer.” His eyes are gleaming. “You didn’t answer my last question.”
“Twenty seven and still not interested. Do you plan on asking me questions for the entire flight?”
“Will you let me?”
God, his smile is f**king perfect... “No.” I need a distraction. Fast. “Can I please have my iPod back? I need to listen to something less-intrusive right now.”
He looks at me for a long time—looking as if he wants to ask me something else, but he hands me my iPod. “Enjoy your less intrusive music.” He pulls out an e-reader and scrolls across a screen of books.