her.”
Liam gave her a devilish smile. “Do you really want to know every detail? Do you really want to know what I look like when I’m coming?”
My ears burned.
Joslyn choked on her pineapple juice. “Eww, gross!”
Liam and I laughed, sharing a look that made me want to launch myself at him and to hell with the breakfast guests. How would he react if I tore his shirt off and trickled juice down his skin, then proceeded to lick it off very, very slowly?
Liam’s eyes darkened to flinty blue glass. “Whatever you’re thinking about. Stop it. We’re in public. I can’t handle you looking at me like that.”
I dropped my gaze, but not before Joslyn mouthed. “You. Me. Today.”
* * * * *
Pain crept upon me like a stealthy ninja. Every bite of almond croissant and nibble of passion fruit shortbread increased my heart rate, until I swirled with nausea. The whiplash agony came from nowhere, bolting down my spine to tingle in my legs. I tried to act as if nothing hurt, but I couldn’t hide it any longer.
Liam narrowed his eyes as I stood, trying to keep my composure. “I’ll be back. Just going to the ladies room.”
He put his fork down, rising slightly from the chair.
“You want me to come with you?” Jos asked around a mouthful of waffles.
I couldn’t let her see me shake and suffer, my whiplash held me victim, and I didn’t want anyone to know. If Liam knew he might send me packing back to New Zealand, and I did not want to leave. “I’ll be fine. Be back soon.” I scampered across the restaurant before Liam could see I wasn’t being truthful.
The moment I was in the marbled facilities, I clutched the sink, breathing hard.
The pulsing pain in my neck was back with a vengeance—determined to break my spine with pressure. I tried to massage my shoulder blades, looking at myself in the mirror. Considering I’d been gallivanting around having sex and enjoying the island air, my skin was peaky, shiny with pallor. It was as if two images of my face blurred into one. One moment I stared upon a tanned version of myself—blue eyes popping from the dusting of colour on my cheekbones. The next, I was white and stark, my eyes pale as a rain-washed sky.
Fighting through the neck ache, I recalled our shower this morning. The sensation of his hands washing my hair was possibly even better than sex. The knowledge he cared for me broke the last remaining barrier of the prison around my heart, and I’d floated free.
The moment we returned to work, everyone would know I was with him. It would be hard keeping the rumours low-key and torturous when hosties spread lies about him on other flights, but I was prepared to do it; I couldn’t be without him. He needed me as much as I needed him. The knowledge he was fragile beneath the surface, gave me the strength to brave the shit-storm that would happen when work found out. We’d be the biggest scandal for about a month, then it would die down and life could go on as normal. As normal as any life could be with my heart flying around the world in the pocket of a pilot.
I smiled at my reflection, this time seeing the wanton girl from last night: naked apart from her corset, hair mused, lips kiss-bitten and swollen. I winked at my sex-kitten self.
Liam had done quite a number on me. If only my stupid neck ache would bugger off, I’d be in a blissful cocoon.
After riding the waves of whiplash and suffering a twinge of weakness in my legs, I left the sanctuary of the bathroom. I skirted around breakfasters, making my way back to the table.
Joslyn and Liam had their heads together like yin and yang. Blonde and black. They broke apart when I arrived. Joslyn promptly stood, throwing back the last of her juice.
She grabbed my wrist. “See ya later, Liam, I’m stealing my bestie for the rest of the day.”
I had time to throw Liam an apologetic shrug as Joslyn carted me out the restaurant.
She was a hurricane on crack as we hurtled toward the pool—she
Liam gave her a devilish smile. “Do you really want to know every detail? Do you really want to know what I look like when I’m coming?”
My ears burned.
Joslyn choked on her pineapple juice. “Eww, gross!”
Liam and I laughed, sharing a look that made me want to launch myself at him and to hell with the breakfast guests. How would he react if I tore his shirt off and trickled juice down his skin, then proceeded to lick it off very, very slowly?
Liam’s eyes darkened to flinty blue glass. “Whatever you’re thinking about. Stop it. We’re in public. I can’t handle you looking at me like that.”
I dropped my gaze, but not before Joslyn mouthed. “You. Me. Today.”
* * * * *
Pain crept upon me like a stealthy ninja. Every bite of almond croissant and nibble of passion fruit shortbread increased my heart rate, until I swirled with nausea. The whiplash agony came from nowhere, bolting down my spine to tingle in my legs. I tried to act as if nothing hurt, but I couldn’t hide it any longer.
Liam narrowed his eyes as I stood, trying to keep my composure. “I’ll be back. Just going to the ladies room.”
He put his fork down, rising slightly from the chair.
“You want me to come with you?” Jos asked around a mouthful of waffles.
I couldn’t let her see me shake and suffer, my whiplash held me victim, and I didn’t want anyone to know. If Liam knew he might send me packing back to New Zealand, and I did not want to leave. “I’ll be fine. Be back soon.” I scampered across the restaurant before Liam could see I wasn’t being truthful.
The moment I was in the marbled facilities, I clutched the sink, breathing hard.
The pulsing pain in my neck was back with a vengeance—determined to break my spine with pressure. I tried to massage my shoulder blades, looking at myself in the mirror. Considering I’d been gallivanting around having sex and enjoying the island air, my skin was peaky, shiny with pallor. It was as if two images of my face blurred into one. One moment I stared upon a tanned version of myself—blue eyes popping from the dusting of colour on my cheekbones. The next, I was white and stark, my eyes pale as a rain-washed sky.
Fighting through the neck ache, I recalled our shower this morning. The sensation of his hands washing my hair was possibly even better than sex. The knowledge he cared for me broke the last remaining barrier of the prison around my heart, and I’d floated free.
The moment we returned to work, everyone would know I was with him. It would be hard keeping the rumours low-key and torturous when hosties spread lies about him on other flights, but I was prepared to do it; I couldn’t be without him. He needed me as much as I needed him. The knowledge he was fragile beneath the surface, gave me the strength to brave the shit-storm that would happen when work found out. We’d be the biggest scandal for about a month, then it would die down and life could go on as normal. As normal as any life could be with my heart flying around the world in the pocket of a pilot.
I smiled at my reflection, this time seeing the wanton girl from last night: naked apart from her corset, hair mused, lips kiss-bitten and swollen. I winked at my sex-kitten self.
Liam had done quite a number on me. If only my stupid neck ache would bugger off, I’d be in a blissful cocoon.
After riding the waves of whiplash and suffering a twinge of weakness in my legs, I left the sanctuary of the bathroom. I skirted around breakfasters, making my way back to the table.
Joslyn and Liam had their heads together like yin and yang. Blonde and black. They broke apart when I arrived. Joslyn promptly stood, throwing back the last of her juice.
She grabbed my wrist. “See ya later, Liam, I’m stealing my bestie for the rest of the day.”
I had time to throw Liam an apologetic shrug as Joslyn carted me out the restaurant.
She was a hurricane on crack as we hurtled toward the pool—she
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