by Shandi Boyes
A flight attendant clipping back a pair of dark blue curtains moves to stand next to me. “Can I help you?”
“Umm, I’m looking for seat 1A.”
She glances down at my ticket before returning her eyes to my face. “Seat 1A is this way, Ms. Brahn.”
Gesturing behind me, she skirts by before walking through another set of curtains. I apprehensively shadow her. After ruffling through the thick curtain, I discover her standing near the front of the plane. My brows furl as my eyes bounce around the elegant-looking space—luxurious, well-spaced black leather reclining chairs, elegantly dressed men and women sipping on glass flutes of champagne, and the piquant aroma of wealth filtering through the air.
There must be a mistake. I don’t belong in business class.
I scamper down the wide corridor, not missing the numerous gasps of disdain when my rhinestone-embedded Juicy backside sashays by. “There must be a mistake,” I inform the flight attendant.
Her manicured brow shoots into her auburn hair before her eyes turn down to my ticket. “1A.” She points her French-tipped nail to the 1A marked on my ticket. “1A.” She extends her long, skinny finger to the 1A displayed on the overhead compartment two seats down from where I’m standing.
After rubbing my arm soothingly, she saunters back down the aisle, snubbing my shocked expression. I stand mute, frozen in both fear and shock until the ‘Fasten Seat Belt’ sign illuminates a few seconds later.
I shove my jacket and satchel into an overhead compartment, then skedaddle to my assigned seat. I may be scared, but I’m not flying without a seat belt. When I move my eyes from the fluorescent lights lining the aisle, I’m confronted by an intense gaze that has me clumsily tripping over my feet.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
“A beautiful woman falling at my feet twice in one day. This has to be a new record,” Mr. Holt banters when I crash into his thigh.
I greet him with a grin before scampering past him to take my seat, which is next to his. When I plop into my chair, my hands lurch out for my seat belt. My nerves have me jittering so much, I have trouble fastening the silver clips together.
Sensing my struggle, Mr. Holt stills my shaking hands before he clasps my belt. He tugs on the light gray strap, securing my belt firmly around my waist.
“Thank you.”
He smirks before dropping his gaze to my white-knuckled hold of the armrests. “Scared of flying?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“You do know recent studies have shown—”
“Traveling in a car or a truck is one hundred times deadlier than flying. Yes, I’m aware of that. It still doesn’t help.”
“Actually, I was going to say recent studies have shown the endorphins released during sexual activities can overtake cortisol and other fear-induced chemicals.” He glances at me with entrancing, wicked eyes. “You should consider testing the theory out.”
My pulse quickens. Is he propositioning me?
Before I can form a response, our intense stare-down is interrupted by a radiant voice above. “Can I help you with anything, Mr. Holt?” When I raise my eyes, I’m met with a beautiful blonde flight attendant who is appreciatively glancing at Mr. Holt. “Perhaps I can take your jacket?”
Mr. Holt’s gaze remains on mine as he stands to remove his suit jacket. I lick my dry lips when his suit-covered crotch that’s straining to hold in the enormity of his, umm, manhood is shoved into my peripheral vision.
When my perverted gaze returns to his face, the situation becomes ten times more heated. He has a mouth-watering smirk formed on his sculptured lips, revealing he spotted my ogling glance. Mortified at being busted staring at his crotch, I divert my eyes, catching the mad glare of the flight attendant in the process. She plays the part of a scorned woman well.
“Would you care for a drink, Mr. Holt?” Although her eyes are narrowed into slits, her tone doesn’t allude to her anger. Her performance is remarkable—a genuine ten out of ten.
Mr. Holt hands her his suit jacket. “Teeling 30-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.”
“Excellent selection, Mr. Holt.”
When Mr. Holt retakes his seat, the flight attendant walks away. She barely gets two feet away before Mr. Holt’s hand shoots out to snatch her wrist. “Are you going to ask Isabelle if she’d like something to drink?”
I’m unable to see his face, but if the flight attendant’s pupils are anything to go by, he’s infuriatingly angry.
The flight attendant’s feared eyes drift to me. “W-would you like something to drink?”
I shake my head. “No, thank you.”
With the somersaults my stomach is doing, I can’t trust it to hold down anything.
“Are you sure?” Mr. Holt cranks his neck to face me. His intense eyes have me swallowing harshly, but unlike the flight attendant, I’m not scared by his angry glare. I’m turned on.
Unable to speak through the lump in my throat, I nod. Spotting my agreeing gesture, Mr. Holt relinquishes the flight attendant’s wrist. She scurries down the aisle, her steps as wobbly as my heart rate.
After offering Mr. Holt a grateful smile, I lean my head on the leather headrest. When I take a breath to settle my nerves, a strong aroma overwhelms my senses. Expensive cologne, body wash, and a smell I can’t quite identify make an enticing, mouth-watering scent I’d happily spend hours smelling.
My eyes snap shut when the plane jerks toward the runway. Here it comes, the one part of flying I fear the most. After tightening my grip on the armrests, my teeth gnaw on my bottom lip.
The closer the plane gets to the end of the runway, the more my heart palpitates. I’m on the verge of a debilitating panic attack.
My heart jumps out of my chest when a jolting buzz electrifies my clenched hand. Glancing down, I spot a long, elegant finger tracing the veins protruding in my hand. My breathing lengthens as my eyes lift. Mr. Holt. He’s staring at me, his gaze penetrating and utterly consuming.
“How about we test the theory?”
Too terrified to form words, I fleetingly nod.
The hairs on my body bristle when his finger leisurely runs up my arm until it stops at the throb in my neck. When his big, manly hand grips my throat, my pupils widen. His hold isn’t tight enough to cause discomfort. It’s a domineering clutch that has me releasing a husky moan.
After loosening his grip on my neck, he saves my bottom lip from my menacing teeth. “I’m going to bite that lip.” His words are more a confirmation than a suggestion.
When his thumb slides over my lips, wetness pools between my legs. Brazenly, I nibble on the tip. I’ve never been bold, but his demanding eyes are making me reckless.
My body temperature turns excruciating when his hand curls around the nape of my neck. The sting of his fingers adds to the tingling in my core, and they turn my breathing ragged. His eyes skim my face before darting down to my famished mouth. His stares at me for several long seconds, his heat tilting like he’s preparing to kiss me.
I snap my eyes shut and lick my lips, preparing to taste his perfectly structured mouth. When a whoosh of air hits my cheeks, my eyes pop back again. Mr. Holt isn’t advancing toward me. He’s retreating.
Once he’s again sitting on his side of the plush leather seat, he takes a hefty gulp of whiskey. Even being disappointed, my core can’t help but spasm when his Adam’s apple bobs up and down. When his glass is void of liquid, he places it down before shifting his eyes to me. His heavy-lidded gaze still shows his hunger, but something in them has altered.
Slanting his head, he gestures to the window behind me. I gasp when I follow the direction of his gaze. Nothing but puffy white clouds in a brilliant blue sky reflect back at me.
“I’d say the theory has been proven,” Mr. Holt mutters aloofly.
Although he distracted me long enough that I survived the take-off without a meltdown, a ping of disappointment hits my chest. The touching, the rush of excitement, the desire, it was all a game? A
ploy to lessen my panic?
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following individuals who without their contributions and support this book would not have been written.
First to my husband Chris, when I said I wanted to write a book he simply replied with, “Okay great.” No hesitation, not even a small amount of consideration, he just offered his full support. This is very much in tune with exactly how my husband has been our whole marriage. I have an idea, and he supports me 100%. I'm so grateful to have him in my life and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. He is my most valued gift in life.
Second to my darling mum. She reads the entire first draft of every novel I’ve penned while attempting to assist in editing. I have never been good with anything grammatical related, but she assists me where she can. For this, I'll be eternally grateful.
Third, to my editor, Krista. Thank you for making my manuscripts shine!
Fourth, to my readers. I appreciate each and every one of you. You're the reason I write something every day. It might only be a paragraph, or it may be ten thousand words a day, but it is your encourage and support that keeps me writing. So THANK YOU!
Fifth, and not at all last, to Kelly K for researching the cover model of Spy Thy Neighbor so thoroughly, I’ve been incredibly grateful to include Tyler on the cover. He is the perfect Hunter Kane! Thank you xx
Please remember to leave a review of my book.
Shandi xx
Also by Shandi Boyes
Perception Series
* * *
Saving Noah (Noah & Emily)
Fighting Jacob (Jacob & Lola)
Taming Nick (Nick & Jenni)
Redeeming Slater (Slater and Kylie)
Saving Emily (Noah & Emily - Novella)
Wrapped Up with Rise Up (Perception Novella - should be read after the Bound Series)
* * *
Enigma
* * *
Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #1)
Unraveling an Enigma (Isaac & Isabelle #2)
Enigma The Mystery Unmasked (Isaac & Isabelle #3)
Enigma: The Final Chapter (Isaac & Isabelle #4)
Beneath The Secrets (Hugo & Ava #1)
Beneath The Sheets(Hugo & Ava #2)
Spy Thy Neighbor (Hunter & Paige)
The Opposite Effect (Brax & Clara)
I Married a Mob Boss(Rico & Blaire)
Second Shot(Hawke & Gemma)
The Way We Are(Ryan & Savannah #1)
The Way We Were(Ryan & Savannah #2)
Sugar and Spice (Cormack & Harlow)
Lady In Waiting (Regan & Alex #1)
Man in Queue (Regan & Alex #2)
Couple on Hold(Regan & Alex #3)
Enigma: The Wedding (Isaac and Isabelle)
Silent Vigilante (Brandon and Melody #1)
Hushed Guardian (Brandon & Melody #2)
Quiet Protector (Brandon & Melody #3)
* * *
Bound Series
* * *
Chains (Marcus & Cleo #1)
Links(Marcus & Cleo #2)
Bound(Marcus & Cleo #3)
Restrain(Marcus & Cleo #4)
Psycho (Dexter & ??)
* * *
Russian Mob Chronicles
* * *
Nikolai: A Mafia Prince Romance (Nikolai & Justine #1)
Nikolai: Taking Back What’s Mine (Nikolai & Justine #2)
Nikolai: What’s Left of Me(Nikolai & Justine #3)
Nikolai: Mine to Protect(Nikolai & Justine #4)
Asher: My Russian Revenge (Asher & Zariah)
Nikolai: Through the Devil's Eyes(Nikolai & Justine #5)
Trey (Trey & K)
K: A Trey Sequel
The Italian Cartel
* * *
Dimitri
Roxanne
Reign
Mafia Ties (Novella)
Maddox
Demi
Rocco
Clover
Smith
* * *
RomCom Standalones
Just Playin’ (Elvis & Willow)
Ain't Happenin' (Lorenzo & Skylar)
The Drop Zone (Colby & Jamie)
Very Unlikely (Brand New Couple)
* * *
Short Stories
* * *
Christmas Trio (Wesley, Andrew & Mallory -- short story)
Falling For A Stranger (Short Story)
* * *
Coming Soon
Skitzo