Plus Size Player

by Danielle Allen

Genres: African American Women's Fiction; African American Romance; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Julie Murphy's If the Shoe Fits meets Talia Hibbert's Take a Hint, Dani Brown--USA Today bestselling author Danielle Allen brings another steamy, witty novel about finding the perfect partner--and how sometimes what you're looking for is right in front of you.

“I only spend time with people I enjoy. I only do things I want to do. I only have sex with people who get me off. So, my time is never wasted and my energy stays high.”

Nina Ford doesn’t like to put all her eggs in one basket. She works multiple jobs, she enjoys multiple hobbies, she dates multiple men.

In her thirty years of life, Nina has never come across a man who has all the things she’s looking for.

She loves fun and excitement—and she has a man for that.

She loves confidence and humor—and she has a man for that.

She loves intelligence and ambition—and she has a man for that.

She loves passion and romance—and she has a man for that.

She’s always been content rotating a few men in and out of her life to get her needs met. But when an opportunity presents itself, Nina finds herself in a bit of a predicament. Because if everything she’s ever wanted in a partner collides with everything she’s ever wanted in a career, her eggs are bound to get cracked.

Like her back.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Release date: June 10, 2025

Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

Print pages: 368

Sample

1

“My friends call you ‘which one,’” I told Russ with a laugh.

“I know that’s a lie,” his deep, velvety voice replied good-naturedly. “They know exactly which one I am.”

Heat crept up my neck and flushed my face.

His confidence was just as sexy as everything else about him. He was exciting and with each date, I found myself more and more drawn to him. It wasn’t just the fun we had. It was the way he opened me up and lived in the moment with me. He was charismatic, charming, and irresistible. If I wasn’t careful, he would have me admitting as much.

Switching the phone to my other ear, I stared out my parents’ living room window with a huge grin on my face. “And what do your friends call me?”

“You really want to know?”

“I really want to know.”

“My girl.”

My stomach fluttered.

“Oop! They call me your girl?” My smile grew, even though he couldn’t see me. “I think you like me a little bit,” I teased.

He let out a light chuckle. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

We exchanged goodbyes, and it took me a few seconds to realize I was still smiling.

“I found it,” my mother yelled from upstairs. Jogging down the steps carrying a vintage designer bag, she grinned. “This is the one I was telling you about.”

My eyebrow quirked with interest. “This is cute.” I took it out of her hand and held it against my red floral dress. The black rectangular bag with the gold handle really was gorgeous. “But it’s not going to work because of my shoes.” An image popped into my mind. “I know just the thing this would go with! You know those gold shoes I sent you a picture of? That would be perfect!” I looked at her with pleading eyes. “Can I borrow this for a photoshoot?”

“You can have it!”

My eyebrows shot up. “Oh, wow, really?”

My mom loved her bags.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I got a similar one a couple weeks ago, so this one is for you.”

“Thanks, Mom!” The grin crept across my face as I posed. “How do I look?”

“You should be a model,” my mother commented as she stared at me from across the room. “You really should.”

She was honest and direct—that’s where I got it from. My mom and I always had a good relationship, but we didn’t see eye to eye on my career. She thought I was wasting my talents, while I knew I was enterprising.

“I am a model,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

She sighed. “No, Nina … a real model. Not an internet model.”

“What’s the difference, in your opinion?”

“Respect. Stability. Money.” She looked me dead in my face, her hand on her hip. “Need I go on?”

“I have all of those things now.”

She squinted her eyes and gave me a questioning look. “Do you?”

Oop! No, she didn’t!

I wanted to have a snarky reply, but I cracked up.

“Mom, I can’t even get into this right now. I have plans, so I have to go.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have a date.”

She smirked. “When don’t you have a date?”

“Don’t be a hater because I get taken out on dates.” I pointed at her. “You’re just mad because your man doesn’t take you anywhere.”

“Hey! I heard that,” my father

yelled from the kitchen.

Mom and I burst out laughing.

“Then take Mom out so she doesn’t have to live vicariously through me,” I responded, loud enough for him to hear me clearly.

“I take your mother out plenty,” he replied indignantly as he appeared in the doorway. “We just went to the movies not too long ago. Didn’t we, Diana?”

Mom and I looked at each other with shocked expressions on our faces.

“Michael, that was two months ago,” my mom pointed out calmly.

“No, Di, that was only a couple weeks ago,” he argued.

“It wasn’t,” Mom and I said in unison.

He looked perplexed. “Diana, we saw that comedy you wanted to see. The one with the actor you like.”

“That was at the beginning of June. It’s now the beginning of August,” she explained.

I put my hand over my mouth to contain my snickering.

He stared me down, only making me laugh harder. He folded his arms over his barrel chest. “Now why are you all in married people’s business anyway?”

“She’s making a good point though, darling,” Mom defended me with a light, musical giggle. “You haven’t taken me out in a while.”

“Did we or did we not go to church last Sunday?”

“That doesn’t count,” Mom and I said in unison.

“Of course the two of you would gang up on me. I’m going back to finish making my sandwich!” He swatted his hands at us. He started to turn around and then stopped. “Nina, do you need a few dollars? You said you were going out.”

I smiled. “I’m good, Dad, but thank you.”

“In case of an emergency,” Dad stipulated. He shifted his eyes to me, and a concerned look flashed across his face. “Do you need emergency money? Let me go get you something.”

“Dad!” I called out to his back as he made his way to his office.

He ignored me and I turned to my mother, who shrugged.

“You know how your father is,” she reasoned with a pleased smile. “He always makes sure his girls are good.”

“This is true.”

s if I’m going to make it on time.”

“Where are you going?” My mom eyed me suspiciously. “And with whom?”

“Going to a lecture. With The Smart One.”

“Oh! A lecture!” Her eyebrows flew up and a flash of confusion crossed her face. “That sounds … fun.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “I don’t date him for fun. I date him for what I can learn from him. We teach each other things and I enjoy that.”

“The way you’re dressed, I was expecting something else. But I think a lecture sounds nice.”

“Yeah, Tyrell is my smart guy,” I replied, pulling my phone out of my bag.

“Is that the one you went race car driving with last month?”

My lips curled into a smile as I reflected on that date. “No, that was The Fun One.”

My mom’s eyes lit up. “The Fun One? What does that mean? And who is this mystery man?”

I rolled my eyes again. “Russ is The Fun One. And he’s not really a mystery man. He just doesn’t live locally.”

“Ohhh, yes, I remember! I liked that you enjoyed yourself with that one, but I’m partial to the one who took you to that French restaurant in the city. Very romantic.”

“Dru is very romantic, and I like that. Tyrell is incredibly smart, and I like that. James is hilarious, and I like that. And Russ is so much fun, and I like that a lot,” I explained.

“I understand fun, but the race car driving was a dangerous date—especially for the first date,” she complained.

“It was our second date,” I corrected.

She quirked an eyebrow. “I see that look in your eye. But don’t discount the romantic. I didn’t, and look how lucky I am.”

“Yes, but you also don’t go on dates anymore.”

Mom’s head fell back, and a laugh erupted from her. “The dates may have slowed down, but the romance hasn’t. Wait until you find you a man who gives you everything you’ve ever wanted and needed. That’s when you settle down. You’re young. You’re only thirty. You have time.”

“What if I don’t ever want to settle down?”

She put her hand on my arm. “Then don’t. When you find exactly what you want, you will want to and it’ll feel like home. What I found with your father when we were twenty-five is rare. It happens when it happens and it’ll happen for you, too. But in the meantime, live your life for you first and then find someone who fulfills you like life fulfills you. Don’t worry about settling down. Worry about settling in.”

“Settling in?”

“Settling in to your life.” Her smile widened. “Enjoying what God has blessed you with.”

On cue, my dad appeared in the doorway with a handful of cash.

“Now take this”—he counted two hundred dollars—“and make sure you can pay your own way.”

“Aw, thank you,” I replied. “But I don’t need it, Dad.”

He stuffed it into my hand anyway and then smiled at me. “Take it. Keep it. And if you need to, use it.”

I smiled.

Michael Ford always made sure his girls were good. I never had to worry about anything because if I let him, he’d handle it. One thing about my dad was that he didn’t just take care of me, he taught me how to take care of myself. I loved and appreciated him for it—even when he was being extra.

Shaking my head, I accepted the crisp bills. “Thank you.”

“And here’s something for you,” he said, handing my mom a note. “While I was back there, I made reservations at Chez François for us—tonight at seven, my queen.”

My mom giggled. “Michael!”

The giddiness and lovestruck looks on their faces made me smile. My fifty-eight-year-old parents were a youthful couple, and the way they made each other light up was the most beautiful thing. They found a home within one another. If I ever settled down, it would have to be in a relationship like the one those two had. And since what they had was rare, I was content being fulfilled in other ways.

Speaking of …

“Okay, well, I’m going to head out now,” I announced.

“Remember when all Nina wanted was to go off to Magic World?” my mom asked my dad with a mournful sigh. “I miss when she was that age, and we could keep her with us all the time.”

I lit up. “I haven’t thought about Magic World in forever!”

Magic World hadn’t crossed my mind in years, but I loved that place. It was an all-ages amusement park with so many things to do. It wasn’t that far—almost two hours away—but I hadn’t been as an adult.

I haven’t been there since I was a kid. Maybe we should go one day soon, for old time’s sake.”

My mom stopped pretending to be sad to give me a look. “With these knees?” Pointing to herself and my dad, she continued. “Only in a magical world are we going to be able to walk around Magic World.”

“Speak for yourself,” Dad replied, folding his arms over his chest. “My knees are good. I still got it.”

“Yes, you do,” Mom flirted before looking over at me and shaking her head. “He doesn’t,” she mouthed.

My dad gave her a look. “Hold on, now.”

“Yeah … I’m going to head out,” I repeated, stifling a laugh.

Giving them a big hug, I said goodbye and exited my childhood home. They walked me out, then stood on the porch watching me as I backed down the driveway.

I looked like a younger, bigger version of my mother—syrup-brown skin, thick head of hair, extra-wide smile, and dark, almond-shaped eyes. She was stunning, quick-witted, and had lots of style. And while I might’ve looked like mother, I got my work ethic and business acumen from my father. He worked hard to create a life he was proud of and on his own terms. He used his resources and ingenuity to build wealth and grow his company from the ground up. Together, I was the perfect combination of my mom’s straightforwardness and beauty and my dad’s hustle and charm.

Pulling away from the large brick home with the manicured lawn, I waved to my blissfully in love parents. As I made my way out of the gated community in the Northern Virginia suburbs, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d ever have what they had. It sounded good and looked good on paper. But it was unrealistic to think one man was going to fulfill all my needs.

Unrealistic and a lot less fun.

As if she heard the thought, my best friend called.

“Nina!” Aaliyah James cried as soon as I answered the call.

“What’s wrong?” I answered, navigating my way toward the highway.

“I’m done with dating. Done!”

I laughed. “What happened?”

“This man sent me a message a few days ago and we were making small talk. I wasn’t sold on him enough to agree to a date, but I entertained the conversation. Today I got a message from his wife stating that she was surprised to find a dating app on his phone and let me know he’d be available in six months because she’s divorcing him.”

“You dodged a bullet,” I told her. “So really, this is a win.”

“A win?” she screeched, causing me to snicker. “How is this a win?”

“Because it means that you don’t have to waste your time with him and it frees your schedule for someone like that sexy-ass bartender—”

“Absolutely not! That’s not going to happen,” she interrupted me.

“It should…” I replied in a singsong tone.

“I don’t know how you do this. How do you keep going on dates? I mean, seriously, how are you going on a date after last night?”

Last night, I’d planned to meet up with this light-skinned, green-eyed man with pretty teeth, but he didn’t show up. We were supposed to get drinks before I went to the India Davis concert with Aaliyah. I waited for twenty minutes and then left.

“It was supposed to be a first meetup,” I explained. “There were no feelings or emotions involved. He blew his opportunity, so he’s blocked and doesn’t get another chance to waste my time. And him not showing up worked out because I got to spend more time with you at the concert. Win-win.”

“But my real question is how do you have the emotional bandwidth to keep dating after bullshit keeps happening? Howwwwww?”

“Because I’m having fun,” I answered with a laugh. “And when I’m not having fun or when I’m ready to end the situation, I end it. It’s really that simple.”

“Each time one of these dates doesn’t work out, I’m ready to stop trying altogether.”

“Do not let someone else’s bullshit stand in the way of what you want.”

“You’re right. I’m just … frustrated.” She sighed. “Enough about me. When is your date?”

“I’m on my way to meet him now,” I told her.

“And which one is this? The one you like?”

“Who?”

“The Fun One.”

My lip quirked up. Pushing down the feeling the thought of him stirred inside me, I replied, “I don’t know what you mean.”

at’s how I know you like him.”

“I like them all,” I corrected her.

She giggled. “Something is wrong with you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I told her. “I’m doing dating right.”

My dating roster consisted of four primary men. Russ was The Fun One and as his nickname indicated, we had fun and did exciting things together. James, The Funny One, made me laugh so hard the entire time we were together. Dru was probably the sweetest and most romantic man I’d ever met. And Tyrell, The Smart One, was so informed and knowledgeable.

The four of them made the perfect man, so I didn’t have to worry about not getting what I wanted out of the situation. I had all the bases covered. They each had their own lane. They didn’t have to be anything other than what they naturally were. They didn’t feel any pressure; I didn’t feel any pressure. We played our parts and enjoyed our roles. There was a lot of freedom in not having expectations.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I mean, you’re clearly doing it better than me. I can’t find one I like, and you like them all.”

“Scouting takes time.”

“I’m running out of time.”

“You’re being dramatic. But seriously, it took time and effort to build a solid roster.”

“So, since you have … let me think, Dru, Tyrell, James, and Russ, why are you still on the dating app?”

“Because scouting has to take place year-round. I’m still open to adding to the team. Anyone can get cut at any time, and I have to be on the waiver wire to pick up new talent. It’s always draft season, boo!”

Light laughter rang from her end of the line. “You know you almost lost me with the sports metaphor, but I get your point.”

“Well, then, get back out there and stop letting one bad date—”

“It’s been more than one,” she interjected.

“Don’t let a series of bad dates keep you from doing what you want to do. If I’d let a bad date keep me down, I wouldn’t have the elite starting four that I have now.”

“How do you have the time and energy?”

“I only spend time with people I enjoy. I only do things I want to do. I only have sex with people who get me off. So, my time is never wasted, and my energy stays high.”

“If I don’t have a man by my thirtieth birthday, I’m going to start living my life like you.”

“You’d be a lot less stressed if you did,” I confirmed. “And you would actually enjoy dating. You’re so focused on finding a man. You’re not enjoying the men.”

She laughed. “You’re right. You’re right. You found four good ones—”

“Four and a possible,” I interjected. “Someone slid into my DMs, and I might let him take me out, too.”

“See? I love this for you. I can’t find one worthy of a second date and you’ve found a roster full of eligible men.”

“Yeah, but each serves a purpose. It’s easier to find exactly what I’m looking for when I’m looking for it in different men.”

“What are you going to do when you find that one man who has everything?”

“One man?” I scoffed. “Nah. Not gonna happen.”

“You know you believe in love,” she argued.

“I absolutely believe in love. I spent my life witnessing love.”

“So, you really don’t want what your parents have? What my parents have?”

“Only if I found everything I wanted and needed in one man. And let’s be real … that’s not going to happen.”

“It could,” she argued.

I knew that she hoped it would happen for me because she needed to believe it would happen for her. And I knew why it was so important to her, so I let her down gently. “It’s very unlikely.”

“But it’s still a possibility. You can’t say never.”

“Yes, fine. It’s a possibility,” I relented. “An unlikely possibility.”

“But a possibility, nonetheless. My work here is done!”

She sounded pleased with herself, and I laughed.

“No, but seriously, I’m curious how you’re going to handle it when you meet your match,” she mused.

“You’re talking about meeting a man so perfect for me that I’d drop all the men I’m dating now.” I shook my head as I switched lanes. “That’s funny.”

nths.”

“I have not!” I argued indignantly.

While that realization got under my skin, she had a point. I had such a good time with The Fun One that whenever he was in town, I made time. Any opportunity to spend a couple days with him, I took. It wasn’t just the sex—although the sex was incredible. It was the way he lived in the moment with me and experienced life with me. He challenged me and explored my mind and my body. He spoiled me with time and attention as much as he did with money and adventure. While I had no intention of admitting it, he was my favorite.

“You’ve prioritized him because he’s your favorite,” Aaliyah teased.

With wide eyes and a tight grip on the steering wheel, I shifted the conversation since I couldn’t deny her claims. “Let me tell you something … over the last few weeks I’ve gone to a festival, watched an improv group, taken a salsa lesson, attended an art gallery opening, got my oil changed and my tires rotated, went to a live taping of a show, and took a boat ride across the lake just to end up at a picnic specifically created for me. You can’t get all that with one man.”

“I can’t even get one of that with one man,” she whined jokingly.

I laughed along with her. “Dating is what you make it.”

“So what’s The Fun One’s name again?”

“Russ,” I answered.

“Yes, Russ. The traveling businessman. What exactly does he do?”

“We don’t talk about work. We focus on fun. But I do know that he travels, and he handles business. So that’s why I call him a traveling businessman.”

She laughed. “No details, just vibes.”

“The only one who talks to me about work is The Funny One and that’s because he’s hilarious and he wants to be a stand-up comedian. So, it makes sense for us to talk about it. The Fun One…” I smiled, thinking about him. “We decided on the first date to talk about who we are, not what we do.”

“Interesting…” she responded suspiciously. “When are you seeing him again?”

“Tomorrow.”

“And tonight you’re going out with who?”

“The Smart One. We’re going to a lecture.”

She giggled. “You don’t even talk about him with the same energy. Does The Smart One know he can’t compete with the others?”

Her teasing tone made me laugh along with her.

“Stop it! He’s doing just fine!”

She exhaled loudly. “I know what I want. But sometimes I talk to you and I’m like, Nina has this shit on lock.”

“And do!”

“I have to get it together.”

“Then join me in these streets!”

She laughed. “I’m looking for the real thing. I’m not going to find it looking in the streets.”

“News flash, Liyah … if you’re on a dating app, you’re already looking in the streets.”

“Oh my God, you’re right,” she groaned.

“You spent months self-reflecting and abstaining and that’s … a choice. But you did it, and now you know you’re ready for a relationship. Congratulations! But the dating part is where you figure all your shit out with an actual person. So have fun with it!”

“You make it sound so easy. This shit is effortless for you,” she sighed. “Give me some advice to carry me through my search. Please.”

“If out of nowhere a man explicitly says he’s not a player, it’s because he’s the coach.” As she cackled on the other end of the line, I continued. “Don’t trust anything that muthafucka says.”

“Nina!” she screamed. “I’m so weak!”

“No, but seriously, enjoy yourself. I just pulled up to our alma mater. I’ll let you know how tonight is.”

We said our goodbyes as I searched for a parking spot. The lecture was being held at Hamilton University. And since I’d driven as fast as legally possible to make up for the lost time, and because every light was green, I was only five minutes late.

Hopping out of my car, I approached the building quickly. A big man with long locs in a ponytail almost collided with me because he was staring at his phone.

“Oh, sorry about that, shawty,” he apologized, holding his hand up.

“No problem,” I told him, continuing at a fast pace. “But watch yourself.”

“My bad.”

 my date.

Tall, slim, and undeniably handsome, Tyrell slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he waited for me to arrive. When he saw me, a smile crept across his face. His dark skin, high cheekbones, and light brown eyes were so distinguishingly beautiful. He would’ve stood out anywhere.

He checked his watch and then pulled me into a hug. “I thought you were standing me up.”

He always seemed so nervous when we’d get together. He’d made it to the roster a few months ago. But because of life and work, it was only our third date. And even though we’d enjoyed each of the dates, he still seemed so shocked that I was interested.

Rolling my eyes before pulling out of the hug, I looked up at him. “Hello to you, too.”

“Forgive me. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I checked out his khaki-and-olive outfit combination. “You’re looking good.” I touched his green shirt. “This color really complements your complexion.”

“Thank you.” He opened his arms and grinned. “I just wanted to make sure I matched your fly.”

“And you do,” I complimented.

“Let’s head in.” He anxiously glanced at the people walking inside.

“Yes, let’s get this philosophical show on the road.”

He offered me his arm. “I think you’re going to like this. Dr. Reynolds is an astronomy expert.”

Two hours later, we were walking out of the auditorium, and I was stifling a yawn.

“How did you like it?” Tyrell asked me as he walked me to my car.

“I thought the beginning was really good, but that last forty minutes felt unnecessary.” I made a face. “I love the sky but that last part felt like it was dragging for no reason.”

His eyes widened. “What? You didn’t like his breakdown of the evolution of galaxies?”

“The birth, life, and death of stars intrigued me. He had a strong start. It just seemed like it started dragging at the end.”

“I did notice you kind of sit back once he went on that tangent about the big bang theory.”

We talked for thirty minutes outside of my car, recapping the stuff we loved about the event. We shared our favorite moments and he became sexier with each educated point, every insightful question. His mind was just as sexy as his face. Even though I was tired, the allure of his intellect was undeniable.

Tyrell seemed pleased with himself. “I knew you’d like it.”

“Yeah, I love learning new stuff.”

“Maybe we can talk about some more stuff we can learn together over dinner…” He looked at his watch. “It’s still early. It’s just a little after nine o’clock. There’s a lot of restaurants around here.”

“I’m actually tired,” I told him, feeling my phone vibrate in my bag. “It’s been a long day so I’m going to head home.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

I checked my phone and saw a text message from Russ. A flurry of butterflies swirled around my belly. Shoving my phone in my bag, I nodded. “Yeah.”

“I would say that the stars aren’t aligned for the night to end the way I was hoping, but…”

Cocking my head to the side, I looked up at him. “But it would take hundreds of years for us to see stars move,” I quoted the lecturer.

Even with disappointment dulling his eyes, a smile tugged at his sexy lips. “You were paying attention.”

“Of course.”

His face lit up as I answered. “So, I’ll see you soon?”

I giggled lightly. “When you have something specific planned, call me and we’ll set something up.”

“I really like spending time with you, Nina.”

“I like spending time with you, too.”

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Until next time.”

“Until next time.”

He dropped a swift kiss against my lips before he opened my car door and helped me inside.

“Thank you for coming to this with me,” he said, staring at me adoringly. “Get home safe, okay?”

“You too, Tyrell.”

He closed my door, and I lifted my hand.

He gave me an awkward yet cute wave in return before making his trek down the sidewalk.

Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile.

Tyrell was a pleasure to look at and our dates were nice, educational, and interesting. But I needed to rest up for the unexpected, last-minute date I had lined up for tomorrow.

 

2

Pulling up to an upscale Mediterranean restaurant on Monday, my brows crumpled with confusion. I was looking forward to seeing Russ, and it honestly didn’t matter what we did. But since I was expecting something fun and exciting from him, I had to assume we were going to be extras in a movie that was filming at the restaurant.

“Because we can’t just be having dinner,” I murmured, looking at the stone building he’d picked for our date.

The restaurant was tucked away in a nice subdivision just outside of Richland. I was unfamiliar with the neighborhood, but the restaurant and surrounding stores and homes appeared expensive. It looked to be a high-end establishment, and the people I saw walking in were well-dressed. The classical music became louder as I killed the engine.

Checking the time and then my reflection, I stepped out of my car. Tugging at the formfitting black dress that hugged my curves and accentuated my large breasts and plump ass, I made my way to the entrance of the restaurant.

“Nina Ford,” a deep, velvety voice called out to me as soon as I stepped up onto the sidewalk.

My name rolled off his tongue, and his voice cascaded down my back like a chill. A smile tugged at my lips as I slowed to a stop. Brushing my thick, blown-out hair over my shoulder, I turned my head toward the voice. As soon as our eyes met, I felt it.

Russell Long and I had more than just sparks between us. From the moment we met at that party at the beginning of June, we just clicked. I wasn’t sure if it was the ease with which we connected, or that when we were in each other’s presence, we were our most authentic selves. But the fact of the matter was that he was irresistible.

And not just because the sex was mind-blowing.

Our energy was electric, and as soon as we were in the same space, we were drawn together like magnets. Our conversations were effortless and it took willpower to keep our hands off each other.

“Nina, Nina, Nina…”

Licking my lips, I eyed the sexy man in front of me. Letting my gaze travel up and down all six feet, three inches of him, I admired the way his black suit fit his tall, muscular build. His full lips spread into a blindingly white smile, and his thick brows hovered over beautiful brown eyes. He was always well-groomed, and his low-cut fade with deep waves and well-kept beard were a testament to that. His dark caramel complexion was flawless, except for the tattoo that peeked from the collar of his shirt. I knew that particular tat ran from his neck over his shoulder and down his arm.

And I can’t wait to trace my fingers over it later.

The man was physical perfection.

He had the face of a model with the build of a professional basketball player, and my body always seemed to react to the sight of him.

“You look incredible,” he breathed as he approached me.

“As do you,” I returned, checking him out one more time before locking eyes with him. “This suit is fire. You clean up well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a suit before.”

He brushed his hands down his lapels and did a pose.

The man knew he looked good.

He reached his hand out and grabbed mine. “I had to step my game up because I knew you would be coming correct.” Lifting my arm in the air, he licked his lips and took me in again slowly. “And like always, you didn’t disappoint.”

“Well, you said to dress up because we had dinner reservations so”—I did a turn so he could get a view of the back as well—“I dressed accordingly.”

He let out a low whistle. “You wore this to tempt me, didn’t you?” He put his free hand on my left cheek and gave it a little smack. “You know how I feel about your ass.”

I feigned ignorance. “Oh, you like this?”

He yanked me forward until my body was flush with his. I had to look up because even in my four-inch heels, he was still a couple of inches taller than me.

g hands and jiggled it. “You know you look good as hell.”

I kissed him again. “And I taste even better.”

“That’s the truth.” He moved his hands to the small of my back and then smirked. “And I look forward to tasting you again.”

“Sooner rather than later,” I promised as a car crept by us. Assuming we had an audience, I pushed away from him and quirked an eyebrow. “But first, I believe we have reservations.”

He adjusted himself and let out a little chuckle. “Yeah, let’s go before you start something we don’t have time to finish.”

I turned toward the restaurant’s front doors, but Russ grabbed my hand.

“Not that way. Follow me,” he instructed.

“Is there another way in?” I wondered as I allowed him to usher me toward the car that had stopped nearby.

“No,” he answered before opening the back door for me. “We’re making a quick stop before dinner.”

I noticed the rideshare sticker on the windshield and I looked back at him. Narrowing my eyes suspiciously, I put a hand on my hip. “Russ, what’s going on?”

“Do you trust me?”

“As far as I can throw you.”

He laughed. “Nina, get your sexy ass in this car.”

With a wide smile and not another word, I slid into the backseat. He closed the door for me and then walked around to the other side. As soon as he got in, the car pulled off.

I turned to him. “Where are we headed?”

“When have you known me to ruin a surprise?” There was a twinkle in his eyes.

I felt the rush of excitement and a flutter in my belly that I always got before a date with Russ. We’d met two months ago, connected instantly, and had eight memorable dates together, seeing each other one or two days a week since we’d met. I had no doubt date number nine would be something to remember. I was a little worried when I thought we were just going to have dinner. But as always, Russ came through.

And has further piqued my interest.

I stared out the window, looking around for clues. “So how long are you in town for?”

“Just a couple of days. I have to head to Toronto on Tuesday,” he answered. “Tonight is my only free night.”

I turned to face him. “So you only have one free night and you wanted to spend it with me?” I nodded appreciatively. “I get it.”

He let his head fall back and chuckled. “Yo, what is wrong with you?”

“Nothing! I’m just saying I get why you’d want to spend your only night off with me!” I smirked. “I’m kind of a big deal.”

“See, you play too much,” he told me, still amused. “And if you didn’t need what I got you, I wouldn’t be giving you this gift, because you’re already feeling yourself too much.”

“Feeling myself?” I cocked my head to the side. “You’re the one spending your only day off with me.”

He patted his pockets theatrically. “Let me make sure I have my receipts to take this shit back.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Are you denying that I’m a big deal?”

“Driver, I’d like for you to let her out right here, please,” Russ joked, causing me and the driver to both burst out laughing.

“Well, we’re just about here,” the driver stated, turning down an unmarked paved road.

“Excuse me, sir,” I called to the driver. “Can you tell me where I am?”

The young twentysomething man definitely knew the plan, as he gave me a sly look in the rearview mirror. “I’m under strict orders to not say anything and to enter the establishment through the back entrance.”

I gasped and then pouted. “So, you’re not going to tell me?”

He shook his head. “I cannot.”

I lowered my voice to a stage whisper. “Am I being abducted? Have I been taken?”

“No!” He glanced at Russ in the mirror. “Maybe you should tell her.”

Russ tried to hide his snickering behind his hand. “Naw, she’s good.”

“Good and missing,” I teased with a straight face. “The abduction started the moment I was supposed to eat at that Mediterranean spot but ended up at an abandoned warehouse. Wait until my dad hears the news that Russ and his accomplice”—I located the driver’s name on the front dashboard—“Matt snatched me in broad daylight.”

“What? No!” Matt yelped from the front seat. “Dude, tell

your girl what’s going on!”

Russ burst out laughing. “No, it’s cool. It’s cool. She’ll find out soon enough.” He looked over at me. “And I wouldn’t call this broad daylight. It’s technically early evening.”

“Snatched me up in broad dusklight.”

“Dusklight isn’t even a thing.”

I pursed my lips. “Semantics. The sun is still out. It’s almost dusk. And I’ve been taken.” Turning my attention to the driver, I leaned forward. “Have you seen the movie Taken? That was inspired by my dad.”

“She’s playing with you, man.” Russ chuckled. “You’re giving her an audience so she’s going to keep going.”

I tried to stop myself from smiling but I couldn’t contain it. Russ’s laugh was infectious, the situation was hilarious, and I was impressed by how well he knew me and my humor.

Even though I wanted to crack up, I held it together.

“You want to take your chances believing this kidnapper with all the secrets, or me, a certified big deal with a dad who has a particular set of skills?” I questioned.

Snickering, Matt shook his head. “I mean … he’s the one paying for the ride, and I don’t think he wants to ruin the surprise.”

“This is not funny,” I grumbled, still grinning at the two amused men. I craned my neck to see if I could make out a sign or a marquee that indicated where we were. “Let me pay attention so I can know what clues to give my father and the authorities. Where—?”

“This is for you,” Russ interrupted, pulling a bag from seemingly nowhere.

“You got me a gift for real?” My voice softened and my eyebrows flew up. “I thought you were bullshitting.” I took the bag from his hands and saw a shoebox inside. “Russ … is this why you asked me my shoe size a few weeks ago?”

“Open it.”

I pulled the box out of the bag and then flipped open the lid. “Oh, wow.”

I wasn’t a sneakerhead by any stretch of the imagination. But I loved fashion, and I loved anything that looked good on me. And the black-and-white abstract two-tone high-top sneakers that were in the box were hot.

“You like them?” he asked expectantly.

There was a hint of nervousness in his question that for

 forced my eyes to his immediately.

“I love them,” I gushed, pulling one of them out to get a closer look. “These are so cool.” Leaning forward, I planted a swift kiss against his smiling mouth. “Thank you!”

He sat back in his seat, a self-satisfied grin on his face. “You’re welcome. You can dress them up or down. They even look good with what you have on.”

I put the shoe next to my thigh and nodded. “Yeah, it does,” I agreed. “Where did you get these? I’ve never seen them before.”

“I designed them.”

“What?” I gasped. “You did?”

Grinning, he looked down at the shoe, almost bashful for a moment. “I like to design. So, I grabbed a pair of all whites and created this. With you in mind.” He looked up, locking eyes with me. “I don’t get to design as much as I’d like, but I’ve been inspired this summer.”

My stomach flipped. “Any particular reason you’ve been so inspired?”

He licked his lips. “Yeah. One.”

The heat crept up my neck and flushed my face.

“I’m glad you decided to wear black tonight,” he continued before I could respond. “You’re going to need these in a few minutes.”

“For what—?”

“Here you are,” the driver announced, slowing to a stop.

I looked around, at first only noticing the warehouse building and the minimal foot traffic. I saw about a dozen cars—including Russ’s—and still no signage.

“Thank you, man,” Russ said to the driver before jumping out of the car.

I’d put the shoe back into the box and returned the box to the bag by the time my door opened.

“I’m not getting out of this car until you tell me why you brought me to an abandoned warehouse,” I stated, crossing my arms stubbornly. Turning to the driver, I leaned toward the front seat. “Are you in on this, Matt? Is he paying you to pretend you never saw me?”

The man’s eyes bulged, and a panicky laugh escaped him. “What? No!”

“Sir, is this a setup?” I pointed to Russ with conviction. “Are you working with this man to abduct me? Why did he just pop his trunk?”

“Oh my God, Nina, stop fucking with Matt and let him leave.” Russ ducked his head back into the car. “I’m going to increase your tip for having to deal with her bullshit.” Russ extended his hand to me. “Let’s go, Nina.” 

’all are funny,” he commented. “I hope you enjoy your anniversary, ma’am.”

Surprised, my eyebrows shot up.

“Thank you,” Russ called out, closing the door behind me.

“Our anniversary?” I questioned as the car drove away.

“He assumed I was doing all of this for our anniversary, so I just let him believe it.” He shrugged, still holding my hand. “Let’s get you into your new shoes.”

I bit my lip as he led me the few steps to his car. “Oh, I need to wear these now?” I eyed him suspiciously, yet my smile grew. “What is going on?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

“You lied to me. You lied to Matt.” I shook my head. “Mm, mm, mm.”

He opened the passenger-side door for me. “Matt assumed, and I let him believe what he wanted to believe. And now that I think about it, didn’t we meet on a Sunday? It could be our anniversary.” He helped me sit sideways in the car, my feet still on the ground.

“We did meet on a Sunday, at the beginning of June,” I confirmed. “It’s been two months. I’d have to pull out my calendar to know the exact date.”

Crouching in front of me, he gently pulled my shoes off. “So, I didn’t lie to Matt.” He replaced my pumps with the sneakers he’d gotten me. “And you…” He looked up at me. “I’ve never lied to you.” As he laced up and tied the sneakers, he continued. “I’m going to always keep it real with you.”

“So does that mean you’re going to tell me what we’re doing here?”

He tossed the box with my heels inside them to the backseat. “Hell no.”

“Wow.”

He stood, helping me up along the way. Bringing his face close to mine, he whispered, “Enjoy the surprise.”

“I always do.”

“I got you the shoes for the date…” Licking his lips, he bypassed me and reached back into the car. Opening his glovebox, he pulled out a small velvet-covered box. “But when I was on my way from a meeting, I saw this and thought of you.” Popping it open, he presented it to me.

I gasped at the white-gold bangle with the twisted hook clasp. “Russ. This is beautiful. Thank you.”

“You like it?”

Ripping my eyes away from it, I stared up at him. “I love it.”

“Good.” He took the bracelet from the box and clasped it around my wrist. “Because it looks good on you.”

“Yes, it does. And it goes with almost everything.” Lacing my fingers with his, I gazed up at him. “You know what else looks good on me?”

“Everything.”

Grinning, I let him lead me toward an entrance. “You better stop flirting with me.”

His eyes danced and the excitement was teeming from his body. “Let’s go.” As we approached a door, he shook his head. “Oh, let me tip extra for the ride since you pulled that abduction stunt.”

I laughed. “He knew I was joking. If he didn’t, I would’ve immediately told him that I was a willing participant in anything having to do with you.” I checked him out. “I’m ready and willing, you hear me? Ready … and willing.”

He adjusted himself. “You better stop teasing me,” he warned.

“Or what?”

I saw his eyes flash.

He opened the door to allow me to enter first, but he caught me by my waist before I could breeze by him. “Remember this moment,” he whispered, sending a chill down my spine.

“Welcome to Sky High Tours!” a young woman greeted us, stealing my attention. “How can I help you?”

My skin was still heated from Russ’s warning, and since my mind was consumed with nasty thoughts, it took me a second to realize we weren’t in a random warehouse. We were in a hangar.

I gasped.

I wasn’t completely sure what was going on, but I felt excited. I loved the beauty, the colors, the perfection of the sky. And my intuition was telling me I was going to see it up close.

“Yes, we have reservations for seven forty-five,” Russ replied.

She checked the papers in her hand. “Mr. Long and Ms. Ford?”

“Yes.”

“Follow me. I’ll get you to Bruce.”

Two women who looked like they’d just had the ride of their lives were speaking to a man dressed similarly to the employee in front of us. There was 

someone working in a small office to the side and a couple sitting on a leather couch outside of that office. And since the big sliding doors on the opposite side of the building were opened, I saw a helicopter parked in the distance.

“… and the couple with the seven thirty reservation is getting briefed and will be taking off shortly,” she continued. “You can have a seat on the couch they just vacated. Bruce will be with you shortly with your forms.”

“I got them right here,” an older man announced, coming up to us from the side, waving clipboards in the air. “I just need you to fill out these forms and then we can get you squared away.” He looked me up and down before handing me my clipboard. “Have you read the rules and requirements?”

“I haven’t yet, but I will,” I assured him.

“I’ve read them and made sure we were in accordance before I paid for the experience,” Russ said firmly.

His curt tone caught my attention. I glanced up at him.

“Very well. We may have to verify,” the older gentleman stated before turning on his heels and scurrying away.

“Let’s have a seat,” Russ suggested, pointing to the leather couch. His tone was back to normal, but his expression was still perplexing.

“Are you okay?” I wondered as I took a seat.

“Yes, of course. How are you feeling? Are you surprised?”

“I’m so surprised. And I’m excited. How did you even come up with something like this?”

“I know how much you love the sky, so I’ve been planning this for a little while now.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“This is…” I let my sentence trail off as I shook my head. “I had no idea what to expect, and you just continue to blow my mind.”

He slipped his arm around my shoulder and leaned over to me. With his lips against my ear, he whispered, “I plan to do that repeatedly over the course of tonight.”

My lower body clenched. Turning my head so our lips touched, I let out a soft whimper that I knew drove him crazy. “Promise?”

He cleared his throat and placed the clipboard in his lap to cover the growing bulge. “We need to sign these consent forms before they’ll let us fly and then I’m taking you home.”

I smirked. “What about dinner?”

Laughing, I focused my attention on the rules of the aircraft. Everything seemed pretty standard, and I signed the waiver.

“I’m going to run to the restroom before we take off,” I told him after we gave our clipboards to the man who’d greeted us when we walked in.

“Yeah, I should probably do the same.” He rose to his feet and then helped me to mine.

The restroom sign was not far from where we were. The men’s room was first. Russ disappeared through the door. Around the corner, the women’s room was waiting for me. It didn’t take me very long, and after washing my hands and lathering on lotion, I exited. I’d barely gotten out the door when I was stopped by the older Sky High Tours employee.

“Hi, Ms. Ford. Just wanted to catch you while you were alone.”

Instantly, I was uncomfortable. “Oh, really?” Continuing to walk until I was in the main part of the hangar, I waited until I could be seen by others before I turned to him. “What’s up?”

“I’ve reached out to my supervisor. He should be getting back to me at any minute now. I just need to verify something—you wrote down that you weigh two hundred fifty pounds. Is that accurate, or would you like to use our scale located in the women’s room?”

“I read the rules and regulations and I wrote down my height and weight. I don’t understand what the issue is.”

“Well, I know a lot of people round their weight down, so I just wanted to double-check. If you’re two fifty, we shouldn’t have an issue. It’s still on the heavier side, but if you’re well over that number, that’s when we run into problems. We don’t want to overload the aircraft. That’s why I wanted to touch base with my supervisor to make sure you can fly with us.”

My eyebrow quirked. “Why wouldn’t I be able to fly?”

“What’s going on here?” Russ asked, coming up beside us. He put his hand on my lower back and assessed me. “Is everything okay?”

I cocked my head to the side. “This man was about to explain why I might not be able to fly today, even though I qualify.”

Before Russ could say anything, the man tried to explain himself. “Our tours have a weight and size restriction due to the helicopter’s design. My supervisor should be calling me back in the next couple of minutes to let me know if she can fly. I’m just verifying that the helicopter assigned to you is one that can accommodate her size.”

I made a face. “No—”

“I spoke to your supervisor and made sure everything was good before booking this tour,” Russ informed him in a low tone. “Maybe you should’ve waited on that call before coming over here and saying anything without all the information. Not knowing what you’re doing and then not getting clarity first is a problem. And I don’t like problems.”

“I wasn’t trying to make a problem,” the man explained. “I was just—”

“Overstepping,” Russ interjected.

“The aircraft can only accommodate passengers under two hundred seventy-five pounds. I just wanted to make sure she was in line with our guidelines.”

“Did her form say she wasn’t?”

“Well, no. B-but she looks—”

Russ stepped up. “I’d tread very lightly before finishing that sentence if I were you.”

“She’s beautiful.” He turned to me. “You’re beautiful. My wife is also a bit heavy. So I meant no disrespect. It’s just that people lie about their weight, and it’s my job to make sure the aircraft doesn’t exceed the maximum weight of two hundred seventy-five pounds per person.” His phone rang and he pointed to it. “It’s my supervisor.” He answered the phone, and I could see the defeated look on his face and the change in his tone. “Yes, sir. Okay. Yeah. Yes. Okay.”

“Are you okay?” Russ asked me. “I’m sorry he’s on some dumb shit.”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. He just took me by surprise, that’s all. I’m cool. I mean, he basically told me I was going to bring the helicopter down.”

His eyes darkened. “He said that shit?”

“No, no.” I fanned the thought away. “I was exaggerating. But he did come with that energy though.”

“Well, first and foremost, that’s some bullshit. Second, I would never put you in a situation that wasn’t safe,” he assured me.

“This is an amazing date idea. Even with his”—I gestured to the employee—“bullshit, I’m excited about this.”

“Have you ever done this before?”

I shook my head. “Never.” I reflected on why I hadn’t ever done it and the weight restriction crossed my mind. “You called and told them how much I weighed?” I wondered.

“I read the guidelines, so I called and asked some questions.

No big deal.”

“But how did you know what I weighed?”

“I guessed. I know how it feels when I pick you up. I know how it feels when I pick up weights at the gym. I did some quick math.” He shrugged. “I knew you weren’t at the max, so I called and talked to the owner of the company.”

“Oh, wow.”

I was impressed.

Before I could say more, the employee cleared his throat. He refused to make eye contact as he beckoned to us. “You two are cleared. Let me introduce you to your pilot. Follow me.”

“Let me get your name,” Russ requested. “I want to make sure your supervisor knows the type of bullshit you’re on.”

Staring up at Russ, I’d never wanted him more.

After a brief introduction, the pilot launched into a safety overview of what to do and not to do. Once he answered our questions and felt confident that we understood the directions he had for us, we followed him to the helipad. I took everything in, and excitement ran through my entire body as we approached.

“You ready for this?” Russ asked me.

“Absolutely.”

“Let’s do it.”

The noise-canceling headphones were slipped over my head, and then I was strapped into my seat, Russ next to me. We had a shoulder harness and a lap belt connecting us to the backseat. I tried to move around, and while the straps had enough give that I could lean to the left or right to see out of the windows, I was securely in my seat. It gave me peace of mind knowing that I wasn’t going anywhere. The pilot got himself situated on the right side of the helicopter—right in front of me.

“Are you ready for the ride of your life?” the pilot asked, his voice sounding different in the headset.

“Yes,” we said in unison.

“We’re going to be traveling about one thousand feet above ground, so the views of the sunset over the city will be incredible. Get your phones out and take as many pictures as you’d like. You can talk to each other freely through the headset. Hit the red button to get my attention and I’ll switch to your channel. Otherwise, I’ll be back and forth between being on your channel and being on the channel with the control center. Neither of you are

afraid of heights, correct?” He waited for us to confirm before he continued. “Because there’s a mute button if you start screaming. The entire trip will take about fifteen minutes, but it’ll feel like longer if this is your first time. Any questions before we begin?”

“No,” we said in unison.

We looked at each other, and I felt like my cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. I gripped the seat belt straps and closed my eyes to say a quick prayer.

“You nervous?” Russ wondered.

The pilot started the engine, startling me. I gasped before answering his question. “A little.”

“Just relax,” he said softly. “I got you.” Reaching over, he placed his long, thick fingers on my knee, just below my hemline. Gripping me reassuringly, he gave me a nod. “I got you.”

My lips parted but words didn’t come out immediately. The heat of his touch against my bare skin was disarming.

I wasn’t scared of the flight. I was just startled by the powerful blades whirring overhead. Even with the protective headphones, the sheer force of the propellers was loud. But I wasn’t about to remove his hand. I wasn’t scared, but I definitely felt better with his hand on me.

The pilot started communicating with air control or the ground crew, and I could only concentrate on the way the pads of his fingers caressed the skin just inside of my knee.

“You got me?” I murmured, turning my body so that our knees touched. My slight movement forced his hand to move up slightly.

“Yes.” He licked his thick lips slowly and his fingers were right below my hemline. “Just let me know how I can make you more comfortable. I want you to enjoy yourself.”

The throbbing between my legs was so intense that I had to close my eyes. “Russ…”

“Yes?” He paused. “Nina, look at me.”

I opened my eyes.

Toying with the hem of my dress, he held my gaze with a quiet intensity. The vibration throughout the helicopter only added to the feeling that washed over me.

“Tell me what you want,” he demanded quietly.

I let out a couple of heavy breaths. “Russ…” I squeezed my legs together to try to alleviate the pressure.

“I told you I got you, and you know I mean it.” His hand was trapped between my thighs. “So, talk to me, Nina. Tell me what you want.”

y inner thigh. “I mean, I’m looking forward to the sunset and the ride itself. But I really want to see the—oh!”

His fingers climbed up my thick thighs until he brushed against my lace panties. And even though he’d just barely touched me, my entire body felt a jolt.

His eyes bored into mine. “You want to see the stars?”

“Yes,” I breathed. My dress rode higher as my knees fell farther apart. My whole body was on fire. “I do.”

He dragged his finger across the damp area of the lace.

His eyes closed and his fingers stilled. “Well…” He opened his eyes and the lust in them caused me to get wetter. “We should be up here long enough to give you what you want.”

“Prepare for takeoff,” the pilot announced.

“I’m prepared.” Russ slipped his fingers under the front my G-string. “I’m good and ready,” he reported. “What about you, Nina? Are you good and ready?”

His fingers ran down my slit, rendering me speechless.

“Nina,” he coaxed with the sexy way he said my name. “Are you good?”

“Yes.” I managed to choke the words out as the pads of his fingers brushed the hood of my clit.

The helicopter jolted as it started lifting into the stunning sky.

“Oh my God,” I cried as his fingers slid between my wet lips.

He exhaled roughly. “Yeah, here we go.”

Adrenaline moved through my veins, and I was hot all over.

His finger slid up and down my slit. As he was teasing me, he started moving in a circular direction, stimulating my clit.

I grabbed his bicep and tried not to scream. “Russ,” I moaned, a little louder than anticipated. “Look.”

I had to pretend I was talking about the view.

My heart pounded with the fear of being caught and the excitement of getting off.

I hoped the pilot couldn’t pick up on the neediness with which I said Russ’s name. I didn’t want us to get caught. I didn’t want us to get arrested. I didn’t want any trouble. But as he slid a finger inside of me, I cared about getting off more than any of that other stuff.

“Do you see that?” Russ asked huskily.

“Oh my God,” I groaned. The fluttering I felt in my core intensified with each of his ministrations. “Yes.”

“The lake looks good, doesn’t it?”

“So good.” My eyes closed, and each time he slid in and out of me, I felt jolts of pleasure. “So fucking good.”

“All that water. I wish I could take a dip in it … feel it all over my face.” Russ caught himself and cleared his throat.

“Dowdy Lake is…” The pilot spouted some facts about the lake, and I didn’t hear one thing he said.

My hips moved as much as they could with the lap belt restraining me. Grinding against his fingers, I started chasing the high of the release Russ was building. I rocked into his hand as I stared into his eyes. The slight choppiness of the ascension only aided in getting me off. But when his thumb passed over my clit while his fingers were slowly pumping inside me, I gasped loudly.

The tension within my body centered itself right where he was touching.

“Oh my God,” I panted.

“We haven’t even really started the tour yet, and it’s already an amazing view,” the pilot remarked.

“It sure is,” Russ agreed. “Absolutely beautiful.” His eyes were fixated on me as the helicopter dipped. “You think so, too, Nina? You like it?”

“Yes, yes.” I nodded, clenching around his fingers. “Russ!”

“Oh, I see it,” he groaned, twisting his fingers and finding my G-spot.

I was breathless.

My arm flew around his neck, and I brought him as close as possible. Because of the shoulder harness, he wasn’t able to get as close as I wanted him and still keep stroking me the way he was stroking me. So, our kiss didn’t last long, but our lips met long enough to set me off.

“Shit!” I hissed, bucking against his hand. I forgot all about the mute button or the fact that the pilot could hear everything. “Russsssssssssss.”

His thumb rubbed circles against my clit while his fingers remained inside me, skillfully teasing my spot internally. “The pilot knows what he’s doing,” he assured me as the helicopter tipped to the side as it turned. “Open your eyes and look at the view, baby. Open your eyes.”

I opened them long enough for my body

to surrender to him.

“That’s it,” he growled. “That’s my girl. That’s my girl.”

My eyes rolled to the back of my head. Heat radiated from his touch, and I let out a muffled moan as my thighs began to quiver.

“Russ,” I whimpered.

I’d reached the point of no return. His voice, combined with the way he skillfully played with my pussy, collided with the situation and the way he was looking at me. He was the match to my fuse, and it took restraint for me not to scream as the explosion erupted within me.

“That’s it,” he rasped as I spasmed against his hand. “You’re doing so good. That’s it.”

Pleasure emanated from my core.

My body jerked, straining against the seat belt as my hips rose off the seat. For a few seconds, none of my other senses worked. All I could do was feel. My skin tingled, my heart raced, my nipples hurt, and my entire lower body felt weak.

Russ slid his fingers from within me, and when I opened my eyes, I found him smiling at me. “Now that we’ve reached flying altitude, do you feel better?”

“I feel so much better,” I answered honestly, tugging my dress back down. I noticed the bulge in his pants and smirked. “I’ll have to repay you for taking such good care of me.”

He grabbed his thick bulge. “I look forward to it.”

A shiver ran through me.

Glancing at the pilot and then back at Russ, I made a face. “I didn’t expect the ride to feel like that, so I hope I wasn’t too loud.”

He reached over and kissed me again. “I think you held it together very well.”

“I’ve had people up here screaming and crying,” the pilot chimed in. “You sounded excited and nervous, maybe a little alarmed. A few outbursts calling for your boyfriend is nothing.”

My eyes bulged as I stared at Russ. He looked like he was trying as hard as I was not to laugh.

“Okay, thank you,” I finally replied.

Feeling warm and tingly, I relaxed into my seat and smiled at Russ. “And thank you,” I whispered.

He licked his fingers and smirked. “No, thank you.” ...