Page 53 of Spark
Hank and Blondie escorted me outside where a car was waiting to drive me to the runway. It was only a ten-minute walk from here, but I suppose they preferred the two-minute drive instead. Ushered into the backseat of a pretty black Audi, Hank took the driver’s seat while Blondie sat in the front passenger. I rolled my eyes when the child locks engaged the moment the car started. Like I was going to jump out of a moving vehicle and flee.
Idiots.
When we reached the runway, my eyes fell directly onto the small private jet with the name Air Guard on the side with the triangular symbol I saw on the letterhead in Darren’s office. Hank pulled the car over and opened my door for me. I ignored his hand when he tried to help me out, gathering my skirt in my hand instead. The stairs to the jet were already open, and I found myself getting nervous as Hank shut my door. I’d actually never flown before. All my family vacations as a child, which weren’t many, had been by car, and I’d been too damn busy with school and work to vacay anywhere requiring a plane ticket. I didn’t even have a damn passport.
My breath caught in my throat when I saw Darren step out of the plane and onto the tarmac where he waited for me. I found myself unwilling to move from the car.
“Miss Jaden,” Hank suddenly said still standing by the door. I looked over at him, unable to hide the scowl on my face. “It has been a pleasure watching over you,” he said with a warm smile.
“Fuck you, Hank,” I scoffed and headed toward the plane.
Darren’s eyes watched my every move as I made my way toward him. I felt my body vibrate with rage, as he looked me up and down in obvious approval of my appearance. When I reached him, my eyes immediately darted from him to the plane, unable to stand that possessive look in his gaze.
“Ready to go home?” he asked, barely able to hide the smugness in his voice.
Of course, I had to say yes and force myself to admit that his estate was my home. It’s what he wanted to hear.
“Yes, Darren,” I replied sadly, my eyes still locked on the plane.
I suddenly felt him grab me and pull me to him, my hands coming up to stop at his chest to maintain some distance while my mouth released an anxious gasp.
“Look at me when you speak to me,” he said, his voice sharp and demanding.
My eyes instantly snapped up to his, the warning in his tone enough to curb my stubbornness but not enough to hide my glare.
“Yes, Darren, I’m ready to go home,” I clipped angrily.
On a smirk, Darren dipped down and wasted no time claiming my mouth in an intense kiss. I gripped his arms as I held myself up against him, maintaining my dignity as I gave him what he wanted.
When he was done, I felt myself failing to find my breath. He was still a hell of a kisser.
“Go,” he said, turning me toward the plane, and my nerves immediately reached a new level as I took the first step up the stairs.
Ducking his head into the cabin, Darren ushered me in, and I found myself surrounded by a cream-colored cabin of leather seats, carpeted floors, and mahogany cabinets. Darren guided me to a single seat by the window, and I sat down while my eyes traveled everywhere, noticing everything I could. My first time on a plane, and it would have to be a damn private jet of obvious luxury and comfort. Darren took a seat across from me, crossing an ankle at his knee. He pulled out his phone to make a call.
“We’re on our way,” he said to whoever. He was silent for a moment as he listened to the person on the other line. “We’ll discuss it when I get in,” he said and then hung up.
An unfamiliar popping sound came from across the way, and I shot my gaze over to notice the stairs had been pulled in by some guy who wore what looked like a pilot’s uniform. I could feel Darren’s eyes on me as I watched the guy latch the door when it dawned on me I probably shouldn’t be staring at him, mostly because he had a penis and all.
My eyes traveled back to Darren’s, and I found him absolutely glaring at me. Anxiety flooded my veins while I felt myself shrinking back into my seat, my gaze shifting apologetically to the floor. He seemed to relax after that.
A few short seconds later, the same man who had drawn my attention earlier came over to our seats and addressed Darren. I kept my eyes on the floor.
“Excuse me, sir, the captain is about ready. We’ll be taking off shortly,” he said.
“Thank you, Max,” Darren replied with a nod, and the man left without another word.
As soon as I heard the man enter the cockpit, the engines of the jet roared to life, and my pulse quickened. I’d heard takeoff was similar to a roller coaster ride, and though I loved roller coasters, they were only a few seconds at least and not hundreds of thousands of feet in the air. I felt myself grip the edge of the chair as I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing. I’d dealt with so much worse, so why the fuck was I so nervous?
Because in a few short minutes, nothing but thousands of miles of air will be below you… and you could blow up.
“Jaden,” came Darren’s voice, and I immediately opened my eyes to acknowledge him. “You seem nervous,” he said, his eyes focusing solely on me.
“I’m fine,” I retorted, looking away.
“If you prefer your lying ass to spend the twelve-hour flight over my knee, I can easily make that happen,” he threatened, his eyes cold and menacing.
Oh, just give it up, Jaden.