Star Crossed (Starlight #3) (5 page)

Chapter 4

Despite his bad boy reputation, Adam is the picture of responsibility as he prepares the plane.

Once he’s got me buckled in, he makes two careful passes of the aeroplane, checking everything thoroughly.

I could kiss him for being so cautious. I get the feeling he’s doing it to put me at ease, as well as general protocol.

By the time Adam hauls himself into the seat next to me, I’m feeling almost calm. Although I can’t deny I’m excited about our mystery trip.

‘Somewhere cold?’ I confirm, as he checks my buckle again, and then straps himself in. ‘The Alps?’

Adam just smiles enigmatically, and flicks a few switches. The cockpit flares to life, and there’s a roar beneath us as the engine sounds.

It’s so powerful I feel myself being lifted up and down in my seat.

‘
You nervous?’ asks Adam, turning to me.

I shake my head.
‘I trust you.’

‘
Good,’ he replies, fitting a helmet with radio receiver to his head. ‘You’re in totally safe hands. I’ve made this flight plenty of times. And I’ve been flying for five years now. It was an obsession for a while.’

I smile at him, imagining this. I guess boys with their toys is just one of those things.

‘In a moment I’ll be checking in with air traffic control,’ he explains. ‘So I won’t be able to speak to you so easily. If you get nervous, just tap my leg, ok? I can cancel out my headset once we’re airborne.’

I nod gratefully.

‘I don’t think I’ll get nervous,’ I say.

Adam smiles.
‘I don’t think so either,’ he says. ‘So let’s get up there.’

I hardly have a moment to consider what this means, when Adam pulls the flight control down, letting the roaring engine take control of the wheels.

We’re instantly propelled forward, into the empty airfield, and Adam steers us expertly towards a long runway.

Wow…

This is nothing like being on a commercial plane. I can sense how little there is separating me from the outside world. And the wheels bumping beneath us remind me of how light-weight this small craft is.

As we pick up speed Adam
checks in with air traffic control, and I hear the tinny sound of a reply on his headset.

Then he releases the throttle, and with a loud roar
, the plane zooms along the runway.

Adam pulls the controls towards him, and with an almighty whoosh, we’re suddenly airborne.

My heart is in my mouth, but I’m totally thrilled. It’s all so incredibly immediate, being in this small plane. You can feel the change in gravity as the land falls away. It’s absolutely incredible.

I’ve flown in aeroplanes before, but this is no comparison.

I lean forward, staring out into the blue sky, with a crazy smile plastered on my face. I am totally loving this.

Beside me, Adam checks out of his radio, and turns to grin at me.

‘You like it?’ he shouts, above the din of the cockpit.

‘
I
love
it!’ I scream back. ‘This is so awesome!’

The plane swoops, turns, and then sets a steady course. And all the while I’m psyched. Adam’s right. This is a total buzz. I can see why he loves it. Flying like this is
like being a bird in the sky. It’s absolute freedom.

We fly steady for a while, and soon the green United Kingdom drop
s away to deep blue ocean.

‘
You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?’ I yell.

Adam smiles maddeningly, and shakes his head.

‘See if you can guess,’ he shouts back.

I stare down at the sea trying to work out what angle we’ve left England.

Somewhere cold….

It looks like we’re heading north.
So maybe Sweden? Or Norway. They’re both cold countries.

After a while I give up trying to guess, and just enjoy the
flight. We head up into the clouds. And it doesn’t seem long before another green land is beneath us.

I watch in wonder at the patchwork of fields and buildings unfurl, and quickly become ice and snowy peaks.

Where are we?

I glance at Adam, but he’s not telling. He taps his radio, and I hear him check in with air traffic control again.

Then the plane’s nose points downwards, and Adam takes us into a gentle descent. I can make out an array of neat-looking ovals on the ground, and try to work out what they are.

Houses? Something else? From the sky above, they look like alien pods. There’s nothing else for miles around. So I guess this is where we’re going, which only adds to the mystery.

I turn it around in my mind as we approach the landing, but I really have no idea. As we touch down on a tiny runway surrounded by snow, I haven’t a clue where Adam has taken me.

‘
Oh my God,’ I say, as the plane steadies to a halt, and Adam cuts the engine. ‘That was totally amazing.’

I’m flushed with adrenalin from the thrill of it all.

‘Really?’ asks Adam. He looks delighted.

‘
It was the coolest thing ever,’ I reply.

‘
I thought you might like it,’ says Adam. ‘A lot of girls would have freaked. But not you Summer Evans.’

‘
So,’ I say, smiling at the compliment. ‘Where in the hell are we?’

‘
You couldn’t guess?’ he teases.

‘
You know I can’t,’ I reply.

‘
Ok,’ grins Adam removing his radio headset. ‘I’ll put you out of your misery. We’re in Finland.’

Finland?

‘Wow!’ I exclaim. ‘You don’t do things by halves.’

He smiles.
‘So,’ he says, ‘any idea what we might be doing here?’

I shrug.
‘I honestly haven’t a clue,’ I admit. ‘When you said snow… I thought maybe skiing. But I didn’t see any mountains or slopes. Just those alien pod things laid out in rows.’

Adam laughs.
‘Alien pod things,’ he muses. ‘You might not be too far out there.’

‘
So what is it we’re doing?’ I ask. ‘You have to put me out of my misery.’

‘
Do I?’ he teases.

‘
Yes! You’ve totally succeeded in making it a mystery. So spill the beans!’

Adam laughs, and puts his hands on my hips.

‘Ok,’ he says. ‘We’re going to be staying in a glass igloo.’

‘
A what?’

‘
A glass igloo,’ he confirms. ‘Special thermal glass. It means you can sleep under the northern lights and stargaze. But you’re completely warm.’

Oh wow!
Northern lights!

‘
Seriously?’ I’m grinning. ‘Adam Morgan,’ I say. ‘You sure now how to live the rock and roll lifestyle. Glass igloos huh? That sounds… Futuristic.’

‘
They’re quite a new invention,’ he confirms.

‘
So this is what we’re here to do?’ I ask. ‘Stargaze?’

Adam pulls me a little closer.

‘I can’t think of anything nicer to do with you.’

‘
But what about rehearsal?’ I ask.

‘
We’ll have time for that too,’ promises Adam. ‘I think this will be a really inspiring environment for you.’

His hand slips into
mine.

‘
I’ve got some warmer clothes waiting for us in the airport,’ he says.

I look around in confusion.

‘There’s an airport?’ It looks like an empty airfield to me.

‘
Well,’ he clarifies, pointing to a tiny brick building. ‘That little place over there.’

He leads me to it, and as we move away from the bulk of the pla
ne, the freezing wind hits me. I’m glad he’s arranged something for us to wear.

‘
What temperature is it?’ I ask.

‘
I think it’s about minus 7 Celsius,’ he says. ‘Cold enough to freeze a river solid.’

He draws me tighter as we walk.

‘Don’t worry,’ he says. ‘I’ll keep you warm.’

Inside the building is a small desk, where I guess they arrange customs check-ins. There’s a tiny old lady bent over it, and she beams when she sees Adam.

‘
Mr Morgan,’ she says in a strong Finnish accent. ‘The clothes you ordered are back here.’

Adam walks me into a smaller room, where
a set of male and female ski clothes are hung on a small rail.

I eye him uncertainly.
‘You know my dress size?’

‘
Of course. I just asked Jenny Grogan,’ he replies. ‘Sing-Win already supply your stage clothes. This is just an extension of that.’

I smile, slipping a pair of pink ski pants off the hanger.

‘Pink?’ I smile.

‘
I imagined you looking so cute in them. Put them on.’

I do as he tells me, dressing in pint ski pants, a light grey fleece, heavy-soled hiking boots, and a thick duck-down jacket.

Adam’s outfit is in muted camouflage colours. It suits him, I think, as he slips on the pants, and finishes with the jacket.

Once we’re both dressed, Adam helps me on with large leather mitts, and
plants a furry trapper hat on my head.

He’s right about not being cold. In this gear I’m alr
eady overheating. I can’t wait to get back outdoors in the snow.

Adam eyes me.
‘You ready to go on an adventure?’ he asks.

I smile at him.
‘Always,’ I reply.

Chapter 5

In the valley beneath us, are twenty or so glass igloos, laid out in neat rows on the snow. The sun is setting, and in the dusk light, the igloos are lit warmly from within. They look like glowing orange jewels set against the white snow.

‘I can’t believe this,’ I breathe, as we approach the igloos. ‘They look incredible.’

The whole landscape beyond is snowy wilderness, with thick pine forest. I’m guessing it’s going to get very cold at night.

‘We’re really going to sleep in one of these?’ I’m staring at them in wonder.

‘
That’s the plan,’ says Adam. ‘We’ve got the whole place to ourselves too.’

‘
What do you mean?’

‘
I mean, I made sure there’s no-one else in the other igloos,’ Adam explains.

‘
You made sure? You mean you paid to rent all these igloos?’

I’m still getting to grips with Adam’s wealth and generosity. Sometimes it seems too much.
I’m guessing just one of these igloos must cost a fortune to rent overnight. And he’s paid for over twenty.

‘
Relax,’ he says, sensing my unease. ‘There’s no point in earning all the money I do unless you can spend it on the girl you love.’

He grins at me mischievously.

‘Besides,’ he adds. ‘I’ve got a few plans for what we might get up to in our igloo. I wouldn’t want to risk we’d be overlooked.’

I feel my cheeks heating up. I’m remembering our earlier conversation about him tying me up.

‘What’s that building?’ I ask, partly to distract attention from my red face. ‘It looks like a farmhouse.’

At the edge of the igloos is a huge log building.
Like an enormous cabin.

‘
It used to be,’ says Adam. ‘This was once a reindeer farm.’

‘
Seriously?’ I love the idea of that.

‘
Yeah,’ says Adam. ‘There’s a still a lot of reindeer around. We’ll see some. That main building is where we’ll be eating dinner, and having a few hot cocktails.’

‘
Hot cocktails?’

‘
They really take the edge off the cold,’ explains Adam. ‘You’ll see. There’s a traditional Finnish sauna too,’ he adds. ‘And an ice plunge pool if you’re brave enough.’

It’s difficult to keep the smile from my face. Adam was right. I have forgotten about everything to do with
Sing-Win. This is just such an amazing place. I can’t wait to explore it with Adam.

‘
This is amazing,’ I breathe.

‘
C’mon,’ he says, taking my hand. ‘I want to show you around.’

Adam walks me down to the igloos, the snow crunching under our boots. The snow is uncertain underfoot, and I hold onto him tightly to begin with. But I soon find my footing and start enjoying the sensation of being out in the snow.

‘
I’ll show you around first,’ says Adam. ‘Then we can grab some dinner, and some of those hot cocktails I was talking about.’

He leads me close
to the igloos, and I grow wide-eyed. They look even more amazing up close. The thermal glass is crystal clear, and they have luxurious-looking beds.

‘
This way,’ says Adam, leading me away from the igloos.

‘
We aren’t going inside?’ I ask, disappointed.

‘
Later,’ he promises. ‘First I want to show you something else.’

He guides me through the igloos, and on to what looks like a hill, covered in snow.

Even though the igloos are not far away, it feels as though we’re deep in the wilderness now. There is a dark forest beyond us, and the day is turning to dusk.

As we round the base of the hill, there’s a noise from within the trees.
Like a wild animal.

I start, and Adam
steps quickly forward, shielding me.

It’s such a naturally protective gesture, and he does it so fast, I hardly realise what’s happening.

But to my shock, I realise Adam has a knife clenched in his hand.

Where did he get
that from?

I don’t know what disturbs me more. The fact he’s carrying a knife, or that he
drew it so quickly. One minute we were holding hands, the next he’s armed.

My heart is pumping fa
st in my chest, wondering what in the hell is going on. And then a deer crashes out of the trees.

It stands stock still, staring at us, terrified. And then the animal dashes back into the protection of the trees.

Adam lowers his knife, and looks at me. Then he sheathes the blade in his waistband.

There’s a long pause where neither of us speak. And then I break the silence.

‘You’re carrying a
knife
?’ I don’t know whether to be angry, or terrified.

Adam’s expression is dark, like he’s wondering what to tell me.

‘I always carry a knife out here,’ he admits finally. ‘There’s a danger of wild animals in the forest. Best to be protected.’

‘
I didn’t notice you were carrying it,’ I say, wondering how he could have hidden such an important thing from me.

‘
I…’ Adam hesitates, rubbing his head. ‘It’s a habit Summer. Nothing more. From where I grew up. It’s quite natural for me to carry a knife.’

‘
But it’s not just something you carry,’ I say, my voice wavering in alarm. ‘You drew it. Like it was… An automatic reflex or something.’

I’m still reeling from how fast the knife appeared in his h
and. His past in Northern Ireland is coming back to haunt me.

‘
Adam,’ I say quietly, ‘I need to know. Have you ever… Did you ever use a knife in a fight?’

Horrible thoughts are flashing through my brain. I have a bad habit of picking dangerous men. My last boyfriend was proof of that. Have I inadvertently wandered into another relationship with a violent man?

Adam looks devastated at the accusation.

‘
Summer,’ he says, ‘You need to understand the kind of place I grew up. We all needed knives for self-defence. A weapon has saved my life more than once. But I’ve only ever used it to defend myself. To warn someone off.’

He looks so sincere that I have to believe him. But the whole situation has disconcerted me deeply.

I knew Adam had a shady background. And of course, I knew he was adept with a knife. I saw him throw one with incredible accuracy, within two inches of Dez’s head.

But s
omehow, the idea of him carrying a knife so naturally, and being so ready to draw it… I feel devastated by the discovery. Mostly, I feel upset for Adam.

What demons is Adam Morgan still fighting?

‘We need to talk about this,’ I say, close to tears.

‘
We don’t.’ Adam’s face is hard suddenly, like he’s closing down.

Where did that come from?

I feel as though the fun mischievous Adam has vanished. Like our connection has been severed.

Part of me wants to run away. To pretend none of Adam’s darker side really exists. But a deeper part needs to help him, to protect him.

I won’t abandon you Adam Morgan!

I take his hand gently.

‘We do,’ I say.

Something flickers deep in his eyes. He squeezes my hand, and looks
down.

There’s a long moment, where I think he might push me a
way.

Then his blue eyes flick back to mine, and there’s so much sadness there, I feel as though my heart is breaking.

‘Summer…’ he begins. ‘I do… I do want to share myself with you. I’ve thought about what you said before. That a woman protects her man from the inside. I believe you. But I don’t know if I’m ready.’

It’s such a heartfelt admission, that I want to hug him close. I feel as though he’s given me so much, in that one statement.

‘I’ve got time,’ I whisper. ‘I’ve got all the time in the world. I’ll wait until you’re ready to talk. But I need to know you will talk. One day.’

Adam nods slowly, but says nothing more.

‘Come on,’ he says after a moment. ‘I still want to show you something.’

He takes my hand again, and continues leading me around the base of the snowy hill. But our earlier lightness is gone. There’s something more serious in how we’re relating to one another now.

I feel as though we’re on the brink of taking our relationship to the next level.

As we move around the hill, a massive doorway is revealed, set into the side of it.

I turn to Adam in surprise.

‘
This is a building? Made out of snow?’

‘
More than a building,’ says Adam with a small smile. ‘It’s a chapel.’

‘
No!’ I’m all in awe again, and our earlier conversation is not so pointed in my mind. I eye the huge doors. This is amazing. A chapel built out of snow.

Adam leads me through, and into the vast interior.

It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. What I thought was a hill is in fact a vast snow mound. And the belly has been carved out into a giant cathedral of ice.

It’s completely blue-hued and calm
, with crystal clear ice blocks lining the side. In the centre are pews covered in reindeer furs. And towards the back is a lovely ice carving of an angel.

‘
It’s beautiful,’ I say. ‘Do people get married here?’

I can hardly imagine anything more romantic than making vows in this place.

‘They do,’ replies Adam. ‘Quite the place, isn’t it? Do you think it’s the kind of place you’d like to get married?’

He’s staring at me intently.
I look at him quizzically, wondering if he’s serious. After the conversation we just had it seems strange to be talking about commitment.

‘
I… I don’t know,’ I admit. ‘I’ve never really thought about getting married.’

I’m about to add that I’ve never found a man I’d consider marrying, but I stop myself.
Because as I look into Adam’s face I realise that’s not true anymore.

Adam see
ms to see something in my hesitation, and his face twists.

S
uddenly he’s pulling me close.

He kisses me, hot and hard, his hands raking my body. Then he’s moving me backwards towards one of the fur-lined pews.

‘Wait,’ I say, breaking the kiss. It feels wrong to be doing this in a church. Even though I can’t deny my body is responding to him.

‘
Summer,’ murmurs Adam, ‘I want you so badly.’

He’s pushing me down onto the soft reindeer fur, and his hand seeks out the zip of my ski pants.

‘Stop,’ I plead, as fingers trail deliciously downwards. ‘We can’t.’

There’s something dark about Adam, like he’s an uncoiled energy. His mouth crashes into mine, taking me in another deep kiss, and I realise he’s not taking no for an answer.

A realisation sweeps over me. That this isn’t our usual style of sex. This is sex to forget. Adam wants to wipe out our earlier conversation.

‘
No,’ I say more firmly, as his hand drives inside my pants, and between my legs.

In the next moment his fingers are inside me, pushing deep. For a moment I think I won’t be able to resist.
That I’ll succumb to lust. But then something deeper surges out.

‘
No!’ I grab his hand, forcing it back. I sit up on the pew, facing him angrily, breathing hard.

‘
No Adam,’ I say. ‘Not like this. Not in a chapel, and not so you can forget your fucked up past.’

‘
Summer,’ Adam looks confused. Desire is still thick in his eyes.

‘
Not like this,’ I repeat. ‘I’ll make love to you when it’s making love. This is something else.’

He breathes out slowly, as though forcing control back into his body.

‘Ok,’ he says. ‘If that’s what you want.’

Is he mad?

‘There’s no need to be angry,’ I say uncertainly. ‘But we need to figure this out. You’ve got a past Adam. It won’t go away because you’ve fucked me in a church.’

He breathes out, hard.

‘I’m not mad,’ he says finally.

I stare at him, wondering what he’s thinking. Right at this moment it’s impossible to tell.

‘You’re right,’ he says eventually. ‘I was doing it to forget. To remind myself I’m alive.’

Remind
himself he’s alive?

‘
It’s the wrong reason,’ I say gently.

‘
I know.’ He takes my hand. ‘I know. Summer. I’m so sorry. I would never have… You know I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to.’

I look into his blue eyes thinking I have never loved anyone so much in my life.