CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Stormy could no longer resist touching Cooper, so she placed her hand on his thigh, rubbing it lightly. Without saying a word, he grabbed her hand and placed it against his growing hardness, stroking her hand lightly against the bulge.
Hunger poured through her. Maybe she could make this flight a heck of a lot more fun, she thought, deciding she was going to be someone she normally wasn’t—for at least the next hour.
Using one hand, she unzipped his pants, releasing his impressive manhood. Frustrated by not being able to get close enough, she reached down to unbuckle her seatbelt. Finally, she had free rein on his body, and she wasted no time plunging her hand into his pants. Wrapping her fingers around his solid steel caused a soft groan to escape him, filling her with confidence to push forward. The plane suddenly dipped to the left, throwing her slightly back.
Stormy paused what she was doing. “What was that?”
“A bit of turbulence. It looks like a storm is headed in,” Cooper responded, moving her hand back with what looked like reluctance. “You should probably put your seat belt back—”
The plane suddenly dropped and rocked about like a boat on a choppy lake.
“Probably a good idea,” Stormy said as she sat back and instantly tightened her seat belt.
“Just a bit of turbulence, nothing to worry about,” Cooper said with complete calm.
The stars began to fade away as water droplets hit the windscreen and streaked down the side windows. Cooper showed amazing resolve as he gripped the yoke and concentrated on flying as the plane bounced up and down.
As they approached Portland, Cooper let her know they were arriving during the last push of flights for the evening. Like rush hour in Los Angeles, the sky above the airport was bustling with inbound jets from all over the country, and the chatter over the radio with air traffic control was uninterrupted. Stormy relaxed in her seat while she watched Cooper perform the magic act of talking to air traffic control, setting the instruments, and controlling the plane.
Flashing lights could be seen as they descended out of the clouds. The view below began to get closer as Cooper guided the plane in for landing. The runway was clearly in view, and to Stormy, it looked like a large freeway outlined by white, yellow, and red lights.
Like a field of sapphires twinkling beside this freeway of colors, the taxi edge lights glowed ever so brightly. After crossing the threshold, Cooper pulled the throttles back to idle as both engines sputtered to a slow rumble.
Though comfortable with her plane ride, Stormy was
still
ready to be on solid ground. She gripped her seat again as the plane bumped abruptly, the landing gear making contact with the asphalt below.
Cooper pulled off the runway onto the directed taxiway. With only the single nose wheel light to illuminate the center white line, Cooper had to rely on the bright blue lights that lined the taxiways for navigation to the local jet center. The rain was now a full-fledged downpour and visibility was reduced. Relying on orange guide wands, Cooper maneuvered the plane into parking.
With a slight squeal of the brakes, the large twin-engine aircraft came to a graceful stop amid large business jets, making the Cessna look like a model airplane. Cooper shut down each engine, one at a time. Each sputtered to a stop that shook the plane like an out-of-balance washing machine.
With the plane stopped, Stormy made quick work unbuckling her seat belt.
“Should we have dinner?” Cooper asked, a wicked look in his eyes. “Or skip straight to dessert?”
“Dessert,” she whispered, more turned on than she had ever been in her life. “Always dessert.”
“Come here, Stormy.”
He didn’t need to say anything more. With a quick motion, she pulled her dress up to her thighs and straddled Cooper’s lap. Her behind pressed against the yoke as she pushed forward, running her hands to the top of his shirt. She felt heat building ever higher as she pressed her core against his rock-solid arousal, only a tiny piece of silk separating them.
Cooper leaned forward and captured her lips in a scorching kiss that would eventually have all the windows fogging up. She undid the top button on his shirt. She wanted to rip them away, but instead, with trembling fingers, she undid the rest one by one.
Stormy could barely breathe when Cooper slid his hands inside her dress and pulled it up higher. Unadulterated desire shimmered in his eyes, making her feel beautiful and wanted.
As his arousal pressed against her core, she began to push against him. The contact was driving both of them crazy. Her breasts were swollen with desire, her peaked nipples pressing roughly against her bra. His hands slowly started moving from her hips, up the curve of her back, stroking her skin the entire way. She knew he appreciated the plunging back of her dress as well. His hands slid down to her lower back and found the zipper. With one smooth motion, he pulled it down over the curve of her ass.
Next, he grabbed the straps of her dress and began pulling them off her shoulders, his warm fingers sliding down her arms.
Suddenly she heard voices and her entire body tensed. “I think I hear someone,” she whispered.
Cooper seemed to have no worries about the milling people outside, because he didn’t even hesitate as he continued removing her dress, revealing her pink lace bra.
As his eyes greedily ate up the view of her nipples straining against the fabric, she forgot about the people, too. She tugged against his head, needing him to take them into his mouth. Cooper hesitated too long, though, so she wrapped her hands around his forearms and pinned them to the back of the seat as she deepened the kiss between them. As their tongues entwined, he freed his arms, then made quick work of unhooking her bra, finally releasing her breasts.
As they pressed together, flesh against flesh, she could feel her swollen nipples pushing against his chest, finally giving them a hint of relief. He broke away from her mouth as he began to lick his way down her neck.
With every kiss against her skin, he gave her a gentle bite, making her cry out over and over again. He worked his fingers around to her chest, finally taking the weight of her full breasts into his hands, his thumbs skimming across her taut nipples.
Finally, his mouth reached the upper curve of her heaving chest, his tongue caressing the flesh. Then, his tongue traced one budding nipple. He gently sucked her deep into his mouth before retreating and scraping his teeth across the edge.
Her body shuddered as her insides burst into a raging fire. She pulled his head in closer, guiding him against her skin, not wanting him to stop. When he pulled away, she let out a groan of protest until he softly blew his warm breath on the wet skin, sending goose bumps across her body and making her cry out in pleasure.
His hands continued their journey, making their way to her thighs, slightly grazing the inside with his short fingernails. She tried opening herself to him, but the confined space was constricting. His hand skimmed up her leg until she could feel him touching the sheer fabric of her panties.
He moved his fingers over the lace encircling her leg. She moaned with acceptance, begging him to continue. In one quick movement, his strong fingers ripped her panties away and tossed them to the floor.
His intensity made her feel like she was his, and only his. Before she could even cry out, he plunged his large fingers deep inside her wet heat, making her body quiver with pleasure.
Almost delirious in her desire for him, she wanted nothing more than to have his fingers replaced with his erection. As his skillful fingers rhythmically pumped within her core, she gasped with approval, surging into his thrusting hand.
Her heart beat louder than the pounding rain outside the plane, her mind racing with anticipation of the moment he would plunge inside her.
Ready to continue what she’d started in the sky, she grabbed his thick shaft in her hand and began to stroke it up and down, loving the feel of his velvet-covered steel. He groaned his approval as he thrust into her hand, guiding her in pleasuring him.
Stormy’s moaning became rhythmic as she desired the real thing with every thrust. More than ready, Stormy gave him one last lingering kiss before whispering in his ear, “Follow me.”
She climbed off his lap, then grabbed his hand and led him to the back of the plane. She pushed her dress the rest of the way off, standing before him naked. Cooper’s eyes rounded, giving her total confidence in her exposed body.
He looked so unbelievable, standing before her, shirtless, his gorgeous manhood standing proud against his stomach, while his lower half was still confined by clothes.
As if just realizing the fact that he had too many clothes on, he quickly stripped his lower half.
Stormy’s eyes widened at the sight of him, completely bare to her; his sexy body and pulsing erection were too far away. Finally, he closed the gap between them and gently laid her on the floor.
She felt his warm breath sliding across her skin as he began kissing the inside of her sensitive ankle before he slowly moved upward. His lips glided up her calves, straight to her inner thighs.
Then, he was where she needed him most. His lips made contact with her dripping sweetness. The growl, escaping his throat as he began nipping her skin, sent a flood of fire through her. Needing him to continue, she grabbed his head, pulling his face into her heat as she thrust her hips upward.
The windows surrounding them were completely fogged. The cold air outside couldn’t penetrate the warm cocoon they’d created. The sounds of the busy airport and other people made it clear that they weren’t alone, but neither of them even noticed.
Stormy felt the pressure building as his tongue circled her sensitive womanhood, lifting her closer and closer to completion.
“Please . . .” she begged, knowing exactly what she was begging for.
With a new intensity, Cooper’s fingers plunged in and out of her heat, while his tongue continued stroking her, leading her over the edge.
“Cooper,” she cried out as his tongue slid around her a few more times. She shook as pleasure washed through her, and she fell over and over again into the most beautiful orgasm ever. He swiped his tongue across her a few more times, making her body jump.
“I could taste you all night,” he softly growled as his head lifted and he looked up her body, their eyes connecting for one charged moment. The sight of his barely leashed passion had her body quickly heating up again in anticipation of what was to come.
Cooper looked away as he began kissing a trail up her skin, encircling her navel with his tongue. Continuing up, he made one more pass across her rounded breasts, gently licking each nipple before continuing on. Then, his lips were against hers again in a passion-filled kiss.
She heard the foil packet crinkle and then finally, he pressed against her and there was nothing to stop them. With a strong thrust, he plunged deep inside her, filling her so full, she cried out as relief washed through her. Quickly, he found a fast rhythm that satisfied them both, her body lifting up, matching him thrust for thrust.
Stormy lost all sense of time, all sense of anything except for the exquisite pleasure he was bringing her. He continued kissing her, his tongue thrusting into her mouth at the same time her body accepted him deep inside her. Their bodies slid together as passion consumed them on a never-ending ride of ecstasy.
He was hers—and she was his.
“Come for me, Stormy. Give yourself to me,” he demanded.
The sound of his lust-filled voice, the feel of his thick staff filling her over and over again, the taste of him on her lips—all of it sent her over the edge, and she exploded, her body gripping him, pulling him even deeper.
“Yes,” he called as he slammed his body against hers one final time and he released deep inside her folds.
Cooper collapsed on top of her, his breathing taking some time to settle, before he managed to turn them both, and then he held her close to his side. She felt sated and cherished at the same time.
And she wanted to do it over and over again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Cooper opened the door of his plane to a flash of lightning and the rumble of thunder. The rain was blowing sideways as the wind increased speed.
“We better hurry if we want to stay dry.” Cooper grabbed Stormy’s hand and helped her down the steps, straight into the pouring rain.
“Something tells me we’re not going to stay dry,” Stormy commented as she stepped into a puddle.
Having no coat, umbrella, or hoodie, anything to cover themselves—Cooper knew they’d have to run for it. Not letting go of Stormy’s hand, he bolted across the tarmac.
Stormy tugged on Cooper’s hand, dragging him to a stop. “I can’t run in these heels. I’m going to kill myself.”
“Well, take them off—let’s go,” he said loudly to be heard over the sound of the rain and wind.
“No way. My feet will get wet.”
Cooper looked at Stormy, now drenched with water running down her cheeks. He burst into laughter. “You’re soaked already,” he said, not able to curb his amusement.
Stormy had a look of disgust on her beautiful face, making him laugh all that much harder. This woman was so honest with her emotions—an open book for the world to read if only they took the time to look.
He shifted, realizing that’s why he was able to trust her whereas he’d never trusted another woman. She was brutally honest and he felt his guard chipping away more and more each time he was in her presence.
“I don’t see how this is—” she stopped mid-sentence, realizing that standing in the pouring rain to have a discussion was only making matters worse. But how could it be worse? They were absolutely soaked to the bone, and she was concerned about getting her feet wet. She cracked a smile—a smile that turned into full-blown laughter as she joined him. “You’re not so dry either,” she made sure to tell him.
“Well, if you don’t want to get your feet wet, then I’m going to carry you.”
Before Stormy could respond, Cooper swooped her into his arms and flung her over his shoulder before sprinting toward the terminal door.
Cooper nudged it open with his foot; the wind caught it and it burst open as he ran through. They knew they made an amusing sight: Stormy in his arms and the two of them still roaring with laughter.
He stopped in his tracks, his smile starting to deflate as he noticed the room was silent and all the patrons were staring at them. There he stood, dripping water on the pristine floor, holding a woman over his shoulder, while laughing almost hysterically.
Cooper gently slid Stormy down his body, making sure she was steady on her feet before he let go. She turned to see all eyes trained on them. Her laughter soon slowed to complete silence and he watched her as she nervously brushed the wet hair from her eyes. They began walking, slowly; the only sound that could be heard was the squishing of water from Cooper’s wet shoes.
“Ahem . . . evening, gentlemen,” Cooper said while clearing his throat and nodding his head.
Cooper and Stormy approached the front desk, where a spunky and attractive secretary couldn’t wait to greet them.
“Well, good evening, Captain Armstrong,” she paused slightly as she focused on their watered-down state.
“Good evening, Andrea. Could you have the guys top off the plane, and tow it back to the hangar for the night?”
“Absolutely, Captain Armstrong,” Andrea responded, grabbing the radio to relay the order. “. . . and your limo is waiting out front.”
He saw the surprised delight on Stormy’s face, and felt a moment of triumph at getting their date right.
With a smile to Andrea, Cooper then locked arms with Stormy and escorted her to the door. A jet-black limo sat parked in front of them with glistening chrome wheels and soft yellow courtesy lights.
“I thought we could ride to our destination in style.” Cooper opened the back door and motioned with his hand, “After you.” Stormy climbed inside the limo with Cooper shutting the door behind them.
“Where are we going?” Stormy questioned as they got situated.
“That’s a surprise.”
Stormy looked nervously at her appearance in a compact mirror she pulled from her purse. “I can’t go anywhere nice looking like this,” she replied, her words tripping over themselves.
“You told me you trusted me, so keep doing that.” Cooper smiled as the car began moving.
The hour-long ride seemed to end far too quickly as Stormy desperately finger-combed her hair and tried repairing her makeup. It was no use. She was a drowned rat.
When the door opened, swinging outward, the driver standing beside it, she thought about refusing to exit. But she’d promised to trust Cooper.
Stepping out, she smiled as she looked at the front doors to what had to be a hotel.
“Welcome to Allison Inn and Spa,” a uniformed man said, taking her hand.
“Thank you,” she told him, feeling terrible in her wet clothing.
“You are gorgeous,” Cooper assured her. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Do you have bags, sir?” the man asked.
“They’ve already been delivered,” he told him.
When Cooper gave his name, the man seemed to stand a bit more at attention and immediately took them inside, bypassing the normal check-in. Stormy didn’t know what to think about that.
The man boasted of the hotel’s spa and told them to call if they needed anything at all, but that according to Cooper’s instructions, they wouldn’t be disturbed at any time during their stay.
He quickly slipped away as soon as Cooper and Stormy stepped into the penthouse suite that had her gasping in delight. Before she was able to look at all the space, Cooper grabbed her, pulling her tightly against him.
“Now that I have you alone . . .” he said, his eyes going instantly dark.
“What shall we do?” she said, instantly hungry for him all over again.
“First we will change,” he said, though he looked as if he’d much rather just rip their clothes off. “Then you will get a night of romance,” he added with a huge smile. “Then I will devour you.”
“Or we could go straight to the devouring,” she huskily said, which made his eyes go even darker.
“Don’t tempt me, woman. I’ve put a lot of time into this,” he said as he spun her toward a room and gently swatted her on the butt.
She got even wetter as she moved away.
Stepping into the luxurious bedroom, Stormy felt as if she were on another planet. Cooper had literally whisked her away in his private plane, brought her to a penthouse suite in the wine country of Oregon, and then on top of that there were a couple presents sitting on the bed.
Slowly walking over to them, she ran her fingers through the ribbons and sighed. She wanted to dive right in and open them, but she needed to take a shower first.
Rushing through the shower, she couldn’t wait to go back out to the gifts. Wrapping a towel around herself, she approached the bed and began opening the boxes carefully. Her cheeks flamed a little as she pulled out a delicate lingerie set and matching silk robe.
But she wanted to please Cooper, wanted to wear the sexy outfit. So she slipped into it before looking at the smaller package. Her fingers trembling, she undid the ribbon, and then fell back on the bed when her knees went weak.
Fighting desperately not to let the tears fall, she gently touched the locket that sat on a bed of velvet next to a stunning pair of what appeared to be diamond earrings. They were beautiful, but the locket was priceless.
It was the very first piece of jewelry she’d designed and created. And Cooper had obviously found it and kept it. Her heart swelled and her knees were weak. One tear escaped as she slipped it around her neck.
He’d gone and done it. He’d made her fall in love with him.
It took several minutes for her to compose herself, and then she couldn’t wait to be in his arms. What a cherished gift he’d given back to her.
When she stepped from the room to find candlelight and soft music along with champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and an assortment of appetizers, her senses were overwhelmed.
“Cooper . . .” Her husky voice made him turn his head and the glow that instantly entered his eyes gave her confidence. “I’m ready for more dessert,” she said.
He didn’t hesitate. His clothes went flying as he rushed across the room to her. He lifted her and turned right back toward the bedroom she’d just exited.
“Romance will come after we’ve appeased this hunger,” he growled.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be appeased, but you’ve given me more romance with this than anything else you could have ever given me,” she told him as her fingers ran over the locket she wore.
“I never stopped thinking about you through the years. I needed you to know this. I’m giving up my lucky charm,” he said with a gentle smile.
“You use it as a lucky charm?”
“No. You’ve been my lucky charm all along,” he said.
She couldn’t speak. But then she didn’t have to because all talking stopped as his lips captured hers.