fifty-shades-of-grey

eneath my lashes. He has a beautiful profile. Straight nose, square jawed – I’d like torun my tongue along his jaw. He hasn’t shaved, and his stubble makes the prospect doublytempting. Hmm… I’d like to feel how rough it is beneath my tongue, my fingers, againstmy face.“When you fly at night, you fly blind. You have to trust the instrumentation,” he interruptsmy erotic reverie.“How long will the flight be?” I manage breathlessly. I wasn’t thinking about sex atall, no, no way.“Less than an hour, the wind is in our favor.”Hmm, less than an hour to Seattle… that’s not bad going, no wonder we’re flying.I have less than an hour before the big reveal. All the muscles clench deep in my belly.I have a serious case of butterflies. They are flourishing in my stomach. Holy shit, whathas he got in store for me?“You okay, Anastasia?”“Yes.” My answer is short, clipped, squeezed out through my nerves.I think he smiles, but it’s difficult to tell in the darkness. Christian flicks yet anotherswitch.“PDX this is Charlie Tango now at one four thousand, over.” He exchanges informationwith air traffic control. It all sounds very professional to me. I think we’re movingfrom Portland’s air space to Seattle International Airport’s.“Understood Sea-Tac, standing by over and out.”“Look, over there.” He points to a small pin-point of light in the far distance. “That’sSeattle.”“Do you always impress women this way? Come and fly in my helicopter?” I ask,genuinely interested.“I’ve never bought a girl up here, Anastasia. It’s another first for me.” His voice isquiet, serious.Oh, that was an unexpected answer. Another first? Oh the sleeping thing, perhaps?“Are you impressed?”“I’m awed, Christian.”He smiles.“Awed?” And for a brief moment, he’s his age again.I nod.“You’re just so… competent.”“Why, thank you, Miss Steele,” he says politely. I think he’s pleased, but I’m not sure.We ride into the dark night in silence for a while. The bright spot that is Seattle isslowly getting bigger.“Sea-Tac tower to Charlie Tango. Flight plan to Escala in place. Please proceed. Andstandby. Over.”“This is Charlie Tango, understood Sea-Tac. Standing by, over and out.”“You obviously enjoy this,” I murmur.“What?” He glances at me. He looks quizzical in the half-light of the instruments.“Flying,” I reply.