Fly Me Home: Home is Where the Heat Is, Book 4 Read online

  “Are you nervous now?”

  “A little.” She hated to admit it.

  Ian nodded and started an expressive litany of all things fashion. He talked nonstop about Milan, Fashion Week and the parties they would attend. “It’s going to be crazy. In three days you’ll change into so many different outfits you’ll feel like you spent half your time naked.”

  Liz started to panic. Not from the flight. Hell, that paled in comparison to what she was facing. She’d barely had time to pack a few outfits, let alone something worthy of Milan. “I don’t have anything even remotely stylish. I’m going to blow our story in two seconds. No one is going to believe we’re together. I’m a frumpy cowgirl. What were you thinking bringing me?”

  The pilot announced that they were free to move about the cabin.

  Ian released his seat belt and leaned forward to take her hands. He looked them over. “I don’t want you to be nervous. You’re beautiful and sexy and seductive. While we’re en route, one of the attendants will take your measurements. Trust me when I say you’ll have a wardrobe ready for each appearance we have to make. The moment we land, you’ll be off to have a massage, a mani-pedi, a full spa treatment if you’d like.”

  “That’s going to cost a fortune.”

  “No.” He met her gaze, his expression serious. “It won’t. I don’t ever brag about my money. It always seems in bad form. But I will tell you what my parents lacked in parenting skills, they made up for in monetary assets when they died. I have more money from them, and my own investments, than you could count, and it sits there, waiting for me to spend it on someone like you. If I didn’t feel you were worth it, I wouldn’t bother. You’re doing me a huge favor. I can’t tell you how big. In return, you get a couple stories, a few experiences in the world, and some kickass clothes. Seems like a fair trade to me.”

  Liz bit her lip. She liked everything about Ian. He was upfront, handsome, kind. He was the kind of guy she’d always dreamed about, minus the fame. Too bad his tastes ran toward men, or she’d totally be on his lap by now. “I feel bad though,” she admitted. “Like I’m taking so much from you and not giving anything in return.”

  He smiled then, one of those crooked, I’ve-got-something-up-my-sleeve smiles that had her body begging to find out what it was. Fuck. She’d been almost a year without a lover. Spending time with a scrumptious man that had no interest in her sexually was going to be a strain on her neglected libido. Even his non-seduction tactics were stirring her pot.

  He sat back, watching her over the rim of his glass. After a long moment, he chuckled. “Naked always makes things better.”

  Liz balked. “What?”

  “We’re going to get naked.” He shot up from his seat and pulled her to her feet so fast she gasped. Then he called one of the attendants. “Marissa will show you to my private room. There’s a robe there. Take everything else off and put it on. I’ll do the same, but I’ll change out here. Marissa will take your measurements, and you and I can drink wine and go through the clothing options available in your size. We’ll relax to excessive extremes, get a little tipsy and sleep the hours away.”

  “I think your New York is showing, New York.” Everything sounded great except the naked-under-the-robe part. “How does being naked help?”

  Ian pulled her close and brushed a kiss over her eyebrows. “Because when we strip away everything but our bare selves, it makes everything else insignificant. We’ll enjoy nothing but the real us for a few hours.”

  Color her crazy, but she got it. There would be nothing but the naked truth between them. Nothing but comfort and open honesty. From the way he talked about his family, his money, his life, she gathered he could use a little honesty. She could too.

  When the attendant arrived, Liz followed her to a small room. It was as plush as the main cabin, maybe more so. There was a bed, a dresser and mirrors in every direction. In the closet, there were a few suits and an odd collection of clothes, but Liz grabbed the pale purple robe. When Marissa left, she stripped out of her dress, bra and thong to don the seductively soft robe. A full-length mirror lined the closet and she stared at herself in its reflection. She looked different.

  Her hair was still pinned up and she pulled it free, letting it fall down her back. The woman that looked back at her was anything but the reserved person she was used to staring at every morning. Tonight, with the robe hanging open, revealing the inner curves of her breasts, her semi-flat stomach and the thatch of hair between her legs, she looked seductive. Almost confident. Knowing she could be anything she wanted to be on this trip eased the tension trying to take hold. With Ian, she was free. Tying the belt closed on the robe, she made her way back to the main cabin. Ian was waiting, reclining in his seat, his body covered by a deep gray robe of his own.

  “Holy shit.” He sat up, his eyes appreciative. “You’re fucking gorgeous all undone. It’s like you morphed into a sexy butterfly in that room. Your hair is amazing. It’s longer than I expected. I wish I’d asked you to leave it up so I could be the one to take it down.”

  The way he looked at her did all kinds of naughty things to her body. Knowing she could feel them without having to reciprocate sexually gave her a whole new lease on her responses. Worse came to worst, she could take care of herself later. For now, she was going to enjoy every moment Ian had to offer.

  “Thanks,” she replied. “You look pretty good yourself.”

  The material hung open to his waist, revealing a tantalizing peek of his broad chest. He wasn’t hairless, but he was far from an ape. The belt hugged tight to his trim midsection, drawing her eyes until she bit her lip wondering what the V down to his hips would look like, or better yet, taste like… The robe hung to just below his knees and long, toned legs stretched out beneath.

  Pulling in a deep breath, she closed her eyes. “What do we do from here?”

  He laughed and in the next instance, his arms were around her. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze. “From here, you need to relax. Marissa is going to take your measurements.”

  Marissa entered the room again. She smiled and motioned for Liz to stand next to her. “I’m going to measure your height, chest, hips, and I’ll need to know what you usually wear for a bra size. It will be easier for me to measure you if you removed the robe.”

  Liz felt the heat crawling up her cheeks. “I-I don’t know.”

  Ian sat down again, crossing his legs at the ankles as he leaned back. “I’d get used to seeing people naked. During fashion week I see more breasts than a lactation expert.”

  “Seeing naked bodies doesn’t bother me,” Liz quipped. “It’s being seen naked that I find uncomfortable.”

  Ian waved that away. “You already know I think you have a great body. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Take a long sip of your wine and drop the robe.” He pulled an iPad from the small desk next to his chair. “The sooner you’re measured, the quicker we can start shopping.”

  He waggled his eyebrows and held up the iPad. Taking mental notes on the interesting man Ian Malcolm was proving to be, she took a long, long sip of her wine, prayed Cain wouldn’t reappear, and let the robe slide free. Marissa took her measurements quickly and professionally, but it was Ian’s watchful gaze that held her enthralled. By the time the woman jotted down her notes, Liz had finished half her glass of wine. The room was warm, but she reached for her robe the second Marissa was done.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Ian smirked.

  “You weren’t the one on display.”

  He sat up, his expression serious. “It wouldn’t bother me a bit.”

  “Of course it wouldn’t. You’re perfect.”

  “Hardly.”

  The way he said the single word made it sound like she’d hurt his feelings. To ease the tension, she chuckled. “It wasn’t that terrible. Knowing you weren’t expecting anything made it easier,” she admit
ted. “You’re beyond attractive. If you were straight, that would have been a prelude to me climbing onto your lap and having my way with you.”

  “If I was straight?” Ian sputtered and coughed around his wine. “Come again?”

  The shock on his face made a knot form in her stomach. “You’re not gay?”

  Ian sat up in his chair, his eyes soft. “I apologize for any misunderstanding. If I’d known that’s what you thought…”

  “But… You were dating someone named Jimmy, and you’re a fashion critic, and Cain said something about you offering personal services.”

  “Bisexual, and as far as Cain and my services, I offer to set him up with the women I work with. Again, I’m really sorry for misleading you.”

  “No. No it’s my fault for assuming.” Liz pulled the robe tight. “I should go get dressed.”

  “Don’t.” Ian stood quickly, stalling her from running away from the whole embarrassing scenario. “Elizabeth, every move you make is sexy. I like your brains, your humor, your delectable ass. Watching you stand there naked was intense and enjoyable and all I could do was watch you and wonder how good it would feel to touch you. Don’t shut that down because I want you and you want me. We can still make this fun and exciting. It’s as easy as setting boundaries and rules.”

  “Rules?” Liz considered that for a long moment. “Like what?”

  “No falling in love.”

  “Done,” she agreed. “What else?”

  “No other partners while we are together.” He took her hands. “That’s an iffy one, since I don’t know how you feel about us being intimate now that we’ve cleared up my sexual orientation misunderstanding.”

  “I don’t know how I feel either,” she replied honestly. Thinking he wasn’t an option to sleep with had made it easier to agree to his crazy plan. Now? She was quickly learning that Ian flew by the seat of his pants. He took life as it came and rearranged as needed. It was a great strength. One she wished she could emulate.

  “When you decide, we’ll revamp that rule.” His hands moved up her arms in a comforting touch, their heat penetrating the robe. “All I’m asking is that if we do have sex, you let me know if you sleep with anyone else before we’re together again.”

  “Also a can do.” So far, his rules were in the playing field. “Each rule goes both ways?”

  “Of course. If you like my rule, make it your own.” He grabbed her hand again and led her to her chair. Even with her mind reeling to catch up on Ian being bisexual, and wanting her, she couldn’t help feeling safe in his presence. Again, it had to be something about the way he just said what he was thinking. “Do you have any rules?”

  Wow she was out of her element. Rules… “How about, either of us can call this whole deal off at any time? No questions asked.”

  “Done.” He sat down opposite her. “Anything else?”

  “Not that I can think of.”

  “Good.” Sitting back, he placed both hands on the armrests of his chair and smiled. “Then come over here and kiss me. We need to get it out of the way, and I swear I won’t touch you unless you ask me to.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Just a kiss?”

  “That’s all I’m asking,” he teased. “But I’m offering whatever you want.”

  Chapter Four

  Ian waited for her to respond.

  Elizabeth was a murky mix of control freak and reluctant risk-taker he found intriguing and frustrating at once. She’d admitted to wanting him when she thought he was gay. Now, she stared at him uncertainly. “We can be anything you want us to be for the next month. No right, no wrong.”

  “I think I’m a bit staid by your standards.” The flashes of uncertainty, maybe insecurity, from Elizabeth surprised him. “I’m a homegrown country girl who attended church every Sunday until I was eighteen. My prom date was the preacher’s son. I’ve only been with three men in my entire life, one of whom, the preacher’s son, I dated from eighth to twelfth grade.”

  “Really?” Ian couldn’t hold back his shock. That could explain a lot about the difference in her everyday confidence, which he loved, and the slightly uncertain person trembling before him. “Are there still people out there who live up to the hometown, all-about-the-community and stand-by-their-morals shtick?”

  “Yes.” She laughed. “We have bake sales, Sunday sermons and apple pies in Gram’s window every other weekend. It’s as real as your rat-infested, brightly lit cesspool of a city.”

  “Never would have guessed,” he admitted. “Figured home and hearth was an extinct breed found in fiction novels.”

  “Dying breed, New York,” she corrected, her gaze sad. “But still there if you have the right community.”

  “Sounds wonderful and frighteningly boring at the same time,” he responded carefully. Her life, where she came from, intrigued him. “This may sound a bit crass, but if you’ve only been with three—” He stopped and watched her reaction. “Really? Three?”

  That was unheard of in his world. She nodded, her gaze open and honest.

  “Okay, then I have to ask.” Choosing his words cautiously, he eased into the question. He had to know what he was dealing with. “Did anything beyond standard sex happen? Did any of them bring you to a real, spine-splitting orgasm that made you yell and pant and cry out because you couldn’t hold it back?”

  Her cheeks and neck flushed an alluring shade of pink. She shook her head in answer. Her lack of experience, and all the delectable sexual treats he could show her, rushed a gallon of blood straight to his cock. “Wow. Okay. I started with a woman my dad didn’t want. She figured his fourteen-year-old horny kid was great revenge. From there it was all the women my name and status could offer. I’ve been surrounded by jaded, experienced partners my entire life. This is going to be tough.”

  She looked away. “Sorry.”

  “Wait. Don’t go there.” Shit, she’d taken the comment all wrong. “This is tough because everything about you makes me want you. It’s going to be hard keeping my—friend—in check.” He waved to his cock and the tent it was starting to create against his robe. “I don’t want to scare you off.”

  She looked where he’d indicated and sucked in a harsh breath, her gaze making him harder by the second. Licking her lips, she took a long, slow swallow of her wine. Setting the glass aside, she eased forward. “Just a kiss?”

  “Unless you ask for more,” he acknowledged. Ian forced himself to relax. She was so skittish, he could ruin a good thing before it even started. “You’re doing me a huge favor. I won’t have to deal with half the media I usually do since we’ll have a quick story to toss at them. There’s no way I’m going to ruin that. As much as I want you in my bed, I’m willing to go without, or go at your pace, to make sure we maintain a beneficial plan for both of us. But, I’ll be honest. Knowing where you come from, where you started, my horny side is screaming at me to show you some sinful ropes. There are any number of sexual fantasies a person can have. I plan to start with a kiss, take you around the world, ply you with rich clothes, and respond to any sexual wish or curiosity you may have.”

  “Any?” The single word held a bit more confidence.

  “Name it, and it’s yours,” he said.

  Like her transformation from elegant lady to goddess in his robe, she changed before his eyes. Her gaze met his as she shifted close to straddle him. “We’ll start with a kiss.”

  Her hands traveled up his chest, and he cursed the fabric between his skin and her touch. Gripping the armrests, he forced himself to wait. When she settled over him, he dared a look between them. Her position held her robe open, exposing a glimpse of her inner thighs to his gaze. Under any other circumstance, he’d be touching everything within reach, and his fingers flexed into the soft leather chair. She wasn’t anywhere near ready for what he’d like to do to her. What he needed was a chaste, sweet kiss from a woman who didn
’t know what she’d been missing. That would help clear his mind. He hoped.

  Closing his eyes, he forced himself to relax. “Elizabeth, I really need you to kiss me right now.”

  Liz was shaking with need. Ian spoke so openly, she had a hard time processing what he wanted and what she needed. Throw in that whatever they did from here out could fuck up a stellar situation, and she was a mess. The more he talked about showing her what she’d known she was missing, the more she wanted it. She wasn’t stupid. Hell, there were Internet articles, Cosmo, and her friends’ lives all telling her she was missing something. Her sexuality had never really been a huge concern because, well hell, she was a prude in the grand scheme of things.

  Now she had an experienced, gorgeous man beneath her. He wanted a kiss and anything she was willing to give. His cock was hard for her, and her body was wet for him. They were flying to another country, lost in space for the time being. And all he was asking for was a kiss…

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. She’d been kissed before, but she’d rarely initiated the kissing. Refusing the insecurity trying to force its way in, she pressed light kisses to Ian’s lips until he opened, his tongue snaking out to caress her lips. Deepening the kiss, she forced inhibitions aside. She’d boarded a plane with a strange man and was on her way around the world. Screw what she’d always thought were ladylike actions, or decorum drilled into her head by family, church and a mom-and-pop community. She’d bit the bullet. Now it was time to taste the blast.

  If she was going to color outside the lines, she was going to reap the benefits. Leaning in closer, she trailed her lips along his jaw. “I’m thinking I like your terms. How ’bout we start with one of those orgasms you mentioned?”

  “That would require me touching you.” He groaned. “Permission?”

  “Granted,” she answered, adjusting her legs and hips so she sat more flush against his cock.