Chapter 179: Somewhere with You
- RAYA -
Dex and I fall asleep wrapped in covers on the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid in, on a plane of all places, and I don’t even have a chance to think of the possible embarrassment of what we just did with my sister onboard until the soft ring of the phone wakes us up. That’s when I hear Luciano’s laughter through the wall, and a flutter of alarm ignites in my chest.
"They heard us," I hiss as Dex rises from bed to answer the phone.
All he does is smile with brows raised like I’m naive for not realizing that possibility until now. I groan and pull the covers over my head, determined not to come out ever again.
"Why aren’t walls on a luxurious private plane sound proof?" I ask the muffled question through the covers.
Dex doesn’t answer, but I hear him pick up the phone and start speaking to whoever it is on the other end.
"Okay, thank you," he says, then his weight returns to the mattress. "We’re going to be arriving soon, angel."
I groan again, not committing anything else to words. The covers slide down my face with Dex’s handsome smile and dimple and bristling beard and perfect everything on the other side, and my stomach does a little somersault.
"Don’t be embarrassed," he says, kissing me on the nose.
"Why did you let me do that?" I hiss a whisper this time, pushing up onto my elbows. "My sister and your cousin heard us and... and... Carrie!"
"I doubt they heard anything," he chuckles, and then both Luciano’s and Rory’s soft laughter filters through the wall. It sounds far away, but I still hear it!
"Really?" I ask, looking at Dex with heated cheeks and an edge of sarcasm in my voice. "You don’t think they heard anything?"
He squints like he’s considering the possibility that he’s wrong, and I smack him on the arm.
"Owww," he says, laughing and mock-flinching away from me. "So maybe they heard something, but if they did, I can guarantee they were only jealous. Because you make the sweetest noises I have ever heard."
Dex growls and leans to kiss me again, and I let him despite the fact that I want to cover back up and stay buried in the bed until everyone else exits the plane. His growls are irresistible even when I’m blushing all the way to my toes.
"Come on." He reaches for my clothes and strips me of the blanket as the shadows of bright clouds pass overhead.
"Do I get to know where we are yet?" I ask as I’m dressing, eyes roving over him as he pulls his clothes on and I get final glimpses of tan, rolling muscles.
"Why don’t you get a look at where we are first? Maybe you can tell me." He winks.
"I doubt it," I chuckle, walking to the window where he’s looking out. A beautiful blue ocean and lots of green trees are below us. "Somewhere warm and beautiful."
"Any ideas?" He asks softly, and I glance up to see him watching me with that patient, consuming gaze.
And at that moment I’m hit with the full impact of a truth I already know: it doesn’t matter where we are. As long as I’m with Dex, anywhere would be perfect. The where doesn’t matter. What matters is that I get to experience new things and a new place with this man next to me.
"Somewhere with you," I say, grabbing his hand. "Thank you for all of this. Thank you for bringing us here. The plane is too much. It’s not necessary, you know? We can fly on a commercial plane, get little bags of peanuts off a cart, and squish into a bathroom or whatever..." I laugh. "We don’t even have to go anywhere at all."
"Yes we do," he smiles and kisses my hand. "I want to show you the world, Raya. You deserve to see it. And I want to share it with you."
A pleasant tone comes over the speaker, and Dex pulls me toward the door. A twinge of fear spikes in my chest when I remember that I have to go face Rory and Luciano and whatever knowing smirks or smart comments are waiting. But following behind the authoritative roll of Dex’s broad shoulders makes it easier. Something about being with him just makes everything easier. He’s obviously not shy or ashamed, and his confidence is like a shield for me, too.
Rory sees us first. She turns her head our way as we walk back to our seats, but she doesn’t say anything. There’s just a little twitch of a smile that I catch before she glances back at the man seated next to her.
"Hey." Luciano nods a greeting when Dex and I sit down and buckle, and I wait for the jokes. But they don’t come.
"Hey," Dex replies, and his eyes flick Rory’s way. "Everything go okay out here?"
"What do you mean did everything go okay out here?" Luciano asks, a flash of annoyance in his eyes like he’s being accused of something. "Did everything go okay in there?"
"Luci!" Rory growls, smacking his arm with the back of her hand. "You said..."
"What? I just meant..." he shrugs and gestures our way before looking at me and then back to Rory. There’s an apology feathering his brow that surprises me. "Was the rest okay? That’s all I was asking."
There is a contrite almost pleading pitch of Luciano’s eyebrows that is in such contrast to his usual demeanor. It reminds me of when he visited the house with food. His arrogance hasn’t disappeared, but it’s like it’s been doused with something more careful and measured. And for some reason it makes me bust out laughing.
"Did my sister ask you not to say anything?" I chuckle, finding that possibility endearing—especially considering the fact that he would listen to her request.
"About what?" He asks, but there’s a hint of amusement that he can’t shake, and Rory smacks him again, making him chuckle. "Ow! So violent, dolcezza. I didn’t even mention the mile high club."
I groan and cover my face, hiding an embarrassed smile, and I hear Luciano laughing softly while Rory lays into him about a prior conversation they had.
"You can punish me later," he says, silencing all but a scoff from her.
When I peek through my fingers, Rory is now blushing.
"You wish," she mutters. When she catches me watching her, she forces a smile. "Dex tell you where we are yet?"
