When the plane finally leveled and the seatbelt sign was turned off, I opened my eyes and unbuckled my seatbelt. Knowing Miss Connors would soon be critiquing my every move, I figured I might as well start the wine and cheese service early.

Stepping into the galley, I took out a tray of wrapped gourmet cheeses, nearly dropping them to the ground when I saw Jake standing in front of me. He was staring at me intently, those stark blue irises playful, yet watchful.

“May I help you with something, Captain?” I asked. “It’s a bit early in the flight for you to be out here.”

“You don’t need to call me that.” He took the cheese tray from my hands and set it on the counter.

“Are you here because I didn’t bring you your Coke yet, Captain?” I needed to remain professional. “I’ll have to bring it you after the wine and cheese service, or my supervisor won’t be happy with me.”

“This will only take five minutes.”

“I can only give you five seconds.”

“Fine.” He looked at me. “I need to fuck you again.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” He stepped close, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I need to fuck you again. Preferably the second we land in London, but I’m not opposed to doing it after you get finished serving either.”

It took everything out of me not to say, ‘After I get done serving would be fine,’ so I swallowed, trying to get my thoughts together. “I thought we both agreed that it couldn’t happen again. Besides, now that we’re in this situation, it really can’t happen again. It’s against company policy.”

“You’re the last person who ever needs to talk about following company policy.”

“Well then, I’ll just say no thank you. Even if I was interested, now that I know you’re a pilot, you couldn’t pay me to sleep with you again. I’m sure you have plenty of other flight attendants at your disposal. Sleep with one of the ones you’ve slept with before.”

“I’ve only slept with one flight attendant,” he said, his eyes on mine. “Although I’m not sure she counts since she lied when we met and told me she was a pilot.”

“Maybe she was just trying to be mysterious.” I could barely hear myself. “Regardless, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a pilot.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “What do you have against pilots? Something you’ve experienced?”

“Something I’ve heard.”

The plane shook suddenly and I braced my hand against the wall as the seatbelt sign turned on. I tried to lean forward to grab the cheese tray, but Jake held it still—looking calm as ever.

“Don’t you think you need to return to the cockpit?” I asked. “Or do you not feel the plane shaking right now?”

“It’s only light turbulence. It’ll stop once we get out of the clouds.”

As if on cue, the first officer’s voice came over the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for the light turbulence you’re currently experiencing. We’re cutting through a patch of clouds, so it should only last a few more seconds at most, and I’ll turn off the seatbelt sign again here shortly. Hope you’re enjoying the flight.”

The beep sounded and Jake’s eyes returned to mine.

“So, back to our conversation about pilots—” His fingers trailed my lips. “What have you heard?”

“A lot...”

“Then tell me,” he said. “Tell me exactly what you’ve heard.”

“I’ve heard that pilots can’t be trusted, that your occupation practically calls for each and every one of you to cheat.” I paused as his free hand strummed against my waist. “The ones who aren’t married have a woman in every city and they fuck whoever, whenever they want. They even sleep with some of the passengers from time to time.”

“Is that all?” He pressed his forehead against mine.

“No. No, that is not all.”

“Okay.” He looked as if he was holding back a laugh. “Continue.”

“I’ve also heard that all of you—”

“Some of you.” He cut me off. “The word ‘all’ is a bit presumptuous.”

“Fine. Most of you are emotionally distant and cold. What you see is what you get. It’s all you get. Even the rare pilots, the good guys who almost seem capable of being faithful are...”

“Are what?” he asked. “What have you heard about them?”

“They almost always have a flight attendant for a mistress.” I moved my head back before he could lean in any further. “Is any of that true?”

“If it was,” he said, looking slightly amused, “I would’ve agreed with you. Contrary to your uneven and untrue arguments, a man’s profession has nothing to do with his degree of fidelity.”

I opened my mouth to object, but he pressed a finger against my lips.

“That’s only my first rebuttal,” he said. “Second, if a pilot is single and does have a woman in every city, that shouldn’t be a problem since he doesn’t owe anyone anything. I’ll agree with you on your last point, though. What you see is definitely what you get, but I have no interest in having a flight attendant as a mistress.”

“Too scared your girlfriend will find out?”

“We’ve discussed this.” He pulled me close. “I don’t do girlfriends.” His lips were suddenly on mine, coaxing and warm, then demanding and hot. His teeth punished my bottom lip with a soft bite and I couldn’t help but kiss him back.

Slipping a hand under my dress, he whispered against my mouth. “You don’t want this again?” He tugged at my soaked panties and pressed his thumb against my swollen clit, sensuously rubbing it in circles as he trailed his tongue against my neck.

“No...” I lied, holding back a moan.

Everything around me became a hazy blur as his fingers continued to mercilessly tease me, as his tongue swirled against my exposed skin. I wanted to give in, to admit that he could bring me to pleasure like no one else could, but I knew having him again would only affect one of us.

“Gillian.” His mouth returned to mine. “Say yes to fucking me at landing.”

“No.” I bit his lip and stepped back. “I can’t.”

He looked completely confused. “And why is that?”

“Because if I were to sleep with you again, I’d have to be your only one.”

“My only what?”

“The only woman you have sex with.”

“Come again?” He let go of my waist.

“Like I told you before, I don’t normally hookup...The first time we had sex was fine, because it was a one-night stand, but the second time was a mistake.”

“Having multiple orgasms is never a mistake.”

“Maybe, but I’m not the type who would be okay with having sex with you one night, while knowing that you could possibly be having sex with Sally tomorrow.”

“I don’t know any women named Sally.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I honestly don’t.”