“You don’t like flying, do you?”
Ishakemy head.
“I take it you’ve never been on a bird then.”
Before Icanreply, he releasesmy chin and placestwofingersbetweenhislips.The sharp whistlemakesme flinch.The answering caw and flap of wingsmakethe blood rush out of my head.Feeling dizzy, I swayon my feet.
Hisarmwrapsaround me in an instant, holding me uprightandpinning me to him.Itryto push away, but hisgriponly tightens.And then I’mclutching at him, trembling and shaking my head.“No.No, no, no, no, no,” I beg, my eyes fastened on the massivecrowthat’slanded beside us.It towers above us, at least three times as high.
“You’ll be fine.She’s a gentle girl.”
My body chills.My visionblurs.
“Hey, look at me.”Violet eyes snag me, holding my gaze hostage as two stronghandskeepme standing.They’resoft and gentle, so theycan’tpossibly be his.“It’ll be fine.Riding a bird is more stable than riding a rat.”He clickshis tongue.The bird walksup to us, pushing its beakdownbetween our bodies.If it opensits mouth, I’mcertain itcanswallow my head whole.Perhaps Icanget it to try; then Iwon’thave to ride it.
I move my head, trying to mimic a worm.
All thatdoesismake me dizzier.
“This is Maeve,” hesays, grabbing my hand and lifting it.He raisesit to the bird’s head and forcesme to pet her.“She likes it when you rub her here.”
He guidesmy fingers in a circular motion.Itryto snatch my hand away –not because I don’t want to pet her but because I know that if I seem comfortable with her, he’ll put meonher.But heholdsme firmly.Forces me to stroke her.Pressing his body against mine, his other hand restson my hip.His breath feathersagainst my ear.His chestrisesandfallsagainst my back – even and calm.Soothing.“Just like that,” he murmurs.
Focusing on the movement of my handand the fact that Maeve is freaking cute, Itrysoveryhard to relax.
“I can’t do this,” I whisper.
“Of course you can.”Lifting me easily, he placesme on top of the bird.After settling in behind me, he clickshis tongue.Her wings open –the black glistening iridescently in the sunlight–and I tilt forward, clutching at her feathers.She tossesher head with an angry caw.
Loosening my fingers, Richardholdsthem in his hands.“Relax,” he orders.“You’re not going to fall.And if you do, I’ve got you.”Hishands squeeze mine.
I stiffen, but as Maeve launchesinto the air, I’mgrateful for his presence.I like his strong body against mine, his embrace holding me steady.I like the fact that he haswings of his own and that his heartbeat pulsing against my backiscalm and collected.Relaxed against my panic.
He dipshis head to my ear, his lips brushingmy skin.“Close your eyes.”
Already on it.
Lookingattheback ofmy eyelids, Itryto control my breathing.Itdoesn’twork.
“Just concentrate on me.”His wordsdriftthrough the darkness, and I latch on to themhard.“Focus on my hands.”
They’restrong and sturdyon top ofmine.Squeezing myfingers.Holding me tight.When he releasesone of my hands, I start to panic,but then his fingers are stroking the back of my knuckles, soft and light and soothing.They trace their way up my wrist to my elbow.I suck in a shaky breath as I focus on the gentle path they’recreating.
A peace in the panic.
A straight line in the chaos of my mind.
“I thought about you all night.”He nuzzlesmy hair as his fingers continue their slow exploration.“Having you against the wall.”His tongue flicksout against my lobe.The new sensation rocksme, causing my lips to part.“On my desk.”He sucksmy ear in between his teeth.“In my bed.”He growlsaround it.
Heart hammering, Ican’tstop the images from forming.In the darkness of my panic, I’mcompletely at his mercy.
Myhand that he’s still holding, he placesit on my knee.Moving it slowly up, he trailshis lips to my neck.“I thought about you in that blue slip of yours, down on your knees as I knelt behind you.It bunched around your waist.”
I swallow hard.Breathe harder.
“I thought about you sitting on my desk with your legs spread,so beautifully naked.”
My hand reachesmy thigh under his command.
