Page 31 of Flight of Dreams

“I don’t care what you were doing. You didn’t come back. You said you would come back.”

“I did. And you were gone when I got there.”

“Did you expect me to wait all night? Or perhaps you’d like for me to wait even longer? Years, maybe, while you flounce around America?”

“That’s not your business.”

“It is now.”

“What? You think I’ve promised you something? Just because we’ve kissed?”

“Do you treat kisses so lightly? Because I don’t.”

“It was just a kiss.”

“It was a hell of a lot more than that, Emilie. And you know it.” He seems to grow larger with every word, filling the bathroom until he’s towering over her.

Emilie doesn’t remember there being such a difference in their heights, but she feels very small right now. Somewhat ashamed. Afraid. She straightens her spine and meets his wounded gaze. “You read too much into it.”

“You asked me to stay.”

She winces a little at this. And then a new rage washes over her. “Well, you should have. I would have made it worth your while. That’s what you want, right? My dress on the floor?”

Max places the tip of his right index finger in the middle of her breastbone. It feels like a poker, red-hot and searing. Her entire body feels anchored to that one spot. “I. Want. You.”

“Then take me!”

“So you’d give me your body?” Max pulls away, slowly, in control of himself again. “And all the while you’d keep your heart locked away? I don’t want one without the other.”

“Oh, I think you do.” Emilie takes a step forward. It’s cruel, she knows, but she doesn’t care. She’s only inches away from him now. He inhales sharply as she rubs the tip of her nose along his jaw.

Max grabs her shoulders, and she can feel his arms tremble with restraint. He growls her name. And she is certain that he will kiss her. His head is tilting to the side to do just that. But he stops when Emilie begins to soften beneath him.

“No.” A ragged breath. “We’re not done talking.”

“This conversation isn’t urgent.”

“Yes it is!” He shakes her a bit and lets go in alarm. Takes a deep breath. Steps back. “Don’t you understand? This is urgent. Are you leaving?”

“Hush. Someone will hear you.”

“I don’t care.”

“Well, I do, damn it,” she whispers. “In case you haven’t noticed, those papers aren’t exactly public.”

When he speaks the volume is gone but the rage is still there, bubbling below the surface. “Do you know what Captain Lehmann will do to you if he finds out? Commander Pruss? Have you even stopped to think about that?”

“Of course I have! Why do you think I hid them? I’m not stupid.”

“They didn’t look very hidden to me.”

“I don’t keep them in the closet, Max. I have a place. A compartment. I was looking at them last night when you came to my room. I wasn’t expecting you.”

“How long have you been planning this?”

“A while.”

“So what was I? A distraction? Some toy that you played with to kill time?”