Page 35 of Loving Her Enemy

Halayna stared at Sloane. He must be crazy if he thought they were going to have sex for the first time on a plane with people only yards from the door. Even if they were alone, she wasn’t ready to take their relationship to that level yet. Yes, they were getting married soon and yes, she was ridiculously attracted to him, but still...

“Why exactly did you bring me back here?” She wasn’t sure what he saw on her face, but his dark eyebrows dipped into a frown. And seconds later, as if realizing what he’d said, his frown disappeared.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. My intentions were honorable when I said take off your clothes. I meant change into something more comfortable, so you can get in bed and get some sleep.”

“Oh,” Halayna said, feeling a little foolish. Considering how attentive and sweet he’d been, she should’ve known he was just taking care of her.

She sat on the edge of the bed before falling back against the comfortable mattress and sighing. Changing clothes wasn’t necessary because that would mean pulling out her suitcase and going through it for something to wear. It wasn’t that serious. She could just kick off her shoes and curl up on the bed.

“Here,” Sloane said as a soft T-shirt landed on her face, and she laughed and snatched it off. But not before noting how good it smelled… like him. Like sandalwood and laundry detergent.

“And before you ask, it’s clean.”

Halayna sat up grinning. “Already, you know me so well.”

Sloane chuckled and sat next to her. “I’m getting there, and I’m looking forward to knowing you even better.” He nodded his head toward the T-shirt she twisted in her hand. “If you prefer to sleep in your clothes,” he said of her flowy blouse and jeans she was wearing, “that’s fine too. But I thought you might be more comfortable in this.”

She nibbled on her lip and didn’t miss the way his gaze zoned in on her mouth. Halayna hadn’t realized it was a habit until Sloane pointed it out one day. Then he proceeded to brush the pad of his thumb across her lower lip before kissing her. It hadn’t been as heated as the kiss in his home office last week, but it was sweet and gentle to the point it had her yearning for more.

“What is everyone going to think?” she asked.

His frown returned and coupled with the light scruff on his face, it made him look a little roguish instead of like a billionaire businessman. Halayna liked the look and would be totally okay if he continued to miss a few days from shaving. Which was interesting considering she thought she preferred men clean-shaven.

“What is everyone going to think about what?”

“About us being in this room together with the door closed. They’re going to think we’re—”

“I don’t give a damn what they think. Sweetheart, this is our plane, and we can do whatever the hell we want to on it. In a couple of days, you’ll be my wife. Our friends and Bri will just have to get used to us being together. But with all that said, Halayna, nothing is going to happen between you and me until you’re ready. So, relax and stop worrying.”

Out of all he’d said, our plane was what snagged her attention.

The man was surprising her at every turn. Our plane. He said it like it was no big deal. Like she was part owner of the airplane when in fact she had no rights to it now, while they were married, or even after they divorced. The contract didn’t mention anything about his properties, and she was totally fine with that. Yet, it warmed her insides that despite her having no claims on anything outside of their agreement, Sloane was treating her like his wife.

In two days, I’m going to be his wife. She had to keep reminding herself of that fact.

“Do you want me to leave? I can if it’ll make you more comfortable so you can get some rest. Just let me know if you need anything.”

There were times when Sloane seemed too good to be true. After years of despising him, seeing this side of him—the sweet, generous, attentive—side of him was a bit unsettling. It also made her want to curl up with him on this huge bed and get acquainted with him on a different level. She might be exhausted, but her body craved him.

“I want you to stay with me,” she said and stood. “I’ll be right back.”

Since she had to use the bathroom anyway, she took the T-shirt with her to change into. Once she was done, she emerged from the bathroom to find Sloane pulling back the covers on the bed. Then his eyes snapped to her standing in the doorway, and she squirmed under his perusal.

His heated gaze took her in from her hair piled high on her head to her bare feet. She struggled to keep herself from tugging on the hem of the T-shirt that hung on her body and stopped mid thigh. It was clear by the desire brimming in his eyes that he liked what he saw, and she wanted him to touch her everywhere his gaze landed.

She strolled to the bed, hiding a yawn as she climbed in, but instead of joining her, Sloane headed to the bathroom.

“Be right out,” he said before closing the door behind him.

Halayna snuggled into the pillow as her thoughts went wild. Were they really going to have sex on an airplane?

She smiled at the thought. That would be a first for her. Then again, she had a feeling she was going to have a lot of firsts with Sloane, and she couldn’t wait.

“Seriously?”

Sloane couldn’t help but chuckle as he moved toward the bed. He had known Halayna was exhausted when he’d brought her back to the bedroom, but he didn’t know she’d fall asleep so quickly. He’d only been in the bathroom for five minutes. Which had apparently been enough time for her to curl up in the bed and pass out.

As he took off his shirt and pants, then laid them in a nearby chair, he watched Halayna. Her soft snores mingled with the hum of the plane’s engine. God, she was beautiful, and she looked so small and innocent against the white sheets.