The beginning of the flight wasn't easy. I was ready to turn around and kill the minister, and Alaya was still shaken up from the encounter. The worst thing was that I knew I should have been just as angry with myself, because I should have known that such a thing was possible. I just never expected it so blatantly, nor in such a public setting. If I hadn't seen that little piece of foil fall, what would have happened? I couldn't even imagine, and it had me shaking.
All I could do was sit on the plane's couch and hold Alaya, which was precisely what I was doing, though it seemed like a feeble gesture. Seriously, that asshole should have his fingers broken and his dick stomped on. I did take the time to send a message to Anna about what had happened, because I wanted to make sure if she sent anyone else after I left, they were aware of what he was capable of.
"Gracias, Kian," Alaya murmured into my neck as the plane climbed higher into the clouds. "I really needed you, and you were there."
"I was there too late," I muttered. "I should have never let him touch you at all!"
"No! Don't blame yourself! He was the creep that tried, and you're the one that stopped him." She burrowed herself into my neck and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing tightly, as though she might drift away.
"I still shouldn't have let you be alone with him. I promised to keep you safe, and I fucked it up."
"I was in the bathroom!" she pointed out. "I wasn't alone with him until he decided to make it happen. It wasn't your fault that he went into the women's room to find me, that was all on him. You got there in time to stop him from touching anything more private, and I can't thank you enough for that."
"It won't happen again," I promised. "I'm not leaving you alone to be hurt."
She started laughing a little, then looked up at me. "Are you going to start following me into the women's room too? Join me in the shower? Keep me in your bed?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but I was already blushing. I knew she was kidding, but she did have a point. Well, not entirely. "You've already been sharing my bed, so I guess that part is covered."
Now it was her turn to blush, and she ducked her head back into my chest before sighing. "Yes, you do have a comfortable bed, and I should warn you now that I'm going to keep sharing it, so no inviting ladies over."
I would take snuggles with Alaya instead of spending a night with a random woman, even someone like my occasional partner, Viola, in Rome, so that was an easy promise. "Trust me, you're the only one I want in my bed." She stiffened in my arms, and I realized what that could imply, but I decided not to correct the statement. It was true, after all, and though we said we'd take it slow, if things progressed to a point where she was sharing it for more than sleep, I'd be thrilled. But there was no way I could offer that after such a horrid dinner.
"I guess I better start changing our reservations to one bedroom suites then, huh?" she said softly, as though testing me.
"That sounds like a good plan. That would be all we'd need, though we'd lose a bathroom."
"Then sharing the shower might have to happen too!" She poked me in the ribs, making me flinch, but I was hoping she meant that could happen some time.
"I don't think you'd hear complaints from me!" Now it was my turn to tickle her a little, and she wiggled delightfully in my arms, her small giggles becoming laughter as I kept going.
"Okay! Okay! Stop!" she begged. "No showers for you, if you keep that up!" she mock scolded, her face beet red.
"I guess I better behave then, those showers could be fun."
"They could be. Oh, but you have to feed me." She stretched a little, her body pressing once more into mine. "I never finished my dinner, and I might eat this couch!"
I nodded rapidly, since I was also hungry. A single shared appetizer wasn't going to tide either of us over. "Keith!" I called up to the front of the plane. "Do you have any food ready yet? We didn't have much of a chance to eat!"
He poked his head around the corner. "I might have planned ahead and got some take out for you, I'll heat it right up!"
Keith saved our bellies, and a short time later we had a bunch of tasty rice, more Roti Canai, some curried chicken, some soup with noodles and pork that was delicious, and strangely enough some fried chicken. It didn't matter though, because we ate everything that we could get our hands on while Alaya pulled Knives Out up on the TV while we ate.
The food helped to settle us, since the hunger had probably contributed to my mood, and now we were both safe and full, which was a much better combination. And of course, every second that passed meant that we were moving further and further from the asshole that attacked her, so that helped too. It was going to be a 16 hour flight, and by the end of it, hopefully Minister Jawaad would be a distant memory.
Several hours later, the movie was over, and most of the food was gone, and Alaya was laying on the couch, her head in my lap as she smiled up at me, her hand reaching up to tangle in my hair. "Kian, does taking it slowly include kissing?"
The feel of her hand on me felt so good, that I just nodded, putting my hands under her back and lifting her while dipping my head to meet hers. Her hand tightened on my head, pulling me towards her and gently pressing her lips to mine. It was slow and tentative, and yet so sweet. Her lips were delicate, soft and plump, and I couldn't get enough of them. I was afraid to take control for fear of scaring her away, and yet all I wanted was to devour those lips with my own. I didn't move to deepen the kiss, nor did she, but after our lips had moved gently together for a few minutes, she relaxed and sank back onto the couch with a sigh and a happy smile.
"Gracias, Kian, I needed that." Her hand remained in my hair before traveling to my cheek and lightly running over my jaw and lips. "I'd like to do that some more soon. But I couldn't wait to start."
"That was a good start, I liked that too. Any time you want more of those kisses, my mouth is yours to command," I promised.
"Ohh, papi, don't say that. I might want more than a kiss!" she giggled before shooting me a wink.
Yeah, that got a reaction. And with her head on my lap, she knew it. "Well, once we spend more time together, I don't think I'd say no to other requests."
She turned on her side, laying her cheek in my lap so it was pressing down on the shaft of my now very hard cock, pressing down gently against it. "I guess you liked that kiss, huh?"
I groaned, throwing my head back as I started to turn red from both excitement and embarrassment. "You like doing this to me don't you?"
"Can I tell you a secret?" she whispered, sitting up and kneeling next to me. "Do you remember when I told you to take care of yourself before we went shopping? I might have listened outside your door to you doing that, and I heard the name you called out when you were done too."
I looked at her in shock. "You did not!"
She leaned in close, her lips on my ear. "I believe you said 'oh fuck, Alaya'. Though I'm sure you were trying to be quiet. I've wanted to hear over and over ever since, but you're too much of a gentleman. Let me hear again, por favor?"
"I promised. I didn't want you to think that was what I brought you on this trip," I tried to explain.
"Is that why you brought me?" she continued to whisper.
"Of course not, you've proved me right every time, too. You're the perfect partner for this trip."
"Right. So, if it isn't what you brought me for, and we both like each other, and we both want it, why are we fighting it? You have treated me like a damned queen this entire trip. You've spoiled me, and listened to me, and let me contribute and then saved me. You have done nothing but make me want you more and more. I know you want me too, right?"
"Of course, I do! You're wonderful! You're smart and dedicated and gorgeous. You've made me look at everything so much differently that I used to, and it has brought the trip to life. Yes, I very much want you, but that doesn't mean I don't want to keep trying to have a relationship too."
"I do too! I wouldn't want to throw that away either. But I don't want to have to wait to have you either. I love the way you make me feel, and I want to experience it all with you. So, why don't you take me back to the bedroom and make me yours for real?"
"What happened to taking it slow?" I reminded her.
She nipped my earlobe. "You can thrust slowly if you like, papi. Is that taking it slow enough?"