Awaken (19 page)

What’s going on?
Lacey thought, confused.
He never acts like this.
 

“It looks like we’re going to have to hurry, or we might miss the flight,” said Cooper after they checked in.

They rushed to the departure gate and nearly missed the American Airlines flight heading to Boston. The whole time Cooper clasped her hand and was smiling.

Damn it,
thought Lacey.
It’s going to be so hard not to fall for him when he’s acting like this. I just have to keep picturing him fucking another woman.
She thought about the night at Nectar, and the queasiness in her stomach instantly returned.
He can’t give me what I want, remember? This is just about sex.

When they boarded the flight, the surprises continued. Lacey assumed they’d be flying in first class since money was not an issue for Cooper. In fact, she originally entertained the thought that they might be taking a private jet to Boston.
Isn’t that what billionaires do? Fly around in private jets.
Not that Lacey cared about that sort of thing. She was just surprised when Cooper, who was still holding her hand, guided her past the first class cabin, past business class, and straight into the economy section. He directed her toward two aisle seats near the back of the plane, 26A and 26B.
 

“I hope you don’t mind flying economy,” said Cooper as he fastened his seat belt.

Lacey looked at him confused. “I’ve flown economy my whole life. Of course I don’t mind,” said Lacey. “I’m just surprised
you
don’t mind flying economy.”

Cooper shot her a mischievous look, like he had something else up his sleeve.

After the flight took off, and the Captain deactivated the seat belt sign, Cooper reached down and squeezed Lacey’s hand.
 

“Follow me,” he said with a devilish grin. “It’s time for our next session.”

“What? Here?” said Lacey, nervously looking around.

Cooper stood and grinned as he gestured toward the bathrooms in the back of the plane. He walked toward them. Lacey turned in her seat and saw him standing outside the door of the bathroom on the left. He gave her a curt nod to follow him.
 
Then he opened the door to the bathroom and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Lacey glanced at the people sitting around her. Could she really do this? Have sex on a plane? What if people heard her?
 

This is the reason I’m still seeing him,
Lacey reminded herself.
To try things I’ve never imagined doing. And let’s face it, who hasn’t wanted to brag about having sex on a plane. It’s just too bad it’s not on a private jet, instead of a commercial flight. Geez, when did I become such a snob?

Lacey took a deep breath and got to her feet. She noticed a pimply faced teenager looking at her with a dumb smirk. The boy winked. Lacey immediately lowered her head and walked toward the back of the plane. She stopped when she reached the bathroom on the left.
Just be very quiet,
she told herself. She glanced toward the front of the plane before opening the bathroom door. The flight attendants were at the front of the cabin delivering drinks, so it looked like their little escapade could go unnoticed.
Let’s
make this fast
, Lacey told herself. She took a deep breath and pulled the bathroom door open.
 

Cooper immediately yanked her inside.
 

In the cramped space, he stared at her with smoldering desire.
 

Lacey involuntarily filled with anxiety. “Cooper, I don’t know if I can go ahead with this,” she said. “What if people hear us? There are kids out there?”

Cooper didn’t respond. He took her by the waist and whirled her around, so she was facing the mirror. He yanked her leather skirt to her waist. Lacey had chosen to wear a red thong for the evening. With an appreciative growl, Cooper ran his hand over her ass. He wrapped his arm around her and lowered his fingers between her legs. Lacey felt them press through the fabric of her panties.
 

Cooper whispered into her ear. “We better hurry up then, Lacey, and start fucking. I want everyone on this plane to hear you scream when I make you come.”

Cooper began kissing the side of her neck.
 

“I really don’t think I…”

Lacey couldn’t finish her thought. His fingers reached under the fabric of her thong, and began stroking her pussy.

“Don’t think, Lacey. Just go with it. You’re the hottest woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of making love to. I want everyone on this plane to know how much I want you.”

Wait, did he just say love?
thought Lacey. But she didn’t have time to think about it any further. Cooper quickly spun her once more, so she was facing him, and began kissing her, passionately. He tasted so good.

I thought he said no more kissing
?
I guess it’s back on the table.
She pressed her mouth firmly against his, savoring his taste.

Lacey gasped when Cooper turned her around again. To balance herself, she instinctively leaned forward and pressed her hands against the wall above the toilet for support. Before she knew it, Cooper had quickly pushed her panties to the side. He swiftly unzipped his fly. Within seconds, she felt the head of his stiff cock pressing against her backside.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he growled into her ear. “Do you want me inside you?”

With his warm breath against her neck and the head of his hard cock pressing against her sex, Lacey just couldn’t refuse. “Fuck, yes,” she said quietly and widened her stance.

Cooper slid his cock inside, his impressive girth stretching her wide. As he began thrusting his shaft into her, he moaned, “I can’t get enough of you, Lacey. You drive me insane with desire.”

I doubt that’s true,
thought Lacey. But she didn’t fixate on that thought for very long. Her pussy adored Cooper’s cock and clenched it with dripping delight as he worked it into her. Lacey rocked herself back to meet each one of Cooper’s thrusts. She felt an orgasm coming, and had to stifle her moans for fear of being heard outside the bathroom.
 

“I’m going to come so hard for you, Lacey,” Cooper groaned into her ear.

Lacey raised her head and saw their reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair disheveled. She was one hot sexy mess. Then Cooper suddenly slammed his pelvis into her, filling her completely with his manhood. Lacey closed her eyes as a massive rush overwhelmed her.

She let out a squeal of joy as her body jerked back and forth. She came, gushing all over Cooper’s shaft.

After they both caught their breaths, Cooper softly kissed Lacey’s neck.
 

“Congratulations, Lacey. You just joined the Mile High Club.”

Lacey smirked. She still couldn’t believe she had gone through with it.

She pulled down her leather skirt and composed herself in the mirror. She took a deep breath and opened the door. That pimply-faced teenager was standing outside the bathroom, his mouth wide open. Lacey turned beet red and lowered her head. She quickly walked to her seat, Cooper following close behind. Through the corner of her eye, she noticed other passengers on the plane turn in their seats. They were staring at her and Cooper. Her face burned with embarrassment as she locked her seatbelt in place.
 

When Cooper sat down, she quickly whispered into his ear, “I’m so embarrassed.”

Cooper looked at her with a smirk. “Really?” he said somewhat surprised. “I thought it was a great way to pass the time. It helped get me in the mood for dinner.”

The plane’s pilot then came on the speaker system. He informed the passengers that they would be landing in Boston shortly.

Lacey was shocked when she stepped into Wallace’s Fish Shack in the heart of South Boston. The place they had flown over two hundred miles for was a hole in the wall.

“This place has the best lobster roll. Trust me,” Cooper whispered into her ear.

Lacey scanned the small eating establishment. She felt self-conscious in her leather skirt. But then again, Cooper stood out in his Armani suit, too. Most of the people dining in Wallace’s Fish Shack were dressed in jeans and t-shirts. Cooper took Lacey’s hand and walked her toward the bar. They took a seat.

“Hey, Coop,” said the female bartender, a beautiful red head with a beaming smile.

“Hello, Stacy.”

“The usual?” asked the bartender.

Cooper nodded. “Yes, but make it for two,” said Cooper with a sideways glance toward Lacey.

“Coming right up,” said Stacy. In a flash, she placed two Sam Adams beers on the bar. Then, a few minutes later, she returned with two lobster rolls.

Lacey took a bite of her sandwich and closed her eyes, savoring the taste.
 
The sweet lobster meat, the melted butter…It was delicious. She took a swig of beer and looked at Cooper with a grin.

“Worth flying two hundred miles for, right?” said Cooper.

Lacey nodded. “Way worth it.”

Cooper smiled. “Good. I’m glad you like it. I used to come here a lot during my Harvard days.”

Lacey took another bite of her sandwich, followed by another swig of beer. “This is a perfect combination,” she said with a sigh of appreciation.

“I spoke to the owner once, this hardened, old guy named Wallace,” said Cooper. “I told him if he wanted to open a similar place in New York City, I’d fund the entire operation.”

“He wasn’t interested?” ventured Lacey.

Cooper shook his head. “Not in the least. I tried persuading him that this kind of place would be a hit in New York City. He would make a lot of money. He still wasn’t interested. He said there was only one Wallace’s, and it would stay that way, right here in South Boston.”

“I respect that,” said Lacey.

“I thought you would,” said Cooper with another grin.

They stayed like that, staring into each other’s eyes.

As she bathed in Cooper’s gaze, Lacey felt a warm, giddy feeling overwhelm her.
What the hell am I doing?,
she quickly reminded herself.
He’s not a one-woman guy. And that’s what you need. He’s not even your boyfriend. It’s just sex.
 

Then suddenly, Cooper reached down and took her hand. He leaned forward and kissed her.
 

“You’re full of surprises tonight,” Lacey said. “I thought kissing was off limits.”

“Your lips taste too good. Maybe I’m softening up a bit,” Cooper admitted with a shrug.
 

He leaned back and took another bite of his sandwich.

Lacey watched him, reminding herself that he wasn’t the one for her. But it was so damn hard.
 

After they finished their sandwiches, Cooper ordered a car service to pick them up outside the fish shack.

Lacey was surprised when the car drove them back through the city of Boston, toward Logan Airport; but instead of dropping them off at the main terminal, it veered into an airstrip filled with several rows of private jets.

“I hope you don’t mind, we’re going to take my jet back to New York.”

Lacey looked at him in disbelief. “I could have joined the Mile High Club on your jet?!” she shouted. She playfully smacked his arm. Cooper laughed and leaned forward and kissed her again.

He tugged on her bottom lip. “You know it wouldn’t have been as much fun.”

“You mean not as embarrassing,” Lacey muttered.
 

When they stepped out of the limo, they walked toward the jet waiting for them on the tarmac.
 

“This is so cool,” gushed Lacey.

Cooper took her hand. He led her up the stairs and into his Embraer Legacy 650 private jet.

Once inside, they were greeted by the flight staff – the pilot and two attendants.

Lacey marveled at the plane’s interior. It was decorated in muted tones, highlighted by gleaming hard wood. They walked through the first cabin, which was Cooper’s office, and contained a large conference table. He led her to the next cabin, and motioned her to sit on a plush, wide leather sofa.
 

After the flight took off, Cooper ordered two martinis. He could see the excitement in Lacey’s eyes as she scanned the plane’s quarters.
 

As Cooper watched Lacey enjoy a sip from her drink, he was overwhelmed with the urge to ravish her once more, this time on his private jet. He was so attracted to her, wanted her so badly. The more time he spent with Lacey, the greater that warm feeling inside him grew. He hadn’t felt it in over a decade, not since Julia.
Face it Coop, you’re falling in love with her,
he told himself.
Are you willing to take that risk again?

Lacey turned and saw him staring at her. “What are you thinking?” she asked with a curious smile.

“Nothing,” Cooper said with a shake of his head. He then joined Lacey on the sofa. They both turned and looked out the window, staring down at the lights flashing off the Eastern Coast as the jet headed back toward New York City.

“I wonder if you’re going to be my next assignment?” said Lacey.

“What do you mean?”

Lacey told him about the website –
The One Percent
– and how her job entailed photographing the insanely rich.

“Well, I’m not that rich,” said Cooper. “It’s not like I have an aquarium on the plane.”

Lacey looked at him in shock. “Some people do?”

Cooper nodded.
 

“Well, you’re not doing too badly, Mr. West.”

“I’m doing better now,” said Cooper softly as he stared at her.

Lacey had to look away. The longer she gazed into his eyes, the more apt she was to fall for him.
This is just about sex
, she had to remind herself, over and over again.

“So, what have you decided?” asked Cooper.

Lacey looked at him confused.

“About the gallery exhibit?” he said.

Lacey smiled. “I’m going to do it. Even if I lose my staff job, I think it’s worth the risk. The theme I’m going to explore for the exhibit is exactly what I’m meant to be doing with my life. If some people don’t like it, well, that’s their problem.”