Fated to be Yours (5 page)

“Of course, sir. I will be right back with those for you.” She places her hand gently on his forearm and lets it linger there before she goes back to get the pillows and blankets. Within a few seconds she reappears with the requested items and hands them to him, her fingertips brushing against his as he takes them from her.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” She looks at him through her lashes and gives a slow sexy smile. He shifts in his seat before clearing his throat.

“No, thank you. We will be just fine now. I appreciate it,” he says curtly.

“If you should need anything else my name is Laura and I will be more than happy to assist you,” she says, as she leaves to go back to her little room. Andrew exhales quietly and then turns his attention back to me. I’m, of course, looking down at my fingers after watching the small scene she was making. He must find her beautiful and breathtaking. Why wouldn’t he? She’s tall with flawless skin and her face is perfectly made up. I must look downright homely compared to her.

“Here, love, one for each of us.” Andrew reaches over and places the blanket across my body. He waits for me to raise my head so he can put the pillow behind it then smoothes my hair back into place as I lay my head against the pillow. Another strange spark happens inside me at his innocent touch, making me wonder if I’ll be able to sleep at all tonight with him this close to me.

“Thank you so much. Really, I would have been okay without them,” I say again, blushing as he looks at me.

“Since I need to get some sleep as well there’s no sense in only getting those items for just myself and watch you shiver all night. It wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me.” He places a pillow behind his head and drapes his own blanket over his body.

“Thank you again. You’re really too kind.”

“It’s nothing really. Please, you’re tired. Let us get some sleep. It’s a long flight and you’ll want to be well rested for your meeting tomorrow.”

I recline my seat back a little and notice Andrew doing the same before I close my eyes. And for the first time in a long while I fall into a peaceful sleep due to the presence of the beautiful stranger next to me.

S
UNLIGHT INFILTRATES MY SUBCONSCIOUS, PULLING
me from my dreams, as the clouds allow the day’s first light to shine upon the left side of my body. My eyes flutter open as a yawn escapes my lips. There’s a painful crick in my neck and I cannot figure out for the life of me why it hurts so much. Awareness causes my eyes to open wide when I realize that I’m not lying on my pillow anymore but on Andrew’s shoulder instead.
Oh my God, kill me now.
My body jerks away from his, instantly missing the contact and the pull he has over me. Even in my sleep I’m somehow drawn to him. His face lights up with amusement at my knee jerk reaction as his rumbling chuckle fills my ears.

“Good morning, love.” The gleam in his eye takes me off guard as he looks down upon my bewildered face. “I hope you don’t mind, but I didn’t have the heart to wake you. You looked so angelic and peaceful while you were sleeping,” he says.

“I am so sorry Andrew. Honestly, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you like that.” I attempt to pull myself together, praying that I didn’t leave his shoulder covered in a puddle of drool.

“It’s quite all right Tessa. You must have been dreaming something wild because you were tossing and turning during the night and only stopped when you landed on my shoulder. Once you finally calmed down, you had this smile cross your lips and at that point I knew you needed to stay where you were. I just couldn’t move you away from me when you fit so perfectly against my body.” That shy smile of his is back again and I can feel my face turning an unnatural shade of red as I realize what Andrew said.

“Was I really tossing and turning in my sleep? I hope I didn’t keep you up all night,” I shyly say as I avert my gaze to the knotted fingers in my lap, embarrassed that I must have had that dream again.

“Of course not. I was having difficulty sleeping myself and when I saw how distressed you were, I couldn’t help but be concerned for you. Your dream seemed to really disturb you with how you kept tossing your head about.” He looks at me with genuine concern in his bright blue eyes. How can he be so gorgeous this early in the morning? And after sleeping on a plane no less.

“Really, I’m all right. I don’t even remember what I was dreaming about,” I lie since it’s always the same dream. “At least I didn’t fall out of bed like I usually do. Thank heavens for seatbelts.” I try to laugh off my night fit, but that just makes a frown appear on his handsome face.

“You fall off your bed during these dreams?”

I fidget with my sleeves again. Damn. Why did I say that? I really need to start using my filter when I’m speaking.

“Um, not all the time. Just sometimes. I don’t hurt myself. Really it’s nothing,” I say sheepishly looking down again.

The honest concern in his voice has me lifting my head and locking my eyes with his. “It seems like it’s more than nothing. I don’t like the thought of you hurting yourself due to some nocturnal struggle you are having.”

Andrew’s hand reaches out slightly as if to comfort me, but he returns it back to his lap just as quickly, folding it over the other. My brows furrow at the slight disappointment in not feeling his touch, assuming that’s what he was going to do. This isn’t the first time he’s seemingly hesitated in an attempt to touch me. I noticed it a few times while talking last night he started to reach out to me. Maybe it was the lack of sleep making me see that or maybe it was wishful thinking. I can’t help but feel as if I know him from somewhere, knowing full well that is impossible. I mean I would remember meeting someone like him. I just can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s a familiarity there that I don’t understand.
Maybe you just need coffee to wake up. Obviously your hormones are running your brain right now.

“I’ll be okay. I just hope I didn’t talk in my sleep or drool on your shoulder. I would be mortified beyond belief.” I try to lighten the situation again by giving a little laugh. His twinkling eyes stare right through me and I swear it’s as if he can practically see into my soul. My breath catches as he grins at me.

“Now it would not be polite of me to divulge such things to a lady.” Andrew sets a small tray in front of me when I fully sit up in my chair. “You slept through the breakfast they served, but I took the liberty of saving a blueberry muffin for you. I hope it is to your liking.” He places a muffin and a glass of orange juice in front of me, making my heart leap at his completely thoughtful gesture. I give him an appreciative smile as my hand hovers over the muffin.

“Thank you so much for the thought. I really appreciate it since I skipped dinner last night.” And right on cue my stomach growls loudly and I blush from the noise. My arms wrap around my middle as I silently will it to be quiet.

“Well, judging by the noise that just came from your stomach you must be famished. Promise me that you will eat a proper breakfast when we land.”

Again the concern that Andrew is showing me is confusing but like before I choose not to dwell on it. Instead, I appease him by gifting a small smile and nod slightly. It’s not as if I’m ever going to see him again so he will never know if I’m lying or not.

“I will try, but I don’t make any promises. Is London home for you or do you live close by?” I ask as I peel the wrapper off the muffin and split it in two. Andrew gives me a quizzical look when he sees that I picked the top of it off and placed it on the wrapper.

“Yes, London is home to me. I travel quite often for business so I am gone most of the time.” He continues to watch me pick at the bottom half of the muffin, bringing the tip of his index finger to the edge of his lips. “That is a very interesting way to eat a muffin I must say. Do you always eat the bottom of it first?”

I shove a piece into my mouth and chew slowly, watching him tap his finger against his full lower lip. A myriad of inappropriate thoughts floods my mind as I stare at them. His lips look so damn sexy. I can only imagine what they can do, what they would taste like.

Snapping out of my trance, I quickly glance away. I shouldn’t be thinking dirty thoughts when I’m sitting this close to him. It’s bad enough that his scent is invading every pore in my body, making me crave him more than I already am. I need to regroup and focus. But as I do, my eyes fall upon his, causing his lips to curl into a quirky smile. It’s then I realize I haven’t responded yet to his question as I’m lost once again in my fantasy.

“Of course. The top is the best part, you know with all the sugar and streusel on it. So I always eat the less desirable bottom part first to get it out of the way. Saving the best for last and all that jazz.”

I pop another piece into my mouth and take a quick sip of my orange juice. Mmm, nice and cold still. Pulp free too. Just how I like it. I don’t usually drink juice or eat muffins. They have too many calories for my liking, but I’m not going to let him know that. Plus he went out of his way to save this for me. It really was quite sweet of him, making me wonder if he’s always this thoughtful and considerate to everyone he meets.

“I agree. The best should always be saved for last. I guess I’ve just never applied that theory to a breakfast pastry before.” He chuckles and I take another sip of my orange juice. His eyes seem to be studying my face as we stare at each other over the rim of my glass, in a moment of comfortable silence. This is probably the most I’ve ever talked to a stranger, but he doesn’t feel like a stranger to me. That feeling creeps back again, making it seem as if we know each other. I can’t shake it, nor do I want to. Deep down I think there’s a part of me that’s relishing in Andrew’s attention, grateful to be let out of the confined box I’ve kept my emotions in for so long. But even as handsome as he is and how this little exchange is making me feel, we’re still just two strangers on a plane, sharing a space for a period of time. Any delusion of something between us is just that, a delusion.

I gulp down the last of my juice before gently setting it on the tray. His clear crystal blues drop to my lips before slowly making their way back to my eyes. And that’s when I feel something stir deep inside me; like a million butterflies have been released and are trying to escape all at once. Andrew doesn’t look at me in a way I’m used to, one that feeds my fears and doubts. Instead, there’s a heat in his eyes, along with a cool caution, as if he’s not sure what’s going on between us either.

I swallow loudly and return to eating my muffin, desperate for some sort of distraction. He watches me intently as I go about picking apart the muffin top.

“Would you like a piece of the best part?” I ask, turning my head and holding out a chunk of the muffin to him.

“No, thank you. With the way your stomach rumbled earlier you should eat the whole thing,” he says. My tongue darts out of my mouth, wetting my lower lip in another nervous gesture, as I shake my head.

“Really, I’m getting quite full and I’d hate to see this magnificent muffin top go to waste,” I plead to him with my eyes and he gives me a very shy grin.

“Well when you put it that way, how can I resist.” We smile at each other simultaneously as I break apart a piece for Andrew. Our fingers connect, sending another jolt of heat coursing through my bloodstream. That one simple contact is enough to make me lose all my senses except for the ones that pertain to Andrew. The jet engines, the murmuring of the other passengers, even the annoying red-headed attendant all fall away as I solely focus on Andrew.

My eyes are drawn to his mouth as he chews, watching the muscles in his jaw flex with each small movement. He closes his eyes briefly and I take advantage of the moment to admire his features, especially his long lashes as they fan out against the rise of his cheekbones. The day old stubble on his chin has my fingers itching to run along his jawline as he finishes chewing the last of the muffin, his throat working to swallow the food.

Andrew slowly opens his eyes and I’m gifted with that heartbreaking smile once again, having been caught with my wide eyes staring at him. Crap. I quickly look away and pick off a piece of the muffin for myself and place it in my mouth. A satisfied humming sound echoes in the back of my throat as I savor the sweet and fruity taste. I’m amazed at how good the pastry is, especially for being airline food. He reaches over and lightly brushes away a stray crumb that was in the corner of my mouth with his thumb and I momentarily freeze. My eyes make contact with his, not knowing what to do or say at this moment. Andrew looks deep in thought but retracts his thumb as a flash of something crosses his face. I don’t know what it was, but the lingering feeling of his skin touching mine remains.

“You had a little piece there on your lips. I hope you don’t mind.” His voice is low and seductive, like smooth dark chocolate, and my eyes follow the movement of his tongue as it gently sweeps over his bottom lip. Oh, why did he have to do that? The onslaught of images and scenarios begin running rampant through my overstimulated brain. Showing all the possibilities of what that tongue could do and what it would feel like as it traces the curves of my body. How it would worship every inch of me.