Smiling, he leaned his head back against the headrest. “I bet you look really sexy flying an airplane.”

My heart stopped. My bear roared. Not only had my omega kind of called me sexy, but he’d spoken his mind in a way that meant he trusted me with those thoughts in his head.

“I bet you would look equally sexy as my co-pilot. Come on. Let’s go have some fun.”

We checked in with the airport and cleared everything before taking off. Rue watched in awe as I took off flawlessly and got us into the air.

“I can’t believe this! This is incredible. We could fly to a different state for dinner!” The grin on his face made every piloting lesson and licensing fee absolutely worth it. I hadn’t gotten my license for the purpose of flying dates around. I’d initially gotten it to avoid commercial airlines for business trips. But now? I would fly this man around the world if given the chance, just to see his beautiful smiling face.

We pointed out all the sights, and he mentioned how everyone looked like ants from up in the sky.

When we reached altitude, I took his hand in mine. “Are you okay?”

“I am. I’m better than okay. This…I’m impressed, alpha. I really am.”

My chest inflated with pride. I was able to give my omega a new experience. Give him something to smile about. Have an exciting day off.

We landed and debarked the plane. Rue was a bit shaky on his feet but let me wrap my arm around his waist and keep him balanced. We signed out and watched the workers tow the plane into the hangar. We stood there, side by side, and he sighed.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I’m about to be really blunt. There is something about you that makes me want to tell all my secrets and blurt out everything in my head.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, turning to face him.

The sun was setting in the sky behind him and if I didn’t know better, I would think he was a masterpiece of a painting.

“No. Not a bad thing at all.

“Then what’s on your mind?” I asked, stepping closer to him. I hoped what was in his head was the same thing in mine. We’d had an incredible day. The best way to top it off was with an even more incredible night.

“What would you think of me if I asked you to take me home?”

“I’d think, your house or mine.”

Rue chuckled. He glanced down at my crotch. “That’s a long, hard drive, alpha.”

Damn, hearing him say that did things to me. “There’s a hotel between here and Oliver Creek. It’s nice, and we could stay the night.”

“Is that why you asked me to pack a bag?”

“Yes. No. Maybe?”

“Doesn’t matter. Take me there, alpha. I need you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Rue

The hotel was lovely. The airport route wasn’t one I’d taken often, and I’d never been to the hotel about three miles off the main highway in a little valley overlooking a small jewel of a lake. It was one of those boutique places where the price of a room for the night was probably the same as an average person’s monthly rent.

He’d been a little vague about the extent of his wealth, but we checked in and were whisked right up to the top floor of the hotel in less time than it would normally have taken me to actually get the attention of the desk clerk at one of the roadside motels I’d stayed in before.

Although our reservation had been made only moments before our arrival—as in, in the parking lot—our room was ready and when we entered it, vases of fresh flowers with cards welcoming us by name. I didn’t even know they could do that. And so fast.

I strolled to the window and looked out. “We can take a walk to the lake if you like?”

His heat and scent drifted to me before his arms came around me from behind. “If you want,” he said into my ear. “Or we can stay here in the suite and have a small bite to eat. I can order from room service.” He’d called it aroomon check-in, but we had a living room, kitchenette verging on a full-kitchen size, two bedrooms, and at least two bathrooms. I hadn’t taken a tour or anything, but from what I could see, it was the kind of suite I’d book if royalty came to visit.