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Chapter Four

Jared

I didn’t expect this when I boarded the plane, not by a long shot.

Savannah Brooks has completely thrown me off in the best and most unexpected way.

She’s bold. Completely unfiltered. And the fact that she’s somehow both innocent and…well, not innocent at the same time—it messes with my head.

I’m drawn to her in a way I can’t explain, like she’s the antidote to this insomnia and anxiety that’s been dogging me for months. Every second I’m around her I’m more at ease, more focused, which doesn’t make any damn sense.

But that’s how we ended up here, in this cramped, barely-lit airplane bathroom, her lips smashed against mine like we can’t breathe without touching each other.

It’s insane. I’m the guy who’s been avoiding the press, trying to stay out of any kind of scandal. I know how vicious those blogs can be—anything they can twist into gossip, they will. I’ve been careful. Low-key.

And now? I’ve got Savannah pinned against the bathroom wall, my hands gripping her ass like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded.

Her scent—vanilla and cinnamon—fills my head, making it impossible to think straight. All I want to do is keep kissing her, dragging this out as long as I can. But we’re running out of time.

“Jared,” she whispers against my mouth, her voice breathless, and I swear it’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.

I can feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her tights. I’m hard as a rock, pressing against her, and she’s squirming in my arms, driving me fucking crazy. My lips are sore, but I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop. Not when she’s like this, so responsive, so fucking beautiful.

My hand slides down her side, fingers itching to dip between her thighs again. I’m desperate to make her come one more time, to feel her fall apart in my hands. Just as I’m rubbing up on her, the goddamn airplane notice chimes in over the speaker, some robotic voice telling us to return to our seats for landing.

Savannah groans, pulling back slightly, her lips swollen and glistening. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she says, breathless and laughing at the same time.

I laugh too, my forehead resting against hers. “Perfect timing, right?”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. “Best flight I’ve ever had, though. Hands down.”

“Yeah?” I smirk, kissing her one last time, slow and deep, before forcing myself to pull away. “Same here.”

We straighten ourselves up as best we can in the tiny space, and I adjust my jacket. She’s trying to smooth out her hair in the mirror, cheeks flushed, still looking wrecked in the best possible way. I catch her eye, and we both burst out laughing.

“Come on,” I say, opening the door and glancing down the aisle. “We should probably sit before someone gets suspicious.”

She nods, and we sneak back to our seats like a couple of kids who got caught making out in the hallway at school. My pulse is still racing from the bathroom, and I can’t stop thinking about how I want to finish what we started.

As we sit down, Savannah turns to me, a sly grin on her face. “So, do you always get into this kind of trouble on flights?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “No. This is definitely a first for me.”

She arches an eyebrow, clearly pleased with herself. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It’s a huge compliment.” I lean closer, dropping my voice. “But the flight’s not over yet.”

Her smile falters for a second, a blush creeping up her neck. I can tell she’s thinking the same thing I am. That we’re not done. Not by a long shot.

The plane starts its descent, and I turn to her. “I’m staying at a hotel near the airport tonight. Do you, uh, have anywhere you need to be?”

Savannah shakes her head, biting her lip. “No. Nowhere.”

I grin, already picturing what’s going to happen next. “Good. I was thinking I could buy you dinner…and apologize for ruining your tights.”

She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Oh, please. I’d let you ruin my tights all over again.”

I raise an eyebrow, my grin widening. “Careful, Savannah. I might take that as a challenge.”

Her eyes flash with something dark and playful, and she leans in just a little, her breath ghosting over my cheek. “Maybe I want you to.”

Fuck. This girl is going to be the death of me.

As the plane touches down, the tension between us is thick. My hand rests on her knee under the thin airline blanket, and I squeeze gently, drawing a soft gasp from her lips. I lean in, whispering in her ear, “You’re dangerous, you know that?”

She shivers, glancing up at me through her lashes. “I’m just getting started.”

We stay like that for a moment, the world outside the plane fading away as we’re lost in each other’s gaze. It’s like everything else—my worries, my stress, the constant pressure of my life—it all disappears when I’m with her.

The seatbelt sign dings and the flight attendants start giving instructions about deboarding. I reluctantly pull away, standing up and grabbing my bag from the overhead compartment. Savannah does the same, but when she reaches for her bag, our hands brush, and I can’t help but squeeze her fingers.

“I’ll grab a car to the hotel,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual. “You good with that?”

She nods, her lips twitching into a smirk. “I’m good with that.”

We walk through the terminal in comfortable silence, though the tension between us is still electric. My mind is racing with possibilities for tonight.

I want to take her to dinner, make her laugh, learn more about her, but more than anything…I want her alone. In my hotel room. In my bed.

As we step outside into the cool evening air, I flag down a car. Savannah slides in next to me, our legs brushing as the driver pulls away from the curb.

“I should’ve asked,” I say, glancing at her. “Do you have any preferences for dinner?”

She tilts her head, thinking for a second. “Honestly? After that flight, I’m starving, so I’ll eat just about anything.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Good. Low maintenance. I like that.”

She grins, her eyes flicking over to me. “You’ll find I’m full of surprises.”

I lean back in the seat, smirking. “I’m starting to see that.”

The hotel isn’t far, and before I know it, we’re pulling up outside. I pay the driver and help Savannah out of the car, our fingers lingering when she hands me her bag.

“Let’s check-in and then grab something to eat,” I say, leading her through the hotel’s sliding doors.

The lobby is quiet, a nice break from the chaos of the airport. I walk up to the front desk, Savannah standing beside me, looking around curiously.

“Reservation for Jared Maddox,” I say to the clerk, sliding my credit card across the counter.

The woman behind the desk taps a few keys on her computer and then hands me the room key. “You’re all set, Mr. Maddox. Enjoy your stay.”

Savannah raises an eyebrow as we head toward the elevator. “You didn’t tell me you were so fancy, or else I would have demanded at least a five-course meal.”

I chuckle, pushing the button for the elevator. “Didn’t think it was important. And if I get you bread and water, you’ll still like it.”

She smirks, nudging me with her elbow. “ Asshole.”

The elevator dings open, and we step inside, the doors closing behind us. The tension between us ratchets up again, and I can feel the heat rolling off her as she glances at me out of the corner of her eye.

“So,” I say, trying to keep the mood light, “what’s your last name? Or do I have to guess?”

She bites her lip, grinning. “Brooks. Savannah Brooks.”

I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Strong name. I like it.”

We reach our floor, and I lead her down the hallway to my room. Once inside, I toss my bag onto the chair by the window and turn to her.

“So, dinner first or…?”

Savannah steps closer, her eyes dark and full of mischief. “Or what?”

I smirk, stepping toward her. “Or we skip dinner and see where the night takes us.”

She laughs softly, wrapping her arms around my neck. “You’re bold, Jared Maddox.”

I grin, lowering my mouth to hers. “You have no idea.”