Page 114 of Raul
Eight months later
Erica stared at the U.S. Navy Seahawk sitting on the tarmac at the airport with its rotors slowly turning. “My birthday gift is flying a U.S. military helicopter? I don’t think I’m qualified.” Although she’d be willing to give it a try. Since the dragon rescue, she had logged many more hours of rotorcraft flying time. But why was it not a Calevan militia helicopter?
“This is just our ride to your gift,” Raul said, holding out his hand, his brilliant smile flashing. “Let’s get on board.”
He had been vibrating with excitement since he had kissed her awake this morning and then proceeded to give her two orgasms.It’s the first time we’ve celebrated your birthday together, and I want it to be your best one ever, he had said.
Remembering his hands moving over her while he was inside her sent waves of pleasure tumbling through her. He had already made it her best birthday ever, and she had told him so, but he had pulled her out of bed and pushed her into the shower anyway, telling her they were on a schedule.
The truth was they were always on a schedule these days, but she had become accustomed to it. She still piloted Gabriel’s plane because she loved to fly. Raul’s days were filled with meetings and ceremonies. But they carved out chunks of time for themselves. Raul was adamant about never allowing more than a couple of days to go by without having a date of some sort…and he never canceled, no matter how full his calendar was. Her workaholic prince had changed his ways for her, which made her heart melt.
Of course, the nights were always theirs, generally spent in hishabitaciónin the palace, where more than once they hadplayed out her fantasy about Raul wearing his power suit and commanding her to strip. A delicious shiver ran through her at the memories.
She glanced sideways at him, dressed in what he calledroyal casual. Khaki trousers, light blue button-down shirt, and navy blazer, his sun-streaked hair brushed into neat waves. He had explained that he needed to dress up a bit to thank a couple of people who had helped him arrange her gift. Her breath hitched because he looked hot in anything he wore, but she still liked him best naked, his lean, muscled body with the dragon tattoo on display not just for her view but for her touch. She gave him a quick pat on the rear that made him grin.
As soon as they approached the helicopter, a man in a green flight suit jumped out and slid open the cargo door. “Welcome, Your Royal Highness, ma’am,” he said, giving Raul a respectful nod and offering his hand to Erica. “I’m the ATO, Lieutenant Tony Jenkens, our pilot is Lieutenant Maggie Riley, and our crewman is Chief Petty Officer Kelly Laven. We’re honored to have you on board.”
As she climbed into the helicopter, Erica was grateful that Raul had said it was fine for her to wear jeans. A skirt would have been awkward. The crew chief stood and gave them each a nod before he returned to his seat behind the pilots.
Not surprisingly, the military aircraft was not outfitted for the comfort of its passengers. Lieutenant Jenkens waved them into a row of four very basic forward-facing seats and handed them each a headset. “Buckle in,” he said.
The engine noise increased, and the rotors began to turn more quickly as Jenkens slammed the cargo door closed and climbed into the copilot’s seat.
And then they were airborne, the helicopter tilting to turn toward the mountains that ran down the center of Caleva. Raul took Erica’s hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to herpalm before he smiled, his blue eyes lit with anticipation. “We’re on our way.”
He intertwined his fingers with hers and lowered their hands to rest on his thigh. When they were together, he always kept them in contact somehow, whether holding hands or resting his hand on the small of her back or looping her arm through his elbow. It was an endearing habit of his and surprising, given his upbringing. She gave his hand a little squeeze of affection before she turned her attention to their ride.
She had been in military helicopters before but not one as technologically complex as the Seahawk, so she scanned the interior and peered into the cockpit, examining all the gauges. Of course, much of the tech involved the weapons systems, which were outside her knowledge base.
“This is very cool,” she said as they skimmed just above the trees on the mountaintops. She kept circling back to why Raul had chosen a U.S. military aircraft. Although the naval base and the royal family obviously had a cordial relationship, the U.S. Navy didn’t just rent out their military hardware and personnel.
The helicopter kept flying north, passing across the coast and out over the ocean. Erica peered through the window beside her, trying to figure out where they were headed. It couldn’t be the king’s yacht because they would have used a private helicopter for that.
Then she saw it. The USSEnterprise, one of the Navy’s new supercarriers.
For a moment, she just gawked at the massive ship with its diagonal landing area and array of aircraft, a long wake streaming behind it. As she watched, a fighter jet launched from the deck, hurled itself into the sky, and vanished from sight almost immediately.
That was when it struck her, and she turned to Raul, whose gaze was on her, not on the enormous ship. “You didn’t really…”
A grin curled his mouth, and he nodded. “You said you wanted to fly off an aircraft carrier.”
“How…?” But she knew. He was the prince, and the Navy wanted to keep the royal family of Caleva happy. Still, those were a lot of strings to pull for a birthday gift. Since she knew the crew of their helicopter could hear what she said through the mic, she mouthed, “I love you,” and leaned over to kiss him.
“Happy birthday,” he mouthed back before he spoke into the mic. “You’ll be riding shotgun in a training jet. Even though you’re a pilot, I couldn’t convince them to let you fly the plane yourself.”
She snort-laughed. “Thank God!”
There was a muffled laugh from one of their pilots at that, and she grinned.
As they descended and the carrier loomed huge beneath them, the enormity of Raul’s gift hit her. First, he had remembered her offhand remark about her wish to fly off a carrier. Second, he had persuaded the military of a foreign country to allow her aboard their most technologically advanced naval vessel. Finally, he had gotten the U.S. Navy to expend the resources of personnel, equipment, and jet fuel to take her, an unimportant civilian, on what would be nothing more than a joyride.
Her heart swelled until she thought it might run out of room in her chest. She smiled at Raul again, trying to put all her love and gratitude into her eyes. He got the message, because his mouth softened into a tender curve, and he once again kissed her hand.
The big Seahawk settled on the carrier’s moving deck like a feather, and Erica removed her headset while mentally saluting Lieutenant Riley’s skill. Chief Laven opened the door and leaped out to offer Erica his hand. She smiled and stepped out into the wall of sound that was an aircraft carrier conducting flightoperations, composed of the roar of jet engines, the buffet of the sea wind, and the clank and whine of various mechanical systems.
Two officers in dress whites stepped forward to greet them before leading them into the relative quiet of the control tower.
“Lieutenant Fahey, Lieutenant Roberts, what a pleasure to see you again. Please accept my thanks for all you’ve done.” Raul shook hands with their escorts. “May I introduce you to my girlfriend, Erica Ortiz?” To Erica, he said, “These officers were instrumental in arranging our visit.”
