Page 68 of Peasants and Kings
Immediately up the stairs was a station for the flight crew. Past that was a small dining area with a sophisticated table on each side of the aisle and chairs across from one another, one facing forward, and one facing rearward so that people were seated as though they were having dinner at a fine dining restaurant.
I stepped toward the first section of the plane.
“Take this one,” he said softly, gesturing to an elegant white leather seat near one of the windows. “You can look out as we fly.”
I glanced at him and smiled. “Thank you.”
He took the seat across from me on the other side of the table and pressed a button to raise the sun slats over our windows.
While we were getting situated, a flight attendant approached from the front of the aircraft.
“Good morning, Mr. Rhys,” she greeted. Her gaze slid to mine and she smiled. “Good morning, Ms. Smith.”
“Good morning,” I murmured.
She was beautiful. A glossy haired brunette with an hourglass figure wearing a vintage blue dress with white piping and pumps. It added to her femininity. Her smile was kind and genuine when she asked, “What can I get you to drink, ma’am?”
“Sparkling water, please.”
“And for you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same. Thank you.”
She nodded and went to fix our drinks, and then returned a few minutes later to set our glasses and two cloth napkins embroidered with ‘H.R.’ on the table between us. Hadrian and I sat in silence as we sipped our sparkling waters. I stared out the window and watched airport crew moving next to the plane, inspecting everything to ensure we were ready for departure.
The pilot came to personally speak to Hadrian. “Sir, we’re on schedule and are clear for takeoff. Would you like to depart?”
Hadrian reached over and made sure my seatbelt was buckled tight, letting his hands linger for a moment. He smiled slightly and then settled back into his luxurious leather seat before looking at the pilot and saying, “Aye.”
I glanced out the window as the engines whined and we taxied away from the gate, excitement bubbling in my stomach. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot announced that we’d hit altitude and could travel around the cabin.
Hadrian unbuckled his seat belt and stood. “Come on, I want to show you the jet.”
We left the dining area and I followed Hadrian down the aisle to the rear of the plane. We passed two additional sections. One area sat four people close together and the other was a work and entertainment area with a large television and a small, stylish desk. When we got to the end of the aisle there was a wall with a small door between it and the rear of the plane marked ‘Private’. Hadrian pushed open the door to reveal a tasteful bedroom, and an aircraft-sized, well-designed bathroom.
“It’s not as big as some,” he said with a wry grin. “But I use the plane mostly for business. And a little bit of pleasure.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. “Pleasure?”
Hadrian gently urged me into the bedroom and quickly followed. He shut the door behind him.
“Get on the bed,” he ordered, his voice steel.
I looked away from the king-sized bed with beautiful slate gray satin sheets and light wood accents to stare at him. “You want me on the bed?”
“The bed,” he commanded again.
“You don’t really want me to…with a flight attendant up front?”
“Eden,” he said, voice low. “Get on the bed.”
It was clear Hadrian did not like my hesitation. He waited, silently commanding me. I settled myself in the middle of it, on my back, and peered at him.
He remained by the door, his body taut. “Unbutton your jeans.”
My fingers fumbled with the button of my pants.
“Unzip them.”
