BRIANNA

I got another shock when I set my eyes on the jet. The jet was coated in gold! Gold, I tell you! Not just a golden paint job, but real gold that shone in the sunlight, reflecting like something out of a dream. I couldn’t believe it. My heart raced, and I felt like I’d stepped into another world.

I turned to face Adrian in complete surprise, my mouth hanging open.

“Is that real gold?” I asked him, still processing what I was seeing, my voice sounding almost dumbfounded.

He chuckled lightly and nodded. “Yes, it’s real gold. You don’t expect to see me having anything to do with fake gold, do you?” His eyes twinkled mischievously, and I could hear the amusement in his voice.

I blinked, trying to wrap my mind around it. “Wow, you’re really richer than I thought,” I breathed, still staring at the gleaming surface.

“Don’t think too much about it,” he said with a grin. “Let’s go.” He reached for my hand, his fingers curling around mine, and led me up the steps to the jet. The warmth of his hand was grounding in the midst of my shock.

When we stepped inside, I was even more amazed. The interior was something out of a high-end movie. The jet was massive and luxurious, with eight plush seats, each as big as a single seater couch. They were arranged in a way that made the space feel inviting and elegant, with tables in front of each. I felt like a complete outsider, a villager walking into a castle. It was overwhelming in the best way.

“Close your mouth before a fly finds its way inside. Your jaw is practically on the floor right now,” Adrian joked, and I snapped my mouth shut in embarrassment, realizing just how ridiculous I must look.

“Whatever,” I muttered, though I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. I sauntered over to one of the seats, my fingers trailing along the soft leather as I sat down. The moment I planted my butt on the seat, I sighed in pure contentment. It was like the comfiest thing I’d ever sat on, and I instantly felt like I could sink into it forever. Adrian sat beside me, his amused gaze never leaving me as I settled into my seat.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I raised my eyebrows at him, finally turning to meet his eyes.

“Your reaction is just so funny right now,” he said, his voice full of affection.

“Well, sue me for seeing a private jet for the first time,” I laughed, my voice light, and he laughed along with me. There was something so easy about being around him.

A few moments later, a female flight attendant approached us. She was tall, elegant, and impeccably put together, her uniform pristine and her smile professional. She paused by our seats, her presence calm and poised.

“Good morning, sir and ma’am. Will you like anything before the flight takes off?” She asked, her voice smooth and polite.

Adrian looked at me and then turned to the attendant. “I’ll have a bottle of red wine, what do you want?” His eyes sparkled with amusement as he turned back to me.

“I’ll have an apple juice, thanks,” I replied, returning her polite smile.

“Alright, I’ll be back in a minute,” the attendant said, and with a slight nod, she turned and walked away.

“Wow, it kinda feels like a restaurant,” I commented with a chuckle, marveling at how different this experience was from anything I’d ever known.

“Yeah,” Adrian agreed, his smile soft as he leaned back in his seat. We both fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the jet’s engines the only sound around us.

The flight attendant returned a few minutes later with Adrian’s red wine and my apple juice, her movements graceful and efficient. I thanked her, and she walked away, leaving us to enjoy our drinks in peace.

I was sipping my juice when suddenly, a booming voice came from the speakers, making me jump slightly. It was the pilot making an announcement, his voice calm and professional.

“We ask that you fasten your seatbelts and secure your baggages. We’ll be taking off in a minute,” he said, and I felt a slight unease stir inside me. I didn’t even know what Brandon, our personal assistant, had done with our baggages, but I trusted that they were taken care of. I quickly buckled my seatbelt and adjusted myself in the seat, clutching the armrest like a lifeline.

“We’ll be taking off now,” the pilot’s voice came again, and my stomach did a flip. My eyes squeezed shut instinctively, and I could almost hear the pounding of my heart in my ears.

I felt a hand on mine, and I opened my eyes to see Adrian’s concerned gaze on me. His fingers gently squeezed mine, his eyes filled with amusement, but also a quiet understanding.

“Calm down, Brianna, and breathe…” His voice was low and soothing as he held my hand, steadying me.

“I’m scared,” I admitted shakily, my breath quickening as the jet rumbled beneath us, a loud noise accompanying the sensation of the plane rising into the air. My nails dug into Adrian’s skin in an automatic response to the fear gnawing at me, and I winced, but I didn’t let go of his hand.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t show any sign of discomfort. His grip only tightened as he reassured me, “It’s okay, Brianna. I’m here.”

I kept my eyes shut the entire time, holding on to him like he was the only thing that could anchor me to the ground. I could hear the jet’s engines roaring, the feeling of rising into the sky making my stomach flip.

“You can open your eyes now. We’re up in the sky,” Adrian said softly, his voice still full of calm confidence. I slowly opened my eyes, and when I looked out the window, the sight took my breath away. We were high above the world, the ground far below us, a patchwork of roads and buildings fading into the distance.

I turned my gaze back to our intertwined hands and noticed for the first time that my fingernails had left deep marks on Adrian’s palm. The skin was red, and there were tiny hints of blood from where I’d dug in too hard. My heart sank with guilt.

“Ohhh, Adrian…” I gasped, my face flushing in embarrassment. “I’m really sorry… I didn’t know…” I quickly reached for my handkerchief, frantically dabbing at his hand to wipe away the blood.

“It’s nothing,” he said gently, shushing me. “I get that you were scared. It’s your first time in a plane. And it doesn’t even hurt, it’s just nails.” His voice was soft, and he took his hand away as he smiled at me reassuringly.

“Still… I apologize,” I said, my voice full of regret. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

“Don’t worry about it, Brianna,” he replied, giving me a small, almost dismissive smile.

“No, I insist,” I pressed, my brow furrowed as I watched him. He looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged slightly.

“Well, if you insist, you can pay me back by coming over here and letting me kiss you until I get tired,” he said, his voice teasing, and my jaw dropped at how casually he said it.

“Adrian!” I exclaimed, blushing so hard I could feel the heat spread across my cheeks.

“What? You wanted to pay me back, didn’t you?” He raised an eyebrow at me, his grin mischievous.

“And that was the only thing you could think of?” I quirked a brow at him, my amusement barely hidden behind my blush.

“Yes, don’t blame me for having a dirty mind,” he grinned, and I shook my head in mock exasperation.

“I can’t possibly do that while on the jet, you know. It might be dangerous,” I said with a worried look, though I knew I was probably overthinking it.

“It’s not dangerous. The only time it’s dangerous is when the plane is about to take off or land,” he explained with a wink, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Ohhh, so I can come over and kiss you now?” I asked shyly, suddenly nervous despite the rush of excitement in my chest.

“Of course, you can,” he nodded, clearly enjoying himself. I didn’t waste another second, unbuckling my seatbelt and moving to his side. I planted myself on his lap, my heart hammering in my chest as I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his face to mine.

The kiss was instant, heated, full of the tension that had been building between us for so long. Adrian’s lips responded eagerly, and I couldn’t stop myself from deepening the kiss, the feeling of him against me making my head spin.

“Hmm, feisty. I like that,” he grinned between kisses, and I laughed, breathless, before diving back in, our kiss intensifying.

We kept kissing until we ran out of breath. We stopped for a minute to breathe, and then we attacked each other once more, the sexual tension between us nearly palpable. Every brush of his lips against mine sent a rush of heat through my body, and I could feel his heart beating just as fast as mine. The jet was quiet around us, and it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of us, suspended in the air.

I pulled back, my chest rising and falling with my rapid breaths, and Adrian’s eyes were dark with desire. His hand slid down my back, pulling me closer to him, and I let myself melt into his touch. For a moment, the idea of being high up in the sky, surrounded by luxury and comfort, seemed like a distant memory. All that mattered was him, his warmth, his presence, and how my heart seemed to race every time he looked at me like that.

“Brianna…” he breathed out, his voice husky. He looked at me like he wanted to say more, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. The intensity between us was almost too much to bear.

“I know,” I whispered, feeling the same pull. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take of this overwhelming attraction that had been building between us ever since that night we met. But at the same time, I didn’t want it to stop. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew me in deeper with every passing second.

He cupped my face gently, his thumb stroking my cheek, and for a moment, everything else faded. “You’re incredible, Brianna,” he murmured softly, his breath warm against my skin.

I smiled, trying to hide the way my heart was fluttering in my chest. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I teased, my voice light despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

We sat there for a moment, our foreheads resting together, just breathing and holding onto the stillness of the moment. The rush of our kiss had faded into something quieter, something more intimate.

“Is it always like this for you?” I asked, my voice almost a whisper. I wasn’t sure what I meant—whether I was referring to his wealth, the jet, or the way our connection felt so intense. But I couldn’t help myself from asking.

Adrian smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “Not with everyone. Just with you.”

His words settled over me like a warm blanket, and I felt a strange mix of happiness and fear. Happiness, because I knew he meant it. Fear, because it made me wonder how much deeper this thing between us could go. And whether I was ready for it.

“I’ve never met anyone like you before, Brianna,” he added, his voice low but earnest. “You’re different. In a good way.”

I felt a warmth spread through me, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You say that like it’s a compliment. I’m not so sure if I’m all that different.”

“You are,” he insisted, his gaze unwavering. “You’ve got this… energy about you. A realness that I don’t see in a lot of people.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I simply nodded, feeling a bit bashful. There was something about the way he looked at me, with such intensity and interest, that made me feel like maybe I *was* special in some way.

The flight attendant returned then, interrupting our moment. She smiled at us politely, but I could tell she was trying to hide a knowing glance at the exchange between Adrian and me. She cleared her throat before speaking.

“Excuse me, sir, ma’am. Would you like to have anything else during the flight? We have a selection of snacks if you’d like,” she offered.

Adrian glanced at me, then back at the attendant, a playful smirk crossing his lips. “We’re good for now, thank you.”

The attendant smiled and nodded, retreating once again to the back of the jet.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension between Adrian and me easing just slightly. “I think she knows,” I said, teasing him.

Adrian grinned, leaning back in his seat. “Probably. But what can I say? You’re hard to resist.”

I felt my cheeks warm at his words, and I quickly looked away, not quite knowing how to respond. There was something so playful and charming about him, and it was hard to keep up with the way he made everything feel so effortless. Like there was no one else in the world but the two of us.

I leaned back in my seat, glancing out of the window at the endless sky. It felt surreal, being here with Adrian, flying in this luxurious jet, with the whole world at our feet. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

For better or for worse, I was falling for him. And I had no idea where it would lead.