He hangs up and turns to me. “Are you nervous?”
I shake my head. “Not really.”
“We have access to tons of movies we can watch on the big screen. I’ll let you pick the first one. Or if you’re tired, you can put your seat back.”
I look at him, and I’m not sure if that was an invitation or not, but I go with the movie option. “What sounds good—comedy or action?”
“Action, I suppose,” he says. “No romance?”
“I have books for that.” I shrug. I’m still miffed. I don’t even have any stock options. Every other employee who joins us will become a millionaire, and maybe I’ll make fifty thousand dollars with a small bonus—oh wait, I’ve already gotten that in wardrobe form. And I should be grateful, but at the moment I’m not. I’m regretting agreeing to go to Hawaii. I don’t know where I wish I could go, but I suppose I should take this opportunity to rethink my future with Soleil Energy. I’m not exactly in a position to ask for a raise at the moment.
“What kind of books?” Jackson wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“If you’re asking if they’re steamy, the answer is yes.” I search through the movie selections and spot a good one. “How about The Bourne Identity?” I push a few buttons, and the movie starts.
“Is your book in here?” He holds up my Kindle.
I nod.
“May I?”
Shrugging, I try to concentrate on Matt Damon. Damn, he’s hot in this movie.
“Holy shit! This is what you call steamy? This is explicit,” Jackson exclaims after a moment.
“So?” I’m not going to explain to him that women are more cerebral, while men are visual.
He grins wide. “I like it.”
I look over, and he’s skipped a bunch of pages to get to the sex scenes. “You missed a bunch of the story.”
His brow creases. “I’ve never been able to do what this guy is doing.”
I’m not sure I want to know what he’s referring to. “What?” I ask anyway.
“He’s gone three rounds in one session.”
I smile. “Oh. Well, it’s fiction.”
“But I’d love to see a girl do that to me.”
I glance over, and the girl is deepthroating the guy. “Your girlfriends don’t give you blowjobs?” I’m stunned at this thought. I get the swallowing thing, but if the girl’s not going to go down on him, why would he go down on her?
“Of course they do, but I’m more into their pleasure. They don’t… Well, never mind.”
I’m a little stunned by his admission. He goes back to my book, and I shift uncomfortably, trying to take the pressure off of my clit. It’s begging for some serious attention.
I lay my chair back, and he grabs a blanket from somewhere and covers me while I watch the movie. I doze off to sleep.
Sometime later we hit turbulence, and I immediately sit up. I shake the sleep from my head. “I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for?”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Don’t apologize for that. The last few weeks have been stressful. I’m sure you’re not sleeping well.”
I shake my head. You know what? Screw it. What do I have to lose? “The only night I slept halfway decent was when you slept with me.”
I threw it out there. It’s the truth. His eyes become hooded. I know if I’m not careful, I’m going to sleep with Jackson and end this portion of my career. But after what I was reminded of about my salary compared to other employees, I’m not sure I care so much about this job anymore. Jackson’s company is doing important work for the environment, but it’s not the only place I can make a difference. So maybe I should just sleep with him and not regret it. Then I can move on—and he certainly will. San Francisco and I may be about done with each other anyway. My decision made, I feel more relaxed. I give Jackson a sassy grin and turn over to resume my snooze.
Sometime later, he rubs my arm. “Hey, we’re beginning our final descent.”
I sit up. “That was fast.” There’s a different movie playing, and I’m a little disoriented.
He hands me back my Kindle. “I actually quite enjoyed that.”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“You’re certainly a woman of many surprises.”
“You have no idea,” I warn.
When the plane lands, Brian and Ben step out of the back section, bring a Suburban around, and load our bags.
I look at my watch and see we just made it before the airport closes. Phew. Also, I’m starved.
I stand up and stretch. Jackson’s eyes go to my obviously pebbled nipples. He forces a smile and walks out the door to our waiting car.
The warm air seeps into the cool cabin and removes the chill of the airplane, and I can smell the salt from the ocean. I pick up my things and make my way to the door and down the steps. Jackson disappears ahead, leaving me to walk out on my own. So much for chivalry.
I’m shocked to find him standing at the base of the stairs with a beautiful yellow and pink plumeria lei. Ooohhh… He steps into my space and places the lei over my shoulders. “Welcome to Hawaii.” He kisses me on both cheeks.
“Thank you. I can now say I’ve been laid in Hawaii.” I laugh at my own joke as his eyes darken, and I decide I’m throwing all caution to the wind.
I’m going to have fun with Jackson in Hawaii. I have no apartment, my best friend is probably getting married soon, I’m underpaid, and I can use the fuck-up of sleeping with my boss and ending my job as my excuse to leave San Francisco.
I lean in and kiss Jackson softly
