There was something about the thrill of being wanted, the idea that this unknown, handsome man had actually sought out Theo of his own volition. It made Theo lose his already tenuous grip on good sense.
He tossed his head halfheartedly, the lock of hair stubbornly clinging to the crest of his cheek beneath his left eye. Theo sighed and closed his eyes in defeat, hands falling limp in their binding.
The unexpected brush of tattooed fingers across his forehead sang through his senses like an aria, the lock of hair tucked neatly behind his ear.
He peeked up at Jun to find him determinedly turned away, profile blank as his hand lowered back to his crossed arms and folded tightly beneath as if to keep it in place.
Theo couldn’t contain his smile; a happy glow started across his forehead and ran down his body like warm water. He leaned closer, the new angle bending his wrists uncomfortably. “I don’t suppose it would make a difference if I asked you nicely to let me go?”
Jun swiveled farther away, arms still crossed as he pondered the dash as though it had recently punched him in the face.
Theo marveled at Jun’s ability to sit in silence as the minutes ticked away—until Theo’s fidgeting began to grow necessary. He cleared his throat, noticing Jun’s jaw clench while he refused to acknowledge him.
Theo jiggled his legs, pressing his knees together tightly. There was a screw loose somewhere in his seat that rattled with the movement. Jun’s eyes shot over to him, face forbidding.
Theo jiggled more insistently. “Presuming that you intend to keep me captive for any significant amount of time, is there any way you could release the tape? I have a need of the facilities, and I’m afraid matters may grow somewhat urgent in the very near future.”
Theo turned his attention to the tangled mess of exposed wiring hanging out of an open panel just above the floor. “The last thing you want is a flood in the cockpit.”
Jun’s gaze dropped to his crotch for a split second, then moved on to the tape with a thoughtful frown.
Theo was thankful the urgency of his full bladder prevented any noticeable movement in the area. Any further attention from Jun was likely to have resulted in an uprising in the lower ranks, if one wanted to be coy about it. “In your own time, of course, but quite quickly please.”
Jun didn’t move except to swivel his chair once more, scrutinizing Theo closely. Theo tried to convey his urgency, to glorious success if the alarmed expression on Jun’s face was anything to go by.
As he reached into his trouser pocket, Jun lifted his hips in order to fit his hand inside the tight fabric. Theo’s teeth caught his lower lip at the motion, holding back a sound that would have been, at best, unfortunate.
Jun retrieved a knife and flicked it open in a practiced motion that had Theo’s blood racing for all the wrong reasons. That really should not have been as attractive as it was.
He stood and approached Theo’s chair, knife held out at his side as if Theo might yet break the bindings and lunge for it. Theo found his caution surprisingly flattering.
Jun stopped in front of his chair, knife at the ready. “If I remove the tape, will you stop pressing buttons?”
Reluctant to prevaricate, Theo seesawed his head. He tried to make his eyes as big and pleading as possible, holding them open to achieve a watery effect.
Jun sighed, his free hand pinching the low bridge of his nose in a move Theo had watched his brother perform countless times. And his father. And his academic advisor. And his housekeeper, come to think of it.
“Will you promise not to press random buttons that might kill us?”
Theo nodded in what he hoped was a trustworthy manner as Jun squinted at him doubtfully. “I promise to do my level best.” The button hadn’t even done anything particularly interesting, as far as he could tell. Not so much as an activated light on the dash.
Jun’s reaction had been more interesting by far. It had been worth pushing any number of buttons just to have his undivided attention.
Jun appeared to hold little faith in Theo’s best efforts, huffing out a muttered curse as he braced Theo’s wrist, knife still held away from them.
He went still, eyes locking on Theo’s. “If I tell you not to do something”—his voice low with command—“you will listen. I am the captain, and my orders must be obeyed.”
Oh.
Well, that was interesting. Theo was learning something new about himself every day. Today, he learned that all it took was a commanding voice and a pair of beautiful dark eyes, and his internal organs could be rendered entirely liquid.
Fascinating, if inconvenient.
Jun didn’t move, unblinkingly trained on Theo’s face as he struggled to nod, having somehow lost all control of his neck muscles.
With his finger hooked under the binding, keeping it between the blade and Theo’s skin, Jun cut through the thick utility tape.
The other wrist took even less time. Theo worked it free and shook the feeling of idleness from his fingers while Jun tore the remaining tape from the arms of the chair. Strips of plastic upholstery came off with the tape, the damage merely adding to the patina of wear along the uneven surface.
Theo examined his jacket cuff to find that the tape had marred the velvet, pulling delicate fibers free of the weave in chunks. He rubbed his wrist as he clambered to his feet, grateful that Jun had refrained from putting the harsh adhesive directly on his bare skin. “I suppose I should consider myself fortunate you decided not to gag me after all.”
They were standing far too close to each other, crowded together between the chairs. Jun studied him with an intensity that had Theo squirming in place, heat curling low in his abdomen.
“Not yet,” Jun said,
