Attraction (Love & War, Part I) (12 page)

“
I s'pose so,” he replied, very begrudgingly.

“
After your suggestion, I had a talk with CJ last
night.”

“
Oh, really? And how did that go?”

“
I'm breaking it off with her, the reason being, it's not
going anywhere.”

“
And why's that?” Adrian probed.

“
She doesn't want anything permanent with me.”

“
I find that hard to believe.”

Ashton sighed.
This wasn't going to be a calm, pleasant conversation, he just knew
it.

“
You can believe what you like. I won't be seeing her
again.”

“
W
hatever.
What do I care?”

“
Adrian, please!”

“
Please what? Please be nice to me? Is that what you
want?”

“
I would appreciate some civility between us.”

“
If you drop it with Nicole, I'll consider it.”

“
Oh no, I've not changed my mind about Nicole.”

“
In that case, no can do.”

“
Can we at least refrain from arguments and unpleasant
conversation, I have a lot on my mind.”

“
Suits me. We can refrain from
all
conversation
.”

Ashton
bristled and took a deep breath to control himself.

“
Well that's a shame Adrian. Because that means you won't be
joining me in the cockpit today.” He knew this would annoy Adrian
greatly, but he'd had enough of the attitude. “I can't have an
uncommunicative and angry co-pilot flying at 500 miles per hour.
It'll be far too dangerous. You're seconded to the passenger area
for the duration. Nicole can take your place.”

“
She is so fucking not!
”

“
She asked me specifically, over dinner, if she could visit
the cockpit. I originally planned to give her a few minutes, but
now, it seems she can spend the whole journey with me. I'm sure
she'll be far better company than you.”

“
I think you're deliberately keeping us apart. Are you worried
I'll beat you to it?”

“
Not at all. What I am doing is ensuring she has a pleasant
journey, she has to keep a clear head in Paris, as do I.” Ashton
said, through gritted teeth.

“
A clear head, eh? I won't fuck her up, that's your
job.”

“
Adrian,
you are
testing my patience beyond the beyond,” he snapped.

“
Careful, if you get angry enough, you won't be able to pilot
your goddamn Cesna either.”

“
Can I remind you, you are my employee. Please act more
respectfully in future.”

Adrian snorted
a laugh and rolled his eyes, closing the privacy screen.

Twenty silent
minutes later, they arrived outside Nicole's apartment.

Adrian left
the car to call for her.

He seemed to
be taking a very long time.

When they
finally appeared, he was smiling. And so was she. Ashton didn't
like that one bit.

However, he
pushed his jealous streak aside, a feeling of warmth growing inside
him as he watched her approach. She walked beautifully with her
head held up high on her long graceful neck.

She looked a
million dollars in her dark gray suit, white shirt and high heels,
with her long, dark hair tied back in a ponytail. It flowed across
her shoulder with the breeze. She really was absolutely gorgeous
and his resolve to capture her interest fully was very much at the
forefront of his mind.

She slipped
onto the seat at his side in a soft and delightfully smothering
cloud of perfume as Adrian shut the door and returned to the driver
seat.

“
Morning, Ash.”

She crossed
her silky legs, and smoothed her skirt, as she got herself
comfortable.

“
Good morning, Nikki, did you have a nice evening?”

She turned to
face him.

“
It was only a few drinks. I was home and in bed quite early.”
She grinned broadly at him.

“
So was I, after a long bath.”

“
A long bath? I see you as a fast shower man.”

“
Do you? So are you seeing me standing naked in the
shower?”

“
No. Why would I?” A telltale blush rose on her
cheeks.

Like
hell...

He kept a
straight face. “I like both; baths and showers. Each has it's own
merits. Fast hot shower, slow and steamy bath.”

She giggled.
“Or maybe a fast hot bath and a slow steamy shower, mix and
match.”

“
This is a very interesting conversation, I'd like to continue
it later, when I take you for dinner tonight.”

“
I can't do dinner, sorry. Yoga class at seven and then I've
promised Adrian I'd go out for a drink with him.”

Ashton sucked
his stomach in, burying his reaction to this piece of news.

“
Can we plan something for tomorrow evening, then? Oh wait,
I've just remembered, I have a special function, the day after, on
Saturday night. I think this is something you may be interested
in.”

“
What is it?”

“
Well, Princess Anne is a friend of my mother...” he
began.

“
Oh my gosh! Is she really?” she interrupted.

“
Yes, we've known Anne for a long time, and she's hosting her
annual ball at Windsor Castle for her charity patrons. Would you
like to be my guest for the evening?”

“
You're inviting me to the Princess Royal's ball?
Omigod, Ash!
Yes please
.”

“
I knew I could persuade you.” He smiled at her eager
response. It didn't matter to him the reason why she was agreeing.
It was a date. And one he was suddenly looking forward to a great
deal.

He'd assumed
CJ was coming to the ball with him. But that was before their
'talk' last night, a talk that was prompted by the fact she
announced she was going with Peter Jacklyn this year. He was
Princess Anne's horse trainer, she'd calmly informed him, as if
that made any difference. She'd wound him up and upset him. CJ
always attended Anne's ball with Ashton. Every year. It was almost
a ritual.

It made his
resolve to finish things with her all the more clear and necessary.
He couldn't allow her to manipulate and use him as she did. She was
all over him, but only when it suited her, when she wanted to
be.

Now he had a
much better date than CJ. Nicole was light years more classier than
a Playboy and lingerie model. However tasteful CJ's photos were,
she couldn't compete with a beautiful, top-notch French-speaking
lawyer.

As he looked
at Nicole, he was sure she'd be more than a head turner. When she'd
arrived in the car last night, she had, quite frankly, bowled him
over. If he gave her a little help, she'd be a show stopper.

“
I'll have to find a suitable evening dress.” She said,
playing right into his hands. He was going to make sure she had
every asset he could provide, for her to look her best.

Anne's ball
was a high class affair.

“
I can provide you with one. If you give me your measurements
and shoe size. I'll send someone I know to fit you completely, top
to toe, for the occasion, on Saturday afternoon. But it'll have to
be black, because I like black.”

“
What other colour is there? She laughed, softly, “And it's
very sweet of you. I'm a size 4 shoe, I measure 36, 24, 36. And I
prefer slimline styles. Fitted and sleeveless suits me
best.”

“
Sweet...” he said, his head reeling with her hourglass
measurements. “I'll just jot that down and get onto it, when I have
a minute.” He tapped the details into his iPad. He happened to know
some ladies at Harrods, who could no doubt be persuaded to call on
Nicole with a generous sum of inducement. He put the iPad down with
a highly pleased grin glued to his face. “It'll be a good bash,
Nikki. Anne never disappoints.”

“
I can't deny I'm really looking forward to it,
Ash.”

The look on
her face was so appealing, he couldn't help but take her hand in
his. He squeezed it before placing it back on her lap.

They reached
the hangar at City airport very quickly, sweeping through passport
control and the brief car security check at the gate leading to the
private hangars. City airport was literally ten minutes away from
her apartment. She'd often seen small jets landing and taking off
alongside the Thames runway, but never imagined she'd be travelling
in one one day.

The car came
to a stop inside the rear of the hangar, in a parking bay. The
three of them got out of the car and Nicole climbed the five metal
steps into Ashton's beautiful white Cessna Citation X jet with a
fast beating heart. God, alone knew how much this jet cost. Ten
million pounds? Maybe more... This was just about the biggest
thrill she'd ever had. She might be a sad case, but being whisked
to Paris at hundreds of miles an hour by the sexiest pilot ever,
was sending her pulse rocketing like nothing else.

This was
rivalling what went on in her bedroom last night in terms of
excitement levels.

Her eyes flew
around the cabin.

Oh, now this
is just the ultimate luxury in flying.

The cream
leather seats were set one either side of the narrow aisle. There
were eight large and comfortable seats and a smart walnut and cream
trim throughout. It appeared each seat had its own sizeable TV, one
of which was pulled out and in position, along with a shiny walnut
table set out with bottles of orange juice and water and some
packets of snacks.

“
Grab a drink, if you want one, Nicole,” Adrian said, opening
an orange juice and sitting down heavily.

“
No, I'm fine, thanks, I'm very well hydrated,” she replied
smiling at him, pointedly. He'd been very thoughtful and brought
her orange juice, two large mugs of coffee and a pile of toast to
enjoy in bed, before he'd left at eight thirty that
morning.

“
Nikki, you can join me in the cockpit for the outward
journey,” Ashton said, surprising and thrilling her even
more.

“
Really?”

“
Adrian has kindly offered you his co-pilot seat.”

She couldn't
help but notice the look Adrian gave Ashton as he glowered at him
from his seat. He was obviously very unhappy with this arrangement.
She felt guilty for upsetting him indirectly. She didn't want to
cause any trouble. “Adrian, you can co-pilot on the return, if your
mood improves,” Ashton added in a soft, conciliatory tone.

“
Thank you,” Adrian replied reluctantly, his expression
brightening up considerably, which pleased and relieved
her.

Ashton proceeded her into the cockpit and Adrian winked at
her and mouthed '
see ya later,
babe'
.

She returned his hot smile and leaned down and whispered,
“you bet,
sexy
,” in reply.

There were suddenly a lot of highs in her life. She had two
hot men in her space
―
was a
bout to fly into the skies in a
supercharged jet
―had
a challenging French deal to get her teeth stuck
into
―followed by di
nner and a sex filled sleepover
―and
to top it off she had a
royal ball to
attend with Ashton. Her little hands were mentally rubbing
themselves together with joyful excitement.

She entered
the cockpit, and gasped at the array of computer screens, dials and
switches flanking the surfaces everywhere.

“
Jesus, this all looks
so
complicated, Ash.”

“
Only to the uninitiated. I'll run you through it all as I
go.” He gestured to the seat next to her. “Take a seat and fasten
your belt, we're waiting for three other members of my staff,
they've been delayed ten minutes in traffic.”

“
Okay,” she replied happily, sitting down and buckling
up.

Ashton sat to
wait in his seat, very close to her, and punched some numbers on
his flight computer system. Everything lit up and started to beep
in front of them. He flipped a couple of switches on, one above his
head and another on the dashboard before him. The noise from the
powerful jet engines starting up thrilled her as they rumbled
through her body. She smiled at Ashton, but he was busy, occupied
with writing something on a flight log chart. She looked over her
shoulder, out of the cockpit door, to the cabin where Adrian was
staring at her, in an intensely heated manner. He was sprawled
sexily in his seat, his long legs spread apart and his chin resting
on his hand. Her stomach did a little flip at the sight of him, in
his light grey suit and shirt and his dark red tie. He was
absolutely mouthwatering.

She was still
reeling from the whole Adrian love-fest and the hot kiss at the
door as they left a few minutes ago. Neither of them could stop
kissing each other, as they knew it would be a long time till they
had another chance. She'd literally forced herself out of his arms
and they'd both laughed at each other. They were like a pair of
teens, unable to keep their hands off.

He mouthed, '
wanna fuck
you
,' and licked his lower lip with a
sensual sweep of his tongue. Her sex clenched up hard in response.
She flared her eyes and grinned at him sexily, then turned to face
the front, smothering the huge beaming smile erupting on her mouth
and battling to subdue the flush rising in her cheeks.