Chapter 102 The Helicopter Ride
The night air on the rooftop helipad is sharp and alive, wind whipping my hair across my face as the city sprawls beneath us in glittering defiance.
The helicopter is already waiting. Of course it is. Darius never does anything halfway.
The rotors are idling, the rhythmic thrum vibrating through the concrete beneath my heels. The skyline glows behind him, turning him into something carved from shadow and silver light.
He doesn’t say anything as we step toward the aircraft. He just opens the door for me. I pause before climbing in and look at him.
“You’re such a drama queen,” I say, rolling my eyes.
He gives me a slow, dangerous look.
“You have no idea.”
I settle into the seat, smoothing my dress down over my thighs. The black silk clings like it knows it’s misbehaving.
He follows, shutting the door behind him. The cabin fills with the low roar of the blades picking up speed.
As the helicopter lifts off, the city drops away beneath us, lights blurring into gold streaks.
For a moment, neither of us speaks.
The silence is thick.
Charged.
I can feel him looking at me.
“Stop staring,” I mutter.
“Can’t.”
I turn to face him.
His tie is slightly loosened now. His hair isn’t as perfectly styled as it was at the beginning of the evening. His composure has cracked just enough to make him look more dangerous.
“What?” I ask.
His gaze drops,slowly down the length of me and back up again.
“My mind has been going insane all night.”
“Why?”
He leans back slightly, studying me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying not to solve with his hands.
“Because I know,” he says evenly, “that you aren’t wearing anything underneath that dress.”
I laugh. I can’t help it.
“You noticed that?”
“I noticed when you told me,” he replies dryly.
“That was hours ago.”
“And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.”
The way he says it isn’t crude.
The helicopter banks slightly, city lights tilting outside the window.
“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him.
“You wore that dress on purpose.”
“I wore this dress because I look good in it.”
“You wore it because you knew what it would do to me.”
I tilt my head.
“And what does it do to you?”
His jaw tightens faintly.
“It tests my restraint.”
The bond hums low between us, a current just beneath the surface.The pilot’s voice crackles through the headset, confirming our route.
Darius doesn’t answer immediately.Instead, his gaze stays locked on mine. “Change of plans,” he finally says into the mic. “Turn us around. Penthouse.” The pilot doesn’t question it. We bank again, redirecting.
I raise an eyebrow.
“That was unnecessary.”
“So is you tempting me all night.”
“Why do you keep letting me?” I counter softly.
He leans closer, lowering his voice.
“Why do you keep doing it?”
The city lights reflect in his eyes, turning them molten.
I shrug lightly.
“Maybe I like knowing I can.”
His hand shifts slightly on the seat between us, fingers flexing once like he’s physically restraining himself.
“You know exactly what you’re doing,and you’re going to get it” he murmurs.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
His voice drops further. A corner of his mouth twitched upwards, that predatory smirk that always made my stomach flip. "You know you love it. My possessiveness, my... attention."
I sighed, unable to deny the truth in his words. There was something intoxicating about the way he looked at me, like I was his and he wouldn't let anyone forget it. "Maybe I do," I admitted, my voice softer than I intended.
"But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
He leaned closer, his scent ,a heady mix of leather and something dangerously masculine ,enveloping me.
"Admit it, Lyra. You've been teasing me all night. That dress... and the knowledge that you're not wearing a stitch underneath."
Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and I laughed, a nervous edge to the sound. "You've been imagining things, Your Highness. Maybe the altitude's getting to you."
His eyes darkened, the amusement fading. "Don't lie to me, Lyra. I know you. I know the way you move, the way you look at me when you think I'm not watching. You're playing a dangerous game."
The pilot cleared his throat, a subtle reminder of our audience. Darius leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear.
"Why do you keep tempting me, Lyra Soren?" he whispered, his voice a low growl.
I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. "Why do you keep letting me Darius Kade ?" His eyes flashed, a storm brewing in their depths. "Because you know exactly what you're doing. You know if I shoved my fingers up your pussy right now, you'd be wet and ready for me."
My breath hitched, his words sending a jolt of heat through me. I reached out, my hand trembling as I guided his under my dress. His fingers brushed against my bare skin, and I gasped, my body betraying me.
He didn't hesitate, his touch confident and demanding. Two fingers slid inside me, and I bit my lip to stifle a moan. He was right, I was dripping, my body aching for him.
He pulled his fingers out, slowly, deliberately, and brought them to his lips. His eyes never left mine as he licked them clean, his tongue swirling around each digit.
"Oh little hybrid, you taste good ," he murmured, his voice thick with desire.
I swallowed hard, my body trembling with need. "Darius..."
He silenced me with a kiss, his lips crashing against mine with a hunger that left me breathless. His tongue invaded my mouth, tasting of me, of us, and I moaned, my hands tangling in his hair.
The helicopter's roar faded into the background as the world narrowed to just the two of us. His hands roamed my body, possessive and demanding, his touch branding me as his.
I was lost, drowning in the storm of his desire, my own need spiraling out of control. He broke the kiss, his breath ragged as he gazed down at me.