02

Wanting to correct her, I opened my mouth to say that we had never met before, but the man holding me spoke first. "We were just looking for our seats. We'll be out of your way in a second." His voice was soft and reassuring. The woman nodded with gratitude.

I attempted to walk away, eager to escape the awkward situation, but the man held me more firmly. He tilted his head and whispered, "Not so fast... You won't escape that easily." Then he looked at the weirdo who would be sitting next to me during the flight. "Move," he said.

The weirdo protested, "What? I won't change. This is my place." The man holding me growled low.

"Here, take mine," he said, handing the note to the weirdo. "it is first class." He watched the man look at the ticket with raised eyebrows. "Now move," he said slowly, almost threateningly, as if daring the man to question him. The weirdo glanced at us once more before standing up, quickly grabbing his bag, and rushing past us without making eye contact. I watched, astonished. What the hell just happened? This had turned into a strange day.

"Carry on, beautiful," said my mysterious new neighbor, gently pushing me into the window seat as he followed close behind. I sat down and waited while he took the seat next to mine. I wasn't sure what to say, still a little bewildered and embarrassed by what had just happened.

"Hmm, sorry about before," I murmured, putting a lock of hair back from my ear and looking down. "I do not usually walk around playing strangers like that, I promise." I laughed nervously. When he didn't respond, I cleared my throat. "Right... then why did you give up your first-class ticket to sit back here?"

Suddenly, a hand cupped my chin and turned my head. My eyes met his, and his hand moved to hold my cheek. "Because I wanted to be by your side," he said in a hoarse voice. He caressed my face and examined every inch of it. "Wow, do I have so much luck?"

I pulled away from him, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, you heard that?"

"Sorry, what did you say?" he just smiled and shook his head. "do not worry about it, beautiful." He leaned over the armrest toward me, and we were close for two strangers. "I am Vidário. What is your name?"

Almost as if I was stunned, I managed to say, "Rary."

His smile widened. "Rary," he repeated for himself. "My Rary."

Your eyes were so beautiful. I couldn't help but fixate on them.

"Uh-huh..." he said absently, releasing a delicious laugh. Did I miss something funny?

"Our bond is strong; I can see." Is it just me, or does nothing he says make sense?

"Uh, what? Our link?" I asked.

He pushed a loose strand of hair away from my face. "do not worry your little head about that."

Once again, I snapped out of the daze he seemed to keep putting me in when a baby behind us screamed loudly. Realizing how close I was to the man — Vidário — I jumped back.

He had managed to feel my breathing on his face. Another nervous laugh escaped me, and I placed my hands in my lap, trying to seem less embarrassed than I felt. "That guy probably thinks I am crazy."

"Then, business or pleasure?" Vidário asked.

"To Chapter, what?" I looked at Vidário again.

"you are going to Paris for business or pleasure?"

"Oh, right. I almost completely forgot where I was." I started becoming anxious again when I remembered that the plane would probably take off any minute. "Oh, neither one nor the other, I think. I am going to visit my mother and her husband."

Vidário asked, "And are you not happy to see your mother and her husband?" I shook my head. "No. Not since she abandoned me and my sick father to run away to Paris and marry her rich lover," I heard myself say. I made a mental note to not share such personal information again. I looked at him. His expression was thoughtful. "I feel very... No, never mind." I didn't believe I just shared my entire life story with a stranger seated next to me on the plane.

Vidário looked deep into my eyes, as if searching for something, and then he grabbed the armrest between us, raising it so it was no longer a barrier. "What... What are you doing?"

"Shh," he said. Vidário grabbed my hips, which were already turned towards him, and pulled me so that my knees touched his. Sparks spread for the umpteenth time as his hand found its way under my shirt and onto the surface of my back, where his thumb began to make soothing circles. I let out a sigh. His other hand came up to caress my face.

"You do not need to worry about anything now," Vidário whispered. "I will take care of you." He bent so that his lips touched my ear. "You are mine."

I leaned back to see his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" He smiled. "I mean..." His thumb rang my bottom lip, and I gasped. "All that there is with you is mine." He kissed my eyelids, the top of my nose, and finally, his lips found mine.

My eyes closed with his kiss. The feeling was euphoric, similar to fireworks and explosions. My hands moved to his huge, muscular shoulders, and I squeezed them. I moaned gently. I felt him smile against my lips, and I stopped for a second. No, do not smile. Smiling meant he could stop kissing me, and I didn't want that to happen in any way.