Chapter 4

So, she thought he was handsome. Damien smiled smugly.

“Hold that thought, Professor. It might come in handy later.

When she discovered his identity.

Theresa frowned, clearly not understanding, thank goodness. Then she stretched and

fiddled with the seat controls.

- Some problem? he asked.

— I want to adjust the back and raise the footrest.

"Here." He leaned over her, and when he found control, his hand brushed her thigh.

One thigh warm and firm under her cotton pants. - Give me your hand.

Hesitantly, she let him take it and place it on the lever, resting his hand over hers to

guide her.

“Like this,” he explained. "You slide the lever like this and use your feet to push the

forward support.

“Thanks, I understand.

Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand and let it settle on its own.

"I'm not used to traveling on business," she said. - My budget doesn't

allows that, but this time I got an upgrade.

— For long flights like this, it's preferable.

His budget, thanks to Kalti Brown, afforded the luxury of incidentals like

it is. So far, Kalti's books had earned her enough to buy an apartment in

Sydney and paying off the mortgage on a beach house north of Cairns. He used both places to

to write. The change of scenery often helped to reinvigorate his creativity.

As for this tour, his first in North America, it was being sponsored by a

New York publisher who had bought the US rights to his books. They

covered basic expenses and Damien decided to pay for some extras, like flying business class.

At the time, the result of this expense seemed extremely rewarding:

“You stopped in the middle of the family saga, Professor.

"Are you sure you're interested?" ’ She fiddled with her wineglass, twirling her foot

"Are you sure you're interested?" ’ She fiddled with her wineglass, twirling her foot

back and forth.

He reached out to touch the back of her hand.

“Positive.

As a storyteller himself, he enjoyed listening to other people's stories. AND

Theresa was one of the most intriguing people he had met in a long time.

“Well, you can interrupt me when you get tired of listening.” She swallowed the last of her drink. - At

family, I took after my father, it was the academic. Kat was Mom's darling. Mom was a lawyer,

as I said, a successful lawyer specializing in third party damages, and has always been more

focused on people rather than research. Kat is bright but not academic at all. She is

outgoing, has a ton of friends. This is the area where she is superior to me.

"And the other one, Jenna, isn't that her name?"

- Yes. For a long time, she was the baby of the family. She always behaved badly, but

she can be very loving when she wants to be. Until now, he has spent his life wasted. never found one

focus.

— And she didn't fit in any area, never stood out?

Theresa made a sound somewhere between a snarl and a laugh.

— She stands out for being eccentric. Jenna is a black sheep, a rare creature. mom says

that she's a nutcase, like Goldie Hawn in the late sixties, early seventies.

Carmen arrived to collect the starter plates, replace them with the main dish, and fill the

wine glasses. When she was gone, Damien and Theresa tasted the salad, agreeing that

it was good, but could use more ginger in the sauce.

"The wine really goes together," she said.

"Glad you liked it." Drink more. And the fourth sister, the one who is getting married?

“Yes, Merilee. After the three-pack, Mom and Dad were focused on their

careers. And we girls grew up, me studying, Kat making friends, and Jenna playing what

her fantasy ruled. The five of us at home were people with strong personalities and quite

many different.

“I guess, if they're like you.

She wrinkled her pretty, upturned nose at him.

— We create our own spaces, mainly respecting the limits of each one,

keeping our routine. Then, eight years after Jenna was born, my mom got pregnant.

again. It wasn't planned.

"It must have been a shock for her." For all of you.

“To say the least. Now there was a three and one more pack, and we all had to

“To say the least. Now there was a three and one more pack, and we all had to

adjust us. This time Mom went back to work after a short maternity leave. Jenna

lost her place as the baby of the family, which made her behave even worse. I ended up with

more responsibilities, like a big sister. However, Merilee was an easy-going child.

Not as strong a personality as the rest of us.

It must have been difficult for the baby, following in the footsteps of three strong, much older sisters.

Theresa called it a three-plus-one situation, not the Fallon four.

“Looks like the three of you got your individual spaces and talents and left nothing

of special for Merilee.

"Well, more or less." His eyes began to dance with that bright sunlight.

over the water. - She disagrees.

- Same? He put down his fork and gave her his full attention. "So what's the

Your little sister's specialty?

“According to her, it's love. She is the only sister who has the talent for it.

Love?

- Oh yes?

She nodded.

“I'm divorced and determined to never make the same mistake again. Kat wants

get married and have kids but always falls for losers and wrong guys. And Jenna, according to

Mom is a hippie who was born in the wrong decade.

- Like this?

“She loves men, she loves sex, she believes in that free love, no strings attached thing.

nothing at all. She says loyalty is stupid because people are not intuitively

programmed to be monogamous, so it jumps from face to face and doesn't intend to settle down. Jenna

have less patience for this attention thing. She is excited by any new idea or

a guy who shows up, but not in a deep, real way.” Theresa lifted her wineglass and

He threw her a teasing look. “Sounds like Jenna is your ideal woman, isn't it, Day?

"Hmm." He tipped his head back and considered. "Yes, it's still attractive."

woman like that. Fun without commitment.

He thought about the girls who had approached him over the past two years. the succession

of rolls. The sex was sometimes great and sometimes mediocre.

The fact was, the names and faces had all stayed the same. And started to feel

nothing, as if women didn't really see him for what he was, but just the successful sexy writer.

And he didn't see them as individuals, but just a string of hotties.

“But a guy grows up,” he said slowly. "Maybe he wants more." someone he

can really know. Little by little, layer by layer. Connect with that someone,

become closer.

Then he found himself thinking about his friend Bry, which was a shock because he didn't

It wasn't even close to being gay. Yet, in a way, his train of thought made sense.

“You know, like a good friend?

Theresa was watching the young man intently, her fork poised in the air as if she had

been forgotten.

“Well, not exactly.

“Like when you meet someone through a friend or at work. - He met

Bry, a police officer, when he was researching his first Kalti Brown book. He needed

information about the structure of the police department, how crimes used to be

investigated, and so on. — You guys get along, go out for a beer, to talk about

something other than work. Find common interests. Find out they think the same

way about things, have the same values.

Theresa's eyes narrowed in concentration.

- Continues.

— The relationship grows. Friends become best friends, who are always

ready to help each other no matter what.

Now, there was a glint in her eyes. Was she thinking of a friend? Or maybe

wishing it were like that with the sisters?

“So,” Damien said, “what if you had that kind of relationship with someone from

opposite sex? A solid friendship plus great sex. Maybe it would be worth building this instead

to find a new mistress.

"Yes, I…" She swallowed hard. “I think it must be wonderful.

Her voice was cracked, as if she were on the verge of tears.

He suddenly realized that perhaps he had made her think of her ex-husband.

“Shit. Sorry, Theresa. I didn't mean to remind you of your wedding. I am

an idiot.

"No, but surprisingly..." a small smile flashed, "you're a bit

romantic. The smile disappeared. “And while that kind of relationship does seem

great, how do you know it's real and can be trusted?

"Would that overturn the statistical probabilities?" I don't know. I think instinct? A vote from

trust?

He wondered if she had fallen out of love with her husband, or vice versa.

Knowing that forced company during a long flight could give birth to some

trust and openness, he took a risk.

"I'm sorry your marriage didn't work out."

“I made a big mistake letting myself be seduced by Jeffrey. I learned that I couldn't trust

in him.

- Damn it. Did he cheat on her?

The guy must have been a huge idiot and a son of a...

A corner of her mouth twitched sadly.

“Not in the way you're thinking. Not with another woman. In fact, he didn't

betrayed exactly, he betrayed me in the sense of being inconsiderate.

- Like this?

She grimaced, picked up her wineglass and drained it.

“To talk about it, I need more wine.

Damien leaned into the hall, called to Carmen, and lifted her empty glass. she made him

a nod and then turned towards the kitchen.

Carmen returned with the bottle of wine, filled the glasses and collected plates and cutlery.

“For dessert, we have a cheese and fruit platter, lemon cheesecake with strawberry icing.

pomegranate and Cointreau chocolate mousse.

“Musse, please,” Theresa said.

“Cheese and fruit,” Damien said.

'Okay, coffee, tea?'

Theresa ordered decaf coffee and so did Damien. When the two were alone

again he said:

- Continues. Tell me what happened to your ex.

She took a sip of wine, another, and set the glass down decisively.

“When we met, he was a professor of sociology at the University of

Saskatchewan. Because of my PhD in indigenous studies, I had just been nominated for

its program of native studies. I had an idea for a research project and went for it

to know your opinion.

She made a face.

“He was thrilled. Not only with the project, but with me as well. We started to

date and he helped me format a scholarship application. We had a quick courtship, a relationship

which would probably seem like a giant bore to you, but was romantic to me. It is us

We got married two months after we met.

“He made you tremble to the core. I would never have imagined it like this.

Damien felt a twinge of jealousy, and also of irritation at the idiot he had

hurt Theresa and made her so cold. He wanted to touch her, offer comfort, but his arms

were protectively around his body, and he realized that she wasn't going to take this kindly.

degree.

"I was young, naive, dazzled by his interest," she snapped dryly. — I was one

idiot.

He tried to picture Theresa as a girl with the intelligence and drive to get

your doctorate, but naivety enough to get sucked into a romance with a man

which ended up hurting her. Now what should she have? Thirty something years old? And still bitter

about her ex and closed to relationships.

"And then what happened next?"

— I had almost finished preparing the research grant application and was

awaiting Jeffrey's return. So he proposed marriage, wanted to get married right away, and

everything else was left out. Or so I thought. We had a civil ceremony and a brief

Honeymoon. When we got back to work, I went back to my scholarship application and asked when it

could analyze it. Jeffrey said he had forgotten to tell me, but he had already checked and

introduced. We just needed to wait for news and that's all.

- And then?

— When the results were announced, I knew that my project had succeeded

financing. However, Jeffrey had applied on his behalf, listing me as an assistant

of research, and not as a co-author.

"What a scoundrel!"

“When I asked what was going on, he said I must have misunderstood.

For him, the most reasonable thing was to register in his name since I was a stranger.

and would never get the money for the research.

"It was your idea and you did the job," Damien said indignantly. "You deserved the

credit.

- Do not you think? Instead, all I had was to be a researcher again, like

when I was a student at Harvard and at the New School for Social Research in New York.

“Harvard? She said it like it was nothing. "Did you go to Harvard?"

- I went. Just like my father. In medicine. And no”—she scowled at him—“I don't.

I entered because of the quota for the children, I entered because I had enough grades.

He looked lost.

"What's that, child quota?"

— At Ivy League universities in the United States, usually between ten and fifteen per

100% of newcomers are children of former students.

Was this woman able to memorize statistics about everything?

“Especially distinguished alumni,” he continued. “Like those who donate to the

“Especially distinguished alumni,” he continued. “Like those who donate to the

your alma mater. The ticket for your children is often, shall we say, a little less heavy. and the

children are called legacies.

- Bullshit. Whatever happened to equal opportunity?

- Exactly. Anyway, you wouldn't believe the number of people - between

teachers and students – who thought I was one of those.

"Until they saw your work."

He barely knew Theresa, but he was sure that the girl had certainly stood out for her hair.

own merits.

Her face lit up with pleasant surprise.

- Thanks.

He shrugged.

- You are welcome. And like I said, your ex is an asshole. If you didn't already have the reputation to

get the funding, couldn't he have sponsored you? Or at least listed you

as a co-author?

"Of course, but he wanted the credit, and he had no qualms about using me to get it." he set up

all that – the seduction and marriage – thinking only of him. Him and his career.

“Oh, what is it? "Not that he wanted to excuse the motherfucker, but like that

hadn't the guy been attracted to Theresa? "He was probably into you, and then

got greedy when he saw the chance of career success.

“I highly doubt it. She set down the now empty glass. "Anyway, after the betrayal,

she was no longer able to believe anything he said. I couldn't work with him anymore.

I got angry every time I saw him. So I told him he should look for another assistant.

research, and another woman. When classes ended that semester, I left Saskatchewan.

“It must have been difficult. He squeezed her hand where it rested on his desk.

She gathered her hand under him and set her jaw.

“I don't need pity. I'm a loner. It's always been that way, and that's how I work.

better.

“It's not pity, for God's sake. "Didn't she know how to recognize sympathy?" - I know well

what it's like to be lonely, believe me.

Damien would spend whole days writing, stopping only to run or walk. no that no

liked to socialize, it wasn't that, it was just too absorbed in work. If Bry doesn't

dragged him in for a few beers or a barbecue every now and then, he could go weeks without

talk to a soul that wasn't a grocery store clerk.

Theresa snorted.

— You lonely? Gimme a break. You flirt with every woman you meet

— You lonely? Gimme a break. You flirt with every woman you meet

front!

He blinked.

“I'm not saying I don't like women, but I do spend a lot of time alone.

- What do you do?

Shit, she got into it. If he told her, it might break the growing bond between them.

Fortunately, he could avoid the question, because he saw Carmen arriving with the desserts.

"It looks delicious," he commented, when the flight attendant handed him a plate of

strawberries, grapes and slices of kiwi and papaya, plus crackers and small slices of four cheeses

many different.

"Bon appetit," she said, her voice colorless, obviously still troubled by him.

When the meals were over, he would exchange a few words with the flight attendant, try to

make things right. He would ask the stewardess not to tell anyone about his “engagement”.

Theresa tasted a spoonful of her mousse and her expression told Demian that she

I had forgotten your question about his occupation. His attention was on sensations that seemed

almost orgasmic.

He would love to be responsible for that glow of pleasure on her face.

She took another spoonful and then slowly sucked on the spoon, her eyes closed, and her

cock throbbed as he imagined those lips around him.

To add to the torture even more, he picked a medium-ripe strawberry and held it out.

hand to dip it in the mousse. She widened her eyes, then narrowed them in anger, then

he brought the strawberry to Theresa's mouth. She smiled and held out her hand to take his in the same way.

the way he had when he tasted the salmon. Theresa opened her mouth and closed her lips in

around the chocolate covered tip.

Oh yes, he was fully erect now.

The warmth of her soft fingers against his hand, the glint of pleasure in her eyes, the way they

lips closed around the red fruit. That strawberry devil even had a shape

similar to the head of his penis.

As Theresa slowly nibbled on the fruit clamped between her fingers, Damien was

relieved to have put the napkin on his lap. Especially when Carmen came to serve coffee.

"Enjoying dessert, by the looks of it."

This time, his tone bordered on sarcasm. Professional, yes, but it had been naughty

of him flirting with one woman and then dumping her for another. Of course, all he had done was

flirting, but he and Carmen knew where that could have ended.

When the flight attendant left, he watched as Theresa added milk to her coffee and stirred it. your arm

nude moved in circles, graceful and feminine. A strong and intelligent woman, but vulnerable and

cautious. She must have had other lovers since the divorce, but that ex of hers had made a

Dogs so big with her that the teacher still mistrusted men. like a guy

could he be so cruel to Theresa?

"About your husband," he said abruptly.

The spoon clattered against the cup as she pulled her hand away.

- What? I've said enough. It's a thing of the past.

“Yes, but even so, I'd like to meet this bastard in a dark alley. would do

idiot to see stars.

His words, the sternness of his tone, was clearly not what she expected. Your

eyes widened.

—Day! That's... You wouldn't do that. That's so... uncivilized.

“Are you saying that this civilized slutty, like property fraud?

intellectual, it's acceptable, but punching a bastard isn't it?

"Well..." Her tongue slipped out of her mouth and ran across her upper lip as she considered. Your

cheeks turned rosy. “Violence is not a solution.” His lips tilted up.

in the corners, then the smile took over the whole face, causing the eyes to light up. - To the

At the same time, I'd like to see that. Jeffrey would—” She laughed. — My God, you

would finish him off.

Damien loved to see her laugh. Man, she was beautiful.

“Theresa, the guy was an idiot. Nobody should take advantage of a woman like you.

You must be appreciated, slowly and carefully, by a man who wants to make you feel

like the beautiful and sexy woman that she really is.

As he spoke, the laughter faded from his face to be replaced by admiration.

—Day? It's great to hear that.

He shrugged.

- It is the truth. Any man in his right mind would feel that way.

“That's not what I've noticed. The humor was back, this time ironic.

“So you haven't been looking in the right places. — He picked a strawberry. - He wants

more?

"I think it's your turn." She took the fruit from his fingers, dipped it in the mousse and

held it out to him.

He nibbled on the strawberry and, on the last bit, sucked the tip of her index finger.

She let out a startled “Ooh”. A rosy wave covered her cheeks and the V exposed by the

cleavage. Beneath the thin T-shirt, her nipples hardened.

It was her nipples he was thinking about as he sucked his thumb. When he freed her,

It was her nipples he was thinking about as he sucked his thumb. When he freed her,

still joked:

"Do you blush when you're teaching at the university?"

Her hands came up, covering her face.

- No.

- Why not?

“I think it's because I know what I'm doing. I am confident.

- But not with me?

He put a slice of cheese on a cracker and offered it to her.

"No thanks, I'll take the fruit and chocolate."

He ate the cookie and made another one.

- You did not answer my question.

“It's not you, Day, it's the men. I don't trust men. as colleagues and

students, yes, but no... socially.

This was crazy. So much was going on with her. How could you have left one

man like that destroy your confidence?

“Jeffrey has a lot to pay.

He plucked a grape from the small bunch on his plate, dipped it in the mousse, and held it out.

for Theresa to pick it up and taste it with her temptingly soft lips.

“It wasn't just him. I was always much younger than the boys in my classes.

Of course, imagine graduating from high school at fourteen? You bet nobody invited me

for prom.

“Yes, I understand what you mean, but once you get to a certain age, when

everyone is already an adult, age differences don't matter so much anymore. "He gave you a slice of

ripe papaya and a drop of fruit juice ran down her lower lip and down her chin.

Damien wanted to lick it off, but she wiped it off with her finger.

“I agree, but by then I had my doctorate. Theresa put her finger between her fingers.

lips and sucked on him, which made his cock jump within the confines of his jeans. - I finished

stop doing all those girly things,” he continued. "I've never gone out with friends, not even

there were those discussions about dating, flirting, first kiss... - She gave him a look,

wet his lips. “Sex.

Sex. The word, which came out of those pouty lips of his, sent a wave of lust rushing through him.

directly to his already awakened groin, and he barely managed to stifle a groan.

"Obviously I knew all about male/female relationships from books," he went on,

but it's not the same as being a normal teenager. Die of doubt if a boy

really likes you, enjoys your first kiss, wonders how far to go. know how to differentiate

when you're in love and when it's just lust. Know when a guy is in love and

when he's just using you.” She went from wistful to bitter at the thought.

on the ex again.

“Understood, but damn, Theresa, you're a grown woman now. Is a woman

beautiful, smart and interesting. Must have gained a lot of experience since Jeffrey.

She shrugged.

“I wasn't interested in trying again. ’ He quickly added, ‘Look, I

I'm not completely naive and pitiful. Jeffrey wasn't my first and he wasn't my last.

- I did not mean that. “Yet she was vulnerable. Maybe he should walk away.

Damien didn't want to hurt her.

Theresa jabbed a finger into the middle of her chest. Hard.

- No!

He doubled over and nearly knocked the tray of food off the side table.

“I see that look on your face. ’ She jabbed at him once more. - I hate that look.

"poor smart little girl". Don't think you're going to make decisions for me. If I let you...

she turned even pinker —... give me dessert, it's because I wanted to...

Give dessert? Didn't this woman realize that dessert was part of the foreplay?

“No,” she continued, “it's not that I'm a hopeless loser to get the

attention from a handsome guy. I want you to do this because you want to, not out of pity for me.

He gave a surprised laugh. His throbbing cock sure wasn't feeling sorry for her.

She was a delight to look at, sexy, and Damien was enjoying talking to Theresa,

having more fun than any other woman in a long time, even though they both

were fully dressed.

“You don't have to be afraid of this, but I don't want you to get hurt again.

- My God! You and your huge ego! — Interesting to note that billabong's eyes

could spit fire. “Day, I won't give anyone the power to hurt me. if we do

something – whatever it is – is going to be totally consensual. If we're using each other, it's for the

our mutual pleasure, and that's all.

Using each other? No way, that's what he and Carmen would do. she wanting to fuck

with a celebrity, him just wanting to get laid. The man held out his spoon to pick one up.

little mousse and then held it to Theresa's lips.

"Consensual is good, but, Professor...

Slowly, she licked the chocolate off the spoon, her gaze holding him.

"Professor, if we share dessert, or anything else, it doesn't mean

one use the other. Mutual pleasure, yes. Use, no. Did you understand?

“Y-yes, I understand. His eyes were luminous.

Gently, he used his thumb to wipe a smudge of mousse from her upper lip and

licked the chocolate off her finger. Her eyes widened. They glowed with sexual heat.

“Mutual,” he said. - Pleasure.

She nodded as if hypnotized.

Hell, he was impatient with how long it took for the cabin lights to dim and give them

a little privacy.

Fortunately, Carmen and the second stewardess who handled the other side of the class cabin

executives were already clearing dinner trays and offering a last round of coffee and tea.

Passengers got up, stretched, and headed for the restrooms.

Across the hall, the great-grandparents were already yawning and unwrapping their blankets.

She put away her crochet. Damien would bet his next royalty payment that the two

soon they would be napping, and they couldn't bear to watch a movie.

Theresa slung the strap of her purse over her shoulder and stood.

“Excuse me, Day.” She walked out into the hall to join a small line.

While she was gone, Carmen came back to fill the coffee cups and offer chocolates.

"Or has your fiancée had enough chocolate?" she asked sarcastically.

"And where did you ever see a woman get sick of chocolate?" "He picked one up and put it on the

Theresa's tray, next to her coffee. “Thanks, Carmen.

"You're welcome," she replied coldly.

Now was his chance for a private conversation.

“Look,” he said softly. “I acted like an idiot flirting with you. It was stupid.

I am really sorry.

Carmen's face softened a little.

- That's it? An apology, and nothing more?

He nodded.

“I was wrong, period. Again, I'm sorry — he tried a lesser version.

potent of that smile that he knew many women found irresistible. "It's a reflex I

I have to flirt with a beautiful woman. And this being committed thing is so new to me

that I'm not used to. We want to keep it a secret for now, so please don't

spread the word.

"Well, I have to say, you're going to break some hearts when the women find out that

you are off the available list, Damien Black.

Her expression was a little more serious as she walked away to serve the people behind her.

your row.

He wondered what she would think when she realized that their engagement would never be announced.

When Theresa returned, she said:

"Do they give us chocolates too?"

“This is their version of the chocolate on the pillow that many hotels do. —

He blinked. "Speaking of which-pillows and all-you weren't planning on watching

a movie, isn't it?

"Well, I really have to work." Her voice lacked conviction.

Of course she does, but dammit, this woman was too good to let it go.

— I don't want to disappoint Carmen. She will discover that our marriage is doomed to death.

failure.

"Wow, I'm so worried about Carmen's opinion...

He laughed.

"Besides, remember 'my name is work'?" The teacher is not allowed

to have at least a little fun?

"Well..." Her cheeks were rosy again. "I have to ask what?"

you were thinking.

"You just dared." He gave her that smile, but this time it was radiant. — everything

that goes through our heads. A little more talk. Maybe..." With his index finger, he

brushed the hair out of her face. "A kiss, right here." ’ Then he touched her nose. “Another one, here. —

Finally, he touched his lips. “And finally here.

"Are you…" His voice was husky. She cleared her throat. "Are you warning me that

do you want to kiss me?

“Let's just say I'm more hopeful than pretentious. He studied her face, which

it reflected a mixture of embarrassment, doubt and excitement. The physical signs – the flushed cheeks, the

shining eyes, hard peaks of her breasts - betrayed that she was excited. But will she

Would you be able to overcome your blocks and recognize your desires? "Don't you think this could be

more fun than grading those tests?

The humor flared up again.

"Undoubtedly, but…" She lowered her head. “Maybe you shouldn't have asked.

Perhaps you should have taken the initiative.

“No, I want you to agree and want the same.

Slowly, she lifted her head and looked into his eyes.

"What exactly, Day?"

- Three kisses. Forehead, nose, lips. And then let's see what happens.

Those luscious lips curled upward.

"Doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"If it is, we'll stop right away."

The curve deepened.

"What if it's really nice?"

"Then it's your turn." You choose the next three things. Kisses or anything else that

you want.

She took a deep breath, and he wondered what the woman beside him was imagining. Something

which had his cheeks inflamed all over again and which could only be as good as he imagined.

Before he could ask, Carmen stopped beside them.

"More chocolate?"

The flight attendant had lost some of her cocky attitude, and Damien was glad to see her.

realize this.

When he and Theresa declined the offer, with thanks, Carmen moved on to the subject.

Following.

"Let's get ready for the night." Do you have everything you need? pillows,

blankets, water? Do you know how video works? There's a movie guide in the side pocket of your

seat.

Theresa said:

"I'd like a bottle of water, would you please?"

"Two," Damien said.

- It is clear.

When Carmen left, Theresa said:

- I do not believe that. She's acting more civilized!

“Yes, well, I apologized.

- Apologized? She studied him with some surprise. "Hmm, that was very sweet of you."

your part.

Sweet... He rolled his eyes. Then he made a trip to the bathroom, taking the

hygiene for shaving and brushing teeth.

When Damien returned, he noticed that the older gentleman across the hall looked

already be dozing, with the sleep mask covering his eyes. Beside him, his wife took

your sleep mask and your ear plugs.

“Good night,” she said in a low voice.

Was that a twinkle in the eye?

- To you too!

Throughout the business class cabin, there were people with laptops on, others reading and

some watching something on their screens. However, most were getting ready for bed. whispers

and muffled voices died away.

Damien took the pillows and blankets from the luggage compartment when a voice

female speaker over the loudspeakers informed that the cabin lights would be dimmed and indicated where

find the individual lights on the seats.

"We wish you a good night." To minimize discomfort, let's avoid walking around

cabin unless necessary. If there is anything you need, please press the

call button or come to the kitchen and we will be happy to help you.

A moment later, the main lights went out. Now the cabin was lit

only by dim floor lights that marked the hallways, a glow that led into the kitchen and beyond.

the restrooms, and some spotlights around the seats of the passengers who were reading.

He leaned toward Theresa.

"I can barely see you," he murmured. "How am I supposed to find your forehead for the first kiss?"