Read All The Pretty Lights (The "A" List #1) for Free Online

that exact moment and I convince myself it’s from the descending airplane, not from his touch.
    People around us start moving, preparing to gather their things since we’re so close to our destination. Their bustling sounds grow louder and I wonder at how that alone doesn’t wake him up. I’m locked in place, unsure of the best way to handle this.
    Our seats are close, sure, and he must have no idea that he’s practically cuddling me, right? It must be some instinctive part of falling asleep in a tight area, to drop your head or lean on the person next to you, right? Stuff like this happens all the time. Right?
    I can’t kid myself. He’s not just leaning on me, or resting his head against me. He’s holding me tight, both arms, his incredibly strong arms I might add, holding me to him.
    “Look!” A loud whisper shoots through the air as a young woman two rows ahead of us spots the compromising position Colt and I are in. I barely have time to move, to try one more time to break free of his sleeping grip when the bursts of flash begin.
    One person, then another, and another, whips out their phones at lightening speed and snap photographic evidence of the purely innocent yet embarrassing position we’re in.
    “Colt!” I nudge him. The flashes don’t stop. He groans, his eyes flutter but he doesn’t wake. Temporarily blinded by the most recent flash, I pull back my elbow and nudge harder—maybe a touch too hard.
    “Hey… what’s happening? We crashing?” His voice is groggy and confused. “Why are you beating me up?”
    God. Men are such babies.
    “We’re landing. You—you fell asleep.” I clue him in as he begins to assess our situation. His right arm with its rounded bicep is behind me, snaked under my neck, wrapped over my shoulder, pulling me in. His left arm strung across me, hand resting in my lap.
    His lips. His steamy mouth with their picture perfect lips rests just above my ear as his sleep heavy head rests millimeters from mine.
    “Oh,” He begins to realize that he’s practically spooning me. “Oh!” He pulls back his arms finally releasing me. “Sorry. I—I didn’t mean to--”
    Smiling, feeling just as awkward as he does, I try to make light of it. “Don’t mention it. You were tired. Sleeping. You had no idea what you were doing.”
    I listen to my words and realize that I’m saying them for as much my benefit as his. My skin, the skin that touched his, that was held by him, feels empty, lonely, craves his touch once more. I tell myself over and over that he didn’t mean it, that he didn’t know.
    A small piece of me holds onto some impossible hope that maybe he did?
    “This is yours.” The soft leather jacket is folded in half and I place it on his lap, returning it.
    I can’t help but notice that his hair, even after a long flight of sleeping in such a contorted position, looks perfect. Swallowing hard, I look away harshly, not liking the direction my thoughts are heading.
    He’s just a guy , I tell myself. Okay, he’s a famous guy, but still a guy. It was a random flight and he’ll get back to his crazy life that has nothing to do with me. I’ll get back to whatever’s left of my own life and these last few hours will mean nothing. Right?
    The wheels of the plane skip gently on the tarmac as the pilot expertly makes his landing, delivering us to one of the busiest airports in the world.
    Slowly we make our way to the main terminal as the plane lines up with the ramp. Once we feel the slight jerk when the plane halts to a stop, pandemonium takes hold. Every man, woman, and child springs into motion, taking hold of their belongings to pile out in a mad rush.
    Colt and I stay seated, letting them all pass briskly like there’s a race to the finish line. It’s better this way, less chance of getting trampled.
    “Listen,” he finally speaks. “I’m sorry about the craziness. The pictures, the people. I—I just want you to know it was really...”
    I cut him off.