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wanting to soothe, needing to comfort. “The plane needs to ascend. Once we reach the proper flying altitude everything will even out.”
    “Y—you probably wanted to get some work done. And instead you’re stuck babysitting me.”
    If she only knew how ridiculous that statement was, she would be shocked. The very last thing he thought of Tessa was as her babysitter. “Don’t apologize. If you must know, I’m not particularly fond of flying either.”
    She pulled away from him slightly so she could meet his gaze. “You aren’t?”
    “No.” He was used to it only because he’d been doing it for years and years. “I’m never fully comfortable in the air. It sets me on edge.”
    “It sets me on edge too.” She blew out a shuddering breath. “My stomach doesn’t feel well.”
    He tensed. “You’re not going to be sick are you?”
    “Oh, no.” She shook her head, more tendrils of dark brown waves escaping and falling around her face. “I’ll be fine.” Tessa offered a shaky smile in reassurance.
    Without thought he reached out, brushed the hair away from her face. Her cheeks flushed pink at his touch, her gaze dropping so she stared directly at his chest. He wished he knew what she was thinking, what she wanted.
    “We should go back to our seats,” she finally murmured, her gaze still fixed on his chest.
    “Of course.” Reaching behind him, he turned the handle and opened the door, then stepped to the side so she could walk through. “After you.”
    She glided past him, her steps light, her spine straight. She fumbled a bit when she walked by him and he reached out, grasping her elbow so he could help her while she found her footing.
    Her entire face flushed, she whispered her thanks then scurried to the seat, collapsing into it just before she strapped the seatbelt around her and clicked it into place.
    Slowly he approached his seat, settling into it as if a man with all the time in the world. Lora started to approach but he waved her away, thoroughly disgusted by her earlier behavior.
    When they arrived at their first destination, he would make a phone call and deal with Lora. He wouldn’t have her out and out fired, but she certainly wouldn’t work on their personal private jet any longer. She’d dismissed Tessa as if she hadn’t mattered, had flirted with him so overtly it had been downright uncomfortable.
    Tessa deserved better than that. She mattered.
    At least, she mattered to him.
    Resting his elbows on the armrests, he pressed his palms together and steepled his fingers. He observed her, his gaze roaming over her delicate dark brows, the thick sweep of her lashes, her eyes downcast. The curve of her cheek still carried her flush of embarrassment, and the lush swell of her dark pink lips drew him. Filled him with the urge to kiss her. Lick and nip at her voluptuous mouth.  
    The red sweater lovingly clung to her curves, reminded him exactly how exquisite her body was. Fresh memories flooded him, of her beautiful breasts overflowing the delicate lace cups of her bra, the flat plane of her stomach.
    The memory heated his skin, and he inhaled swiftly. What was it about her that made him feel this way? For some inexplicable reason he wanted to protect her. Teach her everything he could, hold her close, kiss her senseless, give her so much pleasure she’d never look at another.
    Only want to be with him.
    It was ridiculous, these foreign emotions swirling inside him. And also disconcerting. He’d never been so aware of a woman, so—afraid to make a move, give a sign that he was interested. He couldn’t make any sort of move on Tessa. She was his assistant. He was her boss. What he wanted to do to her, what he wanted from her was wildly inappropriate, considering their professional relationship.
    Yet late at night, when his wicked dreams were filled with nothing but her, he thought of nothing else but calling her into his office. Ask her to shut the door. Demand she stand before him so he