The engine of the plane rumbled loudly, jerking me awake and I sighed. I looked out the widow, the black sky spread out endlessly, like my thoughts. Threatening Damon to take me on the trip had been more impulsive than rational, which seemed to always be the case whenever he was involved.
I couldn't think straight when he was around me, all I wanted to do was protect him, it didn't matter how. I would have shot him in the leg to keep him from going on the trip without me, if that was what it took to keep me beside him.
I yawned loudly and paused when I saw the blanket spread over me. I touched the soft material gently and smiled. Damon was sprawled on his chair a few feet across from me, sleeping. He must have put the blanket on me when I dozed off. I squeezed my cheeks to keep from smiling.
He still cared.
I stood up and walked towards him. His glasses sat on his nose, his eyes closed. His eyelashes were long and beautiful. My gaze trailed down to his lips, they were full and pretty. His breathing was slow and even, and his face looked as beautiful as ever.
He looked peaceful as he slept, and I watched him silently. I didn't know when or how, but I realized I cared deeply about him. I trailed my fingers across his face gently, imprinting his features in my memory. I knew I couldn't do it when he was awake, so I quietly watched him.
His lips looked inviting, and I licked mine in return. It was wrong—I knew but I couldn't stop myself. I slowly closed the gap between us, my eyelids fluttering.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
I gasped loudly in surprise and sprung away from him quickly.
"You're awake?" it was a stupid question, but I was quite flustered.
He dropped the tablet and pushed his glasses up his nose.
"What are you doing?" he repeated.
I stared at him. He didn't look mad, just confused. I stretched the blanket to him.
"I wanted to return this," it was a reasonable excuse, one that didn't make me come off as a stalker who almost kissed him in his sleep.
He glanced at the blanket and back at me. "George put that on you when you fell asleep, not me," he grabbed his tablet.
"Give it back to him."
I stared at the man sprawled on the seat close to the cockpit sleeping and smiled.
"Really? You're saying George placed this blanket on me to keep me from being cold while I slept?" I asked.
He didn't look up. "Who else would be bothered to?"
You.
"I see," I walked back to my seat.
I watched him work silently, my heart bursting with joy as I stared at him. He sighed after a few moments and turned to me.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"To protect you."
"No," he adjusted his posture and faced me squarely.
"I mean why are you really here? What do you want from me?"
I fiddled with the hem of the blanket. It was a question I couldn't answer either. I had no idea what I wanted from him, or what to do with my feelings. I knew we wouldn't work, spending time with me would only put him danger.
But the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to stay by his side. It was awfully selfish of me, I should have let him go when he fired me, but I just couldn't. I'd somehow managed to convince myself that I was doing it to protect him and while that was true, a small part of me knew that wasn't the only reason.
"I don't know," I mumbled.
He stared at me in disbelief. "You don't know?"
He looked hurt.
I wanted to soothe him, to say something to make him feel better, but I didn't know the right words.
"So what, you pushed me away and hurt my feelings on a whim?"
I glanced at him, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. I wondered if he could hear it.
"I did it to protect you, Damon."
Because I love you.
He looked at me with... disgust.
My heart broke when I saw the expression on his face. I could take anyone staring at me like that, but not him. He stalked towards me and hit the chair loudly, jolting George awake.
He stared down at me, his nose flaring.
"Once we get back, I want you out of my life for good, Ms. Wells. I don't want you around me, not in my sight, not in my life and definitely-," he paused.
His chest heaved loudly. "Definitely not in my heart."
"Damon," I called softly.
He pushed off the chair and stalked back to his. He grabbed his headphones and wore it as he looked out the window.
Great job, Mia. You managed to make him hate you even more.