28 - Come Fly With Me

The plane Jeanie had chartered was fueled and ready when they arrived at Aeroport De Charlevoix, but the storm had delayed all flights in or out, so they sat on the tarmac longer than expected.

 

When pilot finally announced they were cleared to take-off, they both sighed in relief. Buckled up and ready as she could be, Ariana clenched the armrest of her seat, while her foot nervously bounced up and down. She hated this part the most.

 

“Baby, breathe.” He settled his hand on her thigh to keep it from moving. He never understood how someone who spent half her life on a plane could be so nervous.

 

“Whoosh,” she blew out a breath. “I’ll be fine once we’re up.” She felt the plane make the turn on to the final runway, stirring the butterflies in her stomach some more. Clenching her seat tighter, she turned and looked at him. “Sing.”

 

“Sing?” 

 

“Yes. It will distract me.”

 

“S’alright. Hmm, let’s see, oh I know.” He smiled. “Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea...”

 

“Stop Jon! I’m serious,” she pleaded, her eyes desperate.

 

Gently he laid his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Okay.” Jon cleared his throat and hummed softly for pitch.

 

“Wiiise meeen say, 

Only fools rush in,

But I can't help falling in love with you...”

 

The tension around her green eyes eased.

 

“Shall I stay,

Would it be a sin,

If I can't help falling in love with you...”

 

Ariana released her grip and turned her hand under his, locking their fingers. “Thank you,” she sighed.

 

“Anytime.” He winked. “It still amazes me you get like this still. You’ve been flying for how long?”

 

“A long time. It’s only on take-off after that I’m fine.” Her hands were now busily digging in her bag. “A-ha. There it is!” She pulled out her cell phone. “Ya think we have Wi-Fi?” she asked as she tried to check her mail.

 

“Don’t see why not?” He unhooked his seatbelt and stood. “I’ll ask. I need to use the head.” He stepped over her stretched out legs. 

 

 

While she waited for Jon to get back, Ariana checked her emails, most of which were from Cara questioning her about Jonas’s appearance tonight. That woman was going to be the death of her before the night was over. Ariana had answered all of her questions and then some. She informed her she should go to the bar when she wanted to and that Max was handling everything. She and Jon would see her when they got there. 

 

The next email took her by surprise. It was from Monsieur Tremblay of Fournier- Tremblay Avocats. She was so engrossed with reading, she hadn’t noticed Jon return to sit next to her.

 

“Anything exciting?” He peered over to look at what she was doing.

 

“As a matter of fact.” She passed him the phone so he could read.

 

Sharp blue eyes studied the bright display of Ari’s iPhone, scrolling idly until his jaw dropped. “Hooooly sheet. Wow, now I can retire.”

 

“You’re hilarious.”

 

“The idea of you pampering me in my old age. Taking me on fancy trips, buying me $5,000 bottles of wine, rubbing my wrinkly feet...”

 

“I was planning on putting you in a home for ancient rock stars. With what Lili left me, I can open one myself. Seriously, I did not know Lili had that kind of money. She’s owned a bar my entire life.”

 

“Will you harvest our vocal cords and sell our leather pants upon arrival? And Lili was a shrewd woman.”

 

“Oh my God! Tell me you still don’t have your leather pants. She was, but that is a lot of money, Jon. I’ll never have to work again.”

 

“I’m sure there is more than my leather pants in the basement, and I could be persuaded to wiggle into them just for you.” He tsked, “Like you’d ever not work. It’s in your DNA. However, you could work for me...” 

 

“Now that I would love to see. Or, I can start my production company and send you a bid.”

 

“Bring it on, baby.” He offered the challenge.

 

“You always said you wanted the best in the business. Well, the Moretti name is. You know it’s true.”

 

“I sure do. Can’t wait to see what kind of army you put together.” 

 

“Before I build an army, I need to start a company first. Which will take some research and planning.” She scrolled through the e-mail again shaking her head in disbelief.

 

“With the number of zeros, you have there...” He nodded at her phone. “You can hire people to do that for you. It also helps that you’ve seen firsthand how a company should run. It shouldn’t take you that long. We can ask Paul if he has any suggestions.”

 

“My own company, how exciting would that be.” Ariana powered off her phone before throwing it back into her bag.

 

“You know what would be even more fun? You, legs in the air, screaming.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down as his fingers walked up her thigh.

 

“There will be no in-flight nookie for you today.” She slapped his hand away.

 

“Shot down.” He hung his head, blue eyes peering out from under his hair. 

 

“Stop acting like I took away your favorite toy.” She placed her knuckle under his chin, raising his head till their eyes met. “These past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. Aside from losing Lili, which I didn’t think I could survive, it brought me you, something I didn’t expect. Not knowing how long I would have you, I clung to you both emotionally and physically, taking whatever, I could get.” Her eyes now looked at hands which were busily playing with the knot on her shirt. “I know how to be more than a taker Jon.”

 

“Ari, you aren’t the only taker, I’ve done my fair share over the years. Maybe a little more so. There were times, quite a few, when I needed and you gave without hesitation.” He laid his hand over her hands, “Are we good?” 

 

She cocked her head to the side to look at him. “We’re good.”

 

“So... I know you said no nookie, but, can we at least fool around?” His lips pressed together into his trademark duck lips.

 

Ariana rolled her eyes. She could never resist those lips. 

 

She unhooked her seatbelt and climbed into his lap. His hands immediately bracketed her hips before venturing down to her ass. Slowly, they reclined as she pushed the button on the side panel, giving him a perfect view down her shirt. Jon slipped his hands into the brief gap between their bodies, mouth latching onto her neck as he undid the knot in the front of her - his - shirt. He removed his hands from the space to slide around her waist again and up under her shirt, fingertips trailing alongside her spine.

 

Ariana tunneled her fingers through his caramel locks as her teeth grazed along his neck, the gentle rocking motion of her hips causing just enough friction. She rolled her hips against the hardness beneath her, gasping as the hard ridge of his erection pressed against the center seam of her worn out jeans. Her mouth traveled to his stubbly jaw. The delicious scrape of whiskers against her mouth made her itch to feel the same scrape lower, much lower.

 

His breath hitched as she nuzzled and nipped the sensitive spot just below his ear. He began to rock with her, ready to blow like a teenager at the insistent pressure on his cock.

 

Ari dipped her tongue into the divot above his bow shaped mouth before licking across his lips, chuckling dirtily as they fell open with little coaxing. Her nails rasped against his scalp as she dove in, savoring his mouth and the control he was giving her. 

 

Jon idly wondered, with the minimal amount of brain cells he had that were still functioning, if he was hard enough to bore straight through those nearly threadbare jeans and right into her heat.

 

Ariana rocked faster, sensing his readiness along with hers.

 

“Folks, if you can kindly prepare yourselves, we will land shortly.” The captain's voice echoed throughout the cabin.

 

“Argh.” They both grumped as Ariana collapsed against him, blowing out her breath. 

 

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Jon bellowed. “I feel like the neighbors have caught us in the backseat.”

 

Ariana rolled off of him and back into her chair, doing up her shirt. “Yeah, I guess that’s what we get for starting something we couldn’t finish.”

 

“We’ll have to finish this in the car. I don’t think this is going away anytime soon.” He looked down at his lap.

 

“That depends on what kind of car you arranged to pick us up.” She righted herself and buckled up.

 

“Silvestro is picking us up.” Jon tried to adjust his jeans to ease some of the friction.

 

“Then think of something cold, like the North Pole or something, because there is no way we are having sex in the car.” She tapped his knee. 

 

“You’re shitting me, right?”

 

“Nope. The thought of that sweet man knowing we are having sex.”

 

“That’s never stopped you before.” Jon stood, smoothing his hand over his jeans when he heard the announcement they had landed. “I’m sure we wouldn’t be the first and definitely won’t be the last. He drives for a living, Ari. Can you imagine the things he’s seen?”

 

Ariana followed suit, grabbing her bag from the floor while Jon grabbed the others. “The answer is still no.” 

 

Just as he was about to give her a smartass reply, he was stopped by the muffled buzzing sound coming from his back pocket. His hand full with their bags, Ariana reached for the phone that was half sticking out, catching a glimpse at the screen as she did.

 

“Here, I think you should answer this.” She passed the phone in exchange for the bags.

 

Jon tapped the accept button and held the phone to his ear. “Hey buddy, what’s up?”

 

“It’s me, Jon.” The woman’s voice on the other end took him by surprise.

 

“Dot. Why are you calling from Jesse’s phone? Everything alright with the kids?”

 

“Goodbye, I hope you enjoyed your flight.” The flight attendant called out as they exited the plane. Jon acknowledged her with a nod as they made their way down the steps to the awaiting car.

 

“Flight? Where they hell are you now?” Jon could not mistake the hint of sarcasm in her voice.

 

“I’m still in Canada.” Jon stepped aside to let Ariana in the car and rested his hand on the roof. “You still haven’t answered me, is everything okay?” 

 

“Everything’s fine. You know that Romey’s play is tomorrow.”

 

“I am well aware of Romey’s first play and have no intention of missing it.”

 

“Wow, I’m impressed. I suppose you haven’t left all of your brain between what’s-her-name’s’ thighs. Try not to be late this time.” 

 

“If you called to start an argument, then I’m hanging up. You know damn well I try never to miss any of the kid’s functions.”

 

“Arguing seems to be the only way we’ve been able to talk since about 2007. Goodbye, Jon.”

 

“Yeah, that shit works both ways, Dottie.” he snarled as he hung up, tossing his phone onto the seat and climbing in behind it.

 

Releasing a deep, long sigh, he scrubbed his hand over his face and turned to Ari with a wry smile. “Sorry.”

 

“No worries,” she muttered, laughing nervously. “Everything good?”

 

“Yeah, she just called to remind me of Romey’s play tomorrow, which I already knew about and had every intention of attending.”

 

“What time do you need to leave?”

 

“In the morning.”

 

“I guess this is where we change the topic because I do not know what to say.”

 

“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, but I don’t want you to be afraid to ask me anything either.” Tucking his leg under him as he turned to face her. “If we are going to be together, and we are, then we need to be open and honest with each other. Friends first, remember.” 

 

“When will I get to see you again?”

 

Jon reached for her hand. “When do you want to see me? I’ve told you what my schedule looks like the next few months, so you just let me know. I would really love for you to meet me in London.”

 

“This is all new for me and will definitely take some getting used to. So, you have my word that I will try. As for London, I’ll be there, but you have to promise me something.”

 

“Anything.” 

 

“Please don’t worry about me or seeing me. Spend some time with your kids. I’ll have plenty to keep me busy for the time being. Your children are the ones who will need you more.” 

 

Jon kissed the pads of her fingers. “I can’t promise that I won’t worry, but I can promise the other. Ari, my kids mean the world to me and I know that this will be hard on them, but I will do whatever it takes to help them understand all of this.” He picked his phone up from under his leg and began typing. “I am emailing Jeanie so she can make the arrangements. Once they are made, I will forward them to you.”

 

As Jon typed away on his phone, Ariana turned and looked at the window. Her mind was not paying attention to the view. Instead, she thought about how the next few months were going to be.

 

Once everything was out in the open.