Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

It seemed luck was in her favor, and it didn't begin raining after all. By the time she changed into her pair of leggings and a baggy sweater, the sky was still grey, but the city was dry down to the parking garage. Oscar let them both into

Katrina waited for Kylan to be done with one last phone call, and then she walked with him de the back seat and the drive to the airport was mostly spent in comfortable silence

A few times, she could feel Kylan looking at her, and she would meet his gaze and give him a reassuring smile each time.

Once at the airport, Oscar helped her retrieve her suitcases from the trunk. Kylan insisted on rolling hers at that p he only scowled at her and still grabbed the handle of her suitcase point, and she tried to protest, but

She exchanged a brief hug with Oscar and quickly followed after Kylan. "We're in public. Should we uh, activate the contract?" she whispered to him, trying her best to keep up as he expertly weaved through the crowded airport traffk, "Yes." Kylan replied bluntly, and she nodded, taking the opportunity to slip an arm under his suit jacket and around his waist

Kylan checked in her luggage for her, and she allowed him to take charge. It didn't matter how often she was in an airport, they never ceased to make her anxious. Flying was what really did it, though. It didn't make sense to her, no matter how many articles or videos she read or watched about planes and how safe they are. When it came time to get on one, her stomach was forever on the edge and her mind filled with the worst kind of thoughts.

Kylan knew this about her after traveling with her countless times over the last few years, but he never made a big deal about it, and she tried not to

Thirty minutes later, they were through security and waited at their gate. She pulled her phone from her small purse she didn't check with her suitcase. She sent a quick next to her dad to let him know they were at their gate and the flight was scheduled to depart on time. She watched Kylan wipe down the chair next to her before sitting, but she paid him no mind. Just like he didn't make a big deal about her flight anxiety, she never made a big deal about his excessive need for everything to be clean.

By the time first class was called to board, she was internally freaking out, just as she always was by this point. Planes made her panic. They made her claustrophobic. They made her flight or fight response activate.

She was thankful for how quickly she could get around the world by flying, but that was it. She detested everything else about the strange metal sky tubes

She was grateful that Kylan let her have the window seat, at least. He wiped down his own first-class chair and then sat down next to her, cleansing the seat belt before fastening it. He fiddled with his phone while the remaining passengers shuffled on board, and she fidgeted where she sat "Kate, we've been on countless flights," Kylan reminded her quietly

She was startled by his voice. "I'm fine, Sir, she mumbled back at him. She twisted her hair into a bun and secured it atop her head with an elastic she retrieved from around her wrist.

Kylan sighed heavily. "I'm not Sir right now, Kate. I won't be for the entirety of this vacation," he corrected her lowly.

She nodded at him and Licked her lips, biting her inner cheek for a moment while her eyes darted around the cabin of the plane. When a flight attendant offered them a glass of champagne, she accepted it without a thought, suddenly extremely glad that Kylan insisted she flies first-class with him.

Kylan eyed her wearily while she downed the alcohol in only two gulps. "Christ Come here."

He took the glass from her and handed it to another passing flight attendant. Then, he reached for her hand and took hold of it, pulling her into him as much as the armrest between them would allow. She bit back a squeak at the new proximity, her face fishing when he snaked an arm around her waist.

"Relax, okay? It's a short flight, he murmured into her ear, his breath farming the side of her head.

She cleared her throat and forced herself to take a deep breath. "You're right. I'll be okay. Thank you Kylan" She didn't look at him, but she allowed herself to draw comfort in his arm around her, noticing how he also ran his hand up and down her hip in gentle, soft motions

It was intoxicating if she was honest. Being close to him like this, the smell of mint and pine and Kylan filled her senses. She indulged in being next to him, his strong arm around her, the rhythmic passes of his fingers on her side lulling her into a sense of safety. She stayed like that for the duration of the ninety-minute flight, even going as far as resting her head on his shoulder. She was so close to his neck then, that she considered placing a kiss or two on his skin, but she refrained. There were still boundaries in place, after all.

She watched Kylan work on his laptop with one hand, never complaining about not having access to his other hand.

The turbulence still caused her to tens

'to tense every so often, but Kylan sensed it each time and only pulled her closer to him in response

The fight passed surprisingly quickly and then the flight attendants were calling for them to put their tray tables back in their proper places. She

Chapter 40

hand on Kylan's arm as she turned to stare out at the window. She couldn't help

York City, but there was something about going home that always made her

sun had already set, so she only had distant city lights to beckon her, but it was enough. It was enough for her anxiety to dissipate a little more and for a small amount of anticipation to fill

grinned with rehef at Kylan. "Thank

"she told him

bag and unbuckling his seat belt as soon as the plane pulled into the gate and the flight attendants let her get off. Kylan reached for her hand, to which she accepted the gesture and followed him out of the plane. She found the signs for baggage claim and secured her luggage. Kylan insisted on pushing them again, and she didn't

later, she was sitting in the passenger seat of a Volvo that was far too nice for her small town of Portland, Maine. She plugged in the address for the hotel and then

could practically smell the saltiness of the Gulf of Maine, and she shivered against the harsh Arlantic cold seeping into the car. Kylan seemed to have noticed because he turned up the heat

was home.

introduce her dad to her

one she did. Kylan was picky, after all. He had refused to say at hotels in the past if they

The three-story structure was located near the Waterfront, which gave

to the rental to a valet, and a bellhop gathered her suitcases for her. Kylan reached for her hand, and she took hold

pictures online did not do the lobby

She

between modern and the blend of a seaside town. The various shades of blue, coupled with the contrasting

at Kylan, he didn't seem to openly detest what he saw, and

her a key to the premier suite the specifically

and Rylan alike, and the nerves she had

So near they did.

to be sharing a room

Alone with Kylan.

One bed, with Kylan.

she both sleep there? Would he take the couch? Should she offer

the couch!

She had no idea.

elevator doors were opening, and she was walking down the hallway, and Kylan was unlocking the door to

and she flashed him a quick half-sale

her entrance, and she gasped before she

and cream. There was a loveseat and two armchairs nestled in front of an inviting fireplace that was already lit. Her eyes drifted

a few chairs and a vase of fresh perennials, dahlias, and

found herself walking over to the flowers and bending down a bit so she could smell them. The insxture of scents was heavenly, and she felt herself smiling all over again. *TI leave their here for you. Sir, and

pushed the window curtains aside and looked out

that the premier suite did overlook the

for you?" Rylan's low

standing to she. She only had to take a few steps, and then she was right in front of him. She hugged him without pausing to question herself, her arms wrapping around his

wonderful, Kylan. Thank you" she breathed, carefully avoiding

was stiff under her for only a moment, and then he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged

so she could see his face. "I know I did. Even so, thank you for coming with me." She dropped her arms and stepped away from him, realizing how inappropriate

what was no doubt the bedroom. She took a deep breath and decided it was now or never She walked over to the door and opened it,

her.

of it with a small lamp on each one. The white, overly fluffy duvet beckoned her to flop right onto it, but

table sat near what appeared to be a balcony, and she

an equally grand bathroom. A large, jetted tub and a shower with three cascading showerheads greeted her. A vanity with two porcelain