Good stories were definitely one of Tod Corvus's weaknesses. As the first few hours of flight time passed in delightful conversation, Shannon's tales of her graduate students and field research mishaps didn't disappoint.

"We had the choice of walking several kilometres into the site, or attempting to get the truck through the mud." Her lips twitched as she held back a laugh.

"What did you do?" Tod asked, grinning as she continued the tale of mayhem.

Intelligence and amusement gleamed in Shannon's green-gold hazel eyes. "I jumped out to see how bad the mud was. It can get quite deep when the ground thaws. The road looked dangerous—covered in water—but it was only a foot deep. My two students had never been on logging roads during spring breakup, so they didn't know how to judge it. I made sure the truck had enough momentum before we hit the mud to carry us through, even as we slid somewhat sideways."

Her deceptively nonchalant expression had him chuckling. "I suspect your version of 'somewhat sideways' is actually a lot sideways?" His gaze caressed her flawless olive skin, her long silky brown hair with red and gold highlights, her pert nose, and those lush full lips.

And whenever their eyes met, a spark of connection hummed.

With a bright tinkling burst of sound, she laughed. "Yeah, okay, so I was driving straight while looking through the side window, with mud and water spraying up like a geyser on either side of us, but my grad students are now convinced I'm a goddess when it comes to four-wheeling."

An unexpected flash of longing pierced him, almost stealing his breath as he laughed with her. Norns knew it had been some time since someone caught his interest in anything more than a superficial way. The people he met wanted his money or body but didn't want him. They had no depth. Unable to resist the need to touch her, to feel that connection, he tugged a lock of her hair playfully. "Well, of course you are a goddess. It's good they recognize your greatness," he teased, trying to keep the wistful note to himself.

A light flush came over her golden skin when she met his eyes, smiled, and looked down. Yeah, he wanted to glide his fingertips over that soft, supple skin again, to feel her—

"Anything to drink?" the flight attendant interrupted, staring at Shannon's chest. Fucking asshole. Tod clenched a fist, forcing down the urge to flick the puny male away. This was the third damned time the bloody man had come by to leer at her since their flight had levelled off.

"Red wine, please. What do you want, Tod?" Not seeming to notice or reciprocate the attendant's roving eyes, Shannon met Tod's gaze.

Yeah, she's not for you, you mangy git. Tod relaxed his fingers even as fire raced through his veins. The image her question brought to mind was in no way related to an innocent drink order. Reluctantly, he wrenched his wayward thoughts back under control. "I'll have the red as well, thanks."

The man poured two wines from his cart. When he reached over, ogling her cleavage, Tod took the glass from him and handed it to Shannon. "Here you go, darling." Her eyes shot to Tod's as she took the drink from him, pupils dilating as their hands touched.

So very responsive.

An image flashed in his thoughts—her curvy body under him with those expressive eyes glazed with passion, cheeks flushed, and mouth open as he drove himself inside her. Yggdrasil's roots, it was hard to hold back, to not take what he wanted immediately. Rarely did he deny himself once his interest had been piqued.

But something told him Shannon would be worth savouring, a possibility or knowing that flickered to life deep within his soul. She was a fascinating rare gem—more than a quick, energy-boosting fuck in a first-class airplane bathroom, only to be forgotten at the end of the flight. Some instinct had him holding back, taking his time to delve into who she was as an individual, despite how frequently his mind taunted him with the desires he held in check.

Although he was not a patient creature, delayed gratification had its benefits. Taking his glass from the flight attendant, Tod raised it in a toast. "To a most interesting flight," he said, before taking a sip.

A half smile on her face, she tilted her head slightly. "Wait, is that like the Chinese curse may you live in interesting times because I don't think that's supposed to be a good thing!" She laughed, eyes alight with mischief.

"No, interesting is better. Boredom lacks any appeal, and I definitely wasn't implying a curse in this instance. Getting to know you is an absolute pleasure." Not the pleasure his body craved, but his mind was certainly stimulated in ways he'd missed of late.

She sipped her wine. "Well, I have to admit I'd normally be tuning out my seatmate to read a book by now. I'm very much enjoying getting to know you as well. Still, I've been rambling on about myself for hours. Let's talk about you."

He shrugged a shoulder. "What do you want to know? There is so much about me already in the media."

"True, but that's your public persona." She squirmed in her seat and gazed up through her lashes in a way that had him fighting to not drag her into his lap so he could satisfy the desire in her eyes. Did she realize how much she gave away when she looked at him with such need? "Maybe you could tell me about the you that is hidden, the parts that only peek out in the songs you write and the various roles you play."

Her insightful comment reinforced his impression of her intelligence, both her mind and body attractive to one such as him. All his lyrics, the melodies he created, even the roles he chose... in some way, they each contained an expression of his soul. Norns, but she drew every aspect of him.

Appeasing his growing need to touch her, he took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her fingers. Her breath caught, a flush rising on her cheeks and the skin revealed by her silken blouse. Yes, she wasn't indifferent to him. Smiling at her reaction even as it heated his blood, Tod met her gaze. "Not many recognize that each role I play must resonate within me. You are an insightful woman. What parts of me are you most curious about?"

Even with his half-hearted attempt to behave, he had no doubt she'd hear the double meaning behind his words. Nor did he hide the wickedness in his eyes. As her mouth dropped open and her cheeks flamed, the spots of colour deepening, his lips twitched, a smirk appearing.

"Bloody hell, Tod. If you're trying to get me so hot and bothered that I need a change of panties, it's working!" Her eyes widened, her free hand flying to her mouth.

A rolling laugh burst from him, so enchanted he was with her reaction. "Oh darling, you are such a delight to tease. I just can't resist."

"I... I didn't mean to... that was blunter than I—"

Without conscious thought, Tod's hand was at the back of her neck, tilting her head up to his. He leaned over to capture her lips as they parted with some apology he didn't care to accept. There was nothing to forgive. At her instant surrender, an electrifying bolt of possessive instinct roared through him, stiffening flesh and demanding he claim her now, seduce her regardless of their surroundings. Caressing his tongue over hers gently, he reluctantly pulled back. It wouldn't do to lose con—

A needy moan escaped her mouth, and the sound broke some of his restraint. He kissed her again, more passionately, his other hand holding her cheek. She tasted like rich wine, far more succulent than that which had been in their glasses. Drunk on her taste, he sipped from her as her hand slid up into his hair, tugging and pulling him closer.

Heat swirled, swelled, and expanded within him. By the Nine, she was perfect. He drew her closer. Something halted her progress, preventing him from pulling her into his lap. When he released her lips to remove the obstruction, she exhaled a soft mewl.

Shannon met Tod's gaze as their lips parted. His eyes flared brilliant green with such blazing carnality she found herself leaning, straining towards him. Hadn't they been a pale blue? Her thoughts scattered as his hand tightened, pulling her hair in sinful demand and his mouth descended again to plunder deeper and more thoroughly. Fingers cupping her cheek, he nipped, teased, and stroked her arousal higher.

When his head lifted, she couldn't completely stifle a protest, biting her lip as she caught her breath. Gods, she was burning up from the inside out. Never had a first kiss been like that before. Holy hell, she'd never had any kiss like that before.

With a ghost of a smile on his lips, his tongue flicked over her abused lower lip, then his mouth shifted to her neck, exploring his way along her throat to her ear and leaving devastating waves of gooseflesh in his wake. Shannon's pulse throbbed, molten fire in her veins, and she tilted her head to give him better access.

After nipping her earlobe, he whispered, "As much as I greatly desire to test your claim of soaked knickers, darling, if I don't stop now, I won't be able to until I'm buried to the hilt inside your hot, wet quim, ravishing you thoroughly regardless of our surroundings."

A wave of heat flared over her skin, her spine arching, and a whimper escaped even as she choked it back. Fuck, that was the most erotic, most arousing thing any man had ever said to her. Would it be wrong to crawl onto his lap? Did she care if others saw them? Her breath shuddered, and when he drew back, his eyes darkened to pin her with his sultry gaze. Blue... like the hottest flame of a gas stove.

She blinked.

That kiss really had scattered her senses.

Before she could reply or surrender to her wayward desire, the flight attendant arrived with their dinners. Shannon couldn't decide if she wanted to curse at the interruption or sigh in relief that she hadn't flung herself at Tod. Still, whatever insanity had possessed him to flirt with her, gods, she prayed it continued... at least for a little while. It had been so long since she'd felt this carefree, like she might actually be a desirable woman and not a mousy academic almost too old to have kids, too chubby and mature to interest a gorgeous man who had his pick of female attention. Surely, she didn't need to return to reality quite yet.

As if her wish had been granted, Tod didn't stop his teasing.

Instead, he stole her fork with a smirk and fed her as "payment for her crime" when she snapped her teeth at him in a mock bite. After moving the armrests out of the way, he tucked her chest into his shoulder and curled an arm around her, letting it rest on her ribs, so temptingly close to her breast. Damn, it was fun. Somehow, everything was so easy with Tod, no topic off limits, no teasing awkward. Shannon had never enjoyed a meal more.

A bite of broccoli fell from his fork into the scooped neckline of her royal-blue silk blouse and landed on the top edge of her black lace bra.

"Oops," he taunted, eyes wicked. "Would you like me to get that?"

Was that a trick question? She peeked at him through her lashes. "You make the mess, you clean it up." Her voice didn't even sound like her, a breathless huskiness to it. Who was this woman who dared to tease and flirt? Where had she been for the past decade?

"Mmm... darling, I do like how you think," he purred as his long fingers dipped down to pluck out the green floret, fingertips teasing along the lace edge before he popped the bite into his mouth. "Although, when it comes to food, I think it's fair that whoever cooks shouldn't have to do the dishes."

Seriously, could this man get any hotter? "You cook?" She enjoyed cooking and baking, but sharing it with someone after a long day sounded amazing. Not that Trent had ever offered. The reminder of her ex broke through the desire clouding her thoughts like poison ivy sprouting on her favourite picnic spot. Yeah, she wasn't in any emotional state to be looking for anything... although—she perused the spectacular man beside her—perhaps a vacation fling might be in the cards. Hell, she'd take even just one night.

Tod's smile was slow. "Yes. There is something to be said for playing with your food."

Why did she get the impression he wasn't talking about actual food? Still, he didn't try for anything more as they discussed favourite recipes, and she couldn't help but be disappointed. Heat churned within her abdomen, skin prickling with sensation, and the lace of her bra scraped against taut flesh with every shaky breath.

When he held a bit of cheesecake, she licked it slowly off the fork, taking her time until he groaned. "You wicked temptress! Playing with fire, darling." As he removed the fork from her mouth, his other hand slid up to cup her breast and pinch her nipple through the thin barrier of silk and lace.

"Tod!" she gasped, the sharp flare shifting to warm honey flowing down her body into her soaked core. He put down the fork and wrapped long fingers around her throat in a hold so carnal, her sex clenched and she couldn't restrain her whimper. Her pulse fluttered under his fingertips with frantic butterfly wings, and her chest rose and fell with each rapid breath.

"You like that, don't you?" he breathed into her ear in a low, rough voice.

"Yes," she moaned. Gods, she had no intention of denying it. This primally sensual man had her closer to orgasm with them fully clothed and sitting beside each other than her ex had after an hour of naked play in the bedroom.

"Would you let me fuck you right here, in front of all these passengers?" Tod growled, temptation in every sinful syllable. His thumb flicked over her peaked nipple again and a tremor quaked her body in a sensuous ripple. The imagery he evoked had her thoughts melting into heat, low and deep. She was a being of want, of animalistic instinct, of desire. A low whine escaped that she attempted to stifle, unable to form words to answer him.