Nemesis, I'm not yours | COMPLETED.

Chapter Twenty Three

Xavier

As we sit in my private plane, I notice Isla tense up, her knuckles white as she grips the armrests.

"What's wrong, love?" I ask, my voice gentle.

She shakes her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing."

"Your actions don't say it is nothing. Tell me. I'm all ears."

She hesitates, biting her lip. "Promise me you won't laugh."

"I promise," I say, giving her my full attention.

"I'm afraid of planes," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

I bite my lip, trying to suppress a laugh, but it escapes before I can stop it. "Hey, you promised," she snaps, crossing her arms and looking away.

"Sorry, please forgive me, love," I say, reaching out to her, but she unbuckles her seatbelt and moves to another seat further down the cabin.

Just as I'm about to follow her, the pilot announces that the flight is about to take off, and I lose my chance. I sit back, frustration and regret gnawing at me. As the plane ascends, I keep glancing over at her, wishing I could ease her fear.

Once we're at cruising altitude, I unbuckle my seatbelt and make my way to her. She's staring out the window, lost in thought.

"Isla," I say softly, kneeling beside her seat. She turns to look at me, her expression a mix of annoyance and vulnerability. "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have laughed. I didn't realize how serious it was for you."

She sighs, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I just... I've always been scared of flying. It's irrational, but I can't help it."

I take her hand in mine, squeezing it gently. "I understand. And I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

She looks at me, her eyes softening. "Thanks, Xavy. It's just hard to admit fears sometimes."

"I know," I say, bringing her hand to my lips and kissing it softly. "But we all have them. And it's okay to lean on someone else when you're scared."

She smiles, a small, grateful smile. "You're right. I guess I just needed to hear that."

"Anytime, love," I say, standing up and pulling her into a hug. She wraps her arms around me, resting her head on my chest.

"Promise you won't laugh at me again?" she murmurs.

"I promise," I say, holding her close. "I'll be your rock, no matter what."

We stay like that for a while, just holding each other, finding comfort in our closeness. Eventually, she pulls back and looks up at me.

"Can we sit together for the rest of the flight?" she asks.

"Of course," I say, guiding her back to our seats. As we buckle in, I keep hold of her hand, offering silent reassurance.

She leans her head on my shoulder, her tension slowly melting away. "Thank you, Xavy. For everything."

"Always, Isla," I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Always."

I'm falling for her. Fast and Hard that I can't save myself from her.