Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 41

Nik's POV:

Settling into the plush leather seat, I couldn't help but grin at the expression on Victoria's face. She looked completely out of her element, her wide eyes darting around the first-class cabin as if she'd accidentally stumbled into a luxury hotel instead of an airplane. The soft lighting, the spacious seats, the attentive flight attendants—it was all a bit much for someone like her, who probably hadn't ever experienced anything like this.

Watching her was a private entertainment of sorts. She looked like she was trying to figure out if she was dreaming or if this was actually happening. Her confusion was palpable, and I found myself enjoying it more than I should. I liked seeing her in situations where she wasn't in control—where she had to rely on me to guide her through. She was so cute.

She settled into the seat beside me, still looking around with that wide-eyed expression, and I bit back a chuckle. She was cute when she was flustered. More than cute, really. She was... enchanting.

"Relax, Victoria," I said, leaning over slightly so our shoulders brushed. "You're not in the Twilight Zone. It's just first class."

"Just first class?" she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief. "You make it sound so normal."

"Because it is," I replied, keeping my tone light. "You'll get used to it."

She shot me a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. I could tell she was still too overwhelmed to muster up her usual sarcasm. Instead, she settled back into her seat, fidgeting with the armrest as if she wasn't sure how to position herself in such a spacious chair.

The flight would take about seven hours, but I wasn't too worried about the time. If anything, I was looking forward to it. Seven uninterrupted hours with Victoria beside me? I couldn't ask for anything better.

As the plane began to taxi down the runway, I felt her tense beside me, her fingers gripping the armrest until her knuckles turned white. Without thinking, I reached over and covered her hand with mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's just a takeoff, Victoria. You've done this before, right?"

She nodded, but her grip on the armrest didn't loosen. I found myself wanting to reassure her, to make her feel safe. The urge surprised me, but I didn't fight it.

Once we were in the air, she finally seemed to relax a little. The seat reclined back, and she sighed in relief, sinking into the comfort of it. Her eyes fluttered shut, and before I knew it, she was fast asleep, her head lolling slightly to the side. She probably had such a long day again, only for me to stress her out even more with my constant prodding.

I turned to look at her, unable to tear my eyes away. She looked beautiful, her features soft in sleep. It was a stark contrast to the usual sharp, guarded expression she wore when she was awake. It was like seeing a different side of her, one that I realized I wanted to see more of.

The thought caught me off guard. I wasn't used to thinking about anyone like this—let alone someone like Victoria. But here I was, sitting beside her on a plane to Oregon, feeling... content. Hell, I was feeling more than content. I was happy. Genuinely happy.

For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to have her beside me like this all the time. The idea wasn't as far-fetched as I'd expected it to be. In fact, it felt... right. Like she belonged here, with me.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. I looked up to see a middle-aged flight attendant standing beside me, a kind smile on her face. She glanced at Victoria, then back at me, her smile widening.

"Would you like me to bring your wife some noise-canceling headphones and a sleeping mask?" she asked, her tone warm and professional.

My wife. The words echoed in my mind, and to my surprise, I found that I liked the sound of them. I liked them a lot. I almost didn't want to correct her, but I knew Victoria would have a fit if she overheard.