Chapter 12
(Pt 1)
�Are you absolutely sure about this?�
Xandrie tore her gaze away from the snowy-white landscapes of cloud mountains and cloud valleys that floated under the silvery wing of the plane and turned to her companion, her brow raised questioningly.
�What are you talking about?�
�This,� he made a vague gesture encompassing the cabin around him, �coming with me.�
She shook her head in disbelief. He still doubted her. What would it take for her to gain his trust again?
�Christian, darling, we are about 60,000 feet in the air over the Atlantic. Don�t you think that even if I wanted to change my mind, it�s a little late to do anything about it?� she joked, trying to make light of his doubts.
Her attempt at humor was rewarded by a brief and forced half-smile that didn�t reach the solemn blue of his eyes.
�I � I just wanted to be sure that you were doing it for the right reasons,� he protested softly, his voice dropping to a barely audible whisper. �I don�t want you to regret it later.�
Xandrie turned fully in her seat, her hands gently cupping his face, as she carefully brought him down to her eye level.
�Listen to me, Christian. I�m here with you because I want to be. I know you�re probably thinking I�m just happy to find a way out of France. And you�re right. There is nothing left for me in France except the risk of being tracked down by Debray or captured by the police.� The look in her eyes became almost pleading as she continued, begging him to understand. �But I could � I could have gone anywhere � Europe, Africa � you name it. I could�ve disappeared. I DID NOT NEED TO GO TO L'AM�RIQUE . Do you understand that? I�m going there because I want to be with you . Please believe me!�
Instead of a response, Christian reached up, covering her hands with his, as he gently slid them down his cheeks toward his lips. Xandrie�s heart fluttered like a young bird trying to break free of its cage, when she felt his warm breath tickle the inside of her palms, as his lips brushed against them, planting soft kisses along the way.
A hesitant smile found its way to his lips, and, this time, his eyes mirrored it with a gentle glow that lit up his whole face. �I do.�
She smiled back, her eyes caressing the familiar features of his face that still bore the mark of the recent events: the wide cream-color bandage that covered the deep cut above his temple, almost invisible against the pallor of his skin, the drawn cheeks, and the ever-present shroud of pain and exhaustion that hid behind the blue eyes.
�You should get some sleep,� she offered gently. �We still have a long way to go.�
He shook his head, a rueful smile twisting his lips. �I don�t think I could get comfortable enough in this chair.�
In response, Xandrie pushed up the handle that separated their seats and slid sideways in her seat, until she was pressed firmly against the cabin wall.
�How about now?� she inquired, motioning to her lap, and grinned noticing his hesitation. �Come on. The seats are wide enough � you won�t bother anyone. Besides, knowing you, I�m sure you�ve already fantasized about being on top.�
�Not quite like that,� he retorted, giving her a mockingly insulted glare, as he turned his back to her and slowly eased himself down, using her legs as a makeshift pillow.
�That�s better.� She ran her fingers across his brow, smoothing away the deep frown � her only indication of the pain that shifting his position brought him. She let her hand linger against his cheek, as she leaned over him, placing a quick tender kiss on the top of his head.
�Close your eyes,� she whispered softly in his ear, and he complied, his tired body quickly surrendering to the enticing world of the healing slumber.
Her arm draped protectively around his shoulders, Xandrie watched him sleep, while her own mind replayed for her the events of the past two days.