Family Ties

”

“What? You aren’t dating me for my sense of humor?”

“Is it for my dashing good looks and debonair charm?”

“Those don’t hurt, but no.”

“Then maybe it’s my large… hard… extremely thick…”

Her eyes shone more white with every word, until they threatened to pop out.

“Sorry,” I laughed, “I couldn’t resist.”

“Hands? Feet? Neck?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know.”

“Mmm hmm.” I moved close, and she looked up at me with the brightest, most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. Then she teased me with a silent smile, so I arched an eyebrow. “I wanna hear you say it.”

“You like it when I say… penis?”

“It feels good in your mouth, doesn’t it?”

“What? Penis? Like yours?” She grinned coyly. “I wouldn’t know.”

I realized I was about to break my new rule, so I shut up, smiled, and kissed her. “You’ll find out,” I said. “When you’re ready.”

“Mmm hmm. Now,” I said breezily, “I need to finish doing the preflight.”

She squawked but followed as I finished with the empennage and

returned to the passenger door. I lifted her onto the wing and prepared to climb up after her. She turned before I could and cupped my face in her hands.

“Since you asked,” she said, her eyes full of affection, “that’s why I’m dating you. You always find a way to make me smile.” The smile in question turned into a grin. “You also make me feel all tingly inside.”

“Very.” She leaned down and kissed me. “Hmm, that’s kinda fun. I think I like being taller than you.”

“Lots of other possibilities with you up there and me down here.” I darted a glance at her small breasts, which were right at eye level. “But later. Right now we have a plane to catch.”

I opened the Comanche’s door and warned her not to step off the nonskid strip. Then I slid past her and climbed into the left seat. Once she lowered herself into the right seat, I reached over her to latch the door. Then I gave her a quick rundown of what to touch, what not to, and what to do in case of an emergency.

“It’s more complicated than I remember,” she said.

“It isn’t if you know what you’re doing.”

“You make it look so easy.”

“Well, I cheat,” I said. I showed her the laminated checklist card and then offered it to her. “You wanna be my copilot?”

“Okay, you read the first part of each item and make sure I say the second part exactly like it’s printed. Ready?”

“Yes, sir, captain, sir!” She even saluted. Then she read from the card,

“Preflight inspection?”

“Passenger briefing?”

I grinned a question at her.

“Complete,” she said with a nod. “Seats and belts?”

I checked both hers and mine. “Secure.”

I touched the handle. “Set.”

We went through the rest of the checklist until everything was complete.

“Ready?” I said at last. She smiled ear-to-ear and nodded. I scanned the

immediate area and then called, “Clear prop!”

The engine whined, coughed twice, and turned over. It caught and settled into a steady thrum as the plane vibrated with power. We put on our headsets and adjusted the microphone booms.

“Check, check,” I said over the intercom. “Hear me okay?”

“Loud and clear, captain.”

The rest of taxi and takeoff was thoroughly routine as far as I was concerned. But Christy found something new to enjoy at every stage, whether I was talking on the radio or simply setting the throttle and mixture once we reached our requested cruising altitude. At that point I set the autopilot and gave the instruments and airspace another quick scan.

We settled in for the ride and chatted for about thirty minutes, and I told her what it was like to spend summers at camp. I skipped over the sex, but she could tell I was leaving out plenty of details.

“That’s where you met Gina?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said cautiously. I wasn’t sure where she was going, but I didn’t want it to blow up in my face.

“It was cool, but not quite the way you’re thinking. Sure, I was a teenage guy, so I liked the boobs and butts and bushes.” I glanced at her sideways to judge her reaction. She simply nodded. “But being nude all the time kinda takes the naughtiness out of it.”

“Well, not completely,” I admitted. “I mean, the situation is important too.” I looked at her again and wondered how much I wanted to say. “Look at it this way… I can see the shape of your breasts under your sweater. And it’s a little chilly in the cabin, so your nipples—”

Her eyes widened and she immediately pulled her jacket closed.

“—are hard.” I paused and deliberately tugged the jacket from her grip.

Then I spread it open until I could see the points of her nipples again.

She fought an internal battle and then lowered her hands.

“It sure is now,” she muttered under her breath. The intercom picked it up and transmitted faithfully.

“Uh-huh. And getting bigger as we speak.