The Contract With Her Father's Billionaire Rival-Chapter 58. Eternal Paradise.

Don’t panic.

Don’t panic.

But Nicolette did.

She couldn’t explain the sudden jitteriness in her stomach, the tightness that made her uneasy in the car seated beside Alaric.

She couldn’t tell if it was because she was going to be on a plane again after such a long time.

She hated traveling by air, but it was too late to turn back now, too late to change her mind.

She couldn’t tell if it was the trip itself. The idea of spending alone time with Alaric.

Just the two of them.

And she couldn’t tell if it was now. This moment. This awkward moment with the air thick with tension.

She had touched him first. And he had done the same.

It was supposed to be a harmless touch. Just a squeeze—but why did her heart race like that?

And that incident at the front door?

God, she wanted to disappear into the ground.

She had run. Instead of facing her emotions, she ran.

One thing was certain about this journey: it was going to be hard for her to survive it.

"What’s wrong?" Alaric asked, his voice thick with concern.

She turned to him. "What?"

"You sighed. Are you good?"

She hadn’t even realized she had done that.

Before the moment could turn into something sentimental where she would embarrass herself again, she quickly said, "Yes I’m good."

She didn’t look at him, but she could tell his eyes were on her.

Her breath hitched under his gaze, but she tried to control herself and not show too much of her nervousness.

"We are here," Trainer announced as the car came to a halt.

Nicolette sighed with relief as the tension in the car eased out a bit.

"Are you ready?" Alaric asked.

"Yes," she said, nodding.

They got down from the car together and walked into the airport. While Alaric took care of their luggage, she looked around, her nerves rising.

The last time she traveled was when she went to her grandmother’s funeral.

Thinking about being 50,000 feet in the air didn’t sit well with her.

But she was ready to face her fear, hopefully, she would survive it.

Alaric gestured for her to follow him. Three other bodyguards joined them and flanked around them as they left.

Nicolette’s stomach knotted when she saw the plane.

A.E Allens.

He had a private jet?!

"Come," Alaric said as he extended his hand, his voice filled with pride.

For a moment, all the anxiety in her body vanished and was replaced with astonishment. She knew he was rich, she just didn’t know he was this rich.

The interior of the plane was red leather, and she couldn’t stop her mouth from falling open.

"Welcome aboard to one of my babies," Alaric said, a twinkle of delight in his eyes. "Sit down. Do you want anything?"

She shook her head, still trying to recover from her shock.

One of his babies?

How many of these did he have?

"Get comfortable. Winters Island is a six-hour flight," he explained.

Nicolette finally closed her mouth and then settled in the chair on the left. Just as the shock left her body, the anxiety returned.

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Alaric asked, moving quickly to her.

She swallowed, trying not to think about it.

The plane hadn’t even taken off, and she was already like this.

"I... don’t like flying."

Alaric’s forehead creased, but his voice was gentle. "Why didn’t you say?"

"I... nothing," she admitted.

"You want me to sit with you?"

She nodded, and he sat.

They shared a small chair. Their bodies pressed next to each other. Their hands locked. Each of them aware of the fire sparking between them.

The captain made an announcement and Nicolette stiffened.

"Easy now. I’m here," Alaric said, tightening his hand around hers.

The tension in her chest heightened, and she squirmed in the chair, squirmed next to Alaric.

The plane took off, and so did the knot in her stomach. She nestled into Alaric and lifted her thigh to his to create more room.

She buried her head in his neck, and he moaned.

Or had she imagined it?

Alaric wrapped her in a protective cuddle until the plane stopped shaking.

Finally, everything was still. But she was still on edge.

Nicolette stiffened when she realized the position she was in.

Her arms were around Alaric’s neck.

Her thigh on his.

Her mouth at his neck.

His jaw resting on her forehead.

His hands on her thigh.

She tried to straighten up, but Alaric stopped her.

"Don’t." His voice was thick with desire, and it sent a cold chill down her spine.

Her knee brushed the bulge in his trousers, and her heart flipped.

He rubbed his hand up and down her thigh, and she gasped.

He didn’t say anything. Didn’t even act like he heard her.

Embarrassed, she bit her lip and eventually straightened up.

"You’re good?" he asked, his hand still on her thigh. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She nodded, trying to create space between them, but there was none.

Alaric’s hand went up her thigh, and she sucked on her lips to stop her moans from escaping.

Fire burned inside her.

And she just wanted him to move his hand a little higher, to press the center that was already slick with moisture.

"Fuck, Nicolette. If you weren’t so afraid of flying, I would have pinned you to this chair and taken you to heaven."

His voice made her knees buckle, but before she could expect anymore, Alaric crossed over to the chair he had been seated in before.

He gave her a long look, filled with want and desire, and it soaked her panties instantly.

He wasn’t even hiding anything, and she didn’t know if she should be elated or terrified by his boldness.

He cleared his throat and pulled out his laptop. "I want to get some work done. You should watch a movie to pass the time."

She swallowed and nodded. She exhaled, calming her raging hormones.

While Alaric went to work, she unlocked the seatback screen and sorted through movies.

Thirty minutes in, and with no movie catching her eye, Nicolette drifted off to sleep.

"Hey."

She was jolted awake by Alaric’s voice. She stretched and yawned.

"We’re here," Alaric said with a warm smile, extending his hand.

She took it and stood, grateful she didn’t have to face turbulence a second time.

She stretched again as she stepped off the plane.

Winters Island.

It was warm here. The sun was bright, the air was fresh, and she could tell she was going to enjoy the scenery.

She got into the waiting car with Alaric, and they were driven to the hotel.

"How are you feeling?" Alaric asked.

"Good. Tired," Nicolette replied with a yawn.

"Once we get to the hotel, you should rest. We’ll start everything tomorrow."

She nodded and sank into the car seat.

The rest of the ride was silent until they arrived at the hotel.

Eternal Paradise.

The hotel was beautiful, huge. When they got to the reception area, some staff welcomed them, but Nicolette was too tired to participate in the conversation.

"Follow him to the room," Alaric said, pointing to the bellboy.

Nicolette followed the bellboy into the elevator and then to the penthouse. He unlocked the door with a keycard and left.

Nicolette sighed as she stepped inside. Music was playing softly in the room. The lights were dim, and a table of food and champagne was waiting in the center of the room.

There was a king-size bed decorated with a golden quill.

Just perfect.

She walked over, picked up the bottle of champagne, popped it open, and poured herself a glass.

She savored the taste of the drink as she walked to the window. The view was magnificent. There was a big empty pool sitting below, surrounded by a fence.

Beyond the fence was a beach, bustling with people.

Nicolette sipped her drink, her body yearning for a bath. She set the glass down on the table and found the bathroom.

She would check out the rest of the suite after a good soak.

She stripped off her jeans and Chanel top and stepped into the bath.

The water was cool, and it instantly eased her nerves. She stood under the tap, letting it calm her completely.

Slowly, she gave in to the sensation, until she heard the door open.

She turned, covering her body with her small hands. "Who’s there?"

The bathroom door opened, and she gasped.

It was Alaric, and his eyes were burning with unconcealed desire.

"What... how did you get into my room?" she asked, her voice trembling.

His brow lifted. "Your room?"

Realization hit her, and her cheeks flamed.

"I thought we..."

"It’s our honeymoon, sweetheart. We’re supposed to stay together."

Before she could say another word, Alaric stepped into the bath—fully clothed.

"Alaric!"

"Easy now," he teased, his eyes shining with mischief. "I just want to get you clean."

He came closer, his shirt soaked as he pressed himself against her.

Nicolette gasped. It wasn’t just because she could feel his arousal against her.

It was because she wanted this too.

It was because her nipples were already so hard.