Internal flights are the best, check in quick, not too long on the aircraft, often not full, a great way to travel. Laura had checked out her fellow passengers at the bag drop. There was the usual mixture of families, single people and business travellers, everyone on their own journey with their own story to tell.
She'd noticed the grey hair, broad shoulders and nicely cut dark blue suit, but hadn't seen the man's face and wondered to herself if he looked as good from the front as he did from the back. There was something in the way he walked, it had an easy grace that made her think he must have been an athlete. Seeing the man made her smile, it reminded her of an old friend.
Yet by the time she was taking her seat a while later Laura had forgotten about him. The excitement of seeing her daughter and planning the wedding was too exciting to worry about strange men. That is until she took her seat and there he was sitting in the aisle seat of her row. He looked up as she looked down and their eyes met.
"I'm sorry are you sitting here?" he said, looking up at her. He had a pleasant voice and a nice smile, his eyes creasing as he smiled up at Laura. She took in his handsome face flecked with grey stubble. He was handsome alright and for reasons she didn't quite understand she blushed.
"Yes" she whispered, for some reason her voice not quite itself, "I'm in the window."
He stood and as he did so their thighs brushed against each other. Laura felt the electricity and swallowed hard as he offered to put her bag in the overhead locker.
"Thank you that's very kind." She smiled at him as their hands touched when she handed over the bag, then watched as he reached up above her. He was graceful with what looked like a good body under his suit. To herself she hoped there was no one sitting between them, it would be a nice way to while away an hour enjoying his masculinity and maybe having some little fantasies.
As he sat again in the aisle seat this time she tapped his arm, he looked at her and smiled again.
"Thank you" she repeated, her voice coming back to her "I'm Laura."
He held out his hand across the empty seat and she took it, feeling its warmth as they shook. He didn't give his name but smiled,
"Hi Laura, it's a pleasure to meet you." His voice was like chocolate.
She realised she was holding onto his warm hand for slightly too long as their eyes met again. He laughed, which made her stomach flip.
"Do you mind if I have it back, Laura?" he grinned obviously enjoying the moment.
She blushed again, dropping his hand and busied herself with getting comfortable. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on the day ahead, meeting her daughter, seeing some venues, having a giggle. But the warmth in her groin and the presence beside her was distracting. She opened her eyes and stole a glance along the row. He was looking at her, amusement on his face.
"Are you OK? You were breathing heavily. If you're a nervous flyer you can hold my hand if you'd like."