It was going to be a long flight. From London to New York, right around eight hours. Tessa slid her carryon into the overhead bin and sat in the aisle seat, her laptop bag on her lap. At least the flight was overnight. Perhaps she could sleep, or watch a movie. She watched as people boarded, hoping silently that no one would claim the seat next to her. A quiet woman slid into the window seat, immediately putting headphones on and turning away from Tessa.
A lean man in a blue dress shirt and slim corduroy trousers stopped in Tessa's row, sliding a large wheeled bag into the compartment across the aisle. Tessa's eyes took in his narrow waist and firm ass. His sleeves were rolled halfway up his hairy forearms, and she could see his lithe muscles flexing. It was so effortlessly sexy, Tessa wondered if he had any idea when he got dressed that morning. *Perhaps this flight will be fun after all,* Tessa mused silently. His light brown hair sat in a mop of curls above his head, trimmed yet a bit wild. She hadn't even seen his face yet, but she was intrigued.
"Oh, darling, do you mind if I take the window seat? I'm completely knackered."
Tessa's eyes flitted up the aisle to a petite blonde woman, looking at the lean man with a cute pout on her lips. *Perhaps not.* He stepped out of the way, his ass almost bumping into Tessa as he let his wife through to the window seat with a murmur of acquiescence.
"Terribly sorry," he said, turning to Tessa and smiling politely. A classically handsome man with sharp features, he seemed to be just her type. He glanced down at her, and she suddenly became self-conscious of her low-cut top. His eyes crinkled at the corners and deep dimples appeared as his smile widened. Tessa felt her heart beat a bit faster.
"Oh, no worries," she said, hoping the dim lights of the cabin didn't reveal her blushing. He slid in next to his wife and they made idle chit chat as Tessa waited for the last of the passengers to arrive. Finally the door was shut. The plane wasn't terribly full, and the seat between Tessa and the woman in headphones remained empty. She sighed with relief. She noticed a few other open seats, including the one across the aisle, next to the attractive British couple.
"Charlie," she heard the blonde drone in her slightly nasal London accent, "be a dear and get me a pillow?" Tessa watched from the corner of her eye as the curly-haired man started looking for a pillow in the seat back pouches.
He leaned over the empty seat and addressed Tessa. "Excuse me, would you mind, erm," he said, pointing at the pillow sticking out of the middle seat pocket on Tessa's side.
"Oh, sure. No problem." Tessa grabbed the pillow and leaned across the aisle, handing it to Charlie. As she did, her top pulled down a bit, revealing a sliver of black satin from her bra. He smiled again, making it obvious he noticed. She tugged her shirt back up and sat back in her seat.
"Cheers," he said, lifting the pillow briefly before handing it to his wife. Luckily, she was busy looking out of the window. She tucked the pillow behind her head and closed her eyes.
The plane lifted off and Tessa read her book for the first hour or so of the flight. The woman with the headphones and Charlie's wife seemed to be dozing quietly. Tessa stretched and shifted in her seat, stifling a yawn.
"Must be a boring book," came a soft male voice across the aisle. Tessa glanced over. Charlie had moved to the aisle seat and was smiling at her.
"Hmm?"
"You're yawning. That doesn't speak much for the author," Charlie said lightly. "I know I wouldn't want to make women yawn with my prose."
"Oh," Tessa laughed. "It's actually not a bad book. Just been a long week."
"Heading home, then?" he asked, his accent almost musical to Tessa's ear.
"Yes," she replied. "Just have to catch my connecting flight to Chicago. What brings you to New York?"
"Never been. Figured it was a good time for a holiday. Hopefully not too busy."
"It's a gorgeous time to be there. Not too hot but still sunny. The leaves in Central Park should be just starting to change. It's my favorite time of year."
"Oh that's good to hear." There was a brief pause in their conversation, and Charlie leaned closer.
