Wes hurried into the airport late for his flight to Las Vegas. He rushed thru the baggage check in counter and made it thru security quickly to his departing gate, just in time to board the plane. He had requested a seat near the back, close to the engines because he loved the roar of power they possessed and could sleep to the humming of the turbines. Red-eye fights were easiest to catch and never had many passengers on them, he could usually get a seat with a full row to himself. Walking to the back of the plane, he looked at his seat number, then peered at a sleepy-eyed gorgeous female in the seat next to his. Across from her was an empty row. "Hum, spozed to sit there" pointing to the empty seat, "but recon Ill stretch out over here" as he placed his briefcase in the seat. He lifted the carry-on luggage door, pulled out the pillow and blanket and carefully placed his briefcase and cowboy hat inside. Turning back to the female, he caught her eyes locked on him. "What, you afraid of my bite?" she said in a voice that sounded as if she were insulted. Her hair glistened in the low cabin light, her rosy wet lips pouted a sexy smile, and her eyes sparkled like the stars outside her window. "Hummph!" she huffed as she fluffed her pillow against the wall of the plane, folded her arms, laid her head into the pillow and looked away out the cabin window. A puzzled look overtook Wess face, looked the plane over, then without thinking plunked down into the seat next to her. If you gonna sit there cowboy, keep your hands to ya-self and dont talk, my bite is worse than my bark! she snarled at him without ever moving her head from the pillow. A low giggle escaped Wes. She made him laugh with her brazen attitude. Little fireball she is he thought to himself. The engines begin to whine as the pilot put the plane into motion. The flight attendant went thru the pre-flight instructions to the few passengers on board. There were at least 10 rows of empty seats in front of them. Wes fanned his blanket over his knees, fluffed his pillow in his lap and glanced at the feisty women next to him. Wess the name mamn, he nervously stated.

Shelia was her only response as she closed her eyes and pretended to ignore him. Was not working though. His cologne tickled her nostrils, his stout muscular frame towered above hers and his little scared boyish grin entertained her. She enjoyed making strong men quiver and she had him shaking in his boots. His appearance was rakish, ruff, like he was from another time, another century past. He was mysterious, dark skinned and smelled good. Daring to attempt a conversation with her again, he asked Business trip or pleasure? Lifting a brow at him she snapped back Dont listen very well do you cowboy? Wes decided to shut up and not pursue striking up a chat with her. He continued to look at her though, admiring the curvature of her body underneath the blanket. Her sweet perfume teased him, inviting his mind to fantasize about the hidden hellcat beneath that cheap blanket.

Suddenly she lifted an eyelid and caught him staring at her. She blushed at seeing him looking at her. A little tingle shot thru her body, catching him undressing her with his eyes.

Quickly he looked away, only to turn back to her as she said pleasure, and you? The tone of her voice a little less curse than before.

Wes felt the ice break and jumped at the opportunity to engage her in a get-to-know chat. "Pleasure too" his southern drawl almost a whisper.

The pilot pointed the airliner down the runway and sent the big tribunes winding up full thrust. Wes felt his body sink into the chair back.

He loved the feeling of the gs an airliner could generate on take-off.

He looked over at Shelia watching out the window. Dont you just love a red-eye flight on a clear night? she asked. Wes leaned over to peer out the window, his face almost brushing her shoulder Yes, but there is not a star in that sky with the same twinkle I see in your eyes, leaning back into his own seat. Oh my God Shelia thought to herself. Where the hell did that come from? Her face lit up with a blush. She was glad the cabin lights go off on takeoff. She couldnt dare the thought of him seeing her blush at his striking words. Soon the plane leveled off and the pilot announced to the passengers to relax, and enjoy the flight. The Fasten Seat Belts sign dinged and the light flickered off. The flight attendant strolled down the isle with the refreshment cart and stopped in front of Wes and Shelia.

Refreshments? she asked. Yes mamn please Wes answered and gave his order to the stewardess. Looking at Shelia, And what would be your pleasure little lady? Shelia requested her poison too.

Wes brushed away Shelias attempt to pay for her drink, insisting he take care of it. So how does a cowboy like you afford to buy women drinks he meets on airliners? she inquired. Ah, may not look the part, but I am an ole riverboat gambler he answered.

There is a big poker tournament this week in Vegas, and I got an invitation he bragged.

A shocked look filled Shelias face. He didnt look like a gambler, that face of his was giving away all his thoughts.

She had a hard time looking at him without blushing, seeing how he was looking at her. She could see right thru that poker face, no bluff there, he wanted her. A thought pierced her body.

Damn! He could see her bluff too! She sipped her drink and fumbled with magazine she had plucked from the seat back in front of her. Fidgeting in her seat, she could feel a little wetness between her thighs. Dammit, he was someone she just met! She shouldnt feel this way about a stranger. The stewardess returned for another round. Wes treated Shelia to another icebreaker.

Giggling she accepted his offer.

So, you got ideas of getting me all liquored up and tempting me to bite ya? she asked boldly. Wes shot back, Damn glad you dont play poker, you would have my shirt by now. A vision of him bare-chested jumped into her head. She shook it out and glared at him with raised eyebrows, Who said I wasnt a player? The words shot thru Wess body. Not a chance he thought! If this woman were sitting across the poker table from him, his only choice would be to fold every hand. His eyes caught hers and read her face like a book.

She was doing the same to him, just like the time Lefty Bill did when he cleaned him out in Reno two years back.

Temptation overtook his fear of rejection he leaned into her face, locking his eyes on her lips.

She stood her ground, fighting the urge to meet his lips halfway. She closed her eyes, parted her lips and felt his tender lips on hers. She melted the second their lips touched.

Moonbeams thru the cabin window bounced off her hair in the low light. She was a dangerous forbidden attraction.

Her heartbeat quicken as he brushed his tongue over her lips. She felt his hand on her cheek, sliding down the side of her head, positioning her face with his, gliding over her ear to the back of her neck. His fingers threaded thru her hair and made little circles against the back of her skull. Her head bobbed back and forth, her mouth repeatedly taking small bites of his fleshy lips. Suddenly the cabin ding sounded and the seat belt sign flashed.

The captains voice pierced the silence. We will be landing in Las Vegas in 15 minutes. We hope you enjoyed your flight and please fly our airline again. Wes backed away from Shelia, stroked her hair and slipped his hand away. She stayed stoic, unaffected by the pilots warning, remaining perfectly still, staring at this man that dared to tempt her with a kiss. She grabbed a fist full of his shirt, yanked him back to her and kissed him again with fire-like passion. She grabbed his face with her hands and held him while she probed his mouth with her tongue. He was locked in a hot kiss, savoring the taste of her flavored lipstick when he heard a voice behind him clear a throat. Uh uhummmmmm! a female voice interrupted the two. Shelia froze when she looked up and saw the stewardess standing there. She backed away and sat upright in the seat.

Wes followed her lead and sat up too. The flight hostess walked back up the isle without another word. Wes stretched his body in the seat, making a futile attempt to position the bulge under his zipper so as not to be so obvious when he stood up. He snapped the buckle to the seat belt.

Shelia did likewise. The plane descended onto the tar mat, the engines reversed slowing the plane and soon exited the runway towards the gate.

For a fleeting moment Wes and Shelia looked at each other and smiled. The captains voice paged a welcome to Las Vegas to all the passengers and wished them a happy stay. As soon as the pilot shut down the turbines at the gate, seat belts could be heard clinging, people yawning and waking, the cabin a stir with people standing in the isle. The few passengers in front of them scurried to collect their carry on baggage. Wes unsnapped his seatbelt, pulled the blanket from Shelias lap, wadded it with his and the pillows and stuffed them into the overhead compartment.

As he pulled down her baggage, he flipped over the identification tag.

A shock wave hit him like a bolt of lighting when he recognized the last name. He looked down at her in total amazement. She looked up at him, stood, took her bag from him and laughed. She brushed past him down the isle, turned and winked at him and said See ya at the tourney cowboy. .....

will be continued