His Demure Mate

Chapter 6: Guest of Honor

Waking up slowly, I’m startled to find myself wrapped in Kody’s strong embrace. His arms are firm yet gentle, holding me as if I might slip away. His soft, even breathing brushes against my skin, and for a fleeting moment, I feel safe.

Safe.

Why does this feel normal?

I should be terrified—a beautiful, muscular man is lying beside me, so close that I can feel his warmth. His medium-length black hair is a disheveled mess, and his usually sharp hazel-green eyes are peacefully shut in sleep. But instead of fear, I feel… content.

Comforted.

Despite everything that’s happened—my life unraveling, the constant, gnawing fear of what Brandon might do if he ever finds me again—I feel a strange calm in Kody’s presence.

But I can’t let that feeling fool me.

I need to take back control of my life.

A new job. A new home. A new country. Each step more terrifying than the last. Yet, if I’m being honest, there are… perks. My new boss is dangerously attractive and, for some reason, sought me out personally. That has to mean he sees something in me. He must have high expectations. I can’t afford to disappoint him.

Even with the uncertainty of this new home, Kody has been kind—thoughtful in ways I didn’t expect. Maybe I should support him more, try to understand how he operates. But every time I think that, I remember how effortlessly he accepts me. No judgment. No pressure.

Who else would give me that kind of space?

In my last job as a waiter, I knew everything there was to know. It was second nature to cater to people’s needs, to anticipate what they wanted. But Brandon—

The thought of him slams into me like ice water.

I remember how he wanted to control me, twist me into something I wasn’t. The way his hands would tighten, the way his voice could cut deeper than any knife.

Panic rises in my chest.

I bolt upright, heart pounding, breath shallow.

The fear of being trapped, of being forced to surrender my body and my will, wraps around me like a noose. My entire body tenses, bracing for a threat that isn’t there.

But then—

Warmth.

A steady, grounding warmth.

Arms slip around me, pulling me into a firm, reassuring hug.

I turn, my breath catching in my throat.

Kody.

He’s awake now, holding me without hesitation. His bare chest presses against me, and I suddenly realize he’s shirtless—only in briefs. The heat rises to my cheeks, spreading like wildfire.

He’s practically naked.

And I can feel everything.

“Are you alright?” His voice is low, groggy, laced with concern.

How does he know something’s wrong when I haven’t said a word?

I open my mouth to speak, but the words die on my tongue. His eyes—those hazel-green eyes—are locked onto mine.

There’s something there.

Worry.

Fear.

But also… something else.

A need to protect me.

For a moment, I almost let myself lean in, almost let myself fall into him completely.

Then the sharp crackle of the captain’s voice breaks through the intercom, shattering the fragile moment.

“Good morning, this is your captain speaking. We are preparing for landing at our destination. The weather is warm this morning, and we have confirmation of our expected arrival.”

I heard every word, but it all felt distant—muted, like background noise.

My entire focus was on Kody.

My boss.

The man who could read me without me saying a single word.

Kody’s arms shifted, his hand lifting gently to my cheek, guiding me to meet his eyes. His touch was steady but careful, as if afraid I might shatter.

“You shot up from the bed, hyperventilating like you were on the verge of a panic attack.” His voice was low, firm, yet soft around the edges. “I’m concerned about your health, Mishele. Don’t lie to me. That’s the one thing I won’t tolerate.”

His eyes held me there—locked in place, giving me nowhere to hide.

I swallowed hard, a lump thick in my throat. I tried to speak, but my voice cracked embarrassingly, like I was going through puberty all over again.

“I-I’m scared…” My voice was barely above a whisper. “Scared of not being good enough. I don’t want to mess this up. You’re putting so much faith in me, and I don’t want to disappoint you.”

The weight of my admission hung in the air, thick and heavy.

His hand slid from my cheek to my waist, fingers curling just slightly against my hip. The gesture wasn’t overt, but there was something unmistakably possessive in his touch. A silent message passed between us, one I couldn’t quite decipher but felt deep in my core.

Then the jet tilted slightly, the force nudging us forward as the plane began its descent.

Before I could process it, my back hit the mattress with a soft thud, and Kody stumbled, landing against my chest.

His weight pressed into me, solid and warm, grounding me in a way that made my heart race.

It felt right.

Too right.

But it was wrong.

He’s my boss.

And I’m his employee.

So why did it feel like there was more between us than that?

Before I could process how close Kody and I were, the cabin door behind us creaked open.

Hunter stood there.

His eyes briefly widened, but unlike me, he didn’t react.

Panic shot through me.

I scrambled away from Kody, practically throwing myself off the bed as I bolted for the bathroom. My heart pounded in my ears, and the door clicked shut behind me.

Moments later, I heard the soft thud of the cabin door closing again—Hunter must’ve quietly left.

Leaning against the bathroom counter, I tried to catch my breath. My pulse was racing for so many reasons.

That’s when I noticed what I was wearing.

Not my clothes.

A silk nightgown.

Soft, pale fabric draped over my skin, delicate and unfamiliar. My eyes locked on the embroidered initials near the hem: MG.

My body stiffened.

Did Kody… or Hunter… do this?

My stomach twisted at the thought.

A sudden knock at the bathroom door startled me.

Slowly, cautiously, I cracked it open.

A young flight attendant stood there, smiling kindly. Her uniform was crisp, and her presence was strangely soothing.

“Is everything alright, Miss?” Her voice was soft but professional. “I was instructed to bring these to you. If you need anything, I’m at your disposal.”

I barely registered her words before blurting out, “Did you change me into this nightgown?”

Her smile widened, and she nodded politely.

Relief washed over me so fast it nearly knocked me off balance.

My face burned with embarrassment.

Of course. It wasn’t Kody or Hunter.

Goodness gracious, Mishele, get a grip.

I murmured a quiet thank you, avoiding her gaze, and took the clothing she offered.

It was a stunning outfit—far from anything I owned.

A light blue button-up shirt, crisp and tailored, paired with a deep blue blazer and a matching pencil skirt. A slim tie in the same hue rested on top, the initials MG embroidered in the center in fine stitching.

The fabric was expensive. This wasn’t off-the-rack.

Nestled in the plastic bag were dark blue leggings, perfectly matching the suit. And at the very bottom, neatly folded, were my own undergarments.

I swallowed hard, feeling both grateful and embarrassed.

They really thought of everything.

After taking a long, warm shower to settle my nerves, I dried off and slipped into the new suit.

It hugged my figure perfectly—powerful but elegant.

But my hair…

I stared at my reflection.

A mess.

I could pull off a sleek, low French twist, but without a comb or hair tie, it felt impossible.

Frustration bubbled up as I started rummaging through the bathroom drawers, desperately searching for something—anything—to help me tame it.

After rummaging through the bathroom compartments for what felt like forever, my fingers finally brushed against something small and solid.

A comb.

And tucked beside it, a single black hair tie.

This will have to do.

I carefully ran the comb through my tangled hair, pulling it back into a low, neat French twist. It wasn’t perfect, but it made me feel a little more put together.

Yet, as I stared at my reflection, doubt crept in.

No makeup to cover the dark circles beneath my eyes, no color to brighten my pale complexion. My tired face stared back at me, making me feel older than I was—like an exhausted woman nervously preparing for a job interview she wasn’t sure she deserved.

The image of the young, radiant flight attendant flashed in my mind.

Her flawless skin, fresh energy…

God, I thought, she probably thinks I’m some washed-up woman clinging to whatever dignity I have left.

I hesitated, hand hovering over the door handle, unsure if I could face anyone looking like this.

Maybe I should stay in here a little longer—

Knock, knock.

The sudden sound made me jump.

Without thinking, I swung the door open.

Kody stood there.

Sharp. Composed. Effortlessly powerful in a tailored suit that fit him too well to be accidental. His dark hair was slicked back, not a strand out of place, and those piercing hazel-green eyes locked onto mine instantly.

I froze.

For a heartbeat too long, neither of us spoke.

His eyes scanned me slowly—not in a way that felt inappropriate, but deliberate. Measuring.

“You clean up well,” he said smoothly, his tone calm but laced with something deeper.

Approval?

Amusement?

I couldn’t tell.

Heat rushed to my face, and I immediately glanced away, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles in my skirt.

“T-Thank you,” I stammered, cursing myself for sounding so unsure.

His lips twitched, just barely. “Come on. We’re landing soon, and as the guest of honor’s arrive, I’ll need you to learn some things beforehand.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and started down the narrow hallway, expecting me to follow.

And despite the swirling thoughts in my head, I did.

As I followed Kody back to the seating area, my eyes immediately landed on Hunter, already settled in one of the seats he occupied yesterday.

He was dressed in an outfit nearly identical to mine—a tailored blue suit, crisp shirt, and matching tie.

And he looked good.

Too good.

Both Kody and Hunter exuded effortless confidence, their sharp looks paired with intelligence and an undeniable air of control.

It felt almost surreal that these two men—so attractive, so composed—were also single.

Or… were they?

Before I could slip into the seat beside Hunter, the soft hiss of the jet’s door opening caught my attention.

A woman stepped in.

She was striking.

Voluptuous, standing around 5’4”, with vibrant red hair styled to perfection. Her figure filled out the same tailored uniform Hunter and I wore, making it look both professional and impossibly flattering.

But it wasn’t her appearance that threw me off.

It was how Hunter reacted.

The second he saw her, Hunter shot to his feet.

Not with the polite nod or handshake you’d expect between colleagues.

No.

He moved with purpose.

His expression softened, his usual cool confidence flickering into something warmer—something more personal.

The way they greeted each other wasn’t professional at all.

Too familiar. Too comfortable.

A silent question lodged itself in my mind, refusing to leave.

Were they… a couple?

I couldn’t tear my eyes away, curiosity tightening in my chest.

But I quickly looked down, pretending to adjust my sleeves, hoping no one noticed the sudden knot forming in my stomach.

A/N: please read my other books and give me your positive honest feedback thank you.