Book 2, Chapter 31: If you like it...

**Madison**

“Good morning, Zemra Ime…” a sexy, husky morning voice whispered in my ear, followed by sweet kisses all over my face and neck.

“No,” I groaned, attempting to snuggle into the pillow. I heard him sigh before I felt him on top of me. His weight was almost crushing as he straddled my waist and sat his fat, apple-shaped, perfect ass on mine and bounced up and down like a child. “Wake up, wake up, wake up!” he sang.

“Ugh! Get off of me, you lumberjack! What the hell have you been eating? Elephants?” I mumbled out, not looking forward to rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“Nah, I’m on a special cream diet. It’s so sweet and luscious. I just can't get enough.” He teased, licking his lips dramatically for good measure.

“Perv,” I muttered.

“I’m your perv. You love it, and you love me!” he sang as he finally got off of me.

“No, I changed my mind. I love to sleep more! Show yourself out. I need my beauty sleep,” I said, pulling the covers back over my head and snuggling into my pillow.

“Oh, no, you don’t! We have a big day, butterfly. Now get that sweet ass up and get ready!” Damien demanded as he so rudely pulled my covers off of me like an animal and then landed a sharp sting on my naked backside. “OW!” I shot daggers at him while I rubbed my stinging cheek.

“Go shower, baby. As much as I love smelling my cum all over you, I don’t like anyone else smelling it. You have forty-five minutes. Wear something comfortable, something you can move around in. And make sure you wear either your Converse or some tennis shoes. We have an appointment to make!” Damien exclaimed as he left the room. I huffed as I rolled out of the bed.
In forty minutes, I was washed, dressed, and downstairs nursing the sweet nectar of gods - a little coffee with my cream and sugar. Damien walked into the dining room, smiling softly upon seeing me.

“She’s alive! Raise the flags. The great Madison is alive and not murdering anyone.” Damien exclaimed dramatically.

“Yet,” I mumbled.

“You ready, butterfly?” he asked me. I nodded before I chugged the rest of my coffee. I stood up and walked to his outstretched hands. His face turned into a pout.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him concerned.

“You’re not limping…” he said dejectedly.

“Seriously?” I can’t believe I am entertaining this right now.

“Yeah. I love it when I see you limp. It’s the physical reminder that I know how to make your body sing for me,” he whispered.

“You need professional help. Maybe you can join the local Sex Addicts Anonymous? Look it up. Become the President, donate condoms to the local schools,” I muttered as I walked toward the front door. He chuckled behind me.

I was aching terribly down there, but I couldn’t satisfy him. When he helped me in the door, he commented on my pink sparkling Converse shoes. I’m glad I wore them. They are so cute and super comfortable, too.

“Where are we going today?” I asked as he hopped into the front seat of his fire-engine red Lamborghini.

“You’ll see. But I will tell you that the view will be incredible.”

And an incredible view it was going to be. After an hour-long drive into the suburban valley, we came to a small village surrounded by mountains. But what I was not expecting was to pull up to a large open field where a hot air balloon was waiting for us.

We got out of the car and approached the crew. After introductions, one of the crew members stood by us and explained what each crew member was doing and the steps to inflate the balloon, which is technically called the envelope. The pilot was an older gentleman with salt and pepper hair. His wrinkles showed his time on this Earth.

The pilot starts the set-up with the basket, known as a gondola. He checks the propane tanks and ensures the burner is connected correctly to the top of the basket, called the uprights. He hooks up all the aviation instruments needed before the basket is laid on its side. Hot Air Balloon pilots must undertake many exams and training similar to other pilots and hold a special flying license. It was reassuring that we will be in good hands.

Damien told me there would only be three of us in the sky today. The crew and our protection detail will follow us on the ground.

While the pilot focused on the gondola, the crew pulled the envelope out of the storage bag. The bottom of the balloon, the skirt, is a thicker flame-retardant material placed closest to the balloon. All the connecting cables are attached to the uplifts, or support rods, of the gondola as other crew members begin unfolding the polyester fiber to expand the envelope on the ground. They will reverse the process when the envelope is deflated at the end of the day.

The pilot explained that the top portion can be pulled open like a window blind using a special cord known as the red line, allowing the hot air to escape when it is time to descend.

A large fan is placed at the envelope’s mouth. Damien was asked to help with the crown rope, and I got to stand with a crew member to help open the envelope for the fan.

When everyone was ready, the fan was turned on. It was like a wind tunnel. The envelope started to expand quickly. While the envelope was inflating, one of the crew members attached the top chute of the balloon to the main body. One of the coolest things was seeing the pilot walk into the balloon to ensure no holes were in the fabric and everything was connected correctly up top.

The envelope was a gorgeous, bright, solid red with defining white stripes. The pilot told us earler that the balloon was named the Susie Q III. His great-grandmother flew the first in the mid-nineteen hundreds, and his mother owned the second over fifty years ago. He picked up the sport and has been flying for almost thirty years. He has even won several competitions around the world.

Once the balloon was fully inflated, the crew had me step away as the pilot hopped behind the burner into the basket. He lit the burner, and a huge blue flame shot out like a geyser of fire. The heat could be felt even from where we were standing.

Soon, the envelope started to rise from the ground. The crew members helped bring the gondola upright with the pilot inside. They helped hold down the balloon and the tether on a supporting vehicle, which is used as an additional safety precaution known as a tie-off. I saw Damien with one of the crew members holding the top rope, known as the crown line, about fifty yards in the field. He was playing a losing game of tug of war. As the balloon rose, Damien and the crew members slowly walked towards the balloon. At the command of the pilot, the crew member and Damien ran towards the basket, and the crew member took the hook to connected it to the gondola.

Damien came over and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a heated kiss. His blinding smile was like a kid being told by his mom that he could have whatever he wanted in a candy store.

“Come on, lovebirds! Time to fly!” the pilot shouted, waving us over.

The crew helped us climb into the basket. The pilot gave us a small safety talk before unhooking the safety tie-off, and he hit the burner again to launch us off the ground.

We climbed into the fresh valley air, passing over gorgeous foliage below us. The sun was bright in the sky, and I was in awe. The mountain scene was breathtaking. Damien wrapped his arms around me, and I leaned into his warmth. The heat of the burner is occasionally on top of us. The pilot kept to himself, allowing us to enjoy the moment's serenity.

We continued to fly in peace until Damien stiffened around me. I looked up at him, and I could see him looking forward. He appeared nervous and gave me a small smile when he noticed I was watching him.

“All okay?” I asked cautiously. He just nodded and held me closer, pointing out towards wilderness ahead.

As we flew over the expanse of the forest he pointed at, my breath caught in my throat. I felt my body begin to shake, and tears filled my eyes.