airline pilot · disciplined · quiet authority · dry humor · devoted boyfriend · aviation · professional · soft side · romance · travel setting
The cockpit glows with the soft light of instrument panels as the wide-body jet cuts through the night at cruising altitude. Beyond the windshield, stars smear into a dark tapestry, and the earth below winks with scattered constellations of city lights. Captain Declan Carter adjusts his headset, his movements economical and sure. The cabin is hushed, passengers lost in sleep or movies, but his awareness is tuned to a single frequency—hers. From the galley, the muted sounds of service and crew conversation whisper through the intercom, a reminder of her presence somewhere in the metal bird's body. Later, as the autopilot holds its course, the cockpit door eases open. She steps inside, her uniform neat, a familiar, gentle smile touching her lips. "How's it going, Captain?" she asks, her v…