Fatal Flight Read online

“I love it when you turn all icy and regal, because I know I can melt you, with the heat from my mouth, like a tasty Popsicle. You turn to slush when I put my hands on you.” He stood, moved until their knees were touching, and rested his hands on the back of the couch, forming a cage over her. He took in her rapid breathing, the puckered tips of her nipples under the light T-shirt. Her pupils dilated as she looked up at him. Her tongue darted out, dampening her lips. He groaned as the action hardened him further. “See what I mean? You want me, and I’m desperate for you. I have to leave in the morning, but let me stay the night. Let’s not waste this time we have.”

  He bent closer, running his lips along the tendon down the side of her neck. She trembled, sighed, turned her head, and blindly, sought his mouth. He gave it to her, opened at the first tentative foray of her tongue, and fed her everything she asked from him.

  In minutes, they lay together on the couch, her top long gone, his jacket and shirt tossed on the floor. He kicked off his half boots and flicked his socks away. She struggled with the buckle of his belt. He turned sideways, pushing his jeans and underwear down at the same time. The silken skin of her torso drew him, he sucked and nibbled his way along her ribs, trailing lower and into the V formed as he opened the zipper on her jeans. His mouth followed an invisible path, seeking her most sensitive flesh. She lifted her hips, so he could drag her pants down. He pushed them off her with his foot.

  Naked, blood thickening with passion, hearts pounding with erotic stimuli, they explored each other. He found the tender skin at the back of her knee. She tested his size and weight, giving him pleasure beyond belief. His mouth settled over her rosy flesh, tenderly parted, found the seat of her passion and invaded, raising a soft cry from her. He lost himself in the taste and scent of her passion, ambrosia that fed his hunger, bringing out the primitive part of his nature. The need to possess, become part of her, claim her, drowned out every civilized aspect of love making. He rose above her, pressing her thighs apart, creating a place for him at the heat of her entrance. Slowly, thoroughly, deeply, completely, he took possession, until he could sink no further into her willing flesh. They stayed all motion and sound; even their breathing stopped as they absorbed the perfection of their joining. Then she wiggled, lifting, asking for more. Her mouth claimed him, as he claimed her. Closer, deeper, faster, they sought the threshold of ecstasy, climbed past it to the peak of rapture, and toppled over together.

  Exhausted from too many sleepless nights and the constant emotional drain on his energy over the last weeks, he slid to the side and slept. Sometime in the night he woke and found himself lying along the back of the sofa with Sky spooned against him, a light rug covering them. He felt her small, firm rump pushing into him, hardening him faster than liquid nitrogen. He stroked her breast, kissing the side of her neck.

  “Mmmm,” she murmured, rousing.

  “I want you,” he whispered into her ear.

  She nudged her bottom against him. He took it as an invitation, found her wet and ready, and sank into her depths. Again, he climbed into the soaring blue of her passion, got lost in the endless bounty of her body, and delighted in the thrill of her small cries of bliss. He could give her rapture. Mindful he’d used his only condom earlier, he pulled out as his release came. He could feel the tiny aftershocks trembling through Sky’s slender body as he curled around her. Contentment, such as he’d never known, filled the empty place in his heart.

  ****

  Sky slipped out of Adam’s arms at first light. She longed to linger in the warmth, hold the sense of safety for a few more minutes, but being pressed against him when he woke wasn’t smart. He had expectations, and she couldn’t meet them. He’d asked questions she couldn’t answer. He’d already proven her act of cool disinterest would come crashing down the minute he touched her. The only thing she could count on was common sense.

  She showered and dressed in clean jeans and a sweater, against the cooler temperatures. Mentally, she went over her schedule—two students in the morning, and this afternoon, she and Pops were heading over to Carson City to test fly a used Beech-90 they were considering buying for the company. Pops had this idea of starting a charter business as another sideline. He was keen to take those flights, but it would require a bigger plane.

  Adam would be leaving shortly, so his presence wouldn’t interrupt her schedule. A heavy sadness descended as she thought of never seeing him again. She wasn’t certain where the next conversation they had would take them.

  She poured a cup of coffee and stood by the window. Maybe the scent of the brew, or the early morning light streaming across the floor, woke him. He muttered, lifted up on one elbow, and looked around the room. As soon as he saw her, he smiled; his gray eyes glittered with happiness. “Come here,” he invited.

  The soft growl sounded so sexy her heart turned a somersault. She shook her head, biting her lip, as she maintained her distance.

  He sat up. “If you don’t come here, I’m coming there, and you’re a lot closer to the bed.” He combed his hair with his fingers and rose in one lithe movement, stalking across the wooden floor toward her. She locked her legs and held her ground. Now or never, she reminded herself. Make this as quick and painless as possible.

  He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. Then, his mobile mouth descended seeking hers. She stepped back, pulling out of his arms. They dropped.

  “What no good morning kiss? Did I miss something between being passionately involved last night and getting the cold shoulder this morning?”

  “Not the cold shoulder,” she answered. “I just don’t want another session of sex right now.”

  “Sex?” His eyebrows rose; his eyes narrowed. “It was more than sex.” He looked around, found his jeans and underwear, and stepped into them. Sitting, he pulled on his socks and half boots. Sky picked up his shirt from the chair where she’d draped it and handed it over. He shrugged into it, fastening the buttons. His expression was guarded; his brow furrowed as he considered her behavior.

  “You’re giving me the heave ho, without a reason?” He sauntered across the room, took her mug, and drank. With coffee glistening on his beautiful mouth, his eyes now steely, he waited for her answer.

  “You’re the one who said you had to leave first thing. I’m not giving you the heave ho. I’m happy to make you breakfast, but I’m not climbing back into bed with you for a morning quickie.” She strode to the coffee perk and poured herself another mug.

  “Don’t demean what we have, because you’re afraid, Sky. Talk to me. You know that wasn’t just sex. I’m not after a morning quickie. I love you. I want you in my life. I’m prepared to meet your needs in whatever way I can to make that happen. Tell me what you want.” He sounded so controlled, so in command; it pushed her decision about applying common sense right out of her head.

  “I don’t want this.” She waved her hands between them. “I don’t want a moratorium on what we did in bed. Can’t we just let it go, take some breathing space?”

  He stiffened as if she’d lashed him with a whip. “I didn’t realize my love was smothering you.” Hurt flashed in his eyes, before he turned away. Carefully, he put the mug on the table and shrugged into his jacket. “Sure, I can give you some breathing space.” He set his hand on the door.

  “Adam, wait,” she called, panic slashing her chest, laying burning strips across her lungs, so she couldn’t breathe. “I just need time.”

  “Time for what? Either you trust me, or you don’t. Either you have feelings for me you want to investigate, or you’re not interested. Make a choice.”

  “Quit pushing me,” she burst out, like a signal flare lighting the sky. “I’ve just let grandmother into my life. I can’t handle her, and someone trying to kill me, and you all at once. Why is it so unreasonable for me to want some time to adjust?”

  “Because, all those things would be easier to handle with my support. I want to help you, protect you. I love you, for Christ sake. And you’re telling me
I’m supposed to do it from two thousand miles away, without any indication if you’ll reciprocate now or later.”

  “You don’t understand. You see something you want, and it’s as easy as going after it and getting it. You’ve had the security of knowing you’ll win all your life. I admit I have feelings for you, but I’ve been on the reciprocal end of a man’s wants. It didn’t end well for me. I need to think it through, take my time, be sure.”

  “If you, for one second, compare me to Brian Severson, then there is no point in continuing this conversation. You don’t know me at all, and I don’t want to know the woman who can’t tell the difference. If you figure out there is one, let me know. Until then, I’ll give you all the breathing space you want.” He stepped through the door and let it close behind him.

  Sky stood frozen. She couldn’t believe she’d lost him, even as she’d done her best to push him away. He was supposed to stay and fight for her. The bastard, he’d just made her point for her. Rich men walked away if they didn’t get what they wanted. In Adam’s eyes, she’d failed him. By questioning his motives, she’d proven not good enough, once again.

  “Bloody men.” She threw the cushion from the couch at the wall, looked for something else on which to spend her ire.

  “Peanut butter and banana, oatmeal, popsicles,” she swore. Then she flung her body full length on the couch, where they’d made love, and bawled her eyes out.

  Chapter Eleven

  “We’ll leave as soon as you finish up.” Sky stuck her head in the office door, nudging Ruby. She was excited about picking up the Beech-90 she and Max had flight tested two weeks earlier. They’d made an offer on the twin engine turbine. Though it was eight years old, it was in terrific shape and could hold up to ten people in a squeeze. It would be great for their charter service. Both she and Max had qualified for their multi-engine endorsements just before buying the plane, and he was eager to start the new arm of their thriving business.

  “Right, another fifteen should do it.” Ruby waited, staring at Sky until she retreated.

  Sky took down the battery-operated vacuum from the wall of the hangar and headed for the Cessna 150. She had just enough time to clean it out before they left.

  The Cessna had been left outside the hangar, making room at the back for the new plane she would ferry over from Carson City today. A quick spurt of excitement overpowered the gray wall of depression she’d felt since Adam’s leaving. He was certainly giving her space, a whole two weeks of it without a single text or call.

  She’d evaluated her behavior a dozen times, gone over and over their last conversation, and she knew she’d sabotaged the relationship, as easily as Andre had taken down her plane. Adam was nothing like Brian. Adam had treated her with respect and admiration from day one. He made himself vulnerable so she’d know he loved her. She hugged that thought close for a few precious seconds. But, she’d torn what they had apart, like a prop ripping through cirrus, testing him, when he’d already proven he’d stand by her. She had pushed him away out of the fear she’d fail him.

  The depression settled again, darker and heavier than ever. She’d called herself every name in the book, but nothing described the insanity of her actions. He hadn’t forced her into a mold, fitting her into his world, but had offered whatever changes she needed so they could design their own.

  She cut the vacuum, realizing she was going over the carpeting for the third time. Ruby came out of the office, turned, and locked the door, as Sky hung up the vacuum. She’d left her lightweight jacket and flight charts in the truck Ruby was driving. Normally, Max would have taken Sky to the airport, but when they phoned and said all the paperwork had gone through and the plane was ready for pick-up, they’d both wanted to move on it right away. Tonight being Max’s weekly pizza and poker night with his buddies, Ruby had offered to drive Sky, saying she was heading over to Carson City to see her boyfriend anyway. Figuring it was the perfect happenstance, Sky had jumped at the offer.

  With a last wave at their mechanic and current gopher, she climbed into the cab beside Ruby. The woman had changed her appearance since she’d gotten the job. She’d worn a gray suit with her hair in a neat bun, and acted a little stuffy, when Max hired her. Since then the skirt had gotten shorter, the blouses lower, and her hair was a wild froth of bleached gold hanging around her shoulders.

  Ruby turned the truck in a circle and headed through the gates, popping a bubble with her gum, as she blasted by them. Sky decided Max was right. They’d let Ruby go at the end of her one-month trial. This was not the look they wanted in their office person. First impressions were everything. That made her think of the first time she’d seen Adam, walking stiffly with his cane, his lips tight, not with disapproval as she’d first judged, but holding back the pain of each step he took. He’d been Gita’s emissary, and he’d done a good job of it, accepting Sky’s refusal, listening to her reasons, giving her time. Something good had come out of all his patience and attempts to understand her. Gita. Sky smiled as she thought of the face time with her grandmother last night. They’d joked around, one woman to another, keeping it light, carefully moving closer.

  Gita had shared some of the work she carried on through the O’Shaughnessy Foundation. Again, Sky had chastised herself for judging on past experience. She had known a large percentage of the people in Gita and Adam’s income bracket gave back through foundations and charities. They lent their names, their money and their energy to causes in which they believed. She’d searched the internet and seen the Hamilton name backing many reputable events that raised money for the homeless, or offered grants to emerging engineers and pilots. They spent several million a year just on programs that helped side-lined Air Force pilots, providing not just prosthetics, but hours of counseling with psychiatrists who specialized in PTSD.

  Before she’d said goodnight, Gita had asked Sky to think about coming to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. “Of course, Max is welcome, too,” she’d urged.

  Sky hadn’t been ready to take the step. Walking into her grandmother’s home seemed somehow as if there would be no going back afterward. She’d fudged her answer, saying it was several weeks away, yet, and she’d see. Gita’s warm smile had reassured her it was okay. “You let me know when you’re sure, one way or the other. I’d love to have you, Sky.”

  The truck hit a bump in the road, and Sky surfaced from deep thought. “This isn’t the highway to Carson City.” She looked at Ruby.

  “You never heard a word I said, did you.” The woman laughed. “I asked if you minded me stopping at my boyfriend’s cabin first, letting him know I’m taking you to the airfield and will be late for our date.”

  “Oh…” Sky couldn’t believe she’d been so far gone she hadn’t heard someone asking her a question. Embarrassed, she let it pass. “Fine. As long as it doesn’t take too long. I want to get the Beech home in the light.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you where you’re supposed to be on time.” Ruby popped her gum and amped up the radio, singing along with a western song.

  Sky watched as the road worsened, becoming a narrow trail winding through heavy forest. They’d taken the secondary road up the east side of Lake Tahoe, which would connect with the main road in and out of the resort town. “Where are we?”

  “We’ve gone through Emerald Bay Park and entered Bliss State Park. His cabin is just up this road a ways. Lots of good skiing around here,” Ruby shouted over the music.

  Sky settled back, with a glance at the little bit of sky she could see under the towering Jeffrey Pines. “Can’t you just phone him?” she raised her voice.

  “Sorry, no cell service up here.” Ruby cracked her gum again and rooted around in the large carry-all she called a purse.

  Sky watched the wild swinging of the huge circular earrings and the bounce of Ruby’s un-corralled breasts, as she speeded the truck along the ruts that now made up the road. It was almost mesmerizing, but tension tugged at Sky’s mind. This didn’t feel right.

/>   Sky leaned over and turned down the radio. “Please turn around and get back on the main road,” she requested. “I’m going to run out of flight time.”

  “Thought you had your instrument license,” Ruby jeered.

  The jibing tone sent Sky’s radar blinking. What was going on?

  “It’s not a good idea to fly an unfamiliar plane at night.” She decided keeping the conversation going would net her more information than acting suspicious. “Tell me about your boyfriend. Have you been seeing him for a while?”

  “Long enough.”

  Ruby tossed her a sideways look, her eyes bright with excitement. If Sky hadn’t seen her earlier, she’d have guessed she was on pot.

  “So where did you meet?” Sky’s hand crept to the door handle.

  “I wouldn’t.” Ruby’s voice was hard as granite. She pulled a gun from her purse and aimed it at Sky’s chest. All the while, she kept driving, though their speed slowed. “Pull your hand off the door.” She waved the gun.

  Sky hoped the gun had a safety, and it was on. But she couldn’t tell, with the bouncing of the truck.

  “My boyfriend wants a meet with you. So, sit back and shut-up. Or I’ll accidentally shoot you in the leg before we get there.”

  Sky’s mind raced through her options. None of this made sense. If she threw herself out the door, could she run faster than the bullet Ruby might fire? Should she take the chance before she found herself in worse danger—two combatants instead of one?

  The truck braked, throwing Sky forward. Her attention swung from the racing green stripe of trees out her side window to the cabin in front. A man walked out onto a narrow veranda. She’d never seen him before.

  “Out.” Ruby waved the gun. Sliding across the seat, she poked it against Sky’s back. “Move real slow now, or bang,” she shouted in Sky’s ear, making her jump. Ruby’s mean laugh followed her out of the cab and onto the ground.

  “Walk.” Ruby butted her with the nose of the pistol in the direction of the cabin. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”