Alone With You
Page 23
She was right—they assumed she was a male.
“Comes highly praised. Apparently some sort of hotshot pilot.”
“We’ll see.” The angry one spoke again.
Jaydee forced her legs to carry her into the room. Silence descended as numerous gazes fell upon her. A low whistle filled the air and several men eyed her up and down as if she was their next meal.
“You seen the new chick, Casanova?” a blond asked.
“Who are you?” a different blond questioned.
She opened her mouth to answer only to see another man step into her line of sight. Her body reacted violently and expediently. Staring back at her was tall, dark and handsome from her wild and impetuous twenty-four-hour dalliance.
Male laughter erupted. “Looks like she’s already smitten with Casanova.”
He’s Casanova? Hell, he’s a pilot? And why is he here? She rallied and drew on the ice that flowed through her veins. Unbidden, her gaze drifted back to Casanova. His beautiful hazel eyes had narrowed suspiciously as he stared at her. She’d been doubted because of her gender before, it wasn’t anything new.
“Who are you?” The question was repeated.
She answered simply, “I’m Lieutenant Commander Amos.”
You could have heard a pin drop. Casanova’s features hardened.
“Hell no!” he snapped, fire blazing from his eyes. “You’re the pilot? Jaydee?”
She couldn’t believe this was the same man who’d loved her so thoroughly and completely that night two weeks ago. A gaze that had smouldered and stared at her with relentless hunger were now furious.
“That’s me. Many people assume I’m a man from my name.” She shrugged. “I’m not.”
“You’re a girl.”
Derision dripped from his words. He prowled towards her, looking all kinds of hot in his flight suit. Around them, the room fell silent. She held his stare, her expression blank. He stalked around her, teasing her senses. Again, face to face, he scowled at her.
“Have you even flown a B-2?”
All remaining gentle feelings towards him about their shared night vanished in a puff of smoke. “Obviously, or they wouldn’t have sent me. Don’t try to measure your dick to mine, Commander. You’re sure to come up short.”
Laughter erupted around them yet she ignored everything but the man going toe to toe with her. He crossed his arms, his glower deepening. It took a bit of time for her to ignore the power she knew rippled beneath the flight suit.
“Can it, Cassano!” a new voice intruded. “Leave her alone. Listen up, everyone. We’ve been a man down with the loss of Walker, and Amos here is filling in. Until we get a permanent pilot assigned.”
“Better not be too long,” Casanova muttered beside her.
“Listen up, Cassano,” the CO demanded. “Nothing fancy today. We’ll brief in the air. Make sure you introduce yourself to Amos.” He slammed his book shut and left. Leaving her to fend for herself.
A blond man—the one who’d previously called her ‘chick’—approached her, his blue eyes sharp and assessing. “I’m Keel. You’re my pilot.”
She nodded, understanding that, if they were called up, he’d be the mission commander. “Dusti.” Keel didn’t offer his hand, just sized her up. There were two other women there in the room, but they didn’t look any happier to see her then the men did.
“Meet you at the bird.”
She nodded and watched the others leave. Falling in behind a cocky lieutenant, she reached the door a second before it slammed in her face. Tall, dark and handsome leaned against her exit from the room. Arms crossed. The pure sexuality he oozed made her waver a second. The anger in his eyes cooled her ardour.
“You’re in my way, Commander,” she said without intonation.
“You ran from me while I was in the shower.”
She blinked. His words shocked her, for she hadn’t thought he would have mentioned it. “You’re still in my way.”
“Women shouldn’t be flying in combat.”
“This is a training facility and you need to move.”
“We need to talk,” he rumbled.
“No, we do not. Now get out of my way.”
With a mocking smile and an exaggerated bow, he opened the door for her, only to fall in behind her. All eyes were on them as they strolled from the building, now side by side. They peeled off and she surreptitiously stole a final glance as he sauntered to his plane. He was a man who was the epitome of a fighter pilot. An unmistakable swagger and an ego the size of the sun.
Striding up to her jet, she stared at the impressive B-2. The bombers were lethal, dangerous and, to her, absolutely beautiful. She loved flying them. The excitement built, spreading throughout her as she talked to the mechanic for her new bird. His name was Tory Sedin, a Petty Officer First Class.
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About the Author
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is married to a career military man, and they have a German Shepherd, two Borzois, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.
Email: aliyah_burke@hotmail.com
Aliyah loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by Aliyah Burke
Through The Fire
Seducing Damian
Code of Honour: A Marriage Of Convenience
Code of Honour: The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
Code of Honour: A Man Like No Other
Code of Honour: When Stars Collide
In Aeternum: Casanova in Training
In Aeternum: Harbour of Refuge
In Aeternum: Protected by Shadows
Interludes: Temporary Home
With Taige Crenshaw
Kemet Uncovered: Talios
Kemet Uncovered: Devi
Kemet Uncovered: Linc
Kemet Uncovered: Saffron
Kemet Uncovered: Taber
Kemet Uncovered: Ashia
With McKenna Jeffries
McKingley: All the Wright Moves
McKingley: The Best Thing Yet
McKingley: Risky Pleasures
McKingley: Pure Harmony
McKingley: Irresistible Forces
McKingley: Seduction’s Dance
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