by Lavada Dee
She hadn’t taken the time to put on a bra, and he pulled away enough to take the weight of her breast in his hand. Her nipple was extended and he brushed it with his thumb. She rewarded him with a soft cry. Damn, he wanted to taste her, wanted to…. But it was too soon. “Shhh.” He again let her feel his arousal. Could she smell him the way he could her? He didn’t have to dip his fingers between her legs to know she was hot and wet. “I want you more than life.”
Nadia’s answering moan said more than words.
He answered her in kind, and let his totem speak with a not quite human growl. Then he waited for her to be scared or repelled. Instead, she melted against him. If he’d had any doubts that she was meant to be his, they were gone.
Tyrell brought his hands up to frame her face, then rained kisses over her closed eyes and down her throat to the pulse point where he could feel her blood pounding. The ache in his groin was becoming intense. He needed to put a stop to this, and bring Nadia back to a reality where she could make choices. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, take the chance that she would have regrets.
Taking a deep breath, he whispered, “Open your eyes.” When she did, he nearly lost it. In her eyes, he could see his own need reflecting back at him. He gave her a minute to focus, and then said, “We need to go in. It’s getting cold.”
“I’m not cold,” she whispered back.
He chuckled at her innocent reply. “We still need to go in. Morning will be here soon, and I want enough of the night left for you to dream of me.”
When they got to Nadia’s floor, Tyrell opened the door and held it for her to go through. When he didn’t follow, she turned back. “You’re not coming with me?”
“No, if I come to your room…” He wanted to give her space, so there would be no regrets. Tonight was too soon.
At the look on her face, Tyrell almost changed his mind. Instead he pulled her back into the stairwell and kissed her lightly on the lips. “This is hard. I want you more than you can know, but for tonight, dream of me.”
Tyrell stood at the door and watched until Nadia was safely back in her room, then cursed himself all the way up the stairs. What a bloody fool. He could have claimed what was his. The wolf in him was strangely silent. “What, you don’t have anything to say?” No answer echoed back. Still grumbling, he headed for the shower. After a few seconds of cold water, it finally ran warm, then hot. Even then, Tyrell stayed under the spray. He needed to think, and with his head, the one on his shoulders.
When his team had formed they had agreed that at a given time they would disband and merge into a full mortal life. For Tyrell, this seemed logical, as he had watched his brother Grant keep the wolf that was part of him pretty much silent. Not for the first time, Tyrell wondered if Baylee, Grant’s wife, knew of his totem. But then, Grant never fully recognized that which lived within him like Tyrell had. Legend or truth had been passed down through the generations, saying that a man’s totem only made itself known when there was danger, or a need for heightened senses. But his totem had been a constant companion since he had reached puberty.
All of sudden, Tyrell was tired, almost bone tired. He stepped out of the shower and not bothering to dry off, climbed into bed. Almost at once, he felt sleep claiming him. With his last thought he sent a message to Nadia. “Sleep well, my love, and dream of me.”
* * * *
Tyrell came instantly awake. Devon was at the door. Damn. He was going to have to change the combination on his keypad. His life was changing, and the last thing he needed was for Page or Devon to walk in at an inopportune moment. Sliding out of bed, he called out for Devon to make a pot of coffee. His totem might be sleeping, or giving him the silent treatment, but at least he retained his acute hearing. What other senses would he keep?
Coming out of the bedroom a few minutes later, Tyrell caught Devon cheating on getting a cup of coffee by holding his cup under the coffeemaker as it dripped. “You’re up early. Didn’t you have any coffee at your place?”
Devon smiled. “I did, but rather than make another pot, thought I’d come over and see what’s up for the day. You said something about calling Dad?”
Tyrell came around the counter and stuck his cup under the drip like Devon had done. “Yeah, I’ve been giving some thought to what you said about expanding the air service.”
Devon handed him the phone. “Better call, Dad’s an early riser.” He winked and then said, “Besides, he wasn’t out in the woods in the wee hours of the morning.”
So Devon had seen them? So much for keeping things quiet until he had a chance to talk more with Nadia. Ignoring Devon, Tyrell punched in his parent’s house number. Colin Blackhawk picked up on the first ring. His voice was muffled.
So much for an early riser, it sounded like he woke his father up. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” Turning toward Devon he asked, “What time is it, anyway?”
He heard his father’s chuckle. “Relax, I’ve been up for a while, and it’s only eight o’clock. What’s on your mind?”
When Tyrell had first come home, his parents wanted him to stay with them so they could help. He refused, and no doubt in hindsight they had been glad because he was like a wounded bear. Instead, Grant had helped him hire Page, arguing that Tyrell needed a therapist. In the weeks that followed, the family had given Tyrell a wide berth. Now, it felt good to again be back in sync with everyone. Hopefully, they would all be able to laugh at the hard first weeks. Still, Tyrell picked up on the wariness in his father’s voice.
Tyrell took a drink of the hot coffee and bit back a curse. “Sorry, hot coffee. Devon was saying that you might be interested in expanding the air service. I’d like to talk about it if you have time.”
Tyrell sensed his father’s reserve drop away. “What are you doing now? Mom is just getting up. She’ll be glad to have me out of the house for a while, and you know how she hates making breakfast.”
They arranged to meet in the coffee shop. Tyrell put his coffee on the counter and headed back for the bathroom. “Let me brush my teeth, and I’ll be ready.”
Devon hollered to his back. “I need to go and check on an email I’m expecting to come in. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
That was good. It would give him a few minutes to get his head around staying in Blackhawk and taking on one of the family’s businesses. His father had started the air service when Tyrell and his brothers were still kids. His father had a pilot’s license and it wasn’t long before Lydia, his mother, got one too. As the boys grew older, each one of them in turn got a license. The airport wasn’t very big, but over the years its service had expanded into a mail run, Medevac, and what it had first been developed for, a commuter service. Excitement flowed through Tyrell. Damn, but he felt good this morning. Last night with Nadia had given him a completeness he hadn’t felt in years, not since first forming the wolf team.
A few minutes later, he walked into the coffee shop with a smile on his face. The family used the big round booth in the corner when it wasn’t occupied, and even though there were just the three of them, Tyrell headed for it. The waitress, a pretty woman Tyrell guessed to be in her mid-twenties, came right over armed with a coffee pot. He turned his cup right side up and then turned two others the same way. She poured the coffee and offered menus he waved away.
With his restored health, Tyrell might have come on to her, but now no one held his interest except Nadia. Glancing up, he saw his father entering the coffee shop.
“You made good time.”
Colin Blackhawk slid into the booth. “Sure did. It isn’t every morning I get a wake-up call from you.”
Tyrell hated the note of reserve still in his father’s voice. He was fortunate to have his family, fortunate in the unconditional love and the willingness to give him room when he needed it. Tyrell nodded. “You may be getting more of them now that I’m back on my feet.” He cupped the mug, and breathed in the scent. “Dad…I’m sorry I…”
Colin interrupted him. “Don’t. You do
n’t have to say anything, and I’m not going to be so trite as to say I understand, because no one that hasn’t gone through what you did could.” Then dismissing the subject he said, “I’m glad Devon told you about the need to expand Blackhawk Air. With more people, a lot of them inexperienced, coming into the backcountry to hunt, fish, cross-country ski, and whatever, there is more need for both air ambulance and search and rescue. Damn fools get themselves into all kinds of trouble.”
“Do we still have the same planes?”
“Yeah, plus a bird. Since Jim Hanks left, Milton is doing all the piloting, plus management. It’s getting to be too much. After you get on board, you may want to hire one or two more pilots, and maybe purchase another plane or two, and even another helicopter.”
Tyrell didn’t miss the “after you get on board” his father used, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he gave a soft half whistle. “Whew, do we have that kind of demand?” He didn’t question that they had the money. He knew they did.
“I think so, plus the Piper is getting old. In my opinion, we don’t necessarily need bigger craft, just more. After assessing the business, you may have a different idea. Most of the parties flying in and out are small, but we are getting more of them.”
Tyrell was about to say something when he looked up to see Devon coming in the door. Now they did have the waitress’s attention. It never failed, Devon’s looks attracted women, old, young, and in between. Under his breath he said, “Will you look at that? I’d hate the kid if he wasn’t my brother.”
His father burst out with a hearty laugh. “Been happening since he was in diapers.”
Devon slid in beside Tyrell. “What are you two so happy about this morning?”
Colin held up his hands. “And he isn’t even aware…”
“What? What did I miss?”
Laughing, Tyrell said, “Nothing, bro.”
Before Devon could respond the waitress came up with a thermos carafe of coffee. They all knew the menu and placed their orders.
Conversation flowed around possibilities for Blackhawk Air, and Tyrell again acknowledged the feeling that all was right with his world. Breakfast over, his father suggested they head on over to the airport.
Tyrell was more than ready. He wanted to talk to Milton and get a feel for how he felt. The man and his wife had been with the Blackhawks for a long time, and he didn’t want to step on any toes. When he said as much to his father, Colin assured him that Milton would be overjoyed to have him on board.
Devon pushed back his cup and slid out of the booth. “I’m going to leave you to it. I finished the computer software program I was working on a couple of weeks ago, and before I start anything else I need to get some work done for the lodge.”
Colin stood up and the two walked toward the door, but Tyrell hung back. He agreed with going over to the airfield, but he wanted to talk to Nadia first. As if on cue, he saw her walk into the coffee shop with her grandmother. With his beyond-mortal range, he heard her heartbeat quicken when she saw him. His answered. She quickly looked away.
“Don’t.”
When he didn’t hear a reply, he again spoke across the room to her. “Don’t turn away from me, my love. Let yourself feel, let yourself be with me.”
She didn’t answer. Damn, he could smell her fear. It wafted over the room and into his soul. It hurt, and he willed her to feel his pain. Time stood still and he waited.
Finally he heard a sob escape. Silently, she cried out to him. “It hurts me to see you in pain.”
“As it hurts me to see yours. Don’t be afraid. I will never harm you, never cause you pain. You are my heart.”
“How can this be? How do I feel you, hear you?”
He silently shushed her. His arms felt empty with the need to hold her, to kiss away her doubts and fears. The sound of his father calling out to him broke the spell, and he waved that he would be there in a second. Walking over to Nadia and her grandmother, he wished them good morning. He should have been surprised to hear that his voice was normal, but he wasn’t. Still, he missed the intimacy of mind speaking. “It’s good to see you looking so well this morning, Mrs. LaMar.”
He turned toward Nadia. “You, too. Are you getting some work done?”
Nadia’s voice, like his, was normal. “Yes, staying two extra weeks looks like it is going to work out.”
Tyrell let his gaze lock with hers. “Oh, I think it will more than work out.” His gaze slid to her lips, and again he heard her heart pick up a beat. Warm blood surged through his body and into his groin. Could she feel it, as he could feel her?
Nadia’s grandmother left them and moved to the booth by the window. “I have to go. I…”
“She will know soon.” When Nadia shook her head in denial, he again held her captive with his eyes. “In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t already know we are one with each other, or soon will be.”
“I…”
Leaning in, he skimmed his lips over her cheek and whispered, “Meet me for lunch at twelve-thirty.”
“Where?”
Tyrell’s heart leaped at her response. “Here. I’m going over to the airport with Dad. If you get here before I do, get us a table.” Such mundane words, when his heart held so much more.
Chapter 14
Tyrell didn’t have one iota of doubt that Nadia would meet him, and his heart soared with anticipation of the coming afternoon. When his dad pulled onto the side road leading to the airport, he pulled his thoughts back. As a kid he’d often walked out here. Nostalgia filled him, so many memories. He’d spent some good times here. He’d learned to fly. His father had a flight instructor’s license, and later he had flown with Milton.
“Things haven’t changed. It still looks like it always did.” Tyrell looked over at his dad. “Well, except those trees at the end of the runway.”
Colin laughed and Tyrell joined in, remembering how he had almost topped them a few times. His father had sworn that the gray in his hair was from Tyrell’s flying.
As Tyrell stepped out of the truck, Milton came out the hanger. With a smile a mile wide, he gave Tyrell a man-hug. “Good to see you, kid. Come to give an old man a hand?”
Again, memories flooded through Tyrell. He had forgotten how much he loved the airport, and this man. And again, like this morning, he felt an overwhelming rightness in the day, and in his life. “I’d like to. Think you can put up with me around on a regular basis?”
“Hell, I know I can. Your dad talk to you about what we are up against? More people are coming into the area, and the only thing reducing is the mail run. Got to love those computers.”
“Yeah, Dad filled me in this morning. Want to show me around, get me reacquainted?”
Colin had a grin all over his face. Looked like the world was in a good place for his Dad, too. Tyrell was glad he had a small part in making it that way. His dad touched the brim of his hat, tipping his head toward Milton, and turned back to Tyrell. “Why don’t I come back for you in say, two hours? I have some errands to run, and it will give you time to look around and get a feel for the place again.”
“You don’t need to come back for me. I’ll enjoy the walk back to the lodge. I will call you, if not tonight, then tomorrow morning.”
The morning sped by. Blackhawk Air wasn’t a big operation. One Piper that seated ten, and a small two-seater mainly used for the mail run. Two years ago they had added a bird. Milton didn’t really like flying the helicopter, so only used it when one of the planes couldn’t do the job. Helicopters, however, were Tyrell’s specialty.
After looking over the aircraft, the two men headed for the office. It was small, but well equipped. Mary, Milton’s wife, manned it, and did everything and anything but fly. She laughingly said if the good Lord wanted her to fly, he would have given her wings. She looked up when they came in and quickly came around the desk for a hug.
“My stars, aren’t you a sight. Took you long enough to get in here.” Looking over at her hus
band, she said, “You should have brought him in here first. The planes could have waited. What were you thinking?’
“Guess I wasn’t…thinking,” he mumbled, as he got a couple of cups of Mary’s great coffee.
Tyrell took a sip and sighed. “I’ve missed this, and you. So how have you been?”
“Good. Now that you’re back, and it looks like you might be sticking around, I’m feeling even better.”
Tyrell still had his arm around Mary. Growing up, she had been like a second mother to him. “It’s good to be back and to be feeling like myself again.”
Mary turned away and went back behind the desk. “We heard you got hurt pretty bad. I wanted to go right over to the hospital when they first brought you in, but your father suggested you’d rather we wait.”
“I’m glad you did. From what I heard, I was a real pain in the ass. This way you and Milt are two less people I need to apologize to.”
Milton started to reply, but Mary cut him off. “No need for sorries. You know that.” Before he could reply she changed the subject. “So what are your plans?”
Tyrell put his coffee on an old burl they used as a coffee table and flopped down on the sofa that had seen better days. “Milt and I were just getting down to that. First, I’m coming on board full time.” He stopped and took a deep drink from his mug. “Well, at least eventually. For now I still have physical therapy to work in, but I’ll be here every day. Dad suggested we purchase additional air craft.” He turned to Milton. “What do you think?”
Milton ran his hand over his mouth then said, “We’re cutting it pretty thin with what we have, but if we get more planes, we’ll need at least one more pilot, and maybe more.”
Mary took notes while Tyrell talked over details with Milton. When the ancient Cuckoo Clock sounded off twelve times, Tyrell all but flew off the sofa. “Damn, I have a lunch date. Milt, can you set up a meeting with Hugh for tomorrow, say at nine?” He turned to Mary. “Will that time work around any scheduled flights?”
