On Wings of Passion (13 page)

It was dark when Ty pulled the black SUV into the garage. Erin had awakened when they’d landed at Marquette Airport, amazed to see the large accumulation of snow. It slowly dawned on her that they were only miles from the Canadian border. She remained in a cocoon of relaxation and Ty seemed to realize that she didn’t want to talk, only to touch him, as he led her from the car into the warm, quiet house.

“Come on, sleepyhead. You’re due for some downtime.”

Erin followed him down the carpeted hall to the first bedroom on the right. He opened her suitcase and pulled out a silk nightgown, which he laid on the bed. “Get undressed and into bed,” he ordered.

She looked at the nightgown. “But—”

He gripped her arms and brought her against him, kissing her parted lips. “No arguments, my banshee witch. Not tonight. It’s been a very long, hard day for both of us. We need a good night’s sleep, honey. Just do as I ask. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I have to check in with the squadron by phone.”

Snuggling down between the cool, crisp sheets, Erin dozed. Somewhere in her dazed mind, her heart whispered that she was finally home, truly home for the first time in her life. She allowed the fingers of sleep to steal her away.

During the night she awoke briefly, her head resting against Ty’s shoulder, her arm and leg thrown casually across his warm, hard body. A sensation of utter joy enveloped her as she nuzzled his jaw like a lost kitten, immediately aware of his arm tightening in answer against her shoulder. Sighing softly, she gave in to an enveloping blanket of healing sleep.

Erin awoke to the scolding of blue jays outside the bedroom window. Next to her, Ty groaned and muttered an oath. A smile curved her mouth as she stretched languidly at his side, running her fingers across his naked chest. Delighting in the play of the hard muscles, she became aware of his pounding heart beating against her ear. The jays squawked raucously.

“Damn them,” Ty growled, rolling from his back to his side, pinning Erin beneath him. She smiled into his sleepy face. His dark hair was tousled, his features boyishly vulnerable, his blue eyes devouring her in the silence. She stifled a laugh, listening as the birds flew from one corner of the house to the other. “That’s some alarm clock,” she noted, reaching up and smoothing the rebellious hair off Ty’s forehead. He captured her hand and pinned it against the pillow near her head. He claimed her lips, parting them, his tongue caressing the corners of her mouth. She moaned and guilelessly arched her body upward, meeting the hard planes of his. He pulled away, studying her in the gray dawn light, his eyes moving hungrily over her features. “God, you’re lovely when you wake up,” he murmured. He released her wrist and slid his fingers through her dark hair, his expression wistful. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of waking up in this house with you here in my arms?”

She barely shook her head, mesmerized by the incredible warmth in his eyes, and the rough growl in his voice. Thoughtfully, he stroked her temple, pushing the featherlike tendrils of hair behind her ear. She quivered at his touch. His fingers were like a brush kissing the canvas of a painting. Her lashes, long and thick, fell against her cheeks. “I never thought I’d be here again,” she choked out softly.

Ty raised himself on one elbow, lingering above her, his hand resting against the slender curve of her neck and shoulder. “Why?” he asked, his thumb idly outlining her jaw.

Erin met his concerned gaze. A lump was beginning to form in her throat. “I…just never thought…” She gave a helpless shrug. “Meeting you was a dream come true, Ty,” she began haltingly. “I was realistic about our situation. We lived so far apart. Our lifestyles were—well…”

Ty shook his head, taking her into his arms, holding her tightly. “I know,” he soothed, burying his face in her hair. He pressed her against the bed and cupped her face. “I think we’ve taken those hurdles pretty well, don’t you?”

She nodded. “One hurdle is definitely out of the way,” she murmured. “My job.”

He scowled. “Do you regret quitting, Erin?”

“No, not really.” She caressed his shoulder, her fingers trailing down his arm to his hand, which rested against her hip. “I’ve known Bruce for a long time,” she said, “and I’ve seen him put incredible pressure on other reporters. But he never did it to me.”

“He probably knew you’d buck the issues,” Ty growled.

She frowned. “I don’t know. I can’t figure out why he’d try to force me to write something I didn’t believe.”

Ty pursed his lips. “I think there’s a pretty simple explanation, honey. He thought he could use your hatred of the air force to get you to criticize SAC. He’s not a stupid man. The only problem was,” he added, regarding her thoughtfully, “you were intelligent enough to make up your own mind.”

“Then he’s even more despicable than I thought,” she answered angrily. “That’s horrible, Ty!”

He grinned. “Easy, my banshee witch. You’re starting to show that volatile temper of yours.”

Erin struggled into a sitting position, distraught by thoughts of Bruce’s manipulation of her. “I just can’t believe it!” she breathed angrily. “He deliberately chose
me
for the assignment, hoping to use my personal grief and anger to slant the story!” She clenched her fists convulsively in front of her knees. “I was so stupid not to realize it before.”

Ty pulled her back into his arms. “Come here,” he ordered huskily. He simply held her, caressing her back and shoulders, murmuring calm words.

Meanwhile the world was waking up around them. The slanting rays of the sun were beginning to poke through the window. The steady beat of Ty’s heart next to Erin’s ear helped her to forget her anger. Finally, she said, “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Yes,” he whispered.

“If you saw what he was doing, why didn’t you tell me?”

He leaned down, kissing her cheek. “Would you have believed me, darlin’? Ty Phillips, the air force captain who works for SAC?”

She closed her eyes, forced to admit she wouldn’t have believed him. Erin caressed his shoulder gently. “So you just waited for the inevitable confrontation and arrived just in time to pick up the pieces.”

“One thing you should know about bomber pilots, honey. We learn to be patient. But it wasn’t easy. I had to convince you that my intentions were honorable and genuine. When you told me about your husband’s death, I put two and two together real fast. I knew at once what Bruce Lansbury was doing and it took everything I had to keep my mouth shut. I was in no position to make you aware of how he was using you. All I could do was pray you’d see the truth without me losing you.”

Ty eased her back on the bed, a wry smile on his strong mouth. “Another thing about bomber pilots you’re going to find out,” he muttered softly, nibbling her ear, sending delicious tingles throughout her body, “is that we’re tenacious. Once we find something we like, we just don’t let go. Not without a hell of a fight.”

Erin sighed languorously, responding to his arousing touch. “Never let me go,” she whispered breathlessly against his descending mouth. “Never…”

This time his kiss was possessive and demanding. Gone was the gentleness. Instead, there was raw desire that he had held in check until this moment. His mouth stole her breath away. Ty held her heart and soul captive within his masculine embrace. His tongue moved deliciously inside her mouth, igniting fires deep within her body. Erin moaned, wanting, needing him fully, aware of his fingers expertly stripping off her white, silk nightgown. Her skin prickled pleasurably as he slowly pulled the material away, exposing her full, taut breasts.

He caressed them ardently, teasing the nipples until they rose to his touch. He dragged his mouth from her throbbing lips and trailed kisses across her neck and shoulders, finally moving to the hardened peaks. Her fingers gripped his shoulders and a soft cry was torn from her lips. The urge to be one with him became overwhelming. Erin shuddered in sweet anticipation as he slid his hand across her flat stomach, parting her thighs.

Her breath came in shallow gasps as he shifted above her. He whispered her name lovingly, his hand beneath her hips, guiding her upward, meeting her, melding in fiery union before his mouth descended on hers. She was freed from the earth, soaring ever higher on wings of passion that held her in sweet torture. Each branding touch against her body, each whispered word against her mouth, acted on her like magic as Ty coaxed her to shamelessly savor their love. Suddenly, a burst of scalding fire exploded within her, and she tensed against him, crying out in joy. He held her so tightly that the breath seemed robbed from her body, but she was lightheaded with euphoria. Moments later she felt his own release and smiled because he had found fulfillment in her. A tremulous smile played on her lips as he rolled over, bringing her to rest on top of him. She lay against him, her hair spilling across his chest. Their hearts thundered in unison, and she kissed his neck and jaw, tasting the saltiness, reveling in the pleasure she had shared with him. He caressed her possessively. “You have a beautiful back,” he murmured. His moving fingers sent shivers flowing across her sensitive skin. “Smooth. A nice deep indentation…” Ty shared a tender smile with her. “You’re beautiful all over, darlin’. Incredibly loving and beautiful.” He placed kisses on her eyes, nose and finally her lips.

“How can you make me so happy?” Erin sighed.

“Because I love you, that’s why.”

Her heart leaped and she lost herself within his warming blue eyes. “And I love you,” Erin said solemnly. “We’ve loved each other since the day we met, honey.

But at first neither one of us could admit it.”

Erin closed her eyes, recalling the pain of being apart from him for months. “Is there anything you don’t know?” she asked. “I didn’t realize I was falling in love with you until that horrible experience in the hyperbaric chamber.” She shivered, remembering. “Just your touch, Ty…your voice.” She met his curiously bright gaze. “I gave myself over to you, something I hadn’t done since Steve died. I thought I always had to be strong and self-reliant. I’d just never met a man I felt I could collapse against and trust to take care of me. Not until you came along.”

Ty captured her lips in a kiss filled with tenderness. “You are my banshee witch,” he murmured throatily. “And you’re right—you are strong and self-sufficient. I want you that way. But I also love the soft, feminine side of you, too.”

She rubbed her cheek against his rough one. “Don’t worry. You automatically bring that out in me. Around you I have to carry Kleenex.”

Ty laughed. “They’ll be tears of happiness as well as tears of growing, honey.”

She ran her fingers through the dark hair on his chest, thinking. Finally, she asked, “Where is all of this leading us, Ty?”

He grinned. “That’s why I stole you away for seven days. I want the time to talk, explore and share with you, Erin Quinlan. We deserve it.”

She returned his smile, feeling as if she would explode from happiness. “I think you’re right.”

On Thanksgiving Day it began to snow in midafternoon. Large, wet flakes fell silently through the slender twigs and branches of the trees that surrounded the house. Inside, Erin turned away from the window and back to the kitchen where the mouthwatering aroma of a fully roasted turkey filled the room. Ty leaned over her shoulder as she basted the golden-brown bird.

“Well?” he asked.

She turned to him and melted beneath his penetrating gaze. “It’s done.”

He straightened up and gave her a pat on the rear. “Great!” Taking silverware from the drain board, he began to set the tastefully decorated dining room table. Erin hummed softly as she scooped succulent sage dressing from the bird into a white china bowl.

For Erin the day held a great deal of personal meaning. She and Ty had worked in the kitchen after sharing an early shower. Ty had proudly produced a twenty-pound turkey from the refrigerator, making Erin laugh. They wouldn’t make a dent in that turkey! But Ty grinned boyishly and shrugged, saying they’d be eating a lot of turkey sandwiches at lunch for the next seven days. Erin was busy stirring the gravy when the phone rang. Ty picked it up in the kitchen, watching her as he leaned against the refrigerator.

“Hello? Oh, hi, Barry. What’s up?”

Ty’s expression immediately changed. Barry was his copilot, or co. She stirred the gravy more slowly, listening to Ty’s half of the conversation.

“Yeah…yeah…She what?” He glanced up at Erin, grinning. “Hold on, I’ll ask her.” He couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “It’s my co, Erin. He and his wife, Carolyn, invited the rest of our crew over for Thanksgiving dinner, but they burned the turkey!”

“Oh, no! They must feel terrible!”

Ty kept his hand over the receiver. “Look. The guys knew you were coming up here for a week. Usually we share holidays together if we can. Carol and Barry were kind enough to take on the whole crew plus their families this time around. Usually we hold the parties here because I live off base and the house can hold a lot of people.”

Erin smiled, anticipating what he was going to ask. “Why not ask them to come here and share our turkey?” Erin suggested. “Lord knows, we’ve got enough for an army!”

Ty winced. “Air force, please. Not the doggy army. Have some sensitivity,” he teased, his grin widening.

Erin laughed. “Okay.”

He searched her face, as if to make sure she didn’t mind the unexpected guests. “Look. They all know this is a special time for you and me,” he began huskily. “I don’t want you to feel obligated just because—”

She shook her head. “Ty Phillips, you tell them to get over here. I won’t take no for an answer.”

He winked at her. “That’s my gal.” He removed his hand from the mouthpiece. “Hey, Barry, bring the crew over. We’ve got enough for everybody.” He continued to smile at her, his eyes warm with affection. “Yes, bring the kids, too. The dogs?” He lifted an eyebrow. Erin nodded. “Yeah, why not? We can let them run in the fenced-in area out back. A little snow won’t hurt those ugly mutts. Okay, see you in about half an hour. Bye.”

Erin had returned to the gravy when she felt Ty walk up behind her. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her back against him, resting his head on her shoulder. “You’re a special lady,” he whispered.

Snow was falling heavily by the time four cars pulled into the driveway. Erin had rearranged the table setting, while Ty had set up a card table and TV trays in the basement game room for the children. Smiling at him, Erin felt prepared to handle the boisterous crew coming up the walk.

Ty dragged her from the kitchen, the apron still around her waist and the potato masher in her hand, as they piled into the foyer. Children ranging in age from a few months to early teens smiled politely at Erin. Ty pulled her close to him as he began introducing everyone. The wives responded enthusiastically and greeted her without reserve.

Carol grimaced. “Erin, we brought over the rest of the dinner—yams, salads, vegetables and desserts. Can you use them?”

“With this crowd?” She laughed. “Sure. Come on. You can help me set up a command post in the kitchen, and we’ll get everyone settled down for dinner.”

“Hey,” John called, grinning mischievously at Ty, “she’s already sounding like an AC’s wife. Taking charge just comes with the territory, huh, Erin?”

Erin blushed as they all laughed, but, despite her embarrassment, she felt like an accepted member of the group. “I—well, I didn’t mean for it to sound—”

“John, leave her alone,” Ray, the Nav, interrupted. “Can’t you see you’re embarrassing her?” He then promptly turned beet-red himself when everyone glanced over at him.

“Damn mushrooms.” Guns chortled. “Come on, men. Let’s head for the basement where we can watch the football game in peace. I’ve got some heavy bets running with the other gunners.”

As the children and men trooped downstairs, Erin was grateful that Ty stayed. He and the women took over the kitchen. As they went about final preparations for the meal, the squeals and laughter of the children, along with the collective groans and cheers from the men, floated up the stairs.

The house rang with warmth and camaraderie all afternoon. Much later, after they’d all eaten a delicious meal and not much remained of the twenty-pound turkey, Ty exchanged a silent, meaningful glance with Erin as she rested on the couch, balancing a plate of pumpkin pie on her lap. Adults and children were sprawled out all over the living room like contented puppies. The teenagers had gone outside to have a snowball fight.

“Hey, Erin,” Ray called from his position on the floor. “Did Ty tell you how much he pined away for you while we were stuck on that mission? He must have lost ten pounds from not eating right.”

She glanced at Ty, who sat at her left. “No, he didn’t tell me,” she said in a mock-accusing tone.

“Yeah,” Barry chimed in, “you should have seen him, Erin”. Talk about a long face!”

“And a real moody bastard,” Ray added. “Man, he was a bear with a capital
B
.”

‘That bad, huh?” she teased Ty. He returned her smile. “It was pretty bad. These poor slobs had to put up with my natural Irish moodiness.” “You should have seen his face when we were relieved from the mission early,” Ray added. “I’ve never seen anybody pack as fast as he did!” Ty slid his hand beneath Erin’s, holding it firmly. “And I suppose you weren’t glad to be coming home to see Chérie?” he asked. “You didn’t act exactly gloomy, turkey.”

Guns grinned. “He’s a mushroom, remember? Of course, they are a couple of birds down in that hole, come to think of it.”

“Stuff it, Guns,” Ray responded politely, making everyone laugh.

“So all of you have the next six days off?” Erin asked the crew.

“Yes, ma’am,” Guns answered, giving his wife a leering glance.

“Is this the time you catch up on all the projects the women couldn’t or didn’t want to do?” she continued. Barry grinned. “You mean like getting cars fixed and patching the roof?”

“Yes.”

Carol gave her husband a warning look. “Don’t let him fool you, Erin. We do everything. Things
always
break down while the men are away. We learned a long time ago to either fix it ourselves or call someone who can.”

The EWO, Skip Helman, grinned knowingly. “Yeah, so by the time we get back, there’s plenty of time for other, more important things.” He gave his brunette wife a quick hug.

“Oh,” Erin countered lamely.

John laughed heartily. “Did you notice the number of kids running around? The stork sure didn’t bring them.”

“Yeah, we really work hard when we get home,” Guns boasted. His wife gave him a jab in the ribs and he feigned injury.

“Ease off,” Ty warned them, trying to be serious. “Erin can’t take you guys in the raw all at once.”

Ray rolled over on his back and tucked his hands under his balding head. “Ah, she’ll get used to it, Ty. We’re such a lovable bunch.”

Late that night Erin rested her head against Ty’s leg, idly watching the flames in the fireplace licking upward in the chimney while she sipped apricot brandy. It was nearly midnight and silence had stolen over the house. Ty caressed her hair, his hand lingering on her shoulder. “Quite a day, huh?”

She closed her eyes, warming to his touch. “Mmm, but wonderful. I’ve never had such a fantastic Thanksgiving. I don’t know when I’ve ever laughed so hard and for so long—especially when Ray tried to bob for that apple and Skip pushed his head under the water. That really wasn’t fair.” She laughed, picturing the episode. Ty ran his fingers through her hair and pushed himself away from the couch, leaning over where she sat on the floor.

“You’re a good sport, you know that?”

Erin smiled. “Why?”

“Because you made a fool out of yourself like everyone else trying to get an apple. That takes courage in front of a bunch of strangers. “

She touched his cheek. Ty captured her hand, and kissed her palm with tantalizing slowness. “I didn’t feel like a stranger,” she admitted. “Isn’t that funny? Back in New York I doubt I’d have felt as welcome. But here…”

Ty released her hand and slid down beside her on the carpet. He poured more apricot brandy into the snifter she cradled in her hands. “Here it’s different, honey. SAC forces us to work hard and long, sometimes too much so. But when we get a break, we play hard, too. As a crew.”

“At everything?” she teased.

“Not quite everything,” he answered. He took her into his arms, his mouth descending lightly against her lips, teasing them with his tongue. His breath was moist against her face as she leaned eagerly against his body, hungry for the closeness he offered. Pulling away, he whispered, “Come on. Let’s go to bed. It’s been a long day and we’re both tired.”

Six days later, Erin gingerly tested the snow, which was almost knee-deep. She had bundled up in a hip-length lavender ski coat, white knit cap and mittens, and was waiting patiently for Ty. Her breath formed white clouds in the early-afternoon air. The sky was a deep blue, and the sun glinted fiercely off the snow. In the distance, she heard the thunderous growl of B-52s winding up for takeoff.

Some of her ebullient mood faded as she thought of the last week. It had gone by so fast. When had she enjoyed life so fully as with Ty? She rubbed her mittened hands together and moved in a small circle to keep warm. Their time was almost over, and she frowned, unsure of the direction her future would take. Erin placed her hand over her heart, fiercely aware of the love she felt for Ty. In the past week, he had shared more about his life with her. Their long talks had revealed new aspects of his character, but above all she had come to see just how dedicated he was to his career. She had never realized that men like Ty and his crew existed and her admiration for them and their families deepened.

At last Ty appeared at the back door and skipped down the wooden steps, a picnic basket in one hand, a blanket in the other. He tossed her a warming smile as he handed her the blanket and promptly slid his arms around her shoulders, drawing her near.

“Almost forgot the mulled wine,” he said by way of apology.

“Can’t do that,” Erin answered, pretending to be horrified. His blue eyes danced. His ability to express his feelings openly had helped her tremendously to voice her own emotions. He was an inspiration to her in every way.

“I don’t think we’ll have any problem keeping it hot,” he said drily. “We’ll drink it fast once we reach the meadow.”

She laughed with him, and they continued to trek toward the same meadow where they had held another picnic weeks ago. After the exhausting walk, Erin was happy to plop down on the blanket. She had never gone on a winter picnic and was thrilled with the idea. As Ty explained, living at a Northern Tier base forced him to be more creative in thinking up ways to spend his leisure hours.

Erin sat expectantly across from him, hands in her lap as she watched him open the thermos.

‘This is a very special picnic, darlin’,” he said, pouring hot, spicy wine into a ceramic mug. Their fingers touched as he handed it to her, and pleasure tingled up her arm. “Careful, you could burn your tongue,” he warned.

She held the mug to her lips, inhaling the fruity fragrance. “Mmm, it smells like heaven!”

“No way, gal.
You
smell like heaven. Matter of fact, you
are
heaven.” Ty recapped the thermos and raised his mug, his eyes steady on hers. “Here, I want to make a toast,” he said.

Erin caught the husky inflection in his tone. A new expression of seriousness came to his face as he met her widened eyes. “Go ahead,” she urged softly, touching his mug with hers.

“Here’s to a lifetime of sharing love,” Ty murmured, watching her closely.

Her lips parted and she stared at him in silence. “Well?” he prodded gently. “Are you going to drink to that, my lovely banshee witch?” The pulse leaped at the base of her throat. “You mean—” Erin stammered.

A lazy smile curved his mouth. “You realize, of course, that if you go back to New York, I’ll die of wretched loneliness without you.”

She lowered the mug, unable to meet his warming gaze any longer. “Oh, Ty.” The moments of silence lengthened between them. Erin fingered the mug, staring down into the ruby liquid.

“What’s going on in your head?” he demanded quietly. “Are you worried about being up here in the middle of nowhere without a job, with no career?”

Erin lifted her chin, eyes filled with tears. “I can freelance…”

Ty tilted his head, studying her. “What then, honey?” She made a small, helpless gesture. “I—I thought all you wanted was an affair. A long-term one, but—”

He reached out and gripped her hand firmly. “I don’t go around saying ‘I love you’ to every woman I meet, Erin. I do love you and that means one-hundred-percent commitment. Whatever gave you the crazy idea that all I wanted was an affair?”

She sniffed, brushing away a tear. “I never thought we stood a chance, Ty. I live in New York. I have—had—a job there. From the way you talked about your first marriage, I knew you had chosen between a personal commitment and your career. But I can’t help feeling that your marriage ended because of more than just your career.” She studied him keenly. “You made Anne out to be the victim, but somehow—” she groped for the right words “—somehow I think she contributed to the problems, too. It takes two to make a divorce, Ty, not just one. Knowing you as I do, I think you’re taking most of the blame on yourself. Is that true?”