Wolf Tracks - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,29

the runway, Helen saw another plane come in for a landing in front of them. It touched down beautifully, and she heard the bored-sounding communications with the ground over the headset. Then, Jim spoke over the radio, requesting clearance. He got it, and they started moving down the runway, picking up speed as they rolled along.

She saw the other plane taxiing around, moving towards its hangar, even as the wheels on the aircraft she was in left the ground. Exhilaration filled her at the feeling of flight, as it always did, but this time, it was even more primal. The thrum of the propellers filled her body, and she felt so close to the outside, it was almost like being a bird.

Chapter Seven

“This is amazing,” she muttered. Jim, having heard her, even over the engine noise, turned and smiled his killer grin at her.

She saw the spark in his eyes. The excitement he felt at being in control of the machine that made the impossible, possible. This flimsy little aircraft allowed people to fly. It was still a wonder to her, after all these years.

The first half-hour of the flight passed in no time at all as Helen enjoyed the incredible views. She even took a few photos with her phone, intending to send one or two to her sister, later. Eventually, though, she started feeling hungry. They hadn’t really eaten today yet, in all the tumult of leaving Virginia. Helen unbuckled her seatbelt and got up.

“I’m going to get lunch,” she told him.

“Great. I’m starving,” he replied, predictably. If there was one thing she was learning about shifters, it was that they could eat three times what she did and still be hungry.

Helen went back to the little galley area where she and Leslie had stowed the food. Helen took a few moments to unwrap a couple of sandwiches and put them on a tray, then added bottles of juice and headed back up to the cockpit. There was a little pull-out table on which she secured the tray. Jim looked over at her as she sat back down, and she could just about guess what he was thinking by the somewhat lost expression on his face.

“Don’t worry. There’s a lot more food back there. I just figured we’d start with this, and I’ll go get seconds when you finish that,” she told him. “There’s really not enough room up here for more than this right now.”

“Thank goodness,” Jim said, chuckling. “I thought you were putting me on a diet or something.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Helen joked back. “I don’t want to be locked in a small plane with a hungry wolf.”

“Honey, you already are,” Jim drawled. Suddenly, the atmosphere between them sizzled with intensity. His gaze held hers, and she felt like he wanted to devour her…not in a bad way.

Could he be feeling the same hopeless attraction? She’d thought he’d sort of given her her marching orders when they’d parted the first time. As if he’d decided that whatever it was brewing between them wasn’t worth the hassle or complication.

Of course, then, she’d driven all day to get to him in Virginia Beach. She’d gone the extra mile—literally—and maybe he’d decided that things were different. She wasn’t sure. The only thing she could be certain of were her own feelings, and they were yammering at her to grab on to Jim with both hands and never let go.

Whoa. Down, girl.

Yeah, her reaction to Jim had never been what she could describe as tepid. He’d revved her motor without even trying from almost the first moment they’d met. He’d alternately fascinated her and frustrated her, playing come hither and then pushing her gently away. As if he was fighting the attraction or couldn’t make up his mind about whether or not to let this thing between them run its course.

Maybe he was trying to protect her. Maybe werewolves had some kind of kinky courtship rituals that would damage her in some way—either physically, mentally, or emotionally. She had no idea. She hadn’t even been able to get the nitty-gritty details about Kiki’s bear mate yet. There’d been no time for deep down sisterly chatting. Helen had hoped that after the honeymoon period wore off—if it ever did—she would get a chance to talk to Kiki and get all the dirty details.

Kiki’s mate was a bear, though. Maybe wolves were different in their mating habits than bears. Once again, Helen had no clue. She could only go on instinct here,