Born To Fly: Landing In Love Read online

  Born To Fly:

  Landing In Love

  A Contemporary Romance Novel by

  Aliyah Burke

  Published by Phaze Books

  Also by Aliyah Burke

  Add a Little Mistletoe

  Born to Fly: Landing in Love

  Just a Dream

  Sin is Not a Four-Letter

  This is an explicit and erotic novel

  intended for the enjoyment

  of adult readers. Please keep

  out of the hands of children.

  www.Phaze.com

  Born To Fly: Landing In Love

  Copyright © 2010 by Aliyah Burke

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Edited by Lourenza Helena Adlem

  Cover Art © 2010 by Amanda Kelsey

  First Edition June 2010

  ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-991-4

  Published by:

  Phaze Books

  An imprint of Mundania Press LLC

  6470A Glenway Ave., #109

  Cincinnati, OH 45211

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Mundania Press LLC, 6470A Glenway Avenue, #109, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, [email protected].

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Mundania Press LLC. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

  Chapter One

  Major Erich Stark swore under his breath as a woman shot out from the back of Atlantis and damn near ran over him. As it was, she hit him dead on and he grabbed her arm to not only steady her but also keep her from falling to the ground.

  “Easy there,” he drawled.

  Her head jerked up and he found himself gazing into a pair of dark brown eyes framed by thick black lashes. Smooth mocha skin covered her lithe body. She had a heart shaped face with a flatter, cute button nose. Full, tempting lips were parted in shock and surprise.

  “Con permiso,” she mumbled in a raspy alto voice and stepped out of his hold.

  Erich’s gaze skimmed her and he couldn’t stop the flare of desire. She wore a pair of white cotton pants, which sat low on her hips and a gold cutoff shirt that exposed her flat, defined abdominals and the shapely tuck of her waist. Damn! She’s in awesome shape. Still, none of it took away from her femininity. “No problem,” he said, not minding at all how she felt in his arms. “You new here? I don’t ever remember seeing you dance here before.”

  Her arched brows snapped together and her chin lifted in haughty arrogance. “Excuse me?” she snapped in English.

  He pointed to the building she’d just vacated. “The Atlantis. You just came from the back, like employees do. So I’ll ask again, are you new here?”

  Erich fought the urge to shuffle his feet as her gaze seared him. No woman since his mother had ever wielded the power to make him squirm. Until now. She raked her gaze from the top of his head down to his boots and back up again.

  “And I suppose you know all of the ladies that work there, don’t you?” she asked in a sharp tone.

  Her condescension raised his hackles. “You have a problem with men going to these places and yet you’re coming out of one? How else do you earn money if you don’t have patrons?”

  “I’m surprised you would recognize my face at all. I’m sure that’s not what you’re used to paying attention to.”

  She’s mighty snippy. Not that it mattered to Erich. He liked his women with fire. The desire to needle her a bit more roared over him with the force of a gale. Dropping his gaze he stared at her open toed sandals and smiled at the metallic green polish on her toes. A gold chain with small bells circled her left ankle. And around her right one was a tattoo he longed to get a closer look at.

  “Tonight your first night?” he queried. I’m coming back to see you dance, whoever you are.

  “You know, not everyone who leaves an establishment like this…a gentleman’s club…works in one. Some women are capable of and actually enjoy making a living without gyrating around a pole, and having men leer at them.”

  She pushed by him and Erich turned and watched her walk to a waiting convertible and jump in over the door. A low growl left him when he saw the handsome younger man at the wheel kiss her cheek and then drive them both away.

  “Hey Erich.” The sound of a voice pulled his head back around. It belonged to Donovan “Livewire” Leegen, friend and pilot.

  “Donovan, what’s up?” he asked his friend.

  “You know Bliss?” his friend asked, peering past him in the direction the car had left.

  “Bliss?” Erich’s body hardened as the vixen’s image popped back into his mind. Bliss. That is a damn good name for her. What’s Donovan doing here?

  “Yes, Bliss. The dancer.” Donovan frowned at him. “Dude, you were just talking to her. Hot as all get-out. A body made for—”

  Narrowing his eyes at his friend, Erich ground out in a tone laced with death, “If you value your life, Captain Leegen, you’ll refrain from completing that sentence.”

  His fists were clenched at his sides and he longed to smash one into Donovan. Hell, why not both? It didn’t make sense, but he wanted nothing more than to stop the phrase coming from the other man’s mouth. Preferably with a violent manner. Bliss, if that was her name, was his.

  Donovan arched a blond brow at him and crossed his arms. “What does it matter to you what I say about her?”

  “She. Is. Mine.”

  “Since when?”

  The second she walked into my arms. Setting his jaw, Erich lifted a brow of his own and stared at Donovan. He wasn’t backing down from this. Granted he hadn’t known her for longer than about two minutes, and that hadn’t even included a formal introduction. But it didn’t matter.

  “Don’t fuck with me on this, Leegen,” he bit off.

  Green eyes narrowed. “Jesus, Daredevil, you’re serious.”

  “Deadly.” Erich didn’t even flinch at the use of his call name.

  “Do you even know her?”

  “Not yet.” He paused. “Where do you know her from?”

  “Dancing.”

  I thought she didn’t work here. Erich relaxed his fists and sighed. “You’ve seen her dancing here?”

  “Here? No. Not here.”

  That bit of news didn’t sit as well with him as he’d hoped. There were other strip clubs around and he didn’t want to have to go through and find her. But, if that’s what it took, he would. “I have to go. See you, Donovan.”

  Donovan smiled. “Yes, I’ll see you around. Hey, Daredevil, about what I said, I didn’t mean anything by it, just that she’s hot, ya know?”

  “Aren’t you eng
aged?”

  “Sure am.”

  “Then you don’t need to be looking around anyway.”

  “I’m engaged, Daredevil, not dead.”

  “You will be if you insist on looking at my woman.”

  “Did you even know her name before I told you?”

  “What I knew or didn’t know ain’t none of your business.” He licked his lips. “I will find out everything about her.”

  “Since when are you so possessive over a woman?”

  They walked toward his car. Once there, Erich leaned on the hood and hooked his ankles as he stared at his friend. “When did you know about Carissa?”

  A purely masculine smile filled Donovan’s face. “The second I laid eyes on her.” Erich merely lifted an eyebrow and waited. Donovan murmured and nodded. “Okay, I get it. Not anything you can explain. You just know.”

  “Exactly.” Erich pushed off the hood and scanned the darkening sky. “I’ll catch you around, Donovan.”

  “Yes. And…good luck.”

  Erich merely waved, not entirely sure Donovan wasn’t being totally sarcastic in his well-wishing. He paused with his hand on the handle of his door. “Bliss,” he muttered. “Well, not much to go on, but it’s more than I had.”

  A fleeting thought that Bliss may just be her working name crossed his mind. Sliding across the leather seat of his T-Top Monterey maroon Chevrolet Camaro, Erich started the powerful engine and pulled out of Atlantis’ parking lot. Erich drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and, with a sigh, headed back for the base. Tomorrow he would begin his search for his woman. He had a flight to get ready for.

  After a smooth flight Erich headed back across the base toward his room when he heard his name being called. Stopping, he waited for his friend to catch up. “What’s up, Tom?” he asked.

  “I need a favor,” the man said, a desperate gleam in his eyes.

  * * * *

  Bliss Esparza smiled with well-learned patience at Jorge Colón sitting across from her at the outdoor café. She settled back in her chair as Jorge continued to prattle on about how she needed to settle down with a man and give him lots of children. It was a familiar lecture, so she allowed her mind to float away like the warm breeze which blew around them. The air was filled with the smell of rich foods, music, laughter, and conversations. From behind her mirrored shades she began to people watch.

  Sipping her coffee, she thought about the man she’d met outside the Atlantis. Well, bumped into actually. He was tall with short brown hair and cobalt blue eyes. His voice had been deep and lined with a twang. A lazy drawl that made tendrils of desire unfurl within her and spread throughout her entire body. Her lip curled in a snarl when she recalled the way he’d assumed she worked at Atlantis. And yet, she wanted to touch the muscles which bulged under the tight brown tee shirt he wore. He’d also had on a pair of skin tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. His eyes had been full of masculine appreciation and arrogance.

  I bet he’s a military man. He had that serviceman haircut. She fought her smile when she remembered the spark of attitude which had popped up when she’d made her snide comment. I’m usually nicer to people.

  “Bliss,” Jorge said touching her arm.

  “What?” she asked trying desperately to recall what he’d been blathering about.

  “What do you say? Dinner tonight?”

  Swirling her iced coffee, Bliss took a slow drink and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Jorge. I can’t. I have a class tonight.”

  “You always have class.”

  Bliss narrowed her eyes at his tone. “Which is no concern of yours. Don’t think you’re going to start running my life, Jorge.” She pushed to her feet. “I’ve made it perfectly clear my life is just that, mine.” Without another word she walked away.

  Jorge fell into step with her. “I’m sorry, Bliss. You know how I feel about you.”

  Without stopping, Bliss said, “And I’ve been totally straight from the beginning, Jorge. Friends only. Nothing else.”

  “You’ve told me.” He sounded bitter.

  “Then why do you persist in trying?”

  “Why don’t you give us a chance?” This time it was anger which laced his words.

  “Aside from the fact I’m not attracted to you like that? There’s the way you treat your girlfriends. Women are good for more than keeping a house clean, cooking, and giving you kids, you know. Oh, and then there’s your issue with my career. Is that enough reason?” Bliss groaned. “I’m going home, Jorge. I’ll see you later.”

  She walked off toward the place where her car was. There are some days I’m really not sure why I’m friends with that man. As she approached, Bliss saw her brother, Mateo, sitting on the back, chatting up a few young women.

  He glanced at her and waved, a huge grin on his face. The trio of females looked at her and back to him.

  “Hey, Mateo, I need to get going,” she said with a nod to the women there.

  “No problem, Sis. I’ll take you home.” Mateo stared at her and she could read in his eyes the desire to impress the ladies there.

  “Thanks,” she replied, grumbling to herself as she climbed into her car and sat in the passenger seat. My car and I’m letting my brother drive.

  Her younger brother vaulted easily into the driver’s seat and with a wave to the girls he shifted into gear and headed out of Morón de la Frontera and got them on the road to their house in Seville.

  “New friends?” she asked over the wind that flowed around them.

  He flashed a grin which made her think of their father, Óscar. “Yeah, they’re going to be at the party tonight.”

  She caught her frown before it crossed her face. I can’t treat him like a baby. He was seventeen and thought of himself as grown up. Bliss had to admit he seemed to be confident in most things he did.

  “I see. And this party is where?”

  “It’s at Jamie’s house. His parents will be there.”

  “Okay. You know I have the class tonight but call me if you need me and—”

  “Bliss. I’m not a baby.”

  “I know. But, that doesn’t mean I won’t still worry.”

  “Are you driving back down there tonight?” he asked as they pulled into the outdoor covered parking area.

  Bliss stared at the backyard and shook her head as they walked through, the air pungent with the numerous varieties of roses which her mother had planted when her parents first purchased the house. That was before she’d even been a gleam in her daddy’s eye.

  “No. There will be someone here to pick me up. But I’ll be gone before you, I’m sure.” They entered and she slipped off her shoes, the slick marble cool on her bare feet. “I’ll be down to make lunch in a bit, Mateo, I want to get my stuff ready for this evening.”

  “I’ll get it started,” he said easily.

  Bliss jogged upstairs to her room. After the death of their father it had taken a while but she had eventually taken over the master bedroom. She packed a bag and took a quick shower before dressing in another pair of soft cotton pants and a grayish-blue spaghetti strap shirt. Staring at her reflection, Bliss sighed and picked up her anklet. Her eyes drifted to the photo of her parents which still sat in the center of her dresser.

  “I miss you both, so much.”

  The bells on her ankle bracelet tinkled lightly as she touched the frame. She walked to her bed, placed her foot on it and latched the thin gold piece of filigree jewelry. Standing straight, she rolled her shoulders and then headed back down to the first floor and set her bag by the door before walking into the large kitchen. Mateo had already pulled out sandwich makings and had begun to stack himself a tall one.

  “Hungry?” Bliss teased, watching him pile on a few more pieces of sliced meat to the already overloaded sandwich.

  “Hey, I’m a growing boy.”

  “That is true. Can’t argue about that.” Reaching for the tomato, she sliced it up swiftly and rolled her eyes when they vanished before she even finished
. “Leave me one or two will you? I have to have some energy for the class tonight.”

  “Please, you could fast all day and still have energy,” Mateo commented while putting two of the slices back beside her.

  “Thank you.” She knew he was right but this was the last tomato in the house and she wanted some. “I’ll go shopping tonight when I get home, or tomorrow.”

  Bliss looked up and saw her brother was paying her absolutely no attention. He was having a stare down with his sandwich as if unsure of the best way to attack it. Or get his mouth around it. Pointing the knife at him she cleared her throat. Mateo glanced up. “You make a mess in my kitchen and I’ll be using this knife on you,” she warned, only partially playing.

  He grinned and put it back on his plate. “I’ll eat this outside on the patio.”

  She sighed as he vanished from view. He was the last link to her parents and she’d protect him with everything inside her. He is not a boy anymore, he is a young man. I should really let him do his own thing more. It was hard for her to release the reins over him. He’d been her “child” since the day he was born.

  Her own sandwich made, she grabbed a drink and took it outside where Mateo was doing a fairly good job of getting his sandwich to fit in his mouth. Then she went back for her plate and soon they were eating and talking over lunch. Once they’d finished and cleaned up, Bliss began working in the backyard while Mateo mowed the front. While he mowed the back, she made dinner for him and slid it into the oven to begin cooking.

  Her brother was in the shower when the doorbell rang. That should be my ride. Hurrying to the door, Bliss pulled it open and froze. Standing before her was none other than the man she’d run into outside Atlantis earlier in the day. And damn if he didn’t look just as mouthwatering now as he had then.

  She didn’t say a word, just scanned him from head to toe. His brown hair looked as shiny as it had before. He wore a faded gray tee shirt with a cowboy riding a horse on the front. The shirt was tight and hugged his body, showcasing his impressive arms. It wasn’t tucked in and hung over the waist of his fitted blue jeans. And like before he wore cowboy boots. Dragging her gaze back up his hard physique, she fought the urge to lick her lips at the heat flaring in his cobalt gaze.