Isabella’s Airman (6 page)

I’d not spoken to Davy since we returned the day before. He’d been in the mess, and then I saw him with his crew, engrossed in his plane, but apart from that, I was busy in the kitchen. Today included helping to prepare the refreshments for the dance.

The whole station was talking about the dance. WAAFs giggled together in corners, and the airmen seemed universally light-hearted. Juliet told me they hadn’t incurred any losses in the last three raids, and spirits were high. The crews were confident. New airmen coming in were impressed by Mildenhall and its successful record of operations.

Davy and Teddy would be escorting us to the NAAFI tonight, all of five minutes away, but I liked the idea. The prospect of walking into the crowded hall by myself was enough to make me shiver. I didn’t do well in crowds, something I only learned when we came here. I fiddled with the bodice of my dress and then tugged at the skirt hem. For once, my stockings were staying in place, but everything else felt awkward.

Juliet had done her best to teach me how to dance, although where and when she’d had time to learn was anybody’s guess. Teddy, perhaps? From what she told me, they hadn’t gone beyond kissing yet, but she hoped tonight would be the night.

“They’re here.” She stuck her head out of the window and called a greeting, and then spun around to me, a happy smile on her face. She always looked pretty, but tonight she looked amazing. Teddy wouldn’t be able to resist her.

Clattering down the stairs, our shoes noisy on the wooden floorboards, Juliet led the way and hurled herself into Teddy’s arms, completely ignoring the officers walking past. Teddy laughed and whirled her around before kissing her so hard I went red on her behalf.

Davy stood there, eyes wide and gaze fixed on me. I smoothed out the flared skirt and wondered again what he saw in me. “Dear God, Belle.” He sounded hoarse. “You look incredible.” He swallowed and then smiled, little dimples appearing in his smooth cheeks. “I would love the honor of taking you to the NAAFI dance, but you have to promise me something.”

“What is it?”

“You only dance with me.” He reached out to me with both hands. “Otherwise I’ll be fighting half the squadron, and that doesn’t go down well with the Wing Commander.”

I giggled, just as Teddy spoke. “Be fair, Porteous. You can’t hog her all night.”

“Watch me.” Davy flashed a confident grin at his friend. “And besides, are you going to let anyone else near your girl tonight?”

“Not a hope in hell.” Teddy released Juliet, and she snuggled into his side, their arms around each other. They made a striking pair. What would people think when they saw me with Davy? What would my family and tutors think if they knew? It made me pause, but only for a second. One day at a time; that’s what I’d agreed.

My stomach was tying itself in knots, and I couldn’t be any more nervous if I tried, but I took Davy’s hands and smiled at him. “I promise I will only dance with you.”

“That’s all right, then.” Leaving Juliet with Teddy, we strolled along the path toward the NAAFI, hand in hand. Davy looked amazing, his uniform smart, buttons so shiny they were like mirrors, and his shoes polished to a high gloss. I was glad I’d taken Juliet’s advice and dressed up.

Marc had told me to remember my training, and in a roundabout way, I’d do that tonight. While inside I may be quaking with nerves, I’d be professional on the outside. I’d pretend this was an assignment, the Wing Commander was one of my tutors, and the squadron leaders were
sentinels
. I’d
make
myself blend into the crowd tonight.

Before we’d even reached the NAAFI, we heard the music drifting across the warm evening air. I paused for a moment outside the building, and Davy stopped, glancing down at me, his brows quirking.

The sun had begun its slow glide down to the horizon, and the wispy high clouds were stunning in their gold and orange shadows. I was awed. The sheer beauty of the evening sky, the flowers still fragrant on the air, and the night creatures starting their business, while rabbits played under the trees. The sounds of laughter, and music, and glassware chinking.
Life
.

This was what they were fighting for, this vision of England, free and undamaged. And if they hadn’t flown to Germany and dropped all their bombs, if the war hadn’t been won by the Allies, then I would not be here now. The future would be irrevocably different.

“Isabella?” Davy smiled at me. “Ready?”

The next two hours were a whirl of noise and color and delight. I sampled beer for the first time and wrinkled my nose at the taste, to Davy’s amusement. He introduced me to the rest of his crew, and so many airmen and officers, until I could no longer remember anybody’s name.

And I danced.
We
danced.

Davy gathered me loosely in his arms, his dimples flickering into view every time he smiled, and together we moved around the crowded dance floor. “I don’t know how to, either,” he confided. “We’ll make it up as we go along, aye.”

The band played a lively number, and couples swayed and tapped their feet to the rhythm. I tried to copy their moves and gave up, following Davy instead. Juliet, of course, looked completely at home, but for once I didn’t envy her. Tonight I was happy in my own skin. I didn’t recognize myself.

Davy fended off several good-natured requests from other men wanting to dance with me, and as the floor filled up, he moved even closer. With one hand resting lightly on my waist and the other on my shoulder, he guided me to the spaces where we didn’t get jostled.

The music slowed to a smooth melody that I recognized from my studies, and my heart fluttered. “Moonlight Serenade.” I’d loved this since I first heard it, and I hummed along in pleasure. When Davy’s fingers tightened on my hip and he pulled me into his body, I didn’t resist. I never wanted to move.

I gazed up into his beautiful face and saw my confused emotions mirrored in his eyes. Warmth. Longing.
Need
. My pulse quickened, and the air jammed in my lungs. I was in over my head. He was too attached, and I knew I would break his heart. I refused to consider what he could do to me.

He ducked his head, his mouth brushing my ear. “Is it just me, or is it hot in here?”

When he looked at me like that, I felt as though I’d burst into flames. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I nodded. Grabbing my hand, he led me across the now-crowded dance floor to the doors, and outside to the mellow night air. We walked a few steps in the near darkness, and then Davy turned to face me.

My fingers clung to his jacket and he drew me dangerously close. His breathing sounded ragged. Was he as nervous as I was?

“
Cariad
, I’d really like to kiss you.” He dragged in a quick breath. “May I?”

My voice deserted me. I licked dry lips and nodded instead, a tiny movement, but he must have seen it. His head descended and closed the gap, his lips seeking and finding mine.
Another first
. In the fraction of a second before it happened, I tried to remember Juliet’s instructions on how to kiss.
Failed
. But it didn’t matter.

His warm, soft lips brushed against me, a hint of pleasure to come. One sweep, gentle and tender, then another. I gasped, the shockwave flashing across me from head to toe. Every nerve tingled, every sense on high alert. His lips were back, meeting mine, and this time, staying joined. His hands pulled me even tighter against his lean torso. I tasted mint and beer and apples. He was delicious.

My heart sang. I was being kissed. I felt something soft and moist against my lips.
His tongue
. Even as I wondered what he was doing, I dragged in another breath, my mouth falling open. His tongue slipped in to flick against my teeth. His mouth slanted, and the kiss pulled deeper. I imagined we melded our two selves together.

There was the merest flick of his eager tongue again, and this time I let him in. Should I follow? Hesitant, unsure if I should even be doing this, I danced my tongue against his.
God
. A muffled groan rumbled from his throat, and the pressure increased, kissing me so hard I drowned, unable to resist.

He raised his head; hot breath flashed on my face. “God, Belle,
Bella
.” I whimpered, an inarticulate sound that came out as a pure reaction to the loss of sensation. “Belle,” he whispered again, swooping into me, melting me, burning me.

I hadn’t been kissed; I’d been branded. Everything I’d ever experienced in my scant nineteen years paled into insignificance. Nothing had ever been so real, so honest.

I kissed him back, our tongues playing, our lips devouring each other. Time stopped. There was just Davy and me. I clung to him, my knees weak and shaking with the intensity, as though the only part of my body still working was my mouth.

Random thoughts fired through my brain. Each one leading back to Davy. I was lost.

I inhaled cautiously, bombarded on all sides by new sensations. My body felt alive in a way I’d never thought possible, fire running through my veins instead of blood, my heart racing and pounding against my ribs. Without being conscious of it, I’d moved my hands and slid them up Davy’s chest to wrap around his neck, my fingers playing with the short, fine hairs I found there. When he hesitated and lifted his head, I felt bereft. Abandoned.

“Damn,” he cursed softly. “It’s too public here.” Behind us were footsteps in the dark, two people, maybe three, the murmur of male voices and a trickle of music from the dance. “Come with me,” whispered Davy. He pressed a hot kiss against the side of my neck, and I whimpered again. I’d have followed him anywhere.

He linked our fingers, and then with a little squeeze, led me across a patch of grass. It felt springy beneath my feet and muffled our steps, the faint strains of music fading out as we walked. I peered up at the hulking outline of a building and tried to figure where we’d gone.

“This is the hay barn.” Had he read my mind?

I knew that hay was horse fodder, but I’d never seen it before. The squishy blocks of dried grass took me by surprise, and so did the sweet, floral smell. Our feet scuffed through loose wisps of dried grass—
hay
—as Davy took me farther into the back of the barn and settled me on a scratchy block. Firm beneath me, the hay sagged a little as I sat, cushioning me, with Davy by my side.

A broad shaft of moonlight crept through the open doorway, its fingers just reaching us. Davy’s face appeared half in shadow, half bathed in the pale beam. His cheek looked translucent, his skin ghostly. A shiver trickled down my spine, a nervous awareness of what might happen. What he may expect.

“Belle,” he said again, his voice husky. Wrapping his arms around me, fingers brushing me through my dress, I could feel the raw heat from beneath his uniform. His lips swept against my throat, and I dropped my head back, helpless beneath a wave of sensations. I imagined my body laid out for his attention, every nerve ending on high alert.

With his arms strong around me, I relaxed into his embrace, and eased back to lean against the wall. God. If I’d known it would be like this, I’d have worked harder to claim an earlier place on a field trip. I was completely unused to such a volume of feeling, such an outpouring of emotion. My brain struggled to keep pace with my hands, and my lips acted purely on instinct. As before, we held hands; this felt
right
.

Davy halted again, his entire body freezing as he leaned over me. “Sshh!” His whisper was urgent in my ear, and he covered me, hiding me from view. We were in the shadows, well away from the open doorway and far enough away from the couple that had just walked in, but were now trapped. We couldn’t leave without disturbing them.

I caught a glimpse of a man in uniform, a long coat swishing around his legs, and then a flash of pale skin and golden hair in a long plait. Juliet.

She was with Teddy. I saw his face as he turned into the moonlight before he grasped the curving handle and dragged the sliding door closed. It grated into place, a muffled thump as it sealed shut, and pitch darkness swamped us. Panic bubbled in my chest, and I felt for Davy’s hand.

Teddy fiddled with a lamp on the wall, and it made a soft whooshing noise as it lit. He settled the glass cover in place and turned the wheel to reduce the size of the flame. A gas lamp, I recognized it from our classes. A warm, yellow glow cast a flickering pool of light beneath it, illuminating Teddy and Juliet as though they were taking center stage.

Juliet lay back on a nest of hay, her hands reaching out to Teddy, and I gazed, hypnotized.

Davy nuzzled my earlobe. “I think we’re stuck here until they finish. Do you mind?”

Did I? I was more curious than worried. I held Davy’s head close, relishing the warmth of his lips as he bathed my throat in a searing trail of kisses, but my eyes were fixed on the other couple. For the life of me, I couldn’t tear myself away.

“Jules. God, you’re so beautiful.” Teddy’s clear voice carried easily across the hay to our dark corner. He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’ve never met anyone like you before.” Another kiss. “You taste so good.” Another kiss, this time lower, on her neck. The pink dress rode up to her thighs, and with her pale skin gleaming, she looked as though she were made of marble.

Teddy kneeled above her, shrugged out of his coat, and dropped it on the floor, careless of where it landed. His jacket following, the buttons clinking as they moved with strange flickering shadows dancing across the floor in its wake.

“Jules, baby.” Teddy’s lips moved farther down.
Kiss
. “Darling, you know how dangerous things are.”
Kiss
. “I’ll be flying again soon. I might not come back.” Leaning over her, he kissed the base of her throat and made her moan in return. “This might be the only chance we ever have.” His lips hovered close to her collarbone. Juliet tangled both hands around his head and pulled him closer, while I hid a smile. Teddy was using Juliet’s lines.

Her voice was breathy. “Don’t stop, Teddy. Please.”

“I want to see you. All of you.” Hunched over her, he reminded me of a painting I’d seen, a hawk eating its prey. His fingers played with the tiny buttons at the front of her dress, and he paused. “May I, Jules? Please say yes.”