Riding Out the Storm

Riding Out

The Storm

by

Emma Jay

Chapter
One

March
3

To:
[email protected]

From:
jillaminute@ straitads.com

Subject:
Thanks!

Hi
Ethan,

Dinner
was great last night. I’d never been to Florio’s. Best lasagna ever. Have
leftovers for lunch.

Couldn’t
sleep thinking about the kiss. I’ve been thinking about your lips all day, and
the way you played your fingers through my hair. Sexiest thing ever.

Jill

****

March
3

Subject:
re: Thanks!

Jill,

Dinner
again tomorrow? There’s a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place by my house. Really
good.

Also,
meet me in the copy room in five.

Ethan

****

Jill
Gavin rose and glanced around, certain that anyone within view could see the
neon sign over her head: Going To Make Out With Co-Worker. Okay, she couldn’t
be sure that was his intention, because they’d only been on one date, but that
one date had ended in a perfect kiss. She wanted about a million more of those.

She
grabbed a stack of papers off her desk which was always filled with papers, and
headed for the copy room, not making eye contact. She didn’t want anyone to
kill this buzz.

Ethan
Dewitt stood at the copier, hands braced on either side of the machine. Jill
took a moment to appreciate the look of him. She’d always liked big guys, which
was part of what drew her to him. He kept his dark brown hair cut close to his
head, which accented his lean-planed, strong-jawed face. The neatly pressed
work shirts he always wore showed off his broad shoulders. His long, long legs
were encased in loose-fitting khakis that did nothing to disguise his excellent
ass, which was another part that drew her to him.

Okay,
she wasn’t that shallow. He was soft-spoken and thoughtful and clever and had a
great smile—which he gifted her with now as he looked over his shoulder at her.
She stood frozen for a moment, papers clutched to her. He glanced at them and
the grin widened.

“Was
my invitation convenient, or is that your excuse for being here?”

She
crossed the room and set the rumpled papers on the machine by his right hand.
She wasn’t accustomed to being uncomfortable around men, but her relationship
with Ethan—this was something new, and her goals for what she wanted had
changed over the last year.

Ethan
took her hand and stepped back from the machine, inclining his head toward the
supply closet door. A thrill rolled through her, which wouldn’t have happened a
year ago, not when she was too jaded for a simple touch to excite her. Now,
when he rubbed his thumb over the back of her knuckles, her knees weakened. Her
knees hadn’t gone weak at the touch of a man since she was in high school—until
he’d kissed her last night.

He
drew a key from his front pocket, dangled it for a minute, then opened the
locked supply closet. She glanced behind her to see if anyone else noticed, and
followed him into the dark alcove.

Once
the door was closed behind them, he flipped on the dim overhead light—how could
anyone find anything in here—and pressed her against the shelves. He cupped her
face in his big hand and lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were firm and dry
as they covered hers, filling her with his minty taste. She smiled, imagining
him popping a breath mint before emailing her. That was the last coherent
thought she had as she wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders. He angled
his head, taking the kiss deeper, his tongue teasing her lips as his thumb
stroked over her cheek. Savoring her, she realized. Treasuring her. When was
the last time that had happened?

She
glided her palms over his shoulders, down the hard muscles of his chest, and
she barely swallowed the whimper of appreciation. His ass had clued her in that
he was probably built, but the proof was beneath her hands.

And
damn, he could kiss, lips and tongue caressing, slanted over hers to delve
deeper. But he never touched more than her face, his other hand braced behind
her on the shelf, holding his weight off her when all she wanted was for him to
press against her. She shifted forward, so her breasts pressed against his
chest, her arms twined about his neck, her hips tilted against his thighs so
that, yes, oh, yes. That was what she’d been missing, his arousal growing
against her belly.

A
hungry sound came from the back of his throat and his kiss became more urgent,
more demanding, tongue stroking, lips pulling, fingers twining in her hair. She
answered the demand move for move—how awesome that she could read his
intentions this soon in their relationship—but he still didn’t touch her where
her body craved his touch, didn’t kiss her anywhere but her mouth. God, she’d
forgotten how hot kissing could make her.

Just
when she was about to grab his hands and put them on her ass, he lifted his
head, breaking the kiss. His breathing was heavy, his eyes dark, but his
willpower was apparently greater than hers. After a moment, during which she
longed for him to kiss her again, he grinned.

“Think
that’ll hold you until tonight?”

Her
body screamed, “No!” but her mind savored the buzz flowing through her blood.
Anticipation was an excellent drug.

“It
might,” she replied, when she could trust her voice. “But I probably shouldn’t
know you have a key to the supply room.”

“Our
secret,” he said, reaching for the door handle.

Oh,
she hoped so.

****

March
6

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
We have to stop meeting this way.

Jill,

How
did you know I’ve always had the elevator fantasy? Too bad Mr. Strait was in
the lobby when we got off. You looked very thoroughly kissed. And you blushed.
Drove me out of my mind.

Ethan

****

Jill
blushed again, reading Ethan’s email. He’d been waiting for her in the lobby
when she arrived at work, holding a coffee carrier and a small paper bag from
her favorite bakery. She hadn’t seen him in a whole seven hours, so when the
elevator door had opened, and no one else had joined them, well…

His
hands had been occupied, so she was more than happy to do all the work,
pressing him into the corner, sliding up his body to capture his mouth, her
hands trailing down his chest to tease his erection through his slacks.

Last
night had been the first time she’d touched him, stroking him just enough to
make them both crazy before he’d pushed her hand away and said good night. He
was being very patient with her, understanding that she wanted to wait to make
love until the one-year anniversary of her celibacy. She wasn’t sure he knew
just why she’d decided to be celibate for a year, but he hadn’t questioned her.

She’d
fully intended to get him off last night, but he hadn’t wanted that.

“When
I come, you’re coming with me,” he’d said against her mouth, his fingers strong
around her wrist, stopping her movement.

But
she couldn’t resist teasing him just a bit in the elevator, when he couldn’t do
anything to stop her unless he wanted to spill the coffee.

And
then the elevator had stopped. She barely had time to extricate herself before
the doors opened and they were face to face with their boss, Mr. Strait.

Who
ended up with her coffee because she’d panicked and thrust it at him, hoping to
throw off his suspicion.

It
didn’t matter. She and Ethan had another date tonight.

****

The
Spanish music piped in overhead was loud enough to discourage eavesdropping,
but not so loud Ethan couldn’t hear Jill as they sat together in a high-backed
booth at his favorite Mexican restaurant. She was always gorgeous in her work
clothes, but tonight she wore a peasant blouse that kept slipping off her
shoulder, and while it hid her curves, it also promised easy access. And her
golden blonde hair, usually twisted up and pinned at the back of her head, fell
loosely about her shoulders, framing that girl-next-door face that hid the
playful, sexy woman he’d discovered the past few weeks.

He
would be
almost
satisfied to look at her all night. She took a swig of
beer from her long-necked bottle and he watched the movement of her throat.
Almost.

“So,
this celibacy thing.” Ethan took her hand and turned it palm up. “What’s going
on with that?”

Jill’s
gaze fell to watch his fingers tracing circles on the inside of her wrist and
her lips parted, just a little. “What, do you mean why am I doing it?”

“Sure.
I mean, I was celibate for a year, but I was married.” And hadn’t that been the
longest year of his life? He’d done everything he could think of to try to
revitalize their sex life, but had lost Kit anyway. He snorted a laugh and
lifted his own beer. “Once the divorce was final, I waited a few months, found
someone else, but that didn’t work out. So I can’t imagine choosing celibacy,
you know?”

“A
year ago, that touch wouldn’t have turned me on.” She motioned to his casual
caress on her wrist. “I needed to go to extreme measures to get turned on, to
get off. I was going out with Zach Purser and we were—adventurous, I guess you’d
say.”

His
lips thinned. He knew Zach—and liked him—but the man had a reputation as a
man-whore. The fact that he could picture Zach and Jill together too easily
didn’t sit well with him. “Zach Purser. From work.”

She
stiffened at his reaction and withdrew her arm, squaring her shoulders. “We
dated a couple of months. Well, were lovers a couple of months. Is that—a
problem for you?”

He
forced himself to relax. That had been a year ago, and clearly Jill wanted to
be here, with him. Just—after losing Kit to another man, he couldn’t help being
wary. “Not for me, but it seems like it might have been a problem for you. Zach
isn’t exactly relationship material.”

She
inclined her head in acquiescence and placed her arm on the table, inviting his
touch again. “I didn’t like how jaded I was. So I took a step back and decided
to, well, cleanse myself, I guess.”

He
resumed his caress of the soft skin of her inner arm. He lifted her wrist to
his lips and kissed it, just to watch her pupils dilate. “Cold turkey?”

She
gave him a small smile. “I’ve burned through a couple of vibrators this past
year, especially at the beginning.”

His
mouth went dry and his fingers stilled at the picture that conjured. Her
celibacy was hell on his self-control. He couldn’t wait to watch her lose hers.
“Jesus.”

“But
I’m happier than I was. And I’m ready to move on.”

He
leaned forward, elbows on the table, wanting to taste her mouth. He gave into
the urge and kissed her softly, a little longer than was appropriate in public.
When he drew back, his gaze dropped to her swollen lips, and his groin
tightened. “How many weeks until your anniversary?”

“Two.”
With her free hand, she reached for her wine glass and offered it in a toast. “And
we’re going to celebrate in style.”

****

March
7

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
You’re killing me.

I
can’t believe you did that in the theater last night.

****

March
7

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: You’re killing me.

All
I did was sit on your lap.

****

March
9

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: You’re killing me.

I’ve
never been so turned on in my life. You have the most gorgeous breasts. Not at
all what I’d expect from a 70-year-old.

****

March
9

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Re: You’re killing me.

That’s
what you get for Googling me. I told you I was named after my grandmother.

****

March
10

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Supplies

Ten
minutes?

****

March
11

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Supplies

NOW

****

Jill
couldn’t get to the copy room fast enough, but when she arrived, Ethan wasn’t
there. Frowning, she turned back to look at his desk. Empty. Huh. She glanced
at the supply closet and saw the door was ajar. Suddenly a hand reached out and
beckoned. Biting back a giggle, she hurried toward it, and Ethan pulled her
into the dark room. The door had barely closed behind her before he reached for
the buttons of her blouse.