Free Joy by Jayne Ann Krentz

it.“
    „Right,“ he agreed blandly. „I won’t argue with that logic.“ He took the key out of his pocket and inserted it in the lock. When he stood politely aside, Virginia sailed into the room, pulling him after her.
    As soon as she had him over the threshold, she slammed the door and locked it. Then she swung around to confront him. She was trembling with something that might have been excitement or terror. In that moment she honestly did not know which emotion was causing her pulse to race.
    With her eyes never leaving Ryerson’s intent gaze, she quickly unbuttoned the wide cuffs of the yellow silk gown. Ryerson said nothing. He just watched with an unreadable expression as she reached behind herself and fumbled with the zipper.
    She lost a little nerve as the bodice started to crumple to her waist. Hastily she caught the soft fabric in both hands and held it over her full breasts.
    „Want some help?“ Ryerson asked with grave politeness.

    Virginia shook her head quickly. „No. No, I’m fine. Excuse me, please.“ She rushed into the bedroom and flung the door closed behind her. Frantically she hunted through the closet for the new nightgown she had purchased for the trip. It was in there somewhere. She distinctly remembered unpacking the thing.
    Clutching the dress to her breasts, she bent over to see if the nightgown had somehow slipped to the floor of the closet. Behind her the door opened.
    Virginia gave a small gasp of alarm and stood up so quickly that she hit her head on the closet doorknob.
    „Damn!“ She groaned and rubbed the injured spot. The silk dress fell to her hips, revealing her prim cotton bra and the waistband of her equally demure white cotton panties. Belatedly Virginia grabbed the bodice of her gown.
    „Are you all right7“ Ryerson came slowly into the room, loosening his tie. He had already discarded his jacket. He was carrying the jeweler’s box.
    „I’m fine,“ she assured him breathlessly.
    „Ginny, are you sure nothing’s wrong?“ Ryerson slung the tie down over a chair arm.
    „Of course there’s nothing wrong. What could be wrong? This is a very straightforward situation, isn’t it? I mean, you and I here together. We’re just good friends who are going to… to go to bed together. A very friendly thing to do. It was bound to happen sometime, wasn’t it?“
    He came closer, unfastening the buttons of his white shirt. „Yes, it was bound to happen sometime.“ He looked down into her wide, anxious eyes. „I’ve been wanting you since the first night I met you.“
    She swallowed. „You’re absolutely sure of that?“
    His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he studied her tense face. „Absolutely certain. But it’s no good unless you feel the same way. Do you want me, Ginny?“
    „Yes,“ she gasped. „Yes, I want you.“ It was true, she realized with an inner start. For the first time she acknowledged to herself that she really did want him. She wasn’t doing this just to please him; she actually wanted to go to bed with Ryerson. But wanting him and being able to satisfy him were two entirely different things.
    „Then I don’t see any problem.“
    „Lucky you,“ she murmured under her breath.
    „Honey, it’s me. Your friend. Remember?“ His shirt fell open. Ginny stared at the broad expanse of his chest.
    „None of my friends have ever looked like you,“ she heard herself say in a faint voice. Her eyes followed the trail of dark, curling hair down his flat stomach to where it disappeared beneath his belt. The strong, aggressive outline of his body below the belt was ample proof of her statement. Most definitely none of her friends looked like him. Ryerson was a big man, and he would have big appetites. She had to satisfy him. She just had to. She couldn’t bear it if she failed tonight as she had failed with her husband.
    „Ginny, honey, I promise you that none of my friends have ever looked like you, either. None of them have ever turned me on the way