Free Riding Out the Storm by Emma Jay

asked.
    “Nope.”
The other man grinned. “Who knows if we’ll get another opportunity in our
lifetime? So, while it’s very sweet that you want a BJ from Jill, you can do
that any time. Hell, you can do that at work. But this one.” He waved another
paper. “This one I like. I just can’t decide which of the two of you I want to
see tied up.”
    “Zach,”
Jill said softly, her attention on Ethan. “No more games.”
    “Ethan
might like not being in control,” Zach said.
    “I
haven’t been in control all weekend,” he snapped. “Everything I’ve done has
been because I want to be with Jill, and I’d planned to be with her. That you’re
involved is only because she wants you to be. None of this has gone the way I
imagined.”
    “Ethan.”
Jill stepped forward, her hand raised to his face, but he stepped back before
she could touch him.
    Shit.
He didn’t want to do this now, not with Zach there, not when he couldn’t put
distance between himself and Jill.
    “I’m
done, all right? I’m out. This weekend was supposed to be for us. Just us. I
don’t want to share anymore.”
    “All
right, all right,” she said, a catch in her voice. “I’m sorry. I screwed up.”
    He
held up a hand to stop her. Just because he didn’t want to look into his own
behavior this weekend didn’t mean he wanted her to question hers. But of course
she would, breaking her year of celibacy with a three-way. Hell. What had he
opened up here? “No, it was as much my choice as yours. I don’t want to get into
it. I just want—let’s just watch a movie or something and go to sleep. The
roads should be cleared tomorrow and we can go home.”
    ****
    The
car ride the next day was as quiet as the motel room had been the night before,
and just as tense. Only the barest communication occurred and, though Ethan and
Jill shared a bed, he hadn’t held her as he had the night before. Her stomach
knotted at the implication. Despite what he’d said, she knew she’d made a
mistake. She should have just held on, waited until they could be alone, and
focused her libido on him. Now she’d ruined the chance they’d had for a future.
    She
hoped he’d drop Zach off at his car at the office first, but he didn’t, driving
to her apartment while Zach sat in the back seat. To her relief, he didn’t just
roll the car to a stop, but got out and opened the door for her, taking her
bag. But he left the car running with Zach inside as he walked her to the door.
    “I’m
sorry.” She faced him at her door, keys in her hand, the sharp metal edges
biting into her palms, punishment for her mistake. “I wanted—everything should
have been different.”
    He
didn’t acknowledge her words, only inclined his head toward the door. “You
should get in and get warm. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Monday.
At the office. With Zach and their other co-workers. That wouldn’t be awkward
at all.
    “Ethan.”
    But
he turned away. “Good night, Jill.”
    She
had a momentary concern that he’d fight with Zach, but no. Ethan wasn’t like
that. He was going to shut himself back in the shell she’d found him in, and
she’d never be able to draw him out.
    ****
    Jill
had never had so much trouble walking into work. She knew Ethan would act
professionally, but she didn’t want professionalism. She wanted the teasing,
flirting Ethan, but he hadn’t been that man last night.
    She
arrived at work early, but Ethan didn’t. She knew because she passed by his
cubicle again and again on her way to the coffee maker. He usually came in
right at nine, so she didn’t know why she expected today would be different,
but she still feared he might call in sick, just to avoid her and Zach.
    Her
heart kicked when she stepped out of the ladies’ room just as Ethan exited the
elevator. She resisted the urge to step back into the bathroom and close the
door. As anxious as she’d been to see him, she didn’t like being caught
unaware. He hesitated as well, then stopped and