Free Riding Out the Storm by Emma Jay Page B

night what the guy had done to her to make her want to
be celibate for a year—had to be pretty bad, he figured. But not bad enough
that she couldn’t work with him.
    He’d
wanted to talk to Jill, to apologize for the way he dropped her off at her
house, for everything he’d said that hurt her this weekend, when Mr. Strait
surprised him with the meeting. When he’d looked up after the meeting, Jill was
gone, ready to work with Zach.
    So
now Ethan had a lot of making up to do, and it wasn’t going to be easy. He
needed a grand gesture, something that would make up for this weekend, for all
the fantasies that didn’t come true. For being a possessive asshole. She
deserved better.
    ****
    “He’s
watching us, isn’t he?” Jill asked, bending over the table purposely, her ass
aimed in Ethan’s general direction.
    “Oh,
yeah.” Zach leaned forward conspiratorially. “I feel kinda dirty.”
    She
scowled. “I screwed up this weekend.” Then she winced at her choice of words.
No doubt Zach would have fun with that.
    But
he didn’t, instead, sobering. “Maybe, in his opinion. What about in yours?”
    She
straightened and shrugged. “I didn’t think I was that person anymore. I didn’t
want to be. I don’t want to feel dirty after sex.”
    He
lifted his eyebrows, and she could swear she saw hurt flash in his eyes. “You
felt dirty after having sex with me? Even last year?”
    She
dropped his gaze and turned her attention to the project at hand. “Not
immediately after. But yeah, we’d go to the sex club or do something else kinky,
so that I thought we were on the same level in our relationships. Then I’d see
you flirting with another girl the next day and I’d think about what we’d done
and that we would do it again and that it didn’t really matter if it was me or
someone else, and I felt dirty.”
    He
frowned. “You sure you just weren’t jealous?”
    She
sat in one of the upholstered chairs, crossed her legs and looked up at him.
She’d thought this through at the time, but realized she’d never loved him. “Not
in the way you think. I mean, you’re a nice guy and all, but you’re not Mr.
Happily Ever After.”
    “And
that’s what you want, with Mr. Uptight over there?”
    She
resisted the urge to look over her shoulder. “He’s only uptight compared to
you. And yes, I want a chance at it with Ethan. I think I deserve it.”
    Zach
looked past her in Ethan’s direction. “But does he deserve you?”
    ****
    When
Jill walked out of the conference room, most of her co-workers had left for the
evening. She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until she saw Ethan had
gone as well, his work area neat, as always, his computer off. Clearly he didn’t
want to talk to her. Right. Message received.
    She
didn’t want to walk out with Zach, so went back to her cubicle to fiddle with a
few things, check her email, until he called good night and she heard the
elevator door chime. Only then did she gather her things and walk out.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
Six
     
    “Jill.”
    As
she passed through the glass door onto the sidewalk, the deep voice startled
her. Before she could turn to face Ethan, his hand closed on her arm and he
drew her against his chest. She caught curious glances of people milling
around, then he lowered his mouth to her ear.
    “Do
you trust me?”
    Her
heart pounded—he had to feel her pulse under his hand—but she nodded. Curiosity
compelled her as much as, well, she’d missed him.
    “Close
your eyes.”
    She
caught her breath at the huskiness of his tone, and did as he asked. She was
certain people were staring as something silky and cool covered her eyes, her
temples, and she felt a gentle tug as he tied the cloth at the back of her
head. Awareness washed through her, hardening her nipples. She swayed against
him, only to have him set her away from him, his breath hot against the back of
her neck.
    All
her senses were heightened. She heard footsteps on the