by Dara Girard
He flashed her a crooked smile. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“You only look at me in two ways, with annoyance or concern.”
“How would you like me to look at you?”
He raised a sly brow. “Do I really have to tell you?”
Lora nervously looked away and quickly turned on the TV.
An anchorwoman appeared. “We are preparing for a major blizzard to hit.”
“A storm?” Lora said. “I knew I had a bad feeling about this trip. There’s no way we’ll get a flight out now.”
They watched the forecast and learned that a snowstorm threatening to dump three to five feet of snow was headed their way that night.
“At least we have a place to stay,” Justin said.
Lora stood. “True. I’ll go check the rooms.”
Lora leaped up the wooden staircase, passing dark, hand-painted portraits lining the walls that led to the second floor. She checked out two of the rooms upstairs, which were also decorated with dark wood paneling and antique furnishings, and decided against staying in either one. Heavy, dark brown drapes hung at the windows and piles of paper littered the ground, making it near impossible, if there were an emergency, for a quick escape in the night.
She walked farther down the hall to a quaint room overlooking the front of the house. Although it was also heavily furnished, there were no papers, and when she pulled back the thick paisley-patterned curtains, light from the setting sun flooded the room, making it appear warm. This is where she would stay. Next door was a medium-size room with an enormous king-size bed, which she decided would be perfect for Justin. While checking out the bathroom, which to her surprise had all modern fixtures, her phone buzzed. She glanced down and saw a text from Justin.
U didn’t answer my question.
What question?
Do u want to forget the phone call?
She bit her lip. How should she reply? Be coy? Pretend there had never been a phone call? She paced, then finally typed two letters.
No.
Then why do we need two rooms? We could keep each other warm.
She stared at the message. Was he really saying what she thought he was saying?
I’m already warm.
“I could keep you very warm,” a deep voice said.
She glanced up and saw Justin standing in the doorway.
“This is supposed to be a business trip,” she stammered, his presence making her senses spin.
“That ended the moment the project was cancelled.”
He hadn’t moved from the doorway, but the room suddenly felt smaller and very intimate. Lora tugged on her collar, her gaze unable to leave his. She felt as if she was being held hostage—and she didn’t mind a bit. “And what took its place?”
He crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “An opportunity to get to know each other better.”
“How much better?”
He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger. “Weren’t you the one who said scientists are curious?”
“They are.”
He let her hair go, lowering his voice. “So aren’t you curious about me?”
“I have a theory about you.”
“Let’s hear it.”
She shook her head, aroused by his heated gaze. “No, I want to prove it or disprove it first.”
“How?”
“Kiss me.”
His gaze dropped to her body. “Do I get to choose where?”
She lifted his chin and tapped her mouth. “On the mouth,” she said, although his sensuous look made her feel naked.
He feigned disappointment. “Just the mouth?”
“You can choose another spot later.”
“Good.”
When his lips touched hers, she discovered everything she had wanted to. He lips were both sweet and spicy, and they made her forget herself. Soon his kisses made a warm, wet path down her throat. “Have you proven your theory?” he asked, his breath warm against her skin.
“I’m still not sure.”
“Did you bring it?” he asked, the tip of his tongue teasing her skin.
“What?”
“The robe.”
“No.”
He straightened and stared at her. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t have one. I lied about having one.”
“Hmm...I’ll have to fix that.” He removed her glasses and set them aside.
“Are you wearing boxers?”
“No, I’m wearing briefs, but I brought a pair.”
“That will have to wait for another night.”
He took her hand, led her over to the bed and gently pushed her onto her back.
“Yes. Now close your eyes and just pretend I’m a voice on the phone.”
She did.
“Now I’m taking off your blouse. You feel that?”
“Oh, yes.”
“And your bra, one strap at a time.”
She felt his thumb brush over her nipple. “That’s not my bra.”
“Sorry, I got distracted. You know, you’re beautiful,” he said, cupping her breast.
“That’s still not my bra.”
“It’s a lot more interesting.”
“Should I open my eyes?”
“No...wait. Okay, I’m removing your bra now.”
“Took you long enough.”
“All we have is time. Now I’m pulling down your pants...”
Lora let herself slip under his spell as she felt him slowly remove her panties. His voice lulled her into a dream state of ecstasy. “You must have stolen your voice from the devil.”
“I told you, I’ve been a bad boy.” He kissed his way up her thigh, then licked her center. She curled her toes.
“Be as bad as you want.”
“I plan to.”
She soon felt his bare, warm flesh on top of hers. He was hard and smooth, and she curved into him.
Justin grabbed his trousers and pulled out a condom from his back pocket.
“You were optimistic about this trip,” Lora said.
“I have plenty more in my suitcase. I have a theory of my own.” He rolled on the condom, then gathered her to him.
That night, there was nothing cold about Justin. His lovemaking skills took her to a level of ecstasy she had never experienced before. His mouth and warm tongue traveled the length of her body, licking, sucking, kissing. While his hands caressed and explored every inch of her slender frame, she indulged and reveled in the pleasure. She felt like a goddess being worshiped—no man had ever made her feel this way before. She, in turn, explored his body with her hands and mouth, delighting in hearing soft sounds of pleasure escaping from him.
“You make me want you over and over,” he whispered breathlessly. “I’ve never felt this way with any other woman before. Where did you...”
“Hush. Just enjoy,” she said.
For the next few hours they immersed themselves in each other, climaxing over and over again. Lora fell asleep with a smile on her face. She later woke and looked over at him. His lashes feathered his cheek, and she lightly ran her finger over them, then his eyebrows, surprised by how quickly his face had become dear to her. She’d been so wrong about him.
Unexpectedly, her father’s voice rose up in her mind. “You think you’re so smart, but you’re not. If you’re so smart, why haven’t you done anything great? Other kids make their parents rich.” She blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I know,” Justin mumbled. He opened his eyes. They were clear, not hard like stone, and she wondered how she could have ever thought they were cold.
“How can you forgive me when I acted like such a
fool?”
“Tonight I’d forgive you anything,” he said, a lazy smile spreading on his face. Then he covered her mouth with his.
* * *
An hour later they lay in each other’s arms, neither feeling sleepy, even though it was near midnight. Justin reveled in the surge of victory. She’s all mine now. And he’d make sure that was the way it would stay. It felt so right.
“I can’t believe this,” Lora whispered in awe. “I can’t believe we’re together. I never imagined it.”
I did. Many times. “Hmm.”
“When I first saw you three years ago I thought—”
“I was a jerk.”
“No, that you were handsome and compassionate. You had this expression on your face when you looked at Suzette that I never saw on any of the other medical staff. What were you thinking as you looked at her?”
That might be me one day. But Justin knew he couldn’t say that. Not yet anyway. He didn’t want her to know certain things. He didn’t want to risk losing her. “I just thought that she was someone I wanted to help but couldn’t. My words were callous because I wanted to put a distance between me and the situation.”
“I understand,” she said softly, but he could still hear a note of pain.
He caressed her cheek, wishing he could take her hurt away. “But you forced me to be human again.”
“And you reminded me to be her friend.”
“You taught me a lot. When you said I’d become accomplished as a scientist but failed as a man, it sliced through me.”
Lora closed her eyes and groaned. “Oh, please don’t repeat it. I was wrong.”
“You were right. I hide behind my accomplishments. I let them prop me up and use them as a way to keep people at a distance.”
“Why?”
Because I feel too much, see too much and hate feeling helpless. Because I am already an outsider and don’t want to be more so.
“I was a shy kid growing up, and it just seemed easier that way.”
“I know what you mean. I couldn’t please my father so I stopped trying. He’s never liked me, and I don’t know why.”
He pulled her closer. “Fortunately, I like you,” he said against her throat. “I like you a lot.”
* * *
The next day Lora woke up, grabbed her glasses and looked out the window to see a fresh blanket of white. “Yes, we’re definitely stuck.”
“At least we still have power,” Justin said, seeming unconcerned. “Let’s go see what we can eat.”
They went into the kitchen and Lora cooked a meal of whole-wheat waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon while he set the table and washed up after her.
“There’s not much in the kitchen,” she said.
“I know. But this is fine with me.”
“If I were at home, I could do a much better job.”
“It smells great.”
“But with so little to work with—”
“Lora, it’s fine. I like it.”
“You’re not just saying that? Oh, wait...it’s you.”
“Exactly, I’d tell you if I didn’t like it.”
“And why and what I could do to improve it.”
Justin shrugged. “You know me well. Personally, I would have added more spices.”
She jumped up. She was always anxious about cooking for someone new. “Let me see what I can find.”
He grabbed her wrist. “I was joking. It’s great. Relax and eat.”
After breakfast, they went back upstairs. This time, they decided to make love in the bedroom with the king-size bed. Justin stripped off Lora’s clothes one by one, as if she were an early Christmas present, the mere touch of his hands sending shivers through her.
“Let’s play a game of trust,” Justin said as he took off his clothes.
“Trust?”
“Yes, I want to see how much you trust me.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay, what do I have to do?”
“I wish I had handcuffs and a blindfold, but we’ll improvise.”
“With what?”
He left the room, then came back with a scarf and a fresh pair of socks. He used the scarf to blindfold her, then used the socks to tie her hands to the headboard.
“When does the fun begin?”
“Looking at you like this makes me as hard as a post.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“Right now. You’re my captive, and my goal is to make you come like you never have before.” One hand slid down her stomach to the swell of her thigh.
“That’s a bold promise.”
“The best kind.”
His mouth covered hers with a savage mastery that made her body melt. When his body touched hers, every fiber of her being seemed to respond to him. She became aware of the scent of his skin, the feel of his mouth, the sensation of him roaming inside her and touching her sweet spot. She surrendered completely to him, her body craving more and more. She felt wet and wild and glorious. She whispered his name and moaned it as if she were a sacrifice on his altar. Finally he collapsed on her, then rolled off.
“That was...” she breathed, unable to find words to describe it.
“Yes.” He untied her hands, then fell on his back.
Lora removed her makeshift blindfold. “Next time you’ll be my slave.”
“I look forward to it.”
She looked over at him as he lay in bed with his arms behind his head. “Why are you smiling?”
“I just had a fantasy come true. I always wanted to be stuck in a snowstorm with a beautiful woman and spend half the day making love.”
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
“Do you have a fantasy?”
Lora opened her mouth, then shook her head. “It’s silly.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“I’ve always wanted to pick up a man in the produce section at the supermarket, then go out into the parking lot and...you know.”
“Okay. Tell me when and where.”
“Really?”
“Sure, when we get back we’ll meet and make your fantasy come true.”
“You certainly are a man of surprises.”
* * *
On the second day of their stay, Justin went on his laptop to reschedule their flight. Lora went downstairs to find something to cook for dinner. Suddenly everything went dark.
“Justin, where are you?”
“I’m in the back room. Where are you?”
“In the kitchen.”
“Looks like we just lost power.”
“I hope it doesn’t stay off for too long. I wonder if he has a generator.”
Justin made his way to the kitchen. “Let’s see if we can find some candles and matches or a flashlight with batteries.” They both searched all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. No luck. Lora decided to check a closet in the hallway.
“I’ve found some candles and matches,” she said with triumph.
“Great.”
She made her way back to the kitchen. Although the house was dark, a streetlamp and the moon provided enough light to make things visible.
“Hey, he has a small generator,” Justin said, coming back inside from the back porch. “I’ll go plug it in and take care of all the connections.”
“Great, at least we’ll be able to keep the food safe and cook a meal.”
“And make a fire—or at least turn on the electric fireplace to keep us both warm.” He sent her a naughty grin. “Or better yet?”
“Better yet what?’
“Have you ever made love in front of a fireplace? It would be a shame to waste the ambiance.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
He took her hand and led her to the other room. “We can eat later.”
* * *
Justin pinched himself. It had been the fourth time that day. He couldn’t believe he was really here with Lora, having great sex, when just a few days ago... No, he didn’t want to think about the past. Right now was perfect. Too perfect. He knew he couldn’t go on without telling her the truth about himself. He wanted her to be a part of his life, and she had the right to know what that meant. Thank goodness he’d been able to avert a crisis when they first arrived. It had been close, but he’d recovered quickly from the dehydration and avoided a full-blown attack. He wouldn’t have wanted her to see him that way. For now he felt like Superman, but he knew he was really Clark Kent.
As they sat in front of the TV watching a rerun of The Cosby Show, Lora curled up against him. She liked to stretch her legs out. Justin knew his current couch was too small for that, so the first thing he planned to do when he got home was buy a new one. “There’s something you should know.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Tell me anything. I’m kind of glad the project was cancelled. I’m relieved to get away from sickle cell just for a while. It’s only now that I realize how much the disease has ruled my life, and that I need a break from it.”
His heart fell. “Oh.”
“But that doesn’t matter. What were you going to say?”
“Nothing.”
She sat up and looked at him. “No, I’m sorry I interrupted you. You said there’s something I should know.”
“My dog snores.”
Lora frowned. “You thought that was important to tell me?”
“When you sleep over you might want to bring earplugs.”
“I hope when I visit I won’t be just sleeping.”
“You’ll have to sleep sometime.”
She chewed her lip.
“What is it?”
“How should we act at work?”
“Like colleagues.”
She nodded in agreement. “Right. We can’t let our relationship affect our work.”
