by Roxie Odell
“That was, um…pretty amazing.” She grinned.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” he remarked with a smile.
She rolled over and they lay on the wide sofa, side by side. As she studied the furnishings again, trying to calm herself from their tryst, she realized Thomas probably did have money. That strummed her curiosity even more about his shoddy taste in footwear. “Tell me, why do you wear those boots if you don’t like them?” she asked.
He rolled his eyes. “Well, back before I started working on this place, I was in a halfway house. I got ‘em there. The day before the morning I met you, I wrecked my work boots doing cement, and those were the only ones I could find. I was sick to my stomach about putting them on, and then you had to go and point them out.”
“Oh. I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, well you didn’t do the crime. You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” he said.
“Did you serve time in prison?”
“I was sentenced to eighteen months,” he said. “Spent six of them in that halfway hellhole, though.”
“That must’ve been hard,” she said.
“It wasn’t the Ritz-Carlton, that’s for sure,” he scoffed. “It’s over with now. Never going back.”
Lightning sliced the sky outside and lit up the room in a silvery flash, forcing eerie shadows onto the walls all about them.
“Damn,” she said, “that storm is not letting up.”
Thomas laughed softly. “Is that your way of changing the subject, talking about the weather?” he asked frankly. “Does it weird you out, knowing you’re with a convicted felon?”
“Honestly?” she replied.
“I’ve always found that to be the best policy,” he said.
“It is kind of strange, but no,” she said. “If I was uncomfortable, I’d go. It’s not like you’ve handcuffed me or anything.”
“Hmm. Now there’s an idea,” he said with a wink.
She laughed. “As for the felony you were accused of, I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t have done the same thing if I was pushed. I break rules when I feel justified.”
“Do you now?” he flirted. “Got a criminal mind in that pretty little head of yours, huh?”
“I’d have to ponder all the pros and cons, all the specifics and details first, but yes,” she said. “And speaking of cons, one thing I’d never do is what that gunman’s been up to.”
“You mean robbing people at the metro?” he asked.
“Well, that, yes, but I really mean turning his own crimes into civil lawsuits against his victims, the rat bastard,” she cursed. “I’ve got to be in court later this week. My attorney is trying to get it dismissed, but I doubt that will happen.”
“He’s just trying take your big wallet, your bank account.”
She sighed. Despite what they’d just done, his cool demeanor about her dilemma still bothered her. He had no interest in helping her and she wasn’t sure he would, even with his good excuse.
“Who’s your attorney? Maybe I’ve heard of him or her.”
“Her?” she remarked rhetorically. “How progressive of you.”
“Mine’s a woman, and she’s a shark,” he said with a smirk.
Cheri cringed and felt a touch of jealousy. Something told her Thomas was not as standoffish with women as he pretended to be. She mentioned the name of her attorney as she looked at him suspiciously.
“Don’t know him,” he said.
“Well, if I was that robber I wouldn’t file a civil suit, but I might just do it to get back at him. Turnabout is fair play, right?” said Cheri.
Thomas nodded in agreement. “I can certainly frame a case for myself, justify my actions when I need to. I did that when I was staring at prison, but I know what I did wasn’t the right way to go about things, even though I loved every minute of the entire crime. It just wasn’t worth it. There are other ways to handle things, and that poor judgment cost me dearly.”
Cheri wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Sure, he’d lost a few months of freedom, but something in her voice told her he’d lost more than that.
“I just wanted to make sure I got my way,” he continued. “I told myself it was because the other guys would have gone unpaid, but it wasn’t just that.”
“So you’re more of a saint than a sinner,” she remarked.
He winced. “A saint? Pssh. Now I really am uncomfortable,” he said, sitting up. “No offense, but I don’t like being praised for my criminal past, justified as you might think it was.” He then kissed her on the forehead and pulled on his jeans.
Cheri felt an awkwardness between them now and worried that she’d said the wrong thing.
“Would you like to see the rest of the house?”
Before Cheri could answer, he took her in his arms and caressed her.
“And by that, I mean would you please spend the night with me?” he asked softly. “In the morning, I’ll take you wherever you need to go. If you insist on going now, I’ll get your clothes outta the dryer for you, but I just heard that little tummy of yours growl so loudly I thought it was thunder at first. I know you didn’t get enough to eat at the restaurant, before you stormed out.”
“I guess I can stay, at least for a little while,” she muttered.
“Good. C’mon.” He took her by the hand and led her into his kitchen, which was also very lovely. They sat at a rough-hewn pine table, and he pulled a plate of cold fried chicken out and set it in front of her. “Don’t worry. It’s vegetarian chicken. It only ate corn,” he said with a wink.
“Very funny, Thomas,” she said, pulling the robe tightly around her as she stared at the carcass of the barnyard bird.
He set out two wine glasses and poured a little chilled white wine into each.
“Mmm,” she said, sipping the refreshing beverage. She then daintily pulled a drumstick off the plate, salted it a little, then bit into the crunchy coating. “Delicious,” she said, licking her lips.
“You really are a Southerner,” he teased, nodding toward the salt shaker.
“Yes, we Southern belles love our salt. I suppose that qualifies me.” I’m not southern, so why pretend?
Thunder rumbled once again, and lightning flickered for a final show before the rain converted to a gentle drumming that would set the rhythm for the rest of their night together. They finished their snack, and Cheri washed up in the adorable powder room before he took her on a proper tour of the house.
While she was in the bathroom, she did something she instantly felt a little guilty about. When she pulled open the vanity drawer, snooping, she spotted a tube of mascara in the top drawer. The orange makeup container annoyed her, but it served her right for being nosy.
As she suspected much of the house was under heavy renovation, strewn with buckets and tarps. It was an enormous home, with lots of detail. So much had been done already, but there was still much to do. It was dimly lit, but she could see that the bedroom walls were painted burgundy and trimmed with ivory. His bedding, very neat, and a perfectly snug fit for the mattress, was a navy scheme. Very masculine, thought Cheri, and surprisingly tidy for the bachelor pad of a former felon.
“Were you in the military?” she asked.
“Does the room give me away?” he chuckled.
“Li’l bit,” she replied.
“Marine Corps,” he answered, “between high school and college.”
“Ooh rah!” she murmured.
He laughed, a chuckle that came from deep within his chest. “Do we have a thing for the Corps?” he flirted.
“Oh, most definitely do,” she cooed unashamedly. She had just been with the man, yet she was incredibly impatient to lay flat on her back in the middle of his squarely made bed and offer herself up to him again. She had never experienced anything like him before, and she wanted more. I don’t need a few good men, she thought. I only need him.
He apparently had the same idea and the second their bodies made contact with t
he mattress, they began reaching feverishly for each other, like two people gone mad. Their magnetism gave them incredible intuition, and even though they were basically strangers they were both somehow on the same wavelength.
Thomas’s fingers sought her as though he had been deprived. Cheri trembled as she pressed her palms to his. He pulled her toward him as they lay on their sides. She lifted her thigh to rest her leg on his hip, and she immediately felt his erection, searching for her. She arched her torso toward him, until parts of her grazed his smooth, hard chest.
He stroked her flat abdomen. She spasmed, drawing up involuntarily at his touch. He sparked an electric current through her, pebbling her nipples and causing wetness to flow from her. Somehow, Thomas literally made her lose her mind; her gray matter went to mush, and she could barely think. The bedroom wavered with a surreal quality as his fingers explored her heat. Thomas nuzzled the base of her neck. She gasped for mercy, yet she didn’t want him to stop.
In an exhilarating move, he spun her over with no warning whatsoever. She twirled so fast she was momentarily in the air before landing softly on her belly. Immediately, his lips found the soft, smooth curves of her buttocks. It was amazing to Cheri how sensitive that part of her flesh was. His kisses traveled the length of her spine, like he was zipping up an invisible dress with his mouth. She gripped the bedding, trying to withstand the delicious torture that he carried out for a prolonged period.
She undulated, rhythmically raising her buttocks against him before lowering herself to the bed; that was her signal that she wanted him, needed him. He heard her unspoken demand and covered her backside with his broad, powerful body so his face was next to hers and all the other parts of him lined up perfectly.
“Mercy,” she muttered.
“Indeed,” he replied.
His lightly pressed his mouth to her cheek, and Cheri’s body shook in reaction. He boldly widened her knees with his and finally, mercifully entered her. She nestled in the comfort of his generous bed while Thomas stroked her at a slow, steady pace. Their first coupling was a heated, impatient joining. This encounter was lazier, moving in a slow dance, with the tapping of the rain as their soundtrack.
Cheri let her hands explore his broad back, enjoying the softness of his skin. His muscles were so luscious, and it seemed like his body went on forever before dipping at the small of his back and then swelling into the off-the-hook rise of his buns. Thomas was a fine specimen of a man indeed.
Her nerves were still alive from her recent pleasure, and she knew it would take little to bring back to life the intense orgasm she had enjoyed on the sleigh couch. Thomas pushed up and leaned off to the side so he could enjoy the sight of her.
With his fingertips, he traced the curves and dips of her body with angel softness. She shivered, drawing up around his hardness in spastic clutches that urged him to softly growl. His deep voice reminded Cheri of the rumble of a satisfied jungle cat.
He took her hand and placed it on her most intimate place. She softly played while he continued his sensual exploration. He held her as she brought herself to climax, then drew her to him with a powerful tug and drove into her until his cries packed the ceiling.
After their lovemaking and unforgettable shared climaxes, they crashed into a deep sleep in the ultra-comfort and security of his home, resting peacefully even while the winds picked up outside.
Chapter 5
Cheri sat straight up in the bed and realized it wasn’t her bed. Sirens whined relentlessly outdoors as harsh wind pushed against the windows. She felt a stirring beside her, and he eyes widened as her hazy mind tried to recall where she was.
Thomas leaned over his side of the bed. Through the low light creeping in the windows, all she could see was the big, broad plane of his muscled back, like that of an Olympian ready to hurl a discus out into the playing field. He fished under the bed and finally pulled out a handheld, battery-operated radio and turned it on.
“I thought these storms were supposed to come in off the coast, with just a little rain,” she said as he tuned in to the weather channel.
“Well, things change,” he said dryly.
“They do,” she said, reflecting on past few weeks, “just like that.” She snapped her fingers for emphasis while Thomas got up from the bed.
“Be right back,” he said. “I need water. Want some?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
As soon as he left the room, Cheri took the opportunity to dash off to the bathroom and freshen up. She washed her face, but since she’d left her purse downstairs she had to make do with his toiletries. She borrowed his brush, then removed her hair from it. She rinsed her mouth with his mouthwash before scurrying back to bed.
Thomas returned with a tray of grapes and two glasses of water.
She sat up and took the tray. “Yum.”
“Have you been listening?” he asked.
“No,” she replied a little guiltily.
He climbed into bed, and she handed him a glass of water. The room was shaded with sparse light, just enough for her to catch the expression on his face; one that indicated some sort of heartsickness she couldn’t quite interpret.
“I don’t think you’ll have work,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the power’s knocked out in this whole part of town.”
“How do you have power then?” she asked. “I just flipped the switch in the bathroom, and it’s working fine.”
“Generator,” he said, sounding pleased with himself. “Always be prepared.”
“Wow. You’re quite the Boy Scout,” she teased. Somehow, there was a little too much spice in Thomas to allow that, but he did seem to live by their motto. “About work, I’ll call before I go in in the morning, just to be sure,” she said, savoring the grape he fed her.
“It is morning, baby doll.”
“Oh,” she said, blushing a bit when she realized she had accepted his offer of a sleepover after all.
He encouraged her to sip her water before he took it out of her hand. His hand was chilly from touching the cold water glass. It snaked her form, exciting her, making her flinch until it warmed from contact with her.
“I must remember to always bring ice to bed,” he murmured. “That was hot.”
As they lay in bed, rehydrating and feasting on grapes, an announcement came over Thomas’s radio: “We’re experiencing a temporary state of emergency. Please avoid all road travel until rainwater has drained off.” The city’s ancient sewer system often experienced flooding during heavy rain, and these were torrential, the tail end of the hurricanes that had tormented the coast.
“Seriously?” Cheri anxiously glanced at the window.
“Seriously,” he said. “The mayor has issued a citywide order for everyone to stay put.”
She watched Thomas, who was completely comfortable in his own bed. Suddenly, Cheri experienced an awful, uncomfortable silence. For some reason, his former warning that she should not get involved with him rang in her head. She thought back on the night they’d shared together, all that romance, tenderness, and passion, and she determined that there was nothing more to it than one thing leading to another. She’d never expected an extended invitation, and she suddenly felt the need to collect herself at the break of dawn so she could make her way back home. In good weather it wasn’t that much of a walk, and she was sure she could make it on foot.
“What’s up?” he asked, wrapping her in his arms.
“Well, this is really unexpected. I’m sure it’s not as bad as they’re making it out to be. I can probably get home.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest. “You should stay.”
“I don’t wanna put you on the spot,” she countered.
“Nonsense.”
His short responses didn’t assure her that she was welcome for the day or even a weekend, so she answered, “It’s just kind of…embarrassing.”
“What is? Needing a place to hole up for a day or two in a freaking hurricane? What’s your hurry, anyway? Do you
have a person or a pet who needs you?” he asked easily.
“I’m just saying… Well, you know…” she stuttered awkwardly.
“Look,” he said, “I’m fine with it if you are. No strings here, Cheri. Hell, it’d be nice to have a couple extra hands around here, but if you’re uncomfortable…”
She released a loud, boisterous laugh, some much-needed comic relief. Maybe the standoffish cowboy felon doesn’t need to be alone as much as he’s been saying. “And couple extra hands, huh?”
“Yeah, this house is a work in progress,” he said. “It’ll go a lot quicker if you’re up for helping me.”
“You wanna put me to work?” she said, feigning insult.
There was a palpable shift in the atmosphere as their intense chemistry flowed.
“Lady, I don’t consider you a mere day laborer, although I gotta admit that you’d be really hot in cut-offs, with dry wall and paint splattered all over you.”
“Kinky cowboy,” she said coyly.
“You know it,” he said in his deep, rich voice.
Cheri thought about it for a moment and decided that voice was the perfect voice for early morning conversations in bed, in the dark. “I could kind of get into that,” she said.
“What? Holding drywall in place while I, uh…nail it?” he said with a wink.
“No,” she replied playfully, “the kinky part.”
“Goodness,” he replied seductively. “I was gonna pay you in lunch, but now I might have to figure something else out.”
“Are you suggesting I sleep with the boss?” she replied boldly.
“Or you can be the boss,” he teased.
Cheri smiled, enjoying the playfulness. As much as the sex had electrified her from head to toe, bathed every muscle of body and left her brain awash with pleasure, so did the levity between the two of them. The passion and the laughter were long overdue, the best possible medicine for all her recent worries.
“Lunch? So you cook, huh?” she asked, snuggling against him.
“I do,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite things to do.” Then he added suggestively, “But not my very favorite thing to do.”
