Aftershock

by Laurie Roma

“Damn, I’m coming, baby. Tell me you’re mine. Tell me, Caitlyn!”

  “I’m yours, I’m yours!”

  He jerked her forward, capturing her scream with his mouth. He shoved his hips up into hers, jerking into her with short, hard jabs as she came. The feeling of her pussy clenching down on him had his balls drawing up tight. His own groan was muffled against her mouth as his cock exploded, filling her with his release again.

  ***

  Chapter Six

  Caitlyn’s eyes opened just as the amber emergency lights flickered back on.

  Reality hit her like a slap to the face. She had lost herself in the fantasy of her dream man after her meltdown and had let him guide her through the darkness to a place filled with passion instead of fear. But now, she felt awkward and unsure of herself. Her teeth clenched as she slowly pulled off his lap, letting the still semi-hard stalk of his cock leave the haven of her body. She immediately felt empty without him inside her and the silent way he was watching her was making her even more nervous.

  She looked down at herself and winced. Dear god, she looked thoroughly debauched. Mostly naked, the only covering she had was the skirt bunched up around her waist and one lone red shoe on her right foot. She could feel Tag’s seed dripping down her thighs and had to hold back a shiver as she remembered the feeling of him coming in her. She’d loved it. Perhaps too much. Hell, she didn’t even know him and she had taken more risks in the last hour than she had in her entire life.

  Clearly, she had lost her mind.

  She dressed in silence, needing to distance herself a little from what had happened. Acutely aware he was doing the same, she could feel his dark penetrating gaze on her even though she refused to look at him. The phone rang in the panel and he walked over to answer it.

  “We’re fine. Yes, that’s good to know.” He gave a little chuckle. “We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here.”

  “The guard said they think the quakes are over. They should have us out of here in a little while.”

  “Oh, okay. Good.”

  When she was mostly put together again she felt rather than saw him move to her. His muscular arms wrapped around her gently, holding her to him as if she belonged there.

  “Please don’t regret what we did, Caitlyn. I’m sorry I pushed you, but I don’t want you to pull away from me now.”

  Caitlyn sighed as she laid her head against his chest. She knew it wasn’t fair to freeze him out now, but having never done anything remotely like this, she wasn’t sure how to act. “I don’t know what to do now,” she whispered, deciding for honesty.

  Panic racing through him as he felt her pulling away. They’d just had the most incredible sex of his life, and he knew he would want her again and again.

  Today.

  Tomorrow.

  Forever.

  He needed to seal the deal somehow. To tell her what he was feeling to counter the awkwardness he could sense she was feeling.

  Come on Tag, think!

  He pulled back, taking a small step back to give her some room. Looking at her beautiful face solemnly, he held one of his large hands out to her. “All you have to do is meet me halfway. Can you do that, baby?”

  Tag waited, holding his breath until she placed her small hand in his. A sigh of relief escaped as he pulled her back into his arms. “I know we’ve kind of started this backwards, but we can make this work. Since we’re going to be in here for a while, why don’t we get to know each other more?”

  A slight blush crossed her cheeks as she looked away from him, pulling at the fabric of her skirt. “Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

  “Not at all, sweetheart. We’re just getting started.” Tag’s face took on a determined look. “I was serious when I said I didn’t want this to be a one-time thing, Caitlyn.”

  She looked back at him, searching his face for a moment in silence before nodding slowly. “Then that might be a good idea.”

  Smiling, Tag lowered them back down so they were both sitting on the floor again, this time side-by-side. He leaned back against the wall, bracing one of his knees up, keeping her small hand in his as he angled his body toward her. He felt a surge of contentment as he looked down at her fingers entwined with his. Knowing he was making her nervous, he had to figure out a way to make her feel comfortable with him.

  “I know you’ve had a pretty shitty day so far, but I’m hoping that meeting me isn’t part of that. What I said before stands true. I’ve wanted to meet you for awhile and I’m glad we got stuck in here together. Hell, I don’t mean I’m glad we got stuck, I just mean that I’m glad it was with you. I just don’t like that it frightened you.”

  She winced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go off like that. But no, meeting you has actually been the best part of my day,” Caitlyn said softly.

  Tag flashed her a brilliant smile, pulling her close to him. “Let’s play the question game.”

  “The question game?”

  Tag settled her against him, her head resting against his shoulder. “Yeah, you get to ask a question, I have to answer it, whatever it is. Then I get to ask one, then you.”

  “Hmm, okay. I get to go first?” Caitlyn asked, playing with a button on his shirt.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Have you, umm…have you ever done something like this before?”

  “You mean have I ever had mind blowing sex in an elevator with someone I just met?”

  She coughed delicately. “Yeah.”

  Tag pushed her chin up with his finger until she was looking at him. He leaned down and brushed his lips softly against hers. “No Caitlyn. I’ve never done this before. But I’m really glad we did.”

  He nearly groaned as she smiled at him again. A dimple formed in one of her cheeks making him want to lick it. He tried to contain a shudder as he told his dick to behave. She already thought he was a sex-starved manic, now he needed to show her there was more to him than that. “My turn. Have you always had a fear of the dark?”

  Tag silently cursed himself as Caitlyn tensed up. He was pushing too fast.

  She frowned at him. “Just because I’m don’t like the dark that doesn’t make me weak.”

  Confused, Tag nodded slowly. “I know. Caitlyn, we all have things we’re afraid of. I just want to get to know you, baby. Tell me, I promise your secrets are safe with me.”

  She took a deep breath, releasing it on a sigh. “Long story short, yes I have always been afraid of the dark.”

  “I think there is more to that story, sweetheart. You have to answer honestly and completely or the game doesn’t work.”

  Caitlyn turned so she could look at him. She pushed a few tendrils of hair out of her face as her piercing crystal eyes searched his.

  “You want the whole story?” At his nod she continued. “Alright, but I’m not telling you this for you to feel sorry for me. I just want to say that up front. I don’t want your pity.”

  “No pity, got it.”

  Caitlyn sat back so they both faced the closed door of the elevator. It would be easier to say without looking at him.

  “I grew up in the suburbs right outside of Chicago. I lived in a nice house, had lots of friends, went to a good school, but… Both of my parents are doctors. No, not just doctors, they’re gifted surgeons. They thought it was their duty to pass on their brilliant brains by having a child…only, they ended up with me. They were never around much, and most of the time I was fine with that. I had some really nice housekeepers that also looked after me.”

  She took a deep breath before continuing. “There was this one time, when I was about five or six… The housekeeper at the time had to leave due to a family emergency. She left a message for my parents, but they were both busy at the hospital. We got hit will a massive snowstorm that night and I was left alone for three days.”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “I had food and stuff, so it wasn’t that bad, but the electricity blew so there were no lights or heat. I made a fort of all the blankets in the
house, so I was warm enough. When my parents came home it was like they were surprised to see me there. Later, I got grounded for going into their room and taking their bedding. I wasn’t allowed in their room. So, that’s why I hate the dark, it reminds me of that time.” Caitlyn spoke so matter of fact, no emotions and she just shrugged at the end of her explanation.

  Rage unlike any he had ever felt overwhelmed Tag for the child that she had been. He wanted to go back in time and rip her parents apart limb from limb with his bare hands. Hell, he’d still like to do it.

  Caitlyn glanced up at Tag to see a fierce frown on his face. “No pity, Tag.”

  “Fuck. This isn’t pity, Caitlyn. Fuck that, I’m furious. Goddamn it, no one, no one has a right to treat a child like that.” Tag spit out. He hugged her too him. Needing to comfort her, needing that comfort himself. “God baby, I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “It’s okay, really.” She patted his thigh, trying to sooth him as he gathered her close as if she were still that cold child in need of warmth and care.

  “Do you…are you close to your parents still?” he asked hesitantly.

  She sighed. “Nope. They sort of disowned me when I turned eighteen. Their job was done, so to speak.”

  “Fucking bastards.”

  “I’m fine. Really. I have a good life without them. I just don’t like the dark now. I don’t think I ever will. I freak out sometimes, but I can live with that. So, now you’ve seen me at my worst.” Wanting to change the subject badly, she asked her question. “Tell me something you’re afraid of. What’s your greatest fear?”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “If I tell you this, you’ll be the keeper of a secret I’ve never told anyone.”

  Caitlyn smiled and returned his earlier words back to him. “I promise your secrets are safe with me.”

  “Alright. I don’t like heights. I’m terrified of them.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. It’s not exactly something I have a reason for either. I’ve just never liked them. Not roller coasters, not flying. Hell, I once almost puked my guts out on a family vacation to the Grand Canyon. I could never show it or tell anyone about it, because my family would have been ruthless. I get all cold and sweaty and it, well, it freaks me out. So there. High places. I’m afraid of heights.”

  Caitlyn tried to hide the smile that wanted to break out but she wasn’t very successful. “So, you hate heights, but you work in one of the tallest buildings in all of San Francisco?”

  “My office is on the seventh floor.”

  “Of course.”

  She let a little chuckle slip free and Tag frowned. “Fine, laugh at my pain.”

  “I’m sorry. I guess we aren’t going on vacation anytime soon.” Caitlyn laughed and hung on to his arm as he tried to push her away. “I’m kidding! Geez! Tag, you have nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just that you don’t seem like someone who would be afraid of anything.”

  Tag grumbled for a moment before he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side again. “Okay, you’re forgiven for laughing at me. It’s my turn now. How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five. Well, twenty-six tomorrow. How ‘bout you?”

  “Thirty-four. And happy birthday baby. We’ll have to celebrate tonight when we get out of here. What do you want to do? Dinner? Dancing? Hot monkey sex? I think I can arrange all three.”

  Caitlyn chuckled. “That counts as your question, you know. Birthday’s have never really been a big thing for me. It’s no big deal, but dinner would be nice.”

  “Well, we’ll celebrate over dinner tonight. Birthdays should be special.”

  Caitlyn gave him a placating smile that had him frowning at her. “So, it’s my turn now. Tell me about your family.”

  The easy smile returned to his face. Stretching his legs out, he pulled her onto his lap quickly before she knew what he was doing. “Settle down, I’m answering your question. I grew up with a big family, well, a big extended family at least. My parents are still married. Actually, I think they are more in love everyday. It’s a difficult relationship to live up to, seeing them together, wanting that kind of love. I took over the family business when my dad decided to retire. They do a lot of traveling now.”

  “That sounds nice,” Caitlyn said with a sigh as she fit her head into the crook of his neck.

  “I have two brothers, but I’m the middle child. We get along, although we fight. I think fighting with them is an entertaining hobby that we just seem to do when we’re together rather than for an actual reason. I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like, though. Lucian, my oldest brother, used to work for the government doing…something he couldn’t tell us. He says he’s in private security now, but I think he still might be doing some secret spy stuff. Whatever it is, we never really know what he is up to, he just seems to pop up whenever we need him.”

  “That must be difficult, him having such a dangerous job.”

  “It is, but trust me, he can handle himself. Marcus is the baby and still lives in New York. He runs things for the family business from there. Besides that, I have aunts, uncles, and cousins scattered all over the place. Growing up, it seemed as if we never really had any privacy. Someone was always around, sticking their nose in your business.”

  “They sound wonderful.”

  Tag laughed. “Oh you say that now, but wait till you meet them. They’ll get your entire life story within minutes, trust me.”

  Winding her arms around his neck, her lips twitched as she tried to stop from smiling. “You mean, like you’re doing now?”

  Tag’s laughter rumbled deep in his chest. “Hey, we’re sharing information here. I’m not grilling you like my family will. Trust me, sweetheart. They’re worse than I am. But I promise I’ll protect you.”

  Caitlyn couldn’t help the tingle of excitement she felt when he talked about her meeting his family. Like they had a future together. “You’re lucky to have them. I want that. Hopefully, someday I’ll get it.”

  Tag gave her a curious look. “What do you mean?”

  She ducked her head, color staining her cheeks as she realized what she’d said. “Oh, nothing.”

  “No, no,” Tag insisted. “That’s my question. It’s my turn. Tell me what you meant.”

  She sighed, giving in. “A family. You know the little things. Family dinners, vacations…holidays. My children will never question that they are loved and I want a man to share it with. I want a family.”

  Caitlyn said it so simply that Tag was humbled by the things he had never thought twice about. Things he always had. His dark eyes gleaming with emotion, he stroked a hand over her hair and laid his lips gently on her forehead. “You’ll get your wish, baby. I know you will.”

  “Umm, thanks.” Feeling embarrassed by her disclosure, she started playing with the buttons of his dress shirt again. She smiled as she realized that two of the tiny plastic pieces were about to fall off from when he had ripped his shirt off earlier. “Anyways, my turn. I want to know what—”

  She was cut off as bright lights turned on overhead, and with a jerk the elevator started moving.

  ***

  Chapter Seven

  Caitlyn tried to scramble off Tag’s lap as the elevator began to rise, but he held her in place. She slapped his hands away and glared at him as he laughed. Lunging for her suit jacket, she picked it up off the floor and struggled to put it on as she stood up.

  She could feel their mixed juices on her thighs with each move she made as she smoothed her skirt down again and fit her feet back into the torture devices she called shoes. Turning, she looked over at Tag and her mouth fell open in horror.

  “Oh my God! Your shirt!”

  “It was a casualty of war, baby. Don’t worry, I like that you were in such a hurry you tore the buttons off.” Tag laughed as he reached down to pick up his own jacket to put over his damaged shirt. He also picked up his tie and shoved it into his pocket.

  “I didn’t do
that, you did!”

  Tag winked at her. “You’re right, I did. You can do it next time.”

  Groaning, Caitlyn watched as Tag bent down to pick up her pink, lace thong. Bringing it up to his nose, he inhaled deep.

  “Give that back to me,” Caitlyn hissed, feeling her cheeks heat.

  He shook his head. “These are mine now. To the victor go the spoils and all that. I should probably start investing in getting you a lot of lingerie, since I’ll end up ruining most of it. Although, I like you better wearing nothing.”

  Flashing a wicked grin at her gawking face, he balled up the small scrap of fabric and tucked it into his pocket. Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment and it made him want to kiss her again, desperately.

  Caitlyn couldn’t believe his audacity. Well, actually she could. There was something so raw, so provocative to see her lover putting her torn panties into his pocket as she stood there bare beneath her skirt. To the world she looked like a rumpled office drone, but underneath, she was a well-loved woman who’d just had the wildest sexual experience of her life.

  For a moment they stood staring at each other and Caitlyn could feel the powerful punch of desire. Tag’s dark eyes flickered with some emotion, something she couldn’t identify. They started toward one another when they reached the top floor, and with a ding, the elevator doors slid open.

  Four men stood in the doorway and Caitlyn blinked at them in confusion as all four men sighed with relief. One of the security guards rushed forward. “Thank god you’re okay, Mr. Steele! We’re so sorry for the inconvenience. The system is up and running again.”

  A man in a suit stepped forward, laughing. “Inconvenience? Hell, I would love to switch places with you if I could get stuck in an elevator with this beauty.”

  In a split second the bubble of security Caitlyn had felt burst as the stark reality of what they said hit her full force. “Mr. Steele?” Caitlyn whispered.

  Tag cursed softly. “Caitlyn, I can explain.”

  “The building is secure again. The backup generator needed some tweaking, but everything—” The security guard continued on.