by Kate Davies
“Earth to Jessica.” Tom waved his hand in front of her eyes, startling her from her reverie.
“Sorry,” she said quietly, although her heart was thumping loud enough to be heard over the rush of waves against the pilings below. “Just thinking.”
“Yeah, well, that story does tend to clear the room,” he replied.
Jessica shook her head, but Tom was already gathering the remnants of their meal and throwing it away. “Come on, let’s head over to the dock. Our ferry will be leaving soon.”
She held out her hand and he laced his fingers with hers. A sense of rightness, of coming home washed over her. This was where she was meant to be.
“This is totally amazing!”
Tom smiled as he watched Jessica lean against the thick green railing, a chill wind rushing through her tousled red-brown hair. She spread her arms wide, bracing herself against the railing of the small deck overlooking the front of the ferry. Below, white-capped waves crashed against the edge of the car deck, leaving puddles on the walkways and riming the safety ropes with salt.
She turned around, laughing with delight. “You were absolutely right. This is exactly what I needed.”
He flashed a cocky smile. “Told you so.”
“I think it’s what we both needed,” she said. “It’s wonderful to set the stress and pressure aside for a few hours.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.” Tom squinted into the distance. “We’re about fifteen minutes from docking.”
Jessica sighed. “Then back to reality. Thanks again, Tom.”
“You still have a couple of minutes. Sure you don’t want to do the whole Titanic thing? I promise I won’t let you fall off the front of the boat.”
Jessica rolled her eyes at him. “I’m feeling better, but I’m not exactly king-of-the-world material. And I don’t think there are any icebergs in Puget Sound.”
Tom nodded. “It’s cold, but it’s not that cold.” He reached out and pulled her coat collar closer together, tucking the fringes of her scarf around her neck to block out the wind.
She stilled, her eyes darkening as she stared at him. Tom’s grip tightened on her coat, his fingers clutching the fabric. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head to hers.
Their previous kisses had been spontaneous combustion. This one was a steamy, languid dip in the Olympic Hot Springs. He tasted her lips slowly, placing soft nibbling kisses from corner to corner. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth against hers and swept his tongue across her lower lip.
Her mouth opened on a sigh and he moved forward, noting with pleasure the exact point where the chill of the outdoor air gave way to the heat of Jessica’s mouth. His ears tingled and his cheeks were close to numb from the winter wind howling across the small ferry deck. But inside, he would swear he was running one hell of a fever.
She was close, so close, but with all the layers of clothing between them she might as well have been against the opposite rail. Tom groaned, gripping her lapel as he continued the kiss, his overactive imagination helpfully supplying a reminder of the sweet curves buried under all that winter wool. Thank God he was bundled up just as tightly, or she would be getting a very clear picture of how much he was enjoying this repeat performance.
Suddenly, the ferry gave a pitching roll, shuddering as it lifted above the waves and heaved down again. They stumbled apart, both clinging tightly to the other’s coat and breathing heavily.
Through sheer force of will, Tom unclenched his fingers and released Jessica’s now-wrinkled charcoal gray winter coat. He ran a hand through his wind-tossed hair, sucking in a deep breath. The air was thick with exhaust from the ferry engines, combined with the tang of salt spray and impending rain. And overlaying it all was the crisp citrus scent of Jessica.
She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. He watched as a shuddering sigh traveled the length of her spine. Even through his winter layers he could feel the heat of her breath as it puffed against his solar plexus. A shiver wrapped around his midsection.
She mumbled something into his coat, but the combination of rushing wind and rumbling ferry engines drowned out any chance of hearing it. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her back toward the relative warmth and bright lights of the main cabin.
But before they could go inside, she grabbed the lapel of his coat and dragged him past the doorway into the darkened alcove under the stairs to the upper deck.
“What are you—?” His statement was cut off when she wrapped one hand around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
She began talking between kisses, her words almost lost in the feverish embrace. “I. Don’t. Want. To. Stop.”
God help him, neither did Tom. No one was watching. It was too damn cold outside to entice other riders onto the deck. Pressing her up against the closest pillar, he unzipped her jacket and spread it open, then slid one hand down her side to curve around her hip.
Groaning, she wrapped her leg around his waist, her head falling back against the pillar with a thunk.
“You have no idea how much I want you right now,” he said, slipping one hand under the edge of her shirt to stroke the silky, heated skin of her midriff.
“Mmm.” She tilted her hips forward. “I beg to differ.”
Her laughter cut off with a groan as he cupped one perfect breast, pushing her bra aside to thumb her tight nipple.
“Like that, do you?” He did it again, pulling another groan from her. He kissed his way down her throat, nuzzling that sweet spot between neck and collarbone, as he pushed her shirt higher. The thick wool bunched up above her breasts, baring her to his avid gaze.
Her bra was a front closure, he noted with pleasure, unsnapping it with a quick motion. She gasped as he spread the fabric wide and leaned down to suck one nipple into his mouth.
Her skin was a heady combination of heat and chill, the cold breeze raising goose bumps on her exposed flesh. He tugged her coat closer to keep her warm as he swirled his tongue around her tightly beaded nipple.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed his way across her torso, giving her other breast the same attention. He slid his free hand down to cup her ass, angling her so their bodies were in perfect alignment. With each pull and tug of his mouth on her breast, she responded with a tilt of the hips, pressing against his aching cock over and over again. When he finally pulled back, they were both gasping for breath.
“Wow.” She wrapped her arms around him tightly, clinging to him for long moments. He could feel her shaking, though whether from the cold or the adrenaline rush, he couldn’t tell.
The boat shuddered beneath their feet, jarring as it bumped into the dock.
“We’re here,” he said, gently untangling her arms from around his neck and helping her put her clothes back in some semblance of order. Both of them pulled their jackets tightly around them. He hoped the heavy winter coats would hide any evidence of their activities.
Holding hands, they joined the small queue at the front of the ferry waiting to disembark. The other passengers hurried down the walkway to the parking lot, Jessica and Tom following slowly behind, stealing glances at each other.
Once at the car, Tom opened the door for her and waited until she was seated inside. Then he rounded the car to the driver’s side. He put the key in the ignition. “I’ll take you back to the school to get your car.”
She put her hand over his, stopping him before he could start the car. “Or you could just take me home.”
Chapter Nine
Jessica bit her lip and tried like hell not to blush.
Sure, she’d managed it on the boat, but somehow hearing herself say those words in the still interior of the car was more blush-inducing.
“Are you sure?” His voice was pitched low, with an edge she hadn’t heard before. His fingers flexed beneath her hand, and she felt the motion all the way through her body.
She closed her eyes. “Absolutely.” And the funny thing was, it was true. It wasn�
�t just about the experience on the boat, though God knows it had been enough to bring her to the edge of orgasm right there. To be honest, she would have been able to say goodnight with just a twinge of disappointment if it was just about the sex.
But it was more than that. It was about the whole evening, all the time they’d spent together before tonight, the things they’d shared over dinner.
She wanted Tom. She wanted to be with him. And she just didn’t care anymore about all the reasons she should walk away.
He looked at her for another long moment, then turned the car on with a swift twist of the wrist. “You’ll need to give me directions,” he all but growled.
Jessica smiled. Based on their time on the ferry, she had a feeling once they got to the house he’d be the kind of guy who wouldn’t need directions at all.
“Turn left at the light.” She settled back in her seat as he pulled out of the parking lot with a bit more speed than necessary. The sooner they got home, the better.
Tom had a vague impression of Jessica’s house. Small, tidy, in an older neighborhood. Then they were out of the car, through the front door and pressed up against the nearest wall, limbs tangled together.
He nudged the door shut with his foot, then focused his attention on slipping her coat off. She was busy doing the same for him, both of them dropping the unnecessary garments on the floor as they kept kissing. She attacked his button-down shirt with fervor while planting a series of kisses down his neck. He interrupted her progress by stripping her sweater off over her head and tossing it across the hall. He went for her bra, tugging the straps off her shoulders before she trapped his arms in the sleeves of his shirt as she wrenched it off his body.
Tom shrugged off the tangled fabric and let it fall. Jessica tugged at his belt, leading him down the narrow hall to the half-open door on the right. She nudged the light switch with her elbow and he blinked against the sudden brightness.
“Sorry,” she mumbled against his lips, switching the overhead light off again. She drew him toward the bed that dominated the small room, giving him a little nudge as the back of his knees hit the mattress. Always willing to oblige, he sat, watching in the dim light spilling in from the hallway and she fumbled for the bedside lamp.
A soft glow filled the room. Jessica stood in front of Tom, wearing just her lacy front-clasp bra and black wool dress pants. He slipped one finger through the loop at the front of her slacks and tugged her closer, then made quick work of the button and zipper. She stepped out of the pants as they slipped to the floor and then climbed onto the bed with one knee on either side of his legs. Threading her fingers through his hair, she leaned down and kissed him.
Eyes closed, he slipped the clasp of her bra open, dragged it down her arms and dropped it on the floor behind her. His hands stroked along her spine, curving over her ass and tugging her closer. Her hips tilted, cradling his aching cock at the juncture of her thighs. With a groan, he tumbled backward until he was lying on the bed, Jessica splayed over him.
Her knees gripped his thighs tightly, her body pressed against his from hips to shoulders. He slid his hands beneath the lace band of her panties, slipping them down the curve of her behind. She lifted up, helping him slide them down and off.
“My turn,” she whispered, sitting up so she could reach his belt. She wrenched it open with more enthusiasm than finesse, but Tom wasn’t about to complain as she attacked the button and zipper on his slacks. Then she scooted backward, dragging his pants and boxers down at the same time.
She dropped everything on the floor and crawled back over him, finally settling right over his waist so they were pressed together, heat to heat.
“Hi,” she whispered, leaning in for a kiss.
Tom took advantage of the situation, filling his palms with her naked breasts. He thumbed the taut nipples, drawing a low moan from Jessica and distracting her temporarily. He trapped one nipple between a forefinger and thumb and tugged lightly.
Jessica gasped, arching her back. With a little grin, Tom repeated the motion on her other breast. Her head dropped forward and she closed her eyes. Shifting onto his elbows, Tom placed one hand in the middle of her back and urged her forward. Then he closed his lips over one nipple and sucked.
“Omigod,” she breathed, tangling her fingers in his hair. “Do that again.”
He obliged, a thumb strumming across her other nipple in time with the suction of his mouth. Then he switched, making her groan again.
Her hips began pulsing against his, the damp heat of her pussy sliding against his cock. Too much more of that and he wasn’t going to make it to the main event. He pulled back, giving her wet nipple one last lick. “Do you have any—?” he started, but she was already reaching for the nightstand drawer before he could finish the sentence.
He held a hand out for the condom, but she was already opening it. She gripped the base of his cock in one hand and covered him, fumbling just a little.
“You’re sure?” He gazed up at her, naked and flushed, straddling his hips. She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. He gripped her hips gently, lifting her so she was poised right above him. Then together they guided him into her waiting heat.
Tom gritted his teeth, willing himself to go slowly. Inch by inch, he slid in farther, giving her time to adjust.
Jessica lifted up and gazed down at him, one hand splayed on his chest. “More,” she said. Then she pressed down until he was fully seated inside her.
He groaned at the sensation of silken heat surrounding him. She lifted up and slid down again, setting up a rhythm that grew faster and more erratic. He pumped his hips upward, surging into her over and over. Then he pulled her hips down, holding her tightly, and rolled with her until he covered her completely. She groaned and wrapped her legs around his hips, moving with him as he thrust again and again. One hand tangled in his hair as she pulled him down for a kiss that grew heated and more frantic as they raced toward completion. Suddenly, her head tipped back with a low cry as her legs tightened around him, her entire body shaking. Two thrusts more and he followed her over the edge, groaning out her name as he came.
For long moments they just lay together, their ragged breathing slowing bit by bit. He smoothed the hair away from her forehead and looked at her blissful expression.
“Wow,” she breathed.
“Yeah.” Wow was right. Certain he was crushing her with his weight, he rolled to the side, ignoring her little whimper of protest. Then he gathered her close and tucked her head on his shoulder.
He should go. He really should. But she was so warm, her bed so inviting. Just a few minutes more. Then he’d clean up and head home, let her get some sleep. It was the right thing to do.
But when he came back from the bathroom few minutes later, she was holding the covers for him.
“I should go,” he protested, his voice sounding unconvincing even to his own ears.
“Just a few minutes,” she said drowsily, her words unconsciously echoing his own thoughts.
Sighing inwardly, he slipped under the covers and pulled her to him. Her naked body was warm and soft, so much nicer than the cold comfort of his solitary bed. And it just didn’t seem right to run away after what they’d shared.
“Just a few minutes,” he echoed, resting his chin on the top of her head and closing his eyes. “Then I really should go.”
Jessica reached over Tom’s naked torso to slap off the alarm. As she slid back under the covers, he rolled over and wrapped one arm around her waist. “Good morning,” he mumbled into the pillow.
“Morning,” she said, fighting the blush that threatened. After everything they’d done the night before, blushing was the last thing she should be doing.
He turned his head, glancing up at her with one bleary eye. They hadn’t gotten much sleep, after all.
His gaze sharpened. “Morning,” he repeated, his voice low and drawn out. “Thursday morning.”
She nodded, not quite sure where he was going with t
his conversational topic. Maybe he wasn’t quite awake yet, after all.
“How long before we have to be at school?”
Oh. Oh. Jessica closed her eyes and groaned. “About forty-five minutes.”
Barely enough time to shower, get dressed, and get on the road. And her car was still at the school.
Tom wouldn’t have time to go home and change. They’d have to arrive together, Tom in the same clothes he’d worn the day before. The same pants that were still crumpled in a heap at the base of her bed.
“Oh, shit.” She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed, ignoring the fact that she was still naked. Instead, she focused on the more horrifying fact that in less than an hour, their colleagues at Summit would know they’d spent the night together.
“You take the first shower,” she said, gathering up their clothes. “I’ll see if I can iron some of the wrinkles out of these for you.”
He had followed her out of the bed, and now stood beside her. “I am so sorry.”
She put one hand on his arm. “It’s okay.”
“If you say so.” Even standing naked in her bedroom, he looked remote, like he’d already walked away. His face was taut, his eyes distant. “I’ll be back in a few.”
Inwardly, Jessica winced. “Okay,” she said, clutching his clothes to her chest.
He spun on his heel, leaving the door slightly open as he left the room.
Jessica sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. So much for whatever this was that she’d hoped was starting between them. Clearly, any sign of afterglow had been lost in the cold light of morning.
Tom handed over his debit card to the unreasonably perky woman in the drive-through window and took the white paper bag from her in return. He passed it to Jessica as he pulled away from the fast food place.
There would be barely enough time to choke it down, but they needed something to eat before work.
It would be impossible to get in the building before someone noticed them. He could only pray that it wouldn’t be someone who’d use the information to harm Jessica.
