by Conn, Claudy
“Whiskey and body heat are all I know.”
“Oh, Mr. I Think Of Everything has a plan! Is it to keep warm or get drunk and laid?” She actually put her hand over her mouth after that winning phrase came out, and didn’t know which she was more embarrassed about.
“I’m good with both! But, seriously, with the fire out, we can crawl into bed under a ton of blankets, and use our body heat to keep warm. Whiskey helps too.”
“Yes, it helps me agree to take my clothes off to keep warm.”
“Whatever you want.” She could hear the grin in his voice. Knew instinctively he’d have winked if she could see him, just by his tone. He stood up. “Come on. Grab a few blankets. I’ll get the rest and the bottle of whiskey. Man, it’s freezing in here!”
Climbing into his bed a few minutes later, Aaron pulled her body tightly against his. He began to rub his strong hands over her arms, down her back, and Rachael was reminded again of the fact she wore no bra or panties.
“For friction,” he explained.
“How convenient.”
“I thought so.”
With a deep breath, she placed her hands against his chest and began a rubbing circular motion, for friction’s sake. Not good! Not good at all! He feels great. I want to see. Not good at all!
“Here, have some of this.” He offered her the whiskey bottle.
Rachael took a sip and coughed as the burning liquid slid down her throat.
“Not a big whiskey drinker, I’m guessing?”
“In something, not straight,” she choked out.
“Guess I should have brought up the mixers too.”
“I’ll manage.” She took a bigger drink this time, wincing as the alcohol again burned it’s way to her stomach, the heat pressing outward to her limbs already, causing a slight tingling. She rubbed her hands together to warm them. “It’s surprising how fast they freeze when out from under the blankets.”
“I am not coming onto you, but you can put your hands under my shirt to warm them up. I won’t ask the same in return.” She could hear the outright desire to do just that in his words, though. She was beginning to think, work be damned.
Rachael took him up on his offer and slid her cold hands inside his shirt, shivering at the contact. His skin was warm. He had drunk a lot more of the whiskey than she had. Cuddling into him she moved her hands over the dips and curves of his stomach; his abs, rock hard, felt amazing.
“You are cold. Drink some more, okay? I promise not to take advantage of you. Although, some energetic sex would probably create some really good body heat right now. You know, for the sake of our survival.”
“We are not that desperate yet, Mr. I Think Of Everything.” Rachael sat up to drink more of the whiskey. Her throat burned, but it was worth the warmth it brought to her body. Maybe she was just getting tipsy, but she was thinking that Mr. Enemy, here, was more a Mr. Wonderful. Rather than average or boring, not that she ever thought he could be, he proved warm, and caring, and damn sexy. He was everything she wanted in a guy, other than his place of employment.
She took his hands and placed them under her sweatshirt, wincing as his cold fingers touched her belly. “Go ahead. Warm up.”
“You sure? Or, is the whiskey talking?”
“I’m sure,” she giggled.
“Sounds more like the whiskey, but I will take the opportunity for more warmth. He moved under the covers, laying on his side and turning her so her back was cradled snugly to his chest. He circled his arms around her, splaying his hands back on her bare stomach as Rachael snuggled into his body heat. His erection fit right up against her ass, but he moved his hands to stop the wiggle of her hips. The result either way proved torture. Her stomach clenched. She pulsed between her thighs. She swallowed hard despite the dryness of her mouth. Whiskey or not, she felt tipsy.
“Watch it, I only have so much control here. I am determined not take advantage of the situation, but I am only a man.”
“Mr. Boring.” She moved again, daring him, making sure every inch of her body that she could muster pressed against him. Rachael couldn’t help herself. His warm breath on her neck topped off her already raging body.
He growled, “Ask me another question before I attack you.”
“Okay…” And, would that be such a bad thing? I mean would it? I need an answer here because body I know you are clearly voting for getting naked and making a hell of a memory.
“Why don’t you have any Christmas decorations anywhere? Are they not allowed in a bachelor pad?”
“I don’t know the rules, but I figured why bother. No one really comes here, and I am heading back to Carolina for the holidays.”
“Oh.”
“What about you? I am taking it you decorate your place.”
“A little. I go to my parents for Christmas, but I still like to have some decorations out to get in the spirit throughout the month.” Not exactly a lie. Amounts were subjective terms.
“You like the holidays. I can hear it in your voice,” he said, not in an accusing way, but bordering between genuine and teasing.
“I do. Nothing wrong with watching a few too many Christmas movies and indulging in some hot chocolate and decorated cookies once a year. I don’t think anyway.”
“I’d like to try that?”
“Really?”
“Well, I would with you,” he said, his voice getting huskier.
“Really. Pardon me for not just thinking that is how you entice all of your women, by agreeing to whatever they say, acting interested enough to share, but then you sleep with them and never call back.”
“That’s what you think of me. I should have guessed. Not that office talk should have led you to think any other way.”
“Yes, what else would I think?” she asked, turning to look at him, the look of misery on his face making her heart skip a beat.
“It just got started as a few exaggerations, small talk in the workplace that quickly got out of control. Then it just became a competition, like the rest of it, between you and me. The better your dating stories became, the more I embellished mine. Until one day, I didn’t even recognize me. I couldn’t tell the truth. I couldn’t stop lying. I was stuck acting like some playboy ass. Last night, at the office, I knew you were in the hall. You think I can’t hear you, but I can. I picked up the phone and just acted like was talking on it. Shit. Since working with you, I don’t even know who I am anymore. Things have gotten so out of control. Please, Rachael, stop looking at me like that and say something.”
“I...I have no idea what to say.”
“You think I’m more of an ass now than you did yesterday. And, you are right. I am. I don’t know what happened to me working with you. It’s out of control.”
“It is. I agree one hundred percent.”
“I’m sorry, Rachael. I really am. And while I’m not happy you were in an accident, I’m thankful for the chance to truly apologize. You’ve never really gotten to meet the real me, well maybe briefly at the beginning. And, I’ve acted horrible since. I knew you were out of my league, so I guess I told myself that it didn’t matter, but it does.”
“League? What matters? I don’t get what you are trying to say. I mean I’m sorry too. You definitely haven’t gotten to know the real me either. I’m not this hard-nosed, competitive bitch with anyone but you. And, from the sounds of it, my dating stories were equally as fabricated just to not let you win. But, why are you saying all of this? I mean, I thank you for the niceness, the honestly, all the help, but what league?”
“I let you believe otherwise, let you go with your own imaginings, but I’m a poor guy from South Carolina, hanging on by a thread, keeping my job only to pay student loans. I’m not a player. Never have been. You deserve better, and so I made you an enemy.”
“Deserve better? You’ve seen you right? Your mirrors all work?”
“Looks made no difference where I came from, how I grew up, the family I was raised by. Guess I clean up okay, but I’m not talking look
s here, I’m talking wanting to date a city girl that has it all together. Smart. Beautiful. You are amazing even when you are being especially mean to me.”
“Wait, you wanted to date me?”
“Still do,” he said, looking away from her face.
“I don’t know what to do with this revelation.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just, let’s not be enemies anymore, alright. No matter what else happens this weekend, can we try to work together?”
“We managed to today. We can continue. You may have made me work harder, but I don’t like who I’ve become around you either.”
“Good,” he said, letting out a heavy breath.
He reached for her face again, his hands warmer from being between them. She let him kiss her, passionately, their mouths almost battling for possession, of what she didn’t know, they did seem to know how to battle with each other.
“You don’t hate me then?” she asked, pulling back to catch her breath.
“Hate you? Did my kiss feel like I hate you?”
“No, it’s just I assumed you did.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You need to stop saying that. I am too, and we need to let that be.”
“Agreed.”
He pulled her face to his again, this time letting his lips brush fierce kisses over her cheek, down to her neck, leaving a trail of ignited skin from his touch and his unshaven face. Only, when she heard him undoing the zipper of her sweatshirt, she stopped him.
“I’m sorry. I’m coming on too strong.”
“No, you aren’t,” she replied, giving him a short, but searing kiss to prove her point. “It’s just that all that has happened, all that has been said, admitted, it would be so easy to fall into bed together...well, I mean more than we already have for practical purposes. I want you right now, I really do, but I think we should sleep on this. If we can manage, snuggle up together, and just talk until we fall asleep. I just don’t want to rush it. Too much is at stake.”
“Our jobs you mean?” he said, looking as if she’d just punched him in the gut.
“No, not just our jobs, but more, much more. I just don’t want to confuse what is already so confusing with sex. I just need some time. I need to wake up tomorrow and figure out if this was all some dream brought on by a head trauma or something. I’m scared, in all honestly, and that’s not easy for me to say to you.”
“It means a lot that you did. I don’t want to mess up whatever this is, wherever it is going. I’m happy to just be having a conversation with you that doesn’t involve work or insults. I’m happy to just hold you tonight if that is what you want.”
“It isn’t exactly what I want if you ask my body, but I’m trying to let my brain do a little of the talking too.”
“Then, let’s just talk.”
She nodded, turning again, curling into him. They let out simultaneous sighs when his growing erection pressed against the small of her back this time.
“I didn’t say it would be easy,” she said with a groan.
“Just start talking before I lose my mind here. Tell me your favorite Christmas memory as a child,” he begged.
“I don’t think I could pick just one.”
“Then just pick one.”
“Okay, there was a Christmas, maybe I was about thirteen, not sure if I wanted to still play with toys or wear makeup and be treated like an adult. My aunt, uncle, and cousin had come over to celebrate with us, as they always did. At some point the snow storm took a turn to ice storm, and the power went out. Everyone was trapped there for the night. We had a fireplace in our downstairs living room. So, we all had to sleep around it in sleeping bags. My cousin was only three, so she kept getting up during the night to play with this kitchen set my parents had bought her. I don’t know, it was just fun, like the day was extended more than usual. Surely I’m boring you.”
“You’re not. Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood. I want to hear more.”
“You tell me one first,” she asked.
“Well, okay. Let me think,” he said, wrapping his arms around her tighter, placing a kiss just below her ear.
They ended up talking late into the night, sometimes stopping to kiss, but always stopping themselves with more talking. While she enjoyed sharing with him, learning about him, the frustration of wanting him so badly physically hurt by the time she fell asleep.
Chapter Six
Winter Wallops Weekend, Warm-Up On The Way
Rachael woke up the next morning with a smile on her face, finding herself still wrapped up in Aaron’s arms. However, the smile soon faded when she slid out of bed carefully, trying not to wake him, and headed to the freezing cold bathroom. A glance out the window showed the snow still coming down, but a lot slower. Although, in five brief minutes every inch of her was some sort of bitter cold. Daring a glance out the window, seeing the roads still covered and the street still dark made her smile to be stuck here with him. She headed back to his bed a different woman. A woman on a whole new mission.
She found him awake when she got back to the bed.
“Good morning.” His smile warmed her freezing body. He seemed so happy to see her.
“Good morning too, Mr. Chipper. Hey, do you have any batteries around this place we could put into a radio to see what is going on with the weather. It’s still coming down out there, but at a far lesser clip.”
“Sure. Let me run, and I do mean run, to the bathroom, grab us some fruit and yogurt from the fridge, well garage, and I will get them.”
He really wasn’t gone long. He dropped some stuff on the bed, and jumped quickly under the covers, shivering. “Man, I’m freezing my balls off!”
“Want me to warm them for you?” Who the hell said that? Maybe she was like a dog with a bone once she got something she wanted in her head. Right now, Rachael knew exactly which bone she was after too.
“Now, that offer was just evil if you didn’t mean it!” Aaron grabbed her, his big hands spanning her waist, and placed her on top of him.
She trembled, from both the cold and finding her legs wrapped around his. His hardness nestled perfectly in the only part of her that was currently very warm.
She moved, grabbing for the batteries and his alarm clock radio. She liked the sound of his moaning as she shifted over him. His shaft had grown between her thighs by the time she turned the radio on, fiddling with the dial until she heard the weather report.
The broadcaster’s voice rang out in the cold room, “Snowfall totals have reached twenty-six inches in some areas of the Snow Belt. Power outages are widespread. But, the good news is that today will see an end to the falling white stuff, and Monday will bring temps back up above freezing.”
Rachael clicked the radio back off. “Looks like we can go back to work on Monday. If I help you shovel out your driveway this afternoon, you should be able to get me out of your hair.” Her face fell and her stomach rumbled, though she was truly hungrier for something other than food.
“Yeah.” He sighed loudly and moved his hands to sit on her hips.
“You don’t sound so happy about that. We can still work together on the project. In fact, hopefully we can find my car, get my stuff along with a tow truck, and then maybe have a business dinner back here tonight. I should have some junk in my fridge to add to the pot. Odds are, I probably don’t have power either.”
“Sure.”
“What’s wrong with you all the sudden, Mr. I’m Usually Chipper Twenty-Four Seven?”
“Some days I just want to quit that job so bad.”
“What?”
“I want to quit.”
“I heard you, but why?”
“Before, I wanted to quit so I didn’t have to fight with you anymore.”
“Really? Was I that unbearable to be around? Or was I just winning? Anyway, we are not fighting now. We are working on a project together. We talked about this last night, remember? We agreed. So you don’t have to quit now.”
&
nbsp; “Yes, I do. What we didn’t agree on, what you hesitated with, that’s what’s bothering me. I mean...well, I don’t know what I mean. I just know that I don’t want to work with you anymore.”
“What are you talking about? Last night you said we could work on this account together.”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m not talking about accounts.”
“Then what exactly are you talking about?” Her breath hitched over her last word.
“I want to quit so you will stop pushing me away just because we work together, so I can kiss you, ask you out, touch you…not just talk about work...” He left off, his eyes were closed tightly, his teeth clenched.
Her heart suddenly thumping against her chest, her desire made her stomach tighten and all of her womanly parts throb. “Aaron,” she whispered, running her hands through his hair like she’d wanted to for so long, but had denied even to herself.
“You used my real name. He tilted his face into her palm. So, how much trouble am I in for admitting that?”
“Depends on how you look at it, I guess.”
“I’m sorry. I just had to say it. I probably would’ve sooner or later anyway, but this weekend, this time with you, having you in my bed, drunk, ready, and probably willing last night, if I would not have been a gentleman, it is all killing me.” His hands tightened on her hips, fingers squeezing her flesh at the top of her backside.
She had to concentrate, force herself not to rub herself against his growing cock. “Don’t apologize. You’ve been amazing this weekend, caring for me like no one ever has before. So stop apologizing and kiss me already.”
He opened his eyes wide. “Are you serious? Because, as much of a gentleman as I’m trying to be, I can’t keep starting and stopping. I want you. So much. I wasn’t sure if you were drunk last night, so I wasn’t going to push, but all we said, I didn’t know how much the whiskey had to do with that, the situation.”
“Yes, I’m serious about the kiss. And, no, I’m not drunk anymore, Mr. Conscientious. So kiss me, Aaron. Touch me, anywhere you want, everywhere.”
He growled as his mouth met hers. His cool lips moved over hers, a harsh slide that warmed them. He bit gently, moving his mouth down over her jaw to her neck, nibbling, licking, sucking on her flesh, heating every inch. He trailed his fingertips against her back, up and down in a soothing motion. In a sudden movement, he moved his warm fingers under the band of her sweats. He grabbed at her ass, kneading her cheeks with his strong fingers, opening her, making her insides throb to be touched and entered.
