“I think they were ahead of their time on that,” she said as she crossed to the refrigerator, opening it and getting out the cream.
“I think so, but Sherry loves to cook, so she's always making something.”
Jane poured cream in her coffee and then got out a bagel. “How did you sleep?” she asked politely.
Because I was feeling contrary, I decided to be honest. “Not well.”
“Oh.” She looked a little taken aback. “I'm sorry.”
“That's okay. It's your fault.”
She had been lifting her mug to her lips and lowered it as her eyes narrowed. “How is it my fault?”
“Your little proposition.”
“I have no idea what that has to do with your sleep,” she said pointedly.
Because I’d apparently lost my mind, I crossed over to her, setting my mug on the counter, and leaned forward. “How did you sleep?”
Pink crested on her cheeks, and she caught the corner of her bottom lip with her teeth. It felt like a whip cracked through the air, the sound sizzling down my spine and going straight to my balls.
She shrugged and lifted her chin. “Okay,” she rasped.
Her blush deepened. “You're lying. Let me tell you how I slept. I couldn't stop thinking about you after your proposition. I came all over my hand thinking about it, and I’m already hard for you again.”
Jane’s breath drew in sharply, and her eyes widened. She shifted on her feet as she whispered, “Oh.” The sound of her swallowing was audible in the quiet room.
A gust of wind blew against the house, rattling the windows. It felt as if the storm itself was mirroring the state of my body.
“Am I supposed to apologize?” she finally asked before clearing her throat.
I shook my head slowly, sanity somehow rising through the depths of my need for her. I shackled myself and stepped back, lifting my coffee cup again. “No, that's not necessary.”
I knew it was rude, but I turned and left the room without another word. I could hardly stand to be near her. All I wanted was her, and I needed to get a fucking grip.
ChapterTen
Jane
I stood in the kitchen, listening to Ian’s footsteps retreating. My pulse skittered wildly, and my breath was short. I could feel the arousal slick at my core and shifted my thighs to relieve the ache building there.
Ian was right. Ihadbeen lying about last night. I’d hardly slept at all, tossing and turning as my body hummed with unquenched need. I'd found myself dipping my fingers into my slippery wet and swollen folds and bringing myself to a rapid orgasm. That had barely taken the edge off. And now? I was already hot and bothered. All over again.
Restless, I turned and walked to the windows at the back of the kitchen. The snow was picking up its pace with the wind blowing from the ocean toward the house. The old house shuddered against the force. I took a deep breath, hoping my pulse would slow. I didn't know what I was going to do with myself, and I didn't know how to take back what I’d done. I felt so stupid about telling him the truth.
Now, he knew a secret I'd kept from pretty much everyone. I sighed and turned away from the windows, deciding I might as well work. My new job didn't officially start for a few weeks, as far as the campus, but I had access to the university’s online system, and I could set up my syllabus and all that. I needed something to do, or I was going to lose my mind.
ChapterEleven
Ian
I was grateful to have some kind of project that required attention to detail. The necessity of accurate measurements and getting the cuts just right for the windowsills and trim succeeded in mostly getting my mind off Jane. However, my body knew she was in the vicinity.
Knowing she and I were the only two people here kept a subtle thrum of awareness and arousal vibrating in my body. I finished most of the trim for the non-standard-sized windows and decided it was time for a lunch break. After sweeping the sawdust off the floor, my cell phone rang. When I glanced at the screen, I was surprised to see it was my office assistant.
It was still snowing. I was still here in this house with Jane. This distraction would be better than none, so I answered.
“Hi there, Marilyn.”