****
Several weeks went by with no more incidents. No more phone calls. Nothing. Gail worked out on the stair-climber and watched Jeff on the treadmill. Not even breathing hard, she opened the conversation. "Jeff, other than when you go out back during my rituals and when I'm at work, we spend every waking moment together. I was just wondering…"
"Yeah, you were just wondering. Go on," he said in a deep, rich voice.
"I mean we're together twenty-four-seven other than the times I mentioned and when I'm sleeping…"
"How else can I watch over you?" he interrupted.
"I understand that. It's just that… Monica came over to me at break last night, and she hasn't been the first. She came over and asked when I was going to introduce them to my new boyfriend. I was at a loss as to what to say. I don't want to tell them about the threats on my life. I just shrugged, smiled, and didn't say anything. What should I tell them?"
"You're resourceful, tell them anything you want," he evaded.
Exasperating man.
"The thing is, I don't find that an unappealing thought." She climbed off the machine. "So could we be?"
"What thought? Could we be what?"
She stomped her foot. "You aren't going to make this easy for me at all, are you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. You're my employer."
With a "Humph," she stormed out of the room and could not help but hear his chuckle behind her, which added to her frustration.
After slamming her bedroom door she stood fuming under the streaming shower and had a heated conversation with herself. "I've prayed to the Goddess and performed spells. Ones aimed at letting you see I would be willing for our relationship to go further than it has to this point. Nothing! You're always a damn perfect gentleman, never making any type of advance on me. I like the way you take charge. I love that you're always so nice to me and so polite. That winning smile of yours sweeps me off my feet. I'd like to know more about you but you seem to evade it every time I try to learn more. I like you, mystery man, are you too blind to see that?"
She got dressed, taking her frustrations out on the dresser drawers and putting on the least sexy outfit she could find. As she went to the kitchen she heard the shower come on in the other room.
I hope I didn't leave any hot water for you, shit-head. Counting to ten and taking a deep breath, she calmed herself. Soon she had finished making sandwiches and set his plate on the table.
"So what now?" she asked herself.
"Are you asking me?" Jeff said from the doorway, making her nearly jump out of her skin.
She swallowed and took a moment to regain her composure. "Jeff, have you ever been married?"
"No."
"Ever had a girlfriend?" she smiled as amiably as she could.
He cocked an eyebrow and chuckled. "Yes."
"You're not giving me much information here with one word answers."
"No."
Damn you, you frustrating man. She decided to switch to another subject since questions about his love life seemed to be getting nowhere. "Were you ever in law enforcement? I don't want a one word answer either."
"No, I've never been a cop. I have a lot of friends who are, but never been one myself. I was in the army and after that, the CIA."
"Now we're getting somewhere. What did you do in the army and CIA?"
"Does it matter?"
It took most of her will to keep from stamping her foot in exasperation. "Yes, it matters. I want to know more about you. How else can I find out if you won't tell me?" she asked impatiently.
"I don't want to frighten you."
She looked into his eyes and saw a very troubled look in them. "What? Were you a spy or something?" she asked jokingly.
"Or something," he hesitated.
She dropped her head and sighed. "A man of many secrets. Perhaps you just don't like my company enough to let loose a little." It was not like her to doubt herself this way, but this man drove her to her limits.
His face turned into a scowl. It was as though her words caused something to snap. Angrily, he strode to her, grabbed her arms and shook her. "Gail, I killed people. I was an assassin. Okay? Is that what you wanted to learn? What do you say to that, huh?" He quickly released her and sat in front of his plate.
She joined him at the table and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. From the set of his jaw and the irritation that flashed in his eyes, she knew he would not discuss this subject any further. Purposely changing the topic, she asked, "Ever been in love?"
He shook his head. "You insist on asking about things that are uncomfortable for me. To answer your question, yes. Twice. The first one ran off, taking a good share of my funds with her. The second… didn't end up well."
"Didn't end up well, as in she broke your heart when you broke up? Is she around here?"
It was his turn to sigh in exasperation. "She's dead, Gail. And no, I didn't kill her. This conversation sucks. I need to go check on things outside." He scooted his chair back and left the room hurriedly, as if he could not bear to stay.
She sat there staring at his empty place, the uneaten sandwich staring back at her. A shudder passed through her as the words "assassin" and "dead girlfriend" played through her mind.
"Do I really want to get involved with him?" As soon as she breathed the question, she knew the answer. "Yes."
She had no doubts about it. Her intuition told her he was an honorable man and she always trusted her intuition. It was time to try a little harder.
****
Gail began leaving her bedroom door open - accidentally, of course - and coming out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel. When that did not work, she began to take the towel off and lay it on her bed while she sauntered over to her dresser to put on her panties and bra. All the while she pretended to be unaware of the open door or the fact he was sitting on the couch in plain view.
Nothing. Zip. Nada.
Her choice of panties changed from plain cotton to thongs and the same applied to the bras as they progressively became more suggestive, accenting her assets and forming more cleavage. Her dresses also became more scanty and risqué.
Still nothing.
Though he was careful to hide it, Gail's brazen display of herself in the nude and her provocative dress was having an effect. A time or two she heard his groans of frustration and desire. Smiling at what he would surely term her resourcefulness, she stuck to her plan and waited.
****
God damn it Gail, close your fucking bedroom door! You're driving me crazy, woman. With Gail flaunting herself at him every chance she got, tempting him to the edge of endurance, it was becoming more and more difficult to keep their relationship strictly business.
His friends were checking everything they could in the ongoing investigation. There was no trace of the missing car or the two assailants driving it. Nothing on the missing Shorty either. To no surprise, the bullets fired in the assault led nowhere. Everything was coming up a big, fat zero. One of his friends involved with the investigation warned, "Be careful Jeff, I can't put my finger on it, but something stinks."
Contrary to his secret wish, Gail stepped up her seductive attacks. She started wearing shorts to their daily exercises that were so tight they looked as if they had been spray painted on. She wore skimpy halter or bra tops that left little to the imagination. It was going to be one hell of a challenge to keep his hands off her.
****
Three weeks went by and still nothing. When she came out from work one night, he was sure his agitation was apparent. Her first question confirmed his suspicions.
"Something's wrong. What?" she asked when they got into the car.
"They found Shorty today."
"Go on," Gail urged softly when he did not elaborate.
"He was in his car at the bottom of Lake Cassum. He'd been shot twice in the back of the head."
"I'm so sorry. Were you and Shorty close? I guess, I mean, were you and Shorty...
lovers?"
He swerved and nearly drove off the road in reaction to her comment. "For Christ's sake no, Gail! I like girls. He was just a friend. A very close friend."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… I just tend to view relationships differently from the average person," Gail blurted.
He curtly responded with, "I can see that."
She kept her mouth shut the rest of the way home.
When they were safely inside her house, Gail went to her bedroom and closed the door. When she did not come out, he went to her door and knocked.
"Gail, I think we need to talk."
"Go away, please. Just go away," she called from the other side of the closed door.
"I won't go away until you talk to me face-to-face. If you still want me to go away then, I will."
Gail flung open the door. "What!" she demanded in a cross voice and with tears in her eyes.
"Damnation, Gail, what has gotten into you? What the hell did I do other than try to keep you safe? What did I do to make you so angry?"
Then the pieces began to fall together for him. At least he thought so. She likes me, maybe just as much as I like her. If she only knew just how breathtaking I find her. That also explains the scanty way she dresses now. That explains a whole lot of things. In spite of his irritation, he felt a grin come to his face.
"Is it because you think I don't find you attractive? If that is it, then Gail, you're dead wrong. I find you very attractive. I just don't want to cross the employer-employee line. You haven't been making it easy for me. It's been, uh, a long time, a very long time since I've been with a woman," he finished and waited for her answer.
Gail wiped her eyes, smearing her mascara and her expression brightened. "So you actually like me?" she asked in a small voice.
"What's not to like? You have great looks, a wicked sense of humor and you're a good conversationalist. Of course you drive me crazy sometimes with your attitude and way of thinking, but I've come to appreciate that too. Plus you remind me of someone I once loved…" When she said nothing, he went on in exasperation, "Jesus, what's not to like?"
Gaining confidence, she shook her finger at him playfully. "That's the second time you've mentioned a deity I don't believe in, and in a derogatory manner. Am I going to have to wash your mouth out with soap?"
"I only cuss when I'm upset or feel helpless and right now, I feel both."
"I'm sorry I got mad. I was hurt more than mad anyway," she confessed and put her arms around him. She nuzzled her head into his chest.
He responded, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. He raised his hand and slipped a finger beneath her chin, gently raising her face to his. Every shred of professionalism in him screamed what he was about to do was wrong. He had just stated he would not cross the employee-employer line but… when she was snuggled against him this way… her intoxicating scent filled his nostrils and fogged his mind. All of his high morals and beliefs concerning employee and employer relations went out the door, up in a puff of smoke.
Professionalism, be damned.
He thought she was the most beautiful, desirable woman he had ever seen. If he were a cat, she would be catnip. Slowly, his mouth descended and he pressed his lips to hers. Hers were soft and yielding just as he had imagined they would be. Gail snuggled closer and their kiss deepened. The taste of her sweetness drove him out of his mind. Reluctantly, he pulled away, breathing hard and smiling.
"I liked that. I liked that a lot. Do it again," she purred as she reached up, wrapping her arm around his neck and pulling him back down for another kiss. She traced the tip of her tongue along his lips, beckoning him to open to her.
Pulling her closer into his arms, he guided her back into her room and onto her bed. Without breaking the kiss, he removed his gun and set it on the nightstand. Slowly, he slid his hands down her sides, feeling her shapely curves. Even through her heavy work shirt he could feel her respond to his touch, pressing closer to him. They separated just enough for his fingers to start unbuttoning her shirt.
At the same time, her hands were busy undoing his. Jeff's hand slipped beneath her shirt and glided across the heavenly soft skin of her back, even softer and smoother than he had imagined. The last button on his shirt parted and they pressed together, flesh-to-flesh. His hand fumbled slightly but then unfastened the clasps of her bra. He held her at arms length and together they removed their shirts and her bra, tossing them on the floor.
Free of the bra that had hidden her, Jeff saw her dusky red areoles and rounded, tasty looking buds that surmounted them. He could hardly wait to sample them. Her nipples were hard, peaked and begging for attention. Kicking off their shoes, they came together, arms encircled once more, naked from the waist up.
Since he first met Gail, he had dreamed of this scene more than once. He resisted the urge to pinch himself and wake up. If this was an erotic dream, he did not wish to wake. He felt her hands working on his belt and fly. He quickly went to work on her blue jeans. They removed each other's pants, letting them pool around their ankles before kicking out of them. Boxers and panties joined other discarded clothing on the floor and they tumbled into bed in a tight embrace.
He wanted to possess her immediately. Her soft skin and strong muscles rippling just underneath aroused him almost beyond control. Go slow, he reminded himself. He wanted her to enjoy having sex with him just as much as he knew he was going to enjoy it with her. While trembling with need, Jeff forced his lips away from hers to kiss her chin and along her jaw to her neck. The wonderful taste of her lips, her fantastic scent, incredible body and the way her hands were caressing him made it very hard to delay. Her sharp inhale brought a brief smile to his lips just before he made a trail down her neck through the curvature and along her shoulder. Gail shuddered beneath him. With an effort, he separated from their tight encirclement to gaze upon her, to pace his excitement.
He let his gaze rove over her from head to toe. She had red eyebrows and long, red eyelashes that covered her green eyes; eyes that were closed at the present. She had a button nose with a few tiny freckles on each side and full, luscious lips. Her breasts were just large enough to fill his hand and mouth. Her nipples stuck straight up in arousal. She had a flat stomach and he noticed her sex was shaved bare. Her hips were well defined and led into shapely, toned legs.
****
Gail opened her eyes and saw Jeff studying her. She took the opportunity to let her gaze roam over his masculine face. His lips were thin but not overly so. Her fingers twined in the near invisible blond, curly hair between his pectorals. He had a tight body, flat stomach and his arms and legs were muscular, but not muscle bound like a body builder. He was also well endowed but not overly so. Altogether, he looked delicious.
He froze, motionless, and growled in frustration. "Condom," he whispered in her ear. "I don't have one. We can't do this."
"No need. I'm a witch. It'll be fine," she whispered back.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"What's that supposed to mean? That you're a witch? Can't witches get pregnant?"
"I'll explain later. We have better things to do right now than talk about that. Please, just trust me. Take me, I'm yours. Make love to me, Jeff. I need you."
That seemed to satisfy him. His wonderful stimulations resumed.
Their gazes met, their bodies melded together. When his erection slipped into her heated, slick womanhood, a tiny moan tumbled from her lips. She felt the walls of her vagina stretch to accommodate him. They closed around his cock, providing a wonderful feeling of fullness. A fleeting thought raced through her mind. It's been a long time since I've been with a man. Since Nick, years ago.
She surrendered to the magical feeling of having Jeff inside her.
Slowly, she learned his body as he learned hers, establishing a rhythm that built in tempo as her arousal increased to boiling point. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment. A small shiver passed through her along with a warm feeling an
d then it was gone. Only belatedly, she recognized it for what it was.
Her small climax left behind a yearning for more, for something deeper, longer and more lasting. Jeff continued his thrusts. Within a few short minutes, another orgasm rode through her, rising deep in her core. His long, slow strokes stirred the embers inside her and stoked those embers into roaring flames. This time, she welcomed the strong wave of pleasure, embracing it just as she did him. Jolts like electrical current surged though her. Each one left her tingling and wanting the next. In far too short a time, the waves ebbed but already she could feel the next one building in her.
The taste of him, the feel of his skin on hers, the look in his eyes that said, "I want you, I need you," sent her desires soaring. She gave herself completely to him and yet demanded she receive all he had to offer. The pace of their grinding hips increased. She felt him start to swell and then explode.
A Witch and Her Man (Jeff and Gail) Page 4