by Lori Herter
“Are you asleep?”
Josie’s high voice made him open his eyes and look up. She was standing at the edge of the spa, a towel wrapped around her.
“No, just relaxing.”
She smiled, dropped the towel and began to descend the steps into the hot, churning water.
Peter drank in the sight of her. “Not bothering with the top anymore?” He gazed with yearning at her round breasts, softly bouncing as she moved.
“Well, it’s uncomfortable. Since I’ll take it off anyway, why put it on in the first place? You already know what I look like.”
He grinned. “I like your logic.” She was constantly surprising him lately. Still half-shy, but the other half was getting really interesting! Her true, natural self was finding its way to the surface. Welcome home, he thought as she sat beside him. The water frothed around her breasts and she smiled at him with expectation in her shining brown eyes.
It seemed the days of talk and pretense were over; they simply moved into each others’ arms. He kissed her warmly, then with increasing passion, clasping her feminine body to him, feeling the soft swells of her breasts pressing into his chest. He stroked her smooth skin, adoring every curve with his fingertips. He could feel her shudder a bit, respond to his touch while she kissed him back wholeheartedly. Her mouth was sweet as he deepened the kiss. He heard a whimper of pleasure in her throat. After several blissful minutes, enjoying her response, he decided to risk going further.
Slowly he slid his hand downward over her rib cage to her smooth stomach. When he encountered the shorts she wore, he slipped his fingers beneath the elastic waistband, going farther downward, inch by inch. As if suddenly aware of what he was doing, she grew still. She drew her mouth away.
“Peter…”
“I know you said not below the waist. But maybe it’s time to forget that rule. Let me touch you.”
“But…”
Even in the dim light, he could see fear lurking in her eyes. “It’s a simple thing,” he told her. “You might even like it.”
He could see she was in a dilemma now, caught between her own fear and the desire to know what it would feel like if he touched her there. She looked so vulnerable, he felt his eyes glaze with moisture. “I’ll stop whenever you want me to.”
She gazed downward and away from him. “It’s…embarrassing.”
“You’ve never had a man touch you below the waist?”
“Not exactly. Not like this.”
“But that guy…” A thought came to him. “Or didn’t he bother with foreplay?”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “He didn’t do that. He just did what he wanted.”
Peter felt the sadness of her first experience and pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s all right.”
“And before him? Never did any experimenting in the back seat of a car in high school?”
“I didn’t date much. And my mother warned me about boys who wanted to go too far. ‘Keep your panties up and your dress down,’ she used to tell me.”
“You’re not a teenager anymore.”
Josie nodded. “And my mother is on the East Coast.”
They both laughed.
He tickled her stomach beneath the elastic. “So…?”
She swallowed. “So…okay.” Her voice was breathless and brave.
Peter almost had second thoughts about guiding her through another sexual stepping stone in her life. How would she react? Would she be numb, even turned off, due to her dreadful past experience? Or would she be able to feel and allow her body to respond? Gently he glided his fingertips lower, encountering the soft tangle of hair, then her secret recesses. She stiffened a bit, and he sensed how intrusive his fingers must feel to her. He found a sensitive nub of flesh, and suddenly she gasped as if with shock.
He wondered if he’d somehow hurt her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, breathing harder, and he realized what was happening. He nudged her sweet spot again, and again she sharply inhaled, closing her eyes in ecstasy.
Her reaction made his pulses quicken. “I didn’t think you’d respond this fast,” he said, nuzzling her cheek.
“Me, either.” She drew her brows together in exquisite pleasure as he continued to touch her intimately. Aching whimpers came from her throat and she began to writhe against him.
“Have you ever had an orgasm?” he asked.
She nodded, but seemed self-conscious. “I think so. By myself, years ago.”
“By yourself? That’s not much fun.”
Josie edged even closer to his body. “I can already tell this is better. Ohhh…” She leaned her head on his shoulder, her body undulating with profound pleasure. He tightened his arm around her and slipped his hand over her breast. Her nipple was hard and pert, springing softly against his palm as he caressed her.
Becoming increasingly aroused himself, Peter began to kiss her cheek until she turned her head and he found her mouth. He made himself hold back. He felt like devouring her, yet was afraid too much erotic passion on his part might frighten her. It seemed he’d chosen the right approach, because she grew more and more abandoned in his arms. She arched her back, kissed him urgently, and pressed her swollen femininity against his hand, the undulations of her pelvis growing rhythmic.
Suddenly she broke the kiss, and gasped in profound bliss, as her body convulsed. She clung to him, as if hanging on for life. Then she grew quiet, eyes closed, and breathed out. When she opened her eyes, Peter was elated at her dazzled expression.
He took his hand out of her waistband and sat with her as she regained her breath.
She looked up at him, leaning limply against him. Her eyes were wide. “I’m beginning to see what I’ve been missing.”
Peter smiled a bit. Watching her had aroused him so completely, he felt as if he could burst out of his swimming trunks. He needed release so much, it was painful. His erection had put her off once before. How would she react if he…? On the other hand, he didn’t think he could live another minute if…
Beneath the water, he adjusted his trunks. He reached for her hand and slowly pulled it toward him. His heart pounding, trying to keep his voice calm, he asked, “Would you do the same for me? I’ve…got a big problem here.” He saw her expression change as he closed her hand over his arousal. Her eyes widened even more and she seemed unnerved.
“I’m sorry, Josie. You look so sexy and sensual. Touching you, feeling you respond…it’s more than I can cope with. I don’t want to frighten you, but I need you to touch me.”
She still looked stunned, but she murmured, “Big is right. Wh-what should I do?”
He guided her hand in the motion he wanted. “It won’t take long.” And even as he made that promise, the feel of her small hand moving over his throbbing member made him lose coherent thought. If just having her touch him could produce such exquisite sensations, what would it be like to make love with her? Imagining himself sliding inside her writhing body was all it took. Suddenly he exploded, and his semen was swept away by the churning water. He was glad she couldn’t see much of anything. He pulsed within the grasp of her fingers, and she seemed instinctively to know to hold him tightly. His body relaxed, and his erection subsided with comforting relief.
“Is it…over?” she asked, hesitantly letting him go.
“Beautifully over.” His voice was husky. “Did that scare you? You look pretty shocked.”
She bowed her head. “It’s something I need to get used to, if I’m going to…you know…”
“Actually have full-fledged sex with a man?”
She nodded.
“I think you’re ready,” he said.
Her eyes rose to his, huge and lambent.
“The way you responded—you’re ready for the real thing.”
She looked down, then away. “I’m still not easy about the idea of being overpowered. Having a man on top of me. I don’t think I could ever do that ag
ain, feel that helpless again.”
“What if you were on top?”
She looked at him.
“Then you’d be in control,” Peter explained. “Especially with a guy in a wheelchair.”
Her eyes grew still. “You’re saying…we should…”
“I’m saying I want to make love with you. It’s all I think about. And…you certainly seem to respond to me.”
She inclined her head, thoughtful and sad. “I’m more comfortable with you than I’ve ever been with any man. You’re so patient and gentle with me. I love that. But, to have sex…with you… You’re my boss, and—”
“Don’t hold that over me, Josie. Forget you work for me. We’re far beyond that already. In a way, we’re already lovers—we just haven’t taken it to its logical conclusion yet.”
“Lovers?”
“Well, what would you call us? Friends? This is more than a little friendship we have going here.”
“But…we’re not in love. Are we?”
The words in love took Peter off guard. He hesitated answering. Josie seemed to doubt they were in love, or she wouldn’t have asked. No use putting his heart on the line.
His former wife had been on the rebound from a broken relationship when he’d met her. Josie was on a rebound of a different sort, getting over a bad sexual experience. Like Cory, Josie probably wasn’t emotionally together yet. It would be stupid to let himself fall in love with her. Peter had learned the hard way that when he was in love, his judgment tended to go haywire. No, he’d better not be falling in love with Josie. Not yet, anyway.
“I don’t know,” he told her, trying to be honest. “I just want you, that’s all I know. We’ve both been wounded, in different ways. We’ve both been without sex for a long time—well, a lot longer for you than for me. I’m just thinking about our agreement, Josie. It would be good for you to actually begin to have sex with a man you seem to trust. Me. Not many women want a man in a wheelchair. Making love with you would do me a hell of a lot of good, too. It would be healing for both of us.”
Josie nodded slowly, doubtfully.
“You don’t have to decide now,” Peter assured her. “I won’t pressure you. Well, I’ll try not to. Just being in the same room with you instantly turns up my temperature. But I’ll wait for you to come to me and say you want to make love with me.”
Josie swallowed. “I’ll think about it.”
“You liked what happened tonight, didn’t you?”
She smiled shyly. “Yes.”
“The real thing is even better.”
A look of awe came into her eyes. “Better? I don’t know if I could stand it being even better.”
Peter laughed. “Have to try it to find out, Josie.”
She smiled and gave him a little shove. He was glad to see her playful reaction, but her touch threatened to arouse him again. God, if she didn’t say yes and come to him soon, he was going to go totally out of his mind.
AL WAS ABOUT to open the glass front door of Earthwaves when a young, attractive blonde came out. She had car keys in her hand and was putting on sunglasses. She almost bumped into him.
“Sorry,” she muttered, giving him a glance before slipping on the glasses.
She was quite a looker, and Al tried giving her a smile. The blonde went on her way and didn’t smile back. Bitch, he thought as he entered the building.
No one was at the reception desk inside, but a man saw him through the interior glass window and came out. Al recognized the balding, middle-aged man with black eyes. He came toward Al, hand outstretched.
“Good timing,” Martin said, shaking hands. “Everyone is out to lunch. Let me give you a quick tour of our operations here.”
“Sure.” Al was surprised at his competitor’s sudden openness.
They spent the next half hour touring the plant. Then Martin took him into his office. Al paused in front of a large framed photo of the company’s twenty employees. “What do you think?” Martin looked as if he expected Al to be impressed.
“Nice, modern plant,” Al said. “Twice as big as ours. So why are you showing it to me? I won’t be reciprocating. All you’ll ever learn about Frameworks is what you hacked from our computers.”
Martin shifted his eyes, taking the verbal jab coolly. “Sit down.” He motioned Al to take the chair in front of his desk, and he sat down himself. “You can’t blackmail me with that anymore.”
“Blackmail? I was a computer nerd before I became an inventor and an entrepreneur. I just used my skills to trace who hacked us, and let you know I knew. I didn’t tell Peter. Or the FBI.”
Martin looked slightly uncomfortable. “The fact that you took care to mention the FBI when you called months ago made me assume you were saving the information for blackmail purposes.”
“Too late for blackmail. Word’s gotten out, Marty. I told you Josie Gray’s working for us. Well, she squealed on you. So now Peter knows you were the hacker.”
“She told Peter?” Martin’s face grew red.
“Careful, don’t get scalded on the steam coming from your ears.” Al was beginning to enjoy this. “Josie and Peter are pretty cozy. I’ll bet she’s given him lots more by now—all she knows about Earthwaves, and her bodacious body, too!”
“Josie wouldn’t—She doesn’t even like men!”
Al leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable. “She appears to like Pete. She’s all sorry for him because she thinks you engineered his fall.”
Martin pushed his chair away from his desk, got up and paced, a ferocious look on his face. “She thinks that? I had nothing to do with Peter Brennan’s fall! If it wasn’t an accident, then I don’t know who caused it. But it wasn’t me or anyone here! If Josie is saying that, I’ll—I’ll sue the whore for slander! I’ll wring her scrawny neck!”
Al chuckled. “Watch your words, Marty. Talk like that makes people suspicious.”
Martin seemed to work to control his rage. He sat down, breathing hard, until the redness in his face began to subside.
“That’s better. So let’s get to it. Why am I here enjoying your hospitality?” Al glanced at his watch. “I don’t have all day.”
Martin shifted some papers on his desk, as if still trying to calm down. “I’m making you an offer. Come here and work for us. Become my partner. Whatever arrangement you’ve got with Peter Brennan, I’ll beat it. You caught me and I’ve admitted that we hacked into your computers. I’m not proud of it. But I do what it takes to win. Your company’s ahead of us. My investors are getting nervous, and I’m running out of excuses to placate them. I need you on my team—it’s the only way to beat Frameworks. I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll give you all the credit. We’ve got lots of money for research here. You saw our spacious plant. Earthwaves has much more prestige than your upstart little outfit. All I need is your brainpower, and Earthwaves can win this race. Whatever you want, Al, I can make it happen,” Martin finished with a flourish.
Al made him wait. He liked seeing Martin sweat a little. After several moments, he said, “Sounds like a good offer. I may think about it.”
Martin’s eyes grew even blacker with consternation. “What is there to think about? Your partner’s seriously injured. You barely had enough employees as it was, and you lost the guy that kept you on track. Your company must be compromised. Josie’s got talent, but you can’t rely on a new employee, a woman, to save you. Why stay with a two-bit outfit that’s in a shambles when you can join us? It’s my company that’s got the name recognition, Al. No one ever did a magazine layout on Frameworks Systems! Who ever heard of Frameworks Systems until your partner got in the news because of his accident?”
“True.” Al enjoyed toying with Martin. “But my loyalty is to Pete. He’s been my friend since college. I can’t turn my back on him, especially now that he’s been injured.” Al kept his expression grave.
Martin studied him. “This is business, not friendship. Somehow you don’t strike me as the sentimental type.”
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Al lifted his shoulders. “People have trouble understanding me. A high IQ personality is difficult for people with ordinary minds to figure out.”
Martin opened his mouth, but seemed unable to come up with a response. Figured. Martin’s brain was no match for his. Al knew he’d be bored working for Earthwaves. In fact, he was bored already. Still, there were aspects of Martin’s offer that he had to acknowledge were tempting.
“I’ll let you know, Martin. Enjoyed the tour!” Al got up, gave his incredulous host a semipolite nod, and left.
Al walked to his car, amused now at how his meeting with Martin had gone. He looked forward to telling Pete about Martin’s offer. But first he wanted to get something to eat. He was famished. There was a restaurant he’d seen a quarter of a mile up the street.
IN A SANDWICH SHOP near Earthwaves, Josie leaned across her tuna wrap to talk to Ronnie without raising her voice. “You’re sure no one from Earthwaves will see us here?”
Ronnie shook her head. “It’s Connie’s birthday, and she’s treating everyone to pizza at the Italian place. I said I had a dentist appointment. Everyone’s over there except me and Martin. Martin had some kind of meeting scheduled and said he couldn’t leave the plant.”
“A meeting at noon?”
Ronnie shrugged. “I thought it was unusual, too, but I don’t ask questions. Actually, I passed some dorky-looking guy coming in as I left. Maybe that’s who Martin was meeting with.” She opened up her paper napkin and spread it over her lap. “So tell me, what’s going on with Peter?”
Josie had picked up her sandwich, but put it down without taking a bite. She gave Ronnie a between-us-girls grin. “We’re getting pretty intimate. Especially in the spa.”
Ronnie grinned back. “You had sex with him?”
Josie was surprised at her assumption. “No…not yet.”
Ronnie’s eyes brightened. “Not yet?”
Josie couldn’t help but grow more serious. “He wants to. I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t you want to?”
“Well…yes, I want to. I think. I know he’d be gentle. It wouldn’t be like…like before. But I’m scared, too. He may not be able to walk, but he’s still bigger than me. Stronger. He said I’d be in control, but…”