Into the Storm Read online

  Into the Storm

  By Ruth D. Kerce

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2011 Ruth D. Kerce

  All rights reserved. Except for review quotes, no part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author.

  This story is a fictitious work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to known persons or places is coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the Smashwords store and purchase you own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Prologue

  Phone-phuck yourself.

  Val texted the words back to Grant, not about to use the same explicit language he had used with her. A variation thereof was bad enough, and it instantly put her in a foul mood.

  "Are you listening to me?" Janine asked from across the table. "Val!" Her voice rose a notch, sounding very close to a screech.

  Val cringed and snapped the phone closed. "The answer is still no." She should have known that her best friend had other things on her mind, besides generosity, when she offered to buy lunch for the two of them today. She pushed her chair back from the table.

  "Why not?" Janine whined.

  "Forget it!" She tossed her empty paper cup into the trash, then took off out of the food court and headed into the mall. Why did others always think they knew what was best for their friends' lives?

  "What's the problem? You need some testosterone in your life. It's not like it's a blind date," Janine called out after her, rushing to catch up. "You've known him for years."

  "Only in passing." She couldn't believe that Janine was trying to set her up with Nathan. He was certainly handsome, smart, and nice enough, but the man had been married twice already, unsuccessfully, according to the gossip at work. She didn't need the baggage. "I think I'll stay celibate for a while."

  "You don't have to sleep with him. It's just dinner. You haven't been out with anyone since Grant left you for that bimbo executive last year." Janine turned and whistled at a tall hunk who strolled past.

  Val slapped her shoulder. "Stop that. You are so embarrassing. And please, don't remind me of Grant." He'd told her that she wasn't hot enough to show off to his corporate colleagues. But apparently, she was hot enough for phone sex whenever he got the itch. Jerk. She hoped his division demoted him to janitor when the upcoming company cutbacks rolled around.

  "So you'll go out with Nathan?"

  "No. I'm not looking for another relationship right now." When Janine opened her mouth to protest, Val added, "Nor am I looking for a dinner companion."

  "You're no fun at all." Janine slouched, until something caught her eye. She perked up and rushed toward a nearby boutique. "Look. Fifty percent off. Let's get you something sexy. Something to impress."

  "Janine, geez. I don't need anything sexy. Or anyone sexy. Please give it a rest."

  "Ah, so you do think Nathan is sexy. I knew it!"

  When a smile lit her friend's face, Val frowned. "I didn't say that." Even though it was true. Nathan kept himself in drool-worthy shape. And his eyes were such a delicious chocolate brown. His hair was also chocolate brown and always curled attractively around his ears. If anything, she loved chocolate. But that's as far as it went.

  Nathan was fantasy material at best. "I'm perfectly happy with my life as it is." That was her story, and she was sticking to it. She'd had enough of men. Well, enough of being hurt by men.

  Janine snorted. "Sure you're happy. Anyone can see that. Ooo, pasties!"

  Chapter 1

  Val glanced out the kitchen window at the black clouds rolling across the sky. A major storm was in the works. The wind had already picked up and was whipping through the trees. She heard a low rumble of thunder in the distance.

  She pushed up the sleeves of her over-sized sweatshirt and shoved some leftover pizza into the oven. Chocolate ice cream, her favorite, was on the menu for desert. Binge and comfort food. She might even make nachos later. Good thing she wasn't prone to gaining weight. She pinched the flesh around her hips. Well, maybe she was a little prone.

  A splatter of rain hit the window, and she glanced out into the backyard, where one of the lawn chairs had toppled onto its side in the wind. "Here it comes."

  The sky completely opened up, and a deluge pelted the ground. She was glad she hadn't made any plans to go out tonight. The evening would have been ruined. When a streak of lightning lit the sky, she moved away from the window. She hated storms.

  The doorbell rang, and she jumped. "Dang it!" Her nerves were shot, and the storm had just started. Bad weather always did that to her, ever since she'd been a little girl and had gotten locked out of the house during a lightning storm.

  She started down the hall. "Who would be crazy enough to get out in this?" She made her way to the front door and peeked out the side window. "Oh, I don't believe this."

  She unlatched the chain, turned the lock, and pulled open the door. "Nathan, what are you doing here?"

  "Am I early?"

  "Early?" She glanced past him, expecting to maybe see more people from the office, but nobody else was around. Him suddenly showing up -- alone -- seemed quite coincidence, given her thoughts had been on him all day.

  He huddled beneath a soggy newspaper. "Can I come in?"

  "Oh, yes, of course." Val stepped back from the door and motioned him inside. "You're soaked." His hair was plastered to his head, despite the newspaper covering, and water ran down his face.

  He tossed the paper out the door, then rubbed his arms, obviously chilled. "Bad timing tonight."

  Looking at the wet floor beneath his feet, she shut the door. "You didn't answer me. Why in the world are you here in this storm?" No off-site business meeting had been scheduled that she knew of.

  "For our date."

  "Date?" Her head snapped up. "What date?" Even though she'd asked, she already knew the answer and couldn't believe she hadn't immediately put the pieces together upon seeing him. Frustration tightened her chest. Janine!

  He glanced at her sweats. "I thought we had a date tonight."

  "I'm going to kill her," Val muttered. "You're dripping over everything." Her voice cracked, and she sounded surly, but she couldn't help herself.

  He wiped his face, and a line of water trailed off his elbow. "Sorry."

  She held up her hand in a halting motion. "Don't move from this spot." She rushed down the hall as the lights flickered. She hoped the electricity wasn't going. That would be all she needed.

  "Did I get the wrong night?" Nathan shouted after her.

  "You could say that," she answered, raising her voice so he could hear her. A moment later, she reappeared with a cloth robe. "Drop 'em."

  His eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

  "Your clothes. Peel 'em off and put this on." She handed him the robe. "I've got to check on dinner." With a shake of her head, she rushed off. Janine was in major trouble. She was going to put glue in that girl's lip gloss, so she'd keep her mouth shut for once in her life.

  "What do you want me to do with my clothes?" he called out.

  "Toss them in the dryer. The laundry room's on your right." She set two places at the kitchen table. She couldn't very well kick Nathan out. She wouldn't send anyone back into that storm. Not until his clothes dried anyway.

  On the bright side, with the worsening weather, she was actually happy for the company. She wouldn't be as afraid with some
one else here.

  At the sound of a cough, she turned. Nathan stood in the doorway. He looked, well, yummy and very natural standing there in the robe, like he belonged. The robe fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean waist. "Hi," she greeted.

  "Hi, yourself." A wary look crossed his face. "This obviously isn't yours. Is some guy going to kick me in the ass for wearing his robe?"

  Val chuckled. "It's my brother's. He forgot it the last time he visited from California. Sit down. Pizza's almost ready."

  He pulled out a chair and sat. "Have we been set up by Janine, or did you really tell her that you wanted to have dinner with me?"

  "She said that?" She took two bottles of beer out of the refrigerator and set them on the table.

  "Yep, that's what she said."

  "We've been set up." She pulled the pizza out of the oven and slid the pieces onto a platter in the center of the table. "Help yourself." She sat across from him.

  Nathan picked up a gooey slice of cheese and pepperoni and placed it onto her plate.

  The polite gesture touched her. "Thank you."

  A slight smile tugged at his lips, and he nodded, then he served himself a slice. "I think I'm totally embarrassed now and should crawl out the door and back into the storm. I should have double-checked with you instead of just showing up when Janine said."

  Val laughed. "Don't be embarrassed." She popped an olive in her mouth. "Janine is seriously in need of therapy. She can't stand to see a person without a mate. Strange, considering she doesn't have one herself."

  He shrugged. "Well, I haven't been so lucky in the mate department either. But then, you probably know that, gossip being what it is." When she simply nodded, he visibly cringed. "And you're not terribly impressed, I gather."

  "It's none of my business." She avoided eye contact, while sprinkling grated cheese over a pizza slice.

  He leaned forward and covered the fingers of her other hand. "I'm really not a bad guy."

  She looked up. "I never said you were." She pulled her hand out from under his.

  He sat back in the chair. "But you're thinking that a man who's been married more than once must have some severe character flaw."

  "Severe never entered my mind." Nathan laughed at that, and the deep sound washed over her. He had the cutest dimples when he smiled. She couldn't help but wonder what the truth was, what had happened to cause his marriages to fail.

  "You want the dirty details?"

  "Only if you want to tell me."

  He glanced out the window, before once more meeting her gaze. "If it'll keep me out of the storm, I don't mind. I hate storms."

  "Me, too." Val smiled, feeling like she'd actually found someone who understood at least one small part of her. "Why don't we just chit-chat and enjoy dinner first? After we eat and clean up the dishes, we can go into the living room for a more serious discussion."

  "Sounds good."

  Chapter 2

  What had he been thinking? Nathan settled on the couch and took the pint of ice cream Val offered. He'd totally agreed, even offered, to expose himself and his private life. He must be nuts.

  Val sat on the other end of the couch and took a big spoonful of chocolate ice cream from her pint. "Go ahead." She slid the spoon into her mouth and closed her eyes.

  As he watched her savor the creamy treat, talk was suddenly the last thing on his mind. She opened her eyes and actually blushed, as if she could read his seductive thoughts.

  Val cleared her throat. "Sorry. Chocolate fetish."

  He laughed, and she blushed even deeper. "That's okay." Even though he held a pint of frozen ice cream, his body felt on fire. Sexual fire. "I was enjoying the view."

  She shifted and averted her eyes.

  Man, she was gorgeous. He'd always thought so. They worked in different divisions in the management firm, so they'd never really spoken in depth. Just a few words here and there in the hallways or during departmental meetings. He'd had his eye on her for a long time and would have made a move by now, but he'd heard she was dating some asshole -- his buddy's description of the guy -- in the research department. He hadn't known they were no longer together until Janine told him.

  "So," she finally said. "Are you going to spill your guts?"

  He supposed so. He'd almost hoped that she'd forgotten about his failed marriages, especially since the evening had turned quite pleasant over dinner. They'd talked about their mutual love of travel and rock climbing, and they'd made a real connection.

  "There's really not that much to tell." Reliving the past seemed useless to him. He couldn't change anything that had happened and normally didn't like talking about those bygone years. But for Val, he'd do it. "My first marriage was right out of high school. We were young and in lust more than love. Once the realities of life and handling responsibilities hit us, well, we both knew we'd made a mistake." He hesitated, thinking back. Maybe if he'd tried harder. "At least it was an amicable divorce."

  "And the second marriage?"

  He watched as she took another spoonful of ice cream. The ecstasy on her face when she sucked it into her mouth made his thoughts turn to her sucking something more personal.

  She pulled the spoon from her lips. "Nathan?"

  "Um, yeah. Second marriage was a train wreck. She wanted kids. Me too, truthfully. But we found out that I couldn't. Bad sperm or something. She didn't want to adopt." He shook his head. He had a lot of regrets about how he'd handled things back then. "The strain tore us apart."

  "So another mutual decision to divorce?"

  "More on her end, than mine. But yeah. That was several years ago now. I've been kind of gun shy ever since. Even about casual dating." His voice lowered. "It's been a long time." He looked away and took a spoonful of ice cream. Why had he said that?

  "It's been a while for me, too," she said in a low voice.

  Nathan raised his gaze to meet hers. What he saw shook him to the core. Reflected in her light green eyes was understanding, compassion, and desire -- the same feelings that coursed through him right at that very moment.

  Slowly, he set his ice cream on the coffee table, then took Val's pint from her hand. He didn't want to live his life as he had been. Alone. Lonely.

  "What are you doing?"

  She looked like a trapped little lamb, not sure if he was the big bad wolf or a harmless puppy dog. He stuck the spoon in the ice cream and scooped out a hunk. "Open up." He held the chocolate in front of her mouth, and she opened. He slid in the spoon. "Suck on it for me."

  She closed her eyes and sucked.

  "No." His voice lowered to a husky whisper. "Look at me while you're sucking it."

  Her eyelids fluttered open, and her gaze met his. His heart raced, and a wave of need hit him, more fierce than the storm raging outside. "Use your tongue to get every last drop."

  Val followed his instructions. She didn't know how things had taken such a fast physical turn, but she was enjoying the sexually-charged game. With the storm surrounding them, it felt as if they were in their own little world, where no one could disturb their play. He pulled the spoon out of her mouth, and she licked her lips. "Mmm, good."

  "Oops."

  Nathan's slight smile made her wonder what he was up to now. "Oops?"

  He set the pint down. "Drop."

  Before she knew his intentions, he leaned over and licked a spot just above the neck of her sweatshirt. Her heart slammed against her chest at the feel of his tongue on her bare skin.

  She mewled and tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to that spot, which she'd wager hadn't really been chocolate stained. She leaned her head to the opposite side to give him greater access. Nathan took full advantage, creating sensation after sensation through her body.

  Gradually, he worked his way up to her mouth. She loved every moment of his attentions. He brushed his lips across hers, then traced the outline of her mouth with his tongue.

  "Cool," he murmured.

  "From the ice crea
m."

  "Lips should be warm."

  From the light tone of his voice, Val knew he wasn't criticizing, but teasing her into an invitation. She was happy to oblige. "Maybe you can help me out?"

  "I can do that." He covered her lips with his.

  Val returned his kiss, opening her mouth for his exploration. His tongue teased hers. He tasted of chocolate and spice. She guided his hand beneath her sweatshirt, needing him even closer.

  She felt him stiffen and pull back, as if surprised. But then he relaxed and feathered kisses across her cheek to her ear. She was a little disappointed that he hadn't ravaged her mouth and body right then. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing." He looked into her eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

  The fact that he took the time to ask endeared him to her. "Very sure."

  His pupils dilated, and his fingers stroked the bare flesh under her sweatshirt. He eased his hand up her ribs. "Your skin is so soft," he whispered. When he cupped her breast, he groaned. "No bra."

  She almost groaned, too. His hand felt so warm against her cool skin. "I don't like being bound."

  "Too bad," he responded with a chuckle.

  It took her a moment to catch his meaning. She slapped his shoulder. "You're teasing me again."

  Nathan looked into her eyes, his gaze intense. "Not entirely."

  A jolt of excitement made her tremble. She'd never done anything like what he was hinting at. But she felt adventurous tonight, and somehow she trusted Nathan. Fantasy after fantasy rushed through her head.

  She reached down and slowly untied the belt of the robe he wore. The robe gaped, revealing his bare, perfectly-toned chest and black boxers. So sexy. She needed to touch his body, feel his muscles, but she resisted, waiting to see how serious he really was, and how far he'd take this. Her heart pounded furiously, as she slid the belt from the loops and held it out to him. "Do it."

  Nathan gulped as he took the belt from her. Was she really willing to be bound by him? Neither of his wives had trusted him enough to allow such a loss of control.