STORY EXCERPT

He gathered the paint cans and supplies, then moved toward the entrance. As he walked through the main lobby he thought about how he was going to tell Cora. Even more, he thought about the conversation he was going to have with Patty.

He hit the button and waited. When the elevator doors slid open, he was facing one highly surprised Cora. Shit, he thought. This had not gone according to plan.

“Jamie?”

He winced, felt the flush creep up his neck and then said, “So you're never going to believe this incredibly awkward coincidence.”

A cautious look in her eye, she stepped out of the elevator, took in his painting supplies and said, “Try me.”

“Patty. She rented me a vacant office on the second floor. I didn't realize you were here until I called Evan to ask about painting. This isn't nearly as stalker-ish as it seems. I swear to god.”

Cora considered him for a moment and then said, “It's entirely plausible.”

Jamie made a move to lift a hand, paint can and all, and said, “Scouts honor. My decision to rent an office here has nothing to do with you. I was going to drop these off and then text you to warn you. When I talked to Evan about painting, he figured it out. I love 'em, but my family can sometimes be a real pain in the ass.”

“Agreed,” she responded. “But...you weren't a boy scout, were you?”

“Nope. I still had no idea, though. I'm sorry.”

“This has Patty written all over it, Jamie. It's fine,” Cora said, letting him off the hook.

He gave a small sigh of relief, then asked, “Wanna come take a look? Keep in mind, I'm doing some redecorating.”

Cora looked down at her watch and said, “Sure. Let me go drop off this package and I'll be right back.”

Jamie leaned against the bank of elevators, paint bucket and supplies in hand, as he waited for Cora to finish in the mailroom. He shook his head again, still unable to believe Patty. He really couldn't wait to have a conversation with her. At least Cora hadn't freaked out on him.

When he saw her approaching, he pressed the button for the elevator again. After she stepped inside, he moved into the space with her.

As he hit the second floor, she said, “Oh! I bet you're in the office where the holistic doctor was.”

“Yeah, the landlord said it was a doctor's office that left,” Jamie said, a smile pulling at his lips.

He walked down the hallway, and stopped in front of his new office. He set the paint bucket down and dug for his keys. When he unlocked the door, a waft of stale incense and pot met them.

Cora did a slow turn as they stepped inside, then she wrinkled her nose and said, “Seems like maybe they were more into herbal healing. Unless you've picked up a new hobby that I don't know about?”

She turned to face him, her laughter echoing in the empty space around them. In that moment, her hair draped over her shoulder, eyes shining, all traces of sadness were gone. She was absolutely stunning.

He itched to pull her to him, bury his hands in her hair, and press his mouth against hers. He suspected that wouldn't go over well, so instead, he buried his hands in his pocket and grinned.

After a pause, he said, “That hasn't been my thing since college. Nothing to disclose, Dr. Blanchard. What about you?”

“Never tried it. Apparently all I needed to do was come down the hall,” she said with a snort as she wandered into the conference room.

“Yeah. The landlord is tearing out the carpet over the weekend and putting in hardwood. That'll probably get rid of the smell. Plus, I'm going to air it out in here when I paint,” he said.

“Oh, don't tell me you're replacing this beautiful green paint,” Cora said, a smirk pulling at her lips.

His face deadpan, he said, “Don't worry. Just retouching it.”

Her eyes widened as she said, “Please tell me you're kidding.”

“Completely kidding,” he said with a grin. He reached into his back pocket and grabbed the paint sample out, holding it up for her inspection.

Cora visibly relaxed and said, “Warm beige. I can see that. And you said you found cherrywood furniture?”

“I may go with something lighter. I haven't entirely decided.”

“Hardwood? Nice. By the way, in light of recent events, did you just want to order in lunch tomorrow? That way you can get started early tomorrow.”

“Would you mind?” he asked. Cora had always been thoughtful. It was one of the things that he had liked so much about her. She thought about other people in a way that most people didn't.

“It was my idea, Jamie,” she said, drily. “I remember how exciting putting together my office was.”

 “What time did you want to plan for? I'll call in the order.”

He watched her glance down at her watch, saw her eyes widen and heard her mutter, “Crap, crap, crap. I'm gonna be late. I'll check my schedule and text you later. Congrats on the new office!”

Before he could speak, she gave him a quick hug and scurried out of the office past him.

“Bye,” he said to her retreating figure.

ADULT EXCERPT

One cup of coffee later, she rolled out her yoga mat in her living room. As she slid effortlessly from pose to pose, she could feel the stress leaving her body. She continued working through her routine until she felt completely loose. When she finally opened her eyes, she jumped a little in surprise. Jamie stood there, coffee cup in hand, wearing nothing but boxers and a smile.

Putting a hand over her heart, she said, “I didn't realize you were there. You scared me.”

Jamie set the cup of coffee he held onto the dining room table and said, “Tell me you're done with that.”

“I'm done with that,” Cora said, wiping a towel over her brow and wresting the ponytail holder out of her hair. As she shook her hair free, she let out a sigh of relief.

“That was,” Jamie said as he walked toward her, “twenty minutes of pure torture, watching that, baby. I had no idea you were that flexible.”

Jamie stood in front of her now, so close that her breasts brushed against his chest. She said, “I didn't even realize you were watching.”

His hand moved up to slide the strap of her tank top off her shoulder. As he lowered his mouth to her skin, he said, “I couldn't help it. That was so fucking sexy.”

Cora tilted her head to the side as his teeth grazed her shoulder. Goose bumps raised on her arms when he cupped her breast through the cotton tank and began to rub his thumb lightly over her nipple. The light touches of his fingers and the barest hint of teeth were driving her absolutely crazy.

“Jamie,” she moaned, when she felt the nip of his teeth against her neck.

He lifted his mouth from her shoulder and tugged her tank top over her head without ceremony. When the cool air swept over her, a fresh wave of goose bumps rose on her skin. She took a final step forward, so that they were pressed together, and pulled his mouth down to hers.

As one kiss melded into another, she let her hands roam the muscles of his back and chest, her nails dragging across his skin. When she finally slipped the waistband of his boxers down and began to stroke him, he said, “Fuck, I love the feel of your hands on my cock.”

Cora slowed the speed of her hand and began to kiss her way down his chest, stopping along the way to run her lips and tongue along the ridges of his stomach. As she settled on to her knees, she asked, “But what about the feel of my mouth on your cock?”

She continued to stroke with one hand as she leaned in to swirl her tongue around the tip of his erection. Licking along the length of it, she flicked her tongue against the sensitive spot just below the head, before she took him fully into her mouth.

One of the hands that had been hanging loosely at his side immediately slid into her hair, gripping it tightly. Cora whimpered around his cock as she felt a flood of arousal between her thighs. She hadn't thought she'd enjoy the slight edge of pain, but the fact that she was dripping with arousal, said otherwise.

Jamie began to rock his hips, thrusting into her mouth. When his hand tightened in her hair, she moaned around him and pressed her thighs together, hoping to alleviate some the throbbing ache.

When she shifted again, and whimpered around his thick cock, Jamie asked, “Is sucking my cock turning you on, Cora? Why don't you play with that pretty pussy for me? Slide those shorts down if you can.”

Cora only hesitated a moment before she moved her hands to slide her shorts down. Once they were at her knees, she wiggled slightly so she wasn't trapped in them.

“That's it,” Jamie groaned. “Spread your thighs, sweetheart. I want to see. Show me how wet you are.”

Needy, Cora dipped her hand between her thighs and held it up. It glistened with her cream.

“Fuck, baby. You're soaked. Rub your clit for me. I wanna see you fall apart.”

Cora moved one hand back up to stroke along his length and slid the other between her thighs. Pressing two fingers inside her aching cunt, she began to rock against her hand as he fucked her mouth. She ground herself against her palm, desperate for any sort of friction on her aching clit.

She wanted to see him lose control. She wanted him feeling as wild and needy as she was. Cora knew just how to make that happen. Moving her hand from around his length, she relaxed her jaw, taking him even deeper into her mouth.

When he nudged the back of her throat, Jamie ground out, “Sweet fucking christ. Just like that.”

As the beginnings of release started, she whimpered around his cock. She shifted her hand and now rubbed tight circles around her throbbing clit. The ache only intensified.

Almost lightheaded, she reached underneath, lightly massaging his balls. When he gritted out, “Oh, fuck. Like that,” and gave her hair another rough tug, she cried out around his cock, release barreling through her like a freight train.

Seconds later he said, “Oh christ, baby. I'm gonna come,” as he erupted in her mouth.

Cora felt the hot liquid hit the back of her throat and continued to swallow until the grip on her hair had loosened slightly. Her body throbbed with release in time with his, but it wasn't nearly enough. Something about this man made her all but insatiable.