WiP It Wednesday
Thought I would do something today that I haven't done in a while. Work-in-Progress Wednesday gives a sneak peek at something I'm currently working on. This contemporary erotic romance doesn't have a title at the moment, but I'm heading back to Gatlin Falls. That's right, Patrick and Allison's story in Hardware isn't the only one I have to tell about the small town. This will be Ryan's story…
Surprise contest: Leave a comment & a lucky winner will win an ecopy, in the format of their choice, of Hardware.
~*~
Beth fumbled the switch so the song she'd selected would start playing and scowled at the knock on the studio window. She wasn't used to the wide open visibility while she was on air, but short of installing some blocking curtains, she'd have to get used to it. The view of Main Street lit by the moon was too pretty to shut away behind heavy black drapes.
Had this been Nashville, those curtains would already be shut. But Gatlin Falls had a much lower crime rate to worry about. She'd learned a lot about the small town in the short period of time she'd been here—thanks to Ryan. He'd done his best to introduce her to all the locals so she felt comfortable taking over of the radio station. He'd also done his best to see she felt comfortable around him whatever the situation. So she wasn't surprised to find Ryan standing on the other side of the window.
She tapped the buzzer to unlock the door and waved him in.
He leaned against the doorway as he held open the glass door that separated her studio from the waiting area. The familiar smell of liquor and cigarette smoke drifted toward her.
"Just come from Rippers?" She'd quickly discovered it was the place for locals to hang out regardless of the season or time of day.
He nodded and gave her a sly smile. "I did. According to what I hear from the customers there tonight, sounds as if you're a hit."
Glad they feel that way because I sure as shit don't.
"Saying a bunch of drunks waiting for last call think I sound good isn't saying a lot. Besides, I'm fumbling my intros, and screwing up the cues. I sound like a fucking amateur."
Ryan shut the door behind him and moved closer, his hands spreading wide on the top of the sound board as he leaned over it. "Beth, relax. It's all right."
His voice reflected the epitome of calm which only made her angrier. "No, it's not. It's like I've forgotten how the hell to do my job." She pushed her hands through her hair, catching the elastic. The stretchy item snapped and she grumbled in frustration as she dropped it on the desktop.
Ryan's hand closed around her elbow, but she was too annoyed to give much thought to it. She jerked out his touch and punched a few buttons to cue up a set of songs so there was no way she would miss another song set up.
"Not like it really matters if I miss something at two in the morning. Just a bunch of drunks and stoners listening anyway. As shown by the compliment from Rippers' clientele."
Ryan pulled her away from the soundboard. Even as she started to protest, he pulled her out of the room completely and spun her around so she faced away from the sound room.
"Now is not the time, Ryan." She struggled in his hold, but he held firm.
"Relax. Just a bit of distance to help you cool off. Couple of minutes out of the booth won't kill you."
She slapped his hands away and nearly growled. "Stop trying to placate me. I'm working."
"So am I." Ryan's mouth closed over hers. He pushed closer, backing her against the door. Everything about him overwhelmed her, swelling inside her with such ferocity, she couldn't help but forget her frustrations. His muscular body pushed against hers and she easily let herself sink into him as he lifted her legs so they wrapped around his hips.
She'd wanted this since the second she'd seen him working at the shop and didn't care who or what he was. Nor about the fact she'd come to him two weeks ago to ask him to be her mentor. With her frustrations and emotions on edge as they were, she just needed to have a few minutes of something like this to lower her stress level.
His tongue brushed over her parted lips and she opened, groaning as his tongue slipped into her mouth. Her world spun as he took from her, spinning tighter and closer as he swept her away. She forgot about everything else, forgot about her surroundings, and allowed herself to just feel him. To breathe him and everything he'd come to mean to her in such a short time.
The quiet slide of her zipper coming undone ratcheted up her need for him to continue. His tongue drove deeper and his hand pushed under her panties. She tensed, holding her breath, as the pad of his index finger met her clit. He pushed against it and she all but melted into him.
He broke the kiss, skimming his lips along her jaw as she relinquished a sliver of herself to him. He pressed against her clit and set off an explosion she immediately fought against, writhing against his touch to fight off the release because this was all happening too quickly.
His laughter sounded in her ear. "There's the pushback I expected. Go ahead and fight as much as you want—you're already dripping wet. Makes me wonder how much more you'll get when I have you bound and begging for me—again."
Dear God yes.
