Riding the Storm (23 page)

to
sit
on
the
side
of
the
bed
next
to
where
she
lay.
“If
you
don’t,
you
might
wake
up
feeling
a
lot
sorer
than
you

probably
do
now.”

Jayla
leaned
back
against
her
pillow,
seriously
doubting
that
most
men
were
as
considerate
as
Storm
was
being.
She
pressed
her
lips
together,
liking
his
suggestion.

“You’re
right,
a
soak
in
the
tub
sounds
wonderful.”

He
smiled
as
he
stood
up.
“I’ll
be
back
when
your
bath
is
ready.”

“All
right.”

Again
she
watched
him
cross
the
room,
finding
it
hard
to
tear
her
gaze
from
the
sight
of
him,
especially
his
tight

behind.
She
smiled,
feeling
downright
giddy
at
the
thought
that
he’d
agreed
to
spend
the
night
with
her.
She
might
as
well
stretch
this
out
for
as
far
as
she
could
because
when
they
returned
to
Atlanta,
things
would
be
different.
She

would
go
her
way
and
he
would
go
his.
They
would
both
resume
a
life
that
had
nothing
to
do
with
each
other.
He

would
go
back
to
being
a
hero
by
fighting
his
fires
and

saving
lives
and
she
would
eagerly
prepare
for
the
most
life-altering
experience
she’d
ever
encountered—

pregnancy.

“Ready?”

Hearing
the
sound
of
his
voice,
she
glanced
across
the

room.
A
thick
surge
of
desire
shot
through
her
veins
at
the
sight
of
him
leaning
in
the
doorway,
naked
and
aroused.
If
she
wasn’t
ready,
he
certainly
was.

“Yes,
I’m
ready,”
she
said,
barely
able
to
voice
the
words.
She
moved
to
get
out
of
bed
and
then
he
was
there,

sweeping
her
up
into
his
arms.
The
heat
of
his
skin
seeped
through
the
heat
of
hers
and
the
feeling
was
electrifying.

She
immediately
knew
the
meaning
of
the
words
raging

hormones.
Hers
were
totally
out
of
control.
She
quickly

decided
that
she
needed
to
get
back
in
control
of
things.

“I
can
walk,
Storm.”

“Yes,
but
I
want
to
carry
you.
That’s
the
least
I
can
do.”

She
clamped
her
lips
tight,
deciding
not
to
tell
him
that
he
had
done
quite
a
lot.
He
had
turned
their
night
into
more

than
a
one-night
stand.
It
had
become
a
romantic
interlude,
one
she
would
remember
for
the
rest
of
her
life.

As
he
carried
her
into
the
bathroom,
her
breasts
tingled
from
the
contact
with
his
skin.
And
when
he
leaned
down,
shifting
her
in
his
arms
to
place
her
into
the
bubbly
water,
sliding
her
body
down
his,
the
sensations
that
rocketed
through
her
almost
took
her
breath
away.

“The
water
might
be
a
little
warmer
than
what
you’re
used
to,
but
it
will
be
good
for
your
muscles,”
he
said,
in
a
voice
that
let
her
know
he,
too,
had
been
affected
by
the
contact

of
their
bare
skin
touching.

She
nodded
as
he
placed
her
in
the
water.
He
was
right.

The
water
was
warm,
but
it
immediately
felt
good
to
her

body.
She
glanced
up
at
him
as
he
stood
beside
the
tub

looking
down
at
her.
She
tried
to
keep
her
attention
on
the
top
part
of
his
body
and
not
the
lower
part.
“You
seem
to
be
good
at
this,
Westmoreland.
Is
this
how
you
treat
all
your

virgins?”

He
chuckled
and
his
gaze
captured
hers.
“Believe
it
or
not,
I’ve
never
done
a
virgin
before.”

She
lifted
a
brow.
“Never?”

His
smile
widened.
“No.
never.
You’re
my
first,
just
like
I
was
your
first.”

Jayla
watched
as
his
features
shifted
into
a
serious

expression
as
if
he
had
to
really
think
about
what
he’d
just
said
for
a
moment.
“Do
you
need
my
help?”
he
asked
her.

She
shook
her
head.
“No,
I
can
manage.
Thanks.”

He
nodded.
“Call
me
when
you’re
ready
to
get
out.”

She
smiled.
“Storm,
really,
I
can
manage
things.”

“Yeah,
I
know
you
can
but
I
want
you
to
call
me
anyway.”
Then
he
left,
closing
the
door
behind
him.

Storm
poured
himself
a
glass
of
ice
water
and
tipped
it
to
his
mouth,
wishing
it
was
something
stronger
but

appreciating
the
cool
liquid
as
it
soothed
his
dry
throat.

He
had
sworn
off
having
anything
to
do
with
Jayla
years

ago;
yet
now,
after
finally
making
love
to
her,
he
was
aching
so
badly
for
her
again
that
it
actually
hurt.
To
make
matters
worse,
the
taste
of
her
was
still
strong
on
his
tongue
and,

before
he
could
contain
himself,
he
groaned,
which
was

followed
by
a
growl
that
erupted
from
deep
within
his
throat.
Jayla
Cole
had
no
idea
just
what
a
desirable
and
sexy

woman
she
was.
Even
being
a
novice
at
making
love,
she
was
every
man’s
fantasy.
He
could
see
her
attracting
the

wrong
kind
of
men
and
felt
a
heartfelt
sense
of
pride,
as

well
as
relief,
that
she
had
kept
her
head
on
straight
and

had
not
been
taken
in
by
any
of
them.

But
was
he
any
better?
His
no-commitment,
hands-on-but-
hearts-off,
no-strings-attached
policy
left
a
lot
to
be
desired,
but
he
and
Jayla
had
been
struck
by
that
unique
kind
of

passion
that
had
sent
her
straight
into
his
arms
and
had

propelled
him
unerringly
into
her
bed.

And
he
had
no
regrets.

Frowning,
Storm
took
another
huge
swallow
of
water.
No
woman
had
ever
gotten
to
him
like
this.
It
was
time
for
him