Phoenix Rising by Kaitlin Maitland

of it.
    “What’s her name anyway?”
    “Isabel.”
    “Have you known her long?”
    “A few months.”
    “How long are your,” Jessa searched for an appropriate word, “relationships?”
    “A few months, give or take a month or two.”
    “Nice.”
    “Hey love, Connor and I are both like that. It’s just easier.”
    So a few months and she wouldn’t have to worry about Connor being interested anymore. What a relief.
    But it didn’t make Jessa feel any better. She didn’t want to think that she wanted Connor’s interest. But from the first day they’d met, she’d been irresistibly drawn to him. Even when she tried to immerse herself in her old life, she was plagued with thoughts of him.
    “Didn’t you enjoy last night with Connor?” Alex prodded.
    “Why, because it looked like I did?”
    “No, because you could say no and he’d back off.”
    “Probably doesn’t matter anymore anyway, Alex. He was angry enough this morning that I’m certain there won’t be a repeat.”
    Alex laughed, his blue eyes shimmering with mirth. “You don’t know much about men, do you Jessa?”
    “Sorry, I haven’t made a study of both sexes like you have.”
    Alex chucked a wad of receipts at Jessa. “Take these back to Connor’s office for me, would you please? And while you’re there, why don’t you have a little chat with him. The two of you need to clear the air.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    “Alex asked me to bring these to you.” Jessa tossed the stack of receipts on Connor’s desk and turned to walk out.
    “You don’t have to run away. I promise I’m done growling.”
    She had been about to hustle out of the room, but his words stopped her. Jessa turned and allowed herself a long look at him. Connor seemed tired. He’d set aside his charcoal gray dress shirt and wore a black wife beater with his usual black pants.
    It was the first time Jessa had ever seen his arms totally bare. Connor’s shoulders were impressive by any standards. Each muscle was well defined beneath his smooth caramel colored skin. It was hard to resist the temptation to touch. Jessa hadn’t gotten the chance to run her hands all over him the night before. And she wondered if he was as satiny as he looked.
    “You aren’t a cheap slut, Jessa.”
    His words drew her back to his face. Connor’s hell-black eyes softened when she met his gaze. Jessa thought back to the moment she’d thrown that thought at him. It wasn’t really how she felt. But she’d already been uncertain about their status after the night before. And his callous attitude had hurt.
    “Then what am I, Connor?”
    One corner of his sensuous mouth tilted up. “You’re a damned attractive woman.”
    “Don’t give me that. I’ve seen the women who come in here and try to catch your eye. I may be naïve, but I’m no idiot.”
    Connor unfolded his body from the chair, “No, not an idiot. Not naïve either, not really. But definitely unaware of your own desirability.”
    Jessa swallowed, but her mouth went suddenly dry. Connor was staring at her as if he intended to repeat their experience. Repeat it, or expand upon it.
     
    * * *
     
    Jessa really had no idea. There wasn’t a hint of the usual feminine guile in her expression. No games, no traps, and no expectations were reflected in her wide hazel eyes. A slow grin spread across Connor’s face. She was beginning to look faintly alarmed.
    “Do you have any idea what you do to me, woman?”
    “No.”
    Connor grabbed her hand and pressed it against the growing bulge in his crotch. “Every time I see you I get a hard on so fierce I can hardly walk upright.”
    Her face paled.
    “The way you look, your smell, the way you feel, and the way you tasted last night,” Connor groaned. “I can’t get it out of my mind.”
    “So you aren’t mad at me anymore?” she asked in a bare whisper.
    “If I was mad it was because I was afraid you weren’t going to come back.”
    “Why do you care?”
    He