Authors: Cat Johnson
She
shook her head. “That’s okay. Thanks anyway. Enjoy your
game.”
The
phone at Ladder Company #3 rang, the volume of the ringer set loud
enough it reached the far corners of the massive building. When no
one else bothered to answer it, Troy dropped the weights he was
lifting with an annoyed huff of breath and grabbed it. “Hello?”
“
Troy,
buddy. I’ve been thinking about your Amy.”
“
She’s
not
my Amy
.” He should never have told Antonio anything.
Now he wouldn’t even be able to get her off his mind at work,
not with Antonio bringing her up constantly.
“
Yeah
okay, whatever you say. Anyway, I’d like to propose a little
wager. My twenty bucks against yours says she’s not a lesbian.”
“
No
way. No bet.” Troy shook his head adamantly.
“
No
because you’re not feeling so sure about that anymore?”
Antonio asked.
“
No
because this is serious, not some joke.”
“
Well,
I’m glad you realize this is serious, because guess who just
came ringing your bell?”
Chapter 6
Amy’s
disappointment at missing Troy stayed with her through the rest of
the night. She walked into work in a pretty foul mood Monday morning.
She
kept her head down and tried to slip past Henri’s desk, but it
didn’t work. When he hopped up and followed her into her
office, she decided the best defense was a strong offense. “So,
have we recovered from our hangover?”
“
Yes.”
He screwed up his face at her. “And did we have a good weekend
with Troy the hunky fireman? Oh, wait. Don’t bother answering
that. I can tell just by looking at the expression on your face. You
didn’t get any.”
She
spun around, hands on hips. “What makes you assume that?”
“
Because
if hunky Troy had given you what you need, you’d be in a good
mood and you’re not. In fact, judging by how long it’s
been since your last good mood, I’d peg your dry spell at well
over ten months now.”
The
fact that his estimate was pretty damn close didn’t make her
any less angry. She changed the subject. “And what about you?
Last I heard you and Kenneth were fighting.”
“
Haven’t
you ever heard of make-up sex? See, look how happy I am.” He
waved his hand with a flourish to indicate his own face.
Henri
was bitchy whether he was happy or not, so it really was hard to
tell. At least someone got some action this weekend.
“
Good
for you, and since you’re so cheerful, you can go through the
slush pile today and bring me any manuscript submissions you think
are worth my reading.”
He
groaned. “I’m so tired of reading the same old crap.
Whoever coined the phrase ‘history repeats itself’ must
have been a historical romance editor.”
“
Historical
romances continue to sell. What can I say?”
“
But
do they all have to be the same?”
“
So
tell me what kind of book you would like to see us publish,”
she held up one hand to stop him, “keeping in mind the
preferences of our readers and the fact that we don’t publish
bondage and bestiality and any other sick stuff you may have on your
mind.”
He
wrinkled his nose at her insult but answered anyway. “First of
all, there should be more gay characters. There were more queens—and
I’m not talking the crown wearing kind—in court back in
jolly old England than there are at any Liza Minnelli concert today.
That’s just historical fact, sweetie. Second, why can’t
historical romances be funny? Shakespeare was funny. Not the
tragedies of course, but his other stuff was hysterical. And why does
it always have to be about the heroine? Males have problems. Males
have feelings. Why can’t more authors write from the hero’s
point of view?” Henri concluded his list and stood facing her,
waiting for a response that she didn’t have.
She
finally nodded. “You’re right. Everything you said is
absolutely true.”
“
I’m
right?” He took an exaggerated step back. “I’m
going to go circle this date on my calendar in red.”
Then
he was gone and she was glad because she couldn’t get the
thoughts in her head down fast enough.
Amy
spun her chair to face the computer as she dialed her boss’s
number. She cradled the phone on one shoulder while her fingers flew
over the keys. “Morris. Hey, it’s Amy. I have an idea to
pitch to you. Do you have time to meet with me later this week? I
need a couple of days to get the presentation together… Eight
a.m.? Great. Thanks.”
She
looked down at what she’d typed on the screen and smiled.
A
Damsel in Distress
By
Aimee’ Henri
A
humorous tale of chivalry as told by the knight who lived it
Cast
of Characters:
Sir
Thomas- the chivalrous knight who can’t say ‘no’ to
a female in need
Lady
Anne- the accident-prone heroine in need of constant saving
Lord
Herbert- her flamboyant gay uncle and official court matchmaker
Could
she sell her boss on a new line of historical comedies? And oh my
God, what if he actually agreed to launch it with the book she’d
just thought of?
Amy
wasn’t going to immediately tell her boss that Aimee’
Henri was her pseudonym so he would give her an honest opinion. She
would just let him assume the manuscript had come out of the slush
pile. And of course, she was planning on giving Henri credit too,
hence the last half of the pseudonym. It was his definitive opinion
that had spurred her into action.
She
may not be able to control any of the men in her real life, but she
could sure as hell control them on paper. This going to be fun.
~
Amy
ran home from work that evening and immediately set to work on the
book. She wrote during every spare moment she could find. Over the
next few days she didn’t even allow herself time to obsess
about the situation with Troy, at least not too much. She did listen
every time there were footsteps in the hall, but it never seemed to
be him.
Before
she knew it, it was Wednesday. She had a book release party that
evening and the meeting with her boss first thing the next morning.
The presentation was complete and she was thrilled with how it had
turned out. She had a synopsis and first three chapters ready.
She
went to the release party with Henri feeling great and excited about
her job for the first time in quite a while. When she arrived home,
or rather at Maria’s apartment at about nine from the party,
she was still on a high on top of being a little tipsy from the two
glasses of champagne in which she’d indulged. Fumbling the keys
in the lock, she dropped them and her briefcase loudly on the floor
and then let loose a string of obscenities worthy of any sailor. She
was in too good a mood to want to have to fight with this door again.
“
Problem?”
Amy
spun around to see Troy leaning against his open doorframe smiling at
her and looking extremely hot in navy sweats and a white T-shirt.
“
You’re
home.” Her heart pounding, she felt the blush creep into her
cheeks.
“
Yup.”
“
Oh,
good for you.”
Troy
stepped into the hall and picked up the keys and briefcase. He
glanced up and down the length of her. She self-consciously smoothed
the black wrap dress she had changed into for the party. His eyes
stayed glued to her black leather knee-high stiletto boots.
“
Where
are you coming from?” he asked, still holding her stuff.
“
Book
party. A work thing.”
“
I
hope you didn’t drive.” He eyed her closely. She could
only imagine how she appeared—glassy eyes, flushed cheeks. How
could she tell him it was more likely the effect he had on her, not
the alcohol making her appear this way?
“
I
only had two glasses of champagne and no, I didn’t drive. Henri
drove and dropped me off right outside the front door so I didn’t
even walk alone from my car. Okay, Daddy?”
He
looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry, I worry too much. Comes
from having a sister, I guess.”
“
Don’t
apologize.” She took one step forward, Maria’s words in
the back of her mind.
The nicest
guy you will ever meet. No
girlfriend
. With the boldness that alcohol provides she reached
up and touched his face. “Thank you for worrying about me. It’s
nice. I like it.”
She
raised herself up on her toes and brushed a soft kiss across his
mouth.
Troy’s
throat worked as his swallowed. “Amy. I don’t think you
realize what you’re doing.”
“
I
know exactly what I’m doing. I told you I only had two
glasses—”
“
No.”
He closed his eyes for a second and breathed in deep. “I mean
to me.”
She
let her hand drop from his cheek to his chest. “Troy, what are
you trying to say?”
“
That
when you stand so close, when you touch me like that, it makes me
want… to do more with you. And I know that’s not what
you want, so please stop.” He spoke quietly as if the words
pained him.
“
But
I do want more.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I was
afraid you didn’t.”
His
gaze dropped to her mouth, then came back up. “Amy. I’ve
wanted you from the first moment I saw you. It’s just, how can
this work?”
“
Easy.
Let me show you.” With both hands splayed on his chest, she
pushed him slowly backward into his apartment and shut the door
behind them.
Her
keys and briefcase crashed to floor for the second time that night
when Troy dropped them, then pressed her back against the door. She
gasped for breath as his mouth took hers. She almost cried out in
protest when he broke the kiss.
“
Are
you sure about this? Because if you want me to stop, you better tell
me now.” He was breathless and nearly pleading.
“
Don’t
you dare stop.” She pulled his head back down to hers.
He
let out a groan and lifted her effortlessly with two strong arms.
Troy carried her to the bedroom where he braced her against the wall
and kissed her some more. Her dress rode up around her thighs as she
hooked her boots around his waist.
Shifting
her weight to the side, he supported her bottom with one hand while
the fingers of his other hand slipped beneath her panties and plunged
into her at the same time his teeth nipped her neck. She pressed her
head back against the wall in ecstasy.
The
man’s hands were incredible. Not only did he know where the
G-spot was, but he also knew what to do with it. In minutes she was
panting and breathless and begging him to take her.
Still
holding her like she weighed nothing, he carried her to the bed and
deposited her there. In two long strides he was at the bathroom door
where he flung open the top drawer of the vanity, grabbed a strip of
wrapped condoms and was back on the bed before she had gotten
anything more than her dress off.
She
reached for her boots and he stopped her.
“
Leave
them on.” He looked at her matching black lace thong and bra.
“Leave all the rest of it on.”
Perhaps
Troy wasn’t as nice as Maria thought. He was actually a bit
naughty. Amy liked this animalistic, sex-crazed side of him. She
nodded but grabbed his waistband and pulled at it. “Fine, but I
want you naked.”
“
That
I can do.” Troy wasted no time and was naked in no time, with
only his impressive erection covered by a condom.
In
spite of his slightly kinky request regarding her boots and lingerie,
once Troy slid her panties to the side and entered her, he made love
to her tenderly with long slow strokes and gentle kisses. She watched
him move, braced above her, his muscular arms shaking with the effort
of holding the bulk of his weight off her body. She saw the
concentration on his face as he squeezed his eyes shut.
She
simply just enjoyed being claimed by him until she felt her orgasm
begin to build. Then she raised her hips off the bed. “Harder.
Oh, please, Troy. Harder.”