Casual hook-ups are not Katherine's usual modus operandi. She's level headed, confident and definitely not into throwing caution, and her knickers, to the wind.
However, when the last train becomes the stranded in a pitch black tunnel train, she finds herself alone in the dark with a gorgeous stranger, who makes her an offer she ought to, but can't refuse.
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EXCERPT:
For
what must have been the hundredth time, Katherine wished she hadn't agreed to
work late, not this late, anyway. The entire office was in
chaos, trying to get everything ready for the new boss's arrival. Katherine
worked for the head of Sales and Marketing at Thacker, Wright & Grant one
of the largest advertising firms in the city, and he'd had her staying late
every night this week to make sure all his files were complete. Every 'i' had
to be double dotted and every 't' double crossed. Which is exactly what Jack
Brody was, a double-crossing, ass-pinching, sleazy son of a bitch.
Payroll had done the rounds earlier, and on opening
her pay check she was furious to note he hadn't authorized the overtime she'd
completed last month—and she knew why. The bastard had been given a written
warning last week for his overtly tactile behaviour after she'd made a
complaint to Human Resources about his wandering hands. She should have let the
asshole present his files to the new VP in their original state—fucking slime-bag.
The screen that had been indicating her train would be
arriving in three minutes for the last ten mocked her, daring her to challenge
its shitty information. She checked her watch, again. If she'd missed the last
train home because of that dickhead she was going to be taking the taxi fare
out of his ass with a well-placed Jimmy Choo. Speaking of Jimmy Choos, she was
starting to get a little antsy in hers. The silence was deafening and, coupled
with the flickering fluorescent lighting, she felt as though she'd stepped into
a scene from An American Werewolf in
London.
Her gaze flitted around the platform, settling on the
homeless person—she couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman from the
generic ensemble of filthy overcoat and tattered beanie—curled up on a bench a
few feet from her. She wanted to move away, but she also didn't want to make it
obvious that's what she wanted to do. Shaking her head at her own reluctance to
hurt the feelings of a sleeping tramp, she mentally cursed her mother and the
good manners she'd insisted on instilling in her children.
A loud rumbling from the yawning mouth of the tunnel
began to build, and the draft created by the approaching locomotive snatched at
her coat with icy fingers. Butterflies took flight in Katherine's belly as the
roaring grew louder. She loved the sights and sounds of the train pulling into
the station. The way the air seemed to be sucked out of the confined space and
then pushed back in with a punch when the train burst forth from the darkness like
a huge party favour blown between a giant's lips.
Jesus—waxing
a bit lyrical aren't we? You must
be tired.
Katherine ignored her inner voice as several carriages
passed her before the train came to a stop. The doors opened and she stepped
inside, looking around and finding she was alone. Thank God, the last thing she
needed was some well-meaning fellow traveller pressing her for
conversation. Settling on one of the
seats, Katherine sighed heavily and leaned back against the headrest, closing
her eyes and willing away the pressure of the day. The train's engine rumbled
as it prepared to continue its journey and the warning buzzer for the doors let
off its high pitched beep, signalling the last chance to get on.
"Fuck!"
Katherine's eyes flew open at the expletive and she
stared, open-mouthed, at the man who had just managed to squeeze through the
doors and onto the car before they'd completely closed. His gaze immediately
found hers and he sent her an apologetic smile, which she acknowledged with a
brief twitch of her lips.
Katherine couldn't believe he'd managed to get all his
appendages inside before the train moved off. He probably used the same expertise it took to shoe horn himself into
those jeans. The thought bounced around her skull before she could squash
it, and she was mortified to note the playful smile on his face, as if she'd
said the words out loud. The train jolted as it moved off and Katherine dropped
her gaze to her clasped hands where they lay in her lap.
Jesus, get
a grip, Kathy. Anyone would think you'd never seen a hottie before.
That in itself was true; but there was hot and then
there was the man sitting across the carriage. Tall, very tall, she'd noticed
that when he'd all but fallen onto the train. From the furtive glances she
found herself unable to stop taking, she discovered he had dark, brooding eyes,
aquiline nose and stubble shadowing his square jaw. His chiselled features
could have made him appear hard, if it weren't for his lips. She risked another
peak from beneath her lashes. They were full, pouty and looked so soft, for a
split-second she wondered how they would feel on her skin. Along with how his
black hair would look in contrast with her pale flesh as he slid his tongue
down her belly and— Katherine Russell
what on earth are you doing? Do you need me to remind you you're a nice girl?
No—she didn't need reminding, but the frisson of
excitement sliding down her spine when he turned his dark gaze away from the
window and onto her, suggested a bit of a nudge might be a good idea. Of
course, if he'd stop sending her toe-curling glances, that would probably help.
How long
has it been since we saw any action that didn't involve alcohol wipes or, God
forbid, the replacement of triple A's at pivotal moments?
Katherine's cheeks flushed with warmth at the memory.
That was definitely one of her lower points, but she hadn't quite hit rock
bottom yet. She still had some
dignity—didn't she? Trying to tune out the hysterical laughter of her inner
Katherine, she gazed out of the window at the dark rushing by. What else did
she expect to see? They were on the Central
line for Pete's sake. For the next fifty minutes the only scenery she was going
to get were black walls and lines of electric cable. She sighed heavily, well
used to the joys of being a London commuter, and settled back against headrest.
"I feel like I should introduce myself."
Of course
his voice is rich, deep and warm enough to melt butter. What else would it be?
Katherine swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat
and turned her head in his direction. "I'm sorry?" Jesus, Katherine, now he'll think you're the
village idiot.
Tall, dark and oops I think my knickers just caught
fire, smiled widely, revealing an adorable dimple in his left cheek. "It
feels kind of impolite to sit here and not say anything when we're the only
ones here." He leaned across the small gangway between the seats and held
out his hand. "I'm CJ."
American—Texas by the sound of it—she'd seen enough
Dallas re-runs to recognize the sexy drawl. "Katherine," she replied,
shaking his hand and snatching back her fingers at the tiny electric shock she
received from his.
"Good to meet you, Katherine. Pretty name, for a
pretty lady."
Katherine huffed out a polite laugh and turned her
gaze back to the window. Good grief.
"I'm sorry, that was a really crappy line."
Katherine smiled and admitted, "Worse than some,
not as bad as others; but yeah, it was right up there with 'Get your coat,
love, you've pulled'."
"Really? British guys actually use that
one?" CJ looked aghast at the very notion.
"They still drag it out every once in a
while," Katherine's lips twitched in amusement at his expression.
"But I can't imagine their success rate is very high."
"Jeez, and I thought us Yanks were corny as
hell."
"Nope, we have a healthy market for cheese over
here, too." Katherine blushed again as he threw back his head and guffawed
at her attempt at humour. Which was pleasing, because not everyone appreciated
her dryness. Not to mention the sound unfurled a ball of heat in the pit of her
stomach. Heat that warmed her cheeks and sent a jolt of pleasure straight to
her core, making her involuntarily fidget in her seat.
"So," CJ said softly. "What's the
customary subject for two strangers meeting on a train? This is a first for me.
In Dallas the chances of you getting an empty car on the subway is harder than
winning the lottery."
Katherine shifted position slightly so she was half
turned towards him and crossed her legs, thanking God she was wearing her last
pair of un-laddered hold ups, and her new dark purple suit. "Hmmm…,"
she murmured, as if she were in deep consideration over his question. "To
be honest, I have no idea. Whenever anyone says strangers on a train to me all
I can think of is the old Alfred Hitchcock classic, and I'm sure that's not
what you meant. Unless you have someone you want me to kill, of course."
"Not that I can think of right now," CJ
replied with another chuckle, shifting his position to mirror hers she was
pleased to note. "Although my landlord still hasn't fixed the hot water
yet, so I could change my mind when I'm naked under a freezing shower
later."
Katherine tried not to dribble at the thought of a
naked CJ under cascading water, whatever the temperature, and couldn't help
squeezing her thighs together. The movement sent a pulse of delicious sensation
straight to her pussy, curling her toes in her shoes.
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