Adjusting To Normal Ch. 01

"Excuse me," she snapped a little louder than she had intended. She instantly regretted her harsh tone when he jumped, knocking over papers, pencils and an empty coffee cup.

"Wh-what?" he squeaked. Good lord, he looked like he could cry.

"I apologize for startling you," Eliza said softening her tone. "My name is Eliza Wallen from KGA and I've been waiting on you."

"Me?"

"Yes," she said hearing the return of her impatience. "Should I call you Michael or do you prefer Mr. Westwright?"

"What? Why? No! God, no!"

"Why not?" she demanded, approaching his work table. "Then what the hell should I call you?"

"Simon," a man said from behind her. "Because he's not Michael Westwright. I am."

Turning slowly, Eliza came face to face with the man. Or face to chest to be more accurate. Her gaze traveled up his chest, to his throat, jaw, full lips and finally the dark brown eyes glaring at her. She gulped when he took a step toward her. The family had escaped the geek gene. This guy was the entire defensive line.

"I've heard that, in less than twenty minutes, you've managed to disrupt the work flow considerably," he said with a low voice. "In addition, you've offended Jonathan's assistant and the Vice President of Human Resources. Everyone is already anxious over the recent events. Alienating yourself from them will not help your case."

"I apologize if I have appeared abrupt," she said forcing a smile. "But their instant offense could be the result of guilt."

"Guilt?" he repeated stepping closer. "You've got to be kidding me. If anyone here represents guilt sweetheart, it's you. Or your employer."

"Me?"

"Our security system was custom designed, implemented and maintained by KGA. Didn't you know that?"

"I did," she lied. And instantly knew that he caught her lie.

"Today is shot," he informed her as he walked away. "We'll start your interviews tomorrow. "

Oh no, she thought with rising panic. He is trying to take control of her investigation.

"I've prepared a schedule for you," he continued handing her a sheet of paper. "It coordinates who, when and where you will meet."

He tried and succeeded. The control was his.

Looking at the schedule, she noticed that her interview with him was exactly one hour before her scheduled departure on Tuesday. Placing the paper in her folio, she set the leather binder on the table and took a deep breath.

"No."

"No?" he repeated. "There was no question posed. Take it or leave it."

"I leave it," she answered, thankful she was able to talk without buckling. "Although it's not really my choice. I follow my employer's orders. Not yours." Turning away, she walked to the door and swiped the keycard still clutched in her hand.

"Eliza," he said in a tone that forced her to stop and turn to him. "Go to your room. Order a meal from the commissary. We have a staff meeting in the auditorium tomorrow morning at nine. Be there. We'll decide where to go from there."

With a nod of her head, she stepped through the door and walked to the elevators. Only then did she realize that she had left her binder with the map on the lab table. Looking back down the hall, she wondered if she should return to fetch her information or find the Human Resource office and beg for a replacement. Before moving, she flipped the key card over and found her name and room number printed on the back.

Safe? No. Convenient? Hell, yeah.

The elevator car transported her to the tenth floor in solitary confinement. She enjoyed the return to quiet even if it would only be for a few hours. Today sucked. There was no other way to describe the fiasco. Contemplating a change in her behavior, Eliza decided to stay on her chosen path. Even Michael had agreed to meet and decide their plans tomorrow.

The thought of Michael sent her pulse racing. For a brief moment, she had been scared. Eliza feared failure more than bodily harm. Within seconds he had confronted and silenced her. Taking charge was a sign of strength. If he hadn't defeated her, she would have admired him.

When the elevator doors opened, she stepped into a pleasant corridor that appeared more residential than commercial. She knew employees lived on the campus, but she had assumed that it would be in another building. Finding her room, she swiped the key card for hopefully the last time that day.

When the door opened, she remained where she stood and noticed everything in front of her. The room, while small, was exquisitely decorated. Her luggage was present and ready to be unpacked. And the view boasted the most beautiful scene she could have imagined.

Growing up in poverty, her vacations had included trips to lakes, rivers and amusement parks. Fun for a kid but not much to brag about as an adult. She stepped across the threshold and straight to the balcony before her. Stepping into the balmy breeze, she immediately regretted her harsh attitude towards the staff. Now, she wanted to stay here forever and stare at the ocean and beautiful sunset.

She had flown to California so this must be the Pacific, but whether or not she was in another state, she could only guess. Her day had started before dawn and was now ending at sunset. No matter how bad everything else had been, she would not have missed this for anything in the world.

Within the hour, she had watched the sun disappear into the night and had unpacked her suitcase while waiting for her supper to arrive. When she finished the last bite of food, she paused and thought through her most recent chain of events. She had come to her room and eaten her dinner alone just as he had ordered.

With a feminine growl, she pushed the plates aside and stomped to the bathroom for a quick shower. The amenities must have been rated five-star. Although she had remembered to pack all necessary toiletries, she could not resist the various soaps and lotions displayed in the grass baskets. After an hour of soaking and primping, Eliza was ready to hit the sack.

Slipping into her new satin robe, she turned down the covers on the bed and shut out the lights. Stretching on the pillow top mattress, she closed her eyes and listened to the distant roar of the ocean. And then she opened her eyes. After years of listening to her mother and dorm roommates making various nocturnal noises, she was not going to drift into an easy sleep in this ideal state.

Jumping up, she searched for her suitcase which contained her dirty little secret. The historical romance novel was worn and ripped but it had only cost fifteen cents at the paperback store. Turning on the bedside lamp, she easily found her dog-eared page and picked up on the story of the pirate and the virgin.

Scanning the descriptive scenes, Eliza learned that the frightened young woman had been discovered as a stowaway. She was now waiting for the captain to serve his personal brand of justice which usually included a gang rape courtesy of the crew. But not this guy. No. Unbeknownst to the maiden, the pirate captain had been betrayed by a once trusted friend and now he sailed the dangerous seas searching for the one witness who could prove his innocence. He was a noble man with a bright smile, deep pockets and a huge cock according to the tavern wenches.

When the captain finally entered his cabin the scene played out like every other steamy sex scene in these books. Ignoring the generic model on the front cover, Eliza pictured her own version of a hero. Tall. Strong. Rich. And willing to overlook her family history. The face remained a blur as her handsome sailor gently placed the woman on his bed.

Without realizing it, Eliza stretched her legs and flexed her toes, slowly moving in the rhythm described in the text. She started rubbing her thighs together as the captain kissed a path down the girl's body until his tongue delved between her moist folds. Quickly becoming frustrated, Eliza flipped her robe open and found her own heated flesh.

When her chilled fingers touched the sensitive nub, she bucked her hips and cried out loud. Inexperience was not her friend as she struggled to find the motion and speed to satisfy her need. Dropping the book to the floor, she imagined the next part. He would raise himself up to look at her. Bracing his weight on his arms, he would stare into her eyes. And she finally saw his face.

His dark eyes were no longer angry with her but he remained silent. Her vision took the form of the man she had argued with only a few hours earlier. As his dream form moved over her body, her fingers found the circular motion that threw her craving into high gear. With her knees in the air, she continued thrusting her hips against the fingers, frantically rubbing her hardening nub.

Just as the sensation escalated into a roar, she arched her back and moaned as she neared her orgasm. Then someone started pounding on the door. Immediately pulling her fingers away, she sat up on the bed staring at the door in confusion.

A second set of pounding confirmed that she had not imagined the intrusion. Who could it be? Looking at the table laden with dishes, she cringed. She had forgotten to put the tray in the hall as instructed. Standing, she tightened the belt of her robe, kicked the romance novel under the bed and walked to the door.

Just as she jerked the door open, the impatient fist was raised and prepared to hit the door once more. Gasping in shock, she stepped back before he struck and stared into the eyes of her dream lover. Except he was angry. Again.

"Sorry to interrupt," he barked loudly. "You left this in the lab."

She stared mutely at the binder in his hands. Foolishly she realized that he would have insisted she keep his assigned schedule with her at all times. She could feel the heat of her blush across her face and throat and then thought she would die when he looked around the room. He turned back to her, now understanding the act and correctly guessing the cast of the event he had just interrupted.

Reaching for the binder in his hand, Eliza gasped when he pulled the book away and grabbed her outstretched fingers. He pulled them close to his lips closing his eyes as he inhaled. In muted shock, Eliza realized that her embarrassment was shifting to another emotion. When he opened his eyes, she saw the same passion reflected in the darkening depths.

Michael gently wrapped his lips around her index finger earning a quick moan of pleasure and approval. He gently sucked at the juices clinging to her soft skin, tasting the pleasure that she never shared with another. The heat from his mouth soared through her body and rested in the pit of her stomach. His mouth on her fingertips was creating pleasure that her fingers had been unable to provide.

When he had savored the last of her juices, he stood there silently waiting. Eliza knew that he was giving her an opportunity to say no but she was unable to speak. Turning around she remembered her mother, her employer's policy, her personal promise and the investigation assigned to her. None of it mattered. The tormenting desire that fluttered in the bottom of her belly was everything.

She looked over her shoulder and was immediately rewarded. Michael pressed close to her back claiming her lips in a kiss that was gentle but unbreakable. He tugged at the belt of her robe and soon had full access to her naked flesh. Immediately searching for the void she had recently left, he reached between her thighs and slowly traced one finger up and down the moist slit. She wondered if he liked the smooth skin surrounding her entrance.

He broke the kiss as he covered one of her breasts with his free hand. She stared into his eyes pleading for something she could not define. With a gasp, she collapsed against his chest as his finger entered her slowly. He knew how to give the pleasure that she had not been able to give her own body. Bucking her hips against his hand, Eliza cried out with a moan. She stretched her arm up and cupped her hand around the back of his neck with a need to touch him. No; she needed to be anchored to him.

Michael quickened his pace as he massaged her sensitive flesh. But when he kissed the spot behind her ear, she thought her nervous system would explode. Bright lights blinded her vision as she quivered in his arms.

"Oh, god," she whimpered as the muscles tightened and then surrendered to the passion. Darkness replaced the blinding lights and she released the breath that she had held too long.

She had no idea how long they stood there. Michael held her against his firm body and she clutched at him as a drowning woman would grab at a lifeline. When she could breathe again, she looked up and was surprised to see him smiling.

"You need this as much as I do," he whispered. "Climb up on the bed. There. On your knees. Bend over."

Eliza realized that she obediently followed his orders with no hesitation. When he pressed her shoulders down to the mattress, she panicked for a small moment. But then she agreed with him. He was right, of course. She needed this. Whatever "this" was.

The sound of his shirt falling to the floor echoed in her ears. Was this was really happening? She shivered when she heard him unzip his jeans. Should she say something? She considered how she could interrupt his motions to explain her predicament. When his warm skin touched hers, she reminded herself that soon enough there would be nothing to explain.

Michael's hands returned to her body preparing her for the next step. She shivered in a mixture of fear and desire. When he removed his fingers, Eliza tensed. It would be soon. Ignoring the consequences, she moved against the warm flesh seeking entry. With a push of his hips, he entered her. And the scales of anticipation tipped in favor of fear. Speechless, she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

Breathing deeply, she reasoned that fear was not an option and since he had yet to break through any barriers, pain was not yet the issue. Then she felt him rock back and forward tearing through an insignificant membrane that would serve no purpose in her life again. Gasping, Eliza was relieved that he was unable to see her face.

"What the hell?" he growled. "God, you're tight."

Fearing that he would stop now and be even angrier than before, Eliza relied on the only experience she had had until now. What would her mother do?

"Fuck me," she pleaded. "Please don't stop. Fuck me."

And he did. For a moment, Eliza feared that he would tear her flesh or permanently damage necessary organs. When he touched her breasts, her body responded with renewed excitement. And the scales tipped toward desire. He gently massaged and pinched her nipples while rocking in and out of her body. The familiar sensation reignited in her stomach forcing her to press back into his thrusts, searching for the source of her pleasure.

Increasing the tempo, Michael continued moving inside her until she heard the sound of his skin slapping against hers. Knowing that he was buried inside of her gave Eliza an undefined rush. She had survived and was now experiencing the same thrill that enslaved her mother and all of her college acquaintances. She would separate the act from the emotions swirling through her mind. Tomorrow. Tonight, she was loving this.

When he moved his hand from her breast to her stomach, she knew that she would not last much longer. As soon as he reached between her legs, she bucked her hips into him and tightened the canal filled with so much pleasure. Her arms shook in rebellion against her weight and with a second wave of euphoria gave way as she screamed through her release.

Michael remained still until she released her death grip on the sheets. When she looked over her shoulder, he move out of her and helped her turn onto her back. She could see that he was still hard. Could he see that she was near death? Certainly he would allow her time to rest.

She moaned when he wrapped his fingers around her ankles. Her eyes widened as he pressed her knees to her chest and leaned forward. Always ready for confrontation, Eliza was unprepared for the gentleness of his lips. He moved slowly from her lips, across her jaw and down her throat. When he dipped to her breasts she tried to move against his body but was trapped under the bend of her knees.

"This is crazy," he whispered against her ribs. "I need more."

"Yes," she replied pulling his head closer to her. "Take more."

Releasing her ankles, Michael positioned himself at her entrance. Eliza held her breath and closed her eyes as she braced for the pain. She trembled as his fingers moved to her thighs. And she waited for his next move. And waited. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes to see him watching her.

"Why do you hide?"

"What?"

"Hide behind those glasses. Hide your hair."

Eliza could only shake her head and breathe a sigh of relief when he smiled and moved into her. Slowly he rocked back and forth never breaking eye contact. After a few moments, she felt the rhythm and swayed her hips into his. With the absence of pain, her passion was immediate and soaring.

"Keep hiding," he said in a low voice. "From everyone except me."

With a nod, she pulled his head close and gave him a kiss. He responded by increasing the tempo until the bed was groaning beneath them. Wincing when she felt him touch deep within her, Eliza pulled her knees up and tilted her hips. The tingling sensation started in her stomach and slowly moved through her body.

When the passion claimed her for a second time, she held onto Michael's arms and buried her face in his chest to muffle her cries. She felt him wrap his hand through her hair and pull her head back.

"Don't hide from me," he growled as he adjusted to her new position.

Holding on to his arms, Eliza surrendered to the wave racking through her body and screamed his name. In her daze, she barely registered the fact that Michael was following quickly behind her. When he collapsed on her body, she lifted her hand to his head and threaded her fingers through his hair. Holding him close seemed so right.

Rolling to the side, Michael wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I wish I could stay but I can't. I have to go home."

"You're married," she groaned against his shoulder.

"Uh, no. And shouldn't you have asked before the sex?"

"I don't know," she mumbled hoping she was hiding her embarrassment. "I'm a little confused. I mean, I'm tired."

"Yeah," he said moving away to grab his jeans. "So get some sleep. Your interviews start tomorrow after the staff meeting."

"Still insisting that I use your schedule? Are you hiding something or protecting someone?"

"Protecting someone," he explained, leaning close to kiss her. "This isn't just about a theft. And while you should have asked if I was married before the sex, you really should have asked why KGA would recruit you for this job."

"I'm qualified," she complained.

"Very," he agreed as he finished dressing. "And that just might save your life. I'll see you in the morning."