Page 16 of Caged Heat

“Yes, fuck, yes,” I screamed, my head thrashing side to side as he continued. My legs were wrapped around his waist; his hands gripped my ass to keep me lifted as he fucked me hard and fast. Within a few more thrusts, the fire inside me found that level again and rushed up to meet it, crashing over as everything in me exploded into a million fireflies.

“Ahhh,” I moaned. “Jackson!”

My body trembled, and I felt him grunt as his cock pulsed in me, expanding in me as my pussy milked him. He’d fallen forward, our foreheads pressed against one another as we caught our breath.

“Wow,” I said a few minutes later, still in disbelief about what I’d just felt. Nothing had ever felt that amazing before. Not Christopher. Not my fingers. Not any vibrator.

I didn’t know if it was Jackson specifically, but I knew I would have a harder time walking away than I’d initially imagined.

“Round two in the shower?” Jackson asked, smirking as he peered down at me.

Laughing, I nodded, wanting as much of him as possible before I had to say goodbye.

Over the next eighteen hours, Jackson showed me the advantages of youth with his short recovery period as he fucked me as many times as he promised in various positions all over his house, only stopping for quick naps and the occasional nibble of food and water.

Slipping out of his house in the evening hours Sunday night, I closed the door quietly, hoping not to wake him. He’d fallen asleep after another round of sex on the couch, and I knew it was my only chance to leave and keep my heart intact. Though as I drove away, I knew I was lying to myself.

It was only one night to him, but it had become so much more to me. However, I refused to be that older woman clinging to him, thinking there was more there just because we had amazing sex.

No. I had to do this. I had to step away now so I could keep some of my dignity.

Besides, I started my new job in the morning, and I didn’t need to show up reeking of sex and in Saturday’s clothes. This was the responsible and mature thing to do.

So why did it feel so awful?

CHAPTER SIX

ELEANOR

My feet already throbbed in the stupid heels I’d decided at the last minute to wear today. You’d think after years of working on my feet, I would’ve been wiser about my footwear choices. Unfortunately, I’d wrongly assumed I wouldn’t be walking that much and chose beauty over comfort.

Terrible mistake number one for the day.

The second was believing I could do this job. I was going to fall flat on my face, and not because of the shoes.

“The sales teams meet with the customers to determine what products they’re wanting. Once that’s finalized, they’ll send over the specs, and you’ll take the project from there. You’ll be responsible for ensuring the plant ops get the correct marketing package, deadline, and units. You’ll want to monitor it from start to finish so that it’s on track and sent out on time,” Kathy, the junior account rep, prattled as she strutted through the plant floor like she owned the place.

She wore heels higher than mine, her pencil skirt and button-down shirt crisp and professional. Her blonde hair was pulled into a low ponytail, all slick and chic, with not a single hair out of place. Her makeup was just as flawless, and her lips were a soft pink, accentuating their perfect bow shape. Men stopped to watch as she strolled by, their eyes trailing her as she talked and swished her hips back and forth.

Kathy had to be in her late 20s, oozed confidence, and knew how to command a room. She was everything I wanted to portray but didn’t know how.

“Any questions?” she asked, pushing through a door. She briefly glanced over her shoulder at me for a response despite the question feeling rhetorical.

Unfortunately for her, I did have questions. Clearing my throat, I found my inner-mom voice.

“Yes. Actually, I do.”

I didn’t miss the subtle eye roll or the aggravation in her shoulders as she gave me a terse smile. Kathy was not a fan. That had been apparent from moment one.

“What can I help with?” she asked, turning and clasping her hands together like I was an errant child who’d been misbehaving.

“Will there be a more thorough explanation of the steps somewhere? Like a training manual, perhaps?” I asked, trying not to let the panic rise inside me. Maybe I’d been a fool, believing I could start a career at my age, especially one I had no practical experience in. The textbooks did not cover any of this!

“I’ll get with Belinda and see what we can scrounge up that isn’t digital. I’m sure there’s an old binder floating around somewhere.”

Another dig. Great. I didn’t foresee me and Kathy being the type of coworkers to grab lunch together. I wasn’t even sure she’d sign the company-bought birthday card at this point. The girl did not like me. Noted.

“Perfect. Thank you.” I returned my own tight smile, more determined than ever to prove I could do this.

---