Eric brushed her lips with his softly, pulling back briefly only to have her chase him, her hands spreading up to grip his shoulders.

It was all the encouragement he needed, and then he wasn’t thinking, he was just taking. Doing exactly what he wanted, what he’d been dreaming about for years and damn if reality wasn’t way better than fantasy. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up so he had a better angle, slanting his mouth over hers and thrusting his tongue inside.

He had her pinned against the wall, her arms around his shoulders, their bodies molded together.

His lips left hers and he trailed soft, feathery kisses against her neck. Teasing, he breathed against her skin. “I’m still waiting for some of that dirty talk.”

It was the wrong fucking thing to say.

She stiffened against him and her arms dropped from his shoulders, her hands pushing against his chest. “Get off me.”

“Gracie, I was kidding.” He pulled back to look down at her, but her tiny face was closed off and cold.

“Get. The fuck. Off me.” She said each word with a curt, angry bark, and he did what she asked, his hands up and above his head.

“It was a joke-

“No. It was stupid. I was stupid. Because I actually let you get inside my head, but never again.” Straightening her dress, she walked over to the door and pulled on the handle.

And twisted. And yanked some more.

“Did you lock us in here?” she screamed.

Eric shook his head and tried the knob. It was definitely locked.

“Believe me, this was not part of the plan.”

“I don’t care what your plan was. Just get me out of here. Now.”

Eric pounded on the door with one fist. Then two. “Hey! Anybody out there?”

Gracie wrapped her arms around her waist with a groan. “Oh, God. They can’t hear us because they are all dancing and listening to bad 80’s music and I am going to be locked in here with you all night.”

“Okay, relax. I’m sure there’s a tool box or something.” Eric started looking through boxes while Gracie banged and hollered on the door. “Someone will come in here at some point to find supplies or something.”

She turned with a glare. “They better for your sake. Until then, you keep your sleazy ass away from me.”

“Believe me, Gracie Lou, any desire I may have experienced is gone. It was just a fleeting moment, and now, I’m over it.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

“Fine!”

Chapter Three

Hours later, Eric sat with his back to the door of the storage room, watching Gracie sleep on sacks of flour on the ground. She had to be cold and uncomfortable, but the woman was a stubborn as a mule.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and got up. He walked over to where she was lying and shrugged out of his jacket, wrapping it around her before picking her up in his arms.

“What are you doing?” she asked sleepily.

“I’m just giving you my jacket. You looked cold.”

“Not anymore.” She snuggled against his chest, and his arms tightened around her. The last thing he wanted to do was lay her back down on the rough looking rice sacks.

Instead, he went over to the corner and sat, settling her on his lap. He left his arms around her, holding her loosely as he started humming “Carry On My Wayward Son.”