Burning Desire

Chapter 17

Friday went by so smoothly; it was almost unbelievable.

Mandy had emailed several of us a list of current affairs subjects she recommended we cover in the next online edition of Satisfaction. We had to choose one subject and write about it. It made it easier to pick from a provided list rather than trying to figure out what was a good subject on our own. Mandy said this was the only time she'd give us suggestions, but she thought it was a good way to help us get started on something new. I was happy to see LGBT Rights on the list, knowing Joseph would jump on that one. I'd scanned the options about twelve times by the time I finally decided Animal Rights was what I wanted to write about. It was a subject dear to my heart and I was really looking forward to publishing an article on it.

Twenty minutes into typing up my first draft, my phone started ringing. It was nearing five o'clock and I was one of the last few people still in the building. Most of my coworkers had left by two.

"Hey, handsome," I answered, smiling at my coffee mug when I heard that familiar velvety voice.

"Good afternoon, Miss Crawford," Jesse said in a suggestive voice. "I've been thinking about you all day."

"Oh, have you?"

He chuckled softly. "Yes, I have. You made it hard to focus in my meetings."

I started biting at my lip, thinking about him having a difficult time keeping his mind off of me while he worked. I'd been thinking about him, too. I tried to envision what he might be wearing. Then my thoughts drifted to daydreams of undressing him and making him moan. Maybe spending a little more time in his home office on that desk...

I lowered my voice and held the phone closer to my mouth. "How hard, Mr. Reese?"

I could hear a hitch in his breathing. "Very hard."

"I guess we'll have to do something about that, huh?" I teased, fanning myself.

Was the room getting hotter or was it just me?

"I guess we will," he said devilishly and I could almost see the smirk that was undoubtedly dancing across his face. "Actually, I have something to ask you. Are you free tonight?"

I had planned on staying extra late at the office since I had no plans until Selena, Kacey, and I got together on Saturday night. Jesse, however, was quickly changing my mind. I'd already started shutting down my computer and gathering up my things by the time he was halfway through his sentence.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"Do you remember when we went on the ferry and Jeff offered to take us on a boat ride sometime?"

I heard a car door slam and then it sounded like he was thumbing through his keys.

I nodded, closing my office door behind me. "Yeah."

"Well, I just so happen to have the keys to that boat, and I was hoping you'd accompany me for a sunset ride," Jesse offered and my heart skipped a beat at the idea.

"I'd love to," I grinned.

"Meet me at the Manhattan Yacht Club in Jersey City at five-thirty," he instructed. "I'm on my way there now."

I heard his car door slam again as I was leaving the building.

"That makes two of us. I'll see you soon," I said, ready to break into a happy dance on the way to my car.

When I reached the parking garage, Alex was still there, to my surprise. He had the hood raised on his truck and he was digging around under it.

"Everything alright?" I asked, unlocking my car.