Chapter Two

“Ethan!” Ok, he was not who I expected to be banging my door off its hinges at this time on a Saturday. Where the hell was Connie?

“Joe, everything alright?”  Ethan asked.

God I hate when he calls me Joe. It sounds so masculine, and that’s why I adopted it for work, it gives the impression of strength. Whereas Jose, José or Josephine all sound soft and fragile! But I hate it coming from his lips. What I wouldn’t give to hear my name for once, just to hear how it sounds rolling off his tongue. It has nothing to do with his dark brooding, glorious face. It also has nothing to do with his six foot three frame, bulging biceps or his stormy blue eyes – that I swear change colour. He was wearing civvies today, obviously not on duty or was he undercover and I hadn’t been told? His blue jeans hugged him close, accentuating his manhood. Huge! There was no other word for it, he was damn huge. Either that, or he had a pair of socks helping him out, I almost laughed but held my face passive, he didn’t strike me as the type that needed any help let alone for a fluffy pair of socks. His white T-shirt looked just a clingy, as if his clothes were caressing him in an attempt to get closer to his skin. Good for him... Bad for me! My heart was already picking up is pace. The white of the T-shirt highlighted not only his deep tan but also his jet back hair. His wraparound sunglasses hid his eyes so I couldn’t tell what mood he was in.

  

“Why wouldn’t it be?” I managed to say after staring at him for too long. Long enough for him to get shifty on the doorstep. Hmm why is he here?

“No reason, no reason at all. You gonna invite me, I’m sure that's the aroma of caffeine I smell,” Ethan smiled.

 Butterflies took off, somersaulting in my stomach, sending my heat jack hammering against my chest. Oh god, it’s just as well he doesn’t do that often or at work for that matter, because I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else. Stepping to the side to let him in, I took a quick look up and down the street. Connie could sniff out a good looking man a mile away, and it would be so like her to turn up right this minute, and take centre stage. Not that I'm an ugly duckling. Not by a long shot, in fact, I have several admirers; it's just that I don't admire any of them.

“Come on, let’s set you up with a fix, looks like you need it,” I said, walking back to my own cup of sunshine.

“Thanks.”

Ethan Barbaros, my co worker and the most delectable thing on two legs, is sitting in my kitchen drinking coffee. Wow, it really is my birthday. After ignoring me for months, he is now in my house, at my table and drinking from my cups.

“So are you going to tell me why you are here Ethan?” could I have said that without breathlessly saying his name? He had to have heard the desire in my voice, I may as well have stripped naked and invited him into my bed.

“What’s this?” he asked, pushing the journal in my direction, neatly side stepping my question.

“Nothing, just a birthday present from my friend,” I said closing it. I wasn't sure how much he had read but he was an FBI agent and generally we miss nothing.

“Doesn’t look like nothing. Can I see it?”

“No. And you still haven’t answered my question Ethan. Why are you here?”

“I was in the area,” He shrugged, but the casualness didn’t reflect in his eyes. He was up to something or hiding something. Either of those would have had my hackles up on a good day and this was starting to look anything but good. First I get that damn journal now Ethan is sitting at my table. Coincidences like this just don't happen or is it just that Connie’s journal has managed to freak me out?

I stared at him. Not sure what to do or what to say, but one thing was clear; he was not just passing by. Don't trust anyone! But this was Ethan, not just anyone. He wouldn’t hurt me, of that I am sure. At least I think I am. Let’s see, what do I know about him? Apart from his looks and the havoc he reeks within my body. Well.... He turned up six months ago, right after I did that thing. He doesn’t talk to anyone, least of all me and he has eyes that can hold me captive. Aside for that, I know absolutely nothing about him. Jesus Jose, Connie has you seeing bad guys where there are none. This is just Ethan. Ethan, babe magnet, arrogant, crack shot, deadly and the best man to guard your back. He is not some fantasy creature with wings, even if he is ethereally gorgeous. But better to be safe than sorry right?

“I'm really sorry Ethan but I am expecting someone.”

“Oh, sure,” his body language shifted, making him seem tense and ready to strike. This was not looking good. Innocent until proven guilty I thought, but was his shift proof of guilt or something else?

“Look Ethan. I don't mean to be rude but seriously, if you’re not going to tell me why you’ve just popped in to see me, then...” I gestured to the door.

“There is a reason Josephine,” his eyes seemed to be studying me, at least I thought that what they were doing but his glasses where still firmly in place. As if he heard my thoughts he took them off. Yes, he was definitely studying me. “But you’re not ready to hear it yet.” He said after apparently coming to some conclusion about me.

Well didn’t that just colour me purple. Not only had he breathed my full name but the way he said it, it felt like he was stroking me. His words caressed my skin and teased a path to my core. Wet heat pooled between my thighs. If he wasn't sitting across from me, holding his cup with both hands, hands clearly visible. I would have sworn that he had slipped on hand under the table and was stroking me.

“Josephine, you look a little flushed, anything I can do to help you?” His words fluttered out from between his kissable lips as if he knew exactly what he was doing. His knowing smile and stormy eyes confirming it. As if he had directed his words to my sweet spot, they didn’t stop to caress my skin but instead went straight to the wet heat pooling and stirred that desire to near fever pitch. My head fell back, the muscles in my neck unable to hold its weight as they trembled. My thighs parted, the feeling of being licked and tasted, the soft touch turning into eager demanding ones. My breathing increased, skin flushed and slick, my whole body was riding this wave, the unsatisfied dream from earlier aiding to its treacherous behaviour. Blood pumped through my veins setting light to anything it touched until finally a scream ripped its way through every muscle from my core until filling the air. And the whole time I could feel his eyes on me.

“I should go,” His words cut through my delirium, bringing me back to earth with a thud. Cleansing all trace of that mind blowing orgasm and clearing the fog from my brain. What had I just done? Mortification overwhelmed me and although I couldn’t see my face, I knew it was scarlet.

“I will see you again soon...” He paused but I was sure he hadn’t finished saying something, he looked me over as he stood up and smiled, and it was wicked. “Josephine,” This time I knew he’d done it one purpose, as his words rested gently over my lips in a sweet caress. But how? I didn’t get the chance to ask him. I’d only taken my eyes off him for a second and when I looked back up he was gone, I didn’t even hear the door open or close.

Had I just imagined this whole thing? Was I still sleeping? That would account for bizarreness of this day. Pinching my arm confirmed I was very much awake but it had little effect on my mental state. I was losing my mind, I had to be. Either that or... No! She couldn’t be right. Connie was on drugs again, that's all and I need more sleep. I must have dozed off drinking my coffee and dreamed this all up.

But the empty cup sitting across from me didn’t give me the option of denying he had been here. Damn!