Page 39 of Plane Passion

She brushed her teeth and braided her hair as slowly as she could manage, dreading her return to the room and Ernie.

At last, she could delay no longer. Bracing herself, she stepped out of the bathroom and strode over to the bed, determined not to show weakness.

“Oh, my God, you’re in pajamas.” His newspaper came crashing down not-so-subtly hiding his crotch.

Her eyes went wide. “They’re perfectly modest,” she said, hurrying into bed and pulling the covers up to her chin.

“Of course,” he said, closing his eyes. “I just happen to…um…like women in pajamas.”

Now it was his turn to flee to the bathroom. Millie heaved a sigh of relief as the door closed behind him, and she heard running water. Grabbing her book, she turned to face the wall and snuggled down into the covers until only the top of her head was visible.

The wind howled outside, but the Brockerhoff was sealed tight. She was warm and cozy in her room. In their room. Good God, this was awkward.

Several minutes later, she heard Ernie return to his bed. “Shall we turn out the lights?”

“The sooner the better,” she answered without looking at him.

“Right.” He turned off the two lamps and then climbed in bed.

She lay in the dark, staring at the wall. Minutes ticked by, and sleep wouldn’t come. Her heart beat furiously. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. After a short while, her eyes popped open again. This was going to be a very long night. Her throat felt dry. Thirsty. She was very thirsty.

Swinging her legs out from under the blankets, she stood up to get a glass of water.

Bang! She crashed right into Ernie.

“Watch where you’re going,” she said at the same time he said “Sorry!”

She was pressed up against him. His arms were holding her steady. Her own arms, much to her mortification, were wrapped around him for balance.

And for some reason, neither of them stepped back.

“I was just going for a drink of water,” she said, still not moving.

“So was I.”

“You’re too close,” she murmured.

“Far too close.” His lips brushed her ear.

“Step back.”

“I can’t. You’re holding onto me.”

Oh. Yes, she was. And for some reason, she wasn’t stopping. She tilted her head back, straining to see his face in the darkness. “Ernie?”

“Yes?”

He was so close, so very close.

She touched her lips to his, unable to stop herself. His response was immediate and fervent. He traced her lips with his tongue and sucked her lower lip between his, leaving her knees weak and her heart fluttering. Oh, no. She could not kiss Ernie. It was a terrible mistake that she couldn’t seem to stop making.

His tongue found her own, and she opened to him.

Let the snow fall outside. In here, she was on fire, consumed by sensation as heat pulsed through her. Where his fingers touched her back, she felt licks of flame. It was too much, and she wasn’t supposed to be doing this at all. How could something so wrong feel so exactly right?

Her traitorous body pressed against him, reveling in the delicious feel of his chest against her own, her hips moving against his. The hard evidence of his desire grew between them, and she leaned into it, wanting to feel his heat in her most intimate places. And that was when she realized she was in far more trouble than she initially thought.

Millie was no innocent and knew how much pleasure there was to be had from the joining of two bodies. Barney had been an enthusiastic lover, insatiable really. He was always backing her into dark corners and running his hand up her skirt. It was a miracle they’d never been caught.