As Leena came out of her office, she looked up to find Owen leaning against a wall a few feet away.
At her startled look, he grinned. “I’ve got connections in the administration here. They said I could tag along on the last tour today.”
Leena looked down the hall to see Cora looking around the corner and grinning at her. “I see.” Then she smiled and handed him her safety glasses. “You’ll need these, Mr. Grey, if you’re coming out on the floor.” He walked beside her down the narrow hallway. “Are you here checking up on me then?”
Owen shrugged, putting on the glasses. “I thought you ladies might feel more comfortable if I hung around until the end of the day.”
Stopping, she squeezed his arm. “You’re very sweet, Owen.”
He grimaced, “I don’t want to be sweet, Leena.,” he puffed out his chest, “I want you to see me as tough and manly.”
She laughed. “A very sweet and tough he-man?”
“If that’s what you need.”
Owen stood at the back of the group as Leena went over some basic rules for the children. He glanced around at the frazzled-looking parents and teachers. If the expressions were any indication, the bus ride had been very loud and trying.
“We’ll start the tour in the shipping department so you can see how that works.” Leena began leading the group out toward the loading docks. As they went around the corner of the warehouse, Rachel pulled up on her forklift.
“If you have any troublemakers, Ms. Duncan, I can put them up top out of the way.” Rachel motioned to the top of the huge metal shelves.
“Thank you, Miss Winters, I’ll keep that in mind.” She glanced at the group of children to see if Rachel’s threat had worked. “Would you be able to show everyone how we receive the paper we recycle, Miss Winters?”
Owen couldn’t help thinking how well she controlled the children. Not that he had a lot of experience, but this many and she still held their complete attention.
Rachel shut off the tow motor and leaned over the side of it. “Absolutely. I’m going to need two helpers first.” She grinned as every male child in the group raised their hand. Looking around for a moment, she pointed to the smallest boy and a mousy little girl who also raised her hand. They walked quickly over to her. “Climb up here and take a seat.” She glanced back and spotted Owen at the back of the group and winked at him. “There’s not enough room on here for you, Mr. Grey, but maybe next time.” She seated the kids in front of her on the seat and started the tow motor again.
As Rachel disappeared around a corner, Leena turned back to the group. “As most of you know, the paper we recycle is the paper you put out for collection each week.” She paused to be sure she had their attention. A few boys were still looking around at the top shelf Rachel had pointed to. “Before it reaches our plant, it goes to a sorting plant where they sort the metal and plastic from the paper. They separate it and then send it to the right place for processing.” She smiled at them and paused. “Does anyone know the amount of paper products one family goes through in a year?” No hands were raised. “Each family here uses six to eight trees worth of paper in a year’s time. Paper is one third of your household waste.” She glanced at Owen. “Of course, some of us use more than others.”
He smirked, knowing she was referring to his books being published. It pleased him that she kept looking at him even though she was running the show for the kids.
When Rachel came back around the opposite corner, she had a huge bale of paper on the forks. The two kids were grinning with excitement. Well, at least they’d never forget their tour with the crazy lady driver. Stopping in front of the group, Rachel placed a hand over the little girl’s as she let her think she was lowering the lift.
Leena motioned to the huge cube of paper. “This is the baled paper the sorting plants send to us. We have to sort it again before we can begin processing it into useable paper again.” She grinned as Rachel helped the two children down. “Thank you, Miss Winters.”
Rachel winked at the little girl. “Sarah has a future in shipping and receiving. You might want to get her information, Ms. Duncan.”
Leena laughed. “We’ll contact her as soon as she graduates.” She turned and led them toward the factory floor. “We take the bales and put them through this next machine you’re going to see.” She paused and turned. “Does everyone have their safety glasses on?” She always had to curb her laughter when she looked at the little eyes behind the too-big glasses.
Nodding, Leena opened the door and led the way in. “This machine we’re about to see is called an air knife.” She motioned to the tall cylinder in front of them. “It uses a steady stream of air to send the pieces of paper whirling around. Then big fans blow the lighter sheets to the top, and the heavier ones drop to the bottom. When they come out the other side, it’s been sorted for us into three groups.
Anyone want to take a guess at those groups?” She pointed to a small blonde girl.
“Cardboard, newspaper, and...” She looked puzzled.
“And mixed papers,” Kasey piped up as she walked up beside the group. She stepped up to the bottom step of the air knife’s platform and smiled. “I’m Miss Wright. It’s my job to make sure this,” she motioned to the machine, “does its job without any problems.” She started up the steps and motioned to a larger boy standing closest. “Could you give me a hand for a minute?” He nodded and followed her up the platform.
“This panel here slides open so I can see in, if there are any problems with the sorting. Sometimes the sorting plant doesn’t catch everything and a bottle or two might get missed.” She grimaced. “It usually gets stuck inside here and causes all sorts of problems.”
Kasey motioned to the boy to help her pull the panel open then grinned at the gasps and sounds of awe as the class was able to see the paper being whirled up through the air streams. Kasey grinned at the children. “It seems to be working fine right now.” She closed the panel and led him back down the platform.
“Thank you, Miss Wright.” Leena motioned to the class to go over to where the groups of workers were checking the paper that came out on the conveyor. “Over there, you can give Miss Wright’s team a hand in checking to make sure all the contaminants have been removed.”
Leena stopped and let them pass her, waiting until Owen was beside her. “Learning anything new, Mr. Grey?”
Owen grinned down at her. “Yeah, you ladies get to play with all sorts of big toys at work.”
Leena laughed and motioned him over to the other end of the conveyor, where Kasey was showing the kids what happened when the paper went through the shredder.
“Cool,” he whispered, much like one of the young boys in the group. He followed them through the pulping demonstration and screening.
By the time they got to the end where the dried rolls of newly recycled paper were, he was very impressed with what the four women did on a daily basis and had already decided to find out how much recycled paper his publishers did use.
Sitting in the lunch area with the students, Owen munched on one of the cookies handed out as a small bonus to the tour group.
“I hope all of you enjoyed what you learned today.” Leena motioned to where Cora stood. “Ms. Avery has packets for all of you to take home with more facts and information, and a sample of each type of recycled paper you saw made today.”
After she walked them all out to the exit, Leena returned to find Owen still eating cookies and reading through the information. “Learn lots?”
Owen grinned up at her. “I had no idea that recycling reduces energy consumption by forty percent and...” He glanced at the sheet and read from it, “reduces water use by sixty-four percent, air pollution by seventy-four percent...”
“I know all the facts, Owen. I wrote up those sheets.” She perched on the table beside him.
“Really?” He picked up her hand. “Beautiful, witty, creative, and intelligent. I am one lucky man.”
“Are you?”
“Oh, yes, I am. A lucky man to just know you.”
“Flattery like that might work better than you know.”
The door to the lunchroom opened. “All cleaned up and shut down, Lee.” Kasey leaned against the doorframe and smiled at Owen. “You today’s white knight?”
He nodded and stood up. “Yep, and it comes in handy to know the dangerous toys you ladies play with every day... good to know not to upset any one of you.”
Kasey chuckled. “You might want to share your newfound information with your chest-beating friends.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m beat and so ready to go home and wash the paper slop off.”
Leena nodded. “I’ll be ready to go in five.” She straightened up from the table and watched Kasey swing out the door. Owen reached out and took her hand again, stopping her from walking past him.
“I’d like to come home with you, Leena.” His voice was soft. “Just to spend some quiet time with you, without car chases and bickering witches and chest-beating men...” She smirked at that.
“I’ll make us dinner.” She put a hand against his chest to stop him from kissing her. “Just dinner, Owen. No promises.”
Nodding, he kissed her nose. “That works for me.”
Leena kept busy in the kitchen as he wandered around her house at her insistence. Could she do this? Her nerves were singing. It had taken changing into three outfits to decide what to wear when they got home. Finally, she’d given up and put on a long flowing skirt and simple top, so she’d at least feel comfortable. She shook her head and continued to cut up the ingredients for the salad. She loved being near him, had gotten comfortable. That, she mused, was something she never thought she could feel again, comfort in a man’s arms. Well, she mused, maybe comfortable wasn’t the right word, but she certainly didn’t feel any discomfort with the way she felt when he kissed her...
“Quite the eclectic home décor you have here.” She jumped when Owen spoke. “Whoa, sorry; thought you heard me come in.” She gave him a nervous smile. He put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her under his arm. “Tell me, how do you find your bed in among all those plants? It must feel like you’re in a jungle when you open your eyes in the morning.”
“I like plants, and my bedroom has the best light with all those windows.” She set the knife down on the counter and moved to finish what she’d been doing. “Do you have a problem with plants?”
Owen shook his head. “Nope, just don’t give me one to look after. I turn them to dust in no time at all.” He glanced at the counter. “Can I do something to help?”
She motioned toward the cupboards. “You could get the dishes down.”
Carrying the dishes to the sink, Owen turned and studied her. “You’re going to have a meltdown if you don’t relax, Leena.”
Leena looked up at him. “It shows, huh?”
Owen nodded and reached down to pull her to her feet. “I’m not expecting anything here, you know.” He moved her chin gently to look in her eyes. “I just want to be with you. Alone in some sort of peaceful setting for a while.” He kissed her gently. “I’ll leave as soon as you tell me to.”
Looking up at him for a moment, she let out a breath. “I’m being silly. Let’s go sit and relax.” She took his hand and pulled him into the living room.
Leena sat beside him and placed her legs comfortably across his lap. “Did you and Cora ever identify that stone from the vision?”
Owen nodded, slowly rubbing his hand up and down her leg. “After several e-mails of pictures from Kasey, it turns out we’ve both agreed on the blue topaz.” He grinned at her. “Who knew there was even such a thing?” He began to rub her feet gently. “Chris is running the pattern and information through a few of his contacts to see if it’s a special ring in any sort of way.” He shrugged. “Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky.” He thumbed the instep of her foot.
“I won’t comment on Cora e-mailing all day while at work.” She sighed. “Mmm, that feels absolutely heavenly. Owen, you have magical hands.” She smiled at her own pun.
Owen didn’t say anything instead, he just watched her face and continued to rub. When he’d done one foot, he started on the other. He turned and dropped down onto his knees on the floor in front of the couch and placed one of her legs on either side of him. “Let’s see if I’ve perfected my talent.” He ran his hands up her calves, over the light material of the skirt, and circled back down to her feet. “Just lean back and relax, pretty Aileena,” he whispered to her. His big hands ran up to her knees, and he circled them a moment before slowly sliding them up her thighs. As she leaned back and closed her eyes, he circled to the outer side of her hips and back down the side of her legs. He swallowed as he watched her tongue dart out and moisten her lower lip. Owen’s hands moved back down to her ankles, and under the hem of her skirt and slowly slide his palms back up against her skin.
She hissed out a breath when his hands glided slowly up the sensitive insides of her thighs and back out to rest by her hips. “It’s not fair.” She swallowed and opened her eyes to see his steel blue ones watching her. “That you can seduce with a few touches.”
His eyes were heavy. “Myself as well,” he whispered and rose up on his knees to lean toward her. “I need your lips.” He reached out and ran his tongue over her lips. When he heard her take a ragged breath, he began to kiss her softly. As lightly as he could manage, gently probing her mouth with his tongue. “Touch me, Aileena.” His voice was hoarse and shaking. He watched her gasp as his hands stroked down her thighs again. “You are so lovely, I’m afraid to touch you most of the time.”
He moved his mouth slowly down her throat as he whispered against her soft skin. When she tugged the waist of his shirt from his jeans and pulled it up to touch his skin, his breath left his body. Her warm hands moved over his chest. Pulling back, he tugged the shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. She leaned forward and touched her mouth against his chest, and a shudder raced through him. She ran her hands lightly up his chest and touched her tongue lightly against his shoulder. Owen tensed under her touch. He kept his hands just above her knees where her skirt was now bunched up.
Slowly she kissed her way up his neck making him moan deep from how good it felt to have her touch him.
She reached to pull his head down to hers. “Kiss me, Owen.”
He lost the control he’d held so long and crushed her mouth down on hers. Gripping her hips, he pulled her to the edge of the couch. When he pressed his body between her legs, she gasped into his mouth and held onto his head with both hands.
Owen pulled his mouth away and ran it roughly down her neck, trying to devour as much of her skin as he could find. Her head dropped back and gave him free access to the sensitive skin across the front of her throat. Groaning against her warm flesh, he pulled her shirt slowly up her body and felt her tremble when his lips brushed against her rib cage. When she leaned back slightly, he pulled the shirt over her head and watched her eyes for any sign of hesitating.
Moving his lips back to hers, he distracted her with a rough kiss as his hands moved down her arms to rest lightly against the lace material of her bra. Running his lips slowly down her neck, he felt her tremble as his tongue ran along the edge of the lace hiding her from him.
He nipped a taut nipple through the lace and felt himself harden when she threw her head back with a moan and clutched at the back of his head to hold him closer to her.
Pulling the clasp free, his legs began to shake at the sight of her breasts falling free into his hands. Pushing her back against the couch he ran his face between the soft orbs and felt a hitch in his own breathing as his large hands molded the soft skin. Taking one hard nipple in his mouth he sucked until he felt her squirm tighter against his own jean-covered body.
Leaning down, he assaulted the other nipple with his teeth, as he put his hand up under her skirt and ran it gently over the wet heat between her legs. She jerked when his knuckles brushed lightly against her.
“We can’t...” she gasped, “birth control...” She moaned deep in her throat as his knuckles brushed against sensitive flesh again. “Upstairs.” She managed to get out before she moaned again.
Owen moved his mouth up to her throat again crushing her hard nipples against his bare chest. “I can please you, baby.” He licked her ear. “Then we’ll move upstairs.” She was squirming against his hand and his jeans felt like they were going to burst if he didn’t get rid of them soon. “Let me.” He gasped against her mouth while his fingers brushed aside the wet lace between her legs.
Twice he ran his fingers over the slick moisture before pushing a finger inside her tight heat. He shuddered when the muscles clenched around his finger. “Baby, I have to taste you.” He moved down her body and pushed her skirt up with shaking hands. Pulling the lace aside he bent down not giving her time to change her mind. When his tongue stroked slowly over her sensitive slit Leena cried out and grabbed his hands holding her thighs open. Once, twice more he ran his tongue over her before thrusting it inside her making her squirm against him.
Reaching up he clamped her hips in a firm a grip and held her down on the edge of the couch. Sucking on her clit he breathed against her throbbing flesh. “Come for me baby, give yourself to me.” Then he plundered and sucked until it took all his strength to hold her down. When her thighs tightened and she groaned between her breathless panting, he felt himself jerk inside his jeans and he lapped harder against her until she cried out and shuddered against him.
Kissing his way up her thighs and rib cage he rested his face in her neck. “Bedroom, I can’t wait much longer, babe.” He pulled her tight to him and stood in one motion as she tightened her legs around him.
Still trying to breathe Leena attacked his neck as he walked unsteadily to the bedroom. With each step he took, she could feel the hardness of him press against her still sensitive flesh. “Bedside table...” She gasped against his mouth as his legs hit the edge of the bed and they fell onto it.
While he devoured her breasts, she squirmed closer to the edge and pulled the can and applicator from the drawer, dropping them beside her, she grabbed a condom. With unsteady hands she tried to do what the instructions had said to do, giving up when his mouth went down over her stomach she dropped her arms and moaned. “Can’t...”
Owen lifted his head and looked at her with clouded eyes.
“Have to do this.” She held up the can.
Moving off her he ripped the zipper of his jeans open and shrugged out of them as he watched her fill the applicator. Reaching down he pulled the skirt and lace down her body and off her legs, grasping himself tightly in his hand as he watched her insert the foam. Quickly taking the applicator from her and tossed it aside and picked up the condom beside her. With vibrating hands, he put in on quickly.
Kissing his way up her waist he nuzzled the underside of her breasts. “I’ll try to go slow baby.”
Leena grabbed his head and jerked him up her body until she could cradle his waist between her thighs. “No slow... Now.” She attacked his mouth with hers and reached down to grab his waist as he pushed inside her. They both moaned when he was deep inside her.
Unable to control himself, Owen began plunging into her fast and hard, reaching under her to better position her hips to accept him deeper inside her. She was so tight and hot he didn’t think he was going to last more than a minute. Her muscles began to clench around him, and she was gasping.
Grasping her knee, he pulled her leg up higher so he could slam into her. He felt his own muscles tighten as she cried out against his throat meeting his thrusts with as much force as he gave. Her nails dug into his sides as she convulsed around him and he felt himself explode with such force it actually paralyzed him.
With shaking arms, Owen held as much of his weight off her as he could. “I’ll try to dazzle you with endurance next time, baby.” He panted against her damp hair.
Wrapping her legs around him, she purred against his ear. “I don't need dazzling.” She ran her hand up and down his back. “Mmm. I’m buzzing from head to toe, Owen.” She licked the sweat on his neck. “I need a quick shower; care to join me?”
“I couldn’t carry you if I tried, though. Legs are rubber right now.” He kissed her lingeringly. “I haven’t felt this good in... well... ever, pretty Aileena.”
They lingered in the shower, touching soap-covered bodies and prolonging already long kisses. By the time they reached the bedroom again, both were short of breath and needing the closeness again. “Stay tonight,” Leena whispered against his neck when he lowered her to the mattress.
“Nothing could drag me away,” he gasped as her hand ran down over his stomach.