In the Fury of the Storm...

Special thanks to my Editor, CallieJane8 for helping me on this one

Carrie sat there in silence and read the words on her computer screen. "If there is another hurricane, I don't want you to be scared. If you don't want to be alone, I hope you know that you can always stay with me. Signed, Rob". The message was dated months ago. It had been a quiet hurricane season, at least for them in this part of Florida. Last year was so bad, Carrie wanted to run away and never come back to where she could be affected by another hurricane. And that's when she had her husband. But he was gone now. They were still friends, but the love was gone.

"Hurricane Wanda is coming closer to Florida. It should make land fall by Monday afternoon. Expect it to hit Central Florida by morning on Tuesday," the local newscaster read off the TelePrompTer.

It sent shivers down Carrie's spine. She reread the email again, not sure why she saved it all this time. It made her smile that her friend cared that much about her. She looked out the window. It was a blue clear day, but Carrie knew better. Florida weather was always tricky, and then complicated more by an impending hurricane. She wasn't sure she could make it through the hurricane by herself. But she thought about it. And the more she thought about it, the more she didn't want to be alone. She picked up the phone and dialed the phone.

"Can I speak to Rob?" she said after someone picked up the phone on the other line.

"This is him. Hi, Carrie," he replied. Carrie felt something get caught in her throat.

"Hey. I don't know how to say this. So I'm just going to come out with it. I was going through my list of saved emails and I came across one you sent me a few months ago. ) I don't know if you were serious when you told me I could stay with you if there was another hurricane...," she started to say. She could feel the sweat on her brow as she talked.

"Of course I was serious. If you need a place to stay, you are always welcome here," he replied.

"Thank you so much. You're a good friend. I'm not sure though. I guess it all depends on the hurricane. I'm not saying I'll be over. I'm not saying I won't be, you know?" she replied.

"Of course. I just want you to know that offer still stands. I just don't want you to be scared."

"I'll be scared either way. But it's good to know that I have somewhere to go? You know?" she said as she sat at her kitchen table.

"Yeah, I know. So how have you been?" he replied.

Rob and Carrie talked over the phone for the next 20 minutes about mostly nothing. Every time he tried to turn the conversation to her, she dodged. Carrie wasn't much into talking about herself, especially now. She was afraid too many people would feel bad for her, being newly divorced. That was the last thing she wanted to feel. She knew Rob wasn't like that. It was more of a force of habit. As much as she denied it, she had all ready made up her mind. She knew she would wind up at Rob's for the hurricane. She didn't want to be alone. She knew that much. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid.

Days passed and all over the local news was stories about Hurricane Wanda heading right for them. Carrie couldn't sleep at night. She was scared. She didn't want to face another hurricane, especially now. It was the talk of work too. Everyone they worked with was getting ready for the storm. Carrie saw Rob in the break room.

"I just want to make sure that you are completely serious about this." she asked him.

"Of course I am serious. Why do you think I wouldn't be serious?" he replied.

"I just don't want to show up at your door and look like an ass, that's all," Carrie said with a smile. She knew in her heart that he was serious. She just wanted to hear him say it one more time before she told him the truth.

"I would never do that to you. I thought you knew me better then that."

"I do, of course I do. You are right. I am sorry, Rob," she felt embarrassed now. She turned away, afraid to look at him.

"There is nothing to sorry about. Does this mean that you will be coming?" he asked as he walked in front of her, almost forcing her to look at him.

"I just don't want to be an inconvenience for you, that's all." She forced herself to smile at him.

"You would never be an inconvenience to me. Especially since I was the one who brought this up to you. So explain to me, how you would then be an inconvenience to me? Huh?" he smiled at her. She laughed.

"I guess you have a point there". She shrugged. "So, should I bring anything?

"Does that mean that you are coming?" he smiled at her.

"I can't say for sure. I guess it all depends on how close the hurricane is going to hit, you know?"

"I understand. And no, don't worry about bringing anything. I think we'll be all right".

"Thanks, Rob," she said. She leaned over and hugged him. She left the room before he could respond.

Rob went home that night and logged onto his computer, hoping that Carrie would be online. Much to his despair, he didn't see her that night. He opened an email that she had sent him a while ago. Carrie had written a poem that she wanted Rob to read. It was called "Temptation". He smiled as he read it for the third time that night. He couldn't be sure it was about him. There had always been a little sexual tension between the two of them. And Carrie was no suddenly single. She had never said when she had written the poem. Rob had never really noticed her until after her divorce.

She wasn't the tall leggy blonde that seems to get most people's attention. She was short with long black hair and a cute face. Rob chalked it up to the stigma of being a married woman. He never really noticed married women because they were off the market, thus being attracted to them was pointless. It would always end in heartbreak. But now she was single. And he couldn't help but notice her now. She wasn't the usual beauty. She wasn't dropped dead gorgeous. But instead, she was adorably cute. Carrie definitely had a girl next door look to her.

For the rest of the night, Rob waited for Carrie to come online. But she never came on. He had a drink before he went to bed. As he tossed and turned, he remembered another conversation they had online. It was all about trying to control your dreams. He always joked that he was trying to control his dreams so he would dream about someone. He never said who. She would always laugh and encourage him and say "good luck tonight". She had to know he was referring to him, she just had to know. Those dreams never came though.

Rob finally fell asleep late that night. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He knew that if she came over for the hurricane, nothing sexual would happen. He doubted that she even thought of him in that way.

He woke up the next day at 6:45 A.M., the usual time for him. Slowly he got out of bed. His feet dragged as he opened his door and walked into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror, kind of disgusted what he saw. His hair was messed up. He had just one day's growth on his face, his job not allowing him to grow facial hair. He stripped his clothes off and turned on the water for the shower. He stepped in, not completely awake yet. Stepping under the water, he began to slowly wake from his slumber. The warm water cascaded over his body. Finally he was awake and ready to go to work. Quickly he turned off the water and stepped off, grabbing the nearest towel and drying himself off. He combed his hair and walked out of the bathroom,

Twenty minutes later he was on his way to work. It would be a long hour before he arrived there, and in that time he had plenty of time to think. He looked around, seeing all the houses that were being boarded up in preparation for the storm. His apartment had none of that. He wasn't afraid though. The day before he had stocked up on everything he would need, water, batteries and food that needed little to prepare. He felt pretty safe in his apartment. The threat of a hurricane didn't bother him. Rob listened to the news cast. The weather forecast wasn't good. Hurricane Wanda was still heading in his direction, and she would be here tomorrow afternoon.

It was a pretty non-chalant day at work. A lot of hustle and bustle, people making plans for tomorrow. Rob heard a few co-workers talking about a hurricane party. They invited him, but he said he just wanted to be home in case anything should happen. Carrie called into work, possibly preparing for the storm in the forecast.

As he was preparing to leave work that night, his managers called a late night meeting to discuss tomorrow.

"In the event that the hurricane does make its way to us tomorrow morning as it looks like it will, obviously there will be no work. You all know the number by now to call. We will keep updating the hotline, just in case. Have a good night everyone," his manager said as everyone started filing out of the room.

Rob rushed home to see if there was a message from Carrie. Unfortunately, there wasn't. He checked online but again, no sign of her. Rob checked the news one more time before bed. It looked pretty inevitable. Hurricane Wanda was coming for a visit. He checked around his apartment to make sure that he had everything he would need in the morning in case of a power outage. Satisfied that he had everything he could need, Rob checked his alarm clock one last time and turned off the lights and went to bed.

Rob woke up to the sound of whirling winds outside his window. He stumbled out of bed and went to the window. It was rainy and windy. He walked out of his room and opened the balcony door. He took a step outside to feel the wind on his face. Quickly stepping back inside, Rob picked up the telephone and dialed a number. The phone rang three times before a recording picked up.

"Due to Hurricane Wanda, we will be closed today. Please check back later in the day and tomorrow for future updates for the rest of the week. If you have any questions, please stay on the line and an operator will pick up". Rob hung up the phone. He tossed his cell phone down on the couch and picked up the television. The map showed the hurricane heading strong in their direction.

Rob turned off the television and climbed back into bed with the sounds of the rain as background as he dozed off to sleep again. He slept for a few hours but was woken up by the winds picking up outside. Rob rose from his bed and peeked out the window. He glanced at the clock on the table near his bed.

"Well the storm is right on time," he thought to himself. He turned on the television again and watched the weather. The rain and winds were heavier then they were this morning.

Rob was about to go down the hall when he heard a faint knock on his front door. He ignored it at first, figuring it was just the wind outside against the door but it happened again. He moved quickly to the door and peeked in the peep hole. Quickly, he swung the door open.

"Hey. I didn't think I was going to hear from you today," Rob said as Carrie entered the room. She was soaked from her head to her feet. She stomped on the door mat in an attempt to dry her feet.

"I wasn't on planning on coming. I am sorry if you weren't expecting me. I will just go then," Carrie said as she turned towards the door.

"Don't be stupid, Carrie. You are more then welcome to stay here. I can't believe you drove all the way out here in the storm," Rob said as he put his hand against the back of the door, preventing her from opening it.

"Honestly? I was sitting out in the parking lot for an hour. I don't want to be an inconvenience." Carrie turned away as she admitted it. "But the wind was too much. I thought the car was going to be flipped over".

"You could never be an inconvenience to me, Carrie. But now you are safe. I won't let anything happen to you," Rob said with a smile. "Do you want a change of clothes? You are soaked," he said.

"Thanks. That would be great," Carrie turned back to him and smiled.

"Would a T-shirt and jeans work for you? It's all I have?"

"Right now? A penguin suit and a hat would be better then these drenched clothes," Carrie laughed.

"I will see what I can do. I have a Pittsburgh Penguin jersey, that's the closest I can offer you to a penguin suit," Rob smiled back.

"Very funny," Carrie grinned.

Rob disappeared down the hallway. Carrie walked around the couch and opened the blinds on the patio door outside. She watched as the storm hurled tree branches and debris outside. She didn't see Rob come back in the room with clothes in his hands. He stood there, silently for a moment just watching her. A loud crack of thunder broke the silence as a bolt of lightning filled the sky. Carrie jumped. She pressed her hand on the window as she stared outside. Her body started trembling as the storm raged on outside.

Rob dragged his feet as he moved towards her, making sure she knew he was in the room. He tossed the clothes on the couch. Rob didn't say a word as he embraced Carrie from behind. She smiled as she felt the warmth of his body make contact with hers. Another crack of thunder made her jump. Rob's hands extended around her waist. He interlocked his fingers around her stomach.

Carrie exhaled. She felt relaxed for the first time as she watched the storm outside. Her hand moved from the glass on the window to his fingers. She could feel his warm breath on her skin. She rolled her neck to the left, exposing more of her neck. Rob nuzzled his chin against her skin.

Carrie turned slightly in his arms. She laid her head against his shoulders. Rob stroked her hair and her back. A loud of crack of thunder rattled the apartment, but she didn't move this time. She felt safe.

Carrie gently pressed her lips to his neck. She could feel him pressing against her. She pulled away just enough that her face was buried against his skin. They looked at each other in silence as the storm raged outside. Rob moved his hands up and down her back again. It sent shivers down her spine.

She leaned in again, this time while standing on her toes. She kissed him softly on the lips. Rob returned the soft, gentle kiss. Carrie leaned her body against his. Her hands moved to his chest.

"Hold me," she whispered. Rob leaned forward as well, the bodies enveloped in a warm embrace. His hands went through her hair. She kissed him again. Her lips made contact with his and slightly parted. The kiss turned more passionate as Rob slipped his tongue towards her open mouth. Carrie grasped his chest muscles more as the kiss grew deeper. Their mouths moved from side to side as they got lost in each others arms.

Rob led her slowly to the couch. She fell backwards towards the cushion, pulling Rob down on top of her. Rob's hands fell to her hips as their lips and tongues continued to dance across each other. His hips moved instinctively on top of hers. A moan escaped from Carrie's lips as she felt him hard and rubbing against her. Carrie's hands raked against his back.

She pulled his shirt out of his jeans and he lifted it slowly. Rob raised his arms to help her remove his shirt. It fell carelessly to the floor below them. Rob's hands fell to her hips as he began to kiss her neck slowly with his lips and tongue. Carrie's petite body squirmed under his. She could hear the storm outside the apartment intensify. But all she cared about was the storm between them building.

Rob looked up at her pretty face. She smiled back at him and her head nodded yes. He placed his hands on top of her breasts over her shirt and squeezed. It sent electricity through her body. She pulled him back to her lips for a deep and passionate kiss as his hands continued to massage and squeeze her breasts through her clothing. His hands started squeezing harder.

"Take it off," Carrie whispered. She raised her arms up above her head as Rob reached for the bottom of her shirt. He moved off her so he could pull the shirt up. It flew off her stomach, off her breasts and over her head. Carrie sat up and unsnapped her bra, letting it slip off her shoulders and down to the floor. Carrie pushed Rob's willing mouth to her exposed breasts. He took her breast in into his mouth, licking slowly. Her fingers caressed the back of his head as he slowly licked her nipple and breasts. A moan escaped her lips.

The wind pushed hard against the walls and windows outside. Rob's lips returned to hers. Carrie's hands moved up and down his naked back and across his ass. The power flickered in the apartment, but neither of them seemed to notice. They were too wrapped in each other to care. Carrie began to move her hips, mirroring his actions. She reached between their bodies and felt for his belt buckle, slowly pulling it out from his jeans.

Rob began to kiss her neck and ears as she reached for his crotch. She moaned as she felt the size. Rob shivered at her touch. She stroked him gently, feeling him harden through his jeans at her soft touch.

Carrie's neck rolled back, exposing more skin for Rob. He knew what she wanted. He began to kiss her neck more, dragging his tongue and lips across her skin as she continued to massage between his legs. Carefully she reached for his zipper. Rob grinned as she did. He rose to his feet to help accommodate her. He stood in front of her and guided her hand back to the zipper. Carrie slowly unbuckled his belt. Her hands shook in nervousness as she undid the button on the jeans. She parted the top of the jeans and pushed them down, revealing blue boxers under.

Rob stepped out of his jeans and kicked them off totally. Carrie's eyes were fixated on him. She reached for his boxers and tugged them down slowly, making a show out of it. Finally he was naked in front of her. She reached out to touch him.

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply as she rubbed his shaft up and down. Carrie scooted forward on the couch. She couldn't resist anymore. She closed her eyes and took him in her open mouth. Rob's hands moved to the back of her head as she moved her lips slowly, tasting him.

Carrie moved her mouth slowly, savoring the taste. "I can't believe this is happening," Rob whispered in between soft gentle moans.

She looked so beautiful, so innocent as she teased him with her mouth. Rob caressed the back of her head with his finger tips. It sent shivers down both their spines. Rob pulled her up, almost forcefully to his lips and kissed her deeply. His hands reached quickly for her pants, wanting to satisfy her as she had just done to him. They kissed passionately as her pants fell quickly to the ground. Carrie was only to willing to shed her clothes. She pushed her panties to the ground as she stepped out of her jeans.

Rob slipped a finger down her belly and between her legs. He kissed her passionately as his finger dipped inside her. Carrie playfully bit his lower lip as she felt him rubbing inside her. He could feel her hard nipples rubbing against his chest. She began to stroke him again, copying the same pace that he was doing to her. They stared into each other's eyes as they played with each other.

Carrie sighed in deep relief as she felt him holding her body close to his. She closed her eyes partially and just relaxed and let the feeling take over her body. Her eyes swung open as she removed her hand from him. She placed her hand on his chest and playfully pushed him back to the couch.

"Make love to me, Rob," she whispered. She took a step forward towards him. He was sitting on the couch now so she straddled him as he placed his hands on her hips and helped guide her down to him. They stared into each other's eyes again as she sat down on his lap. She reached for him and guided him slowly inside her.

His hands moved across her back, pulling her forward so they were as close as possible. Her breasts rubbed slowly against his hairy chest as she rose and fell on him. They kissed passionately. Carrie's body continued to move up and down on Rob's. He stroked her back and hair gently as they moaned together.