From the second-story window of my home office, I stare down at the driveway and watch the hot brunette climb out of her pink Jeep.I've never seen anyone more beautiful in my thirty-two years.Beautiful and young. Carefree. Bubbly. Social.In other words, my opposite.Harriet.She's in icepick heels and a skirt that barely covers her incredible ass. She's smiling. I recall that smile almost as much as the wicked hard-on she gave me yesterday at work. At work. I couldn't stand up for three hours after she left, my dick was so stiff. My heart seemed determined to beat out of control long after she'd sashayed through the aisle of ogling coders and out the exit. It's all starting again and she's not even in the door.Now, she leans across the driver's seat to retrieve a folder from the passenger side, causing her skirt to travel upward and reveal hints of two supple buns. A nude-colored thong. And those thighs. They're so long and tan—and shiny. How the hell does she get them like that?
I clear my throat hard. "Would you like something to drink, Harriet?""Yes, please," she answers with one of those bright smiles. "Anything is fine. Seltzer, soda, water...""Lemon lime seltzer?""Perfect."I take the can from my fridge and pour it into a glass, sliding it across the island in her direction, rather than get too close. But when I do that, when I avoid going near her, I watch her smile dim and sadness dance through her brown eyes. Painful, burdensome sadness that doesn't belong anywhere in the vicinity of this bubbly girl.My heart jolts up into my mouth at the sight of it.What was that?Did I cause it?"W-well..." she begins unevenly. "Have you given any more thought to what you would like to see at the Halloween party?"I want to address the sadness, the desolation I glimpsed in her, but it's gone now. Did I imagine it? "Uh...no. Not really. I'm sorry.""That's okay," she says, straightening her shoulders. "I have lots of ideas. Why don't I rattle them off and you ca
The teeth of my zipper bite into my bulging erection, making my laugh sound more like a groan. "I've never danced in my life, Harriet. I have no idea how.""If you ask me nicely, I'll teach you."And then she's coming closer. Walking her fingers along the surface of the island, slowly cutting a path in my direction. "What...right now?"She shrugs a delicate shoulder. "Now is as good a time as any."That's what she thinks.My dick is currently harder than steel. There will be no hiding it."I-I don't think that's necessary, Harriet, but thank you." I start to back away, but then she's in front of me—and I can't move. I can't function, because she's so fucking beautiful up close that my windpipe closes. Oh my God. Does she even have pores? Why isn't she acting in movies? More than her looks, however, there is this sweet vulnerability to her that is making me want to kneel at her feet. How can she be trembling when she's a million miles out of my league? "Harriet...I can't."She slides a
I press my face to the smooth bamboo of the cabana wall, staring through the gap toward the Olympic-sized swimming pool in Locke's backyard.Why isn't he swimming?He always swims on weekday mornings. It's his ritual.Wake up. Down a cup of black coffee.Drop his sleep boxers and tug a Speedo up those enormously thick thighs. Watching him through the windows of his house as he treks to the pool, still half sleepy, is usually the best part of my day. But he's not here. He's not even home. Did he go somewhere last night?Is he with a woman?"No," I whisper. My legs give out at that possibility and I sink down to the floor of the cabana, hugging my knees to my chest and rocking. I'm an idiot. I'm such an idiot. Why did I come on so strong yesterday? Of course he thinks I'm a gold digger. Of course he suspects there is something wrong with me—because there is. I need help. I'm not only infatuated with Locke Atwood to the point that I stalk him like it's my job. I'm also keeping a terrible
I take my usual route to work, stopping at my usual bakery for coffee. But it's not a typical morning because I didn't see him. I'm restless and everything is moving in a sluggish motion, voices and car engines ringing in my ears, like I'm trapped in a fun house. I'm going through Locke withdrawals, aren't I? Yes, that's what this is. And it's twice as intense because I've touched him now. Spent time with him. I didn't get my daily dose.Didn't—I stop short when I walk into my office.Locke is...here? Or more likely, my mind is playing tricks on me.He can't really be sitting in our client reception area, holding a bouquet of flowers, his mouth moving, as if he's silently rehearing a speech. What is happening?I try to fill my lungs with oxygen, but I can only manage a gasping half-breath. "Locke?"He looks up at me abruptly, dropping the bouquet. And when he bends down to retrieve it, muttering under his breath, his knee bashes into the coffee table.His wince of discomfort causes d
God, this is like a dream.My skin is fevered, sensitive, my core clenching painfully. Needy. I lean up and press our lips together, licking the seam of his mouth lightly. "Do you want to give me an orgasm, Locke?""Yes," he chokes out. "Please."How is this real? This big, gorgeous genius is all but shaking with the need to please me, his erection like a torpedo in his pants. He has no idea how easy this is going to be. Getting me off. I'm already poised right on the edge just having his undivided attention.I slip off the desk and slowly, slowly tug my skirt up to my waist.Swaying my hips side to side, I peel down my panties, all the way to the floor. Then I straighten. I lean back against the desk and let him look at my bare sex. I'm dripping wet. Waxed. All for him. And he makes a hoarse noise, nostrils flaring, yanking hard on his collar."Do you know where to touch me?" I question quietly, taking hold of his tie and pulling, bringing his body closer. "Or do you want me to show
It's raining. The sky is an eerie shade of gray, the air rife with electricity.The hair on my arm stands on end. A sick feeling weighs down my stomach.I haven't been able to think straight since walking out of Harriet's office yesterday morning. I alternate between feeling like a stranger in my own skin...and feeling at home there. The name I called her is unconscionable. I've never said those words out loud in my entire life, never even thought them about someone. And yet, when her perfect mouth was panting against mine, my thumb stroking the slick flesh of her pussy, those words felt like the most natural thing in the world. When she said, "Tell me what I am," it was as though someone whispered the answer in my ear, telling me what she would like, what would finish her.That whisper was right.As soon as I called her a little slut, she started shaking, moisture rushing around the spot where I touched her. During those moments where she panted through her orgasm, it was very diffic
A destructive urge to kick over a table catches me off-guard. The only thing that stops me from doing it is Harriet's reaction to the man. Immediately, she steps back from him, shaking her head. There is no flirtatious smile, no sparkle in her eyes. Not like she gives me. Is it only for me? Please. Please let it only be for me. I'm not sure what I'll do if it isn't. One thing is for certain, though. She's not interested in the tech bro. She almost seems hostile toward him, a flash of something wild dancing across her face. Dangerous.I don't have time to explore that expression or if it's a window into the soul of Harriet, the real Harriet, because I reach the pair and step between them.My hands move on their own, landing on his chest and shoving him back several feet. "It's not happening, asshole," I growl through my teeth. "Don't ever talk to her again."Oh Christ, it feels painfully good.Claiming Harriet.Taking ownership.It's a shameful thing to enjoy. Women are independent bei
Two years later…“Which pajamas do you want?” I hold up the polka dots and the Star Wars and my daughter Violet giggles as she grabs for Darth Vader. “That’s my girl.” I smile as I brush through her wet curls and get her ready for bed.“Sam wasn’t coming out until he was a whole prune,” our nanny Theresa jokes, and Sam giggles in her arms.When Eris and I had the twins, we were more than overwhelmed. And while the family was always here to help at a moment's notice, we’ve all got little ones at the same time so it’s not exactly easy for any of us. Living together in our own little compound has been a blessing, but having Theresa live with us has made all the difference.Eris and I don’t have parents or grandparents to show us what to do or to step in, so after we brought the twins home from the hospital we were lost. One day we were in the grocery store together staring at the formula while the twins were screaming, and Theresa walked by. She didn’t say anything to us, but as soon as
“You look so beautiful!” Rosy squeals.She’s had the time of her life planning this wedding. It’s not a big wedding, but that didn't stop her from managing everything down to the smallest detail. I actually had fun doing it with her, which was more than I expected. I guess being in love has changed my perspective.“The dress is beautiful.”“It is, but you’re the one making it breathtaking. Where did you get your ass?” she gushes as I look over my shoulder.“One of the good things my birth parents gave me, I guess.” I shrug.“And your hips! You really fill out that dress, and Justin is going to be all over you.”I let out a laugh. “He’s always all over me.”“True.”She’s right though. I do look damn good in this dress, and I have no doubt Justin is going to end up ripping it off of me. My soon-to-be husband is more than a little possessive, yet somehow he manages to keep it under control at work. It’s one of the many things I love about him because he has no problem with me technically
I take her off my lap and place her on the bed beside me as I stand up. We’re both still completely naked, and although I came, I’m still just as hard as when I first walked in here.“Justin?” Her voice is soft as I walk to the bedroom door, determination straightening my back.“Stay,” I say to her over my shoulder as I go into the living room and get what I need. When I come back, she’s still sitting in the same spot, but she’s worrying her bottom lip, and she looks like she’s on the verge of tears.“I know this is shocking, but it’s not like we planned it,” she says, her voice close to breaking.I walk over to the side of the bed and kneel down next to it as I place the small velvet box between us. “I know that you may not be ready for this, but I came here today to put this on your finger.”“Oh my god,” she whispers as she brings her hands up to her mouth.“You’re going to marry me, Eris.” Her eyes sharpen, and she doesn’t like me ordering her, but I don’t care. “You are mine.” I p
My mind is trying to play catch up with everything he said. I don’t know if I want to throw myself at him or tell him I need time to digest this. I am still reeling with the fact that I’m pregnant, but at least I know he’s not here because of that. He really does want me, and if anyone can understand making sacrifices and tough choices for the people they love, it’s me. But words of love haven’t come out of his mouth even though his actions show it. Right now I need him, and I can’t deny that there’s more still between us.“Hard.” The one word slips past my lips, and that’s all it takes before Justin is on me.He lifts me off my feet, and his mouth crashes down on mine. I close my eyes and soak up the feeling of him pressed against me. It’s been too long, and all my emotions come crashing down at once. My heart pounds as we cling to each other, and I think maybe part of me thought I’d never kiss him again.“Kiss me back, princess.”I dig my fingers into his shoulders and open my mouth
Over the past couple of years, my business has taken me all over the globe and away from some of my favorite parts about my work. Being in the lab and working with my hands to figure out problems, streamline production, and see the success being built in front of me gives me an internal reward that being in a boardroom never did.So I should be happy that the past month I’ve thrown myself into the work, but instead I’ve been fucking miserable.As soon as Eris left me standing in her hotel room, I saw every mistake I’d made up to that point. When I went after her, it was too late. She’d left everything behind and chartered a plane off the island before even Mary knew about it.It took hours for me to get another one to follow after her, but as soon as my feet hit the ground, she was already in the air again. I didn’t know where she'd gone, and it was like she fell off the face of the earth.Topher wouldn’t give me anything, but he also didn’t fire me or tell me to fuck off. Instead, he
A month. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve set eyes on Justin. I thought the pain would get easier over time, but it hasn't, and I think it’s getting worse. I still wake in the night reaching for him, and when I do sleep, I dream about the life I thought we might have together.He used me.In all the struggles I’ve had in my life, I don’t recall that being one I had to suffer. Until him. I’d opened my heart and everything to him, and I’d never done that with anyone before. He ruined what could have been between us, and I haven't even begun to pick up the pieces yet. I’m not sure I can because he took some of me with him, and I’ll never get it back.“What are you doing?” Topher asks, jerking me out of my thoughts. I’m standing in front of his door about to knock, or at least the plan had been to knock. I knew if I didn't come to him he’d be tracking me down to my place the second he knew I was back in town.“I’m sorry.” My nose burns and tears begin to build.“Don’t fucking apologiz
The last of the storm finally passed, and it’s been two days of pure paradise. Not only did this time on the island bring forth some great ideas on how the departments can operate more efficiently, but I’ve spent every moment I could with Eris, buried inside of her.I’ve fucked her in every available storage closet in this hotel and even once on a table in the ballroom. I’ve never had this much sex before and never with the same person, and god, this is so different. It’s more than just the act of getting off, there’s a connection that’s bonding us every time we’re together. It’s dirty and hot, but it’s also so much deeper. If I really look closely at what I’m feeling, I’m afraid it will scare her off. How can someone fall in love after only a few days?The storm gave us an excuse to sneak away and be alone, but as the sun came out, I realized I didn’t want to hide any part of how I feel about Eris.Understandably she didn’t want to flaunt it at a work retreat, and I respected that. B
“Justin!” I gasp his name as he enters me, and I close my eyes.His words should scare me, and I should be pushing him away, but all I do is hold him closer. My arms and legs wrap around him instinctively, and I never want him to leave. I’ve never really thought about having a baby because I didn’t think it was something I’d have the chance to do. But from what he’s saying, he’s making it clear how far he wants to take us. This isn't some fling.“Fuck, you feel too good.” He lets out a loud groan as he steels himself.His cock is buried deep inside of me, and I’m thankful for the cover of darkness. The tears in my eyes aren't because of how far he has me stretched or the burn I feel, but because I’ve never felt so close to another person before.Justin is a big man, and he’s even bigger between his legs. But in this moment, I feel connected to him with more than just our bodies. This is different, and he makes me experience emotions I’ve never felt before. It is overwhelming, but god,
With one aggressive tug, her shorts are off, and her panties are in shreds nearby. I don’t give her time to catch her breath as I pin her to the wall and throw her legs over my shoulders. Her hands grip my hair, and she cries out as I bury my face in the soft curve of her thighs and pussy. She smells like coconut oil and tastes like sunshine. I moan as my tongue divides her lips and wiggles across her clit. My hands dig into her ass and squeeze the thick flesh as I pull her closer to my face.“Justin, oh shit, I can’t, oh shit, oh shit.”In answer, I growl and suck so the sensation is more intense. She responds by opening her legs and rocking her hips closer to my face. I’m smothered in her juices, and I decide I don’t want air in my lungs ever again because I want to die with my face buried in her cunt.Her legs shake and just when she’s begging me to keep going, I slip a thumb in her pussy. She cries out and that’s when I taste her sweet release laced with her own secret sunshine.W