Rachel grinned at me. "Yeah, and now they're used as torture devices for women."I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her in the direction of the room. "I think women should wear what they want."Rachel giggled. "I think so too."As soon as I used the key card to swipe the door open, she kicked her heels off and left them by the door. Wordlessly, Rachel wandered over to the couch and collapsed against it."Your couch is really comfortable.""I think so too."I smiled and kicked the door shut with the back of my leg. When I handed her a glass of water, she drank it all before stretching out across the couch and squeezing her eyes shut."I'm just going to close my eyes for a bit."I left her on the couch and went into my room.When I came out of the shower, a thin mist following behind me, Rachel was on my bed, legs tucked underneath her. She cocked a finger in my direction, beckoning me forward. My heartthundered against my chest as I covered the distance between us and ki
BernardSomewhere in the room, there was a loud buzzing sound. I groaned and fumbled in the darkness, a headache pounding in the back of my skull. Abruptly, I sat up, threw off the covers, and peered into the darkness. When the buzzing stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief and ran a hand over my face.Then it started again, and I jumped to my feet.I crept around the room until I found my pants in the doorway to the room. With a frown, I fished my phone out of my pocket and squinted at the name flashing across the screen. After shooting a quick look over my shoulders at Rachel's sleeping form, I took my phone and stepped outside.The living room was shrouded in moonlight.I rubbed my eyes and pressed the phone to my ear. "This better be good. Do you have any idea what time it is?""I'm so sorry, Mr. Shaw. I know it's late, but there's been an emergency.""What kind of emergency?""There's been a fire in the basement of the company," Mary replied after a brief pause. "The CEO and CFO ha
When we rolled up into the city, I saw the thick plume of smoke from a distance. The driver pressed down on the gas, and the car raced through the empty streets of LA, taking side streets and shortcuts until we came to a stop in front of the company, a sprawling set of metal buildings located downtown. I hurried out of the car before it came to a complete stop and spotted the CEO and CFO on the other side of the street, studying the flames intently."Does anyone know what happened?""We have a team combing through the video footage and the reports, but it'll take a while," Raymond told me without looking at me. He shared a quick look with Robert, my CFO, before he looked over at me. "We don't know the extent of the damage.""Once they have the fire under control, we'll see. The chief told me that the damage is contained to the lower levels, where the files are stored."Robert straightened his back. "It's a good thing we're insured."I nodded and folded my arms over my chest. "Yes, it
Rachel"Are you even listening to me?"I blinked and switched the phone to my other ear. "Yeah, sorry. I spaced out for a few seconds there. What were you saying?"Taylor exhaled. "You've been doing that a lot lately. Still thinking about the financier?""No," I replied a little too quickly. "I've just had to pick up a few extra shifts at the restaurant, and Ander has been on my case lately."Since the night I met Bernard, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him. Unfortunately, between the extra shifts I was having to work at La Mesa under the watchful and judgmental gaze of Ander, who was still carrying a grudge over the wineglass-breaking incident and waking up alone in my bed every day, I hadn't been able to do much about it.Bernard and our night together were never far from my thoughts.Unfortunately, he'd made it pretty clear that I meant nothing to him by sneaking off in the middle of the night without even a note to tell me where he went.Waking up in the hotel room in
"You're the best, Taylor.""I love you.""Love you too."As soon as I hung up, I stood up and took my plate back to the kitchen. The rest of the day went by in a rush of orders and cleaning tables. On my way home, I stopped to give my bag of food to a homeless man with rows of decaying yellow teeth in the park. I climbed up the stairs to my apartment and shoved the door open.It creaked and groaned as I swung it shut.Once I set my bag down, I saw the puddle of water on the ceiling and the water stains on the floor, and I frowned. Immediately, I hurried into the kitchen to get a bucket and a mop. My muscles screamed and ached when I crawled into bed a short while later, fully clothed and with my stomach growling.Over the next few weeks, I did my best to forget about Bernard altogether.Still, he came to me at night, and I saw him propped up on the hotel bed, a wicked smirk on his face. I saw him looming over me, holding himself still as he kissed me, his mouth strong and searing agai
Bernard "You are a beast, Bernie." Raymond clapped me on the back and placed the cigar between his lips. He lit it up and blew out a puff of smoke, pointing it in my direction. "You know, I did have my doubts when I came to work here. I'd gotten a lot of offers from other, more established companies." I twisted my head to look at Raymond and gave him a small smile. "I'm glad you changed your mind." Without good people at the helm, United Insurance would not have been half the company it was today. Granted, I was the one who had come up with the idea in the basement of my parent's house a lifetime ago, but I wasn't stupid enough to think I could've made it on my own. United had made it to where it was because I'd poured my blood, sweat, and tears into it. And I hired the best of the best, elevating the company from a small start-up to a multi-million-dollar insurance company. Considering we hadn't been in the business for long, I took a great deal of pride and satisfaction in knowin
Rachel“I can’t believe he’s going to start kindergarten tomorrow.” I sighed and leaned against the counter. “Can you believe how big he’s gotten?”Taylor wrenched the refrigerator door open and rummaged around. She returned with two cans of iced tea and a tub of ice cream. Wordlessly, she pulled out two spoons and handed me one. “Yeah, I can’t believe it either. Our little Ron is all grown up.”“I’m not little,” Ron protested from his spot in the living room. He glanced over at us, blonde hair tousled to the side and his blue eyes full of annoyance. “I’m five now, remember?”“Of course, we remember, sweetheart,” I replied, in between mouthfuls of chocolate ice cream. “You’ve gotten so big, that’s all.”He switched his gaze back to the sheets of paper strewn all over the floor and picked up his colors. For a while, I watched him, a slight furrow appearing between his brows, and marveled at the swell of emotion in my chest. I couldn’t believe the little boy coloring on the living room
After kicking it shut with the back of my leg, I pushed our bathroom door open and glanced around. With a shake of my head, I made my way back out into the carpeted hallway and straightened the paintings on either side of the blue-colored walls. Once I was done, I rapped on Taylor's study door. Quietly, I crept in, set a tea mug down on her desk, and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze.She gave me a distracted smile before returning her attention to the screen.Papers were strewn over every inch of available space, and the windows and curtains were shut, soft light playing behind them. I fixed the carpet on my way out before finding my way back to the kitchen. There, I chopped up some vegetables and took out the marinated chicken. When I set the food in the oven, I reached for the timer and set it down on the counter with a sigh."Taylor's parents are going to be stopping by in a bit to watch you." I sat down on the floor with Ron and tucked my legs underneath me. "Be a good boy and b
- LukeSix Months Later..."Baby, hurry. I don't want to tear your lace, but for the love of God, I'm hurting so badly."Olivia laughs at my whining, but she might as well have stroked my cock with how throaty and aroused her voice sounds. Her hands are frantic as they unhook her lace garter and finally lift her skirt, which now poofs around us like a peacock. Then her panties are there for the taking, and I do the only thing possible with my antsy fingers.She gasps. "Oh, my God. You ripped it-oh, my God."I smirk when those words turn into a moan as soon as I sink my cock inside her. But my smirk soon dies when we're rocking into each other with no pause, already too turned on to take it slow. I've been hard since I first saw her in her wedding dress, a lovely creature who got me harder with every smile and happy look she sent my way.Don't get me wrong; standing in front of the altar with her, exchanging the most intimate and heartfelt vows, was awe-inspiring. But a man has his lim
God. It's like getting whiplash. "You what? Luke..."He shrugs. "It's the best hospital in the state for me, but I'm fine working in other places since they also offer great facilities. I have connections and I can still land on my own two feet. That's what power does and I've decided to wield it. But that power, it doesn't matter, Liv. I could have no hospital accepting me right now, and I would still choose to step back.""Luke..." Because he loves me. But I still ask, anyway. "Why?"Just like that, the intensity in his eyes magnify into such pure light, the love clear and bright. I stagger from the emotions brimming from him and sweeping me off my feet, even more so when he finally answers."Because I don't mind losing the job, Liv, or my career. But I can't stand the thought of losing you."I open my mouth, but no words come out. Luke doesn't seem to mind as he ambles closer until there are only inches of space between us. I know the moment he inhales my scent because it sets my s
And her text makes so much more sense now.Still, I can't stop staring. Neither can Luke as he shoots up from his chair at my entrance, those dark eyes trailing from my head to toe-no, devouring me. My heart spikes and my breathing stutters, trying to comprehend his presence and the pure magnetism that I've been absent from in...gosh, has it only been two weeks?It feels longer. It's my first time seeing him since our confrontation at my apartment door, where he was brimming with outrage and despair. But all I see now, aside from those devouring eyes, are the bags under them, the hollowness of his cheeks, the gauntness of his features.Worry sweeps in. I take a step closer before I can think about it. "What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"He blinks. "Like what?""Like you haven't gotten any sleep and..."I trail off when his jaw clenches and his muscles tense, disbelief sparking on his face. "You really have to ask?" A short laugh comes out, jolting my stomach before he's back wi
Olivia"Mom, will Dad no longer come over to spend the night?"I've been waiting for Riley to ask that question and the day has finally come. I close my eyes briefly, gathering strength behind my lids before I open them and face her curiosity. There's no sadness there-thankfully, because Luke has been doing his best to call her whenever he can and assure her how excited he is over their next playdate.And me?Let's just say I've been trying not to listen in and hear his voice because hearing his voice sends a deep ache inside me that practically turns me inconsolable. Especially at night.But Riley's no fool. We might be shielding her as much as we can, but she still picks up on things, much like she picked up on Luke being her father before we were even ready to tell her. She studies me now, waiting for my response and probably prepared with more questions."I'm afraid he's very busy lately, sweetie, so he might not spend the night here as much. Or at all. But you can spend the night
He means it in a work-related manner, I think, but my heart sees it differently-and just like that, it cracks again, reality hitting me so hard that my knees almost buckle. I manage to control myself in front of Kyle, though, and jerk toward the door."Stop gossiping and go do your thing.""If you mean charming the hospital staff and other patients, sure. By the way, just because I can't stand your patients doesn't mean they hate me. On the contrary...""Steal them all you want."He chuckles, understanding I don't mean that. Despite what he says, I do like most of my patients. But the memory of the patients that I don't like reminds me of the patient who was rude to Olivia-and just like that, she's in my orbit again and I'm a miserable fool.I strap it all down and get to work. My mood doesn't improve when I find out that James isn't in today and all HR can say is that Olivia's resignation was cleared by the director before it even got to them. When I reach one of the staff lounges an
If her first words hit me hard, the next ones hit me harder."That you are too much. That I'm not ready for whatever this is. That I want to chase my dreams and you are kind of?-"She stops, but it's too late. I rear back, hearing what she's not saying, and punched with the truth I hear in it. But it's the detached way she handles the aftermath that truly sinks in for me-like she's gotten over it already.Like she's gotten over me.A cold sensation wraps around my spine before it spreads throughout the rest of my body."So it was just sex to you?"She opens her mouth, then closes it. I latch on to the movement, an ache pulling at my system before I get hit with reality."We had an attraction, Luke. It's not your fault that I want nothing to do with it anymore."Had. Past tense.God. She sounds fucking cold."And the resignation?"She shrugs. "I got a good offer elsewhere. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but it's a good thing. We both get a clean slate.""And you fucking decided al
LukeIwish Olivia would answer at least one of my texts. I know she’s probably busy with work already, but I miss her so much and would like some time with her before my schedule today swallows me up. Because fate seems to be working against that little reunion, I hurry to the hospital instead, comforted with the knowledge that at least I’ll get a glimpse of her—maybe even steal a kiss or two—before I head to my first surgery assessment of the day.But I’m stopped short when I don’t find her in the office. Instead, I find Wanda seated in Olivia’s chair and typing on the keyboard.“Wanda? How can I help you?”She shoots up at my presence, attempting a smile but not quite genuine with it. She studies my confused expression and looks confused, too, before that disappears and she clears her throat.“Dr. Jennings. I’m just finishing up a report that you’re tasked to read later—additional notes for your patient appointment this afternoon…”I shake my head, not quite understanding. “No, I me
OliviaI’m still on a high from a rather successful weekend, one that I didn’t expect to turn out the way it did. Not only did I secure four of the six clients, all of whom don’t care how long it will take me to paint them a piece of my artwork since they’re casual collectors, but I’ve also secured a deal with Jennifer, who agreed to display my sketches in the meantime until I can provide her with paintings. It still feels surreal, but I’m no longer nervous or hesitant about this.I’m excited. I didn’t think I would get this excited over a side gig, but it’s like a distant dream making its way to the center of my life and reminding me that it’s still achievable even if I’m already achieving another dream. It makes me feel invincible—because if I can conquer this, I can conquer anything.Like telling Luke how you truly feel about him.Yes. Exactly that.“Liv? Good, you’re early. I’ve been told you need to go to the director’s office right away. Something about your tenure.” Rose Sutton
In fact, quitting her seems impossible and I can almost say with certainty that I want to keep her for as long as possible. Our relationship is progressing nicely and we're starting to fit perfectly into each other's lives. No, we already fit, like two people who seamlessly click like a puzzle piece. Sure, it took a while to get us there after our rough patch, but after that..."I'm happy, too." She sighs. "But I'm also trying not to hope too much. I want this to be an inspiration, not a distraction, so I hope the clients will make reasonable demands.""Just remember that at the end of the day, you're the one in control, not them. Give them your timeframe. You'll be surprised how patient people can be."Just like me with her. Except my patience is wearing thin.I know I said I don't ever want to commit again after the failure that was my relationship with Carol, but Olivia is right. I'm not the same man I was before-and Olivia is different. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself