Satisfaction Guaranteed(11)

Her shoulders rise and fall as she peeks behind her. We’re alone still. Her voice goes softer. “If we were in an alternate universe right now, you could do all those things.”

I groan audibly. This woman is going to make it so damn difficult at work. “And maybe in some alternate universe we’d be in my building, the door falling shut, and you’d grab me and wrap your legs around me in the stairwell.”

Her breath hitches, but she shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”

I tilt my head to the side. “That’s not what would happen?”

The smooth sole of a shoe runs across my pant leg. She’s playing footsie. “No, you’d toss me over your shoulder, carry me up the stairs, and take me against the door.”

I grin wickedly. “And then on the counter.”

“And then the couch,” she adds. “Or wait, how about up against the window?”

“That can be arranged. I have floor-to-ceiling windows.”

Her eyes dance with mischief. “And is there a view?”

“Of all of lower Manhattan, sweetheart,” I say, and there is nothing awkward at all anymore.

“Take me to your parallel universe, please,” she says.

I’m about to say Let’s get out of here now, as if we’re on a date, as if it’s only the two of us.

And it hits me.

I’m doing it again.

I’m flirting with her.

Caught up in the vortex of Sloane Elizabeth. She’s a hurricane of sexuality, a storm of lust and desire, and I want to be caught in the eye.

“We should stop.”

She blinks and squeezes her eyes shut, then opens them. “Yes, we should.”

I have to be an adult. I have to be mature. I’m thirty-five years old, and I can’t let hormones control my actions. Those days are behind me.

“Let’s just agree that it was one kiss on the street, and it can’t happen again.”

“It definitely won’t happen again.”

Doug returns to the table, and I manage to be incredibly well-behaved for the rest of the evening. Tonight, I’m not simply the smart one. I’m the good one.

Even though I’ll be thinking about that alternate universe later when I’m home alone in bed.

And probably tomorrow morning in the shower too.

And honestly, that’ll be the trick to surviving having her in such close working quarters. For the next goddamn year of my life.





*



Water streams over my head. Images dance before my eyes. Yup, this is exactly what I need to recalibrate.

Steaming-hot water, a very active imagination, and that fantastic ability I happen to possess: being able to picture Sloane naked.

Sloane stepping into the shower.

Sloane wrapping a hand around my neck, tugging me close for a kiss.

Her hand sliding between our wet, slick bodies. Finding my dick, hard and aching for her.

A sly smile, a murmur, and that look in her eyes. The one that says Let me get down on my knees.

“If you insist,” I’d say, and I jerk harder, stroke faster as Shower Sloane takes me in her mouth, brings me to the back of her throat, and wraps her lips so nice and tight around my shaft that my vision goes hazy. Pleasure barrels down my spine, rushing hot and fast. I’m there, over the edge, shuddering. I slam a palm against the tiled wall, cursing.

Hell, that came on faster than I expected.

Then again, in my defense, I was pretty damn pent-up.

But now I’m all good, and ready to tackle the year ahead.





9





My sister lands a devastating side snap kick that radiates through my bones. I counter it with an arm lock. She narrows her eyes, red billowing from the corners. I know that look.

She’s a bull in the ring, dead set on charging me. But I also know how to deflect because I’ve been taking this Sunday night class for as long as she has.

We parry and spar for several more minutes until the session ends.

The instructor strides over and squeezes Truly’s shoulder. “Well done. It’s almost as if you two wanted to kill each other for real,” Natalie jokes.

“You should see us when we get really mad,” Truly says.

Natalie laughs. “I’ll do my best not to incite your ire. But you guys are doing great.” She taps her chin. “We have a tournament coming up. My kids are doing it. You guys should do it too.”

Truly gives her a curious stare. “Are you saying you think I should fight your kids? Because I’m good, but I wouldn’t want to run into your kids in a dark alley. They’re tough.”

“As they better be. They have been practicing martial arts since they could walk. But think about it.” Natalie tightens her blonde ponytail. “After all, Jason is doing it,” she says, mentioning my best friend.

Truly’s navy eyes widen. “Jason’s in the tournament?” Her voice pitches up the slightest bit.

“Do I detect a note of interest in the tournament now?” Natalie asks with a tilt of her head.

“I second that question,” I say, raising my hand.

Truly scoffs, shaking her head. “My only interest is in kicking his butt. Speaking of, where is he tonight? Afraid of getting destroyed?”