“Oh… oh, no…” I gasp, looking down at him.

  He smiles wickedly. “You’re delicious.”

  “Please…” I can barely say the words, barely think past the orgasm simmering in my core. “I just need a little more.”

  His tongue moves over his bottom lip, and he watches me like he’s waiting to see if I’ll beg for it. I just might.

  “What do you need?” A cocky tone is in his voice, and I decide he really is the devil.

  “Patton…” My whisper cracks.

  I’m about to say please when he lowers his face and kisses the crease of my thigh again. I make a desperate noise, and I feel him grin, kissing to my center, covering me with his mouth again and stroking my clit with his tongue.

  “Yes,” I cry as he continues flicking and sucking.

  It’s incredible tightness, then… “Oh, God!” The orgasm rockets through my body like fireworks. My heels dig into the mattress, and I lift off, shuddering and pulling his hair, doing my best not to squeeze him between my thighs.

  “Oh, fuck,” I gasp, pushing against him. It feels so good… too good.

  He rises over me, wiping his chin and smiling wickedly.

  “I want to be inside you now.” The words shoot another thrill through my sparkling core.

  I watch with hooded eyes as he unfastens his pants, shoving them down and allowing his massive cock to spring free. I’d felt it in the water, I’d dreamed of it at night, and now it’s even better than I imagined.

  He reaches over and pulls a condom out of the nightstand drawer, quickly opening it and rolling it on as he watches me.

  “You want this?” It’s a hungry growl, and my knees rub together again.

  I pull my lip between my teeth nodding. “Yes.”

  My body aches for him, and lust, fresh orgasm, and the remnants of whiskey blend in my veins for a pleasant burn.

  “Open your legs.” He kneels on the mattress above me, and I do as he says.

  Reaching down, he slides the tip up and down before sinking to the hilt in me. He’s balls-deep, and we both moan loudly. My eyes are squeezed shut, and we hold, savoring the feeling of fullness, of complete connection.

  “Look at me.” His voice is soft, and I blink my eyes open.

  The intensity is almost more than I can bear. I want to look away, but he won’t let me. He’s on his forearms above me, and I’m pinned by his large frame, his hands on my shoulders, his cock deep inside me.

  “Your eyes…” He leans forward and kisses my jaw, rocking his hips and giving me a gentle thrust. “They were the first thing that captured me.”

  He gives me another thrust, and ripples of pleasure twist in my stomach. His mouth moves to mine, and our tongues entwine. His hips pick up speed, moving faster, rougher, and I exhale a moan. He kisses me again before dropping his head to my shoulder as he seems to lose control.

  His body is hot against mine. Large hands grip my shoulders, and he pulls me down as he pushes up between my thighs.

  “So good.” His voice is hoarse in my ears.

  My knees rise, and the friction of his movements, the force of his thrusting, the sound of his groans all push me to the brink of orgasm once more. I move my hips in time with him, savoring his scent of soap and citrus and sweat.

  I press my mouth to his shoulder, tasting the salt there with my tongue. Another low groan, another hard thrust, and he holds, pulsing and filling the condom. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and for a minute, I close my eyes and memorize this moment, this gorgeous, sexy man all around me, holding me, inside me. It’s hypnotic.

  Lifting his head, he kisses my cheek once more before looking down at me. “Still hungry?”

  A laugh bubbles up inside me, and I shake my head. “You did lure me here with the promise of hot chicken.”

  “You’re the hot chicken.”

  That makes me laugh harder, which pushes him out.

  “Shit.” He reaches between us quickly grabbing the condom and disposing of it.

  He’s out of the bed, and he walks back to where I’m propped on my elbows admiring the view. His muscles flex as he walks, and that tight ass is so fine. Even at half-mast, his dick is pretty impressive.

  “Is it time for the hot sauce?” A smile curls my lips, and he reaches for me, pulling me into his arms and wrapping them tight around me.

  I kind of melt a little bit. Okay, a lot.

  “Stay the night. I’ll take you home tomorrow.”

  My silly heart rises in my chest, and I feel breathless. He wants me to stay…

  “Is that a good idea?” I hate even thinking about it, but it feels so dangerous allowing myself to care for him. As if I have much choice about it.

  He relaxes his grip, letting me move back. “Maybe not. But maybe…” He leaves the sentence hanging as he goes in the enormous bathroom.

  I pull my sweater over my head then bend down and scoop up my thong and my skirt. Spend the night… My stomach is so tight, and I suddenly feel like I need to go home. This is crazy. And dangerous.

  “Maybe I should head on home.”

  “What?” He reappears in only boxer briefs, and my resolve tries to fade.

  “Yeah, I mean. It’s probably for the best.” His eyes roam up and down my body. I’m only in my sweater, but I’m holding my skirt over my bottom half.

  “If you don’t mind, I just need to use the bathroom.”

  That signature frown returns, and I’m not sure if I’m happy or heartbroken to see it. I scoot past him into his bathroom and close the door, quickly turning the lock. I’m breathing so fast, and I feel like a coward for wanting to cry.

  Making a stern face in the mirror, I scold myself in my head. Get a grip, Rocky. Yes, it was fantastic sex, possibly the best I’ll ever have. But Patton Fletcher is my boss. I’m trying to build a successful career, not sleep my way to the top.

  Oh, God! I cringe at the thought of this getting out.

  Reaching quickly for the toilet paper, I clean up and put my bottoms back in place. I glance again at my reflection to make sure my clothes and hair are straight. My makeup is smudged, and my lipstick is gone. No getting around that.

  I’m just at the door, when I pause and see a bottle of cologne sitting on the counter. Picking it up, I give it a sniff. Fresh citrus. It smells just like him. I spray it all over my shirt before heading out the door.

  The bedroom is empty, but I hear noises in the kitchen. Looking all around, I spot my purse on a chair and grab my phone out, quickly punching up the Lyft app and scheduling a ride home. The good thing about being downtown is cars are swarming all around my location like ants. I feel the buzz and look down to see “Javier” will be here in a black Cadillac in two minutes.

  Patton is at the bar, loading the chicken into a bag with hot sauce. An unlit cigarette is in his fingers.

  “Well, thanks again.” My voice is high, chipper. “I’m going to head on down. My ride is almost here.”

  Dark eyes meet mine, only this time they’re surprised. “You’re leaving now?”

  “I ordered a Lyft.” I hold up my phone and do a little wave. “I guess I’ll see you in the office on Tuesday.”

  “Raquel, wait.” He stops what he’s doing and starts to circle the bar, but I’m backing toward the door, praying I don’t trip over anything. “You didn’t eat.”

  “No, really, it’s better this way. No hard feelings. Scratching an itch or whatnot.”

  The door hits my back, and I stop, feeling around behind me for the handle. He stops walking toward me, and now he’s really frowning. I think he’s mad.

  “Scratching an itch.” He repeats the words after me, albeit slower.

  My fingers curl around the handle. “Have a nice night.”

  I’m out the door, closing it behind me and pressing the elevator button repeatedly praying he doesn’t follow me out.

  Sweet Jesus, help me. I’ll never be able to say no if he comes out and tells me to stay. My eyes are squeezed shut, and my stomach is tight and cringing until the bell finally dings. The doors slide open, and I jump inside, hitting the lobby button and the doors closed button repeatedly.

  My breath catches when I see his door start to open, but thank God, the elevator closes before he even makes it out. I slump against the wall clutching my hand over my face.

  “Do you know what time it is?” My sister’s voice is sleepy when she answers, and I quickly look at the clock.

  “It’s nine. Are you already in bed at nine?”

  “First, it’s ten here. Second, it’s a holiday weekend, so it’s busy as fuck. We open early and work straight through.”

  I wince realizing she’s right. Labor Day at the beach is bananas. “I’m sorry. I just needed to talk to someone who loved me.”

  She lets out a loud groan, and I hear her flopping around in the bed. “What is it?”

  Oh God, can I even say it out loud? To Renée, who cautioned me repeatedly about him?

  “Rocky.” Her voice is impatient. “I’m tired. Either tell me what’s going on or let me go back to sleep.”

  “I slept with Patton.” The words blurt out fast. “Oh, God. I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “I’m sorry. I think I’m still asleep. It sounded like you said you slept with Patton.”

  “I know. I know! I know I know I know. You told me not to fall for him, and I totally fell for him. Oh, God, Renée. What am I going to do?”

  She’s unexpectedly calm. “What happened?”

  I quickly recount the day at the lake, the way he rescued me from the wave runner, then Sandra setting me up at South Street today. “You told me to make friends with Sandra.”

  “I also told you Patton Fletcher is the devil. Why did you go back to his apartment?”

  “He was going to make me hot chicken.”

  “Oh, Jesus take the wheel.” She sounds just like me… only much more sarcastic. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  Dropping onto the couch, I clutch my forehead. “I know. I’m going to have to change jobs.”

  Seconds tick by, and it’s quiet on the other end of the line. “Did he tell you that?”

  “No.” I sit up slowly. “He actually asked me to spend the night.”

  More silence on the other end of the line. I wait as long as I can. “Renée?”

  “You know, chicken is one of the worst mass-farmed animals. You really shouldn’t eat it.”

  Blinking, I shake my head. “What?”

  “You think I’m fanatical about this, but it’s bad karma. You should know how your food lived and how it died before you eat it.”

  “Renée! I’m not going to stop eating chicken. Tell me what you think I should do.”

  “I think you should be vegan like me.”

  I almost scream. Instead I take a deep breath and calm my voice. “About Patton.”

  “Oh, I already told you.”

  “Tell me again.”

  “I told you this job could open doors for you. I told you not to get involved with your boss. I told you not to fuck it up.” I can’t tell, but I think she’s pissed at me, too.

  Can anybody give me a break and see it from my side?

  My heart feels like it’s melting in my chest. I’ve got the most enormous crush on him. I don’t know if I can make these feelings just stop on a dime. Renée at least has seen him, worked with him…

  “Why did you quit?”

  “Because I hated him.”

  “Oh.” My voice is quiet. I didn’t know she hated him.

  “Well, I’ve got to go!” She exhales loudly. “Got to get my eight hours. It’s not a holiday for me.”

  “Okay, well, thanks. I love you.”

  “Protect your chin.”

  We disconnect, and I drop down on my couch, pulling my shirt over my nose. Inhaling deeply, with my eyes closed, it’s like he’s here. I wrap my arms around myself wishing…

  I’m so confused and reeling and I still feel like I want to cry, which is silly. I wanted to spend the night with him so bad. I just knew if I did, it would change our dynamics too dramatically. It would change everything.

  It would give him all the power.

  I exhale a wry laugh at myself. Like he doesn’t already have it.

  My hand is on my phone when it vibrates. Turning it over, I see a text on the face from a number I don’t recognize.

  I’m sorry. Tonight was unprofessional and completely my fault. It won’t happen again.

  As I read the words, I realize it’s him. Now my eyes really are wet. I blink, and a tear drops onto my cheek. My inhale is shaky as I lift my phone and quickly save his number as Sexy Devil.

  I start a reply and delete it. Then I start another and delete it.

  I want to tell him it wasn’t his fault. I was just as much into what happened between us as he was. Possibly more. Sleeping with him was amazing, incredible. That orgasm was one for the record books. I wish I could do it again and again.

  Instead I simply reply, NP. It shouldn’t affect our work relationship.

  Seconds tick past, turning into minutes.

  No response.

  I fall onto my side and let the tears fall.

  14

  Patton

  All the lights are off when I arrive at Marley’s apartment. “Hello?” I tap on the wall as I walk through the foyer into the living room.

  Light streaks across the floor from beneath the drapes covering the balcony, and I go to them, pulling them apart. The space fills with light, and I see full ash trays, empty beer bottles, and twisted off plastic baggies.

  “Marley?” My voice is louder, and I move a little quicker, pushing open the bedroom door.

  It’s musty, and I go to him, giving his shoulder a shake.

  “Hey, wake up.” My voice is sharp, but his body is warm. Fuck. I was worried for a minute. “Hey.” I give him another shake. “Are you sleeping?”

  He makes a groan and rolls onto his side. “What?”

  “It’s noon. Get up.”

  He pushes into a sitting position with another groan. “What the fuck, man?”

  “I brought hot chicken. Come eat.”

  I didn’t feel like eating it after Raquel left last night. I didn’t know I could feel satisfied and pissed at the same time.

  Marley shuffles into the kitchen, where I’m arranging chicken on a plate with a banana. I don’t know what he’s been snorting or smoking, but I’m sure he could use some potassium.

  “Looks good, Julia Child. Did you make it?”

  “Yeah.” I shove the plate toward him then grab a beer out of his fridge. “Eat it all.”

  He sits in front of the plate and looks at it a few minutes. Then he puts his elbow on the bar, reaching for the pack of cigarettes.

  “What made you decide to cook?”

  “Gotta eat.”

  He takes a long drag and blows smoke over his head. I walk to the balcony and pull the doors open, letting in some fresh air.

  “Remember when we’d play basketball at the Y?” He hasn’t made a move to eat.

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s how we met.”

  Everything is memories with him these days. It’s making me restless. “What did you do on Saturday?”

  He shrugs. “Slept. Hung around here.”

  “Did Taron come by?” I walk slowly to the coffee table and see what looks like heroin in a tight little baggie.

  “Yeah, but he didn’t stay. Says I’m a bad influence.” He takes another drag and laughs. “He’s gotten soft.”

  “He had a hard time getting off the pain meds.” I’ve never used this shit, so I don’t know how it feels, but I imagine he took one look and left while he had the chance. “We missed you at the lake.”

  He bends a knee and rubs his eyes. “Yeah, I don’t feel like being in the sun.”

  Getting off the stool, he goes to the couch and wraps a blanket around his shoulders. He looks skinny to me. His dark hair is a greasy mess on his head, and he needs a shave.

  “We missed you.” If missing is the same as concern.

  “I didn’t want to see anybody.” His eyes are on the coffee table, and I want to slip that little baggie in my pocket and flush it.

  “Thanks.”

  “Except that new Morgan girl. She’s pretty.”

  The mention of Raquel makes me pissed again. “She’s alright.”

  “She reminds me of her sister.”

  “Yeah.” I reach for a cigarette now, firing it up and taking a long pull. “I think they have a lot in common.” I say it through an exhale of smoke.

  “How would you know?” He cuts his eyes at me. “You never liked Renée.”

  I’m done talking about it. Clearing my throat, I stand. “I’m heading out. Eat something. I want you at work tomorrow.” I lean down and pick up the suspicious baggie. “None of this.”

  He studies it a minute. “I’m not planning to do anything with that.”

  “Then why do you have it?”

  Tired hazel eyes cut up to me, and he shrugs. “Never know.”

  “Not tonight. You’re coming in tomorrow to get with Taron on social media.”

  I want to take it. I should fucking take it, but I’m not sure where he got it or if he’ll just go out and get more. I don’t want him going anywhere besides bed.

  “It’s not that hard. Anybody could do it if I’m not there.”

  “You’re the only one who knows the accounts and passwords. Eat, shower, and be in the office tomorrow.”

  “Sir, yes sir.” He looks up at me, his tone sarcastic.

  Still, I feel a fraction better about leaving him. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Only Sandra and Dean are at their desks this early on the day after a holiday.

  Sandra cuts her eyes at me as I pass her. “How was the rest of your weekend?”

  I don’t like her tone. I don’t like the way her lips curl into a smile like she thinks she’s got something on me.

  “I want to know when Marley arrives, and tell Taron we need to talk when he gets here.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  There’d better not be. “Just business.”