I lie in bed looking at the text message on my phone, willing myself to send a response, to accept her invitation.
Cass: I’m in town. My usual room, get here ASAP and you can have all of me
My hand hovers over the reply button but I can’t bring myself to press it. I can’t get my mind off of a certain green-eyed, dark-haired beauty. Someone completely off limits, the ultimate forbidden fruit.
With a disgusted sigh, I throw my phone down on the covers.
What is wrong with me? I never say no to Cass. She’s fun, she’s uncomplicated, we know the score with each other. Get in, get off, get out. Yet, here I am, unable to fall asleep and also unable to accept a simple hook-up, because I can’t stop thinking about someone who is so beyond complicated, she could ruin my life. Is that what this fascination is? That she’s forbidden?
My sex life has always been uncomplicated. I’ve never been a relationship guy. I like simple, easy, fun.
Has that become boring now? Am I having a midlife crisis? And if I am, did it have to be Bella-fucking-Knight? My best friend and business partner’s daughter.
Shaking my head, knowing I’m not going to get any sleep before I take care of my raging erection, I fling my legs off the bed, get up and make my way into my bathroom. I tell myself I won’t picture Bella when I get myself off.
***
I lied.
Sitting next to me during a meeting I am paying very little attention to, is the woman whose name I called when I spilled my cum down the shower drain last night.
We’re sitting so close I can feel the heat from her thighs under the table. It’s day two of working together, and my restraint is hanging on by a thread.
When she walked into my office this morning, I nearly fell to my knees. If I thought yesterday’s outfit was hot, it has nothing on today’s; the black, skinny pants paired with a tight black top tucked in, showcase every detail of her exquisite figure.
I need to touch her, feel her skin on mine. I lean my head down to her level so I can speak into her ear.
“Can you pass me a pen?” She startles at my voice, turning her face to mine and bringing our lips millimetres apart. Her eyes travel to the pen already in my hand. “It’s not working properly.” Her eyes meet mine again and hold for a beat, almost like she detects my lie. Turning, she reaches to the side of her and grabs a pen from the collection on the table.
“Here.” She passes it to me. As I take it from her, I make sure my fingers skim her palm, dragging along the incredibly smooth, soft skin. She gasps and her eyes fly to mine, her pupils dilating, her pulse thundering at the base of her throat.
Jesus, baby, don’t do that. Don’t give me any reason to act on this.
Bella
I’m going mad. My body is strung so tight, I’m constantly flushed and so fucking wet.
Reed hasn’t stopped touching me. All day there have been little moments; a brush of his fingers against mine, his hand at the small of my back guiding me where we need to go, a press of his thigh againstmine during a meeting. Each touch is small, almost accidental, but they don’t feel that way. They feel deliberate, and that’s what’s sending me insane.
We’re currently in his office finishing off for the day and going over some notes I’d made at the meetings we attended when there’s a knock at the door and my father walks in.
“How’s my girl doing, Reed?” My father is a big man. I’ve always seen him as larger than life, my giant teddy bear. But he has nothing on Reed and that’s not something I’ve noticed before. Reed completely overshadows him when they’re in a room together.
“Bella is great, George. It’s getting to the point where I don’t know what I’d do without her.” I glance over to Reed at his choice of words to find him staring at me.
Why did he sound like he meant something else? His eyes are still fixed on me, a slight tilt to his lips. Christ, I’m so gone for this guy, I’m imagining things. I’m in a room with my father and his best friend and I’m trying to find hidden meaning in simple words.
What is wrong with me?
“Told you she’d be an asset.”
“That you did,” he murmurs.
“Right, well, I’m heading home. Is it okay if I take her now, Reed?”
“I drove today, Dad, remember? I’m out with the girls tonight.” I need to see them, I need to get a second opinion on the thoughts going through my head.
“It’s a Tuesday night, Bella.”
