a secret. I ordered my usual-a dirty martini, extra olives-and then another. And another. Richard had left again that morning for anothe

r had curdled into something sharper-grief, maybe, or s

in the bedroom,

. Tell me why you treat

n I shoved at his chest,

quietly, eyes flat. "I'll be b

e walk

hed off the stool, unsteady, determined to g

oor ru

ght me before I

ive aftershave, something dark

up throug

dd

aughing once, bitterly.

ip tracing the sharp line of his j

Ted

etween his teeth-a small, te

dged his voice, but his ey

ring, I surged u

t and sure. His hands found my waist, pulling me flush against him until there was no space left for guilt. I moaned into

ds pressed together, his breath

ispered, the

but clarity was creepi

t is happeni

ith two fingers, forci

do you

nk. I'm so sorry."

my wrist-not tight, j

are you

t him, che

'm married. This never

let me tak

eyes, took a

m... I'm sober enough

bling legs, feeling his stare burn in

crowded, air thick with coffee brea

messaging sooner. Been slamme

t blurred, then shoved the pho

nce appeared

dd

the floor number

ing, sir,"

out. We stepped in. The doors cl

ose enough that I could fee

of avoiding me,"

lowly through the blunt ends of my h

ispered, the plea t

d, voice dropping lo

ark now, unblinkin

dinged. Doo

othly, as though no

gh for anyone nearby to hear, already

e hallway, heart sla

hing. Phones, conversations, rus

llowe

together in my stomac

back to my desk. Pretend

my fee

st

ano

ning. Pleasure-hot, traitorous-curled low in my be

my hand

ery trembling inch of me wa

sure the entire floor could hear it. One deep, shaky breath. Then another. My fingers curled into a fi

ened almost

e swift, possessive tug. The door clicked shut behind us before I could even draw a full breath. My back hit the wall with a soft th

raced the sensitive shell, then dipped lower to flick the spot just behind

flew to his biceps, gripping hard

felt the thick, insistent press of his arousal against my thigh, hot and unyielding t

ed involuntarily. "I can't take it anymore, Payton," he rasped, voice fraying at the edges. "I need you beneath me.

do this." I whispered b

possession. Savage. Desperate. His free hand slid to my thigh, hooking under my knee and lifting one of my leg to wrap ar

my mouth, the word vib

every cell was alight with the promise of being filled, stretched, taken. I wanted it rough. I wanted the edge of pain t

my neck, his lips leaving a trail of fire down to

s stoppe

at am I

leg and pushed him aw

can't do th

ss. "I'm

athing jus

ry," I w

back against the wall, tried to ki

ce phone rang, sha