I rush toward my apartment building. The night owls stare at me while I walk ten blocks. I stare at my feet the entire time, hoping to not make eye contact with anyone. I must look horrible. And enticingly curious.

I finally reach my apartment building. I gather up the dress skirt and step upstairs. My feet hurt more than they did before. I ran out of Zeke’s penthouse so quickly, I forgot to slip on my shoes. I fantasize about soaking them in the tub once I make it to my apartment.

When I reach the landing, I see Marty standing in the hallway, directly in front of my door. His face shows anger as he attaches a bright red paper to my door.

“Marty, hey—” I greet him, rushing forward. “How are you?”

“Cut the crap, Ramone,” he says. “You’re done.”

I grab the paper off the door. “Eviction notice?!” My heart sinks. “No, no, wait. Please. Marty, you can’t do this!”

“I can. And I am.” He looks me up and down. “If you have the money to go to fancy parties downtown, then you have the money to pay your damn rent!”

I curse the sapphire blue dress. I don’t like it as much anymore. “This isn’t what it looks like! I can explain.”

“I don’t care,” Marty spits. “I have plenty of applicants that want that apartment. Applicants who can actually pay for it.”

“But I can pay for it! I told you, I got a job this week. I just need a few more days for my first paycheck and it’ll go straight into your hands!”

“I’ve heard it all before, Ramone. You know, you’re not the first deadbeat college kid I’ve booted and you won’t be the last.”

He takes a wide step around me and stomps toward the stairwell.

“Marty, please,” I beg. I beg with all of my heart.” “I have nowhere to go!”

“Ain’t my problem,” he says, not turning around as he pounds down the stairs. “Out by Friday, kid.”

I look at the bright red paper in my hand and collapse against the door.

“Dammit…” I say to the empty hallway.

* * *

Monday morning.

My head hurts from staring at my ceiling the whole night. I spent the night weighing the pros and cons of my current situation. So far, the only pro I can come up with is that I got laid. That was fun. For a minute.

I should quit my job and separate myself from Zeke. He’s my stepbrother. And he’s in love with me. And I had sex with him in an elevator. And holy shit, I had sex with him in an elevator.

But I’ve been evicted. Out by Friday. If I quit now, I’ll be more screwed than ever before. No money. No job. No roof over my head. No education.

I decide that I’ll go into work and try to avoid a confrontation with Zeke. It can’t be too difficult to remain professional. Sit at the desk. Answer the phones. Pass on messages. Keep to myself. Collect a paycheck. Pay for school and find a cheap room somewhere until I find a new apartment.

A void fills my empty stomach as I get dressed. Zeke told me I didn’t have to wear anything too fancy. Casual Friday is a daily thing for him. But still, I put on some nice slacks and a blouse — similar to what I originally intended to wear to Mason Belmont’s birthday bash — and head out the door around eight-thirty.

* * *

“Good morning, Ms. Ramone!”

“Hey, Quincy,” I greet the doorman.

“There’s some fresh coffee in the lobby. Grab a cup and throw on a smile!” He flashes his pearly whites at me as he opens the door.

I can’t help myself. I smile at him. “Thanks, I’ll get some.”

“Have a good day,” he says.

I enter Belmont Tower feeling slightly less crappy than before. I grab the largest cup of coffee I can find in the lobby and make my way up to the top floor in the now all-too-familiar golden box.

I stare straight ahead at my reflection and try not to have too many flashbacks to Saturday night. My skin tingles, remembering his hands on my body. My mouth waters, remembering the way he tastes. My sex throbs, remembering how it felt to finally have him inside of me.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I feel a slight sweat collect on my brow as the elevator comes to a quick halt. My stomach churns as the doors open on my new office.

I spend the next few minutes turning on all the lights and preparing my workstation. As the computer hums with life, I sit down at the desk and ease into the large, comfortable chair and try to enjoy my coffee.

The phone rings and I feel a boost of adrenaline. I sit up tall in my chair and clear my throat before answering.

“Zeke Belmont’s office,” I say into the phone.

“Oh, my lord, you sound so adorable!”

I deflate and plop back into the chair. “Hello, Mom,” I say.

“I just wanted to call and wish you good luck on your first day, Rockette!” she says. “And I wanted to say thank you for making an effort on Saturday. Mason was so happy to see you.”

I roll my eyes. There’s no way in hell that last statement is true but I go along with it anyway. “That’s great, Mom. But I’m kind of busy right now. Thanks for calling.”

“Have fun, Rockette!”

I hang up and hear the ding of the elevator. My eyes flick up just as the doors open to find Zeke stepping off. He holds a bottle of wine in his hand and his face lights up as soon as he sees me sitting at the desk. He dressed for the occasion with a tucked in shirt and brilliant blue tie.

“Rocky, hey…” Zeke says. He walks up to the desk and sets the bottle down. “I wasn’t sure you were going to show up.”

I shrug, trying to remain nonchalant. “I have a responsibility, right?”

“I sent you some texts,” he says. I have trouble deciphering the look in his eyes. He’s nervous. A hint of sadness below layers of forced confidence.

“Yeah, I got them,” I say.

Zeke sent me three messages yesterday.

Please call me, Rocky.

We have to talk.

Are you okay?

I ignored them. I was too preoccupied with wallowing in self-pity the entire day. “I’ve just been busy. Sorry.”

“Right…” he says. His fingers tap the top of the desk. “Rocky, we should talk about what happened…”

My fight-or-flight response triggers hard toward flight.

“Zeke, this can’t happen.”

He leans back. “Okay…”

“I wasn’t going to come in today,” I say, forcing the words out of my lips. A lump gathers in my throat. “But I need the money.”

“Rocky, I need to say something—”

“Zeke, please, let me finish,” I say.

He pauses and closes his lips. With a nod, he urges me to continue.

“Saturday night was a mistake.” My heart pounds in my chest. It rattles my eardrums so loudly, I can barely hear myself speak. “I know you may not think the same way but that’s how I feel. It can’t happen again. It won’t happen again. And I don’t see why we can’t keep things professional between us.”

I hurt him. I can tell. He’s trying extremely hard to hide it with the smirk on his lips. But his eyes tell me everything.

“Rocky.” He chuckles. “Calm down. I agree. We can keep it professional.”

“I’m sorry, Zeke,” I say, studying his eyes.

“Don’t sweat it,” he says. He taps the bottle of wine. “I brought you this as a welcome.”

I reach out and take the bottle. “Thanks,” I say with a smile.

“Any calls?” he asks, stepping around the desk. He stares at the city skyline, the bright morning sun glittering off everything in its path.

“Just one,” I say. “My mother.”

He laughs. “Of course.”

“She wanted to wish me luck…”

I turn my chair to look at him and find it very difficult not to think about what happened in the elevator. My nether tingles with life once more and I regret being so hard on him.

“Well, I’ll be up in the penthouse.” Zeke turns away from the window and steps toward the elevator. “I’m expecting a call from Dad’s London associates. Send it upstairs when it comes in.”

“I will,” I say, watching him walk away.

I want him to look at me but his gaze stays steady on the floor as he moves quickly across the room. My sex aches, wanting him. I think of his sweet desire running down my thighs as I fled from the hotel two nights ago. My mouth waters. I want him again. I need him again. But I dig my nails into the chair and try to talk myself out of it.

He’s your stepbrother, Rocky.

Keep it professional.

It’s for the best.

I thought I would be able to do it. I was so worried about how Zeke would act around me, I didn’t consider my own desires and how difficult it would be for me to keep my cool. My chest heaves, pulling me toward him. I dig my heels into the floor and close my eyes. I wait patiently for the elevator doors to close, taking long, deep breaths to calm my nerves.

Say something. Call his name!

I bite my tongue. Delicious pain shoots through the muscle and radiates my jaw. My eyes shoot open as he presses the elevator button to close.

“Zeke!” I stand up and lay my sweaty palms on the desk.

His arm shoots forward and stops the doors from closing on him in the nick of time. He push the doors open and strides back inside, his eyes locked on my lips. I step around the desk and meet him halfway. His hands grip my face and pulls me up to meet his kiss.

“I need you…” he groans in my mouth. “Rocky, let me take you again.”

I hop into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist. He holds me up with ease. Our tongues intertwine, tasting each other, driving our passions together. I grind myself against him as he pushes us backwards into the hard desk.

His hands caress my body, landing on my breasts. I drop to the desk and lie backward to allow him to feast upon me.

“Let me taste you, Rocky…” Zeke reaches out and yanks at my pants. He unzips me and shoves his hand into my panties.

I cry out in ecstasy, my swollen bud reacting to his touch. With my eyes clenched shut, I lean my head back and let my passions wash over me.

“Tell me you want this,” he whispers to me. His fingers tweeze my clit as my wet slit trembles. He grips the back of my head with his other hand. “Look at me, Rocky.”

I flit my eyes open, meeting his gray stare. As we make eye contact, he slides his finger inside. He watches my ecstasy as he coats his digits with my juices.

Zeke pulls out of me and I sigh with disappointment.

He slides his finger between his lips and sucks on his moist skin. He closes his eyes. “Oh, fuck, Rocky…” His lips graze mine. “I’ve dreamed of your taste for years…” I feel his thick root press against me from within his pants. “I’ve always regretted not taking you when I had the chance.”

I smile at him, my body craving his dick.

“Rocky, please…” he moans. He grips my blouse. “Tell me to fuck you.”

His words spur my desires. My hands travel down his body and my twitching fingers unzip his pants.

“Say it, Rocky…” He rolls his hands into fists against my breasts, pulling at my blouse. “Say it.”

I’m breaking all of my rules.

I was just supposed to call him and say hello.

I was just supposed to go to his penthouse and say thanks, but no thanks.

I was just supposed to go to the party for cake and then slip out the back.

I was just supposed to go to his penthouse, change back into my own clothes, and go home.

How did I get here?

But one thing is certain.

There’s no place I’d rather be.

“Fuck me, Zeke,” I breathe.

His smile stretches from ear-to-ear as he pulls my blouse apart to expose my breasts. The buttons tear off the soft fabric and click along the floor until settling somewhere unseen. His breath heaves on my neck as he bends over to lick and squeeze my cleavage. I pull at his shirt, trying to reach downward to free his rock hard member from captivity.

“Say it again,” he whispers as he kicks his pants to the floor. His hard erection stands tall, pressing against my willing cavern.

“Fuck me,” I moan. My hands roam his body, traveling down his back to squeeze his tight rear end. “Fuck me, Zeke!”

He takes his cock in hand and lays it against my opening. His sizable crown parts my folds but he doesn’t thrust it home. I tremble at once, my moans begging for more. I want to pull him in. I try to do just that but he keeps his body at a distance, leaving only his tip amid my moist tissue.

“Fuck me…” I beg.

I flex my inner muscles, trying to coax him in, but he stays steady and looks into my eyes as I struggle. His lips curl into a devilish smile as he leans in and brushes them against my own.

“Tell me you’ve always wanted this…” he says. “Tell me the truth…”

His gray eyes entrance me. I can’t speak. The blissful agony of pleasure just out of reach holds my tongue captive.

Zeke’s hand lands on my face and he holds me closer as he licks his lips and says again, “Tell me that you’ve wanted me as much as I’ve wanted you.”

“Yes!” I whisper. My voice charges from the depths of my belly. “I’ve always wanted you.”

There’s no time to think about whether or not it’s true. I’ll say anything to get him inside of me.

Zeke kisses me and pushes his swollen cock deeper inside. It slides in an inch and he pauses, hesitating the movement. “Oh, fuck, Rocky…” he groans. “I don’t think I can last long inside of you…”

I chuckle and grip his shoulders. “Don’t make me beg for it anymore, Zeke… Please, fuck me!”

He growls as his desires take him over. With one thrust, he’s balls deep inside. I moan in ecstasy, screaming into his skin. My crevice embraces his manhood. They fit together perfectly, as if they were always meant to.

The phone rings next to us on the desk. My fingers twitch, my training kicking in. But there’s no way in hell I’m answering it.

We let it ring as Zeke grips my hips and thrusts me again.