Despite the drinks I had at Orchid, and the two more drinks I had once I got home, I still can’t sleep.

Fucking Bennett McCardiff.

I lie in bed staring at the ceiling and cursing his name. I can’t believe that in less than twenty-four hours, he’s going to be having dinner with the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

I have no idea why the guy has it out for me so bad, but over the years I’ve leaned into his hatred. I’ve never been willing to let him get the best of me, so I give as good as I get. But this is going too far.

I had wanted Lila the second she’d walked — or tumbled — out onto that stage. She had the biggest, greenest eyes I’d ever seen. Even as she scanned the audience, terrified and humiliated after her fall, her eyes had a strength and a determination that I fucking loved. That little curtsy. Damn. She was strong — you could tell just by looking her. She’s been through something, I think. She’s had to fight for her slice of happiness.

Not so different from me, I think. I fought too — years of darkness to get to where I am today. I work hard every day to keep that darkness at bay, and something tells me Lila does too.

Not like Bennett — everything comes easy to that guy. He closes deals that anyone else would write off as impossible. Deals that even I thought couldn’t be done.

He doesn’t stop there though. Everything he does has to be one step above me. More expensive suits. The Malibu mansion that sits on, I don’t know, must be twenty acres, the one that’s been featured in Architectural Digest twice now. He even keeps his stupid face shaved to within an inch of its life — every time I see him, he has a perfectly clean shave, while I have a five o’clock shadow the second I step out of the house in the morning.

It isn’t that I don’t have nice things too. I have the expensive suits, the luxury penthouse just north of Sunset Boulevard. It’s just that Bennett always seems to be one step ahead of me.

I flip my pillow over in irritation and try to find a cool spot. My face feels hot. My whole body feels hot.

I force myself to stop thinking about Bennett and think instead about Lila. Lila with her cinnamon hair and the light dusting of freckles across her shoulders. Lila with her huge tits, her narrow waist, those hips that you just want to hold on to …

My cock is getting hard already and I reach down below the sheets. I grip my shaft, wrapping my fingers tightly around it. I imagine it’s Lila’s soft small fingers gripping me, and when I stroke I imagine her on her knees in front of me. She’s naked, her red hair spilling over her shoulders, her rosy nipples pert and hard. The image is so vivid that I can almost smell her ripe wet pussy — it would be sweet and musky, like fresh melon and raw honey.

I imagine her leaning forward, taking my cock between her lips. I stroke my shaft and imagine her tongue coating me, her lips snug around me.

“Fuck,” I breathe into my empty bedroom. My balls are already starting to tighten, my breath coming short and shallow. I grip my cock harder, stroke it faster, imagine pumping my hips and thrusting in and out of Lila’s hot little mouth.

Just as the orgasm overtakes me, the image changes. Instead of Lila, it’s Bennett sucking me off. Bennett’s lips wrapped around my cock. Bennett’s tongue coating me, flicking my head. Bennett’s eyes looking up at me from between my legs.

The orgasm is so close that I can’t stop it, and soon I’m shooting hot ropes of come over my hand. They keep coming too, wave after wave, and I groan into the darkness as my hand pumps my swollen cock.

“Fuck,” I mutter, when the peak has finally passed. My body is spent and I lie there trying to catch my breath and push Bennett’s face out of my mind. Talk about a fucking boner killer.

Except it wasn’t, a little voice in my head whispers. It’s been ages since I’d come that hard — not since I was a teenager, maybe.

I shake my head. Must just be the adrenalin from earlier tonight.

But if I thought there was any chance of getting to sleep tonight, Bennett’s fantasy-hijack has killed that dream.

I lay awake in bed until the sun comes up.

* * *

When I finally do fall asleep, I stay asleep until nearly three in the afternoon. I wake up cranky — I hate spending the day in bed, unless I have a beautiful woman in there with me. And in that case, we wouldn’t be doing much sleeping.

Thinking that only reminds me of my ill-fated orgasm from last night. I stalk into the shower to wash the memories from my body. I shave as close and neat as I can, pushing away the thoughts of Bennett’s clean-shaven jaw, and instead imagine how Lila will feel when her thighs are gripping the sides of my face as I go to town on her pussy.

I dress in a suit — I never feel more powerful or masculine than when I’m wearing a suit that costs more than a year of most people’s rent.

I’m not consciously planning on doing it, but as soon as I’m dressed I know what I have to do.

No way am I going to let Bennett get away with having the first date with Lila. If he wants her, he’s going to have to go through me.