Looking out over my office, I crossed my ankles to lean on the door frame as I took in the bright atmosphere. The upturn the weather had taken had a visible effect, and I reached absently to loosen my tie. Everyone was eager to leave, to spend some time in the sun before it disappeared. Glancing down at my watch, I stared at the ticking second hand as it slowly but surely made its way to the 12.

“You have a nice night, Nick.” Thomas waved as he past with a smile on his face, and I nodded in acknowledgement. The man had been my secretary since middle school, and for a moment I scanned his form as he took the long way around the cube farm.

He was as gay as a roundabout, and he didn’t think I knew he was dating one of my senior staff members- who happened to sit on the far right corner of the farm. Watching them pass by each other, I could clearly see Thomas’ naughty, little smirk, and one of my own stretched my lips.

My mind went back to the day we met in home economics. Thomas had the biggest crush on me, but he never acted on it. Thus, a great and comfortable friendship was born.

One of the only true friendships I had.

“You’re not leaving for the night?” Tearing my gaze off Thomas, I sucked in a sharp breath as Hannah sidled up next to me. She was light footed, and the slight shock of her words zinged through me. Clearing my throat, I shook my head while she watched, her bright, blue eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Not right now, no. What about you? Any plans for tonight?” I already knew the answer to my question, and Hannah shrugged to bring my attention to the stack of folders in her arms.

“I’m just finishing this. It’ll probably be a while.” She shuffled in her heels, a surefire sign of a liar, and I frowned down at her before she cracked. Heat blossomed in her cheeks, and she ducked her head to mumble as amusement bubbled up against my ribs. “James asked for a date, but I said ‘no’ because I was working late. At least now it’s not a lie?”

“You need to tell him you’re not interested, and you probably won’t be. Seriously, Hannah, you’re to the point where you’re stringing him along.” Turning on my heel, I wandered into my office and wasn’t surprised when she followed me. These past two weeks since she began working were filled with these little moments. Most of the time, I found myself enjoying it- even looking forward to it. Everything she said had merit in some way or another, whether it was intellectual or emotional.

For someone I once thought was shallow, Hannah was very much filled with a colorful depth she was only just beginning to explore.

“I did… but he asked me anyway.” Leaning on my desk as she sat in a chair, I groaned at her little tidbit of information. Reaching to rub my neck in agitation, my fingertips tingled from the sharp surge of annoyance that warmed my blood. Hannah watched me, searching, and I rolled my brother’s idiocy around in my head. James’ and my conversation two weeks ago floated up to fill the space between my ears, and I glanced at Hannah with a heavy sigh.

“Well… I don’t know what to tell you. I mean, you’re not the kind of girl to tell him to piss off, so you’ll just have to find another way, Hannah. Let’s drink and do paperwork, huh?” Without waiting for an answer, I wandered over to a low cabinet to open the doors and grab two wine glasses. There was a time and a place for certain kinds of alcohol, and I reached for a nice bottle of red wine to pop the cork expertly.

“Why are you single anyway, Nick?” Hannah’s question came out of left field, and I stiffened as I poured our drinks. “You’re a great guy.”

Twisting to pass her a glass, I held back a frown at the curiosity in her gaze, and my chest tightened. My thighs buzzed with the physical memory of her perfect, tight ass in my lap, but I only leaned on my desk to take a gulp of my wine. Every time she came to me instead of James, the rush that surged through me was unparalleled.

I was a shitty brother, but Risha was right- Hannah was a person no one could dislike. That made it so much harder to keep her out of my head.

“I’m single because money is the biggest threat to love. I don’t mind dropping a few grand on a woman as long as she’s upfront about it. Most of the time, they’ll put up a front- pretend and lie. I can’t stand that. If you want money, just tell me.” My voice roughened, and I stared absently at the carpeted floor to avoid looking at Hannah’s expression. I knew what she’d show me- pity at the fact that I think this way- but I didn’t want her pity. “After a while, I was content with simply dating and sex for the company.”

“When I worked for Jonny, he told me all the time that the men that came into the club didn’t want to feel like they were paying the girls. Some of the good ones said it’s an art to keep the men from realizing how much they were taking out of their wallets. I would watch between my sets, and it looked really hard. Most of the time, the guys were drinking and belligerent, but the girls still acted like they understood and sympathized. That’s why Jonny never let me on the floor- I can’t do that.” Involuntarily flickering to Hannah, my eyes narrowed on the goosebumps that washed her unprotected arms. “I guess… the only difference is scenery.”

“I guess it is.” Echoing her, I lifted my glass to my lips as Hannah glanced at me, copying my action. Something dark and excited passed through her eyes, and mine trailed down her front to rest on the files in her lap. “You already did all of that, didn’t you?”

“Maybe…” Many things I might’ve been, but an idiot wasn’t one of them. My ears twitched at the sultry note in Hannah’s answer, and beneath my shirt I grew hot as she openly checked me out. She probably didn’t realize how blatant she was, but it’d been a long time since a woman looked at me like this. Usually their gazes went straight to my pants, but not to the bulge I would’ve preferred.

“Does James know you have a crush on me?” Capturing Hannah’s gaze, surprise rocketed through me when she didn’t blush fiercely and look away. Ethan had mentioned experiencing the same thing, and I clenched my jaw tightly. She was shy about the strangest things, but direct questions weren’t on that list.

“I don’t know.” Nor do I particularly care. It was almost as if she’d said that part out loud, and I drew my brows together as she took another sip from her glass. A sick part of me was glad beyond measure that Hannah wanted me and not James, and I didn’t bother to beat it down. My brother was chasing after unrequited desire; Hannah had already told him she didn’t want him in that way.

The fact that they were still friends with benefits was irrelevant.

In the growing silence we stared at each other, and with each heavy, passing second my abdomen tightened. The tent in my pants was almost noticeable, and I gulped down the rest of my wine before setting the glass on my desk.

“Do you remember what I told you during our interview?” Sauntering over to Hannah on stiff legs, I gripped the arms of her chair to lean in close to her face. Through narrowed eyes I watched her nod, and I put my weight on one arm to drag my fingertips down the opening of her blouse. “Good. I don’t like to repeat myself.”

Popping one of the snaps, I didn’t bother to hide my grin as Hannah sucked in air with a whistle, thrusting her chest against my knuckles. Pink flooded her cheeks, but she was as still as the grave. Traveling down, I fingered the bridge between her bra cups before opening my mouth.

“Tell me which part you like better- foreplay or sex?” Anticipation coiled in my gut, causing my voice to tremble lightly as I pried apart a second snap button. The bink echoed around the room, and I relished the quake that ripped through Hannah as I moved further south.

“Foreplay…” Rasping her answer, Hannah squeezed her glass and curled her fist in her lap. Humming softly, I grabbed the dangerous cup with my free hand to bring the rim to my lips. Licking the stain of her pale lipstick, I drained the wine before setting it on the floor, and my heart pounded hard against my ribs. Desire burned my veins, turning my blood to vapor that filled my head with a luscious red as her taste settled on my tongue.

“I’m going to wind you up, Hannah…” Opening another button, I brushed her faint abdominal muscles with my fingertips as my mumble caused her eyelids to flutter delicately. “My rules are simple. You’re not allowed to touch yourself, or let anyone else touch you. I want to see how much it take to break you.”

“What does that mean?” Hannah’s murmur reverberated through me, traveling straight down to my cock, and I ground my teeth together. My hard on strained against my pants, but I didn’t draw any attention to it yet. Tracing her muscles, I hooked my finger under the last button before tugging gently. It wasn’t enough to pop it open, but her chest still jumped.

“It means I’m going to tease you until you beg me to relieve you. I’m going to pull and pinch and rub, but you’re not going to cum until I say you can. I want to push you to the edge and keep you there until you can’t handle anymore… but…” Tangling my fist in her shirt, I grabbed Hannah’s face roughly, and her eyelids popped. Wide pupils stared at me, giving me a window into the havoc I was wreaking on her, and I squeezed lightly before continuing. “If you break the rules, or beg when you’ve still got a ways to go, I’ll stop. Everything will stop. Permanently. Understand?”

Shock rippled across Hannah’s face, and I cocked my head as her puffed lips wobbled.

“You’ll fire me?” A laugh tore from my throat, and I leaned back to release her with a shake of my head. The intensity of the moment backlashed on me, and for a moment I was lost as my mirth bounced around my office. Clutching my chest, I nearly choked on the burn before cracking my eyes open.

Hannah was beet red, lips a thin line and embarrassment leaking from her pores. The sight instantly calmed me down, and I knelt down to her level to pick up her chin. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, and it hit me hard at how serious her concern was. Sighing as the raging fire in my abdomen was momentarily swept to the back burner, I shook my head again and tugged on her shirt.

“I won’t fire you for that. I meant I wouldn’t touch you, please you, anymore… not that I wouldn’t let you work for me. You’re a big girl, Hannah- you can compartmentalize work and pleasure, right?” There it is. The awkwardness… I knew it was in there somewhere.

Hannah sagged with relief, and I couldn’t help but smirk when she nodded. Working the buttons on her shirt, my fingers trembled with desire even as her lacy, forest green bra disappeared. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her out of the chair and gave her a moment to set her files down before heading for the elevator.

AND that’s it! That was a long sneak peek, actually half the book!

You can get the Full book for $0.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited on Amazon right now by clicking here :