Things at work were crazy thanks to the fact that our offices were closing for the upcoming holiday. We were all in a mad dash to get everything finished in time so we could enjoy the break without any stress. Unfortunately that meant our stress the two weeks before was at an all-time high.

I’d been pulling so many late nights that I couldn’t keep my hours straight. Each night I left, drove to Deacon’s, and then proceeded to crash wherever I lay my head down. The only thing that had kept me going the past week was the fact that I had the world’s best boyfriend. He rubbed my feet when I complained about them aching. He had dinner prepared and waiting for me each night when I got home, because he knew I’d been so wrapped up that I’d completely forgotten to eat. Even on the nights that he was still at the bar when I got home, he’d made sure to leave a note telling me where he’d stashed the leftovers. There was even one night when Deacon led me into the master bathroom after lighting a bunch of candles and filling the tub with a nice, hit bubble bath. He ordered me to strip and climb in, and then he disappeared. When he returned, it was with a glass of wine.

The bath was so relaxing, so heavenly, that I ended up falling asleep in the tub. Deacon found me like that before the water had a chance to go cold. He got me out and ready for bed. A few minutes later, I was out like a light, curled snuggly against him in bed.

I couldn’t remember a time in my life where I’d ever been so content. Even my relationship with Grayson hadn’t been this blissful, because there was still the underlying pain of having lost Deacon. Now I felt like I had everything. It used to be that I’d wake up each morning with my mind intent on nothing but work, so consumed with my job that it was all that mattered. This past week I’d found myself doing something I hadn’t done once since starting at Prentice Fashion: counting the hours until I could leave and go home to my man.

“Fiona, you still with me?”

Todd’s voice yanked me out of my daydream about how well Deacon wore a pair of jeans. “Sorry. Spaced for a second.” Picking up my pen, I quickly scribbled my signature on the order forms Todd had brought in ten minutes before. Once finished, I pressed my fingertips into my temples to alleviate the dull ache building in my skull.

Todd had been standing next to the chair I was sitting in, leaning over my desk, so the overwhelming stench of his cologne was only making my growing headache worse. At the feel of his hand on my back, my head shot up and turned his way to find that he had moved his attention from the documents he was going over to me. “You okay? You’re looking a little tense.”

I shifted to remove his hand and offered a bland smile. “I’m fine. Just tired. It’s been a madhouse around here. I’m ready for a vacation.”

He stood from his hunched position, and I briefly hoped that meant he’d gotten everything he needed and was going to leave. Todd, however, seemed to have other ideas. Instead of moving to the door, he turned, resting his back end on the edge of my desk and crossing his ankles like he was getting comfortable. It was obvious that he was settling in to stay a while, something I did not need. Especially considering he’d sat close enough to encroach on my personal space. “You and me both. You got any big plans for Christmas vacation?”

As discreetly as possible, I scooted my chair a few inches to the side as I answered, “Oh, you know, typical family stuff. I’m basically just hoping to relax for a few days.”

Todd crossed him arms over his chest as he smiled down at me with that I-know-I’m-good-looking-and-you-should-want-a-piece-of-this grin. “I know what you mean. You know, if you find yourself without plans one night, I’d really love to take you out for a drink. I’ve been hearing about this new place that’s supposed to be awesome—”

I was saved from having to shoot him down again by a knock on my office door.

“Come in,” I called out a little too enthusiastically. The door opened, and I instantly smiled at the sight of Deacon. That was, until I caught him looking between me and Todd with a dark, unhappy expression on his face.

“Hey, honey,” I chirped, standing quickly in an effort to put some space between me and Todd, and his Axe body spray. “This is a surprise,” I continued as I rounded my desk and headed his way. Once there, I placed my hands on his chest and lifted to my tiptoes for a quick kiss. It wasn’t nearly enough, but just seeing him worked wonders on easing some of my stress.

He looped a claiming arm around my waist and pulled me closer, the caveman in action for Todd’s benefit. “I figured you probably skipped lunch again, so I stopped by with a sub on my way to the bar.”

My stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl at the mention of food, but I was suddenly too hungry to care. “Crap, is it after lunch already?”

Deacon shot me a crooked smirk. “Babe, it’s after three.”

“Damn,” I muttered, snatching the plastic bag from his hands and peeking inside. “Ooh! Turkey and swiss! Did you—”

“I told them easy on the lettuce, heavy on the mayo,” he answered, already knowing exactly what I was going to ask.

“God, you’re such a lifesaver. I saw two sandwiches. Does that mean you get to stay for a bit?”

“Just a little while. Then I’ve got to get to work.”

Willing to take however much time with him I could get, I gave him another peck and turned back for my desk, only to jerk to a stop since I’d momentarily forgotten that Deacon and I had company. “Oh, Todd. This is my boyfriend, Deacon. Deac, this is Todd. A coworker of mine,” I added, hoping to drive the point home to Todd that nothing was ever going to happen between us.

Deacon stood there, staring blankly as Todd sized him up. And being the arrogant ass he was, from the look on Todd’s face I could tell he was under the mistaken impression that he was better. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

I spoke to get his attention back on me, and hopefully hurry him out the door. “Is there anything else you needed, Todd?”

He picked up the documents I’d just signed and turned back to me with a slimy smile. “No, Fiona. That’s it. For now.” He began to leave, but not before stopping just beside Deacon and glancing back at me over his shoulder. “And let me know about that drink. You’ve got my number.”

Then he was gone, closing the door behind him.

The asshole.

Deacon’s eyes went from the door to me. One brow quirked up as he asked, “You’ve got his number?”

With a roll of my eyes, I started pulling the food out and setting it on the desk. “Everyone here has each other’s numbers. They’re all listed on the employee database.” I took a seat on the desk to face him as he sat in the plush chair in front of me. I passed him his sandwich and began unwrapping my own.

“There something with that guy I should know about?” Deacon asked before taking a bite of his own lunch.

“Nope,” I replied after swallowing a mouthful of the best sandwich in Seattle. “Like I said, he’s just a coworker.”

I shoved another huge bite in my mouth, my stomach thankful for the sustenance. Lately, all I’d been eating at work was whatever shitty, several-days-stale junk I could get from the break room vending machine. If I had to eat one more PowerBar or bag of pretzels, I was likely to stab someone in the eye.

“You know he wants to fuck you, right?”

I choked on a piece of turkey I’d just swallowed and had to cough to clear the way for air. Once I could breathe normally, I told him, “He’s harmless, Deac. He’s just a bit clueless is all. You’ve got nothing to be jealous about,” I added with a teasing wink.

He snorted disdainfully. “You think I’d be jealous of him? That dickless wonder wears enough cologne to choke a horse.”

A giggle burst past my lips as I set my partially eaten sandwich down and kicked off one of my high heels. Running my foot up Deacon’s calf to his thigh, I lowered my voice and said, “Sure sounds like you’re jealous to me.”

My toes encountered the bulge behind his fly, and my breath hitched as I rubbed against his erection, earning myself a ferocious growl from him.

“I see my girl’s in the mood to play.”

“Mmm,” I moaned, pressing harder against his thickening cock. “I can’t help it. You’re just so damn sexy.”

Tossing his lunch to the side, he stood from the chair, dislodging my foot, and came closer, pressing his palms against the desk on either side of my hips. “You want me to fuck you, baby?”

“Always,” I said on a whoosh of air.

He smiled that delicious smile that spoke to all the naughty things he wanted to do to me. “Tell me, Fee. Are you already wet just thinking about it?”

My lips parted to inhale deeply as I nodded, so turned on I was unable to form words. One of his hands moved, coming to rest on the inside of me left thigh. His fingers slowly started trailing up beneath my skirt as he leaned in and whispered, “Let me see.”

I spread my thighs as wide as the tight material would allow and dropped my head back on a gasp as his fingertips whispered across the soaked material. He pressed down, putting pressure on my clit as he hummed appreciatively. “Oh yeah, you’re ready for me. Think you can keep quiet while I take you fast and hard on your desk?”

I smiled wickedly and said, “If I can’t, I’m sure you’ll come up with a creative way to silence me.”

At my challenge, Deacon shoved aside my panties and plunged two fingers inside me. When my lips parted to let out a loud moan, Deacon’s mouth crashed down on mine, swallowing the sound with a searing kiss as he continued to fingerfuck me, pushing me closer and closer to release before I was ready.

He ripped his mouth from mine and stated with a cocky grin, “Oh yeah, I’m sure I can come up with something.”