I stood in the shower with my hand wrapped around my cock, squeezing and jerking while picturing that glazed-over look on her face from a few nights before. Fuck, I could still smell the faint scent of her perfume from leaning close and whispering in her ear.

I let out a groan and pulled harder, stroking my throbbing dick while wishing it was her warm heat instead of my fucking hand. I’d been hard for her since walking away from that party. I couldn’t remember how many times I’d jerked off to just the memory of that gasp, or the small, subtle delirious yelp she let loose when I nibbled her ear.

I wanted her to go home and think of me when she was in bed that night. I wanted her to lose control and touch herself because of my words. I had no doubt she was wet after I left her, but my plan backfired, making my cock stand at attention every time I pulled up the memory of that conversation. I spent the rest of the weekend whacking off like a goddamned teenager.

And here it was, Monday morning, and I was still suffering from my craving for her.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! Agh!” My cum shot against the tile of the shower before mixing with the water and going down the drain. I gave my cock a few more tugs until I was spent… at least for the time being.

I finished showering and went about my morning routine, purposefully picking out one of my nicest suits to wear to work. I’d known Sophia as a scrawny girl, not that I paid much attention to her at that time. I’d known her as a teenager, and watched as she grew into the stunning woman who finally caught my eye and twisted me into knots that I never wanted to untangle. And she’d seen me grow up as well. She once told me that she’d had a crush on me for years, thinking I was the most handsome boy she’d ever known, but that it was the sight of me in a suit the first day I went to work for my father after graduating college that she remembered the most. The woman was putty in my hands whenever I dressed for work. On those rare mornings we spent together when she came home from college, I was always late to work. One look at me and she’d pounce like a cat.

Stopping at the Starbucks close to our building, I got a cappuccino for me and Sophia’s favorite vanilla latte. I had every intention of stopping on her floor to give it to her, but fortune was smiling down on me that morning when I stepped onto the elevator in the lobby to see her standing there, looking like sin in a black wool coat that hugged her curves and ended just above her knees, giving me a perfect view of her succulent legs down to her black fuck-me heels.

“Just the woman I was hoping to see.” I smiled, hit the button for my floor, and went to stand beside her. The doors began closing when someone’s hand shot between them to keep them open. “Take the next one.” My tone had a little more bite than I intended, but I didn’t care. Waving the wide-eyed man back, I jabbed the Door Close button as best I could with two full hands until we were alone.

Once we were closed inside the small box by ourselves, I turned back to the woman who’d been driving me out of my mind.

“That was… I can’t believe…,” she stammered. “That was incredibly rude!”

Ignoring her scolding glare, I extended a hand her way. “Here, I got this for you.”

She eyed the cup cautiously, like it was a snake coiled to strike. “You got me a coffee?”

“I did. You don’t have to sound so scared about it. We agreed to be civil, didn’t we?”

She slowly reached for the paper cup and brought it to her plump red lips. I had to fight off the erection that wanted to spring to life at the sight of her lush mouth puckering to take a sip. I was pathetic.

At the first taste, her eyes went big. “A vanilla latte?”

“With skim milk,” I answered, hit with a spike of uncertainty that I’d gotten it wrong. “That’s still your favorite, right?”

“Y-yeah,” she replied quietly. “I just can’t believe you remembered.”

I took a step closer to her, knowing I was invading her personal space, but I couldn’t help myself. I could be buried inside of her and it still wouldn’t feel close enough.

My voice came out ragged as I said, “I remember every single thing about you.”

I heard her stilted breath. I could see the faint flutter of her pulse in her neck beneath the flush rising up her skin, and I knew she’d spent the past couple of days thinking about me since I last left her.

“How was your weekend?” I asked in a low, teasing voice. Just as I’d hoped, her pupils dilated, the black threatening to swallow up the gorgeous ocean blue, and that blush deepened to a darker red on her cheeks. I knew that look well. I’d seen it many times when we were together. It was the look she’d had seconds before we fell into each other in a tangle of carnal bliss.

“I—”

“I spent all weekend thinking about you. I still remember what you feel like, what you sound like. I remember like it was yesterday,” I told her. “Did you think about me?” A broken gasp left her lips while her body swayed closer to mine. “Spent all weekend with my hand wrapped around my cock just thinking about it,” I growled into her ear. “Only time I’ve come harder in my life was when I was inside you.”

She released a whimpered moan and I knew she was close to breaking. I wanted to ask if she’d touched herself while she thought of me, but I didn’t want to push my luck. Besides, we were only a second away from reaching my floor. Despite my body’s protest, I moved away just as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. I took a step off and looked back to see her leaning against the elevator wall, panting uncontrollably.

“If I remember correctly, you still owe me that date I bought at the auction,” I reminded her. “I’ll be cashing in on that very soon.” With that warning I gave her a reprieve, turning and sauntered away. But the smile on my face remained as I headed for my office.

Almost, I told myself. It wouldn’t be long at all until I had Sophia Vaughn right where I wanted her. Back in my life and in my bed.

And this time I wasn’t going to lose her.

* * *

I’d barely been in my office for fifteen minutes when I heard “Why the hell do you look so happy?”

I lifted my eyes from my computer screen to find Caleb standing in the doorway of my office with a scowl etched into his face. I hadn’t known him long, but he was typically the most laid-back guy in the offices—probably had something to do with the fact that he fucked his way through the greater Seattle area every weekend. “I think the better question is why do you look so fucking miserable?” I returned.

He moved into the office and collapsed into one of the chairs across from me, raking his hand through his hair in agitation. “It’s Daphne, man. That chick’s got my shit all twisted up.”

I leaned back in my chair, unable to hold in my laughter. “Still immune to your limited charms?”

“Fuck off,” he grumbled. “And yes. What the fuck’s that all about? I can’t remember the last time I had to chase a piece of tail like this. I’m losing my goddamned mind. I mean, I get the whole thrill of a challenge thing, but this is ridiculous.”

Despite the fact that the dude was notorious for screwing anything that moved, I took pity on him. “Look, man, let me give you some advice. I’ve known those girls for a long time. Daph’s not the kind of woman who gets off on the chase. This isn’t a game for her, that’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it?” he asked with a hint of desperation, resting his elbows on his knees. “Help me out, ’cause I can’t wrap my head around this.”

I knew the story of Daphne’s past only because she was best friends with my sister. But I wasn’t willing to divulge information that wasn’t mine to give and risk being on the receiving end of any more of Sophia’s ire because she felt I’d betrayed her friend. I had to tread carefully.

“It’s not my story to give. But I will tell you this, that girl’s been burned in a bad way. She’s not putting up a challenge for you. And when I say that, what I mean is it’s never going to happen. You have a reputation known to the whole country and most of the world. She’s not going to get near you with a ten-foot pole.”

He flopped back in the chair like he’d just deflated. “Jesus, dude. Way to break it to a person gently.”

I held my hands up in surrender. “Hey, just trying to be honest. I think you should cut your losses and move on to the next one. Daphne King is in a whole other league.”

He stood from the chair and shoved his hands in his pockets. Instead of looking defeated like I assumed he would, his expression was one of determination. When he glanced at me and muttered, “Yeah, well we’ll just see about that,” I didn’t have a good feeling.

However, I had more important things on my mind than my coworker’s love life, or lack thereof. I had my own challenge to worry about.