Sinking down into her chair, she felt overwhelmed, so she decided to call her sister. Jasmine answered halfway through the second ring.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Jasmine.”
“Well hey, stranger. Where were you last night? I thought you were coming over for dinner. Danny made chicken and dumplings just for you.”
Guilt washed over her. She hadn’t seen her sister in over a year. And upon her return to Albuquerque, she’d set up a dinner date with her sister and her sister’s husband.
“I… Uhhh. Worked late and it slipped my mind. I’m sooo sorry.”
The long pause from her sister turned into a gasp of revelation. “You little hussy. You stayed the night with a man, didn’t you?”
Closing her eyes tight, Jayla picked up on every ounce of sass packed into her sister’s words. She could just imagine Jasmine with one hand on her hip and her devious grin lighting up her face.
“Why would you assume that?” Jayla tried not to let her panic come through in her voice.
“I’m your sister. I know you, Jay. I know when you’re lying and when you’re nervous.”
On cue Jayla’s hand flitted to her forehead, swiping tendrils of hair back into place. “I am not a hussy. I’m a grown-ass woman, and if I want to have sexual relations with someone, there’s nothing wrong with my choice to do so.”
“Gotcha. I knew you slept with a man, you ho bag. Back in town one day, and you’re already rounding up dick.”
Grinding her teeth, she cursed under her breath for falling for Jasmine’s goading. “I am not a ho bag.” She bit the words out, letting her anger get the better of her.
“I’m just kidding. Calm down. Sheesh, you’re in a mood.”
“I’m sorry. I’m stressed out big time.”
“Hmm. The sex must not have been good.”
“On the contrary, my dear Watson.” Covering her mouth, Jayla giggled, surprised at her own words.
“Really? We’re quoting Sherlock Holmes when we talk about the cock from last night? This man must be good.”
Jayla laughed. Oh, if her sister only knew.
“I can’t talk now. I’m working and stressing at the same time.”
“Well, stop stressing. And tell Sherlock Holmes to let you off his cock long enough for dinner tonight. I better see you tonight for sure this time. And I want all the juicy details.”
“Whatever, sis.”
Shaking her head, she ended the call with her sister. There was nothing like hearing her sister’s voice to set her back on track. Grabbing some files, she began selecting the pieces of information she wanted to research further.
Thirty minutes later, Jayla rose from her desk, needing to make copies. She realized that to get to the copy machine, she would have to trespass into Brad’s side of the building. She knew she could have her new assistant make copies for her, but…she needed to stretch her legs.
Taking the long route, she bypassed Brad’s office by looping around the entire tenth floor until she reached the copy room. Idly standing at the copier, she closed her eyes, relishing her closer proximity to him. His strong scent permeated the air and soothed the ache she hadn’t even realized was there. Her wolf calmed in an instant.
BRAD STOPPED RUBBING his temples as he sat slouched in his office chair. Like magic, his headache, tense muscles, claustrophobia, and insatiable thirst vanished. Sitting erect, he marveled at how he could sense Jayla’s presence across the hall from him, her smell intensified by her closeness to him.
Unable to help himself, he jumped up. He entered the small room where Jayla stood near the copier, her back facing the door. He could tell by the sudden stiffening of her posture she was aware of his presence. For a moment neither said anything.
“What the hell are you doing, Dalton? I thought we agreed to stay away from each other at work.”
Although she sounded hostile, Brad could hear the excitement intertwined in her voice. He knew the feeling. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop wanting or needing her. It was frustrating as all hell.
SHE DIDN’T TURN, focusing instead on the wall in front of her while she spoke. If he could affect her with just one whiff of his scent, she didn’t stand a chance looking into those sexy blue eyes. Dread began setting in, and Jayla could feel her hostility clicking into place, trying to ward off his unintentional seduction.
“I tried to stay away, but you deliberately walked down here so I would follow you. It’s hard enough staying at my end of the building with your stench filling the air. You don’t need to prance around, trying to get my attention.”
“Stench? Prance?” Jayla pinched the bridge of her nose, biting back an expletive. She spun around to face him and made sure to lower her voice. “I smell very good, thank you very much. And you have got some nerve. I came in here to make copies.” She pointed to her body in emphasis, then shook her finger in an exaggerated movement. “This is me, soooo not prancing around.”
Brad looked down at the unsightly dress she wore. The shapeless article of clothing fell limp across her body. And to add insult to injury, the dark-green dress was adorned with light-blue coconuts and orange birds flying over each one.
“Jesus, Jayla. What the fuck are you wearing?”
“It’s a Christmas gift from my great-aunt Ernesta.”
She always brought the dress with her when she came to Albuquerque because her aunt got such joy out of seeing her wear it. As much as she loved her aunt, it had to be the world’s ugliest dress. This morning when she decided to put it on, it seemed like a marvelous idea: wear the dress to remind herself to stay away from Brad.
“Your great-aunt Ernesta must not like you very much.”
Speaking through gritted teeth, her words came out as a snarl. “She adores me.”
“Well, it looks terrible on you.”
“I know it looks terrible.”
“Oh, I see.” He widened his stance, thrusting his hands into his pockets.
“What? What do you see?”
“You’re vain.”
“What? Just because I like to look nice for work doesn’t make me vain.”
“Then why are you pouting over the frock?”
Narrowing one eye at him, she felt her face spasm from anger. “I am not pouting over the frock. I hate the reason I’m wearing it.”
“You talkin’ about me?”
Stepping closer, she shoved a finger into his hard chest. “What do you think, Bradford?”
“I can’t stand it when you call me by my full first name. When you say it, it sounds like a curse word. Don’t. Call. Me. That.” The tick in the corner of his mouth returned, emphasizing his annoyance.
“Did I hit a nerve? Should have let it roll off your back, Bradford. Now I have a way to torture you all day long.”
“We’re once again stooping to petty games.”
“Actually, Bradford, yes; when it comes to you, I’ll sink as far down as I have to.”
THE THOUGHT OF Jayla sinking down to her knees had fire flashing through Brad’s body. Her dilating pupils made his jaw clench tight. She blew out a jagged breath, and he growled in response to his cock hardening from the growing urgency to dive into her hot, wet sheath. Reaching behind him, he closed the door and turned the lock, transforming the small space into a sexcapade room.
Jayla’s eyes widened. She appeared to be freaking out, vigorously shaking her head as she took two steps backward, bumping into the copier. “We can’t do this here.” Her appalled whisper did nothing to knock sense into him.
“Oh, yes, we can,” he whispered back.
“We’ll make a mess if you…we do this here. If you think I’m swallowing, you’re in for a long wait.”
“I brought condoms.”
“You think of everything, don’t you, Brad?” Clenching her fists, she stomped her foot in annoyance.
“No, I think ahead. I anticipate problems.”
“Oh, and having sex at work is a problem you have to anticipate? Wha
t the hell kind of reality do you live in?”
“The reality is, I anticipated you doing your best to seduce me and succeeding.”
“I didn’t try to seduce you.”
“Didn’t you…temptress?”
HER MOUTH FELL open in bewilderment. The man was delusional. Itching to slap him again, she opened her fisted hands, trying to decide which side of his face she wanted to strike first.
Closing the short distance between them, he swept Jayla into his arms. She moaned even before his mouth captured hers. Pressing one palm into the small of her back, he cradled her neck with his other hand and pushed his tongue into her mouth.
They weren’t as out of control as they had been in the stairwell the day before, but sweltering heat flowed between them. Brad unbuttoned his slacks, freeing his cock. Capturing her hand, he wrapped it around his rock-hard shaft. The second Jayla touched him, all the fight left her body. Who was she kidding? She wanted him bad. She needed him deep inside her right now.
Gripping him, she shivered as he grew even longer and harder. She couldn’t completely close her fist around his girth, and she marveled how his cock felt like a thick steel pipe covered in silk. Cupping her other hand around the back of his neck, she pulled him in for another passionate kiss. After a few seconds Brad broke their lip-lock, grabbing for her body, his hands tangled awkwardly in the overabundance of material surrounding her. He grew increasingly frustrated as her muumuu prevented him from filling his palms with the swell of her curves.
Jayla knew she had about two seconds to remove her garment before Brad tore the material from her body. Snatching her dress, she pulled it off, and Brad sucked in a breath when he saw the skimpy black-lace bra and black-lace thong.
BRAD KNEW A person didn’t wear a hideous frock with a sexy ensemble underneath unless they were hoping for something good.
“If I didn’t know any better, Jayla, I would think you were anticipating a problem.”
Her face flushed, but the blush quickly dissipated. Brad tugged her bra down, releasing a nipple from its pent-up torture. His teeth scraped across the hardened peak before his mouth covered the entire area, sucking on tender flesh. Knowing they didn’t have a lot of time, he withdrew his mouth.
“Later, Jayla, I’m going to worship every inch of your body. But right now, I’m going to fuck you fast and hard.”
Pulling a condom out of his wallet, he sheathed himself. He turned her away from him and pushed her toward the wall. Inspecting her body from behind, he knew hands-down she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Standing in heels, she modeled her thong and bra better than any lingerie model he’d ever seen. Jayla had his cock jumping in anticipation. Running a hand over her ass, he caressed the smooth, soft skin.
Encouraging her to spread her legs, he slid his hand to her pussy and rubbed it over her thong. He could feel her wetness through the lacy material. Using his other hand, he gripped his cock, then rubbed it against her ass.
“You put this on for me, didn’t you?”
“Shut up, Brad.”
“Who’d you put this on for, Jayla?”
She whipped her hair over her shoulder and looked back at him. Her exposed neck was too tempting not to go for. Scraping his teeth along the column, he flicked it with his tongue. Running his hands up her sides, he palmed her breasts, squeezing them as he continued to suck her neck, being careful not to give her a passion mark. Her quiet moan delighted him.
“You… I put it on for you.”
Feeling his ego swell with male pride, he trailed his hands back down to her waist. He hooked her thong with one finger and pulled it aside. Guiding his cock with his free hand, he pushed into her glistening pussy, and they both struggled to remain quiet. An inch at a time, he slowly worked himself deeper. Once fully seated inside her, he paused for just a moment, loving the tightness of her cunt. Grabbing her generous hips with both hands, he plunged in and out, knowing he wouldn’t last long.
The added thrill of doing something so bold at work and the danger of someone catching them enhanced the excitement. Jayla braced her hands against the wall and took his pounding. She worked her ass up and down, letting her head rest against the cool slab of concrete.
Watching her gyrate on his cock, Brad gripped her waist tighter. Her round ass cheeks bounced, and he fought the urge to spank her. God, he loved her ass. He was ready to explode.
“You make me so fucking hard.”
JAYLA FELT AT the same time naughty and sexy. Brad made her feel so many things she’d never experienced. Never in her life had she done something so wild and risqué. She pushed her ass higher into the air, loving every second.
Thrusting in and out of her, he fulfilled his promise. He fucked her hard. He fucked her fast. Barreling them both toward carnal bliss.
“Yes. Yes. Brad. Yes. Make me come. Please.”
Her whispered plea, saturated with need, drove him over the edge. Reaching around, he slid his hand into the front of her thong and found her ripe, swollen clit. He pinched it, and she exploded on the spot. He rocked into her one more time before he tumbled with her.
Clamping down tight on his cock, Jayla threw her head back, willing herself to hold back her screams of pleasure.
Brad cursed quietly over and over again into the back of her neck, his cock spurting its release. Drained, he wrapped both arms around her waist, holding her tight against him.
Jayla’s legs felt like jelly, and she leaned against him, waiting for her breath and strength to return. She delayed for several moments before she could move away from him, then turned and pressed her back into the wall. She watched as he leaned down and picked up her dress. He surprised her by tugging her against his chest and pressing a firm but quick kiss against her lips. Drawing back, he ran his hand down one side of her face, staring into her eyes for a moment, communicating things she didn’t understand.
As quickly as the moment transpired, it passed. Brad thrust her clothing into her hands, rotating his back to her. Jayla hurriedly dressed, sliding the material over her body.
Removing the condom, Brad wrapped it in a handful of tissues he’d pulled from his pocket. He used another tissue to clean himself before he tugged his slacks up his hips and buttoned them.
“You should go,” he whispered, sounding completely spent.
Nodding, Jayla unlocked the door, cracked it open, and slipped out. As she walked down the long hall, she ran her hands through her hair as she tried to smooth her locks along with her jittery nerves. She’d have to send her assistant down to make the copies and bring her back the original. Her hands next moved to her dress, and she tried to smooth the wrinkles.
“Jayla?”
The thought of getting caught made Jayla feel as if her heart might leap from her chest. Relief flooded her as she saw Monica Saunders walking toward her.
“Monica, I’m so glad you’re here.”
“What are you wearing?”
Jayla cringed at the repulsion in Monica’s voice. “It’s a long story.”
Clearly unable to take her eyes off her muumuu, Monica spoke to Jayla’s dress instead of her. “It was late when I got in, so I decided not to call you. You don’t even want to know what the airline botched this time.”
Once again, Brad’s cock had wiped her memory clean. She’d totally forgotten about Monica’s arrival.
“Yes… Right… Of course… I figured as much.”
Shaking her head, Monica continued, “I have some bad news, Jayla.”
“Uh-oh.”
Before getting an answer, Jayla’s spine stiffened. Brad strolled up to them, looking calm, cool, and collected. Not one hair on his perfect head out of place. It infuriated her how frazzled she still felt and how frazzled she knew she looked. It irritated the hell out of her that their tryst didn’t seem to affect him.
“Monica. It’s good to see you.” Brad smiled at her.
Tearing her gaze away from Jayla’s muumuu, Monica’s eyes met Brad’s.
> “Mmm-hmm. Good to see you too, Brad. I will forever be loyal to Jayla, so you can back off on the flattery.”
There was an undeniable glint of teasing in Monica’s eyes.
Brad’s smile widened. “And Jayla’s cavalry is here.”
“Not as long as we’d originally planned, though.”
“What?” Jayla couldn’t help the panic in her voice.
“Mr. Graybar is sending both Grant and me to New York later this week.”
“Grant?” It was Brad’s turn to let his displeasure affect his tone.
“Why?” they asked Monica in unison.
“He has a new project for us to work on.”
Everyone turned around as Grant Monroe’s voice drifted into the conversation. He walked up to the group and stood across from Monica in between Brad and Jayla. He was a few inches shorter than Brad but possessed a similar muscular frame. A broad chest and widespread neck matched his intense personality. His black hair was cut short, with a little extra length on top. His brown eyes paired nicely with his tan skin. Never taking his eyes off Monica, he continued to speak.
“Hey, Brad. I already sent you an email with details. Jayla, welcome to Albuquerque. It’s going to be good having you here with us.”
“Thank you, Grant.” Jayla offered him a smile, even though his eyes remained on Monica.
“You cut your hair.” Grant’s words sounded like an accusation.
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