Zero Tolerance

by Lynn Burke

  Payroll had at least gotten done.

  Please be an ugly troll … please God.

  “Mr. Fox?”

  Fuck. Husky and low, her voice shot straight to my cock. I lifted my head.

  Blonde hair in a tight bun, pale-green eyes framed by dark lashes, plumped pink lips, a button-up white blouse with a hint of cleavage peeking through, a pencil skirt hugging her hourglass figure … even without glasses, she was every schoolboy’s librarian fantasy.

  I am so fucked.

  Clearing my throat, I smiled. “You must be Jasmine.”

  She clasped her hands in front of her, her returned smile wobbling. “Yes.”

  I grabbed a manila envelope from the mail pile and stood, careful to keep my straining cock hidden behind it. “Good to meet you,” I said, holding out my free hand.

  Her lips parted, and she hesitated, gaze on my outstretched hand. “Y-you, too.” She slid her clammy palm against mine, and fuck me if pure lightning didn’t shoot up my arm and straight to my balls.

  I bit back a groan as she yanked her hand away as though burned by the same flash of whatever the fuck it was.

  “Dina showed you everything you need to know?” I asked as she wrung her hands together, her cheeks flushing and chest heaving.

  “Y-yes.”

  Her eyes glazed, and she began to shake.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, reaching out for her arm.

  Jasmine stepped back and held up a finger as though asking for a minute. She spun and hurried to sit on the chair behind her desk, putting her head down between her knees.

  What the fuck? I furrowed my brow as I followed her. “Jasmine?”

  She held up the same damn finger while sucking oxygen.

  “Asthma?” I asked.

  “No,” she whispered. “P-panic attack.”

  My brow shot up. I’d never had a woman go into clear panic mode from a mere brush of my hand. “Can I get you anything? Do anything to help?”

  She shook her head while I stood like an ass and just stared down at her. At least my cock chilled the fuck out.

  “I left the payroll checks on your desk to sign,” she said a couple minutes later, sitting back up but not looking at me, her words rushed and breathy.

  “Are you okay?” I asked again.

  “Being an Elite pays ten times better than any job I’ve had before,” she rushed on, ignoring my concern, her hands fluttering from one thing to another on the desk. “I’d join the team in a heartbeat if I didn’t have these damn physical touch issues.”

  “Touch issues?”

  Her face reddened. “My mouth runs sometimes. Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” I squatted down beside her, thinking maybe my towering height over her chair didn’t help any.

  “I don’t like to be touched.”

  “When?”

  “Ever.” She finally turned her head and looked at me.

  Goddamn lust shot through me again. “You just shook my hand.”

  “And reacted the same as I do every time anyone other than my sisters, Mom, or newborn nephew touches me.” Shaky laughter jostled her breasts, and I fought not to lower my attention below her nose. “You should have seen me at my doctor checkup last month. Hellish.” Another bout of nervous laughter escaped her lips.

  I leaned back, giving her the personal space she obviously needed. “Shit. That must really suck.”

  Jasmine shrugged. “I’m used to it, but yeah. Sucks major ass.”

  A low chuckle huffed through my nose. I wanted to ask if she’d ever gotten laid. When was the last time she’d gone out with a guy.

  Control, Fox. Goddamn it all to hell.

  I stood and smiled. “Well, I promise to keep my hands to myself at all times.”

  A hint of a frown furrowed her brow for a split second, but she smiled, gazing up at me with clear green eyes I wanted to drown in. “Dina told me you’re a man of your word.”

  Couldn’t help my grin. “She also calls me Mr. Grumpy Pants, but yes, I am. If I make a promise, I keep it.”

  “Thank you for understanding.”

  “Not a problem.” I turned back toward my office but paused in the doorway. “Glad to have you here, Jasmine,” I said, glancing at her one last time.

  Her smile widened and her body slouched in the chair. “Good to be here, sir.”

  A groan rose in my chest at her choice of title. No way in hell she would say that to me knowing what it meant. “Call me Micah.”

  “Okay. Micah.”

  I shut my office door and slumped on my chair. Why hadn’t Dina warned me about her sister’s issues? I hated to hurt anyone unless we were under agreement and scening together. Given a green light, I never held back dishing out whatever would give a submissive release.

  Jasmine Swift might appear a timid, shy submissive, but she was off limits way beyond the fact that she worked for me.

  I scrubbed a hand along my clipped beard and whispered every curse word I knew. How the fuck was I supposed to work with a woman like that all up in my space three days a week? Her perfume alone made me want to grab my cock and jerk off. Those lips, those breasts, a perfect landing place for my cum. Those hips and that ass…

  Goddammit.

  “You’re a master of control, you horny bastard,” I muttered to myself, all the while stroking myself through my jeans. “Either go fire her right now or plan on jerking off a couple times a day, three days a week.”

  I glanced up at my closed office door, straining for noises she might make. A drawer opened. Keys on the computer clicked. An image of her on her knees peering up at me rose out of nowhere, and I did groan.

  Time for another fucking cold shower.

  Chapter Four

  Jasmine

  Micah took off again not long after shutting himself in his office. Heat flushed my face, and I couldn’t meet his eyes when he’d come back out, cleared his throat, and said he had some stuff to take care of.

  I’d watched his shoes in my periphery until he turned. Then I turned and got an eyeful of his backside. His sandy-blond hair pulled back in a man bun, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs hugged by jeans. How a man’s jeans ought to fit, I’d thought as drool flooded my mouth.

  I’d hoped he would stop back in before I left for the day, but no such luck. I locked up the office and dialed Dina while walking to my car. “Hey,” I said before she finished saying hello.

  “What’s up?”

  “My God, Micah is so damn hot!” I whispered while climbing into my car. “Why the hell didn’t you warn me?”

  “You okay?” Dina asked, sounding preoccupied.

  “Yes.” A smile and sigh shuddered through me. “He’s the first guy I’ve actually wanted to touch me since … you know.”

  “Did he?” she snapped, and I imagined she’d stilled, ignoring whatever had occupied her mind seconds earlier.

  “We shook hands. Kind of.” Nervous laughter bubbled again. “I pulled away before he finished squeezing and had to talk myself down from a panic attack, but I actually touched a man’s hand by choice!”

  “He’s not the type you want touching you, Jaz.”

  My smile faded. “Why ever not? He was very concerned for me, and—”

  “He’s slept with hundreds of women.”

  “So what? I actually wanted a man to touch me. That’s a major step in recovery! Even better, I wanted to touch him!”

  “Well, your therapist wouldn’t want you getting involved with a man whore.”

  “Oh, my God, Dina.” I shook my head and roared my car’s engine to life. “I shook a man’s hand and you think I’m just going to bend over and let him fuck me?”

  Her snort of laughter held no hint of amusement. “If any man could talk you into it, Micah Fox is the one.”

  I stared at the office door, remembering the concern in his eyes and the sincerity in his tone of voice. “He promised he wouldn’t ever touch me again.”

  She didn’t reply.
/>   Yeah, I thought, putting my car into reverse. That shut you right up. “You said he’s a man of his word.”

  “He is.”

  “All right, then. No need for you to worry.”

  She sighed loudly in my ear, and I could see her lips pursing just like Mom’s. “Just be careful, Jaz.”

  “I’m always careful.”

  I hung up a few seconds later and pulled out of his driveway. The giddiness I’d felt over the fact I wanted a man to touch my hand for the first time in ages diminished, and my smile faded.

  ****

  I lay in bed that night with my nose in a book, same as every night. Re-reading Keri Lake’s Ripple Effect—the best dark erotic romance I’d found. My new favorite author filled my mind, taking me from reality and making me wonder what a man’s touch would be like.

  Being tied up and teased like the heroine. Spanked. Fucked to the point I didn’t even know my own name. Too bad I didn’t know what it felt like to be fucked, period.

  Micah came to mind for like the hundredth time that day since I first saw him sitting behind his desk. A lock of sandy hair had escaped his man bun, a short, groomed beard lined his square jaw. Perfectly shaped nose most male models would die for. And, those hazel eyes going from green to blue to green again as he did a once-over down my body.

  Although quick, his gaze had seared my skin beneath my clothing, and I’d felt arousal like never before, unlike any steamy scene in a romance novel brought to life between my thighs.

  Yes, I’d wanted his touch, and not just clasping my hand.

  According to his file at Elite, he acted as a Dominant for those clients wanting to submit. My runaway mouth had tossed out “sir” before I’d thought better. The stiffening of his back had pleased me more than what was probably appropriate. I wished like hell that I could call him that with a capital S.

  I closed my eyes and set the book on the bed beside me, allowing my mind freedom to run away with the fantasy of Micah Fox, my employer.

  Nipple clamps came first, the metal teeth biting into my flesh. A vibrator over my pelvis, down to my sopping pussy, and up over my throbbing clit.

  I bit down on the inside of my lip as I danced my fingers over myself, imaging his touch. His flesh caressing mine, tongue lapping at my wetness. Nibbling along my swollen labia.

  A hungry kiss, his sweet breath flooding my senses as he thrust his cock into me.

  “God,” I groaned, writhing beneath the onslaught of my own searching fingers. Not deep enough. Not full enough.

  I flicked my clit with my free hand, pinched, and rubbed until my climax tingled to life and finally crested, my pussy pulling on my fingers as gushes of cum spilled from me. Heaving for breath, I finally stilled, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

  I’d never come so hard in my life.

  What would the real thing be like?

  Chapter Five

  Micah

  I climbed out of the shower, my adrenaline still racing from jerking off to thoughts of Jasmine’s lips wrapped around my cock. Telling myself I needed to keep my distance and stay away from the office for a while, I toweled off.

  My phone dinged, and I grabbed it off the bathroom counter.

  Dina: If you do or say anything inappropriate with my baby sister, remember that I know ALL of your secrets. Elite is worth more than one woman’s pussy.

  Chuckling, I texted back with three thumbs up.

  She replied with an evil devil face.

  A few minutes later, I poured more coffee, and the phone rang. “I got the message loud and clear, Dina,” I said in answer before she could speak.

  “I was going to text you again, but it was too much.”

  “What’s up?”

  Dina huffed a sigh. “You’re the first person she’s ever wanted to touch her.”

  My brow shot up, and the hand lifting my coffee to my lips paused. I considered a sexual comment, but bit my tongue.

  “I can imagine what you’re thinking, which is why I called rather than texted. Her wanting physical contact with a person is a huge step in recovery from her trauma.”

  “Trauma? Is that what caused her touching issues?” I sipped my coffee.

  “She tell you about it?”

  I settled on a stool at the island. “No.”

  “Well, it’s not my story to tell.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Anyway, if you could just be her friend and maybe slowly introduce her to more appropriate, friend-like physical touch, I would forever be indebted.”

  “Are you asking this so I’ll still give you that wedding bonus I’d promised?”

  She laughed, and I sipped my coffee again. “No. I’m asking because I love my sister and want her happiness more than anything.” Her exhale sounded loud in my ear. “And, I trust you. Otherwise, I never would have allowed Jaz to work for you.”

  A pleasant tingle warmed my chest, but I grinned. “So you want to hire me?”

  “Ha! As if.”

  “I’ll do it for free because I adore you.”

  “You’re a pretty cool cat, too, Micah.”

  Fifteen minutes later and still grinning, I headed into the office rather than take off for the day like I’d intended to do in order to avoid Jasmine. I kept glancing at the clock, fidgeting while waiting rather than getting some work done.

  A car engine sounded outside in the driveway, and a strange twinge lightened my stomach. Minutes later, the outside door opened.

  Her perfume swept into my office on the cross breeze from my open window, and I filled my lungs, my mouth watering and cock swelling. “Jasmine?” I called a few minutes later, giving her time to settle in.

  She appeared in the doorway in a similar button-down and skirt, hair pulled back in that damn bun. Fuck, was she hot.

  I held up a file. “Medical forms and signatures for two new clients this weekend. They’ll need to be scanned and uploaded to the system.”

  She moved across the room and took the file from me, keeping her hand on the opposite end. “I’ll do it right away.”

  “Also”—I pulled in closer to my desk—“see if Anthony is available to fill in with the widow Mayfield next Friday night. If so, contact her and ask if the switch will be okay.”

  Where did that come from?

  “Sure thing.”

  I’d thought about the following weekend and wondered if I’d be able to get it up for the widow, but I realized I didn’t want to. All I wanted was Jasmine.

  I nodded, and she left, her ass drawing and holding my gaze. I wanted to sink balls deep inside of her—pussy, ass—whatever she wanted. Whenever she wanted.

  Fuck. Another hand scrub along my jaw. Temptation to fire her just so I could pursue her toyed in my brain, but I’d made a promise to Dina. I’d also made a promise to Jasmine not to touch her.

  I would be her friend. Set her at ease and get to know her, and I hoped she would realize that I was no threat.

  It’s going to be a long fucking day.

  ****

  Sunday—man-cave, men-only sports day. I’d sent out the request by text, but Cooney was the only one to show up. He brought fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies from Becky, and I chowed down until my stomach churned.

  I groaned and settled back in my threadbare recliner. “That woman of yours sure knows how to bake.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Cooney patted his stomach, his deep voice grumbling.

  I chuckled and sipped my beer, but set it aside when I realized I wasn’t going to fit anything else down. “You honestly happier having her in your life?”

  “Fuck yes. She’s the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  A twist of jealousy tried to make its way through my gut. I thought of both Reid and Jarod, both of who had left Elite in the previous year or so. Reid inherited a little girl when he’d hooked up with Jessica, and they had a new baby of their own. Jarod and Christine hung on each other every time I saw them. Used to sicken me, but the thought of Ja
smine clinging to me like that…

  My cock twitched, but it was the thought of the trust she would be showing with that kind of action that appealed to me most. Imagining the D/s relationship we could have if I helped her heal from whatever wounds scared her filled me with a desire I’d never experienced before.

  I cleared my throat. “So I’ve got this problem.”

  “Yeah?”

  “New secretary is hot, and I don’t want to keep my hands to myself.”

  “Shit.” Cooney shifted on the couch and stretched his legs out on the ottoman. “Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”

  “It’s Dina’s sister—”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “—and she’s got a problem with being touched.”

  “So what’s your problem if she doesn’t want to be touched?”

  “Dina asked me to be her friend. Help her conquer her issues since I’m the first person Jasmine has actually wanted to touch her.”

  “It’s not that she isn’t interested.”

  “Yeah.” I moved around on my chair, trying to get comfortable. Damn cookies. “I’m really not liking Becky right now.”

  Cooney chuckled. “What happened to your self-control?”

  “Out the fucking door.”

  He continued laughing.

  “At least I haven’t gone after Jasmine. Yet.”

  “What’s up with her not wanting to be touched?”

  “Not sure. Isn’t really something I can just ask about, you know?”

  “Dina said you’re the first guy her sister has wanted to touch her?”

  My cock tried to twitch again, but my stomach hurt too fucking much to pay it any mind. “We shook hands, and she started to have a panic attack, but yeah, guess so.”

  “You gonna be able to help her without losing control like you did with the cookies?”

  “Fucking prick,” I muttered.

  He laughed then groaned, holding his stomach. “Honest question.”

  I huffed a breath. “If I jerk off a dozen times a day, maybe.”

  “You could always fire her,” Cooney said a few seconds later. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

  I considered his words for a few minutes. “I’m in too fucking deep already.” Silence settled, and I glanced over at my buddy to find him peering at me, a grin on his face. “The fuck is on your mind, Cooney?”