(un) Broken

by Charlotte Daniels

  I wince, the trauma from my last encounter with Karen fresh in my mind.

  “Anyway, tomorrow’s my birthday and we’re getting drunk at Shake ‘n’ Stir.” He grins salaciously.

  Scowling, I narrow my eyes on him, debating through my variety of excuses to get out of Ryan’s crap. I have to go over the sales reports, fix our marketing campaigns, find time to breathe… As if sensing my hesitation, he points his finger at me, shaking his head.

  “Oh no, asshole. You are fucking coming, even if I have to drag your ass there. Be there at eleven o’clock, or I’m charging my night on your company credit card.” Snickering, he flips me the bird in the form of a salute and strides out of the room, his deep chuckle ringing through the floor as he continues down the corridor.

  Asshole. If I don’t go, he really will charge the company card—again. Fuck. And I’d have to explain the accounting why I spent thousands of dollars on alcohol and women Picking up the folder, I make my way back to my office and take the coffee from Stacey’s outstretched hands before continuing inside and letting the door drift shut. I take my first sip before I sit down and groan as the mocha, cinnamon spice glides to the back of my throat.

  I breathe in deeply, gazing through the floor to ceiling windows of my office toward the towering skyscrapers littering the New York skyline. Five years of busting our asses, and it could come crashing down in five minutes.

  Shaking my head, I head back to my desk and reluctantly begin to sift through the piles of paperwork burying it.

  “Garrett?”

  Lifting my head from the file, Stacey walks toward me, biting her lip. “Dad said to give you this. As a thank you.” Shuffling, she moves her hands from behind her back and hands over a gift basket filled with biscuits, chocolates, wine, and cheese.

  Taking it from her, I peek at all of the goodies in front of me, my mouth tugging into a small smile as I spot the flask of whiskey stashed in the back.

  “You didn’t have to do this, Stacey, but thank you.”

  “No! Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, my dad wouldn’t be here… And I would have been swamped with medical bills. You saved our lives, Garrett. Nothing… nothing we could ever do will repay you in our eyes.” Her voice constricts on those final words, and she stops talking abruptly to conceal it. She smiles, but it’s strained.

  Stacey’s father—the Lieutenant, as I knew him—was a hard man and left around the same time as the guys and me. My body still aches thinking about the drills he put us through, but we wouldn’t have made it without him.

  “Your dad is a great man, Stacey, and he’s saved my ass more times than I can count. The least I can do is see that he’s taken care of. He’s more of a father to me than my own was.” The old and familiar bitterness of my father’s betrayal sours my stomach, my heart instinctively closing itself off as I turn my thoughts back to the Lieutenant.

  After all, that tough bastard went through, he ended up with cancer. Fucking cancer of all things. He and his family couldn’t afford to pay for surgery or treatment, so I only did what any of our team would have done—we help our own.

  Stacey nods. Her lips are pressed together, and she looks up at the ceiling as she says, “You—” her voice cracks and she clears her throat before looking down to meet my eyes. “You aren’t as much of a hard ass as you make yourself out to be, Garrett.”

  I smile, pushing back my chair as I wrap her in a quick hug, ruffling her hair. “Just don’t let it get out. I have a reputation to uphold.” Winking, I reach into the basket and pull out a box of chewy, chocolate chip cookies, the smell making my mouth water.

  “Don’t eat all of those at once or else I’m going to have to roll you home.” Stacey laughs as she leaves my office, closing the door behind her.

  Scoffing, I groan as I bite into the cookie. I can stop at one, I’m not an addict.

  Stepping into my building, I welcome the cool relief of the air conditioning. I’m almost queasily full from an entire packet of cookies, and yet my stomach still rumbles as I head toward the elevator; the prospect of eating something other than sweets has my feet moving at a rapid rate toward my favorite neighbor as she struggles to hold a hefty-looking box in her arms, her heeled feet stumbling toward the elevator.

  I place my hands on her arms to steady her, then pull my hands away quickly when she snarls. Despite her ferocity, her familiar vanilla bean and peach scent tickles my nose as I stand next to her. How does she smell so good all the time? Stepping back, I suck in a sharp breath. “Good evening, Ellie. Do you need a hand?”

  Those hazel eyes glare daggers at me and my nerve endings come alive as the electricity between us intensifies, sending my heart galloping in my chest.

  Huffing, she turns away, her breasts rising and falling against the box in her arms, sweat beading across her forehead. “Hello, Garrett. I’d say it was lovely to see you again, but I’d be lying. And no thank you. I wouldn’t want you to exert yourself.” Sniffing, she taps her slender fingers against the front of the box, drawing it closer to her chest. But I see her eyes skim over my arms and I smirk.

  I could spend my nights with any woman, but none of them compare to being near Ellie. Sparring with her is like an aphrodisiac; I can’t help but come back for more. I’ll gladly get under her skin, or her, just to feel her barbs and have her blazing eyes on me.

  Hearing the ping for the elevator, we both step in, Ellie struggling to press our floor level. Chuckling, I take the box from her arms, earning another hard glare as she slaps the button to our floor.

  Stepping closer, she reaches for the box, but I tighten my grip on it. Her eyes burn with molten fury as she attempts to hold on tightly and pull, but with a simple jostle, I send her stumbling into me. Our faces fall inches apart on top of the box, and I smirk as she glares. I enjoy being close to her, the way my body comes alive by being around her, even if she really doesn’t like me.

  I was a jerk when we first met; I was so lost in her eyes, I didn’t notice her damn dog peeing on my leg and shoe. And sure, I was angry at the mutt, but I didn’t and still don’t think I deserved to be growled at. I don’t know how she expected me to react, but my inner asshole rose to the challenge. And she matches my every step.

  “Give me my package,” she enunciates each word, whispering them over the box between us. I smell the peppermint on her breath, feel the slight breeze created by her words, and it sends a spark down to my pants.

  “Girl, you need to earn this package,” I wink, and she scoffs, finally pulling the box from my grasp and crushing it to her chest. Even as she takes refuge in the far corner of the elevator, I can see the blood rising to her cheeks.

  A plastic packet clatters to the ground, falling through a tear at the bottom of the mangled box. Her blazing eyes move between the packet and me, and her eyebrows pinch together.

  “Look what you did!”

  Chuckling, I bend down to pick up the packet. She’d love it if I did. I shouldn’t mention that… Should I? She’d probably just growl at me again. Snorting, I grab hold of the package as I shake my head.

  I think I’m finally losing it. Straightening, I hold out the packet while staring into her fiery eyes. “I believe this is yours.”

  Her gaze flicks down to my hand, and her face turns beet red. Her jaw drops for a second before she clamps it shut, but the sheer horror in her expression is enough to get me going all over again. Realizing that her hands are full, I ‘help’ by placing the item on top of the box.

  The seven-inch dildo sits just beneath her chin. It’s a veiny toy one I immediately recognize as one of our newest designs. Chuckling, I quirk my eyebrow at the giant rubber member. The shock-horror expression on her face is priceless.

  “New friend of yours, Ellie? I didn’t realize you were that hard up for a man. You could have asked.” I wink at her, the redness in her cheeks deepening as I grin. “I’d have been more than happy to let you use mine… for free, too.” Waggling my eyebrows at her, I move back across th
e elevator, unbutton the top of my shirt and shrug my jacket off.

  I lean against the cold, metal wall, watching her mouth fall open and closed as her eyes roam over my chest and down my body. They linger on my crotch. Had she been anyone else, I’d already have them begging for me against this elevator wall. But with Ellie, I want more.

  The elevator pings, snapping her out of her stunned stupor. She hurries past as she struggles with the box and the balancing dildo. The chirping sound of her ringing phone suddenly fills the empty hallway. She curses, sprints the last few steps to her door, places the box down and pulls out her phone. Her eyes narrow as she answers it, listening to whoever is on the other end.

  I’d hate to be whoever that is. Stepping out of the elevator, I follow behind her, purposefully slowing my steps to listen in on her conversation.

  “Don’t you dare, ‘hey girl’ me, Mia! I just dropped a cock in the elevator… What do you mean why did I open the box…? How was I supposed to know that there was going to be a giant dildo in there?” She shoots me a glare as I arrive next to her at my door, her voice raising with each word.

  “There’s more!? What the hell is in this thing?”

  Yes, Mia, how much more is in that box? And would it be an invasion of privacy if I were to look it up on my system?

  Probably?

  Most definitely. Fuck.

  Shaking my head, I take out my keys and let myself into my apartment before I do something I’ll regret. Ellie’s tirade—now slightly quieter—penetrates my walls as she continues to reprimand her friend for the box of sex toys.

  Throwing my jacket over the kitchen chair, I unbutton my shirt as I make my way to my bathroom, thoughts of Ellie and her box of kinks filling my every thought.

  “Fuck,” I groan. Slipping off my pants, I turn the rainfall shower on as hot as it can go before stepping into the spray. Resting my forehead against the cool tiles, the heat penetrates my skin as I picture Ellie; her smile, those gorgeous hazel eyes, her feisty attitude… how she’d taste exploding on my tongue.

  “Ugh. Fuck it.” Gripping my already hard cock, I stroke my length, slowly at first, quickening to a punishing pace. With the way that her eyes gleamed as she stared between the dildo and my dick, I convince myself she was wondering about me. I hope, anyway.

  For as long as I’ve known her, she’s hated me. And I’ve played my part, pretending that she’s the bane of my existence. The curiosity and heat I saw in her eyes has etched itself inside my mind. I’ll take that if it means I have a chance.

  My heart pounds wildly in my chest at the prospect of being with Ellie. My balls tighten with pleasure and need and I shoot my release over the wall, groaning as heady ecstasy washes over me.

  Damn that fucking woman.

  She was beautiful in a nerdy-librarian way, with her jeans, wide-framed glasses, and graphic T’s. But seeing her yesterday in that long, tight skirt, and that fitted blouse that molded to her chest like a second skin—all logical thought went out the window. I want her now more than ever. I just have to find a way to make it happen. Without sounding like a dick. Or a creep.

  I quickly clean up the shower before stepping out and wrapping a towel around waist. The sound of a door opening and closing echoes from the other side of the walls as I step into my dressing room.

  “How the fuck does this thing work?” Ellie’s muffled growl drifts through our adjoining wall, her voice getting louder as she moves closer. “Insert two, double AA batteries… Wet the suction cup… Apply to a clean surface and use… Well, that seems simple enough.”

  Plastic tears, my heart racing at the sound. What the actual fuck? From the horrified expression on her face and the subsequent berating of her friend on the phone, I know she had no idea what was in the box. But I didn’t think she’d actually use any of it.

  Holy. Fucking. Shit.

  The ripping of cardboard draws me back into the present, making me painfully aware that I’m naked, rock-fucking-hard—again—and creeping on the beauty next door… through a wall. I should leave, go to my bedroom, turn on some heavy metal and watch a documentary about Chernobyl. Anything to distract me from…

  But my feet stay rooted to the ground as cascading rivets of water echo through the wall, splashing against the tiled floor on the other side. Her apartment is a perfect mirror of mine; I can imagine it perfectly—imagine her perfectly. Fuck.

  “How do I turn—?” A loud, buzzing noise vibrates against the wall, drowning out the rest of her sentence. “Fuck! Turn down, turn down! Why the hell does this thing start on airplane mode!”

  I chuckle at the frantic tone in her voice. Half of me is secretly loving this, while the other half is disappointed at my lack of control—and decency. God save my soul.

  “God. Okay. Do I lube it up or just jump right on?”

  I grip the edge of the vanity, staring at my crazed reflection on the mirror opposite.

  “Edible orange blossom, huh?” A plastic seal rips open and a bottle cap pops. “Oh. My. God. This tastes like marmalade…” Her moan ripples down through my body straight to my dick. My chest heaves as I tighten my hold on the vanity.

  God, if she didn’t hate me… Why have I resisted for so long? Wrapping my hand around my hard cock, I slowly stroke myself, savoring the fire coursing through my body, sparking every nerve to life.

  “Oh… oh, fuck.” Ellie groans, the sound shooting straight through my throbbing cock. I imagine her inching back onto the large dildo.

  I’d kill to be that thing right now. “Holy shit…” I whisper, grinding my teeth, hyper-aware that thin walls work both ways.

  “Oh, God. Fuck. Please…”

  My hand grips my cock tighter as her cries drive me on.

  Would it be insane to barge in on her right now?

  “Yes! Right there… God… Make me cum. Please, Sir.”

  My hand stops in shock, her words sinking in. Sir?

  “Yes. Oh my God. That’s it… Garrett!” Ellie cries out my name, her orgasm loud and clear as day.

  She was thinking about me? Rampant lust and satisfaction surges through me, pushing me over the edge as I cum in my hand, my balls tightening with each release. She… will be the death of me. And I haven’t even touched her—yet.

  I wait a few minutes after her bathroom door closes before cleaning myself up and washing the evidence down the drain. Guilt overwhelms me as I stare at my scruffy reflection.

  You are a fucking terrible person.

  Don’t change.

  Tomorrow, I’m going to offer her something I know she won’t be able to resist… Me.

  3

  Ellie

  “Guys, I don’t think this is going to work.” I bite my lip, staring at my scantily clad reflection. The emerald green lace bra and thong are gorgeous, and the interconnecting bejeweled choker is equally stunning. It cups and lifts my breasts nicely and gently hugs my curves everywhere else. I love it, but it’s too much for what Mia, Katie and, well, I have planned for tonight.

  Mia whistles as she walks into the room to help me onto my rhinestone-heeled feet. “Girl, if I was into the bearded clam, I’d do you in a heartbeat.”

  Katie, hot on her heels, lets out an excited squeal as she rushes over to pull me into a tight hug. Champagne drifts from her breath as she breathes happy giggles over me—she’s already far-gone, and we’ve only been through a bottle between us.

  “Ellie-bear! You look like a sex kitten! That smoky eye and merlot lip was a brilliant idea!” Squealing again, she claps her hands. “We’re going to have to swat men away left, right, and center.” She laughs, the sound dying off as she frowns. “Actually, we can’t swat them away. You have body shots to do and laps to dance on.” Her eyebrows rise and fall, her waggling drunken and lopsided.

  The club we’re going to tonight should be more-or-less quiet by the time we get there. Tonight, I have to complete at least two of the dreaded tasks, with stripping for a stranger being one of them. Which doesn’t bother me as
much as I thought it would, considering how long it’s been since I’ve done it for fun.

  In college, Mia, Katie and I were roomed together; the three quiet stooges, we called ourselves. One night, after too many drinks, we signed up for a pole dancing class, claiming that it would help us gain confidence, strengthen our cores, and awaken our inner sex kittens.

  I will never forget our first class. All of my expectations and beliefs about pole dancing were blown out the window in a fiery explosion of need and desire. I thought it was un-classy and gave women a bad reputation, but watching the elegance and strength that went into executing those moves, and how seductive it actually was, I knew I had to learn. And we never looked back.

  In those classes, we found confidence and self-love. You wouldn’t think we were once super shy and a little awkward. But we were. That’s why stripping is on tonight’s agenda. Sort of like circling back and starting fresh. Or that’s what I’m telling myself.

  Grabbing my short, black wrap dress off its hanger, I slip it on and tug the sleeves down my arms, the perfect length to cover my scars. Only I will ever love you now. Michael’s words drift through my mind and I shudder, my fingers itching for an oversized hoodie and a pair of jeans. Turning around, my friends dance to one of our favorite old songs, their laughter loosening the coil of fear in my stomach. God help us. Shit’s about to get crank.

  God damn. Coming here never gets old.

  Forgetting to blink, my eyes roam over the mirrors covering the ceiling and walls, reflecting the strobe lights throughout the room. To the left, the bar stretches along the length of the wall where topless waitresses serve drinks, and to the right, three platform-to-ceiling poles fill the T-shaped stage.

  The beat of the music echoes around the room, rising and falling with the one woman on the stage, and the light show playing seductively across the room.

  Drawing in a deep breath, my nerves run wild as we make our way over to the bar. Booming laughter draws my attention to two men, relaxing in the booth center stage. With their drinks in hand, they eye the gorgeous brunette as she completes a drop on the pole, smiling wide at their hoots and hollers.