I stepped under the scorching water, letting it pelt onto my back and neck. I was so used to working late hours that when she had to stay late at her co-working office, I suspected she was doing the same thing I was—working.
How many times had that actually been true? How early had the lies started?
It was ten in the morning and I had a meeting at two with the Reynolds team. Craig had some other clients booked into the office, so the Reynolds crew was coming to my place. Liana’s assistant had finally emailed the details of the VIP items, so we’d meet, discuss, and split off for more analysis.
I could have forwarded the email to Scarlett.
Should have forwarded it.
Really, really should have, Drew.
But I wanted to see Jayce. Why? I could do my job better if we kept our distance from each other. Why couldn’t I compartmentalize her like I could Vanessa?
Why did she get under my skin so much?
Because she was different. No filter between her brain and her mouth. Or between her brain and her body, for that matter.
My cock twitched.
That mouth. That body.
Jayce Monroe was confident and brash. Talented. Used to people paying attention to her. But I’d seen a vulnerability in her yesterday. Something about the way she looked at the river on our drive to Mosaic. A sadness.
When I’d done the first background check on her, that was what I’d expected. A former champion turned thief turned recovery agent. She’d fallen so far, I’d assumed it still haunted her. Instead, I’d found a woman who fit in with her remarkable team, easily taking every criticism and rolling with every challenge that presented itself. She was flexible—
My cock twitched again. How flexible could the gymnast be?
Emotionally, Drew. You meant flexible emotionally.
An hour ago, I’d been debating whether I was losing my touch or if Jayce was frying my brain. Considering my body hadn’t reacted when Vanessa groped me, it wasn’t my touch that was the problem.
I turned toward the water, dipping my head so it could pour through my hair. I stroked my dick, gently at first, while images of Jayce flooded my thoughts. The way she’d looked at me yesterday after Liana had left. Jayce was supposed to be gone—wasn’t supposed to see me breaking down like that. I’d stood so close to her, wanting to touch her. Needing to get her out of my system.
In my head, she was waiting for me when I’d opened the apartment door, not Vanessa. But Jayce wouldn’t be a thong and high heels kind of woman. What would she wear to seduce a man? Or would it be all about the taunts?
I groaned, gripping myself harder, thrusting into my fist.
Would she be the one pushing me onto the bed, demanding I tell her what I wanted while she teased me?Good luck with that, Jayce.
I fucked my hand, thinking about the feel of her body, her toned muscles, her tongue tangling with mine. She’d taste like sugar, for certain, considering how she ate.
My breath started coming faster.
I couldn’t fight it. Couldn’t fight her. I had to come. I imagined her underneath me, felt her hands on my ass, guiding me as if we’d done this a thousand times.
“Yes, Jayce,” I whispered. “Yes, take me deeper.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I felt her wrap a leg around my waist, meeting me thrust for thrust. My whole body tensed and I growled her name through my climax, coming with a hard shudder.
When I finished, I slumped against the shower wall, trying to slow my heart. She irritated the shit out of me, but I couldn’t stop wanting her. The last thing I needed was to lose focus because of a woman—but here I was, completely distracted by her.
Even after the orgasm.
What the hell was I going to do?
Chapter 15
Jayce