Page 5 of Boss with Benefits

Derrick’s gaze softened. “I believe you.”

Relief washed over me, and I reached into my backpack, pulling out a pair of navy joggers and a cropped T-shirt. I stripped off my jersey and sports bra, replacing them with a lace bralette and the shirt.

“Shit, Rachel,” Derrick muttered, quickly turning his back.

“Are you offended by my boobs?” I teased, slipping into the joggers.

“No,” he said curtly, walking out of the room without another word.

“Prude!” I called after him, but there was no bite in it.

A few minutes later, we were walking down the quiet street, the night air warm against my skin. The silence between us was thick.

“You need to relax,” I said, trying to ease the tension.

Derrick glanced at me, but his expression was unreadable. At the subway entrance, he stopped, but I kept walking toward the bar.

“Rachel?” he called out.

“I’m going to the Bluebird to meet the team,” I tossed over my shoulder.

“Is this gonna take long?” he asked, catching up to me. “I have a flight to catch tomorrow.”

“Go home,” I told him. “I don’t need a nanny.”

But as I turned to go, his hand wrapped around my arm, gentle but firm. “You called me.”

“I know, but I’m good now,” I replied, though the words felt hollow. I didn’t want to burden him with my fears, didn’t want to drag him into this mess any more than I already had.

Derrick’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought he was going to push the issue. But then he stepped back, letting me go.

“Fine. It’s your life,” he said, his tone flat. “But promise you’ll come by the office this Wednesday when I’m back.” He turned to head up the subway steps.

“And, Rach,” he added, pausing. “Keep your damn clothes on around men you don’t know.”

“I know you,” I shot back, bristling.

“No, you don’t.” His words hung in the air as he disappeared up the steps, leaving me standing on the sidewalk.

The bar was just across the street, and I jogged over, eager to rejoin my teammates. But as I reached the door, something—someone—caught my eye. I whipped around, scanning the sidewalk, but there was no one there.

I shook my head, telling myself it was nothing. But the apprehension lingered as I stepped inside, my gaze sweeping the bar, searching for the familiar faces of my team. They were gathered at a long table, laughing and drinking, but I still felt like someone was watching me, waiting. And for a second, I wished Derrick was there.

It was a strange thought because I’d never wanted a man in my life for more than a night, never wanted someone to protect me. But this…this felt different. This threat could be real, and Derrick Jacques was the one person who made me feel safe. I might not have known him, not really, but I knew enough to trust that he’d do whatever it took to protect me.

And right then, that was enough.

4

DERRICK

Sitting in a stiff office chair at one of the long worktables in Dreamary, I stifled a yawn. With the office empty this early in the morning, I preferred the open space of the common room to my secluded office.

My day had started way too early, yanked out of sleep by a strange dream I couldn’t shake. I’d been skating through Times Square, a faceless woman clinging to my back, her arms tight around my waist, her hands slipping inside my pants, stroking me as we skated together. I woke up painfully hard, desperate to relieve the tension.

It had been over a year since I’d been touched by a woman, and my body was making its displeasure known with increasing insistence. This was the longest dry spell I’d ever endured.

It wasn’t for lack of options or desire. But after my last sexual encounter, I had put myself on a sex diet. The last time I’d been with a woman, the worst thing that could happen to a man had happened to me…I couldn’t get it up.

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