Page 99 of Implode

“Why not?”

I look at him like he has five heads. “Isn’t it obvious? Someone will see.”

“Adds to the excitement, doesn’t it?”

“No. And stop doing that thing with your eyes.”

“What thing?” he asks, as if he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

“Don’t be coy.”

“Don’t be cute.”

“Hush.”

“You hush.”

“Good comeback. Are we five?” I ask, snorting.

“You find me hot, don’t you?”

I adamantly shake my head. Not because I’m not attracted to him, but because I need to clear my brain space if I am going to survive the rest of the evening.

Nic smiles big. “Pretty sure you are lying to me. I will call your bluff. Spread those pretty little thighs for me and I will find out who is telling the truth.” His words are a whisper and in the noise of the room, I doubt anyone would hear. However, anyone paying us a bit of attention will easily see the way we are looking at each other.

Feeling frisky, I start to open my legs to which he responds with a deep growl, and as soon as his hand starts to slide under the hem of my dress, I clamp them shut while sliding back my chair.

“Where are you going?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me.

I stand up, push my chair back in, and lean over to whisper, “Just to the bathroom, so I can masturbate to the thought of you.” And then I walk away. Solo.

Nic is hot on my tail and I pick up my pace, dodging a few waitstaff in the process. When I almost run into Collins, I quickly apologize and then use him as a roadblock for my developing impulsive plan. “I think Nic needs you,” I say vaguely. “Seems important.”

“Okay, I’ll go find him,” Collins responds in a professional tone.

I skip off to the main floor’s bathroom and lock the door. Looking in the mirror, I have some sweat beading on my forehead. There’s a glow and warmth to my skin. I feel alive. That’s what Nic’s attention does to me, and no matter how many times I resist, we always find each other. I place my hands on the vanity and lean over, bracing myself on extended hands as I contemplate how I am going to survive the night.

There’s a round of knocks on the door and I already know who they belong to—Nic Hoffman.

“Just a second,” I call back.

I sit on the toilet, flush, and wash my hands. From a container, I pump out some vanilla hand lotion and rub it into my palms and all around my fingers. I bring my hands up to my nose and inhale the scent. It’s my favorite. When I open the door and notice no one is waiting, I relax and start back to the dining room. I take a few steps down the hall when I am grabbed from behind and pulled back to a wall of hard muscle.

“Think you could get away that easily?” Nic asks, making my insides turn to mush. His breath tickles my neck and makes a tingle run up my spine. He is so close to me that I can smell his cologne.

“Someone’s going to see,” I say softly, looking around for anyone else.

“Good.”

“Good?” I ask with a flare to my tone. I turn my head so I can get a look at his face. “Is that really what you want?”

“What I want is to fuck you into next week.”

I open and close my mouth. What’s left to say? Nic has obviously made his point clear. I should have known that taunting him would bring me to this very situation.

There is something extremely sexy about being pursued and wanted to the magnitude that Nic shows me. I know our lives are complicated right now, but there is no denying our sexual chemistry and desire for one another. I shouldn’t give in. I should keep the line drawn with confidence. However, when the two of us are in close proximity, there always seems to be a way to blur that line that neither of us should really cross.

“We shouldn’t do this,” I say, as he pulls me into the bathroom and locks the door. I can stop him, but I am being selfish with my desires, and as much as I can deny it, I want him with the same voracity as he seems to want me.

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