Page 144 of Rough Around the Hedges

My second was not turning away from my computer as I choked on said tea and spat it all over the screen.

Luke eyed me but didn’t say a word. I grabbed a tissue from the box my mother insisted should be on my desk—that had come in useful more than once—and cleaned the screen to the best of my ability. I put my tea down safely before tapping the ‘reply’ box.

ME: Are you admitting that you dream about me, princess?

ROSE: That’s why I’m asking. I’d like to know if my craziness has finally gone past the point of no return.

ME: As much as I’d love to tease you about that, the answer is no. You didn’t dream it.

ME: You woke up, fondled my poor cock, extorted an orgasm out of me, and promptly went back to sleep.

ROSE: Your poor cock, my left tit.

ME: I’d be happy to arrange for them to meet in person, if you’d like.

ROSE: …Did you not question my random early morning horniness?

ME: It was my early morning horniness that started it, not yours.

ME: And I knew you were awake. You complained neither of us had brushed our teeth.

ROSE: Oh. I remember that. I was half-asleep, though.

ME: That’ll explain why your orgasm lulled you right back to sleep.

ROSE: Did you clean me up?

I grinned, drawing another weird look from Luke.

ME: Yes. You were a bit of a mess, and I didn’t want to leave you to sleep like that.

ROSE: Thank you. Do you mind if I shower quickly before I leave?

She was still in the cottage? I’d even broken into her phone and set an alarm on it to make sure she woke up in time. I thought she’d have been long gone by now.

ROSE: And did you set an alarm on my phone for me? How did you even get in it?

ME: Your passcode is your birthday. It’s not exactly locked down, princess.

ROSE: How do you know my birthday?

ROSE: Nvm, forgot you conducted illicit research on me when you came to ruin my life.

I burst out laughing, and Luke finally threw his pen down and stared at me.

“Your work cannot be that amusing, because mine sure as shit ain’t,” he said, eyes hard. “What are you doing over there?”

I was the boss here. Why was I getting scolded?

“Speaking to an unruly pain in my arse,” I replied, tapping out a message back to her that yes, she could shower, and she didn’t need to ask.

“Rose. You’re speaking to Rose.”

I grinned.

He wrinkled his nose up. “Don’t smile at me like that. You’re starting to scare me.”

“Nonsense. She was just telling me off for my ‘illicit’ research into her, as she puts it. She’s offended I know her phone passcode.”

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