Page 7 of Back Up Plan

She could feel her lips begging to say Cass’s name, but she pushed the feeling down, pictured the woman’s tattooed arms straining while she slid her fingers inside Ari. Ari held the thought in her mind as she brought herself to climax.

I need to touch her…she thought as she came.

* * *

A latte with a few shots of espresso was the only way Ari had managed to get herself into the office the next morning. She hadn’t been out that late in a long time. Her ex was never a fan of going out and never made her feel like she could go alone.

Ari was still learning how to trust herself after her ex had completely obliterated her heart.

She ran past security, holding up her ID card as she passed, her nude heels clicking on the stone floors. When she approached the elevator bank, she followed the green “up” arrow to an elevator whose doors were just gliding open.

Stepping to the side to allow the passenger out, Ari smiled politely before ducking in. Inside the elevator, she clicked her floor and stood up straight as the door shut in front of her.

Her coffee in one hand, Ari used the other to straighten her shirt and slick back her hair. She had taken a shower first thing in the morning, washing her shame from the night before down the drain. Her hair was in a tight, neat bun that left her hair smooth and fly-away free: immaculate.

With a deep inhale before the elevator dinged for her floor, she lifted her shoulders up and back. As the door opened, she lifted her chin and sauntered out of the elevator.

“Good morning, Agatha,” Ari said to the receptionist at the front of the agency.

“Morning, Ms. Graves,” Agatha said, looking up from her monitor to smile at Ari.

Ari headed straight back through the empty floor to her private office. She’d yet to shake her pre-promotion habit of arriving first — some of her best work was done when no one else had arrived yet.

As she hung her Cabata tote and turned on her laptop for the day, she thought again about Cass. She was gorgeous — not Ari’s usual type, but her charisma was palpable. Ari’s body immediately grew sensitive to the thought of Cass’s touch. As she readjusted in her chair, her thighs rubbed her clit and made her flinch.

This is why you can’t do one-night stands. You’re attached to a woman you onlyspoketo.

Ari shook her head, annoyed with her own mind. She made a point to remind herself that Cass was pushy and made too many assumptions.

Diving into her email, Ari lost track of time, and before she knew it, Jess was waving hello through the glass walls.

Ari offered a wave back before turning back to her work. Jess usually came in to catch Ari up around ten AM, which gave both of them time to settle in and organize their work for the day.

When she was an assistant, Ari rarely checked in so late, but she wanted to respect Jess’s preferences.

A knock came from the door, and before she could answer, Tommy was shutting the door behind herself.

“Tommy, I was…” Ari tried.

Waving her off, Tommy replied, “Busy? So, what did you get up to last night after I ditched you?”

Ari rolled her eyes, “I went home.”

“Didn’t get her number?” Tommy asked, picking at her nails.

“No, you dragged me out. But even if you hadn’t, I’m not interested,” Ari said, hoping to convince herself that it was true.

Tommy scrunched her forehead, “What? She’s fucking hot. I mean hell… ifyouaren’t interested, you should’ve gotten her number forme.”

Ari rolled her eyes, “I don’t do one-night stands. I get too attached, and I don’t even like them because I don’t…”

Tommy laughed, “You get too attached because you aren’t doing it enough. Hell, maybe you should have a couple in one night… that might help.”

Covering her embarrassment, Ari laughed. She’d never been bold enough to even consider more than one hookup at a time. She craved a hoe-phase, but almost always ended up with a girlfriend before she could get started.

Tommy’s phone buzzed, and she stood up, “All I’m saying is, the next time, you’re taking someone home.”

Before Ari could get in another word, Tom was out of the door, and Ari was alone again.

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