Page 16 of A Vegas Crush Collection #3

probably just anxiety

Devon

Hardly anyone is around since it’s summertime, certainly not many of our players, so I pack it in early, needing a break from the stifling reality that a man I’ve had hot sex with is now working in my building.

Before I even get to the door of my own apartment, I stop at Gia’s and bang on the door. She opens up, saying, “Look at you, breaking the law.”

I must look confused because she adds, “You left work early, Dev.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say. “Had a hard time concentrating today.”

“Because that hot stud was walking around making you squirm?”

“Yep.” I nod, my lips pushed together. “Yeppers. That was distracting.”

“Did you guys have a chance to discuss…things?” Gia asks coyly.

“No. Nope, stayed far away from the administrative offices today. Today and all days henceforth.”

“Don’t be silly, you’re going to have to figure out how to deal with it. He’s the GM now.”

“Thanks for the reminder, I think I’ve mostly processed this fact by now, Gia.” I’m cranky and emotionally exhausted and not inclined to hide it with my best friend.

She just laughs and says, “Well, I know what you need, so go get changed into running clothes and we’ll take it out on the pavement.”

I let a big sigh out through my nose and nod. “Okay. Yep. Fine.”

Ten minutes later, I’m back at her door, dressed to run.

As we head out, Gia asks if I’ve told anyone else about my hot night with a sexy stranger.

“No! Of course, I haven’t. Who else would I tell?”

“Any of your friends at work?”

“Absolutely not. Those are work friends and I don’t talk to them about my sex life.”

“Or lack thereof.” Gia cackles.

My friend is brash and loud and says things I would never say.

I’m too reserved, too afraid of rocking the boat.

I look over at her as we run and grin to myself.

She’s petite, maybe five three on the high side, with a short, blonde pixie cut.

She’s in a ripped-up, off-the-shoulder T-shirt for some ’90s band and a pair of ultra-short athletic shorts.

She looks like a punk-rock co-ed and not at all like the up-and-coming UNLV professor that she is.

“How’s summer session?” I ask, changing the subject away from my sex life.

“Fine,” she says. “I’m teaching three freshman-level science classes, so I have the kids who are making up credits, or who forgot to take something and need it to graduate. But it’s cool.”

“How’s the crusty old department chair? Doctor…”

“Dr. Rubenstein,” she says, making a face. “Blech. Dr. Frankenstein, more like. Crusty old bastard.”

“Still giving you the grunt work, huh?”

“It’s all politics. Earn your keep and whatnot. He won’t be around forever.”

We run for a little while in silence before a thought occurs to me. “Hey, did you sleep with Mikhail?”

All I get is a shining, wide smile in return.

“So that’s a yes.” Geesh. “I guess I should have warned you to maybe not sleep with my coworkers?”

“Pish.”

“Dude, seriously.”

“I fail to see how my sleeping with a Crush player has any bearing on your ability to assure his nutritional well-being,” she answers firmly. “And also, all those hamburgers are not making their way onto that body. He is pure muscle. Yum.”

“Gross.”

“No, ma’am. Not gross. Delicious and tasty.”

“La-la-la-la-la-la,” I sing, putting my fingers in my ears. “Not interested.”

“You’re the one who asked.”

She’s not wrong, so I let it go. I’m not all that worried, as Gia has a very short attention span, and a very low tolerance for feelings. A hockey player is actually probably perfect for her in that way. She’ll lose interest soon enough.

Me, on the other hand? Can’t stop thinking about the guy I can’t have. Still interested. Very, very interested.

This is not good news for me.

“You look like you’re constipated over there,” Gia says, giggling. “You need to do a poop-run?”

I laugh at this. “No. I’m good. Just thinking about Grant Gerard.”

“And it makes your face do that?”

“Only when I’m thinking about how unfunny it is that I’ve seen that man very, very naked and now I have to be professional around him every day.”

“Well, think of him, poor guy. He’s got to be professional around you and be the big boss, when he’s been way far inside of you.”

I feel a flush across my chest that has nothing to do with the fact that we’ve now run two miles. I remember just how far inside of me he was. I can only groan in response.

“Let’s be honest. You’ll probably only see him once every six months or something, based on your interactions with the last GM, right?”

“Maybe?”

“Likely,” Gia corrects. “You’ll never see him. No big deal.”

“I just hate that I threw caution to the wind one time. One time I let myself toss my inhibitions and just go for it and now it’s a big mess.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen, Dev. It’s not that big of a mess. You’re an adult. He’s an adult. You were both consenting, and you didn’t work together when it happened. I’m sure today was a shock for you both but, you’ll both also get over it.”

“I guess that’s a good point.”

“Of course, it is. I have a PhD,” Gia says. “Plus, you’re out of there in a year. Once your cookbook and business take off, you won’t have to work there anymore anyway. So just focus on that and move up the timeline if things get too weird.”

“Yeah,” I say, feeling more hopeful. “You’re right. I can do this for a limited time. I’ll just focus on the work, and I’ll get the business off the ground. I’ll finish the book. I’ll hide out in my dungeon closet office, and I’ll probably never see the guy. It will be fine.”

“That’s the spirit!” Gia high-fives me as we continue to run. After a moment, she adds, “It is a sad thing though.”

“What?”

“Having to ignore a guy that hot.”

“You’re not wrong. I’ve never dated anyone like him. He’s the whole package. Funny, interesting, smart, attractive, great in bed.” I throw my head back and let out a weird, animal sound of frustration. “Figures he’s off-limits.”

“Does he have to be?”

“I mean…other people have obviously found each other and worked together there. The non-fraternization policy is pretty much a joke at this point, but he doesn’t need to be seen as the GM who starts screwing the employees the minute he starts the job. For that matter, what would they think of me?”

“I guess you’re right about that.”

The longer we run, the more I start to feel a little off, my stomach souring. I’m obviously not used to running at this time of day. Maybe we should have run at the normal knock-off time. “Hey, can we turn back? I’m not feeling well.”

“You getting sick?”

I shake my head. “No, probably just anxiety from this very weird day. I was just thinking it could be because we’re running two hours earlier than we normally do, too.”

“Makes sense.”

We make it back and Gia puts her head on my shoulder before opening her apartment door. “Feel better, mama. Get some rest and let me know if you need some chicken soup or something.”

“Thanks, friend.”

After showering and putting on my favorite pajamas, I’m feeling much better, so I head into the kitchen, determined to work on the cookbook recipes.

I’m able to focus for about an hour, taste-testing a grilled chicken and tangerine salad that will double for my dinner.

It’s a winner and will definitely make the cut for the cookbook, so I take a bunch of pictures while it looks pretty on the plate.

But throughout this process, my mind keeps wandering back to Grant.

Always back to Grant, if I’m being honest. Why does the first man I’m deeply attracted to have to be the one I simply can’t have?

My memories of our night together are vivid in my mind.

Every minute of our encounter is imprinted.

Sometimes I feel like I can still smell him, his masculine and woodsy scent.

I can still feel his dark hair in my hands as he shoved his tongue inside of me.

I can still taste his mouth and feel his thrusts deep inside me.

I can remember how it felt having his cock in my mouth when he came the second time down my throat.

We got around to some of everything in our short time together.

Getting a little wet and hot between the legs, I have to stop what I’m doing in the kitchen.

I go straight for the nightstand drawer and the tiny, pink toy that awaits.

I fire it up and crawl under my covers, using one hand to push my pussy lips apart to expose my clit to the vibrating treasure ready to go to work on me.

I turn it on and fall into the sensations, its pulsations causing my hips to rise, my muscles to tense.

You’re so fucking gorgeous, Devon, taking my cock. Come for me. Come all over my fuckin’ cock right now! It doesn’t take long. Just a few minutes of remembering the sex with Grant and I’m over the edge, coming ridiculously fast to the memories of my night with a man I cannot forget.