Page 59 of By A Thread

Since my blindingly stupid moment with her Monday night—when I’d been so enamored with that peek of bare skin that I’d almost touched her—I’d thought of little else. I could imagine her. Moving to a hard-driving beat in those tights. Sweat glistening on her bare stomach.

And now I was hard again.

Fucking great.

I shifted in my seat, refusing to give in this time.

Yesterday, I’d run into her in the stairwell. I’d asked herpolitelyto get the hell out of my way. She’d offered—less politely—to help me down the stairs, head first. All I could picture was bending her over the railing and dragging that flirty little skirt up to her waist. I’d made it back to my office, locked myself in the washroom, and masturbated violently while thinking abouther.

In the middle of the day. In my own office.

I’d come so fucking hard my knees buckled.

When it was over, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror.

I was afraid it wouldn’t be my reflection I’d see.

Today, I was keeping my fucking hands off my fucking cock and my fucking mind off fucking Ally. End of story.

I mustered every ounce of willpower I had and focused on the layouts on my desk.

Sheer stubbornness won out, and I didn’t surface for another thirty minutes until there was a knock on my open door.

Harry Vandenberg, investment banker, snappy dresser, father of two, and the man who held the title of my best friend lounged in my doorway. He was tall and rangy. I had inches and pounds on him, but he had the smile that women flocked to. He was charming. I was… less effusive.

“Heisalive,” Harry quipped, strolling into my office. He whipped out his phone and snapped a picture.

“What’s that for?” I asked, standing to greet him.

We shook, then hugged.

“Proof of life for the rest of the guys,” Harry explained, firing off a text. My phone binged, and I knew it was a group text.

“It hasn’t beenthatlong,” I argued, leaning against the desk.

He sank down in the chair in front of me. “I haven’t seen you in a month. The last time you came out with the rest of us, the air conditioning was still on.”

I’d left a job I loved at Dorrance Capital thirteen months ago, baffling my investment banking coworkers with the decision.

“I’ve been busy,” I told him.

“You’re always busy. Hell,I’malways busy. But that’s no excuse. We’re going to lunch.”

Lunch sounded good. Getting out of this office sounded good.

I reached for my phone, which was now buzzing at incessant intervals. I could only imagine the shit that was being dished out from my former coworkers.

“Not fair, Charming,” Ally stormed into my office. She held a clear plastic garment bag aloft.

I almost cracked a smile.Almost.

“What seems to be the problem, Maleficent?” I knew exactly what her problem was. That bag held four new vests that I’d ordered specifically with torturing her in mind.

Sue me. If her mere presence was torturing me, then I could at least make sure she was suffering too.

She turned to Harry. “I’m sorry. Is this an important meeting? Would you prefer if I come back to yell at this jerk later?” she asked him.

Harry grinned. “I’m an old friend of this jerk. Feel free to hurl insults at him in front of me.”