I smile as I look up at her. “Not everyone is an ice queen like you, Shez.”
Sheridan makes grown men cry in her company. She’s the hardest woman I know.
She strolls over to the window and looks out across the city, casually flicking through her phone before she hits call.
“Hello, this is Sheridan Myer from Universal Steel.” She listens for a moment. “I need some security cameras installed throughout the offices, please.” She listens.
“Immediately.” Sheridan glances over at me, and I roll my eyes. “I need you here today, please. There are three offices that need to be fitted with invisible cameras after hours. Okay, great. You do know where we are? Yes, the fifteenth floor, and ask for Spencer Jones.” She hangs up without saying a goodbye.
I sit back in my chair. “I don’t need security cameras.”
“Bullshit. That little troll is going to try and sabotage you. Mark my words, she’s a nasty piece of work.”
I smirk. “Because you’re Mother Teresa, right?”
“I won’t have you taken advantage of, Spence, and if she tries to wipe your computers or anything shady, at least we’ll have proof.”
She lets her hair down, kicks off her shoes, and walks back over to the window, leaving me to watch her. She stares out over the city for a moment, and then her eyes drift back to me. “You’re different.”
“How so?” I frown.
“You normally have me pinned to the wall within five seconds flat.”
I sit forward in my seat and rest my chin on my hand.
“Have you met someone?” she asks.
I hesitate before answering, unsure if I want to discuss this with her. “Yes and no.”
She walks back across the room and sits on my desk. She crosses her legs, and my eyes drop to her muscular thighs revealed by the split in her skirt. “What do you mean, yes and no?”
“Yes, I’ve met someone, and no, I can’t have her.”
“She’s married?”
“Just the opposite.” I pause for a moment. “Young and innocent.”
She doesn’t hide her amusement. “How young and how innocent are we talking?”
My eyes hold hers. “Very young, and as innocent as you can get.”
She chuckles. “Oh God, Spence, she won’t be able to hold you sexually. I can’t, and I know how to fuck.”
I run my hand up Sheridan’s thigh and inhale sharply. “That you do.”
She takes a hotel key card out of her pocket and slides it across the desk. “I have a business dinner tonight, but I’ll be back in the room by ten. My usual room, the penthouse at the Corinthian.”
I pick the card up and stare at her for a moment.
She leans down and takes my face in her hands, and then she kisses me slowly.
My cock hardens instantly.
“See you then?” she asks as she tenderly brushes my hair back from my forehead.
I smile and run my hand up her thigh. “Of course.”
She ties her hair back into her bun and slips her high heels back on. “I’ve got to go. My two PAs are in a café downstairs.” She walks towards the door. “Can I fire the troll on my way out?” she asks hopefully.
“No, you may not. Goodbye, Sheridan.”
“Until tonight, darling.” The door closes behind her and I hear her say, “You’re not getting paid to be on Facebook, young lady. Get to work.”
I chuckle for a moment. She’s a hard ass bitch.
I walk over to the window in my office and stare out at the view. The city is bustling down below.
I wonder what Charlotte’s doing now?
I get a vision of the look in her eyes when she thought I didn’t want her, and my heart sinks, forcing me to exhale heavily.
It’s not fair to start something when I already know its fate.
I’m doing the right thing.
It’s best if I don’t go near her again.
*
When the clock strikes 11:00 p.m. I walk down the corridor towards the penthouse of the Corinthian.
I know this hall, I’ve walked it many times, and always with anticipation.
Something’s off tonight, though. I see the door up ahead and I stop and stare at it for a moment, sucking in a quivering breath.
I wish I was going to see Charlotte instead. She’s the one I really want to see.
I exhale heavily, swipe the key card on the hotel door, and listen as it clicks on its release. The light in the apartment is muted when I step into it, with only the lamps lighting up the space, but I know where to find her.
I walk into the bedroom to see Sheridan naked on her hands and knees on top of the bed. Her long dark hair cascades down her back, and a white satin ribbon is tied around her neck, like she’s a present.
My present.
On the side table sits an array of dildos and lubricant.
My cock instantly hardens.
“Hello, darling,” she purrs before she slides a butt plug into her mouth and sucks it. “I was just about to start without you.”
I smile as I take my jacket off and hang it in the walk-in robe. “You know, you really should play hard to get, Sheridan.”
She moans, and I step back into the room to see her on her knees, bending over as she slides the butt plug deep into her ass. Her eyes close with pleasure, and I unzip my pants with a brand new urgency.
“On your back, legs open,” I growl.
*
It’s 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning, and I’m lying in my bed watching the morning news. Although I’m not paying much attention. I can hear it, but it’s nothing more than background noise.
It’s as if everything around me is on mute. This whole week has been on mute.
I feel like shit.
I fucked Sheridan, and the only way I could make myself come was by imagining she was Charlotte.
I’ve done it for three nights in a row.
The sex is hot—super fucking hot—but only because, in my mind, I’m fucking my angel. My Charlotte.
Not Sheridan.
And now the sick taste of betrayal rests constantly in my mouth.
I feel like I cheated on Charlotte, even though we are nothing to each other.
I hate that we’re nothing.
I hate that I used Sheridan’s body to ejaculate when I was thinking about another woman.
I’ve never done that before to any woman. I’m always completely focused on whomever I’m with. Thankfully Sheridan has gone out of town now.
Regret runs deep in my blood.
What kind of man am I? Imagine if she knew.
I pick up my phone and check it.
No missed calls.
4
Charlotte
Beth curls her nose. “What do you mean?”
I exhale and sink deeper in my seat. We’re sitting on the living room floor after eating our weight in Indian takeout. “Just what I said. He turned up at my work and was being ridiculously gorgeous, so we went out for dinner.” I shrug. “Things went well, and then we came back here. One thing led to another, we started making out, things got hot and… oh, it was so good. Then the very next minute I ruined it by blurting out that I was a virgin.”
Beth is deeply fascinated. “And?”
“And… he left.”
“What?” Beth gasps, her disbelief evident.
“I know.”
“But guys love virgins, don’t they?” She frowns. “I don’t get it?”
“But do they?” I scoff. “I’m twenty-four and I can’t get a man to come near me at all, Beth.”
She rolls her eyes. “Please, don’t insult my intelligence. You get plenty of men who pursue you.”
“Be serious for a moment and face the facts. I’m an ice princess who scares the majority of men away.” I sigh sadly.
“Don’t take offence to that. It’s not you, it’s Edward and everything that goes along with being a Prescott.”
I drain my wineglass because, God, this is depressing.
“And you really liked this guy?” she asks quietly.