By a Thread

by Lucy Score

“Can I get you a drink?” Rude Sex Hair was back. “I don’t know. Can you?” I shot back.

“We’re fresh out of the blood of children, Satan. How about something that matches your personality?”

“Shouldn’t someone your age have a real job by now, Maleficent? Because obviously you’re not good at this one.”

Was grumpy and rude suddenly the new hot? My vagina seemed to think so.

“Can Charm—your son fire me?” I asked. Her smile was feline. “No. Dominic can’t fire you.” “Okay, then. Do I have to be nice to him?”

She leaned back in her chair, considering. “I think you should have the relationship you feel most comfortable having with my son.”

“You know, you’d be a lot prettier if you smiled once in a while,” she mused, fluttering her lashes.

No wonder women hated it when men said that.

There was a banana sitting next to the phone. “That’s your lunch?”

“A banana isn’t lunch.”

“It is when you’re newly and temporarily poor.”

“Don’t worry, Dom,” she said, dryly. “It’s not contagious.”

“Is that banana really all you have to eat?” I asked.

“Hey, Mal, why don’t you try sexually harassing men on your own time?” Ally piped up, leaning over her wall. “Some of us are trying to eat here, and your praying mantis routine is nauseating.”

“Do me a favor and have some kind of snack sent to the admin pool this afternoon.”

“Yes. Food. Something with protein maybe?”

“Enough for the whole department?” she asked. I could hear the curiosity. “Enough for everyone. Use my card,”

“I don’t hate you, Ally.” His voice was quiet, gruff.

“Good. Because frankly, I’m irresistible, and you might as well just give up the fight now.” “I can’t afford to find you irresistible,” he said.

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

Harry was silent, and I looked up. He was sniffing the air. “You smell that?” he asked. I knew where this was going. “I do not.” “I do. It’s strong. Here. Let me waft it toward you,” he said, flicking his hands at me. “That’s the smell of bullshit.”

“Brother, the last time I saw sparks flying like that was when my father-in-law tried to microwave leftovers in tinfoil. You’re either in deep denial, or you’re trying to lie to my face right now.”

“Yes, Dom. I’m physically attracted to you. I imagine most women and plenty of men are.”

“I’m attracted to you, Ally. Very attracted,”

“Give me a minute,” I told him. “I’m processing. I thought you hated me.” “I told you before. I don’t hate you,” he said disdainfully. “I hate being attracted to you.”

“Say something,” he demanded gruffly. “Well, the first thing that comes to mind is: I look great naked,”

“Dammit. I knew it,” he said mournfully.

“Because I don’t care about her,” he shot back.

“Completely inappropriate question,” I said. “If you were going to touch me right now, where would you start?”

His exhale was a growl. “Your hair.” I blinked. “My hair?” “I’d fist my fingers in it and pull so I could taste your mouth and then work my way down your throat.”

But then I’d find myself locking the door of my private bathroom and jerking off while fantasizing about her on her knees in front of me, her on my desk with legs spread, demanding that I fuck her with my tongue. Every. Fucking. Day.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off the door of the bar long enough to decide if I was interested in him.

Because I was waiting for a man who didn’t want to want me. Ugh.

“Tough shit. Spill it, Maleficent, or I’m not letting you out of here.”

“Fine,” I said. “I might be more attracted to you than I thought I was.” “And?” he said arrogantly. “And I don’t love seeing you on a date with a really, really, really beautiful, smart woman.”

“Good,” he whispered.

“I want you to suffer the way I suffer,”

Dominic kept his gaze on me and reached down to adjust himself.

Holy baby goats in pajamas. I swear I almost blacked out. It was the most blatantly sexual thing he’d done in front of me. And I wanted more.

“This is so stupid. It’s not that you can’t have me. You don’t want me. We could go home right now, get this out of our system, and be normal by tomorrow morning. But you don’t want to.” “As long as we both work for Label, you are untouchable, Ally.”

“Then that means I’m not going to touch you. It also means that every time you have a date, I’ll show up to ruin it because I am that asshole.”

“Oh, I get it loud and clear. And just what exactly will you be doing while I’m

not dating? Fucking your way through every woman in Manhattan who doesn’t work for you?”

“I’ll be doing what I’ve been doing since I met you,” he rasped. “What’s that?” “Fucking my goddamn hand and wishing it was you.”

I locked myself in my office, not bothering with the lights. By the time I crossed to the bathroom door behind my desk, I already had my cock out of my pants.

This is what she did to me. Every fucking day. I’d never wanted anyone with this gut-churning intensity before. I felt like my neurons were carving monuments to the woman in my brain.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, giving my shaft one violent stroke. “Ally.”

I wished she was mine to take.

“Dom? Oh my God! I’m so sorry.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Get the fuck out, Ally,” I growled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.