All right, I have no idea if the last part is correct. The topic of a sexual relationship with a coworker has never come up. Why would it when five out of six of us are heterosexual males? And Isabelle is more like a sister to the guys.
It’s only me who has never felt brotherly toward her, other than the part where I want to protect her from every asshole out there…and then some.
But she’s also my best friend, and I don’t want to see that get messed up, either.
“I’m definitely not interested in an office relationship.” She pulls a pair of shorts from the drawer. “They usually don’t work, and they cause more problems than they’re worth. But I’m also not sure how much longer I can endure all the sex talk and the homework that we can’t do. Not to mention the activities that remind me how long it’s been since I last had sex, and how when we return to San Francisco, I still won’t get any.” She slips on her shorts and slides them up her delectable legs.
“Do you want to call off the mission?” I ask because that would solve a shitload of my problems. Problems that involve Isabelle and her crazy desire to be part of Liam’s team, constantly putting herself in danger.
If she backs out of the mission, Liam will realize she’s not suited to be an operative, and she’ll resume her job as our kickass office manager.
And I won’t have to always worry about her being hurt or killed.
She shakes her head. “How about we have sex while we’re here, as part of our cover?”
Okay, not the answer I was expecting.
“But it’s only while we’re here,” she says. “Once the mission is finished, things return to what they were before. Friends without benefits. Colleagues who aren’t fucking during or after office hours.”
“And you’re all right with that? Because I’m not looking for a girlfriend.”
“I don’t want to settle down, either. I’m not interested in dealing with what my mother went through. I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself, as I keep proving again, and again, and again.” A one-sided smile slides onto her face. “But sometimes a girl gets tired of taking care of herself and her needs. Sometimes she would rather a man make her come instead of her trusty fingers.”
I groan. “You’re killing me, Isabelle.” I’m not sure I’ll be able to chase that image from my head now. It’s permanently rooted there.
“I mean, I get it if you’re not interested. I’m not a virgin by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s also clear from my answers to Gabrielle’s questions that I’m far from experienced at being a sexual adventuress.” Her eyes adopt a pleading innocence that puts all puppies to shame. “Show me how to be more sexually adventurous, Jayden.”
Those are the last words she says before my mouth captures hers in an all-consuming kiss.
19
Isabelle
Normally,I’d be that woman who says office romances are a bad idea.
The same thing with colleagues who fuck as a way to deal with work-related stress.
But what Jayden and I are about to do falls into neither of those realms. It’s part of the job description of being undercover.
Or so I tell myself.
The truth is, those sessions with Gabrielle, when we’re talking about sex, are driving me crazy. Everyone else in the group gets to return to their rooms and deal with their pent-up sexual frustration.
Jayden and I didn’t have the same opportunity.
Until now.
This thing between us is only temporary. A way to deal with the post-session itch, if you will. As soon as the mission is over, we’ll go back to being coworkers and friends without benefits.
And I will have proved to Liam that I can do this job just as well as his men.
Jayden and I keep kissing, my hands exploring the hard ridges of his stomach. I’ve been craving to do that for a while now.
He pauses in kissing me, and my lips cry foul. “Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely. Are you?” Because I don’t want him to have any regrets afterward.
He nods, a languid smile forming on his lips. “Normally, I don’t have a problem removing clothes off women, but right now I’m a little short-handed.”
