Page 170 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
Deli Meat
HENRY
Eight at night, it was eight at night, and I was still in the office. It was a long-ass day already, given that Rosie decided to spend a good portion of last night straddling me in every direction she could conceive—no pun intended. Then, this morning, she had to suck me off in the shower. I wasn’t complaining, I was just . . . nervous.
I’d never had this much sex in my entire life, and I was fucking terrified as shit that one time I wouldn’t be able to get it up. Then what? I’d go down in history as one of those men, one who could have a sexy-as-fuck woman in front of them and not spring a chub? Fuck, I never wanted to be that man, especially since Rosie was my girl. She was so fucking perfect that not being able to get it up around her would be devastating.
Sweat tickled the back of my neck from the mere thought of it, and I wasn’t even around her or even in a sexual headspace. Christ, the woman’s libido was starting to attack me at work now.
I made a mental note to talk to Derk about Rosie. Her little scene last night in the adult toy store was a little concerning. Actually, it was a lot concerning. She’d been so hot and cold, so damn emotional and horny, I honestly hadn’t known what to do. At one point, I felt like protecting my balls, because the look in her eyes made me believe she was about to deep-throat them in the middle of the dildo and elephant condom section. I needed some advice on how to calm down my overly emotional girlfriend. Rosie had always been quirky and fun to tease, but in all the time I’d known her, I’d never considered her mercurial.
“Are you going to have those drafts on my desk by tomorrow morning?” Eric asked, peeking his head over my cube walls.
I perked up and tried not to show the fatigue taking over me. “Yup. I sent mock-ups to the design team this morning; should have them ready for tomorrow. Just working on my proposal now.”
“Good,” Eric said. “First round of edits will start tomorrow, but I like what you have so far.”
I nodded at Tasha’s cube. “How’s she doing?”
Eric stepped into my cube and placed his hands in his pockets as he leaned forward to speak quietly. “The girl knows her condoms, that’s for sure. She has good ideas, Henry.”
Fuck, that was not what I wanted to hear. I knew her knowledge of condoms was well founded, but to be able to put together a persuasive and eye-catching campaign? That surprised me.
“Really? I’m still shocked she’s working here. In college, she showed no ounce of aptitude for advertising. I’m honestly surprised she’s gotten this far in her career.”
“I know how; they’re stacked on her chest.”
Eric was probably the most professional man I knew, so to hear him make a comment about a woman’s breasts in the workplace was shocking. Clearly he was annoyed over the entire situation.
Insecurity washed over me as I asked, “Think I have a shot?”
The man was a good boss, because instead of making fun of me, he gripped my shoulder and looked me dead in the eyes. “I wouldn’t put my stamp of approval on you if I didn’t think you had a shot. You’re a smart man, Henry, and a hard worker. I see great things in your future; we just have to make sure we get you there. Let’s kill it with these drafts tomorrow, okay?”
He patted me on the shoulder and then took off.
And then there were two.
From a few cubes down, I could see the desk light streaming from Tasha’s space. I desperately wanted to see what she was working on, but I wasn’t about to ask her; that would show weakness, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. Instead, I turned to my proposal and read through it again, looking for any mistakes and any places I needed to embellish.
Except for the occasional tap of computer keys, the hum of the air conditioner was the only sound filling the silent office space. The cleaning crew had already been through the building—apparently they came earlier than I expected—and most lights were turned off. It was eerie being in a skyscraper at night.
“What are you working on?” Tasha asked from over my shoulder.
I hadn’t heard her walking in my direction, so I nearly shit my pants from being startled. Usually the click-clack of her heels against the hard floor warned me of her approach. I looked down to see her barefoot; that explained things.
“You into toes?” Tasha asked, wiggling her feet.
“What? No,” I replied, leaning back in my chair, scooting as far away from her as possible.
She crossed her arms over her chest, making her cleavage more prominent, and leaned against the entrance of my cube. “We had some good times back in the day, Henry.”
Those days barely register now that I’m with Rosie.Tasha had obviously never realized I was just biding my time with her.
“It’s in the past,” I answered honestly.
What’s past was past, plus I didn’t trust her. Why didn’t I close out of my proposal before she came over? Oh yeah, she sneak-attacked me. I sat up in my chair, hoping my shoulder span covered my computer screen.
“So, you and Rosie, huh?” She nodded at the picture of Rosie on my desk. I glanced at it quickly, a lightness filling my heart before I turned back around to Tasha.
