Every time I close my eyes, I see Brody’s chiseled features, the strong lines of his jaw, and those burning amber eyes that seem to pierce right through me.

It’s a heady mix of admiration and disbelief, and I can’t help but smile at the very thought of him.

Am I really going to be living in the same house as him? Will we be fucking every night, maybe not even able to go to work the next day?

I can barely contain the butterflies dancing in my chest at the thought of laying in his bed for hours, letting him worship me, and I feel a warmth creeping up my cheeks just imagining what it might be like.

I pull into the office parking garage, grateful that my car hasn’t stalled out yet. It rumbles a little but keeps going, a true miracle for this beat-up old thing. I throw it in park, stepping out and taking a moment to collect myself before heading inside.

“Just give me a few months until I have enough to replace you, okay?” I mutter to the car, patting the hood affectionately. “Then you can go to the great junkyard in the sky. Or in rural Illinois at least.”

With a sigh, I shake off the nerves and step into the fluorescent glow of the office, ready to tackle the day ahead. The workday drags on, a whirlwind of tasks and phone calls that leaves my head spinning.

Normally we are at the job site, but today is one of those mundane office days, and boy, am I happy I don’t have to sit behind a desk all week long.

I’m buried under a mountain of paperwork and emails, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Brody’s offer.

How is this even possible? I just started this job, and now I’m going to be living with my boss?

The nerves flutter in my stomach like a thousand little butterflies, and I can’t seem to shake them off.

Every time I catch a glimpse of him walking past, my heart races. A fleeting smile, a soft laugh, even just a wink from him is enough to soak my panties and make my heart race.

But the idea of moving my things from Jasmine's apartment to his place is daunting and fills me with a mild dread. It’s not just about packing up clothes and books; it’s the reality of intertwining my life with his, however casually.

Roommates. We’d be like roommates.

I try to focus on the task at hand, but my mind wanders to how it will feel to be in his space, to share meals, and maybe even share late-night conversations.

I won’t even contemplate my other questions about the more intimate things we might do. I need to be able to work without dissolving into a puddle of constant arousal.

Around midday, Brody walks over, his expression serious but kind. “Hey, Tasha. Do you need to grab your stuff from Jasmine’s place? I can meet you after work, and we can head to my house together after you get your stuff,” he says.

“Sounds great,” I say, giving him a meek smile and walking away. Being in the corporate office today, I want to establish some space between us, even if my entire body is dying for his touch.

Later, when I take a break, I pull out my phone and see he’s sent me a text with his address. My eyes widen as a massive mansion pops up when I search the address.

Is this really what his place looked like that night? It must have been really dark…or I was really distracted.

I can’t believe it. Brody lives in a stunning home on a sprawling ranch. The reality of my new life hits me hard, and I can’t help but feel a thrill at the thought of being part of his world.

As I drive to Jasmine's apartment at the end of the day, tears already prick at the corners of my eyes. I can’t believe this is actually happening. Pulling into the parking lot, I take a deep breath, steeling myself before stepping out of the car.

The autumn chill in the air matches the weight in my chest.

I open the front door to find her living room mostly empty, the remnants of her life scattered around: boxes labeled with scribbled words, furniture ready to be picked up by new owners.

It all hits me hard, like a brick to the face.

“Jasmine,” I whisper, stepping inside, my arms are already outstretched for a hug.

She stands in the center of the room, looking just as lost as I feel.

Without thinking, I rush to her, and we hug tightly, the world outside fading away. In this moment, it’s just us, two best friends clinging to each other as we acknowledge the reality of our separation.

“Will you come visit me in Vegas?” Jasmine asks, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes.

“Of course!” I say, forcing a smile, though my heart aches.