Page 13 of False Start

I snort before I can stop myself.

"Ofcourseyou do!"

Cory smiles, but it's tight around the edges.

"I thought we talked about not insulting me in my own home."

I pop another piece of pineapple into my mouth, and the tangy juice explodes onto my tongue.Damn.Even his fruit is deluxe.

"I'm sorry, man, but comeon! Finance? Wall Street and the greed it runs on is at the core of all that is wrong with this world."

Before I can continue what is sure to be a scathing rebuke of the inequities perpetuated by the finance industry, Cory reaches over my lap and confiscates my pineapple cup.

"Hey! Give that back!"

When I reach out to take it back, he playfully swats my hand away.

"Treats are for nonjudgemental guests. Your fridge privileges have been revoked."

I'm so shocked, my brain stutters and I actually laugh.

"What the hell?" I say through a giggle. "Did you really just take my fruit cup? What are you, five? Are you going to pull my hair next?"

I'm still giggling when Cory puts action to words and pulls a loose braid by my shoulder.

"Ooh!" I gasp, and another wave of giggles overtakes me. That was actually…kindahot!

At my outraged expression, Cory starts laughing too; big, belly laughs that have him leaning back and slapping my knee just below the hem of my skirt. The unexpected contact raises goosebumps on my skin and moisture pools between my legs.

Wait. What is going on? I don'tlikethis guy. Ican't. He stands for everything I'm against. For some reason, though, my vagina hasnotgotten the message. His hand is still on my knee as his laughter subsides, and I place mine on top, intertwining our fingers.

"Pretty please," I playfully bat my eyelashes, "can I have my pineapple back? It'ssojuicy!"

The husky timbre of my voice surprises me, but, from the heavy-lidded look on Cory's face, he doesn't mind. He takes his time returning the fruit, letting the skin of his arm brush softly against my bare legs as he places the container in front of me. When my nipples harden immediately, it hits me.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no!

I dive for my purse on the other end of the couch and rummage through it until I find the culprit. Instead of a 5 mg vape cartridge, I loaded a50mgcartridge! If 5 mg is "unwinding after work", 50 mg is "getting turnt at a bachelorette party"! I check the back of the bottle and groan out load. Not only is it ten times stronger than intended, but this strain of THC is particularly…horny. No wonder I feel like climbing the walls!

I turn back to Cory, who's practically panting as he rakes his gaze over me.

"Oh my God, Cory. I fucked up. I loaded the wrong cartridge into my vape pen and now we're bothwayhigher than planned."

I can already see the red creeping into his eyes.

"Yeah," he says, his voice a bit dreamy. "I think I'm starting to feel it."

His hand is back on my leg, inching past my knee to the smooth skin of my thigh. His eyes are locked on mine, and the pleasure rolling through me is quickly drowning out the voice in the back of my head saying we shouldn't do this.

"I…" I swallow, desire so thick in my throat it's making it hard to speak. "I'm definitely picking up what you're putting down and I'msuperinto it, but…are you sure you want to do this? It's most likely the weed that's got us so turned on. I wouldn't want you to do something you'll regret."

His eyes never leave mine as he slowly pushes my skirt up, caressing every inch of skin he uncovers until my lace panties are in full view. I bite my lip to contain a whimper.

"Shouldn't that bemyline?" he whispers, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. I huff out a laugh, and my breath hitches when his fingers skim my seam through the damp fabric.

"Seriously." I'm the one panting now. "If you want, I can just take the necklace and head out, though I'll have to catch a cab, so I'm not humping the pole in the subway."

He chuckles, and the sound sends shivers down my spine.God!I feel like I'm about to combust! I might have to take care of myself in the bathroom before it's even safe enough to take a cab.

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