Page 58 of Her Possessive Daddies

"This is different though." I trace patterns in the condensation on my mug. "Seth was Corey's idea. If I suggest Donovan..."

"Then you're taking initiative. Showing him what you want." She slides perfectly fluffy eggs onto two plates. "Besides, you told me how Donovan was looking at you. Sounds like that man would climb over broken glass just to get a taste."

"God, Tess!" But I can't help smiling. "He did seem... interested."

"I'm sure interested is an understatement." She sets a plate in front of me. "I'll bet he was mentally undressing you all night. Poor what's-her-name didn't stand a chance."

"Mindy," I mumble around a bite of eggs. "And yeah, he barely looked at her."

"See? The attraction's there. Now you just need to see if Corey would be into it."

"How do I even begin to bring that up?" I stab at my eggs. "'Remember how hot it was with Seth? What about adding your best friend to the mix?'"

"Why not? Worked once already." Tessa winks. "Sometimes the direct approach is best."

I can't focus. My mind keeps drifting back to last night - the way Donovan's muscles flexed under his shirt, how his eyes seemed to undress me across the table. Tessa's voice fades to background noise as heat floods my cheeks.

"Earth to Abbie. What's going on?"

I snap back to reality, face burning hotter. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"Girl, you'll need to keep your head in the game if you don't want this whole thing to fall apart. I'm behind you, no matter what you decide. Hell, maybe one of these boys will take an interest in me if you cast them aside."

I wave my hand, smiling as I catch Tessa's cheeky wink. "You're terrible. Love you, but I'm not so sure I can share with you."

Seth's confident smirk flashes through my mind. The way he watched me with Corey that night, how his presence made everything more electric. And now Donovan... God, what is going on with me? Normal people don't fantasize about their boyfriend's best friend while trying to learn about cognitive behavioral therapy.

My phone moves across the counter - probably Corey checking in. Sweet, thoughtful Corey who deserves better than a girlfriend mentally undressing his friends. The guilt twists in my stomach, mixing with an excitement I can't quite squash.

I must be broken somehow. Or maybe this is what happens when you spend years suppressing yourself to be the "good girlfriend" Chandler wanted. Now all those pent-up desires are exploding out at once, aimed at three incredibly hot older men who probably see right through my attempts at sophistication.

I need to get my head straight before work tonight. But how am I supposed to excel at mixing drinks when I can't stop imagining Donovan's hands on my skin? Or wondering if Seth might show up at work again?

Maybe Tessa's right - I am changing. Before, I would never even consider juggling multiple men. I used to be safe. Predictable. Boring.

I'm not sure I want to be that person anymore.

28

SETH

"Have you talked to her?" I can't help myself. I've been staring at the same spreadsheet for twenty minutes, my mind wandering to curves and soft lips, the way she felt pressed between us that night. These quarterly reports aren't holding my attention worth a damn.

Corey looks up from his desk, playing it cool like always. "Who?"

"Don't play dumb. Abbie." Just saying her name sends a rush through me.

"Ah." A small smile dances on his lips, that knowing look he gets when he thinks he's got everything figured out. "Some texts here and there."

"That's it?" My pen taps against the desk, a nervous habit I can't shake. "Haven't seen her since...?"

"Since that night? A couple of times." He straightens his tie, all proper and controlled like usual. "Trying to give her space. Process things."

"Process what exactly? She seemed pretty into it." The sound of her moans floods back, the way she trembled, how perfectly she fit. I shift in my chair, trying to focus on anything else. "Hell, more than into it."

"It's different for women." Always the voice of reason, our Corey, though I'm starting to think he's just as affected as I am.

"Maybe she needs reassurance. Show her it wasn't just a one-time thing." I clear my throat. "Unless it was?"

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