Page 13 of Melted by a Man

I understood the dynamic, especially in my managerial position.

I dropped my head in my hands, massaging my temples before scrubbing a hand down my face, desperate to pull myself out of those tempting memories that sometimes still haunted me in my dreams.

The sound of her voice.

The feel of her skin against mine.

“Shit,” I grumbled, then immediately lifted my head to double-check that Jacqueline wasn’t walking past my door at the exact moment I released a curse.

I bent down and opened the mini fridge I had installed under my desk on day one of working here, pulling out a can of espresso and flipping the top open, before I took a healthy chug. I had meetings today, and I didn’t want to be tired or distracted.

I pretended that the caffeine would last this time. That it wouldn’t burn out within thirty minutes of me consuming the beverage. That I wouldn’t be capable of taking a three-hour nap within an hour of drinking it.

I drummed my fingers on the can for a few moments while I tapped the space bar on my work laptop again, seeing the large number of unread emails that I needed to attend to.

Then I checked the time on my phone, seeing a few interesting headlines on the local news apps I had downloaded—

“No,” I grumbled to myself, turning my phone over face down on the desk, “Focus, mate.” I settled into my seat, sitting straighter as I forced myself to open the first email and read.

The caffeine started to hit, and I used that temporary high to help motivate me to check off as many tasks as I could that day.

ChapterThree

LEO

“Oh god, oh god,”she was panting beautifully, heavily, while laying prone on the hotel bed on the brink of orgasm, “Please, please, I need—"

Like I’d ever stop after I started to feel her inner walls clench erratically around me, seconds from reaching that bliss.

“You’re taking me so well, Jacqueline,” I encouraged, watching her jaw drop and eyes squeeze close. I rewarded her by swiping my thumb over the hardened tip of her breast, “Come for me, love. You’ve earned it.”

* * *

The groupof people gathering at the center of the pitch looked promising. Zaid Ansara and I dropped our bags next to his girlfriend on the grass, who had plopped herself down on a picnic blanket, and pulled out a laptop covered in a variety of stickers.

Why anyone would ruin the sleek, clean look of a laptop with stickers that would fade and peel over time, was mind-boggling.

“Were you on a team back in London?” Zaid asked, removing his glasses before drinking his water bottle.

“Off and on,” I shrugged, lifting my back leg to stretch a bit before we joined the others, “I was more competitive in university, but now I mostly play on occasion to stay in shape.” I glanced over at Zaid as he bent down to kiss Signe on the lips once in farewell before he stood taller and walked with me to meet the team, “Were you on a team?”

“No,” Zaid lifted a shoulder, “I only ever played recreationally.”

“Could have fooled me,” I glanced down at his biceps, to his muscular form, “Are those hot girl muscles, then?”

Zaid chuckled, not offended by my banter, “I like exercising, it helps calm my brain.”

“I get that.” I held my fist up, and he knocked his knuckles against mine right when a whistle sounded. None of us were in any sort of uniform, just a variety of men in athletic wear. Mostly shorts. There were a lot of toned, male thighs to be seen. I smirked to myself, thinking about how Mary would gag at the sight.

Damn, I did need to make more friends.

Thankfully, Zaid seemed to be cool with us both conveniently signing up for the same rec league. I was a little worried that things would be weird between us when I came in to fill the position he used to have, but then I learned very quickly that I was doing him a favor by accepting the position of Chief Technology Officer.

Because he hated it.

Zaid and Signe welcomed me to the company with open arms, which helped make the transition a little easier considering I’d be spending forty to sixty hours a week there.

“Listen up everyone,” I glanced around to find the owner of the whistle that called everyone’s attention, Zaid and I stood near the back of the crowd since we seemed to be the last ones to arrive, “Welcome, and thank you for signing up. I am your captain, and this is the Laguna Rec Rugby League. If you meant to sign up for pickleball or soccer or anything else, speak now or accept your fate.” I stepped to the side, finally finding the owner of the voice.

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