Page 28 of Crave: A Reverse Harem Romance

“If you say so,” she said, but I could tell she hadn’t changed her mind. “So what did he say this morning?”

“Not much.” I wanted to leave it at that, but I couldn’t lie to her… not even a lie of omission. I knew she was going to run with this next fact. “And he asked me to breakfast.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “To breakfast? The man you slept with asks you to breakfast and you don’t think he’s into you? You don’t think I’m right about the way he was looking at you?”

“That can’t be it, though,” I argued. “Liza, have you seen that man? He’s way out of my league.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? Have you seen yourself?”

I looked down at the edge of my couch, carefully tracing the seam with my fingertip because I didn’t know how to answer that. I wasn’t great at taking compliments.

“It goes beyond that, Liza,” I said, since there were actually plenty of other reasons why he shouldn’t—couldn’t—be into me. “He’s loaded. He’s hot. He’s the owner of Crave. He could have any woman he wanted.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” She shrugged. “I hate when you do that. You’re stunning, Harlow, in every way. You’re smart, creative, independent… you’re the total package. And if you don’t know that, it’s only because you don’t venture out into the world enough for people to tell you. But trust me, you’re more than good enough for Axel. And he obviously sees that, too.”

I shook my head and glanced away. “Well, it really doesn’t matter because I’m not going back there. Ever. I’d be too embarrassed now that I know they’re all aware I slept with Axel.”

“You act like it’s some shameful secret,” She said, laughing. “If I had slept with that man, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

I had to laugh. “Okay, yeah, it’s not that I’m ashamed or anything. I’m definitely not. It’s just that… I don’t know. It’s different when it’s other men that know. Other men who I danced with… rather provocatively. That’s another thing I really don’t care to revisit.”

“Fine, fine,” she held up her hands in a mock surrender. “I won’t force you to do something you clearly don’t want to do. But I’m just letting you know, I think you’re making a big mistake. You had fun, more fun than I’ve seen you have in ages. You shouldn’t give that up. You should savor it. You should take advantage of it while it’s there for the taking—and it’s definitely still there.”

I couldn’t deny she was right. I’d been having a lot of fun. And I quite liked Axel.

But no, I knew it would be too embarrassing to go back. I’d had my fun, and now I needed to return to my quiet little author life. Just me, my tea, and my computer. That was all I needed.

Yep, I’d had a good run, but it was going to end now. And I was totally fine with it.

That was what I was telling myself, anyway.

Maybe if I repeated it enough times, I’d even start to believe it.

Chapter 9 - Ryker

I looked down at the gorgeous brunette who was now naked on the desk in my office.

My papers were scattered all over the floor. She had pushed them off as we started making out, and normally, with my compulsion to keep things organized, this would have driven me crazy.

But it couldn’t drive me crazy because something else already was.

This woman.

Harlow.

What the hell was I doing with my cock buried in a woman on my desk?

This wasn’t me, I didn’t do this kind of thing. I kept work and play separate. I never had sex with women at work. It was my rule. Whatever happened to not shitting where you ate?

Yet here I was, breaking my rule so effortlessly. Even worse, carelessly. I wanted to care, wanted to tell myself to cut it out and end this now. But I just couldn’t. I was in too deep. Literally.

Damn if she wasn’t worth it, though.

It had been a week since I first saw her at Crave. A week since Axel had taken her home that night and slept with her, somehow making me want her even more.

Now that she was back, I couldn’t deny it anymore. I wanted her. I had to have her.

Fuck my rules.

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