Page 29 of Rival Desires

She moved closer, invading the tiny space. “You know, like when someone’s digging you.”

Stuck in this mental and physical corner, my brain scrambled for something to say- anything to end this conversation.

And then, BAM! Becky flung her arms around my neck and pressed herself against me. “Like this,” she murmured, her breath warm on my cheek.

My body turned rigid as a board. This was so not what I had signed up for. I delicately pried her arms off me, trying not to hurt her feelings. “Whoa, Becky, hold up. This really isn’t my scene.”

Her posture slumped, and the glow in her gaze vanished as she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I see. So, you’re into...guys then?”

“No, no, no, not at all!” I quickly corrected her, my words tumbling out in a rush. “I like girls, it’s just that I’m not looking for anything serious now.”

I jammed my floor button with more force than necessary, desperate to flee the awkwardness that now hung heavy in the air. The rest of the ride was as silent as a library, the only sound being the soft murmur of the elevator machinery.

I practically bolted out as soon as the doors slid open to my floor, my brain still doing somersaults.

Stepping into my apartment, I gently closed the door behind me, relishing the peace and quiet. I stripped off my clothes, each piece dropping to the floor with a satisfying thud as if shedding the weight of the night’s tangled mess. I was eager to scrub away not just the physical grime but also the mental muddle Rylee and now Becky had left me in.

I cranked the shower dial all the way up, letting the scalding hot water pummel me. The steam billowed up, fogging the mirror and creating a cozy cocoon around me. I hoped the heat would wash away any lingering traces and cleanse the whirlwind of confusion and irritation.

But as I closed my eyes under the relentless spray, Rylee’s image was there, imprinted on the inside of my eyelids. The memory of Rylee’s kiss haunted me, a mixture of anger and desire, a cocktail too potent to ignore. It was as if the water, rather than washing her away, was somehow etching her deeper into my senses.

I could see every line that made up her features. The brilliance of her eyes. The curve of her lips.

And then the rest of my senses caught up, bringing the memories of the silkiness of her hair when I’d buried my hand in it, the scent of her arousal, the taste of her mouth.

Cursing, I felt my blood rushing south, my cock stiffening. I tried turning my thoughts elsewhere, seeking something unpleasant.

No matter how much I tried, though, I stayed hard. Achingly, impossibly hard.

And I could only think of one way to take care of it.

Damnit.

With a defeated groan, I wrapped my hand around my aching length. I could almost imagine it was her hand on me, stroking me, her fingers tracing the veins beneath my skin. I moved my fist up and down, letting the water from the shower be my lubrication. My skin burned beneath my palm, and I welcomed the bite of pain, a harsh reminder of my inability to forget her.

It was her body, the sounds she’d made, the way she’d felt gripping my cock in that hot, wet embrace of hers that had me cursing as I sought release. Even with the anger that still simmered between us, I couldn’t suppress the primal need to see her spread out beneath me, panting and begging.

My hand moved faster, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps as my mind swirled with images of Rylee. The way she’d looked at me at the event, the heat in her eyes after I kissed her, how I wanted to claim her as mine. I imagined her naked, her skin slick with sweat, as I fucked her until she screamed my name. Her nails dug into my back, leaving red trails of desire and possession. “Cory,” she moaned, her voice a siren’s call that only fueled my lust. Her heated core clenched around me like a vice grip, milking me with every deep thrust. I could almost feel the way her wetness coated us both, our bodies slick with sweat and the evidence of our mounting arousal.

“Oh God, Rylee,” I groaned aloud, the walls of the shower stall doing little to muffle my cries of pleasure. My hips bucked uncontrollably against my hand as I pictured her arching her back in ecstasy, her breasts bouncing enticingly with each hard thrust. The image was so vivid that it felt like she was right there with me.

Her hands were everywhere: gripping my ass, clawing at my back, guiding me deeper inside her molten heat. “Yes,” she purred in my ear, “harder...harder.” And God help me, but I obliged. My strokes became more frantic as I neared the edge of release. The water pounded down on me relentlessly as I imagined us fucking against the tiled wall of the shower stall. That sent me over the edge. I came with a guttural groan, spilling myself all over my fist. My breathing was ragged as I watched the evidence of my release being swept down the drain.

If only the same could be done with the lingering shame of my obsession.

The next day,I was at the office glued to my desk chair, gazing blankly at the jumble of numbers on my computer screen. My brain had been on autopilot for the last fifteen minutes, not registering a single figure. Instead, it replayed that kiss with Rylee like a broken record stuck in an endless loop. Each replay ended with a baffling blend of frustration and an unwelcome flicker of something else- something I didn’t want to admit, even to myself.

Craving a distraction from the mental merry-go-round, I popped out of my chair and went to Fury’s office. Maybe he had some task to yank my thoughts back on track. As I entered, he glanced up from his paperwork, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Rough day so far?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

“You could say that,” I confessed, sinking into the chair opposite him. “My focus is MIA.”

Fury’s eyes scanned mine for a moment before he spoke. “Well, I’ve got an update that might help. Last night’s meeting with Nadine went better than we anticipated.”

That piqued my interest. “Oh yeah?”

He grinned. “After you left, Nadine got a call from Bennett. He’s recommending our firm to handle her estate, not Rylee’s.”

---