“Amara,” Ian answered. “Carina met her at a business conference a couple years ago, and they’d made fast friends.”

“Dear, God. I think he’s drooling,” Erik teased.

“Who the fuck wouldn’t be?” I responded unashamed.

“See, this is how it starts,” Ian explained. “Next thing you know, you’ll be in love.”

A bark of laughter broke free. “Yeah, fucking right. All I want is to bend her over and fuck that sass right out of her. So, the next thing I know, she’ll be begging for more.”

Both men snorted and shook their heads, meeting each other’s gaze with some unspoken conversation that looked heavily tinged with doubt. Did they know something I didn’t? Maybe. But I also knew that I could be one determined motherfucker when I wanted something.

And I couldn’t remember the last time I’d wanted a woman like I wanted Amara.

AMARA

The day had been shit. Hell, the whole week had been shit, and walking into the kitchen to hear the arrogant shit being said was the cherry on top.

No.

The real cherry on top was the way my nipples pulled into tight, painful buds of need when the man spewing so much arrogance turned and looked me up and down like a fucking dessert he was deciding if he wanted or not.

Hard. Fucking. Pass. Sir.

At least, that’s what my morals said. Everything else almost begged to be the lucky lady he fucked. All that masculinity lording over me? Yes, please. Especially when his lips barely tipped, and sheer arrogance flared behind his eyes—a hint of blue in the dark depths. That kind of confidence came from a man who took pride in making a woman crumble under the pleasure he dished out

But…looks were deceiving, and I was in no mood to find out. All I needed was to give in and then discover his roguish smirk was a cover for being a minuteman. I’d rather not fuck at all than have the hope of an orgasm, only for it to be taken away. Besides, a cold shoulder of rejection could do a man with that much confidence good.

“You found the wine,” Carina cheered.

“I always do.” I smiled and sat in the empty chair. “You didn’t have to get this for me. I can always bring my own.”

“I know, but it’s your favorite, and I know your week has been shit. It also meant you got here sooner for dinner. More time to chat.”

“Here, here,” Alexandra cheered with a raised glass.

I filled my wine more than halfway before joining the clinking cups in camaraderie.

“By the way, this is Brianna and Abby. They work at the office.”

I greeted the two women on either side of Carina. “Does that man also work at the office with you?”