But like an enticing dessert that she couldn’t help taking just one more bite from, she’d gone back for more. Late into the night, she’d read and re-read, trying to understand what it was about the dynamic that turned her on so much. Despite feeling that it was wrong somehow, she couldn’t shake it. And the orgasms she’d brought herself to after reading had been some of the strongest she’d ever experienced.

* * *

Nina rushed down the street. She was late—again. Well, on time for opening at nine, but it was a quarter ’til now, and Mandy always liked them there by eight thirty. She didn’t know where the fucking time had gone. One minute, she had two hours to get her homework finished, and the next, she was sprinting for the tram and cursing her inability to keep an eye on a fucking clock.

While she’d never regretted giving up her full-time job at the gym to become a mature student of Business & Finance at the age of twenty-eight, sometimes she did question her sanity. Then, she would remember why she was doing it, remind herself of the money that was coming her way when her gran’s estate was all sorted out, and the cafe that she would open with it. That always made her smile, take a deep breath, and bury her head in her books again.

At least she’d finished that economics paper, leaving her weekend free. College commitments and helping Mum out at the gift shop had seen her “me time” disappear these past few weeks. So, this week, she’d worked extra hard, determined to have one whole free weekend to do whatever she bloody liked with. Well, apart from working at the club Friday and Saturday nights, but that didn’t really feel like work. More like a voyeur’s free ride.

She rang the buzzer and apologised to Mandy when she popped her head round the door. Mandy frowned, but there was a sparkle in those amazing blue eyes.

“I know, I know—I’m sorry!” said Nina, rushing past to throw her jacket and bag into her locker.

“You’re lucky you’ve been here the longest,” called Mandy as she headed back to her office. Nina grinned sheepishly, closed her locker, and then sprinted back down the hall. She waved at Dee, who blew her a kiss.

“I’m sorry,” she said again, meeting Mandy’s gaze. “I was cramming an economics paper, and I don’t know where the fucking time went.”

“Oh God, I know,” exclaimed Mandy, clutching dramatically at her chest. “Those economics papers do it for me every time too.”

Dee guffawed, and Nina laughed, a big, loud snort of a laugh.

“Fuck off!” she said amiably and walked off to the sound of Mandy’s laughter ringing down the hallway after her.