Sinful Desire

Working with Millicent had been surprisingly pleasant. I had been apprehensive about assisting at first because of my lewd attraction to her boyfriend. Nonetheless, our conversations never revolved around him and for that I was thankful. She had no clue about Jack and me, and I wanted it to remain that way for as long as possible. Besides, I was on a deliberate journey to forget him entirely. Her directions and explanations of how things were run in the chemical lab were exceptional. With Claire still away and Millicent sporadically around after I’d adjusted to the lab’s operations, I carried the workload of two people. It left me mostly exhausted—which was a much-needed distraction, one that is helping expunge Jack from my senses.

I had been successful in my quest to avoid Jack for three full weeks, no matter what it took, and it seemed to be working. My consolation was geography. McCullen Heights and the confectionery factory were far apart—not an impossible distance, but distant enough that I didn’t have to fear running into him unexpectedly.

The first few days were torture. He had stopped by the apartment on countless occasions to see me, but Lana offered a succession of excuses to cover for me and get him off my back. Jack had been relentless, and I was petrified that seeing him would undo every ounce of willpower I’d mustered and leave me at his mercy. I wouldn’t survive.

Avoidance seemed to be the logical solution, and it was working. I didn’t know how long the subterfuge would last, but however long it took, I was hell-bent on staying away from the Adonis—until he was completely out of my system.

If only it was that simple.

Lana was meeting me in half an hour for lunch just across the street from McCullen Confectionery. I wouldn’t know when she arrived until the lab intercom buzzed.

God, I needed my phone.

The intercom chimed just after I finalized my last chemical test. I stood up, straightening my stiff and aching body. Numbness had settled into my nerves, their signals dulled by stillness, leaving my limbs strangely vacant of sensation. I massaged them until the feeling slowly returned. I shrugged out of my lab coat, responded to the intercom, and met Lana downstairs.

Moments later, we were seated in an open spot outside the restaurant. We ordered BLT sandwiches with fries, and an orange juice on the side.

“Jack called me today at school,” Lana said. “When I was preparing for a lab with my students.”

“What did he want?” I inquired, surprised by his persistence.

“You, Robin. And I don’t know how long we can keep up this ruse.”

“He’ll get exhausted and cease pursuing me. I assure you.” I said.

“I doubt he’s the type to concede, Robin. He said your running only delays the inevitable.”

“It’s strange, you know …he’s never been to the confectionery.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to encourage an office romance,” Lana said with a wink.

“Thank you,” I said, nodding to the waiter as he gingerly set our plates down.

“I mean…I don’t get it.”

“Millicent?” A faint crease appeared between Lana’s brows.

“Oh,” I muttered, realization plummeting hard in my stomach. I dropped my gaze, shoulders slumping against my seat. “I mean, it made all the sense—”

“Holy crap!” Lana exclaimed, chuckling as she spotted a tall man approaching our table.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Jack!”

Holy fuck.

“Did you tell him we’d be here?”

“I didn’t. He practically owns the entire domain, Robin.”

Shit.

I felt him getting closer, because Lana’s gaze shifted upward, to accommodate his height.

“Good day, ladies,” he said.

I felt the heat creeping through my body, settling on my cheeks, burning like crimson-hot metal pressed against my skin. I picked up a stray piece of lettuce, nibbling on the edges to steady myself.

“Lana,” Jack murmured, nodding at her. Then he crouched beside me, his hand settling firmly on my thigh.

A sharp throb pulsed in my groin.

“Escape is often an illusion,” he whispered, a smug smile playing on his lips. His fingers ran slowly through my hair, each touch leaving me a tangled mess of desire. He reached for the nape of my neck and pulled me closer.

“How loud will you beg when I fuck you?” he asked, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. My face instantly flared crimson.

“Grace period’s over, Robin,” he purred. “You won’t run from me anymore.”

He squeezed my thigh one more time before releasing his grip. I gasped, my knees buckling under the table.

“I’ll leave you ladies to it,” he said, straightening his suit. “Enjoy.”

He turned sharply, clearly satisfied he’d made his claim unmistakably clear.

I downed a large gulp of juice, trying to calm my disoriented state. I hated how easily he affected me.

“You’re burning up,” Lana said with a sly smile. “The sexual tension is off the roof with you two.”

“He’s not going to have me Lana” I said, popping a fry in my mouth.

“I sure hope so,” she teased.

As I sat across the table staring at my best friend, I knew for a fact that Jack McCullen would be the end of me.