Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
STELLA
“I can’t believe you actually texted him to come over,” Megan laughs, curled up on my couch with a glass of red and a grin so smug she deserves to be slapped. Lovingly, of course.
“And I can’t believe you’re pretending to be shocked,” Emily calls from the kitchen, wrist-deep in my snack cupboard. “You’ve been telling her to jump his bones since the day she started the job.”
It’s Wednesday night, and somehow I’ve been bullied into hosting girls’ night. Megan brought the wine, Emily brought enough chocolate to trigger a sugar coma, and I—unwittingly—brought the drama.
I sink deeper into the couch and try not to look as flustered as I feel, which is near impossible considering I’ve spent the entire day with the ghost of Jake’s cock between my legs and his voice echoing in my head like a filthy soundtrack.
“So,” Megan presses, swirling her wine. “Details. How was it?”
“I’m not giving you details about my sex life.”
“Oh, please.” She scoffs. “I tell you about mine. Remember that guy who blindfolded me and fucked me stupid at The Castle? I couldn’t sit right for a week.”
I choke on my wine.
“She brought it up at brunch. Brunch,” Emily says, emerging with a bowl of popcorn.
Megan shrugs. “Was it as good as you dreamed it would be?”
My heart kicks into a gallop, and a slash of need zips through me as I recall the weight of Jake’s fingers around my throat while he made me come so hard I forgot my own postcode.
“Better,” I admit, voice low.
Megan squeals like I’ve just announced I’m engaged. “I bloody knew it! So, what’s the plan now?”
“There is no plan. We’re keeping things professional at work. Taking it slow.”
Emily snorts from behind the popcorn. “How’s that working out for you?”
“It’s been one day.”
“And?”
I think about this afternoon—Jake handing me a takeaway cup with a foam heart in the flat white. No words. Just a wink and a walk-off that made my knees weak. Or the way he brushed past me in the hallway, hand grazing the small of my back like it was an accident. It wasn’t.
“And it’s harder than I thought it’d be.”
“Because you want to jump him again,” Megan says, not even bothering to hide her smirk.
“Because we work together. I need to build a reputation, not sleep my way into a title.”
“Stella,” Emily says, settling beside me, “you’ve overhauled that entire workshop in two weeks. You’re the reason it’s not a flaming dumpster fire. No one thinks you’re sleeping your way anywhere.”
“She’s right,” Megan agrees. “Didn’t you say Arden practically gave you his blessing?”
“I said he hinted,” I remind her. “But that doesn’t mean the rest of the team will be cool with it.”
“I bet they’re already onto you,” Emily says. “Do you really think that lot haven’t noticed the sexual tension thick enough to fog up safety goggles?”
My phone buzzes on the coffee table. All three of us stare at it like it might explode.
“Is that him?” Megan asks, already grinning.
I pick it up and see Jake’s name. My pulse immediately quickens.
Jake
How’s girls’ night going? Telling them all my secrets?
I can’t help but smile as I type back.
Stella
What secrets? That you’re secretly a romantic who makes heart-shaped foam art?
Jake
That’s not the only thing I’m good at making with my hands.
My cheeks flush. I try to keep my expression neutral, but Megan’s watching me like a hawk.
“That’s definitely him. You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The same look you had this morning when you came into the coffee shop all glowy and satisfied.”
Jake
Can’t stop thinking about last night. About you under me.
Stella
Jake…
Jake
About your taste. The way you sound when you come.
“Oh my God, he’s sexting you right now, isn’t he?” Emily asks.
“No, he isn’t.”
“I can tell because you look like you’re about to spontaneously combust.”
Jake
Tomorrow. Your desk. I’ll bend you over and remind you exactly how good we are together. Wear the heels I like.
My pussy clenches just reading his words. I know exactly which heels he means.
Stella
We agreed to keep things professional.
Jake
I am being professional. Professionally planning all the ways I’m going to make you scream my name.
“Stella, you’re biting your lip so hard you’re going to draw blood,” Megan observes.
“He’s… being very persuasive.”
Jake
Tell me you’re not thinking about it too.
I am. God help me, I’m thinking about it constantly.
Stella
Maybe I am.
Jake
Good. Because I’m in bed right now, hard as fuck, wishing it was your mouth on me. Remember how you sucked my cock…
I whimper, and both girls lean forward like bloodhounds on a scent.
“Okay, that’s it,” Emily announces, snapping me out of it. “We need to talk about the elephant in the room.”
“What elephant?”
“The job offer. Are you going to take it?”
I set my phone down, trying to focus despite the throbbing between my legs. “I want to. But it’s a big decision.”
“What’s holding you back?” Megan asks.
“Fear, mostly. What if I can’t handle it? What if I’m not ready for that level of responsibility?”
“Stella,” Emily says firmly, “you’ve been managing my coffee shop like a pro for years. You’ve turned Doc’s around in less than two weeks. You’re more ready than you think.”
“Plus,” Megan adds, “it’s a hundred thousand dollars. That’s life-changing money.”
“It is. I could finally get a decent car, maybe even start saving for a house.”
“And you’d be working with Jake every day,” Emily points out with a grin.
“That’s part of the problem.”
“Or part of the solution. Look, I know you’re worried about mixing business with pleasure, but maybe it doesn’t have to be complicated.”
“Emily—”
“I’m serious. You know what? I’m firing you.”
I blink. “What?”
“You’re fired from The Enchanted Bean. Effective immediately.”
“Emily, you can’t?—”
“I can, and I am. Now you have no excuse not to take Arden’s offer.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“Actually, it is. I’m the boss, I can fire whoever I want. And I’m firing you because you’re too good for this place. You belong somewhere that challenges you, somewhere you can build something real.”
My phone buzzes again.
Jake
Still there? Or are you touching yourself thinking about me?
I grab it before either of them can see.
Stella
The girls are still here. Can’t exactly do that right now.
Jake
But you want to.
Stella
Yes.
Jake
What are you wearing?
I glance down at my outfit—yoga pants and an oversized jumper. Not exactly sexy.
Stella
Yoga pants and a jumper. Very unsexy.
Jake
Everything you wear is sexy. But I’d rather you were wearing nothing at all.
“You’re sexting him back, aren’t you?” Megan accuses.
“Maybe.”
“Good! It’s about time you let loose a little.”
Jake
I want to strip those clothes off you. Piece by piece. Kiss every inch of skin I uncover.
My breath catches, heat pooling low.
Stella
Jake, you’re killing me.
Jake
Good. I want you desperate. Thinking about my hands on you, my mouth on you. My cock in you.
“Okay, seriously,” Emily says, “put the phone down and make a decision about the job. You can sext your hot mechanic later.”
She’s right. I need to focus.
“What if things go wrong with Jake and it affects work?”
“What if they go right?” Megan counters. “What if you get the career you want and the man you want in the same place?”
“That seems too good to be true.”
“Or maybe you deserve something good for once,” Emily says softly. “Stella, you’ve been playing it safe your whole life. Maybe it’s time to take a risk.”
My phone buzzes again.
Jake
Touching myself right now. Wishing it was your hand, not mine.
Fuck. My entire body lights up.
Stella
The girls will notice if I disappear to my room.
Jake
Then stay there… and imagine it’s my fingers sliding inside you.
I squirm, and both girls notice.
“You know what, we’re leaving,” Emily announces, standing. “You clearly have important business to attend to.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“Yes, we do. You need to call Arden and accept that job offer, and then you need to have phone sex with your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my?—”
“Yet,” Megan finishes. “But he will be if you stop overthinking everything.”
They gather their things quickly, but before they leave, Emily hugs me tight.
“Take the job, Stella. You deserve it.”
“And take the man too,” Megan adds with a wink.
After they leave, I sit on my couch staring at my phone. Jake’s last message is still open and just reading it makes me clench my thighs together.
I know what I need to do.
First, I find Arden’s number and type out a message.
Stella
I’ve thought about your offer. I’d like to accept the position as Operations Manager. When would you like me to start full-time?
His reply comes within minutes.
Arden
Fantastic! How about Monday? I’ll have all the paperwork ready. Welcome to the team, officially.
I stare at the message, letting it sink in. I’ve just accepted a job that could change my entire life. For the first time in years, I’m excited about my future—about the possibilities ahead of me.
My mind’s still on Jake—what he said, and how he made me feel last night.
Before I can second-guess myself, I type out a response to his last message.
Stella
The girls just left. And I can’t stop thinking about what you said.
Jake
What part?
Stella
All of it. I’m so turned on right now I can barely think straight.
Jake
Are you touching yourself?
Stella
Not yet… but I want to.
Jake
Do it. Touch yourself. Think about me.
Stella
Only if you tell me. Every filthy thing you want to do to me.
Jake
Everything. Worship every inch of your body. Make you come until you forget your name.
My hand slides down as I read his words, desire spreading through every cell until I ache for more.
Stella
I’m touching myself now. Thinking about your hands on me.
Jake
That’s my good girl. Wish I could see you. Watch you fall apart for me.
Stella
I wish you were here. I need you inside me.
Jake
Soon, darl. Very soon.
As I come with his words in my head, I realise my life has completely changed in two weeks. I have a career I’m passionate about, a man who makes me feel things I’ve never felt before, and for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of what’s next.
I’m ready for all of it.