I see Mary in my mind, surrounded by thirty fucking men who likely know by now that she's the last virgin in this side of Texas, and my teeth start gnashing against each other.
Three fucking years, dammit.
One thousand and ninety-five days of not allowing myself to think of Mary as anything but my secretary. Of never letting my gaze linger on her figure even as my fists clench whenever she bends down to pick something on the floor, and I see the sweet, firm hint of her derrière swelling against the stretched fabric of her skirt.
Every fucking day of those three fucking years was torture, and when I think about how I suffered all those fucking days...only to have some worthless Spandex-clad-SOB steal her away just like that—-
No. Fucking. Way.
The doors slide open as the elevator reaches the hotel's rooftop pool, and the first thing I see is a familiar figure walking swiftly past me—-
Mary.
Dressed in a fucking swimsuit.
A goddamn swimsuit!
It might not be a bikini, but it's still a swimsuit that exposes the entire silky length of her legs and nearly all of her tits. I think about how all those thirty SOBs may have enjoyed feasting their eyes on her almost naked body, and I see fucking red.
I stalk after her, and my steps don't slow down even when I realize she's heading into one of the cabanas.
It's possible she needs a private moment to herself, but isn't it equally possible that one of those bastards from the dating agency is waiting for her inside? Isn't it fucking possible that there's another man who, right this very moment, already has his hands on Mary's pure, virginal body?
FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!
Jealous rage like I've never known before consumes me—-
That's my Mary, dammit!
And the next thing I know, I'm already opening the door and stepping inside—-
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
I forget what I have to say as soon as I see her.
Mary.
I'm looking at Mary.
My Mary, who's currently standing completely naked in front of me, and my throat dries as I take in the plump fullness of her tits and her pussy—-
Oh, sweet fuck, that pussy!
I never imagined she'd be the type to shave her pussy bare, but I like it. I fucking love it actually, that I find myself unable to take my gaze off the pinkish triangle of flesh between her legs.
"Stone?"
Francesca's startled gasp from behind is like having a bucket of ice-cold water thrown at both our faces, and I swiftly whirl around to see Nic's wife gaping at me.
"Hey." I clear my throat loudly to drown out the sound of Mary scrambling in motion behind me, and I shift on my feet to ensure that Francesca's view of the cabana is completely obstructed.
"What are you doing here?" Mary's best friend asks in confusion.
I'm saved from lying when the elevator doors slide open again, and the sight of her husband stepping out has Francesca properly distracted.
As Nic sweet-talks and kisses his wife into forgiving him for his womanizing past, Mary comes out of the cabana, now fully dressed, and her expression serene.
"I'm sorry for that, Mr. Verhoff," she says in her usual courteous voice.
Is that really all she has to fucking say?
I move towards her, and she backs away.
Good.
At least now I know she's not completely indifferent.
I take another step forward, but before I can say a word, Elaine's calling out to all of us.
"We've got champagne and cake!"
Francesca suddenly pops back next to Mary and curls an arm around her friend's. "It's time for you to blow some—-"
Mary gasps. "Che-Che!"
"Candles," Francesca clarifies with a laugh. "That's all I meant. It's your birthday, so of course you'll have some candles to blow."
Nic and I follow behind the two women as they walk back to where Elaine's waiting, and I deliberately stand next to Mary as we form a circle around the table. I wait for her to act self-conscious and awkward, but she's just cool and poised as always.
"Make a wish, girl," Elaine orders, and something inside of me clenches when I see Mary close her eyes.
Is she hoping to meet one of those SOBs again?
My jaw hardens at the thought, and I find myself growing more irritated as we toast to Mary's birthday, and Mary continues to act like the perfect secretary next to me.
I know she's said Nic and I aren't her type, but she's making me want to prove to her she's goddamn wrong.
Mary
Somebody please wake me up from this nightmare.
I toss and turn in bed, but just like it had been since Friday night, I'm unable to sleep, and all I can see when I close my eyes is the stunned look on Stone's gorgeous face upon finding me naked before him.
Aaaargh!
I cover my face with a pillow and scream.
Why did that have to happen?
Why, why, why?