Hard Drive - Erin McCarthy

by Erin McCarthy

  Neither was one night together.

  She sighed. This wasn’t distracting her from thinking about Mack.

  She was a federal disaster area. Hurricane Kindra.

  Then her eye landed on her screen. She had a text from Mack Stone. She immediately slapped her phone on her desk, screen down, without reading it.

  “Oh, no.”

  If he talked dirty to her, she was not going to be able to resist.

  Taking a deep breath, she flipped her phone over like it was on fire.

  I’m sorry for singling you out earlier. It won’t happen again.

  Well, that wasn’t dirty talk at all, but she did appreciate him apologizing. She did not want to create office tension.

  Thank you.

  She was debating adding something to that because it sounded clipped and maybe even bitchy.

  He texted her again. The message was short.

  I’m your new Russ. Delete his number.

  Kindra dropped her hands and gripped her desk. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And why did it sound so damn hot?

  She crossed her legs, a deep ache sparking within her.

  While she was debating how to respond another text came in.

  I can’t get you out of my head. I want to respect your privacy at work but meet me for a drink tonight.

  He named a bar that was actually only two blocks from her house and far away from work. She bit her lip then realized she was kidding herself if she thought she wasn’t going to go.

  You’re annoying.

  But fine, I’ll be there.

  Yeah, that was really resisting. She rolled her eyes when she sent a gif of a guy fist pumping.

  Kindra parked in the back lot behind the bar and walked across their outdoor patio, feeling nervous. She hadn’t seen Mack the rest of the afternoon and she wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted.

  “Kindra.”

  It was his voice and like always, it did things to her insides. She turned, glad she had let Ashley talk her into buying tight jeans and a cute sweater. She felt sexier than she had in a long time and ready to go a round with Mack.

  He was sitting at a table, relaxing back into his chair next to an outdoor heater.

  “Hey,” she said.

  A dog barked from his position by Mack’s feet.

  A fluffy little white guy with big brown eyes. “Who is this?” She walked over and bent down to rub between the dog’s ear. “Hi, mister. What’s your name?”

  Mack with a dog was a sight that flat-out gave her panty pudding.

  “This is Juan.”

  “Juan?” The dog did not look like a Juan. More like a Pierre. She thought it might be a Bichon but she wasn’t an expert on breeds. “Where did you get him from?”

  “He’s my sister’s dog. I borrowed him to make me look sexier to you.”

  Kindra glanced up at him, incredulous. “What are you doing?” she blurted out.

  “Hoping like hell I’m not making an ass out of myself.”

  No comment.

  She sat in the chair next to him, continuing to rub Juan behind the ears while she tried to make sense out of what was going on. “So why did you ask me here?”

  He smiled at her. “Because I want to have a drink with a beautiful woman. What can I get you?”

  Answers. “I’ll have a glass of Pinot Noir.” It was chilly out and red wine sounded delicious. “But seriously, what do you want?”

  “So to the point all the time. You’re very efficient, Kindra.” He slowly rose to his feet, the dog’s leash in his hand. “I’ll go get your drink. Hold Juan for a second. He’s pretty good usually but since this patio is dog friendly another dog might show up and sometimes that agitates Juan.”

  “Sure.” Kindra took the leash and tried not to feel hugely impatient. As Mack walked inside she asked the dog, “What’s up with that?”

  Juan panted.

  When Mack returned a minute later she decided she wasn’t going to say a word. Let him show his hand. He handed her the wine. “Thanks.”

  She took a sip and eyed him. She shifted her legs to get the full force of the heater.

  “Kindra.” He leaned forward, shoving his beer out of the way so that he was closer to her. “I want to lick your nipples until you come like a rocket, hot and wet. I want to taste you with my tongue.”

  Her heart started pounding way too fast to be normal. “What are you doing? I think you’ve done both of those things already.”

  “If Russ was your dirty little secret there is no reason I can’t be his replacement.” His gaze was intense, filled with desire. “You don’t want to repeat in person, then let’s text each other. I want nothing more than to get you off every night.”

  Holy shit, that was hot. If she passed out from holding her breath, she hoped Mack would think to call 911.

  “How do you know I’m done with Russ?” she said in a last-ditch effort not to melt like butter for Mack Stone.

  But he just smiled, confident. “You’re done with him.”

  He was right. She couldn’t even argue with him. She sipped her wine again and cleared her throat. “So no one at work will know? What about the Cloud? I don’t trust sexting with the Cloud.”

  Now Mack just laughed. “You weren’t worried about that with loser-boy. And you took video of us. Nice try.”

  He had a point. “I’m out of ammunition.” She lifted Juan off the ground and up onto her lap. “I guess I’m forced to admit that the real issue here is I’m afraid to get emotionally attached. That’s the whole point of avoiding an in-person relationship. Even a sexual one. And I see you every day, so that muddies the water beyond what I’m comfortable with. Does that make sense?”

  “That makes total sense. But here’s the thing.” He reached out and cupped her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheek. “I don’t mind if you get emotionally attached. Because I just might do the same.”

  She swallowed hard. “What do you mean? I thought you just want to send dirty texts.”

  “Oh, I want to do that too. And if that’s all you are comfortable with, trust me, I’ll take it. But I want more. I want you.”

  Then he moved his mouth over hers.

  The kiss he gave her was long and passionate, warm lips and groping hands. His teasing tongue lapped against hers. She opened herself to him. She kissed him back, with fervor and abandon.

  The dog on her lap jumped up whining, his head nudging their mouths apart. Kindra pulled back, grateful for the interruption. “I don’t think Juan approves,” she murmured.

  “Juan isn’t the boss of me.” Mack took the dog and dropped him carefully on the ground. “Why did I bring him again?”

  Kindra laughed. “I have no idea.”

  “I need another beer. Be right back.” He stood up and went back inside.

  Kindra tucked her hair behind her ear and sipped her wine, noting there was only one other couple out there with them. Restless, she pulled out her phone.

  She had a text from Mack, sent one minute earlier.

  You drive me fucking crazy.

  Apparently the sexting started now.

  “What should I do?” she asked Juan, blowing her hair out of her eyes. Did she take a risk and have it end horribly? Or maybe have it turn into something amazing?

  Either way, there was nothing wrong with fun and sex and learning to open up a little.

  I promise not to hurt you.

  Mack really was a decent guy. She chewed her lip.

  Send me that video of us.

  Her breath caught. And before she could change her mind she went into her videos on her phone and sent it to him. Her cheeks felt warm. Her nipples were tight. She no longer needed to sit close to the heater.

  The video wasn’t long. She doubted Mack would watch it in public though.

  He returned a few minutes later with a beer, and his nostrils flaring. “That was fucking hot as hell,” he said, slamming his phone down on the table.

  Apparently he had don
e the unthinkable. “Did you just watch that in the bar?” she asked, astonished.

  “No one could see it and I had the sound down. But now I think you should finish your wine and go home with me.”

  Yes, please.

  “I would love that.” Kindra drained her glass. “And Mack, I’m ready to take a risk and see where this goes. I really like you.”

  That was huge for her to say that out loud.

  Mack took her hand. “I really like you too. We have amazing chemistry, Kindra.” He winked. “I can prove it.”

  Kindra laughed. She rubbed the little dog’s head said, “He really is cute.”

  Mack eyed his sister’s dog, regretting the impulse to bring him. He did actually love the little guy, but the mutt was too curious for what Mack had in mind for the rest of the night. “He’s getting locked in the guest room while we make another video.”

  “Is that what we’re doing?” Kindra asked, her eyebrows lifting. “We’ll see. You may not technically be my boss but you do like to order me around.”

  “I won’t argue with you there.”

  Mack watched Kindra walk towards the door, her sweet little ass swaying as she shot him a “come and get it” look over her shoulder.

  He followed her, completely abandoning his beer, his tongue probably hanging as low as Juan’s. “I can’t wait to give you a performance review.”

  Kindra laughed sensually.

  He was about to teach her a whole new meaning to the phrase “hard drive.”

  “I’ve always been an excellent worker,” she said, confirming that he was the luckiest bastard at the bar.

  “Then I’ll give you a bonus.”

  Fifteen minutes later as he sank deep inside her wet and welcoming pussy, he thought he was the one who had gotten the bonus.

  When she came calling his name, he knew he was right.

  Thank you for reading Hard Drive!

  Want more office romance?

  Read the entire Bad Boys Online series

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  Hard Bargain

  Hard Boss

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  USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written almost seventy novels and novellas in romance fiction. Erin has a special weakness for tattoos, high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis.

  She lives in Ohio with her husband, a revolving door of their blended family of four kids, and a menagerie of animals.

  You can find Erin on Facebook, Twitter, or on Goodreads. Also don’t forget to visit her website at www.erinmccarthy.com.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, businesses or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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