I regretted everything.

I hooked up with someone who keeps that many condoms at the ready. Shit, why did the one person I decided to let loose with have to be a player?

Flushing, I covered my breasts, frantically looking for my clothes. I need to get out of here before he wakes up. Sliding out from under the covers, I touched my toes against something rough. My outfit!

Bending down, I gathered the clothes in my arms, my eyes fixed on Abell with paranoia. Starting to lean away, I wasn't aware of my surroundings; my hip connected with a small alarm clock on the nightstand.

The device tumbled free, clanking loudly on the floor. I slammed my palm over my mouth, as if the sound had come from inside of me. Then I saw the time blinking on the clock.

It's after eight? Oh fuck, fuck! I need to go, I don't even have time to go home and change, the company meeting... my parents are going to kill me!

“Morning,” a smooth, sultry voice said beside me.

Yanking the bundle of clothes to my neck, I stared at Abell. He was leaning back on the pillows, arms folded behind his head. He looked entirely too comfortable, his blue eyes twinkling warmly in the morning sun.

His torso was bare, hard muscles and rich ink drawing me back; forcing me to remember the night we'd had. The way he'd rolled over me, claiming every inch of my flesh until I was writhing, soaking, screaming—Stop stop stop! I warned myself.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Uh, morning.”

“Going somewhere?”

“I have to get to work,” I said quickly.

“And you decided to take my jeans as a souvenir?”

Baffled, I stared at the clothing I was using to hide my body. He was right, it was what he'd been wearing last night. Spotting my shirt in the far corner, I narrowed my eyes on Abell. “Look away, please.”

His face went blank. “Look away?”

“I'm naked,” I hissed, turning reddish-pink.

Abell smirked blatantly. “I noticed.”

I think I started to glow, I was so humiliated. “Just look away already!”

“But I saw you last night.” He paused. “All of you. Every inch, Sugar.”

Again, the memories came. His mouth on mine, his fingers burying between my legs.

Gritting my teeth, I lifted my head high and ignored him, walking over to my discarded outfit. I knew he was watching me, I could feel his eyes, but fine. Whatever. I didn't have time for games.

My parents are going to murder me for being late! That was worse than some guy staring at my bare ass. Though I was twenty-three, they both had a strong hold over my life. I guess that's what happens when you work for your mom and dad at one of the top consulting firms in the city.

I'd struggled and busted my hump since the first day I'd walked through those doors. It had been torture to juggle every meeting, every success, every failure. I'd never had time for a social life, but the lack of friends and loved ones would pay off.

When I'm the owner of the company, it'll all be worth it.

All of it.

First, though... I had to get to this damn meeting.

I didn't know why they were having it. My mother had called me last minute, just before I'd reached the concert, telling me I had to show up at nine today.

She could have told me why, I thought, shoving my legs through the holes of my pants. All week, she'd been harder on me—more likely to snap—than usual. It had left me drained, wanting to just break free and change it up.

And look where that got you, a stranger's bed. Way to go, Nix.

Twisting around, I buttoned up my top. Abell was still lounging, but while his body was relaxed, the hunger in his eyes warned of something else.

This guy didn't even try to hide what was on his mind. I'd never met someone like him. How the hell could he be so raw? Who had the energy for that kind of thing?

Still, I couldn't lie to myself; my belly was one big, creamy sensation. No one had ever looked at me with that much desire. Abell lived and breathed sex.

Maybe, in another time-line, I would have tossed my clothes off, ignored the meeting, and crawled back into bed with him for round two. But this wasn't a sci-fi movie, I hadn't discovered the ability to jump dimensions.

In this universe, I was someone with responsibilities. Goals.

None of those included indulging in a second pointless hookup.

“Which way is the metro?” I asked, wiggling into my heels.

“You're not even going to have breakfast with me?” He yawned, stretching so that every muscle on his chest rippled.

Yanking my gaze away, I tugged on my jacket and hurried towards the door. “The metro, just tell me.”

“You could at least give me your number.”

“I don't give out my number to people I barely know.”

“Gotcha. You just have sex with them.”

Freezing, I turned enough to scowl at him. His small smile teased me. “You're going to insult me, when you did the exact same thing last night?”

Abell's eyes twinkled like long lost stars. “Don't get upset, I didn't say it was a bad thing. One of the best qualities a woman can have is going after what she wants.”

Dammit. Fuck this guy.

Staying silent, I ripped open his front door, exposing the hallway of the apartment building. Behind me, Abell spoke with a bored tone. “To the right.”

I blinked and looked over my shoulder. “What?”

“The metro. Take a right when you leave.”

He was helping me now? After busting my lady-balls? I wasn't sure how to take that. Reevaluating him, I placed my hand on the edge of the doorway. “Thanks.”

Straightening up on the bed, he let the blanket slip down his body. The soft curls of hair dusting his pelvis revealed before my eyes.

It was clearly intentional. Helplessly I glanced there, then back to his face. He arched one eyebrow. “You can thank me by climbing back into bed. There was a lot I wanted to try with you last night, it's a shame I never got to.”

Burning like the sun, I clenched the doorway. “And you never will.”

“No?” Abell laughed, placing his hand over the blanket between his thighs. Slowly, he caressed the growing shape of his morning wood. “Sweetheart, remember where I live. You'll want to know when you get that craving for more, and I'd hate for you to forget where you need to go to quench your mad thirst.”

Heat throbbed in my lower belly. Biting my tongue, I spun around. “Believe me, we're never going to see each other again.”

“Want to bet on it?”

“Yes,” I laughed humorlessly. “I'll take that bet.”

Abell winked, jerking himself through the blankets faster. “Mmn. What do I get when I win this bet?”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “On the impossible chance I see you again, I'll buy you dinner.”

“Careful,” he groaned, grinding into his palm lewdly. “I'm not a cheap date.”

My whole face was on fire. Could he be anymore obscene? “Thanks for the evening, it was almost good. Almost.” Though I slammed the door, I could still hear him laughing through the wall.

Asshole.

How dare he act like I couldn't resist him? What an egotistical prick!

I don't have time for this, I reminded myself.

I had a meeting to be late for.

****

Rushing through the glass doors of the building, I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflective walls. My hair was all over, makeup stained the circles under my eyes; I was a damn mess.

I'd decided I definitely didn't have time to get changed, I was late enough as is. Grumbling, I straightened my shirt, then ran my fingers through my hair. My parents are going to lose their minds.

Rounding a corner, I spotted a familiar face at the end of the hall. “Gram!” I said, waving at my brother—technically half-brother—frantically.

Gram always gave me the impression of a coiled spring. He was uptight, a little anxious—and I understood. I'd experienced the rough side of our family, but Gram... well. He'd always had it harder.