rolled his eyes and stood up without responding. In the past, that would have gotten a much bigger response. He must be warming up to me.
I was too excited to get back in the office to let Rocky’s grumpy ass bring me down. I was wearing my head-bitch-in-charge suit, and I was going to crush this meeting with my new paranormal line of toys. Plus, I was still in a good mood from my orgasm fest with Diego. We never took things past third base, but I still scored. I was winning. Nothing could bring me down.
I could already hear Lacey singing my praises. “Employee of the year? Most talented you’ve ever seen? Oh Lacey, stop. You’re too kind.”
“What?” Rocky asked, eyebrow raised.
“Huh, what?” I said, snapping out of my daydream. I cleared my throat. “If you’re going to be my escort, can you be my muscle as well?” I asked, pointing to a large box sitting by my front door.
Rocky shrugged and picked up the box. I hadn’t bothered to seal it, so Rocky got an eyeful of the contents and promptly dropped it, spilling smooth black vibrators with leather handles, dildos with black lace patterns, and nipple clamps all over the floor.
“Oh shit,” Rocky exclaimed.
I snickered as I watched him scramble to pick up the toys, stuffing them back in the box as quickly as he could. “What do you think of the new product line?”
“Uh, good. I mean they look fine. Umm, very gothic?” Rocky stammered.
“I have a matte black butt plug for you in there,” I replied with a smirk. Rocky blushed.
“No, thank you,” he replied.
I pressed my hand to my chest. “Did you just use polite words with me?” I asked. My shock was about fifty percent genuine and fifty percent sarcasm.
Rocky rubbed the back of his neck while staring at the wall. “I kind of owe you,” he mumbled begrudgingly.
I stopped strutting down the hall. “Huh? Care to clarify, big guy?”
“I’ve been promoted. Since you’re unofficially the future queen, I’m now one of the highest-ranking guards in the coven. I was Diego’s muscle for a while, but this is a high honor. I eventually will lead an entire team to protect you. My pay is enough for my grandmother to come here from Romania for Christmas. You might be a pain in the ass, and I don’t understand you most of the time, but as much as I hate to admit it, I’m actually pretty glad you lied to me that first day.”
Aw, Rocky. “Well, don’t start being nice to me or anything crazy. I like you better when you’re broody.”
Rocky chuckled. “Sure thing. Let’s go to the car and get this over with. No funny business.”
“No funny business, pinky promise,” I told him, holding my pinky finger up in the air.
“I’m not doing that,” Rocky said flatly and walked toward the elevator.
Rocky let me practice my presentation on him during the drive over to my office building, or at least he did when I would start over every time he interrupted me. He was visibly uncomfortable with the topic matter and looked relieved when we pulled up to the impressive glass building. He leapt out of the car when it came to a stop and ran around to open my door.
“On our way home, we are going to talk about why female pleasure makes you so uncomfortable,” I said, stepping out of the car.
Rocky followed me inside and into the elevator. When we got out on the floor for Hard Nights, he shifted his gaze down to his feet while we walked. The hallways here were plastered with various ad sets we had run of our bestselling toys. There were huge blown-up pictures of dildos in every shape, color, and size along with a model making bedroom eyes at them.
I heard my name and spun around to see Aria, one of my favorite women in the office, walking in my direction. Aria had her hair cut into a stylish pixie that I could never pull off, perfectly drawn black wings lined her eyes, and she had a nose ring. She always said exactly what she was thinking, and she was wicked smart.
“Who is this tasty snack?” she asked, giving Rocky a once over.
“Oh Rocky? He’s a new product tester, I’m bringing him to the paranormal pitch so that he can give his feedback.”
Rocky turned bright red.
“No shit,” Aria said while sweeping her eyes up and down his body again. “If you need someone