Page 12 of Pure Recklessness

‘Thanks for the offer, but you’ve got an article to write, so let’s focus on that.’

‘Thanks. I really appreciate your help.’

‘Okay, so this…’ she picked up the plastic arm, ‘is the Helping Hand and it’s used for fisting,’ Dana said and my face crumpled. ‘You know what fisting is, right?’

‘No.’ I shook my head and she flashed me a sympathetic smile.

‘It’s when you insert a⁠—’

‘Oh!’ I cut her off. ‘I see, got it.’

‘This bad boy right here is the Tempting Tentacle Dildo, which was a big hit with our spicy Romantasy readers. Then we have the Throb Cob – a corn on the cob vibrator, and of course the new and improved Lip-Stick mini vibrator – “the discreet way to get yourself off on the go”,’ she said like she was doing an ad voiceover, ‘but you already figured that one out!’ A dirty laugh flew from her lips. ‘And this…’ Dana’s voice trailed off and her head snapped up. ‘Holy fuck! It’s him!’ She gasped. ‘How does he get hotter every time I see him? The man is a God.’

I followed Dana’s gaze and when I saw who she was referring to, I swallowed hard.

Mr Devlin was talking to an elegantly dressed woman in the corridor outside the office’s glass walls.

As much as it pained me to say it because he wasn’t very nice to me earlier, he really was unnaturally handsome.

‘He doesn’t seem like a very nice person though,’ I said.

‘He’s a bit of a grumpy arsehole,’ Dana confirmed. ‘But that doesn’t stop me fantasising about him. The other night I dreamt that I was in bed with all four Devlin brothers. Jesus Christ! Best and filthiest dream of my life! I didn’t even need any help to get myself off after that. It’s a shame that office relationships are forbidden. I love my job, but I’d give it up in a heartbeat for one debaucherous night with them.’ She fanned herself, then her face fell. ‘Shit. Incoming. Incoming! Look busy!’

Mr Devlin was now in the office, striding towards us.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he barked at me.

My heart thundered against my chest.

‘I’m… I’m… working?’ I stuttered, my voice shooting up several octaves like I was asking him a question rather than replying to his.

‘What? Melissa couldn’t have possibly given you the job,’ he snarled with disgust.

See.

He might be good-looking, but Dana was right. The man was clearly an arsehole.

‘She did,’ I replied. ‘Because⁠—’

‘Because her work is excellent!’ Dana jumped in. ‘It shows real promise. We’ve just been introduced and Eleanor’s already made a big impression on me.’

It was so kind of Dana to say that. Even if it wasn’t true.

We’d only just met, but I really liked her.

The same couldn’t be said for this awful man.

Mr Devlin’s eyes narrowed like he was deciding whether or not to believe her.

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ he snapped. ‘Send me what you’ve written.’

‘It’s not quite finished yet.’ I tried and failed to swallow the concrete boulder that had formed in my throat.

If he knew I hadn’t even written two sentences of this article, he’d kick me out faster than you could say dildo.

‘Should be ready in a couple of hours,’ I added, channelling all the fake confidence I could muster.

‘Send your first draft to me in thirty minutes or you’re out.’ He glared. ‘And Dana, go home and don’t come back until you’re better.’