ALLISON

The next morning, I should be focusing on work, but all I keep thinking about is the email.

Lucy's been on my mind. It's close to noon, and I have not heard back from the school about the letter I sent last night.

I'm on the warehouse floor today, monitoring how quickly employees are fulfilling orders.

Well, I should be monitoring them, but I'm too worried. Was I right in sending the email? Will they retaliate against Lucy? Protectiveness wells up in me. I will not allow anyone to treat my baby wrong.

"Whoa! Careful there!"

I bounce off someone's hard chest. Startled, I look up to see a smiling Nick. That one dimple of his is showing. My heart skips a beat.

He steadies me, his hands lingering on my shoulders. "You look a million miles away. What's on your mind?"

I sigh. "Lucy. I'm worried about her."

Nick studies me, tipping my chin up. "Hey, what did I say yesterday?"

I open my mouth to respond but I'm interrupted by a loud rumbling.

"Get outta the way!" Someone yells and the floor trembles. Nick places a hand on my lower back and steers me away. Two guys come barreling down the aisle, pushing a heavy cart laden with boxes. They barely miss us as they pass by.

I scowl. "Seriously? That is not how you're supposed to safely transport items. They could have hurt someone!"

Nick is also scowling. "Does that always happen around here?" he asks sharply.

"It's the first time I'm seeing that. And it better be the last," I say, already mentally drafting a reminder email on safety protocols. As I'm doing this, I feel Nick's hand still cupping my lower back. There was no need for him to do so anymore as the guys were long gone.

I swallow heavily, focusing only on the weight of his hand and how I wish he would move it lower. I look up to see him staring at me intensely.

The air is thick with tension, and I subconsciously wet my lips. Nick's eyes fall to my mouth, and my breathing hitches. Does he want to kiss me? I want him to kiss me.

Alarm bells blare in my head, and it's enough to interrupt the charged moment. I can't do this.

I reluctantly pull away, my lower back feeling cold. I already miss his touch.

We have to stop doing this. We keep falling into these weird intense moments, and it's getting harder to look away.

I can't afford for another incident to happen. I need to keep this job for Lucy's sake. This job keeps a roof over her head and the ability to go to Highland Prep. I have to stay professional. Pull it together, Allison.

I clear my throat. "Thank you again for your advice," I say, hating how husky my voice sounds. I want to die of embarrassment.

Nick seems to be equally as affected. "You're welcome," he says, his voice rough. "Everything is going to be okay. You know that, right?"

I chuckle humorlessly. "Sure, yeah."

"No, seriously," Nick insists. "Everything will be okay. Just go to the school tomorrow and talk to the headmistress. It's Mrs. Stephens, right? I'm sure once she hears what's going on, she will do everything in her power to fix the situation."

I want to believe him. He sounds so self-assured and confident. Underlying that, I can tell he's used to getting his way. Something about that bothers me but I can't put my finger on it.

Wait, how does he know her name? I don't think I've mentioned it to him before. Have I? I can't remember after everything that's happened.

Nick smiles at me, a dimple appearing in his right cheek. "Good luck, Allison," he says.

God, I love the way he says my name. I wonder what it would sound like if he moaned it.

Nope. Bad Allison.

"Thank you," I say again. Is that really all I can say?

I need to keep this professional. And I will.

Right after I watch him walk away. Seriously, which brand of jeans does he wear? I need to send a letter to the manufacturer thanking them for creating such a perfect pair of pants.

***

Slap.

I moan into the pillow, my ass smarting from the force of the smack. I don't mind the pain; instead, it only turns me on.

Rough hands grab my hair and yank me up against a hard, male body. Tears form at the corner of my eyes from the pressure of my strands being pulled but I writhe against the man.

I can hear logs crackling in the background. A pleasant heat lets me know there's a lit fireplace in this room.

I feel lips by my ear. "You like that, don't you, you naughty girl?"

"Yes," I whimper, moaning as his fingers tweak my nipples.

He chuckles, a dark, sensual laugh that sends a thrill of desire straight through me. He thrusts against me and I feel his hard cock against my ass. I moan again and press my ass against his dick, rubbing myself against him.

The man tuts and tightens his fingers in my hair. I gasp from the pain. "So impatient," he murmurs, running his other hand down my body. "That just won't do. I'm in charge here. Do you understand that?"

"Yes," I whimper again, unable to think except that I needed more. More friction. More pain. More pleasure.

"See, I don't think you do," the man says. "I think you need to be punished. Do you think you need to be punished, Allison?"

I moan. His fingers dance at the entrance of my pussy and I thrust against him, desperate for any contact.

This is exquisite torture.

"You didn't answer my question, Allison," he growls, biting the shell of my ear. "Do you think you need to be punished?"

"Yes," I whisper. "Yes, Nick. I need to be punished."

I feel Nick smile against my cheek. "Good girl."

He shoves me back onto the mattress and turns me over. My hands are suddenly tied to the bed posts and I look at Nick through heavy-lidded eyes.

Nick is on his knees, gazing down at me. Everything about him screams that he is not to be trifled with in the bedroom. I am not to disobey him.

I would never.

I take him in. I watch as a drop of sweat slides down his sculpted chest to his six-pack and the deep V of his hips. The droplet slides further down and my mouth waters as I look at his magnificent cock. It is huge and standing at attention.

It's ready for me.

I buck my hips, anxious for that dick to be buried deep inside me. Nick chuckles again as he spreads me like I'm his own personal feast. "Such a beautiful pussy," he murmurs, flashing me a wicked grin before he dips his head and disappears between my legs.

I feel his tongue press against my clit and I gasp, arching my hips. "Yes," I moan, closing my eyes. This just isn't fair. A man as handsome as Nick wants me to get my pleasure first? What a fucking gentleman.

I lose myself in the feel of Nick's tongue on me, moaning his name. When he slides one—two—three fingers inside me, I'm nearly babbling, unable to handle the feeling of his tongue and fingers on me.

Heat pools in my belly and I can feel pressure mounting. I buck my hips wildly, moaning, screaming, shouting. "Yes, yes, YES!"

Suddenly, I open my eyes.

Instead of being in an unfamiliar room bathed in the colors of the lit fireplace, I'm back in my darkened bedroom in Jersey City.

Gasping, I twist around to find my cell phone. It's 3:30 am.

Fuck!

I flop back in bed, the sheets tangled around me. My heart pounds and there's an uncomfortable throbbing in my crotch. I groan. I can't believe I had a wet dream. About Nick.

Oh, but what a dream it was! If Nick was even a fraction as good in real life as he was in my dream, I would never let him leave the bedroom.

This wasn't the first time I had dreamed about having sex with Nick but this certainly was the most vivid. I swear I could still feel Nick's tongue on me and the heat from the fire.

I'm never going to be able to look him in the eye again.

I groan again, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes. Stupid fucking brain. At least let me get off before you force me awake!

I roll over and rummage through my bedside drawer to pull out my vibrator.

I guess I'll have to take care of this myself.

I turn on the device and pull down my panties, arching my back as I feel the vibrator against my clit. I focus on remembering my dream and the way Nick's mouth felt on me.

It doesn't take long before I finish, stifling my cry by biting my comforter.

I never thought anything could be as dissatisfying as the first time I ever had sex, but I stand corrected.

***

Thanks to my late night escapades (or lack thereof), I have enough time in the morning to curl Lucy's hair. Her bright smile as she admires her pale blonde locks brings me out of my grumpy mood.

I return her smile, gazing at her in the mirror. "You look beautiful, Lucy Goosey," I say gently.

Lucy giggles, showing off the gap where her two front teeth should be. "So do you, Allie Cat!" She hugs me tightly. "Thank you for doing my hair. I love you."

I swallow the lump in my throat as I return her hug. "I love you, too."

If only you could see your girl, Meg.

When we pull up to the school, I park the car instead of waiting in the drop off line like I normally do. Lucy looks at me quizzically.

"I'm going to talk to Mrs. Stephens about Mrs. Hayes and Ashley," I say. I turn in my seat to look at a suddenly pale Lucy. "You deserve to feel safe at school," I say firmly. "No one messes with my Lucy Goose and gets away with it."

That brings a smile to Lucy's face.

Hand-in-hand, we walk into the school. I try to soak in this moment, that Lucy still wants to hold my hand. It won't be long before she's embarrassed to do so.

Inside the school, I let go of Lucy's hand and bend down to kiss her on the cheek. "Go ahead to class," I say gently. "I'll take care of it from here."

Lucy nods and soon disappears in the throngs of students streaming into the school. I throw back my shoulders and stalk into the front office. The familiar anger from yesterday roars to life as I feel my inner mama bear awaken.

While I may not be Lucy's biological mom, I'm the closest thing she has to one since she was six-months-old. I love that child as if she were my own. She may not be my biological child but she is mine and no one will hurt her.

No one.

The secretary looks up when I open the door. "Can I help you?" she asks.

"I'm here to see Mrs. Stephens," I say firmly. "I need to speak to her about my niece, Lucy Daniels. Now."

Is it me or does the secretary's face pale when I mention Lucy's name?

The secretary quickly ushers me to a partially closed door at the back of the room. "S-she's in there," the secretary stutters before knocking on the door and scurrying away.

That's odd. I didn't think I was that scary.

I step inside the office and close it behind me. I open my mouth to say something but I stop when I see the headmistress on the phone, laughing away as she talks to whoever is on the other line.

"Oh, Dominic, you have such a gift for mimicry!" Mrs. Stephens chuckles, wiping tears away from her eyes. "You're just like your father. He was a natural mimic."

She pauses as whoever is on the other line says something before she nods vigorously. "Absolutely. Absolutely. I understand completely. I don't want you to worry about it. I will handle this."

There's another pause before Mrs. Stephens bursts into laughter again. "You are just too much. We will have to get lunch soon, yes? I would love to see you and your siblings again. Yes, I will coordinate with your secretary—"

Is the headmistress seriously taking a personal call when I'm here on an important matter? What the fuck kind of school am I paying for?

Mrs. Stephens hangs up, still chuckling. She finally looks up to see me. "Ms. Daniels! Please, sit down."

Finally.

I sit in the overstuffed leather seat. Before I can even open my mouth, Mrs. Stephens interjects.

"Ms. Daniels, I want to personally apologize to you. I am aware of Lucy's situation and I want you to know that I take bullying very seriously and do not tolerate teachers turning a blind eye to bullying. I especially do not tolerate teachers who ignore when students are in academic distress because of their financial status. Please be assured that I will be personally handling this matter to make sure it is rectified properly. I will be speaking to Mrs. Hayes. we will also have an anti-bullying assembly, and I will ensure Miss DiPalma apologizes to Lucy."

Is this real life? I clearly have the best email writing skills ever.

I must look like a fish out of water. I snap my jaw shut and smile brightly at Mrs. Stephens. "That is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thank you so much for your time."

I leave the school with a pep in my step. I can't help but notice what a beautiful day it is. I don't even mind when I get cut off by another driver. Who cares? The headmistress is aware of Lucy's situation and is going to deal with it. Nothing could be better.

I guess my freak out got Mrs. Hayes to come to her senses after all, I think smugly. I am Mama–er–Auntie Bear. Hear me roar.

I pull into work and carefully balance my coffee along with Nick's in my hands as I walk through the doors, whistling a Christmas carol.

Lady Luck is truly on my side today as I spot Nick passing by my office. I push aside any thoughts of my wet dream and flick on my light. Once I've got his attention, I hold up his cup of coffee, pointing to it.

Nick grins, his entire face lighting up as he enters the room. I do my best to not let my eyes trail down his body. Focus, Allison. Focus.

"Well you're in a good mood," he remarks as he eagerly takes his coffee. "Everything must have gone well this morning at the school?"

"You have no idea–" I start to say but my desk phone ringing interrupts me. Without taking my eyes off Nick, I lift up the receiver.

"Allison Daniels speaking."

"Allison?" My heart plummets at the sound of my boss's voice. "We need to talk."