Delicious Torture

I can do this. I got the job, they like my stuff, so why am I so nervous?

Standing outside the Favicon Tech Company office, my stomach starts to flip-flop. I check myself in the reflective window. Everything looks like it’s in place. Makeup and hair are good. Clothes are working. No toilet paper stuck to my shoe; always a plus. I take a deep breath and walk inside.

The inside of the office isn’t exactly what I imagined a start-up app company would look like. It looks more like an adult daycare center. There’s a big screen TV on one of the walls and colorful beanbag chairs below it. There’s a video gaming area, nerf basketball hoop, and a foosball table.

Am I in the right place? When I heard about the app the Favicon Tech Company was making, it sounded like the next big thing—it organizes the apps on your phone based on the ones you use most. There’s chatter that a giant company like Google will buy it. Getting in on the ground floor of a company like that after beating out hundreds of other applicants is a dream come true. But looking at this place, it feels more like a geeked-out frat house than a company about to explode.

Doesn’t matter. I can handle a few frat-nerds. In my head I’m picturing the stereotypical smart guys: thick glasses, bad haircuts, looking like their moms dressed them, amped up on Mountain Dew while screaming profanities at teens on Xbox live.

But as I venture further into the room, five perfectly handsome men approach me. They are not at all what I expected.

“You must be Allysa,” one of them says. He’s crisply dressed in a plaid shirt and chinos. The way they fit his body, it’s easy to tell there’s something special underneath all that fabric. His dark hair is just as meticulous as the rest of his appearance except a stray lock that hangs down in his eyes. He reaches out to shake my hand and I get excited at just the thought of touching him. “I’m John. It’s good to have you on the team,” he says.

I swallow the lump in my throat and try to calm myself as I admire each of the equally sexy men he introduces next. There’s Ronan, who has a fair complexion with light hair and light blue eyes and looks like a Swedish model. He’s the main programmer, and according to John, is pure genius and the backbone of the company. Ronan gives me a flirty smile and a wink, causing my face to turn fifty shades of red.

Daniel is a bit more reserved. Instead of a smile, he gives me a head-nod when he’s introduced. He’s quite possibly the sexiest ginger in the world, has a close-cropped beard and kind, yet questioning green eyes. I’ve always had a thing for redheads.

Logan is the networker, an extrovert through and through. He’s tall and slim with sharp angles and an absolutely adorable face. The way he shakes my hand and his huge smile make me feel instantly welcome.

Then there’s Nathaniel. He seems less refined than the others in his hoody, torn jeans, and Chucks. He’s flirty like Ronan, but in a different way. There’s something more sensual about him, and maybe even a little dangerous. He has dark bedroom eyes and a confident way about him as he slides his hand across my fingers when we shake hands.

They are all a little older than me, around twenty-seven years old, and each and every one of them is sexy as hell. It’s a bit intimidating having five bosses that I’m physically attracted to. This should make for an interesting work environment. I know nothing can ever happen with any of them, but it doesn’t hurt to look. And you better believe I plan to look. Who knew tech guys could look like this? I wonder if they have girlfriends. I don’t see any rings on their fingers, so there are no wives involved. Starting a business doesn’t give a person much time out of the office to socialize. I guess that’s why I’m single too. Work has been my life and I don’t see that changing any time soon. If I ever wanted to date, it would have to be someone in-house, someone who understands what it’s like to try to break into the tech business and knows the kind of long hours I have to put in to make it work.

“Your portfolio on LinkedIn is quite impressive,” John says. “I was honestly surprised when you were available for hire. A talent like yours doesn’t come around too often. We’re lucky to have you.”

Gratitude soars through me. My chest is tight with happiness and there’s a slight sting behind my eyes. I will not cry in front of my new bosses even though I’m so happy I could burst. I’ve never gotten such great compliments from such an important and influential company. It just affirms that this is what I’m meant to do. All the hard work, the student debt, will all be worth it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford my dream house, one in the city with a big yard for a dog. All my friends have gotten married and have moved into amazing homes with nice new cars and expensive clothes while I’ve been standing around like a little kid looking through the window of a candy shop with empty pockets. For years they’ve been telling me my day will come, that a huge opportunity will fall into my lap. I think maybe it finally has.

“Thank you so much,” I say.

John shows me the office where I’ll be working. The others follow. It has a stunning view of the city. Daniel leaves and goes to his own office. I’m getting a cold vibe from him. I’m not sure why. Is he not as impressed with my portfolio as the others? That’s okay. I like a challenge. I’ll show him I’m worth it.

“I’d be happy to give you a tour if you’d like,” Ronan says.

“That would be great,” I say and follow him.

The others smile and congratulate me on their way to their own offices.

“You really know your way around graphics, don’t you?” Ronan says as we walk down a short corridor to what looks like a break room. There’s a microwave, fridge, coffee maker, cupboards and table, and small love seat in the back. I’m standing next to the counter top. “Which is good, because we can get a little graphic around here.” He looks back at me and winks.

I huff out a breath of laughter at his obvious flirting. “Perfect. I need a team who can keep up.”

“You like team challenges?”

“Of course, I can take anything anyone gives me.”

He comes closer to me and gives me that sultry look again that makes my knees want to buckle and causes a wonderfully heavy ache at the junction between my legs. “Are you sure you can take anything? There are five men here. That’s a lot for a small girl to handle.”

I don’t think we’re talking about tasks anymore. God, those light blue eyes are mesmerizing. I could stare into them all day. Suddenly I’m picturing him turning me around and bending me over this counter, and the other four men coming in and having their way with me when Ronan is done. The heavy, achy feeling between my legs grows into a fierce need. I’m getting wetter by the second.

I lean into him so we’re only inches apart. His smile is so incredibly beautiful. I’m desperate to kiss those soft, fleshy lips, taste his tongue, feel it glide against mine. I wonder what he would do if I kissed him right now. “Trust me, I can take it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

His smile slips away and his expression turns to pure desire and unadulterated lust. “I’d like to see that.”

I give him the same kind of flirty wink he gave me. “Maybe someday you will.”

He chuckles and adjusts himself. I glance down and see an impressive hard-on hiding under his pants.

I glance up at him and our eyes lock. He knows I’ve seen it, but neither of us says anything about it.

“I guess that’s it. There’s not much more than this,” he says, gesturing to the room.

I don’t take my eyes off of him. “So far I like what I see.”

“So do I,” he says.

Once we finally break eye contact and I get my raging hormones under control, we go back to the main room where the rest of the team is in their offices. The offices are basically cubicles with doors. All of their doors are open, and the other men are watching us. I think they may have heard our flirty banter because suddenly they have all become very curious.

“So,” Ronan says, “are you single?”

John leans out of his office and cuts him off. “Ronan, back to your work station.”

They exchange a look I can’t quite read. It’s not hostile or anything. Ronan’s not in trouble by any means. It feels more like they are trying to come to an understanding without words, and I watch the exchange with rapt amusement. It’s obvious these guys have known each other for quite some time to be able to communicate wordlessly. It’s apparent with all of them, the way they exchange looks. I seem to be the only one out of the loop.

Reluctantly, Ronan goes back to his desk, but he doesn’t shut his door.

Logan leaves his office and says, “I’ll show you the program if you’re ready to get started.”

A take a deep breath. I’m more than ready. I’m ... happy. I feel it in every part of my body. I’ll do my job, they’ll sell this app, and I’ll have everything I could possibly want. My friends—no, not my friends. It doesn’t matter what my friends think of me right now. I’ll be proud. That’s all that matters. I’m not doing this to prove anything to anyone else. This is my time to shine.