Chapter 1
The scent of rich, bittersweet chocolate drifted down the hall, thick and inviting, long before Josie even appeared. She rounded the corner, arms straining to balance a bakery box with a plastic bag filled with plates and napkins wrapped around her wrist.
Todd, refilling his mug at the break room coffee maker, watched from around the corner, not wanting to get involved. The world had just dropped out from under him. He didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to see anyone, least of all meet Riley’s new girlfriend.
He watched Josie’s delicate steps, it was hard not to notice how impossibly peppy she looked in her form-fitting pink scrubs, her name tag from the vet still clipped to her pocket. Her cheeks dimpled as she rounded the corner to the office. It was the combination of the cake and the name tag that reminded him it was his friend Riley’s birthday, and something sharp twisted inside him.
One text from Todd’s absentee wife had changed the entire day. Just a single line:
I can’t do this anymore.
“Happy birthday, babe!” Josie announced, with a giggle as she lifted the lid to the box, revealing the decadent chocolate cake in all its glossy ganache glory. Green and blue sprinkles scattered across the top, some slipping down the sides, and the sweet aroma filled the air, making Riley’s mouth water instantly.
Riley’s face lit up, her cheeks flush with surprise. “You did not!” she gasped as she leapt to her feet. She wrapped Josie in a tight hug, “You know cake is my love language, right?” She whispered, voice muffled against Josie’s shoulder as she tried to hold back a giggle.
“Yeah, but I was hoping for another language,” Riley smiled back, her lips brushing Josie's ear, her warm breath sending a shiver down her spine. A couple of coworkers passed by her cubicle, diverting their eyes and pretending not to see, but Riley just grinned and nuzzled closer.
Hiding around the corner, Todd smiled into his coffee despite himself. Watching the easy affection between them, the way Riley’s hand lingered at the small of Josie’s back, the way Josie’s thumb brushed a stray crumb from Riley’s cheek. But that was about all Todd could take. The last thing he needed was to witness someone else’s happiness. He turned away, suddenly feeling like a ghost haunting people’s love life's. Todd slipped away, down the hall to the gym. He told himself he’d congratulate Riley later, maybe after he’d scraped together enough energy to fake another smile.
After a round of off-key singing and awkward applause from the office, one at a time each coworker drifted back to their cubicles, balancing paper plates loaded with cake.
The girls brought the leftover cake down the hall to the break room. All but empty, except for the birthday girl and her girlfriend, Josie leaned in close, “You know what would make this cake even better?” she said, her lips brushing Riley’s.
Riley grinned. “Surprise me.” Josie kissed her, slow and sweet at first, lips soft and warm, then suddenly hungry, pressing Riley back against the counter. Josie’s hands raking Riley’s hair, tugging gently, while Riley’s fingers slid beneath the hem of Josie’s shirt, relishing her soft skin.
The kiss deepened, tongues tasting the bitter sweet chocolate on each other’s lips, laughter muffled by the intensity and the thrill of almost getting caught, their bodies pressed so close Riley could feel the pounding of Josie’s heart through the thin fabric of her shirt.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and giggling.“Why are you stopping?” Riley asked with a wicked grin.
Josie smiled and looked around the empty room, “Well, it is your birthday,” she purred as she pulled her cami down, freeing her perky breasts. Riley’s eyes sparkled with lust, and she unbuttoned her pants, listening eagerly. “You look like you could use something sweet.” Josie winked, her finger in the frosting of the cake.
Slowly and teasingly, Josie scooped a dollop of the chocolaty treat, smearing it tantalizingly over one of her nipples, then the other.
Riley leaned in to let her tongue trace slow, delicate lines along Josie’s skin, savoring the salty-sweet frosting and her girlfriend’s even sweeter breasts.
With a soft, teasing smile, Josie’s fingers slipped beneath the elastic edge of Riley’s waistband. Her hand found heat and slickness, and she traced gentle, searching circles over Riley’s clit, feeling the sharp intake of breath against her breast.
Riley’s gasp was quiet and harsh, her mouth pressed to Josie’s skin, fingers digging into Josie’s hips to steady herself as she cleaned away every last trace of her sweet treat, her lips lingering on Josie’s nipple, flicking and circling until Josie’s laughter faded into quiet, breathy sighs. Encouraging Josie’s fingers to speed up.
“Damn my birthday girl is wet.” Josie teased, whispering in her ear. “You like cumming at work?” Riley clung to her, breath struggling to keep up as she licked and sucked the last smears of chocolate from Josie’s heaving breasts. The taste was as overwhelming as a pulsing heat building between her thighs.
Outside, work was back to normal, but in the break room, time stood still. Riley’s hand gripped Josie’s shoulder, nails digging in just enough to ground herself as waves of pleasure hit her with a dizzying rush, leaving her breathless and trembling. The world narrowed to the heat of Josie’s smooth skin. For a moment, time stilled, just the soft whir of the fridge, the thud of their mingled heartbeats, and the low, satisfied hums that filled the room.
Riley pulled Josie close, pressing her lips to Josie’s hair. “I’m coming home early,” Riley whispered.
Josie smiled, her voice sweet and sultry. “You better.” Riley tucked a stray strand of hair behind Josie’s ear. “See you back home, hun.” Josie winked as she floated out the door, leaving Riley to slowly catch her breath in the empty break room, her thoughts dwelling on Josie, who seemed to make everything a little sweeter.
If you enjoyed reading about Josie and Riley be sure to catch the rest of their story in ’His Best Friends,’ out on Kindle U and Amazon now!
