2.

I struggled for a lie, any lie, praying my brain will work faster than my dick.

"Sorry, I'm... it's not you. I was texting with Nancy earlier and..." The words tumbled out awkwardly. "It's just, you know, been a while."

Lena stepped back, her hands dropping to her sides. Her expression shifted from confusion to... disappointment? Relief?

"Right. Nancy." She tucked a loose strand behind her ear, not meeting my eyes. "Tell her I said hi."

The space between us felt loaded with something unsaid. She knew I was lying. I should leave now, but my feet won't move.

"Lock the door behind me," I managed to say. "And text me when you go to bed so I know you're safe."

"Night, Alexi." There's that smile again, the one that's gotten us through ten years of friendship. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, making her breasts push up against the thin fabric of her crop top.

I forced myself to look away, nodding goodbye as I stepped into the hallway. The door closed, and I heard the lock click.

I pressed my palm to the door. Her coconut scent lingered, and knew I’d fucked up a decade of friendship. Would she lock me out for good?

My phone buzzed and Nancy's face lit up the screen, her blonde hair and sweet smile a stark reminder of the promises I've made. Of the man I'm supposed to be.

I turned away from Lena's door, from the temptation behind it, and head for the elevator. The whole ride down, all I can think about is coconut scent, plump lips, tiny shorts... and how fucked I truly am.

~ ~ ~

The elevator ride up my penthouse was a special kind of hell—thirty floors to get myself under control.

When I walked in, the bedroom light was on.

"Where have you been?" Nancy sat up in bed, her silk nightgown sliding off one shoulder. Her blonde hair was perfectly tousled, her eyes narrowed. "You left me for three hours."

"Lena had an emergency." I kicked off my shoes, trying to sound casual. "Someone broke into her place."

"At two in the morning?" Nancy crossed her arms. "And she called you?"

I walked to her side of the bed, my fingers finding the bare skin of her shoulder. "I know, right? Why should Lena call me in the middle of the night?" I brushed my lips against her neck, feeling her tension. "We should get her a boyfriend, someone else she can call for these things."

Nancy's frown didn't budge. "Alex, this isn't the first time she's interrupted us. I'm serious—"

"Or maybe," I murmured, my fingers tracing down her arm, "we should hurry up with the wedding and move to another country." I gently pulled at the strap of her nightgown, exposing more skin. "That way she won't call me for emergencies."

Her breath caught as I kissed along her collarbone, my hands sliding the silk down further.

"You'd leave it all for me, Alex?" she asked.

“For you? I will, so we focus on us.” I slid the silk off, tracing her collarbone. My fingers trembled as Nancy sighed. Her skin was soft, but all I smelled was coconut, my pulse hammering as I fought Lena’s image.

“Ohh… yes,” she gasped, arching as my hand slipped between her legs, circling her wetness.

I was already hard—had been since leaving Lena's apartment. I tried my best to focus on Nancy's skin against the dark sheets.

"So, what city are we doing?" I continued as my pants dropped to the floor. She tried putting my cock in her mouth, but instead, I eased her back against the pillows.

"I want Paris…" she moaned into my hair while I lavished her breast.

"Paris is beautiful in spring." I trickled my fingers down her stomach, between her legs and circled it against her entrance.

"Paris…" Nancy gasped as I slipped a finger inside her. "Paris... Paris is good."

I added another finger, working them slowly. "What about Rome? Or maybe Barcelona?"

Her back arched off the bed, her words broken by small pants. "No... I want... Paris."

She spread her legs wider and I added a third finger, watching her eyes flutter closed. "What about the guest list? Still thinking five hundred?" I moved my fingers in and out, my thumb rubbing her clit. Her anger was long forgotten.

She gripped my shoulders, her hips rising to meet my hand. "Baby, please—"

"Turn over," I whispered against her ear, withdrawing my fingers. "Show me how much you want Paris."

Nancy rolled onto her stomach, rising to her hands and knees. I stood to remove the last of my clothes, my cock springing free and leaking at the tip. But as I positioned myself behind her, all I could see was Lena—Lena bent over, Lena in those sexy booty shorts.

I closed my eyes, gripping Nancy's hips. Maybe I should buy Nancy some shorts like that. Something tight. That should keep my thoughts in check, keep me from fantasizing about someone I couldn't have.

"So, Paris?" Nancy asked, looking back over her shoulder, her body waiting for my cock.

"Paris," I agreed, lining myself up and thrusting forward into her needy core.

Nancy moaned, pushing back against me. Even with Nancy clearly enjoying my cock, I could still see Lena

I moved faster, harder, wanting to finish, to end this betrayal of my thoughts. Nancy clutched the sheets, her sounds of pleasure filling the room. After a nice spank to her ass, she tensed and cried out. I followed moments later, my release more relief than pleasure.

When it was over, Nancy curled against my chest, satisfied and sleepy. "I love you," she murmured, already drifting off.

"Love you too," I replied.

The sex had done nothing to clear my head. If anything, I felt worse—guilty for using Nancy. This wasn't me. I didn't betray people. I didn't lust after my best friend.

I needed to fix this, to apologize to Lena for my inappropriate behavior, maybe even confess about these thoughts. She'd laugh, make a joke, and we'd move past it. That's what we always did.

"Tomorrow," I decided. I'd go to her department first thing, pull her aside, and clear the air.

But when I walked into the marketing floor the next morning, coffee in hand as a peace offering, Lena's cubicle was empty. No colorful Post-its covering her monitor. No jacket hanging on her chair.

"Where's Lena?" I asked Nina, who sat at the desk beside hers.

She looked up, surprised. "You don't know? She called HR first thing this morning. Said she needs a personal day."

"A personal day?" In ten years, Lena had never taken an unplanned day off. Not even when she had the flu and I had to practically force her to go home.

"Yeah, something about her apartment," Nina shrugged. "Security issue, I think."

A shadow crossed Nina’s face, and I wondered if Lena’s “security issue” hid more. I nodded, trying to hide my concern. This wasn't like her. The break-in must have shaken her more than she let on.

Or maybe it was me. The way I had gotten hard for my innocent best friend and even made her feel it.

I pulled out my phone, typing a quick message.

"Hey, heard you took the day off. Everything okay?"

I waited, watching the screen. The message showed as delivered, but no response came. No typing indicator appeared.

After a minute, I added: If you need anything, I'm here.

Still nothing.

Fuck.

I'd messed up worse than I thought. Lena never ignored my texts, not even when we argued.

I pocketed my phone and headed to my office.

She knew.

She'd felt my lie last night.

My best friend sensed my hunger… and now she was gone.