Page 4 of Tempting Tessa

I grab my phone and tap my best friend Natalia’s contact, putting her on speaker as I merge onto the highway.

“About fucking time!” Natalia’s voice fills my car. “I was starting to think you died in a cloud of baby powder and formula.”

“Worse. I almost died of sexual frustration.” I grip the steering wheel tighter. “Matteo is everywhere. Breathing down my neck about the prototypes. Looking at me like he might want to bend me over the gift table.”

“And this is a problem because...?” she laughs. “Girl, you need to get dicked down so bad I can hear your pussy crying through the phone.”

“Jesus Christ, Nat.”

“What? It’s been what, a year? Two? Your vagina probably looks like the Sahara Desert by now.”

I snort despite myself. “You’re disgusting.”

“I’m right, though.” I can practically hear her smirking. “So what’s the deal with the prototypes, anyway? Marino’s got a point. I’ve been waiting forever to test those vibrators you promised me. My nightstand drawer is getting lonely.”

“They’re just not ready,” I snap, taking the exit toward my apartment.

“Bullshit. You’re just being a control freak as usual. Some of us need new toys, bitch. My rabbit died last week and I’m down to my backup bullet.”

“You have like seventeen vibrators!”

“Eighteen, actually. And a girl needs options.” Natalia’s voice turns serious. “For real, though, Tessa, you can’t keep everything to yourself forever. Let people help you. Let people in.”

“I don’t need⁠—”

“If you say ‘help’ I will literally drive to your apartment and slap you. You’ve been designing luxury dildos for almost a year, and I haven’t seen a single prototype. What are you afraid of?”

The question hits harder than it should. What am I afraid of? Failure? Success? Matteo seeing how much I want his approval?

“I’m not afraid,” I lie. “I just want everything perfect before I show anyone.”

“Perfectionism is just fear wearing a cute outfit,” Natalia says. “And speaking of outfits, did Daddy Marino wear one of those suits that make his ass look like it was carved by Michelangelo?”

“Don’t call him that,” I groan.

“He’s forty-five, not ancient, so I can’t call him Granddaddy Marino,” Natalia counters. “With those hands? Girl, I’d let him rearrange my guts.”

I nearly swerve into the next lane. “There’s something seriously wrong with you.”

“You know you’re fucking drooling over him too.” Nat’s cackle blasts through my speakers. “I’ve seen you watching those hands when he gestures whenever I’ve been your plus one to family get-togethers. Thinking about them between your thighs?”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“No, you’re not.” She’s right. I’m not. “Just admit you want him to bend you over his desk and make you call him Daddy while he⁠—”

“Jesus fuck!” I slam on the brakes at a red light. “Can you stop with the pornographic fan fiction for five seconds?”

“Fine, fine. But seriously, when am I getting something to test? My electric toothbrush is starting to give me side-eye.”

I pull into my apartment building’s garage, sliding into my designated spot. “Your toothbrush?”

“Don’t judge me. A girl’s gotta work with what she’s got. And what I’ve got is a Sonicare with three vibration settings and a desperate need for something designed for actual orgasms.”

I kill the engine, laughing despite myself. “That’s the saddest shit I’ve ever heard.”

“Then give me something better! I’m begging you. Literally begging. Like on my knees, which is good practice for later.”

“Fine,” I concede, grabbing my purse. “I’ll bring you a prototype tomorrow. But it’s still in development, so don’t⁠—”