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Ori laughed. “Right? Seriously. This place does feel like high school sometimes—or hell. Though, there’s little difference between the two I think.”
“Tough morning?”
Ori gave a fuck-my-life groan while she sprinkled red pepper flakes on her pasta. “You have no idea. A-list actress got checked in by her family this morning, and someone tipped off the press. It was a freaking nightmare trying to get her in without anyone getting pictures. And she is not a happy camper. My intelligence, my virtue, and my hairdo have all been subjects of her insults this morning. Did you know this color looks terrible on me?”
“Ugh, sorry.”
She gave a dismissive flick of her wrist and plunked the pepper shaker down. “Part of the deal. I’m just happy for a brief respite. My impenetrable armor will be back intact once I get some carbs and coffee. And ooh”—she eyeballed the dessert on Marin’s tray—“cupcakes. I missed those.”
Marin picked up her cupcake, split it to give Ori half, and then went back to poking at her shrimp salad. “Ah, yes, the only food groups of any importance.”
“Exactly. So talk to me about something other than how I’m an evil idiot doctor who has no fashion sense and is here to ruin everyone’s lives.” She licked a dollop of icing off her thumb. “How’s week two with the Orgasm Whisperer going?”
Marin’s fork slipped from her hand and it hit her plate with a clank. “Uh, we should probably not call him that in public. Plus, I think he hates that name.”
Ori gave a cheeky grin and twirled noodles onto her fork. “It’s better than some of the other names I’ve heard people call him around here. And, I bet he secretly loves it. Can you imagine how much play he got out of that nickname?” She inclined her head, taking on a mock serious look. “Hey, baby, I can coax that orgasm right out of you purely with the luscious sound of my voice.”
Marin snorted at Ori’s imitation. “He so doesn’t sound like that. No one would get turned on if he sounded like that.”
Ori pointed her fork at Marin, noodles sliding off into her bowl like snakes abandoning ship. “You know what I mean. A guy who could talk you into coming would be hot.”
“Well, I doubt anyone can talk someone into orgasm. That’d be quite a talent. But the audio is definitely effective at getting you in the right headspace.” This was so not what Marin needed to be talking about. She needed to keep Donovan out of her head, not be thinking about how his sin-laced voice used to sound on those recordings or how those fantasies he’d weaved had pushed buttons she hadn’t known existed inside her.
“Wait, you’ve listened to the recordings?”
“What? I—” Marin’s lips snapped shut.
“You have, haven’t you?” She leaned forward, eyes bright. “I’ve heard they had that actor James Harlow do the narration. God, his voice is like melted butter. Are they super steamy?”
Marin poked at her salad. “Uh, well, I’ve never heard the final versions. Donovan and I went to the same university. I heard some of the early recordings from the study.”
Ori leaned back in her chair. “Whoa, so like the ones West actually talked on?”
“Yep.”
“Were they hot?”
“Yep.” She took a bite, chewed viciously.
“Wow, that must be seriously awkward with him being your boss now.”
“He’s not my boss.” Marin said it way too quickly and emphatically, the words just bursting out like a sneeze. Lovely. Stealth she was not. Ninja license revoked.
Ori’s eyebrows lifted. “My bad. Your colleague. Your very gorgeous colleague. Anything you’re not telling me, Dr. Rush?”
Marin sent her a withering look.
Ori raised her palm, feigned innocence on her face. “Just sayin’. Dr. West has a reputation for being difficult to work with, but he’s very easy to look at. You deny that, and I know you’re lying to me.”
“He’s not that difficult to work with. And I will acknowledge his winning of the genetic lottery but am studiously ignoring his good looks.”
She laughed. “Impossible.”
Marin pointed to herself. “Girl on probation.”
Ori’s smile went conspiratorial. “That just means keep it on the down low.”
Marin hummed a tune and put her hands over her ears. “Not listening to you and your bad influence. Talk to me after you’ve jumped that orderly you’re lusting over.”
