Chapter 224: A Complete Disaster

David’s POV

It’s a disaster.

It’s a complete fucking disaster for the century.

How did I get here? How did I turn into this petty, jealous asshole?

Holly’s been living rent-free in my head for days now, and it’s driving me insane. It’s not like before. Back then it was easy…pure, clean hatred.

I couldn’t stand the sight of her, the sound of her voice, the way she looked at me like I was the Superman in her story.

I wanted her gone. Out of the city, out of my life, out of my goddamn airspace. I still do. I should. So why the hell does my pulse kick into overdrive the second her name crosses my mind?

When did it shift? I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I stopped seeing her as the enemy and started… noticing her. Maybe it started after she ran off after I humiliated her.

I’ve thought about a lot when it comes to Holly. The way her hair falls across her shoulder when she’s reading through a file. The stubborn tilt of her chin when she argues with me. The flush that climbs her throat when she’s angry, or when she thinks I’m not looking.

Intriguing.

That’s the word that keeps slipping in, like a traitor. She’s intriguing now. Shiny, like a new toy begging to be ruined.

Don’t get it twisted. These aren't feelings. I don’t do feelings, especially not for her. Maybe it’s simpler than that. Maybe I just want her body under mine, writhing, gasping my name like a prayer she doesn’t want to say.

The thought alone is enough to make me hard…her soft skin, those legs wrapped around me, the little sounds she’d try to swallow but couldn’t. Fuck. I shouldn’t even be thinking about it.

She’s the kid I pulled out of that hellhole. The little girl shaking in the corner while her father tried to shoot her. I carried her out of there, promised her…without words…that she’d be safe.

I’m supposed to be the guardian, the shield, not the one imagining pinning her against the nearest wall and tasting every inch of her until she forgets how to walk.

But I can’t touch her. Not like that. Ever. Ava would skin me alive, and she’d be right to. I should put Holly under my roof, under my protection, and that’s where it ends. I’m responsible for her. That’s all this is…responsibility twisted into something darker. I’ll keep an eye on her, make sure no one else gets close, make sure she’s safe. That’s it.

So why does the thought of her with anyone else make me want to break something?

Christ. I need to get a grip. This is Holly. I shouldn’t feel like Ava’s little sister owes me any kind of loyalty or explanation. She doesn’t. She’s twenty-four, single, hot as hell, and I should have zero reason to care about what she does.

So why the hell did I just dump three days worth of extra contracts on her desk the second I heard that entitled brat, Tyler, asked her to lunch?

What is wrong with me?

I haven’t had sex in… Jesus, two weeks? That’s my version of a drought. Sex fixes everything for me…stress, anger, boredom, blue balls, you name it. One good hard fuck and I’m a saint again. Right now I’m climbing the walls.

I already decided, the moment I started thinking a little too much about her. Holly is off-limits. Little-sister territory. Do not touch. Do not think about bending her over my desk. Do not imagine those long legs wrapped around my waist while she screams my name.

I had a very logical, very adult reason for pulling her out of Norman’s office today. I saw the way that sleaze was staring down her shirt when she leaned over to drop off the coffee tray. That low-cut top? Criminal. I should make a company-wide dress code. It’s for morale. Productivity. Whatever.

Totally not because the thought of anyone else looking at her made me want to put my fist through a wall.

I stopped pacing, sucked in a breath, and tried to do the mature thing possible…replace Holly with Justin in my head. Justin’s my blood. He’s a dude. Just imagine Justin in her outfit, Holly in Justin’s outfit and the problem’s solved.

Weird but it should be effective.

I closed my eyes.

Picture it…Justin in that tight little top…it was weirder than I thought. It was a violation that could have someone locked up for life. Next, my brain went straight to Holly in Justin’s loose basketball vest and shorts, the ones that hang low on his hips, except on her they’d barely cover her ass, sliding down just enough to—

Found her sexy.

Still found her sexy.

Even while picturing her in Justin’s stupid plain shorts.

“You absolute asshole,” I muttered to myself, groaning out loud when my dick decided now was a great time to stand at full attention.

I need to get laid. Badly.

I actually considered jerking off right here in my office, but the last time I tried that Holly walked in without knocking and I almost had a heart attack. If she walks in on something like that agaun…she might just think I’m a certified pervert.

Pacing. More pacing. I was two seconds from punching the glass wall when—

Knock knock knock.

Sharp. Confident. Like the person on the other side already knew they owned the room.

I was already by the door so I yanked it open with a force.

Holly stood there, hip cocked, one eyebrow raised, that teasing little smile plastered on her lips like she knew exactly what chaos she caused.

“I just checked in as your new assistant, boss,” she said, all casual and sweet, like she hadn’t just blown up my entire day.

I closed my eyes. Counted to three. Prayed she’d disappear.

Opened them.

Still there. Still smiling. Still wearing that damn top.

Fuck my life.