Primal Instincts_ Volume 2(11)
Author: Nicole Edwards

 

“With nothing beneath the jacket.”

 

“But I’m not wearing a bra.” It wasn’t that I needed the bra for support, but it would come in handy if the jacket came open. Hence the need for the current accessory.

 

“Even better.”

 

“Jesus fuck,” Garrison muttered under his breath.

 

I jerked my eyes to his face. He looked uncomfortable again.

 

My breath caught when I realized why he reacted that way. Garrison was turned on by the idea, and his body gave away his thoughts. I could see the impressive bulge beneath his zipper. My body responded in kind, my breasts becoming sensitive and my clit pulsing.

 

“And my other choice?” I asked, trying to ignore my attraction to the man in my office.

 

“Don’t,” Creed said simply.

 

I huffed, tearing my gaze from Garrison and glaring at the phone. “Don’t what? Don’t go to dinner?”

 

“Yes. Those are your choices. Which will it be?”

 

I looked at Garrison. He was watching me intently, and I swore he was trying to hold back a smile. Creed might not have been a stalker, but I was learning he was a master manipulator. Worse than that, he was proud of his skillset.

 

Because I thought Creed was expecting me to back down, I went with option one. “Fine. I’ll have dinner with him after I go to the bathroom and change.”

 

“You’ll change right there,” he countered, his voice raspy and dark.

 

“Ri—” The word died on my tongue, and it took a moment for my brain to fire on all cylinders again. I swallowed and composed myself. “Right here? With Garrison in my office?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I converted my anxiety into skepticism when I said, “You want him to watch me change?”

 

“Turn around if you’re modest. That’s up to you. Hey, Garrison, Hawk’s calling you. Answer the phone.”

 

A second later, Garrison’s phone rang. He looked at the screen and rolled his eyes before tapping it. He chuckled softly, turning the phone toward me. “FaceTime.”

 

The call might’ve been coming from Hawk’s phone, but Creed’s face appeared on the screen, which meant he could see me.

 

“Put your phone on the bookshelf behind her,” Creed instructed Garrison, his voice coming through both phones, causing feedback.

 

I ended the call on my phone and huffed.

 

Garrison grinned, walking around my desk to prop his phone on the bookshelf.

 

“Which will it be, hellcat?” Creed asked, his voice coming from behind me. “You’ve already chosen to go to dinner. Now you need to change. Face Garrison or face me. You’re gonna give one of us a show. Up to you.”

 

My lungs were working overtime in their attempt to inflate and deflate. I wished I could say it was from fear, but that was absolutely not the case. Considering the direction of my fantasies of late, this scenario was something I probably would’ve come up with if I’d been given a little more time. Not that I would’ve acted it out, but I would’ve enjoyed every second of imagining it while writing.

 

“Ten seconds, Journey. Make your decision.”

 

I tended to make bad decisions when I was backed into a corner. I wished I could say this was a bad one, but it was more unexpected than bad.

 

I remained as I was, facing Garrison as I reached for the pin that held the jacket closed. He was watching me intently, not even pretending he wasn’t interested in seeing me topless. The heat in his blue-gray eyes spurred me even as I realized this could be a test. Creed could’ve been pushing me to see what I’d do. There was a good chance he’d never want to see me again after this.

 

Any man who would instigate a trap like that didn’t deserve me, so I didn’t let that sway me. This was his doing, not mine. Creed Granger thought he was in control, but as he’d said, I had choices. And I was choosing this one because I never backed down from a challenge, and I damn sure didn’t want to be known as the girl who always took the easiest route.

 

Once I got the pin unhooked, I released the button that held the jacket closed at my belly. I tugged on the sleeve, sliding my arm out, then did the same with the other.

 

Garrison’s eyes remained on me the entire time. He didn’t make a sound, didn’t comment, merely watched me.

 

I did my best not to hurry, although I was as good as topless without the jacket since the tank top was sheer. The darker fabric covering my nipples did nothing to disguise the pebbled tips poking at the material. I untucked it from my skirt, crossed my hands at the hem, and lifted it over my head. I could see through the fabric, so I never lost sight of Garrison, watching how his eyes shifted to my bare breasts. Once I got the tank off, I tossed it into my chair and reached for my jacket, holding Garrison’s stare. Now that I’d come this far, I refused to back down.

 

I slid my arms into the jacket, leaving my breasts bared to Garrison’s gaze on purpose. I wouldn’t pretend my knees weren’t wobbly or my breaths weren’t choppy. I was affected by this strip tease as much as he was, but I refused to let either of them know that.

 

And to prove I was made of tougher stuff than Creed gave me credit for, I turned to face Garrison’s phone once I had the jacket on, keeping the two sides open so Creed could see my tits. The only reaction he had was to tip his chin up a little. Surprise maybe? Approval? I couldn’t be sure.

 

I closed the sides and concealed myself before turning back around.

 

“Put the pin back on her, Garrison.”

 

I inhaled sharply at Creed’s raspy command and saw the surprise on Garrison’s face. I didn’t have a clue why he followed every order as though Creed owned him, but he did, moving toward me. I lay the pin flat in his palm when he held out his hand. While he opened the clasp, I hooked the button at my waist, then brushed my hair back so it wasn’t in his way.

 

He stepped forward. Close enough, I could smell that unique leather and musk scent. I couldn’t contain the shiver that danced down my spine when Garrison’s knuckles brushed against my nipples as he got the pin in place. His eyes met mine once it was secured. What I saw staring back at me was far more potent than I expected it to be.

 

“Good girl,” Creed said from the phone. “You two enjoy your dinner. Journey, I expect a phone call when you get home.”

 

“If you’re lucky.”

 

A groan sounded from the phone before it was disconnected.