The horn honked in an annoying pattern, and she had to get going. She took a deep breath, let it out, and picked up her luggage. Stepping out of the apartment building, she apologized to the cabbie for making him wait and placed her stuff in the trunk. If she was committed to going on this date, she might as well make the most of it. Of course, she could open her laptop and cancel everything at any point before she went through security—or even after—but some part of her told her she needed to go through with the date. Who knows, you might find your Prince Charming. Or at least have a bit of fun.

Fun. A three-letter word she knew little about. Her existence consisted more of working and proving herself than any actual fun. Piper’s father and mother demanded perfection her whole life. They lived in the richest part of Manhattan, had drivers, more money than they knew what to do with, and had raised her to be a socialite, but she’d never fit their mold. She wasn’t perfect.

She needed to lose weight. Stand taller. Go to a better school. Get a better degree. Her mother’s words rang out in her mind. A proper lady should fit into her clothes as though they are a second skin. Her job, if she has one, must be in a respectable profession such as law, medicine, or perhaps finance, and her home always kept in pristine condition. Instead of following the path laid out for her, she’d used her time in college to plan her own future.

By her sophomore year, she’d given up reliance on her parents’ money, using scholarships and work-study to pay her tuition and expenses. She studied day and night, and, though she had no social life to speak of, she gained her independence. Piper took pride in the ability to provide for herself and to make her own decisions without worrying about what society would think.

But at the same time, her pride kept her from what she craved. If she wanted something meaningful from Colton and Tyce, she needed to swallow her insecurities and tell them exactly what she wanted…them. But her sense of self-preservation kept her from opening up. Memories of the day she witnessed their embrace filled her mind once more. In her fantasy, she placed herself between them. They turned, eyes filled with adoration, heat, and lust upon her.

She couldn’t make out their murmured words, but the pure emotion of what they said filled her with warmth. From her toes to the top of her head, she vibrated with such need she could scarcely hold herself still. Her panties damp from the intense throb of anticipation flowing through her, Piper shifted from foot to foot, trying to ease the ache. What held her back from asking Colton to pleasure her? What stopped her from placing Tyce’s hand between her thighs and showing him what she wanted? In her mind, they stood frozen in time, waiting for her to make the next move.

You can do this, Piper. Take the final leap and lay it out there for them.