Page 24 of The Quoram Effect

Hissing back a moan, I threaded my fingers through his thick hair. “Don’t stop,” I whispered, well aware I had fallen promiscuously into the lustful abyss of this dream.

It was all in my head—I knew it was—but I didn’t want it to end.

Chapter Twelve

I wasn’t sure what woke me. With the grogginess in my head, I wish it hadn’t.

A groan vibrated through my hungover body as I rolled onto my back, recognising the flaking pink flowers painted on the metallic ceiling I stared at every morning. My mind jumped back to my dream. It had been wild and vividly detailed. My heart thrummed in my chest at the thought. I’d never dreamt of Torz sexually before. Yes, okay, I’d imagined him in such a way in the shower or when I was trying to fall asleep, but not as a mentally uncontrollable dream.

Gods, how will I be able to face him today without blushing?

The sound of my front door hissing shut, followed by the murmur of voices, jolted me from my slumbered stupor. Flicking my attention to the empty pillow beside me, I bolted upright, questioning if I’d dreamtCute Guyup. But as I clocked the pile of clothes that weren’t mine lying on the floor—a jumper, socks, a pair of jeans—a voice coming from the lounge grew louder. “I’ll see if she’s awake.”

The bedroom door opened a fraction, andCute Guyslid through, closing it swiftly behind him. His pretty eyes locked with mine, his cheeks flushed. He wore only his boxers, displaying a trim physique that was leaner than I recalled. And his face...far younger.

Shit!

As he reached for his clothes, he whispered, “You could’ve told me your boss is Commander Benoit.”

I slipped out of bed, watching him tug on his jeans. Frowning down at myself, I was wearing the same vest top and knickers I’d dreamt I’d put on last night, just before Torz entered my dream.

“Did you hear what I said?”Cute Guy’stone turned cold, almost angry.

“What? No, sorry.”

“I just answered your door to your boss in nothing but my underwear,” he hissed, wrestling with a sock. “I doubt he’ll think much of me now.”

“Wait? He’s here?”

“Yes. You slept through him banging on your front door for several minutes. He’s waiting in the lounge.”

Panic shot through me like an assault of daggers.No, no, no! What’s he doing here?

It was bad enough I had a graphic sex dream about him, but for him to find another guy here with me—a guy five years younger than me, no less…

Would he care?

Grasping my hair, I cursed. It didn’t matter if he cared—I cared!

I swore again, instantly regretted my reaction when I metCute Guy’shorrified expression.

“Look,” he murmured, “I get it. You see this as…just a one-night thing, and you regret it—”

“I don’t regret it,” I said, trying to ease the rejection etched across his sweet face. But I did; he knew I did. I’d allowed the Q to take control—

Shit, the Q!

Frantically, I scoured my room. “Where’s my bag?”

“I’m not sure.” He threw on his jumper and cleared his throat. “I’m guessing the whole ‘I’ll get you an interview with the security team leader’ isn’t valid.”

“Hey.” I stopped searching, straightening my shoulders to look at him. “I didn’t make that up. If you want the interview, I’ll get you the interview. I’ll just…” I swallowed hard, guilt stiffening my stance. “I’ll need your name and contact information.”

His newly enthralled expression distorted into a frown of dejection.

Gods, had he shared his personal information last night?

“My name’s Eric. Eric Symz. You took my details while we were at the bar.”