Neighborly Heat

Chapter 1: The Simmering Glance

Mia adjusted her pencil skirt as she stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor of her upscale apartment building. The day had been a gauntlet of boardroom battles and impossible deadlines, and all she wanted was a glass of wine and silence. But as she rounded the corner to her door, there he was—Jake, the new neighbor who’d moved in last week. He was leaning against his doorframe, a tool belt slung low on his hips, sweat glistening on his tanned forearms as he fiddled with a lock. Her breath caught. Damn, he looked like he’d been carved from raw, untamed desire.

'Hey, corporate queen,' Jake drawled, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. His hazel eyes flicked up, catching her stare. 'Rough day ruling the world?'

Mia smirked, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. 'Rougher than you’d survive, handyman. What’s with the tool belt? Playing Mr. Fix-It or just trying to impress?'

He grinned, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. 'Oh, I fix things real good, Mia. But I’m guessing you’re not here to borrow a hammer.' He stepped closer, the scent of sawdust and raw masculinity hitting her like a wave. Her pulse quickened, heat pooling low in her belly. She could practically feel the hard lines of him pressed against her already.

'Don’t flatter yourself,' she shot back, though her voice betrayed a husky edge. 'I’m just wondering how loud you plan to be with that… equipment. Some of us need sleep.'

Jake chuckled, leaning in until his breath brushed her ear. 'Darlin’, if I’m keeping you up, it won’t be with tools. Promise you that.'

Her knees nearly buckled, but Mia held her ground, her eyes locking with his in a challenge. 'Big talk for a guy who’s all show. You gonna back it up, or just tease me all night?'

The air crackled between them, charged with unspoken need. She could feel herself growing wet, her body betraying her cool exterior as she imagined that hard cock she’d been fantasizing about for days. Jake’s gaze darkened, reading her like an open book. 'Careful, Mia. Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll have you dripping before you even knock on my door.'

She arched a brow, stepping closer until their bodies were a whisper apart. 'Who says I’m waiting for an invitation?'

His hand twitched, as if fighting the urge to grab her right there in the hallway. 'Tonight, then. My place. Don’t wear anything you care about keeping on.'

Mia’s lips parted, a retort on her tongue, but the raw hunger in his voice silenced her. She nodded, once, sharp and decisive, before turning to her door. Her heart pounded as she fumbled with her keys, already imagining the sweaty, panting mess they’d become. She could feel his eyes on her ass as she walked away, and it only made her hornier. Tonight, she’d have him—every inch of him—and she’d make damn sure he knew who was in control.