A Love We Deserve (True Love Book 2) (6 page)

“I really enjoyed the taste of my appetizer, but I wasn’t allowed to finish it. Guess I’ll have to settle for spaghetti and meatballs.”

I give him my best sexy look, and he blushes at my remark. He rolls his eyes at me, and we walk out to his car. He has a sleek, black BMW. Not bad wheels for a personal trainer.

“Do you deal drugs on the side? Nice ride,” I say with a whistle. He laughs and spins his keys.

“Don’t be too impressed. It was my father’s, and he decided to get a brand new one so he gave me a good deal.”

“How old is it? It looks brand new!”

“A year and a half. My dad likes new toys. I guess that’s why he’s on wife Number Four.”

“How about you? You the love em and leave em type, too?”

I said that as a joke, but the look in his eyes tells me he didn’t find it funny.

“No, Melanie, I’m not. My dad really screwed over my mother and every woman since. I don’t play games in my relationships.”

Oh my God. That turned sour quickly. He’s standing with the door open waiting for me to get in. I can’t move. I don’t know what to say to ease the tension, so I choose to stay quiet. Let him make the next move. I whisper a quick “thanks,” and he closes the door. When he gets in, he looks sad.

“I’m sorry Melanie, I didn’t mean to come off like a dick. I know you didn’t mean anything by that, and I was wrong to react that way. I just like you and if you ever thought I was like him it would kill me. He’s an asshole, and a womanizer. I would never dream of treating anyone that way.”

“It’s all right. Consider the whole thing forgotten. Now, are you going to feed me?”

I get that great smile again, and he reaches over to place his hand on my leg as he kisses me.

“By all means. If you still want to finish your appetizer later, I know where you can find it. Maybe it’s better as dessert anyway.”

Damn he’s cute! We speed out of the parking lot and head for our date. Finally.

* * *

“That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. It’s going to take me ten sessions with you to burn it off. I should have known that was your angle. Lure me into a great dinner, and I have to keep you as my trainer forever!”

The setting, the food, everything had been perfect. I barely know this guy and we’ve already crossed off dates one through five in four hours. We talked so easily with one another; I feel so comfortable with him. Without the ugly details, I tell him I’m divorced, and have three amazing sons. He didn’t blink. He asks about my boys. I guess when you get to our age, there’s the assumption we’ve had a life. He is less complicated. He was married briefly, and she was cheating on him so he left. I’m glad I didn’t tell him my story in full color. I assume that’s another reason he was so heated when discussing his father before. He has a degree in English from the University of Illinois. He wanted to be a teacher, but got into massage therapy after a car accident. It has helped him so much, physically and emotionally, that he decided to pursue it and he never looked back. He’s adorably passionate when he talks about it, too. I could watch him talk all night.

It’s just after 10:00 p.m. when we make it back to the gym. Jason sent me a text earlier that the game is going into overtime, and he wasn’t sure what time they would get back. He offered to let my boys crash at their house since it would be so late. I thanked him as profusely as I could via text, and told him I owed him one. The rest of my night was free.

“I guess you need to get home to the guys. Do you have a babysitter tonight?”

I have no idea how to respond. I’ve never been in this situation. I could lie, say I have to get home and slow things down a bit, or, I could own up to the fact that I’m free all night. What to do, what to do…

“My neighbors are watching my kids all night. I’m free.”

Slut.

“Oh, great! Where would you like to go? We could go see a movie, or watch one at my place. Do you want to go to my place?”

He says that carefully. I think he’s still embarrassed about our behavior earlier.

“I would love to go to your place. I really don’t want to watch a movie, though, if that’s OK.”

I place my hand in his lap, and his breathing changes. He coughs a little, and the car flies out of the parking lot toward his house. He’s close to the gym, only about a ten-minute ride. His house is gorgeous! Another hand-me-down from dear ol’ dad? I know better than to say that. I take an altogether different approach. I don’t say anything. He parks in the driveway, and zips around to my side before I can even unbuckle.

“My lady…”

He bows deep, like a servant waiting for me to take his hand.

“Why, thank you, kind sir.”

I play along and he pulls me out of the car and into his arms. He lifts me like I weigh nothing and runs to the front door. He throws me on one shoulder while he unlocks the door. We’re in, and he closes the door behind us. He lets me slide slowly down the length of his body. His nose is against my heated body, smelling my scent as I slowly drop. We’re on each other like wild animals, tearing at each other’s clothes, pulling and ripping to get to much-desired prey. We leave a trail in our wake of shoes and clothes that lead up to his bedroom. I steal a quick peek at the inside of the house. It had to have been decorated by a professional; it looks like something out of a high-end magazine.

I focus back on the task at hand; I’ll deal with the house later. We burst through a door at the top of the stairs as we’re kissing. This must be his bedroom. It’s massive, and beautiful. OK, there’s no way he did this.

“Hang on a second,” I’m just too curious to wait, “What is with this house? It’s amazing! How can you afford this? It’s looks like the cover shot of
Architectural Digest
!”

Subtle there, Melanie. Maybe you can piss him off again and be ensured that the night ends with no sex!

“You won’t believe me if I tell you. My grandmother left it to me. I was her only grandson, and my mother passed away before her. I was her only heir. This house has been in her family a really long time and she was scared to lose it. She gave it to me, along with an estate. I don’t usually take women here unless I’ve had a chance to explain.”

At least he’s not mad at me for the question. I haven’t exactly told him that I’m sitting in a multi-million-dollar home and a bank full of cash I didn’t earn either. Technically I
did
earn it. Combat pay.

“I’m not trying to be nosy; it’s just so lovely. Did you decorate it, too?”

“No, definitely not. I hired a crew to do that. I barely even looked at the things she brought for me. I missed my grandmother so much that it felt like a sacrilege to change everything, but it had to be done. Plastic furniture covers from the Sixties couldn’t stay. Are we good here, or would you like the tour?”

He says that with sarcasm. Poor guy’s had a hard-on for going on five hours. I even noticed it during dinner; it never went fully down after our false start. I look down and realize we’re having this conversation buck-naked. We start to laugh but it doesn’t last long. Laughter quickly turns to moaning as we pick up where we left off. His body is amazing. I didn’t really get to see the entire product when we were in the massage room. His ass is hard as a rock, as is every other muscle on him. He’s a good bit taller than me, so he has to bend to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck and jump up into his arms. With biceps like his, I know he can handle me.

He carries me over to his bed and lays me down carefully. Our lips part long enough to get under many layers of bedding. This bed feels like a cloud; I guess I
am
in heaven. Our combined scents are an aphrodisiac pulling me in deeper. His hard chest is moist with sweat and our bodies are gliding against one another from lack of friction. He throws back the blankets, and turns on a small bedside lamp. I feel a rush of cool air for a second before he’s back in and warming me up again.

“I want to see your beautiful body. I was trying hard not to look while I was massaging you, that it was killing me. I tried closing my eyes, but that didn’t help, it only heightened my sense of touch. You’re an amazing woman. Your beautiful face, your sexy body, that adorable southern accent; I like you, Melanie.”

He’s hovering over me while he speaks. His face is sincere; it melts my heart. He leans down slowly and traces my lips with the tip of his tongue. I feel it immediately in my crotch. My body responds to his light touch, I’m aching inside and wet for him. I want to savor this because it feels so incredible, but my pussy is throbbing for him to be inside me. I haven’t felt this kind of passion in so long; I don’t know if I can wait a minute longer.

“I want to feel you, Caleb. Feel how wet I am for you.”

I place his hand on my overheated loins, and he moans.

“I will, but I want to taste you first. Your heat is radiating.”

He wiggles down farther under the covers and spreads my legs open. He begins on my inner thigh with light teasing licks. I’m shaking with anticipation. His tongue is warm and adept. He makes slow circles in no particular pattern up and down, getting closer to my pussy with each lick. I think I may pass out; the sensation is too much. I buck my hips up to meet his face, and he buries his tongue deep inside me. Oh shit, here it comes.

“I’m coming, Caleb, I’m coming! Don’t stop!”

He’s maintaining a steady rhythm with his tongue as his fingers tease my clit. My orgasm rises and rolls like a long slow wave. Somehow he’s making it last, and my body keeps screaming for more. He pulls back as he senses my climax begins to wane. Damn, that was good. I have no choice but to let my head drop back to the pillow and take a deep breath.

“If that’s not part of my personal training, it should be. My heart’s beating twice as fast as it was yesterday!”

He smiles wickedly at me.

“Well, Ms. Kennedy, we can certainly incorporate that into our sessions. No complaints about that at all.”

He climbs back up so that we’re face to face again. I boldly kiss him, and the taste is exhilarating. I feel like someone who’s been brought back to life. It’s been so long since I’ve had this experience with a man. He strokes my cheeks with the back of his hands. He’s still hard, but he doesn’t seem to be in any rush. He stares into my eyes and doesn’t say a word. He’s hypnotizing my mind and body. I need to give back some of the pleasure he’s given me tonight.

I kiss him lightly, and roll him over onto his back. I want to take my time and explore this beautiful man. He closes his eyes as I kiss his face. I reach his ear and moan into it quietly. It has the exact reaction I was hoping for. He shivers and groans into it. I let my warm tongue play in and around his earlobe, and I bite it softly. I think he’s nearing the edge, but is trying hard to hang on. I know it feels good, but he’s ready for his release. I hope I’ll have many more chances to take my time with him.

His erection is pulsating against my rear; I can feel it. With his eyes still closed, I surprise him and lower myself down onto it. He’s startled, in a good way, and his eyes pop open as he looks up at me.

“Fuck! You feel so fucking good, Melanie. Your pussy is so sweet, squeeze my cock, I want to feel all of you.”

His demeanor has shifted to something more primal. He grabs my hips and forcefully guides my body to move with his in rough, rhythmic manner. I fucking love it. I squeeze my pussy tight around his dick like he asked. He’s so engorged; I barely have to tighten for him to feel it. He pulls me up, then slams my body back down on him and we both explode. He is throbbing inside me, pulse after pulse in an intense orgasm. I feel his release as he’s filling me up inside. This orgasm is different; I feel it from the inside. My pussy is quivering from his large dick still inside me. My muscles squeeze and twitch as I hear myself scream. My climax is lingering, I keep squeezing him to try to make it last. My head is swimming as I finally come back to Earth. Holy shit.

He looks thoroughly pleased as well. He tightly gathers me in his arms, and kisses the top of my head. He’s still inside me, but slowly going down. He’s clutching me fiercely, so I don’t try to move.

I just enjoy the feeling of being in someone’s arms.

Chapter 6

I wake up with a start; I don’t know where I am. I see a digital clock that reads 5:02 a.m. I squint my eyes to see more, but the room is too dark. I reach down and jump; there’s a body in this bed with me. The night floods back, and I calm down. I’m with Caleb, in his bed. We went out, came back to his place and made love. Well, technically, we screwed each other’s brains out. After the first time, we both fell sound asleep for about thirty minutes. When I woke up, he was already awake looking at me. No words were exchanged, we smiled at each other and the romp started again. We got up and showered, where we lathered each other up thoroughly, then hit the sack for the night. I don’t recall sleeping that soundly in years. I was sure I had dreamt the whole thing, but no. Here he is beside me, warm and sleeping.

I try to get out of the massive bed as easily as I can without waking him. With all the coverings, it’s like trying to escape an avalanche. The more I try, the more buried I become. I roll out with a soft plop on the floor. It really was the only way. He’s still snug as a bug, and snoring softly. I have to pee, but I don’t want to use the bathroom in here; it might wake him. I wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark; otherwise, I’m sure to go headfirst into a doorframe. I use my hands along the wall to guide my way. There’s a nightlight in the hallway that helps me see the stairs. We left the foyer light on last night, so I turn it off. There’s enough light from more nightlights down here so I’m OK. I find a bathroom, and go in to do my business. These ceilings must be ten feet tall. There had to have been a major renovation somewhere along the line. I live in an old house in an old neighborhood. You know what’s stood the test of time and what’s been changed. The kitchen is magnificent. Quartz counters, marble backsplash, and the most gorgeous wide-plank floors I’ve ever seen. He must have cut a very large check to do this house. I wonder how his grandmother afforded to live here?

I can’t stop snooping. In the adjacent living room, there are lots of frames. Caleb in various places in the world: London, Paris, Hawaii. God, to be hot, single, and
male
. Men can live this lifestyle and be envied by society. If a woman tried to? She’d be a gold-digging slut. John, Matthew and Luke will get the rest of my money someday; I don’t even spend it. I’ve let it sit in the bank collecting dust. What I am going to do? I have three young children, so traveling is out. I couldn’t care less about jewelry and cars. I donate to two charities I believe in, but that’s it. I just want my boys and their families to be secure when they’re older.

It looks like Caleb has led an interesting life. I see an old picture of his mom and dad on their wedding day. His dad was hot! I can’t believe the resemblance to Caleb. I know for him, that’s where the resemblance ends. They may look just alike, but there couldn’t be two more different men. His mother was quite beautiful in her own right. He has her eyes, warm and kind. 

I feel warm hands around my waist, and a warmer mouth on my neck.

“Good morning, beautiful. Why are you up so early?”

“I had to use the little girl’s room, and I didn’t want to wake you. I’m sorry, we can go back to bed.”

“Can’t. I have a client this morning at 6:00 a.m.” He smiles.

“Oh, I should go then. Do you mind driving me back?”

I don’t seem to get it.

“Well, we could just do it here, if my client agrees.”

His smile becomes even bigger and he kisses my neck again. Oh, right! The client was me!

“I feel pretty stupid, sorry. You really jumbled up my brain last night.”

“I think the jumbling was mutual. I can’t think straight. I do have another client scheduled after you at 7:30 a.m., so I guess we can stay up. Would you like some coffee?”

“That sounds wonderful, thanks. So, what should we do about my training?”

“That’s up to you, but I think I’d rather train you in private. I have equipment here we can use. I have a full gym in the basement.”

Of course, he does, doesn’t everyone?

“Am I allowed to skip today? I think I got a good workout last night.”

“That’s true. Intercourse burns around a hundred calories for twenty minutes. So, you do the math for last night. I think you’re excused for today.”

“See, I knew I picked the perfect trainer. I’ll be a lean, mean, fighting machine before you know it.”

I grab my butt trying to indicate how much I hate how much there is of it. He looks intense again.

“You should train to keep your body healthy. This?” He grabs my ass hard. “Is fucking perfect. Don’t you dare change a thing
anywhere
.”

I don’t think he gets my sense of humor; he looks pissed. I try to change the subject.

“Didn’t someone promise me coffee? It could get ugly around here the longer I’m awake without it!”

I wiggle away and go back to the kitchen. He walks around me, to get to the coffee maker. He’s serious about his coffee. After he grinds the beans, tamps them down, filters chilled water, I finally get my coffee. It was worth it.

“My sexy friend, you know your way around a coffee machine. This is incredible! How did you learn to make it?”

“I worked as a barista for a while. I love to cook, and I guess I just pick these things up pretty easily. Are you hungry? I have everything for Denver omelets.”

“That sounds delicious, thank you. If you don’t mind, I’m going to clean up a little and get dressed.”

He closes in on me. He grabs my wrists and pulls me close.

“I meant what I said before. You are beautiful just as you are.”

He pulls me closer for a soft kiss. His tongue is coaxing my lips to open farther and deepen the kiss. He has the sexiest mouth I’ve ever felt, and there’s no way I can pull away. We stand in the middle of this beautiful man’s beautiful kitchen in his beautiful home and make-out. Slowly and softly, I’m in heaven.

* * *

We drive back to the gym to get my car, and we say our goodbyes. More like see-you-laters. We spend twenty minutes trying to separate, but just can’t seem to keep our hands off of each other. He’s late for his client, and I need to get home. I spoke with Katie early, and the boys before school. They had the time of their lives at the game
and
a sleepover on a school night, so I feel less guilty. I have no idea how I’m going to juggle dating and give my boys all the time they’re accustomed from me. I’ve been their world and they’ve been mine. It’s time for me to grow right along with them and get a life I can call my own. It will be healthier for all of us. For now, I’m keeping my dating life a secret. I’m not going to introduce anyone to them until I know he’s
the one
. 

Katie has no idea what I was up to last night. I did tell her I had a massage scheduled, but no details about a potential date. I’d rather talk to her in person about him, especially now that there’s something to tell. I get home around 9:00 a.m., and after changing clothes and brushing my teeth, I show up at her house. She answers the door still in her pajamas.

“Good morning! You had the morning off, what are you doing awake? I thought for sure you would have stayed in bed; I know I would have. If you’re here to thank us again for having the boys, don’t! Jason was so happy last night he was like a ten-year-old. Just a warning your kids will be exhausted later. I think Grace may disown us, though. We owe her, big time!”

She is smiling, and steps back to let me in.

“Tell Miss Grace not to worry; my freezer is loaded with the good stuff. We’ll have Girls Night very soon. Is anyone home? Jason?”

“Nope, he had patients early today. Why?”

She looks at me strangely; she knows I couldn’t care less if Jason is ever around when we talk.

“Well, I had a date.”

Typical Katie reaction: She’s screaming and running around her living room like she’s on fire.

“I knew it! I knew it! I had a dream, I told Jason about! I was right!”

Uh-oh, she had a dream. Katie has a talent we discovered a while back. She’s a little psychic sometimes. When she has clear dreams about something, there’s a good chance it’s true, or at least a part of the dream will be true. I introduced her to my psychic, Sienna, during her and Jason’s recent drama. She was having visions of him and strong instincts that something was wrong. She was right on the money. She still goes with me when I see her every so often to ask her questions and talk. I believe in psychics, but sometimes it still freaks me out.

“Are you done yet, or do you need more spaz time? I’d like to hear about this dream.”

“Well, I was talking to Jason about what we had discussed, you know, a
possible
set-up? Anyway, I guess you were on my mind and I had the most vivid dream. I didn’t want to tell you about it before, because I thought it wouldn’t happen until down the road, but you met someone already!”

She seems happier about it than I do. This must have been a hell of a dream, but if she doesn’t spit it out soon I’m going to strangle her.

“And?”

“Anyway, you were lying out on a beach. You looked amazing, by the way. There were three boys, I assume were yours, but they looked older, playing football on the beach. You all seemed so happy. The whole tone of the dream was happy. A male figure came and sat beside you. I couldn’t see his face very well, but he was big and muscular. You looked up at him with the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen you like that. I could feel myself wanting to cry.”

Her eyes are tearing up speaking about it. She is too cute.

“He bent down to kiss you and he hit your butt. Then he jogged over and picked up Luke, I assume from his smaller size, and swung him around. The boys tackled him, and they looked just as happy as you did. They played football on the beach while you watched. It was so sweet, Mel. It felt so real, like I had just watched part of your life play out. I know it was longer, but for some strange reason that’s the only part I remember. I hope the rest will come back to me. So tell me. Who is the new guy?”

“It was with Caleb, from the gym. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew it was an actual date. He asked me to dinner after my massage.”

I can feel myself beginning to blush.

“We got a little busy in the massage room but we stopped. We went out to dinner and picked things back up at his place later. Girl, he did things to me I’ve only read about in magazines. I was at his place when I called this morning.”

She jumps out of her seat and gives me a bear hug.

“I’m so happy for you! I should have known, you’re positively glowing. I thought the “package” you ordered had arrived early.”

“My package! I totally forgot. Guess I jumped the gun on that one. I definitely don’t need to use that thing while Caleb’s around. He could have modeled for it, though; the man is
gifted
. He’s sweet, too. Didn’t even blink when I told him about my boys. I didn’t go into a lot of detail about Chris; that can wait. I just have to figure out this whole dating thing while still trying to be a good mom. I don’t know how to find time for a relationship when the boys need me so much. Maybe I should just keep this thing as an occasional booty call. I do like him, though, and he seems to like me, too. I’m so confused. I thought I would be happy dating again, but it’s complicated.”

Reality is setting in. I don’t know what I want from this relationship. I like him a lot, but I have other considerations. My kids, first and foremost.

* * *

I accidentally left my phone at home when I went to Katie’s. When I get home, there were three texts from Caleb.

Hi, Beautiful. I’ve been missing you all morning. My 7:30 client was a no-show so we could have stayed in bed. Really wish we were still there. Call me when you can. Xxoo

*

Are you awake? I’m exhausted, didn’t get much sleep last night. Would love to see you…

*

Please text me back to let me know you made it home OK. I haven’t heard from you since you left, and now I’m worried. I’m sorry I didn’t take you to your door like a gentleman would have after a date. Next time, I promise. I hate to come off as paranoid, but since you’re not responding to my texts, maybe you don’t want a next time? Hope to hear from you soon.

I feel terrible. I was at Katie’s all morning and didn’t even think about my phone. I text him back right away:
I’m so sorry! I was at my neighbor’s house and forgot to take my phone. Of course, I want to see you again, I had an amazing time with you last night.

Two seconds after I hit “send,” my phone buzzes. It’s him.

“I’m so glad to hear from you, I was really getting worried. I felt like a jerk dropping you off at your car this morning. That’s not really the most romantic way to end a date.”

Oh, I had forgotten how sexy his voice is.

“I still got a lovely kiss goodbye, even if it was in the parking lot. Logistics don’t matter, it’s who you’re with.”

“I like the way you think, Ms. Melanie.”