Her Perfect Man (10 page)

Finally, he gently caught her clit between his lips and sucked. “Ooh!” Pinwheels spiraled behind her eyes. She climaxed, her thighs tensing and toes curling as the contractions rippled through her.

She sank back on her elbows, loose and floppy, her eyes closed. She opened them when she felt a breeze between her splayed thighs. Charlie wasn’t there.

“Hey, where’d you go?” she asked the empty room.

He rushed in from the hallway. “To grab a rubber.” His voice and expression were tight with arousal.

“Oohhh, Mr. Keller said
rubber
. You do realize the proper term is condom,” she intoned in a supercilious manner.

“Uh-huh. Yeah.” He pulled her to her feet and turned her around.

“Wow.” Kim gripped the ledge of the windowsill as he flipped up the hem of her short robe and snugged his front against her naked ass. He brushed his latex-covered cock against the folds of her pussy.

“
Wow
.”

Her earlier lethargy disappeared in a wink. She rubbed back against him and they undulated together in a dance of their own invention.

“You ready?” He rubbed against her one more time.

“Mmm.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t talk.”

He took that as a
yes
. Slowly, he pushed inside her, and she bit her lip as her pussy expanded to let him in. Her inner walls rippled around him, and her face misted with perspiration. He moved in and out, gripping her hips, bumping her G-stop with each thrust. Heat flashed through her like wildfire. She hadn’t thought she’d be able to come again so quickly, but the way he was working her…

“Oh!” She dug her nails into the ledge, her breasts jouncing each time he plunged forward. “I need more,” she panted. “A little more…”

His arm curved around her front, delving between her legs to tease her clit. With each feathery touch, fire raced up her spine. “Yeah. Yeah, like that.”

One last touch and she rocketed into orgasm, her pussy quivering and clenching around his cock.

He stiffened behind her, and she felt him spasm inside her.

As the climax waned, they both slumped forward.

“Oh, shit,” Kim muttered, coming back to reality. “We just had sex in a window.” At least the window faced the backyard and not the street.

Nobody was in back, that she could see, at least.

Thank God.

“Shit,” he echoed, his body shaking while he nuzzled her neck.

“Are you laughing? Nice.”

“It’s all right.” He pressed a warm kiss to her shoulder. “The plants hid us. Mostly.”

“Yeah. Well, if I get any dirty looks from the neighbors in back, I’ll know what it’s about.”

“They’ll be jealous.” He pulled her up and turned her around for a kiss.

“I’m so sure.” She snuggled against him. She liked kissing.

After a moment, he pulled back. “You should check into some of the online colleges. They might have some child-related courses you could take.”

Crap. Mr. One-Track-Mind. She rolled her eyes and pulled away. “Go back to school? I don’t think so.

It’d be like an ex-con volunteering to go back to prison.”

“Lots of adults are returning to college. You wouldn’t stand out at all.”

“College costs money.” Her voice went toneless as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“There are scholarships, grants, all kinds of—”

He broke off at her stiff posture and stony expression, then gave a small laugh. “Sorry. I’m getting pushy, aren’t I?”

“Yeah. You are.” And spoiling it. Pointing out all the obstacles, all the hoops she’d have to jump through. See, she should have kept it all to herself.

Charlie’s remarks made the reality of it too clear.

Too hard.

“I got carried away.” He spoke quietly. “I only wanted to show that if you have a plan—”

“Right.” And she was so great at planning.

Didn’t her whole life reflect that?

Their coffee had grown cold but they drank it anyway. In silence. Charlie set his cup on the coffee table. “Let me go change. I’ll meet you downstairs and we can go to breakfast.”

But Kim had already erected her walls. “You know, I think I’ll just skip the breakfast thing. I’ve got a few things to do around here before I pick up Groucho.”

He looked baffled, unsure how to handle her.

“Well, would you like me to pick something up?”

“Nah. You’ve got things to do, I’m sure. I don’t want to mess up your plans for the day. And I’ve got plenty to do.” her glance flicked around her tiny place. “I, uh, well I have to clean and…” Clean for the cat? Jesus, how lame was that?

His eyes narrowed and his lips flattened into a thin line. “Okay, Kim. I get the picture. You had your fun and now I get the old heave-ho.” His smile mocked her. “I thought it would be fun to be treated as a sex object, but it definitely has a down side.”

“It’s not like that,” she murmured, feeling like a jerk. The old heave-ho. How many times had she been on the receiving end? She knew first-hand just how shitty it felt.

“Never mind. I’m a big boy.” He stopped at the door. “Well, is this the part where I say I’ll call? No, wait. I guess that’s your line.”

“I’ll see you,” she said instead, unable to meet his gaze.

“Guess that’s unavoidable. Bye, Kim.” He closed the door quietly behind him.

Shit. Kim slumped into a chair, feeling like the world’s biggest ass. Now he thought she’d just used him for sex. But better that than letting him know how scared she was. She’d gotten stupid with Charlie last night, gotten mushy because he’d helped save Groucho. She’d shared a part of herself no one knew, and now it was too late to take it back.

He’d gotten too close. So let him be mad, let him think she was just a user. The more he kept his distance, the safer she’d be.

It was for the best. So why did it feel so lousy?

****

Charlie knew what she was up to. Pushing him away with silly excuses because he’d gotten a little too close to the real Kim. She let down her guard last night and had given him a glimpse of a woman who was more than the wise-ass the rest of the world knew.

And it frightened her. True, he hadn’t helped matters by coming on too strong this morning, pushing her to talk more about wanting to work with kids. But hell, that’s who he was—he wanted to help people achieve their goals, attain their dreams,

be the best they could be. That’s why he became a teacher.

But he’d pushed too hard and she’d turned skittish. That’s why he changed the game. Turned the tables on her and played up the “sex object”

angle. Put her on the defensive a bit. He’d put on an act, sure, but standing in front of a classroom gave him plenty of acting experience.

Kim felt safe with sex. She could sleep with a man, share her body, and still feel in control. When she shared her emotions, that’s when she felt vulnerable. And Charlie guessed she felt very vulnerable with him right now. So he’d step back, give her a few days to settle down. Then he’d show up on her doorstep.

He had no intention of letting her get away.

Kim jumped as someone knocked on her door that hot July night. Her heart trip-hammered. Could it be Charlie?

She hoped so. They hadn’t spoken since she gave him the brush a few days back. And even though she rightfully ought to make the first move, she was too big a coward.

But her hopes collapsed when the visitor called, “Hey, Kim, open up. I know you’re home. I saw your beater out in front.”

She recognized the voice of Adam Vostek, her ex.

What the hell? The last time she’d seen him, he’d been holding hands with his blonde outside Hanover’s. Why wasn’t he with her now?

Why was he
here,
after he’d blown her off to be with another woman? He had some damn nerve.

She stomped to the door, jerked it open and glared at him.

Adam had a stupid ass grin on his face. “Hey, you dressed up for me! Thanks, honey!”

“Don’t honey me. Jagoff. What the hell’s your problem, pounding on my door like some damn troglodyte?” She blocked the doorway, standing with feet apart and her arms crossed over her chest.

“Trogo-what?”

“Hey, I can use big words, you know. I watch the Exploration Network. In case you thought you were talking to some little dumb ass.”

“Kim, what the fuck?” He sighed. “Look, I don’t want to fight. Come on, let me in.” She noticed he carried a couple of six packs with him. “I brought beer.”

She wanted to kick him. The clown thought he could bribe his way in with a few beers? And then what? They’d hit the sack and everything would be same old, same old?
No, thanks.

Did he really think she was that easy?

“Do you remember that little conversation we had at Sammy’s? About how I didn’t want you crawling back to me, ever? What part of that didn’t you understand?” she demanded.

“Kim, I—”

“Ten o’clock at night you show up here, thinking you can weasel your way in with a couple lousy six packs. Yeah, I know what’s up. Straight-up booty call. Hell, you don’t even
call
. You just drive right up to the window. Well, sorry, the booty drive-thru is closed. Forever. See ya.”

“Kim. I’m sorry.”

She went to slam the door in his stupid face when she suddenly went still. Sorry? Had he just said “I’m sorry?” Adam Vostek? In all the time she’d known him, Kim couldn’t remember him
ever
saying those two words.

It wasn’t just the apology that gave her pause.

His abject tone of voice and the expression on his face made his misery clear. Where was the cocky, smartassed hard head she knew so well? This was a different Adam completely. He looked…well, shit, he looked pathetic.

“Look,” he said. “It’s no booty call, I swear.”

Kim gaped at him in amazement. Was he actually blushing? This was a new one. Curiosity as well as sympathy got the better of her. God, she was a sucker.

“I’m an idiot. All right.” She moved from the doorway to let him pass. “Get your sorry ass in here.”

She gave him the once over. He’d dressed nicely, as though for a special event, but now his clothing was rumpled and sad. “Are you drunk? ‘Cause I’m gonna kick your ass if you’ve been drinking and drove over here.”

“Nope. Not a drop. Which means I’m way behind.” He put the six-packs on the coffee table, took a can, and made to sit in the armchair. But Groucho already lay curled up in the seat. “Shoo.”

Groucho didn’t even bother lifting his head. He just slanted a look at Adam.
Fuck you
.

Kim grinned.
My watchdog.
Groucho had her back for sure. He was not about to let Vostek get away with any shit.

Adam scowled and took the futon instead, then pounded his beer, his throat moving as he chugged it. Whoa. Somebody was trying to get hammered.

Which wasn’t like Adam at all. Sure, he liked his beer, but she’d never seen him drink to get drunk.

He slumped on the futon, looking glum, but didn’t bother to tell her why he’d shown up at this time of night. Her curiosity and even a bit of concern kicked in.
Which just shows what a patsy you are.

Guy dumps you then shows up on your doorstep all pathetic and you let him in. Smart, Kim, real smart
.

To show how little she cared, she fooled with her plants and picked some dead leaves off her geranium while watching him surreptitiously.

Why the hell was he here? If not for sex, then what? Did he expect her to pry the information out of him? She wasn’t his mom. It wasn’t her job to fix whatever bothered him. She wasn’t his girlfriend.

He’d always made damn sure she knew that.

He seemed almost shy as he touched one of the pillows she’d sewn. “Cute place.”

She looked at him. “You’ve been here before.”

Kim enjoyed watching him squirm as a red flush moved up his neck and into his face. “Uh. Well, I’m just saying…”

“Yeah, whatever.” She went over and grabbed a beer, popping the top. “You’ve always been in such a hurry to get to the bedroom, you never took the time to notice anything about the place.” She perched on the arm of Groucho’s chair.

Adam scowled at the cat. “Why don’t you chase him off? It’s your house.”

“It’s his house, too.” She took a sip. “And he was there first.”

She took a few more swallows before she finally cracked. “So what’s going on, Vostek?”

“My life is shit, is all.”

“Oh yeah?” She pooched out her lower lip in mock sympathy. “Poor baby. Welcome to the club.”

Adam blinked at her in surprise. What? Did he think he was the only one whose life sucked?

She leaned back. “Look, I wasn’t kidding. If you rolled in here hoping to score some nookie by getting me to feel all sorry for you, you’re shit out of luck.”

He reached for another beer. “You really think I’m that low-class?”

“You’re a guy, aren’t you?” Groucho had enough of Vostek’s self-pitying bullshit and hopped off the chair. Kim slid onto the vacated seat. “So what’s the real problem? You and your girl have a falling out?”

He looked dumbfounded. Or just dumb. “How’d you know about—”

God, men are stupid.
“Duh, Adam. I knew something was up the minute you said you wanted to take a break
.
And I’ve seen her picture.”

“You’ve seen—”

“The pretty blonde, right? Oh, keep your shorts on, I wasn’t snooping. I was looking for rubbers one time, and I opened the wrong drawer.” She took a quick swallow of beer to hide her expression.

Liar liar pants on fire
. She’d been snooping big time, looking for clues. Clues to why Adam was fine with kicking it, having sex and hanging out, but never letting her close. When she found the picture, she had all the information she needed. It was a great big smack in the face.

“But shit. A guy keeps a woman’s picture in his nightstand, it’s a pretty big fucking clue he’s still hung up on her.” Kim paused, her heart thumping.

She had to ask the next question. “So what’s her name?”

“Elyse.”

Kim felt as though her insides had been scooped out.
Elyse.
Such a pretty name for a pretty woman.

“She hates my guts,” Adam said, making short work of another beer.