InBedWithMrPerfect (6 page)

“Ann, wait.” Joe hopped on one foot and shoved his leg in
his pants.

“I need time to think.” She wrenched open the door and fled,
her skirt unzipped and her shirt on backward.

“Son of a bitch, Ann, wait.” He stumbled and whacked his
foot on the stand holding the barbells. Fire filled his big toe and raced up
his leg.

Joe sat on the floor and squeezed his foot. “Shit.” He
didn’t have time for this.

The pain in his toe was almost as bad as the ache in his
heart.
What the fuck? She says she loves me then runs away. Fuck that.

He’d tried keeping his emotions in check, but he couldn’t do
it anymore. Why did she keep shutting him out? Joe stood, ignoring the sting in
his foot, and finished getting dressed.

Grabbing Ann’s discarded pantyhose, he locked up and went in
search of her. They were going to have it out even if it ripped his heart to
pieces. Maybe he’d give her what she wanted—let her pull away and wait for her
to come to her senses.

An hour later, Joe pulled up next to Ann’s car. A tornado of
emotions swirled inside him as he spied Ann sitting on the beach, her shoulders
heaving as she cried. Tears pricked the backs of his eyes. He was turning into
a pussy, for fuck’s sake.
Man up.

Joe turned off his car and watched Ann. He knew the one
thing she missed about Florida was the beach. He’d made it a point to drive the
hour south to the closest beach at least a half a dozen times during the
summer, just to see her face light up when her feet sank into the sand.

New Hampshire’s beaches were certainly not the same as
Florida’s, but it was the best he could do. Joe loved when Ann dipped a toe in
the icy water and cursed at him. She would hurry back to the beach blanket,
slather on SPF 100 sunscreen and bake herself. Then they would walk the
boardwalk, buy crap they couldn’t live without, grab fried dough or ice cream
and head the hour north home, talking about how someday they would rent a
cottage and spend a week on the beach.

One day, Joe would buy a place by the beach and spend as
much time as possible making Ann happy. First he needed to hand over some of
the gym’s responsibilities to someone other than Ann. Then he could look into
buying some little fixer-upper.

Opening the car door, he took a deep breath and got out.
Cold damp air burned his lungs and the water churned and smashed on rocks in
the distance. Wind howled and gusted in his face. He squinted at Ann. Damn it,
she wasn’t wearing a jacket. Shaking his head, Joe jogged to her. “You’re going
to catch a cold.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“I know you better than you think.” He sat and took her
frigid hand. “You’re freezing. Let’s go to the car and talk.”

“I’m fine.” She tugged her hand from his. “I just want to be
alone.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on in that brain of
yours?”

Tears glistened on her cheeks in the moonlight. “This isn’t
working for me anymore. I think we need to cool things off.”

Heart breaking, he wiped a teardrop from under her eye. He
wanted to tell her he loved her, but instead he nodded. Joe would give her time
to come to her senses. “If that’s what you want.”

Moisture spilled down her beautiful face. “You are my best
friend. I don’t want to lose you.” She swiped at her eyes. “You deserve better
than me.”

The urge to tell her how much he loved her and needed her
burned in his throat. There wasn’t anyone better for him on this planet than
Ann. He mustered up a smile and stood. “Let’s go home. We’ll figure this all
out tomorrow.”

* * * * *

The next morning, Ann stumbled into the kitchen sleepy-eyed.
A rollercoaster of emotions still zipped through her. Feeling hung over and
raw, she picked up the coffeepot and poured herself a cup.

Joe sat at the table, drinking a neon-green shake. “How’s
your ankle this morning?”

She stopped and flexed her foot. Her ankle was stiff, but it
no longer hurt. Taking inventory of the rest of her body, she cringed. Ann felt
as if a truck had hit her. “My ankle is better, thanks for asking.”

“Anytime.”

She wished he’d smile at her like he always did.
You need
to face the fact that Joe may never look at you the way he used to.

“You’re up early.”

“I wanted to catch you before you left for the gym.” Setting
down her mug, she slid into the seat across from Joe.

Her breath hitched. Joe looked like he didn’t have a care in
the world. She told herself that was for the best. Both of them didn’t need to
be miserable.

Joe didn’t need to know he’d ripped her heart out when he’d
agreed with Ann last night. Sadness sat like a lead pipe in her stomach. A part
of Ann wanted him to tell her he loved her and that he needed her.

Telling herself this was what she’d wanted, Ann gazed at the
green liquid in front of Joe. “What the hell are you drinking?”

He lifted the glass. “Wheatgrass, whey protein, kale and a
dash of orange juice for flavor.” He shoved it toward her. “Want some?”

If the color didn’t deter her, the smell did. Ann pinched
her nose and leaned back. “No thank you.”

“Suit yourself.” Joe guzzled the concoction and sighed.

See what happens when you sexersize with your best friend
?
She shook the thought from her head. “I want to go over the trainer
possibilities I’ve collected over the last few months.”

“Are we going to talk about last night?”

Her heart couldn’t take anymore. Pulling at a minuscule
piece of lint on her flannel pjs, Ann gathered up bravado she didn’t have and
smiled. “Most men would be happy they’d had great sex and be done with it.”

“I’m not most men.” Joe held up his hand and blew out a
breath. “Forget it. Tell me who you’ve got for trainers.”

Willing her hands not to shake, Ann handed him a folder.
“Inside are résumés for three women I feel would be an asset to the gym.”

He opened the folder and frowned. “Where are the people with
experience? All but one of them are barely in their twenties.”

“We can’t afford experience.”

“Maybe I should call Rick and hire him.”

“That asshole can’t make his own mother comfortable around
him. How is he going to make women in their thirties, forties and fifties
comfortable?”

“He could make them just as comfortable as any of these
twenty-year-old girls would.”

“What about Jen?”

He picked up the application. “Well, at least she’s not a
child. What’s her story?”

“I’m not sure. Her résumé reads like she took some time off
to have kids or something. There’s a five-year gap a few years back and in the
last three, she’s held two or three jobs at a time. Maybe she’s a single mother
or her husband lost his job or something.”

She checked her watch. “You’re going to be late.”

“I’m the boss.” He stood and moved to the dishwasher, opened
it and placed the glass inside.

“Which means you have to be there on time.” Ann sipped her
coffee. The hot zap of caffeine started to zip through her bloodstream.

The look on his face hardened. “Do you know how hard it is
not to pick you up, lay you on this table and taste every inch of you?”

Hope sprang in her chest. Ann couldn’t help it. Last night
she’d tossed and turned, debating with herself. Wanting to be with Joe was like
a living, breathing thing inside her.

She pulled back from throwing herself at his feet. Even
though he was the perfect guy in every way, she wasn’t the perfect woman. Ann
didn’t trust she could keep him satisfied when her curves started to sag and
dimple. “We discussed this last night.”

“All we discussed was what we had wasn’t working for you.”
Joe grabbed his bag and flung it over his shoulder. “I’m telling you this isn’t
working for me.” He turned and walked out.

“Joe, I…” She squeezed her eyes shut.

“What?”

Ann’s eyes flew open. He stood in the doorway, filling it.
The unyielding expression marring his handsome face told her he would be late
for work. She stood and moved to him. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“Me too.” His gaze scorched her with its heat.

Her body came alive and she hated herself for it. When it
came to Joe, she had no control.

“I promise after today I will never touch you again.” He
advanced to her. “Just give me one more chance to taste you.”

Joe leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

“You’re going to be late,” Ann said lamely and plastered
what she hoped was an easy smile on her stiff-feeling face.

“Let me take you upstairs and get rid of the sadness in your
eyes.”

“You have to get to work and I’m sore from the last few
days’ festivities.”

“Let me kiss it and make it better.” Joe nipped along her
jawline and he sat her on the kitchen table. “I want to taste you. Please, one
more time.” His lips grazed her earlobe. “I need you.”

“We can’t.” She moaned and tried to push him back.

“Ann, give this to me just this once. I promise never again
after today.”

The plea in his voice broke her. She leaned back and gripped
his face to look at him. “You make it hard to say no.”

Eyes shining, he smiled. “I can’t leave things like we did
last night.”

What was left of her heart shattered. “I can’t handle it
anymore.”

His fingers untied her pants. “You make it hard to accept no
as an answer.” Joe lifted her shirt and kissed her navel.

“Just this once.” Ann rested back. She had no willpower when
it came to him. She’d loved Joe forever. It was hard not to follow her heart
when all it wanted was to be with him.

He stopped kissing the soft skin around her bellybutton and
gazed into Ann’s sapphire-blue eyes.
I love you, Ann.
The words danced
on the tip of his tongue. Swallowing back the need to say them, he scooped her
into his arms and navigated through the kitchen into the living room and up the
stairs.

She lay limply against his chest, as if she’d lost a battle.
Turning at the top of the stairs, he adjusted her against him. Joe kicked open
the door to his room and placed her on the bed. There were no words to say now.

Joe untied her pajama bottoms. Ann lifted her butt as he
pulled off her pants and underwear. He wanted to remember every lovely inch of
her.

No other woman made his body respond like Ann. Kneeling, Joe
spread her thighs. The pleasing scent of her filled his nose. “You are so
beautiful.”

Delicate hairs caressed his lips as he pressed a kiss to her
cleft. Wanting to savor every minute he had with Ann, he took his time.

The first little whimper that slipped from her mouth filled
his empty heart. His gut clenched as he held back his needs and took her
slowly. Ann’s sweet honey flowed over his lips, driving his hunger for her.

He wouldn’t let himself think about what came next. Right
now, she was his. Sliding his tongue over her clit, Joe enjoyed her sweetness.

“Oh, Joe.” Ann jumped and dug her fingers into his hair.

His dick hurt it was so hard. Everything was better when she
called his name. Being with her showed him the meaning of life.

She was the only one for him and he was losing her. Ann’s
thighs quivered as he tongued her entrance. She was his, God damn it. Joe
needed to figure out a way of showing Ann she could be the love of his life and
still be his best friend.

Sucking in a breath, he slipped a finger into Ann’s tight
pussy. Her inner walls gripped him. His dick pulsed against his boxers every
time she contracted around him. He could almost feel her wet heat surrounding
his cock, taking him deeper. Ann arched into his mouth and crested. “Joe.”

The pounding desires inside Joe snapped his control. With
his hands, he spread her legs wider and licked her from his lips. “Come for me
again.”

“You don’t know what you’re doing to me,” she said. She
lifted her head, the haze in her eyes cleared.

“Oh, honey, you don’t know what you’re doing to me.” He
tossed her legs over his shoulders, took a plump pink pussy lip into his mouth,
and sucked.

Shivering, she moaned. “I can’t.”

Joe let her ripe flesh slip from his lips “You can.”

He buried his face in her cunt. Joe loved the fact he’d
taste her all day. The thought drove him to demand more. The gentle caresses
from before turned into hard, demanding strokes.

Tongue-fucking her this way gave him a sense of power,
replacing what she’d taken from him last night. When her body convulsed and
quaked when she called out his name, peace washed over him.

Standing, he gazed at Ann. Her pajama top had opened. His
mouth watered at the sight of her tits as he bent and took a nipple into his
mouth. She pushed him away, and Joe’s heart tore from his chest. “I love you,”
he said as he straightened and walked to the door.

“Joe, wait.”

Didn’t she know she was ripping his heart out and stomping
on it? He turned and folded his arms over his chest.

Ann sat up and pulled her top closed. “I love you so much it
hurts.”

Legs wobbling, Joe grabbed the doorjamb for support. “I’m
glad I’m not the only one who is miserable right now.”

“Trust me.” A tear streaked down Ann’s beautiful cheek.
“You’re not.”

He moved to Ann and lifted her into his arms. “We’ll figure
out how not to be unhappy together.”

“Life is so much better when you wake up at nine o’clock on
a Saturday morning instead of four thirty.” Joe lifted Ann and swung her around
in a circle.

She hugged him, hoping this newfound feeling of contentment
lasted forever.

When Joe told her he loved her and walked out on her ten
days ago, Ann knew she had to take the leap and trust in the love she felt for
him or run the risk of losing Joe forever. So she did.

She smiled up at him. “Who put pep juice in your protein
shake this morning?”

“Who needs pep juice when I get to wake up next to you?” He
leaned in and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.

Heat burned her cheeks as she wiggled out of his arms. “Stop
it.” Turning, she pulled open the refrigerator. “I think I should start kicking
you out of my bed at night.”

His smile widened. “You can’t. In the last week and a half
I’ve gotten the best rest of my life.”

“How long do you think we can go with only an hour or two of
sleep a night before we crash?” she asked, grabbing the fruit salad and letting
the refrigerator door slam behind her.

“I think I could go the next fifty years or so.”

Heart skipping, she set the glass bowl on the counter. “I
think you need to research what they’re putting in that powder you put in your
smoothies.”

Warmth seeped into her back as Joe’s arms slipped around her
waist. “I love you, Ann.” He rested his chin on her head. “I love saying that
to you.”

Happiness engulfed her. She didn’t think hearing those three
little words coming out of his mouth would ever get old. “I love hearing it.”
She turned and gazed into his deep-blue eyes. “I love you too.”

Lifting up on her toes, she kissed him. Desire bloomed in her
belly. Every time her body pressed into his, Ann’s mind fogged and her insides
melted.

Joe gripped her ass and pulled her to him. His mouth parted,
letting her in. Ann sighed and took her time exploring him.

Pulling back, she smiled up at him. “We’re supposed to meet
Will and his date at the greenmarket in less than an hour.”

His hand slipped under her sleepshirt and the smile on his
face sobered. “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that.”

The post-kiss haze lifted and her heart filled with love.
Taking their relationship to the next level had been easier than Ann thought.
The hardest thing she had to get used to was their friends and acquaintances
saying it was about time.

“I can’t tell you how much I love saying it.”

The sexy grin was back. Joe lifted her and set her on the
counter. “I can call Will and tell him we can’t make it.” His hands traced a
path under her shirt and cupped her breasts.

“You know if we get into bed we’ll never leave and you have
a lot to do today.”

“You’re a party pooper.” He tweaked a nipple and stepped
back.

Desire zipped to her core. “If you had it your way, we would
never get out of bed.” Ann slid off the counter and moved to the cabinet for a
cereal bowl.

“Damn straight. If I could find a way to train my clients
and manage the gym from your bed I would be a happy man.” He handed Ann a spoon
on his way past her to the table.

“Thanks.” She scooped fruit into the small bowl and sat
across from Joe.

His feet wrapped around hers. “Besides meeting Will and his
date, what needs to get done before I have to go into the gym at two?”

“I can’t think of anything.” She inched her toes up his leg
as she bit into a strawberry.

“How big is the greenmarket?” He lifted her foot, set it on
his knee and began to rub.

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Because I don’t know how long I can be next to you without
being inside you.”

Ann pulled her foot out of his hand and stabbed a huge piece
of honeydew with her fork. “How’s it going with Jen?” she asked of the new
trainer she’d made him hire.

“I’ll have to wait that long, huh?” Joe lifted her foot
again and massaged. “Jen is working out great.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. The members like her a lot. She doesn’t take shit
from the guys and the free promotional personal training she’s offering has
women flocking to the gym. We have ten new members in ten days.”

“That’s great.” Jealousy jabbed into her chest. Jen was
everything she wished she could be. She was hard and toned in all the right
places and still looked soft and feminine.

When Ann handed Joe her résumé, she thought Jen would be a
haggard mom. Ann certainly didn’t think she would be the hot fitness model Joe
hired.

“What are you thinking over there?” Joe asked and squeezed
her foot.

Ann blinked and focused on his face. “I have to take a
shower before we meet Will.”

His hand skimmed up to her knee and he looked over at the
clock on the microwave. “I guess we don’t have time for me to join you.” Joe
set her foot down and stood. “I’ll pick this up and get into the shower when
you’re done.”

Pushing back her chair, she rose and moved to him. Her pulse
pounded in her ears, making her a little lightheaded. Ann wrapped her arms
around his neck, rose on her toes and tugged him down for a kiss.

Ann pulled back. “I hope I leave you some hot water,” she
said and hurried out of the kitchen.

* * * * *

Hot water pummeled Ann’s back as she shaved her legs.
Knowing she didn’t have much time before Joe decided she needed company, Ann
rushed to finish up.

Some things a girl needed to do alone. Hair removal was one
of them.

She heard the bathroom door open and smiled. “What’s a girl
need to do to get some privacy around here?”

The glass door slid open. Joe stood in front of her in all
his hunky glory. “Not be so sexy.”

Ann rinsed the shaving cream from her legs and set the pink
razor on the shelf next to Joe’s. She knew it was stupid to be flattered when
he said corny things like that, but it felt good.

“Did you leave some hot water for me?” He stepped into the
shower.

Watching his fit body move always made her mouth water. “A
little.”

“I think you missed a spot.” He picked up the soap and ran
the bar over her back.

“We’re going to be late,” she said weakly.

“I called Will and told him we were going to be late,” he
said as his hands found her tight muscles.

The man was a god. His cock bobbed in her face, hard and
thick, just begging her to taste. Ann licked her lips. “We really should be
there on time. It’s his first date with this girl.”

Joe’s hands moved to her butt and rubbed. “He’ll be fine.”
His finger slid down the seam of her ass.

She shivered, kneeled and took his cock into her mouth.
Power infused her when she heard his sharp intake of breath. Ann knew what he
liked and she went about giving it to him.

Pre-cum coated her tongue and the salty taste of him filled
her mouth. Heat spread into her. Loving the way he felt, Ann cupped his balls
and sucked his cock down the back of her throat.

“I want you to suck my balls.”

The rasp of his voice fueled her excitement. She pulled off
him and fisted his cock. Bending her head, she took a testicle between her
lips.

“Fuck yeah.”

Every time he trembled, her pussy clenched with need.

Desire drummed through Joe in burning pulses. His teeth sank
into the inside of his cheek, the focus on the resulting pain keeping him from
blowing his load. Moving his hands to her shoulders, Joe steadied himself.

Her fingers massaging under his sack, along with the hand
pumping him, drove Joe to the brink. “Ann, stop, I’m going to come.”

She moaned and lapped at his balls. He cupped her face and
tugged her head back. The need in her eyes almost broke him. “Stand up,” he
panted.

Ann rose and pressed her hot body against his. “Fuck me,
Joe. Fuck me hard and fast.”

“Put your hands on the wall.” He turned her and put his hand
on her back to bend over her. Joe slid his hand from behind between her thighs
and cupped her pussy. Her wet heat covered his palm. “Oh, Ann.”

“I want to feel you inside me.”

Shaking the cobwebs from his head, he opened the shower
door. For once, he was happy the bathroom was so small. Joe grabbed the box of
condoms off the pedestal sink and took one out. Tossing the box on the floor,
he closed the door.

“Hurry.” Ann’s hand moved between her legs.

“This is going to be fast.” He ripped open the foil packet
and rolled on the condom.

“I’m counting on it.”

Gripping her hips, Joe slammed into Ann’s ready body. Shock
waves shot through him. Every single time he slipped into her was a euphoric
experience. He pulled out and drove into her again.

“Yes, Joe. Yes,” she cried. “Do that again.”

Blowing out a breath, he thrust into her. Ann’s pussy
tightened around his cock, holding Joe in place.

“I’m going to come.” She slapped at the wall.

Her pussy clamped down around his cock and surrounded him in
a wash of heat. He forced himself to hold back his release. The need to feel
her come apart around him overpowered the driving desire to climax. “That’s it,
baby. Do that for me again.”

“Joe.”

He stilled and cupped her breasts. Hormones protesting, he
took his time playing with her tits. The sexy sounds Ann made fed his lust.

Taking a hard nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he
plucked. She pushed against him and cried out. Ann’s pussy fluttered around his
dick, straining his control.

“Pull on my nipples.” She shoved back onto him.

He obliged her as Ann impaled herself on his cock. Joe
filled his hands with her bountiful tits. The need to come clawed at his gut
but he was determined not to take his pleasure until she was spent.

Pressure from Ann’s hand working over her clit rubbed
against his cock, the sensation bringing a new thrill to the encounter. Every
time they made love was a new experience.

Ann’s body was a fascinating thing he wanted to spend a
lifetime figuring out. He let one of her breasts go and wrapped his arm around
her waist. Picking up his pace, he stroked in and out.

Joe buried his head into her neck and nipped. Hot cream
washed over his dick.

“Harder, do that again harder,” she cried.

Using her hair to pull her head back, Joe sank his teeth
into her neck, making sure not to break the skin.

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Her screams bounced off the shower walls around them. The
cooling water pouring over his back did nothing to chill his needs for her.
Turning her head, he found her lips.

Licks of pleasure slashed at his cock as she bit down on his
bottom lip. His restraint snapped. Joe pulled away. “Bend over and put your
hands on the bench.”

Her body shifted as she did what he asked.

“That’s it.” Joe drove into her wet cunt. She whimpered and
quaked around him. He pushed himself to wring a last orgasm from her. Her body
went slack under him. Holding Ann tight, he shuddered and fell over the cliff
with her. Joe couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

The End