Pleasure Principle (20 page)

If
you
only had
a clue
what Teddy had to work with
and what the girls had to look forward to
.
You would be amazed how blessed the Fantastic Seven minus one really where.

Geoff
rey Collins aka
Magic Man

NFL Quarterback,
6’6’’ and 245
lbs
of White Chocolate, Single, 2
9
Years
O
ld

Devin White aka
Space Man

NFL Offensive Lineman, 6’2’’ 215 lbs of Milk Chocolate, Single, 26 Years Old

Roger
Cummings
aka Roger Rabbit

NFL Running Back
, 5’11’ and 200 lbs of Dark Chocolate, Single, 27 Years Old

Jamal Simmons aka Preacher

NFL Running Back
, 6’1” and 212 lbs of Deep Dark Chocolate, Single, 29 Years Old

Jason Spinks aka The Predator

NFL Offensive Tackle,
6’3” and 235 lbs of Whipped Chocolate, Single, 27 Years Old

David Kettering
aka Superman

NFL Running Back, 6’2” 220 lbs of White Chocolate, Single, 29 Years Old

Kai Johns, aka Young Gun

NFL Wide Receiver, 6’0” 195lbs of Milk Chocolate,
Soon
to be Engaged, 26 Years Old

Teddy Bear

It’s elimination night. In other words its judgment day and the women are complete nervous wreck
s
. They each get just one hour alone with Teddy and for all but one lucky lady they have not seen him since their one week lover’s retreat. Now of course no one knows that one lucky lady had an extra ride on Bear
Mountain
. N
aturally
, Kai and the guys know about the secret rendezvous, but they just don’t
know
who the woman was.
Teddy is the only one in the world who knows who he is about to choose.

Regardless
of her extra face time
, she was more nervous than the other six women. She knew that Teddy felt something for her that night. Still she wasn’t sure if he invited a couple of the other women out on the following nights. Her fate was just as uncertain as theirs. One thing she was certain about was that she was in love with this man and her heart broke at the thought of being eliminated tonight.

As stated earlier Teddy refused to deal with the drama so he chose not to stay in the mansion with the women.
He also insisted that each woman have her on private bedroom suite. The girls were very appreciative of that stipulation today as they rushed to get ready for their brief, possibly last encounter with the sexy millionaire bachelor. The last thing they wanted or needed was to
be forced to
deal with another woman who wanted their man. They had all been very courteous and cordial, but the gloves were off and the claws were out today. So they all instinctively steered clear of all of the common areas in the mansion
, except Zoey.

Zoey was chilling in the mansion great room having a cup of tea when t
o
he
r horror Teddy arrived earlier than scheduled.
Dressed in
her favorite
fluffy worn pink bathrobe and sporting large bright pink hair rollers she looked a hot ass ghetto mess!
Shocked to see him, but too late to run she endured the shame and
invited
him
in
.

Teddy
had not seen six of them for almost two weeks. Sure they talked on the phone, but naturally that was not the same. Arriving an hour earlier he hoped to sneak some extra time in with them as a group.
Unfortunately everyone was locked in their room and oblivious of his arrival except Zoey and naturally she was not about to announce
that the Teddy Bear was there
. She wanted to be alone with him and she didn’t give a damn how she looked.

Standing to greet him she hugged him
t
ight and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. Teddy wrapped his arms around her and tenderly kissed her on the forehead before releasing her.

“What do you have on?” He chuckled.

“Don’t even ask. I’m too mentally exhausted to even care. Trust me I know what I look like.” She waved his question off as she strolled in the kitchen and prepared him a cup of herbal tea.

“A pink
damn
nightmare!” Teddy laughed as he continued to tease her.

“Well, I guess I deserve
d
that.” She giggled as she made his tea just the way he liked it.

“How do you know all of this stuff about me?” He asked as he sat down at the kitchen counter and watched her.

“
I’m the president of your official fan club, remember. Actually,
I’ve known you since I was a child. Hell I’ve basically stalked you for most of my adult life. And I know how you like your tea, be
cause we spent a
wonderful
week in Miami drinking tea as we watched the sunrise. That and you’re a celebrity so pretty much all of your business is in the street.” She indifferently replied.

Teddy nodded as he accepted the cup of tea. “Are you okay?”

“No, not really.” She admitted as she sat beside him at the island.

“What’s wrong?” He asked without thinking.

Zoey looked at him with tears in her big brown eyes and shrugged her shoulders to indicate that she really didn’t know. A single tear trailed down her cheek. Teddy caught a faint glimpse of it right before she turned from him and discreetly tried to wipe it away.

“So how’s your tea?” She attempted to change the subject.

“Zoey, please don’t cry. I didn’t come on this show to hurt anyone. I came here in search of someone to love. This shit hurts me as much as it hurts you. I know todays going to be rough on you, but keep in mind that you and I will always be friends.”

Zoey nodded slowly to indicate that she understood what Teddy was trying to say without really saying it. Tears swelled and trickled down her face uncontrollably at this point. She wiped them, but more and more came. She was destroyed. Teddy gathered her in his arms and wiped the endless flow of tears that distorted her pretty face.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you. You get that right
, Teddy
?”

“Zoey, please… This is not…”

“What the time that I should tell you this
?
”

“No, it’s not the time to get into how you’ve always loved me.”

“Why? It’s true. I don’t care about your fame, or your money… Hell I don’t even care that you’re not settled enough to be faithful. None of that matters to me. None of it will change the fact that I love you.”

“So, what about Paul? Why did you go after my best friend if you loved me?”

“Because you hurt me! You loved Miss Priss and I was just sex to you. It hurt, but I dealt with it. Then one day you just stopped calling and stopped taking my calls and that hurt even more. So, I just wanted you to hurt like I hurt. So, I went after Paul t
o hurt you like you hurt me.”

“Zoey, really? I was in love with another woman. You sleeping with Paul was not going to hurt me. It hurt Paul and it hurt Queen, but I didn’t feel a damn thing
!
I don’t think Queen will ever forgive you for what you did.”

“I’ve given up on Queen forgiving me. I told her I was sorry at the funeral. She looked right through me as if I didn’t exist. Then you came over to my apartment that night and we screwed nonstop for three days. And then you were gone from my life again, but this time it was off to chase of all people, Mye Queen.  So, you know what I don’t care if Queen doesn’t like me. News Flash, she’s not going to like the woman you choose tonight either.”

“
Okay, I’ll admit that I knew you were in love me.
You’re right you were just sex
to me back then
, hell incredible sex
…
But still just sex nonetheless…
B
ut
Zoey
I didn’t know you like I know you now.
You’re a good person, who deserved better than what I had to offer you then. I’m sorry if I hurt you back then and I’m sorry if I’m hurting you right now. I swear I never want to hurt you again, okay? Can you forgive me?
”

Zoey looked deep into Teddy’s eyes past his flaws and saw his sincere heart. She knew he deserved to find love. If anyone ever knew what it felt like to not be loved it was her. She gave up on love a long time ago and decided to enjoy occasional meaningless sex instead. Like Teddy she
wanted a family, but unfortunately it didn’t appear to be in her future.

“I’m happy for you. I don’t know who you’re going to pick, but they are all incredible women. So, yes I forgive you. And I’m glad you found what you were looking for. You deserve to be loved, get married and start a family. Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m okay.”

Teddy was overwhelmed. He pulled Zoey closer and held her tight as tears leaked from his eyes. “I love you Zoey Chandler.” He breathed in her ear.

“I love you too Theodore Davine.” She giggled as he squeezed her tighter lifting her body from the floor.

“God, that’s a weight off of my chest.” He admitted as he spun her around in his arms. “
Y
ou know you owe me an apology as well
, right?
”

“Me what did I do to you?” She widened her eyes in surprise.

“You know what you did! You stabbed the tires on my truck. It cost over a thousand dollars to replace the four tires on my Navigator.”

Zoey laughed. “Oh that… Yeah, that probably was Prissy. I watched you leave
one Saturday
morning and I saw her follow you from my apartment. She must have done it later. All I know is that it wasn’t me.”

“You’re probably right! Wait until I talk to Miss Priss ass! She owes me four new tires for my truck.”

“Good luck with that. Hell has no fury like a woman scorned and I’m sure Prissy was pissed. Do you even have that truck anymore?” Zoey giggled.

“Yes I do and Parisa Crown is buying me a set of tires.” He chuckled.

“Prissy’s not married.
”

Teddy sighed. “No, but she’s engaged. She sent me an invitation to her wedding. She’s getting married in Paris in about six months.”

“That’s good to here. Everybody’s getting married except me.” She pretended to pout.

Teddy chuckled. “Wait your turn; I’m sure you won’t be single for much longer.”

Zoey smiled. “I hope you’re right,
be
cause I’m getting old.”

Teddy snickered. “No, you’re not. How old are you?”

“The same damn age as you!”

“Oh yeah, we got to get you married quick! Your ass is old!” Teddy teased.

“Whatever! I still look good!”

Teddy laughed. “Yeah, but those damn rollers are bring your stock down a few points!”

Zoey reached up to pat her head as she suddenly realized that she forgot she had her rollers in.
“Why didn’t you tell me I had rollers in my hair!” Zoey laughed as she p
unch
ed
Teddy in the shoulder
.

Teddy laughed hysterical. “Hey, you said you didn’t care how you looked.”

~*~*~

It felt good to talk to Zoey and clear the air. Teddy could only hope his time with the others would go as well. He prayed it would. He was ready to get it over with at any rate. He only wanted the best for each of them and he was confident that they’d feel the same for him. One by one he met them in his suite at the mansion.

Now, old Teddy would have found it difficult to keep his dick in his pants, but new Teddy had no problem with it. His master suite was basically a small one bedroom apartment complete with a living room, dining room and fully equipped full size kitchen.

Teddy asked each one of them the exact same question. “Where do we go from here if you’re not selected?”

His conversation with Zoey clued him in to what was important. He felt it was important to convey to each of them that they would forever be friends. Teddy had very few blood relatives left
, so he valued his friends. He kept his circle of friends close and rarely invited ex-lovers into the circle. Teddy loved all of his friends and would do anything for them. He had no reservation welcoming each of the ladies in. From this moment on they could count on him to be a loyal, unconditional friend, without benefits of course.

Teddy also wanted them to know that like him they deserved to find love.
And if they were willing to open their hearts to love just one more time he was confident that love would find them much like it found him, completely by surprise. The women didn’t know it but Teddy had planned a party at his home to introduce his new friends to his old friends. He was positive that quite a few love connections would be made.

Finally, Teddy wanted them to know just how important they were to him. It was crucial that they knew that they were not just sex to him. He witnessed firsthand how the thought of that made Zoey feel.
He assured them that he’d cherish their brief encounter and look back on it as a positive turning point in his life.

With that said h
e presented them with their diamond watch as a token of his
devotion and
friendship. He told them in no uncertain terms that he would always make time for them. He gave each one of them his private cell number to prove it.

It was roughly two hours to show time when the final woman left Teddy’s suite. The encounters were emotionally exhausting for everyone, but a necessary evil. Each one of them wished Teddy a world of love and was proud to be counted amongst his friends. They all left on a high note with
a smile on their face and
their bling on their wrist.