by CORY CYR
Why was I even thinking about that? No matter how charming and attractive I was, I didn’t have a chance with her. We’d started off at war, and even though those events had been quelled, she was the kind of woman that wouldn’t easily forget.
This apparently would take time. I would have to gain her trust. I could be her friend. Hell, if Reese could do it, I surely could. I could be nice.
Who was I trying to kid? I was many things to women, but nice wasn’t one of them. Females tended to want me because I was good-looking and had a great body. Having a big cock and knowing how to use it was, well, a bonus. Never had the opposite sex referred to me as a friend.
I called one of our chefs and ordered a seafood salad with three kinds of fish and loads of spinach and veggies. I had him put four hard-boiled eggs on the side. We used a special dressing that tasted like Italian but was lower in calories, salt, and fat. My stomach growled as I waited. The session I had with Tegan had burned off my calorie intake from breakfast, so now I was hungry as hell.
My lunch arrived twenty minutes later, delivered by Ieisha.
“You still mad at me?” I asked around a mouthful of salad.
I got the answer to my question when she kneeled, hidden by my desk, and reached into the right cuff of my athletic shorts. Her soft fingers trailed my hardening dick. I almost choked on an egg when she fisted my length. I lifted slightly so she could push my shorts down to my ankles. A deep sigh escaped me as she took me into her mouth, warm and wet. So damn good. But in that moment, my mind drifted to Tegan. I became so stiff I lost it. I’d never come that quickly. I looked at Ieisha with apology in my eyes, but she didn’t appear concerned as she swallowed, then used her tongue to wipe me clean.
* * *
I’d had just enough time to get to my penthouse and change into trunks… after I ended up fucking Ieisha. I felt I owed her that much since I’d lost my load so quickly. Just as I finished dressing, I heard the elevator open.
“Nice digs… and your own personal elevator. This place is ritzy,” Tegan commented as she kicked off her flip-flops.
“It serves my purpose.”
“And what purpose is that? I have to ask,” she questioned.
I laughed as I motioned for her to sit. “A sex pad. This is where I lure all my women. Didn’t you know?”
She choked on a snort. “I’d like to believe that’s just cockiness, but I have no doubt what you say is true. Although, I suspect there’s no luring involved. I’m sure they come willingly.”
My dick stood at attention, not full mast, but hard enough to make me uncomfortable. “Want something to drink?” I offered, strolling into the kitchen, willing my erection to behave.
“No, I’m good.”
Her tone relayed discomfort. Maybe having her in this setting was too intimate.
“We could go to your room and use the lap pool if that would be better. You seem ill at ease. Did you find a suit you liked downstairs?”
She flared her arms. “Yes, it’s pretty, but I haven’t worn swimwear for years. Trying on several showed me just how lax I’ve gotten. I’ve spent years hiding my girth under big dresses and stretchy pants. Now I have to show you what I’ve been concealing from everyone, including myself.”
Her voice was strong, but I could see tears welling in her eyes. I’d had clients cry, but seeing and hearing Tegan so emotional got to me. No matter what it took, I was going to see that she lost the weight and became who she was meant to be. No more hiding for her. “I already know your weight and measurements. Hiding from me isn’t necessary,” I stated warmly as I rested my hand on her shoulder. “Take off the cover-up.”
Feeling her body tense at my request, I moved my hand and helped pull off the sheer jacket. Moving to the front of the sofa, I pulled her up. Up until now, I’d never seen her body, not really. With the shapeless clothes she wore, I only knew her stats. The truth was simple and right before me. My brain now wrestled with the porn star she used to be and who I saw now. I was an idiot.
Tawny Temp was years ago; she had been a young temptress. Tegan Scott was a woman, and no matter her proportions, she was still a temptress hidden under oversized clothing. She was by no means thin, but I had to take into consideration her height and age. I had allowed my ego and contempt for people who totally ignored their health to blind me to the fact that this woman was more than just a beautiful face.
Her bathing suit was white with different shades of pink wildflowers. Regardless of how feminine the color was, I was a man that loved pink, wearing it and seeing it on females. She chose skirted swimwear instead of something more revealing. But her breasts… Sure, I’d seen them in every movie she’d ever made, but this close-and-personal encounter had me salivating. I wanted to dust my hand across the swell and down the curve between. This was crazy. And unprofessional, even if I was only contemplating these things.
Reese had seen this without actually looking. But it didn’t matter. Jasper had told me I couldn’t change who I was, and I was a man who had a type. Young and trim. As far as sex, which was the best I could offer, I needed women who cared about their bodies. I hadn’t had a girlfriend since high school, and even that only lasted a short time. My brain was attempting to alter my perception of Tegan and have me believe she was still Tawny Temp.
“You chose perfectly. It looks good on you,” I said, directing her to the pool.
She stood nervously, then padded outside. “Yours is much bigger and longer,” she said, quickly flushing with embarrassment.
Even though I could have been an asshat and made a snide comment, I chose not to. “Well, this is the penthouse.”
I took her hand and led her into the pool. I’d already retrieved a flexibility ball for us to use.
“It looks deeper, too,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “Really, I’m going to shut up now. Lack of cupcakes.”
I chuckled. “Well then, I can’t expect much more conversation from you, unless I can convince one of our chefs to create a low-fat one similar to what you’re used to.”
“That would be sacrilegious. The white chocolate cupcakes I have shipped from Australia are meant to be decadent. Having them in the same sentence as diet—oh, it’s too much,” she snipped as she pretended to faint.
I dove under to get my hair wet.
Tegan wore her bright-red hair up in a clip, which was sad because all I could daydream about was undoing that auburn mass and letting it fall to her waist.
The ball suddenly smacked me in the face, bringing me back to reality.
“Sorry about that. I thought you were ready,” she said, smiling.
I tossed the ball back and swam to the edge. Overweight people were far more likely to be buoyant in water. I waved her over and showed her a clipboard with different exercises we could do with the ball. We started out slowly, and two hours later, she had accomplished all of them.
“I think that’s enough for today. You did well. I’m impressed,” I said, lifting myself to sit on the concrete deck.
She moved to the steps. “Impressed. We’ll see tomorrow when my poor body screams in protest because I haven’t used those particular muscles in years. Definitely not as bad as I thought. It was easier to do the exercises in the water. But I’m glad we’re stopping because my skin is pruning” she confessed, walking out of the pool.
I tossed her a towel to dry with.
“I’m so damn hungry. I’ve been meaning to ask you. How does it work if I exercise my ass off—literally—then go eat? Granted, the food’s not great, but I’m sure it has calories.”
“The dieticians and chefs do their best to provide delicious meat and seafood, as well as low-fat complex carbohydrate vegetarian or vegan options for you to choose from. We decided having buffets was a good idea because it allows our clients to maintain free will in their food selections. Most have never tried vegan and don’t even realize what they’re eating,” I explained as I watched her put on the cover-up and her shoes.
“Wha
t about the low-carb thing? It’s all the rage with my friends. I tried it, but all that meat and eggs and no sweets or pasta… Hell no.”
“Simple carbs are a no-no. Like your cupcakes, for example. Complex carbs like beans, sweet potatoes, or multi-grain pasta and brown or black rice I strongly believe in. As with anything, moderation is the key. It’s not how much you eat. It’s what you eat. We’re not here to starve you. I know it’s a difficult concept, but you need to eat to lose. You need fuel, especially for your workouts, which will get tougher.”
“Great, you are trying to kill me.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth. You just have to trust me,” I said as the elevator door closed.
Chapter Ten
Tegan
“So you’re finally home? Are you wearing a bathing suit? Were you in one of the pools? Ohmigod, this is so exciting!” Ronnie jumped off the sofa, ecstatic.
I removed my flip-flops and dumped the wet towel on the balcony. “Don’t get too excited. I had an afternoon session with Kai.”
“And how was it? You seem better about this place. I’m freaked out because you actually bought a swimsuit. He must have a magic wand to be able to talk you into doing that. I’ve been trying for years, and you wouldn’t budge, even though we have a beautiful pool right on your estate.”
Oh, I bet he has a magic wand. “Let’s just say he isn’t as mean as I thought. Today wasn’t like the previous sessions. In the beginning, I only used the athletic equipment, but today, we did exercises in the water, and I enjoyed it. It was so much easier, although I can already feel my body starting to complain. When I get up tomorrow, it will be screaming I’m sure,” I said, walking toward the bathroom while peeling off my damp suit.
Ronnie leaned into the door as I turned on the shower. “What pool did you exercise in? I got the impression you weren’t keen on using any of them,” she probed as I reclipped my hair into a messy bun.
“We used the one in Kai’s penthouse.”
I wrapped a large, fluffy white towel around me as I shimmied off the last of my bathing suit. I looked up just in time to see Ronnie’s eyes grow wide.
“Wait a minute. You went to his penthouse. Alone?”
“Yes, I know it’s hard to believe a thirty-seven-year-old woman going unsupervised to a male’s penthouse. What would the neighbors think? And I wasn’t alone. Kai was there. Remember him? He’s the trainer you hired,” I stated incredulously.
“What’s gotten into you? First Reese, now Kai. You bought swim attire, you exercised without complaining, and you went alone to a man’s penthouse. I suppose I’m just shocked because you haven’t been a social butterfly in a long time, especially with men.”
“Well, he makes me feel comfortable, like a well-worn sneaker. Non-threatening.”
Ronnie snickered. “A man that looks like him is anything but non-threatening.”
* * *
I quickly rinsed off the chlorine and dried myself. Taking Ronnie’s word to heart, I applied cosmetics. I was in a hurry to get to the buffet, so famished that even fruit and vegetables sounded good.
My bestie was right. Kai should have come with a warning label. After our many uncivilized encounters, he’d done an about-face and was different today. Maybe it was the verbal truce we made, or he recognized how much money he was making by having me at VIP. Regardless, it was refreshing, as though I could finally breathe.
I pinned the towel around me as I padded to my bedroom and looked for the colorful sarong Ronnie had bought me last year. It was pretty with large pink and blue flowers. I’d always worn it tied loosely, but this time I tightened it. I knew I hadn’t lost a lot of weight, but there was no doubt my clothes felt looser. I hadn’t felt confident in a long time. When I was in porn, I had to be fearless; that was part of the gig. It made me sick that the only time in my life I felt empowered was when I was sharing my body with multiple men.
I’d carried a feeling of shame for many years, especially after the breakup of my marriage. Even years of therapy never got me to a comfortable place. I hadn’t told my doctor about St. Willis Island, only that I was going on a three-month holiday. She would have turned this scenario into some kind of psychological misstep that I shouldn’t take, especially if she found out coercion was used to get me here.
We had talked about everything but my weight. Our dialogue centered on Flesh Market, my insecurities, and the lack of intimacy in my life. What I hadn’t realized was that a little bit of reassurance went a long way. The encouragement I was getting from Kai made me feel stronger, and the interest Reese showered me with boosted my self-esteem. I hadn’t felt gregarious in a long time. It was my own fault because I shut myself away, occupied myself with work, and made excuses while consuming cupcakes. The person I’d become was of my own design. I created who I was and justified my bad eating habits by lying to myself and saying it didn’t matter. In truth, my body was holding me prisoner, and I was the only one who could break those chains.
I knew losing pounds wouldn’t solve all my issues, but it was a beginning. My weight was a tiny part of a much larger quandary. You didn’t escape the porn industry unscathed. It left you with a lack of self-worth. That’s why I married, hoping he could fill that dark hole of no self-esteem. The closest I got to respect was creating Flesh Market. It gave me purpose and made me feel necessary. I was filling a niche in the market for lonely, sexually frustrated men and women.
I brushed out my hair and toed on my favorite sandals. Ronnie and Nadia were waiting for me. “Ready to go girls?” I asked as I put my arm through Ronnie’s.
She looked at Nadia with a shrug. “Did you get laid? You’re too damn happy not to have been fucked,” she inferred.
I laughed as I flipped my hair. “Yeah, like that’s going to happen. I’m so sore right now. I doubt I could have sex even if it were offered—which it wasn’t. Can’t I just be happy for no reason?”
“You just look different. You have a glow about you.”
“Yes, it’s called bronzer. You too can glow. I left it on the bathroom counter,” I remarked as I pulled them to the door. “Let’s go eat before I turn into a cannibal. I’m starving.”
It was crowded when we got to the poolside buffet. I immediately grabbed a plate and began picking through the best choices. I started by spearing a piece of salmon, then added a three-bean salad on the side, along with raw broccoli and cauliflower. None of it looked appetizing to the average person, but I knew it would be filling. Ever the dessert addict, I took a small bowl of fresh fruit with a large glass of decaffeinated iced raspberry tea. Sugar and sugar substitutes were prohibited, but Stevia was provided, which was actually quite sweet. I almost drooled over Ronnie’s plate of food as she came out of the building next to the pool. A thick steak with a baked potato overflowing with sour cream and butter.
“Just so you know, both the butter and sour cream are vegan and actually not bad. If you want, Nadia and I can go sit at another table. I don’t want to tempt you with my dinner. Sorry, I didn’t think about eating my food in front of you. I just didn’t want you to be alone,” Ronnie said.
I could tell she felt traitorous about bringing the high-calorie food to the dieter’s side. I started to say something, but I was interrupted.
“She won’t be alone,” Reese said with a smile.
Mother Mary, he looked good. His long gray shorts matched exactly with a pale-blue tank, accentuating muscular arms and a golden tan. His hair was pulled back in a pony, and he wore dark sunglasses. I felt warm, and it wasn’t from the setting sun. He was making it hard to deny him, but I knew sleeping with him would be a mistake. Hell, screwing anyone right now would be a lapse in judgment on my part. And I wasn’t worthy of someone so sweet.
“Damn, you look striking tonight,” Reese commented as he sat, licking his lips.
It was then that I noticed other women staring in my direction. I’d bet they were wondering why such a young, handsome man was sitting with me. They knew wh
o he was, and I prayed no one would unearth my past. Just allow me to be another overweight foodie, trying to diet her way to a better self. Shit, they should put that on one of their marketing campaigns.
Ronnie and Nadia had gone to another table but stayed within eyesight. I knew she would never leave me alone with Reese. For some reason, she didn’t trust him, but then again, men were not her thing.
“So we meet again. Are you stalking me?” I asked, chuckling.
He took a sip of his water that left his lips shiny with liquid. “I missed you today on the beach. I thought maybe our last exchange turned you off. So I decided to come find you. You do know seeing you is the highlight of my day,” he mused.
“Yes, I’m sure seeing me after I’ve been tortured for hours is the best part of your day. No doubt you’ve had quite a few memorable moments with your own clientele. After all, you are quite the ladies’ man”
“Well hell, Tegan, maybe I do have a chance. I just assumed, after our last talk, you were angry. But it sounds as though all is forgiven, or are you just toying with my affections?”
I laughed aloud. “Are you sure you’re only twenty-four? Because I swear you sound like a seasoned player.”
He removed his glasses and placed them on the table as he bent his head close to mine. “I’ve been known to trifle with the opposite sex. I’m experienced and well informed. I read you have quite a collection of automobiles. Care to take me for a test drive? I promise it will be the ride of your life.”
I coughed, or rather, choked on my salad. Either I was hallucinating, or I wasn’t the only one who had gotten brave. It appeared Reese had bigger balls than I thought. He had always teased me with innuendos, but now he had become brazen. “Excuse me,” I said, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “I could have sworn we already covered this in our last conversation. And now you blatantly ask me to have sex with you? You’re bolder than I thought.”
“I know what I want, and before you say no, consider this. I’ll take you just as you are. I’ll never ask you to change. To me, you’re perfect, and I do want you. I can’t put it more plainly than that. Unless you want it dirty. Then truly, I want to fuck you,” he confessed.