by Holly Jaymes
“Ride me, baby… Fuck… Ride me hard.”
I did as he asked, my body rising and falling on him. I dropped my head back as I sought my release. He slid his hands up my thighs to my breasts, pinching the pink nipples, sending a new wave of intense pleasure to my center.
“Yes… Oh, Gabe… I’m going to come.”
I swore I could feel every inch of his cock as I slid over him. The friction building and building as he grew thicker inside me. I’d never been with a man without a condom. Not even Gabe when we’d been together before. Now I was sure I’d never be able to have this same intense pleasure any other way. It was beyond the physical. We were truly joined.
My heart was full even as that niggle in the back of my mind warned me that I was in the danger zone. As my orgasm drew near, I pushed away everything but Gabe, and our bodies joined as one.
“Come on me, baby.” He pressed his thumb over my clit, and I came hard in a loud cry. He followed me, bucking beneath me, pumping load after load of cum into my body until it was dripping from me.
I collapsed on him, completely boneless. He managed to wrap an arm around me as our harsh breaths slowly returned to normal.
In his backyard, when he touched me, it had felt different from our usual sexual encounters. It wasn’t just that he was slower or more thorough. There was an emotional intensity to it. At least, that was what my heart wanted to believe. I was desperate to have him falling for me as I was helplessly doing for him. It was the only way I’d be able to avoid heartache.
But maybe I was fooling myself. Wishful thinking. Maybe we worked only when we were together, but when we were apart, the connection wasn’t as strong. Wasn’t that why he’d strayed? Because our love wasn’t strong enough to overcome temptation while we were apart?
But here and now, he was planning to stay. Maybe Dean was right. Perhaps our bond wasn’t strong enough in the past because we were young and only had a few months to build it before testing it by being apart. If he was going to stay in the area, then we had all the time in the world to rebuild our bond. Did he even want that?
Ugh! I was going to drive myself mad trying to work out my feelings and his. Unfortunately, I was too much of a coward to ask him how he felt. Or to tell him how I was feeling. That couldn’t be a good sign. One thing I knew from my parents’ marriage was that they shared everything; even the bad stuff. Neither seemed afraid to tell the other how they were feeling or what they were thinking.
The fact that I couldn’t do that with Gabe suggested we didn’t have the trust two people needed to succeed. But to trust him, I’d have to forgive his past indiscretions and believe he could be faithful to me. I wasn’t sure I could do that. The only problem was, while my rational mind was trying to play it safe, my heart seemed to have already decided. I cared for Gabe. To the point that I knew I was falling for him all over again. Or perhaps I never stopped caring for him. Considering what had happened and how much I’d hated him, it was odd to think that my love for him remained, but maybe it had. Maybe that was why all my feelings were coming back so quickly and intensely.
“That was…” his voice brought me back to the moment.
I lifted my head to look at him.
He looked a little dazed. “I don’t even have the words to describe it.”
I grinned. “Not bad, huh?”
“It was fucking fantastic.” He gathered new found energy, wrapped me in his arms and rolled me under him. Unfortunately, we were too close to the edge, and before I knew it, we were toppling to the floor.
He swore and kept rolling, landing with a large thump with me on top of him. He let out a grunt.
“You okay?” I asked, trying not to laugh.
He lifted his head, looking at me. Then he laughed too, letting his head drop to the floor. “I guess I misjudged that.”
“For once you’re the one that fell. Or was that part of your plan to rock my world?”
“Only if it turned you on.”
“Everything about you turns me on, Gabe.” I shimmied over his dick to make my point.
His eyes turned soft as his hands pushed my hair away from my face. “Sam, I …” Once again, he didn’t finish his sentence, but his expression was intense, and I couldn’t help but wonder if his feelings for me were similar to what I was feeling for him. I wanted to ask, but fear kept the words from my mouth. Instead, I leaned forward and kissed him.
The next weeks were even better than the first few. Neither Gabe nor I talked about our relationship or feelings, but I felt closer to him each day. I couldn’t say it was the same as we had before. When we were first together, there was a lightness and openness that we didn’t have now.
We continued to keep our relationship a secret, although Megan often said things that made me think she knew about us. I’d finally come to the decision that I needed to just let happen whatever was going to happen. Yes, we probably needed to talk about our past, but right now, we could just enjoy our time together and let this thing evolve. When the project was finished, we could re-evaluate and move forward from there.
I was in the kitchen where Steve and Megan were talking to me about the cabinets going in.
“Things are going to start moving quickly in terms of looking finished. It will help if this weekend you could have some friends come over to help with some painting, and I think Diana has a few projects,” Megan said.
“Okay.” I wondered if Angela and Dean would be available this weekend. I made a mental note to call them.
“After that, you’ll need to be out the final week while we finish up and then the big reveal.” Megan held her hands up as if to say “ta-da.”
“I can’t wait.” The house was looking better, but there was debris, and unfinished projects all around. As much as I was enjoying the process, I was eager to have my finished home, and construction crew out. Well, except for Gabe. He could stay as long as he wanted.
That morning, I’d woken him by giving him a blowjob, and he’d repaid me by fucking me senseless in the shower. He said he had a phone meeting with his boss that morning and would meet me over at my house when he was finished. However, Steve and Megan put me to work before he showed up.
When he finally arrived, he wore a scowl as he called Megan and Steve over for a meeting. I figured if there was a problem with my house, he’d let me know, so I kept on cleaning my banister to get ready for a new coat of stain.
It was lunchtime before Gabe found me and led me outside. “I need to go to Florida today.”
“Oh?” Was that usual to have to return to his network’s home base during a rehab? “How long will you be gone?”
“Hopefully just today.” He handed me the key to his rental home. “In case I’m not back by tonight, here’s my key so you can get into my place.”
I reached out to put my hand over his. What I wanted to do was to hold him, and comfort whatever was causing him distress. But we were in my house where his team was working around us. “Is everything alright?”
He managed a smile. “I’ll make it right.” Then, as if he thought I was worried about my home, he added, “Your rehab is on schedule. There’s no problems here.”
So the problem was something else? I wanted to ask him about it, but Megan hurried in, letting him know a car was there to take him to the airport.
I wanted to hug and kiss him goodbye. The look in his eyes suggested he wanted to do the same. Instead, he said, “see you later tonight.”
I nodded and watched him head out the door. Everything is okay, I told myself, but deep down, I felt unsettled. Like the happy little bubble I was living in was about to pop. I didn’t have time to ponder it though, as I went back to work.
Later that afternoon, I called Dean and Angela to see if they’d be able to help with the house this weekend. Neither picked up the phone, so I left a message. Then I tracked Megan down on my back porch going over papers. I decided I needed to know what had Gabe bothered and having to go to Florida.
“
It’s just network business stuff.” Megan waved a hand at my concern. “No biggie.”
But I didn’t buy it. “Are they going to move him back down there?”
She pursed her lips. “No. They worked out a deal for him to be here at least through his contract.”
I sat on the loveseat next to her. “So maybe they’re renegotiating his contract?”
“What’s going on, Sam? Why are you all in a tizzy about this?”
I shrugged, trying to rein in my frustration. I didn’t want her to read more into my concern. “He just seemed upset.”
She laughed but it seemed forced. “Gabe doesn’t like anything related to the business of a show. Give him his hammer and a house that needs repair, and he’s happy as can be. He’s always peeved when he’s summoned to headquarters.”
I studied her, wanting to determine how much, if any, truth was in her statement. I wanted to believe her, but the more I thought about things and remembered our past, the more I wondered if something else had brought him back to Florida. Or someone else.
“Is it really work-related?”
She jerked back, surprised by my comment. “Yes. What else would it be?”
I shrugged. “Something more personal.”
Her eyes narrowed and then she laughed. “Why don’t you tell him you love him?”
“Because I don’t.” I turned away from her to look out over my yard.
“You’re a terrible liar. And you don’t know Gabe if you think he’d be fucking you and then running back to Florida for something…’personal’.” She used air quotes around the world “personal”.
It wouldn’t be the first time, I thought but didn’t say. She worked for Gabe and was clearly loyal to him.
“Listen, Sam. Gabe is a good man, and I’m not going to be too happy if you fuck him up emotionally.”
“Me? I’m not the one being evasive.”
“Who’s being evasive? He’s said and I’ve said he had to go down and talk to his boss. What’s wrong with you that you don’t believe that?”
I didn’t want to hash out Gabe’s and my history that would have me doubting him. Maybe I was being unreasonable, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t getting the whole story.
Megan’s expression showed irritation. “He’s good at his work and that’s why the network allowed him to move the show here for the time being. But he’s not his own boss. He’s owned by the network. He hates it but goes with it because they pay him well and have allowed him to expand his opportunities. When the contract is up, he’ll have a choice to keep with the show or let it go. I suspect you’ll play a part in that decision if you don’t fuck it up.”
I bristled at her tone. “I’m not going to fuck anything up, Megan.”
Her expression suggested she didn’t believe me. “Good. Gabe is a good man. You should remember that.” She gathered her papers, stood and went back inside, leaving me on the porch to ponder what the heck just happened.
I was glad when the crew left for the evening. I went to Gabe’s place, taking a bath and reading a book. The only thing missing was Gabe. He texted that he had to stay in Florida for the night, but would be back first thing in the morning. My insecurities kicked in again; Why did he have to stay? Why didn’t he call? Who was he with?
But I replayed the conversation I’d had with Megan in my head again and decided she was probably right. Gabe was in Florida for business. I also considered that he’d given me his key and was letting me stay in his place. That had to mean something, right?
By the time I was done, I decided I’d been unreasonable to worry, and was a little embarrassed to have come off so nutty to Megan. I decided that I was feeling like I did because I missed him. In the few weeks we’d been together, I’d grown used to spending my evenings with him. Instead of worrying, I focused on what I wanted to do with him when he got home. Maybe I’d sneak him into the pantry at my house and have my way with him. Later in the evening, I could make him dinner. If he was still tense from his trip, I could give him a massage.
By the time I went to bed, I realized that I had to believe that Megan was right and I was worried for nothing. I snuggled in bed on Gabe’s side, inhaling his scent on his pillow and wishing he was there with me. Tomorrow he would be here, and all would be fine.
Book 1: Chapter 14 Gabe—History is Repeating Itself
Gabe
Four years ago, I flew to Florida thinking I’d have it all; a wonderful woman and a home renovation show. I learned the hard way that I couldn’t have both. I blamed the show as much as I blamed Samantha. After all, if I’d stayed in Virginia, chances were she’d have stayed mine. Instead, within a few months of going to Florida, I only had the show. Instead of the woman, I had heartbreak and disappointment.
I’d forgotten that during Samantha’s home renovation. I let my memories and my hormones get the best of me. That had been okay when I believed the network would honor its word to let me stay in Virginia to be with my family. But now, I was afraid they were going to renege on their deal. I was afraid the show I’d wanted so badly was once again throwing a wrench into my life.
I strode into the network offices in Tampa ready for a fight. Yes, I was grateful for all the show had brought me. It gave me the ability to get paid doing what I loved. It brought money and some fame, which allowed me to sell my own brand of tools. But I wasn’t going to let it once again impact my personal happiness. I was so fucking close to turning a corner with Samantha. I could feel it deep in my soul.
“Gabe, thanks so much for coming down. I know it’s not a great time with the Virginia house nearing completion.” I shook my boss, Neal George’s hand. He was the typical network corporate type. He had silver hair he paid hundreds of dollars every two weeks to keep trimmed. He lived in Florida but his tan was from a tanning bed. He had a million-dollar smile thanks to caps. And while he always seemed jovial, I couldn’t help but feel like I was in the presence of a shark.
“I plan to be back there this evening.” I took the seat he offered but not the coffee.
“Then let’s get to it.” He sat behind his desk. “We got a call from Cassandra Lassiter’s people. You aware of her?”
I nodded. I knew of the actress who was growing in the ranks of stardom. She would now be classified as being on the B-list but seemed to be rising.
“She’s bought Simon Duchet’s home out in Hollywood. Her people say the home is dated and needs some work, and she wants Budget Rehab to do it.” He said it with a tone that I should feel flattered and grateful. In any other situation, I might have been. Being someone who enjoyed rehabbing homes, the idea of rehabbing a hundred-year-old home once owned by a silent screen actor who’d worked with the greats such as Charlie Chaplin was intriguing. But today, in my current situation, it wasn’t enough to steer me off my course of staying in Virginia near Samantha and my family.
I shook my head. “Vintage Makeover would be a better fit.”
“She wants you.” He leaned forward. “I know we said you could stay in Virginia, but we can’t pass up this opportunity. It’s a win-win for her and for us. She gets more exposure and we get inside a Hollywood classic home. It’s good for you too, Gabe.”
“Why me?” I wasn’t making excuses. Vintage Makeover was the better option and since I’d taken Samantha’s renovation show from her, it seemed only fair she got the Hollywood one. I don’t think Maryanne, Vintage Makeover’s host, held it against me that I got Sam’s renovation, but I felt I owed her something all the same.
Neal tapped his pen on the table, a sure sign he was getting annoyed. “You have a greater appeal in Hollywood.”
I scoffed as I took his meaning to be that I looked better on screen than Maryanne. I considered calling Neal out on his misogyny. Instead, I said, “This is a rehab show, not a beauty contest.”
“Sometimes it’s both.”
I looked down at my hands. Hands that I used to build and rehab homes since I was barely out of high school. Hands t
hat longed to finish Samantha’s house. And to touch her.
The problem I had was that I didn’t have any choice. I was under contract with the network, and while they’d been nice to let me go home, in the end, they could do what they wanted. If they wanted to send me to rehab a hut in the Arctic, they could do it.
I returned my attention to him. “One home? How long?”
He took a deep breath and sat back, a sure sign I wasn’t going to like what I heard. “One home to start, but if it goes well, we want to have a season on old Hollywood rehabs.”
Fuck. I was shaking my head before he finished. “You promised me I’d have time for my family.”
He held his hands up in surrender and shook his head with an expression that he felt bad for what he was going to make me do. I didn’t believe for a minute he had any remorse. “I know, Gabe, and I’m sorry. We’ll try to set a schedule that will allow some time in between projects to return home.”
I wondered if that would be enough for Samantha. Could she go six to eight weeks without seeing me and not get lured by Dean or someone else? Would she be willing?
I took a deep breath to shore up my courage. “What if I say no?”
Neal's eyes turned hard. “There is no choice. You’re under contract.” There it was. He wasn’t asking. This wasn’t something I could negotiate. This was an order.
I closed my eyes as I saw all my happiness drifting away. There had to be another option, but I wasn’t going to get it here.
I stood. “I need to get back to Virginia.” And call my agent and my lawyer to see what the fuck recourse I had.
Neal stood too. “I know the timing is bad, Gabe, and I’m sorry for that.” He acted like he meant it, but my personal happiness didn’t matter in the long run. This was a business. There would likely be more viewers, more sponsors and therefore more money by rehabbing movie star homes.
I shook his hand out of politeness and then headed back to my condo. I hadn’t sold it or rented it just for times like this when I needed to return to the network for business.