Time For Love Box Set

by Karen Deen

  “Hi, Xavier, how funny to run into you up here. I’ve been hiking in this beautiful weather, just like you, obviously. It’s such a great view from up here, isn’t it?” I’m surprised to see her up here. Not once has she mentioned she likes to hike, and I should know because she never shuts up the whole training session. Asking me questions about my life, my likes and dislikes, my family, where I grew up, and the list goes on from there. During the conversations, I ask her similar questions just to try to be polite. Reality is, at the end of the day, she’s paying me, so I need to keep being polite to her and give her good service. Not the full service she is hinting for, but just the professional gym sessions.

  Don’t get me wrong, Dana’s a good-looking woman but there is just something about her that makes me wary. I’m no saint. I have fucked clients before. It was a mutual agreement and just fun, hot sex to enjoy. Then we go back to training buddies. They talk about men being man whores. Let me tell you, there are plenty of woman out there who are only too happy to have a good one-night fuck, then move on. We are not on our own here, ladies!

  “Do you hike up here often, Xavier? I haven’t seen you on this trail before.” I try to step back a little as she’s straight away into my personal space.

  “I’m up here often when the weather is good, and the mood takes me. How about you? I had no idea you hiked. You’ve never mentioned it.” I have a feeling this is now going to be a long day.

  “Oh, silly me.” She leans forward and places her hand on my chest. “I love to hike. Isn’t it funny we both have that in common? We can be hiking buddies. It’s always more fun to do things with a friend rather than alone, don’t you think?” She is now so close I can feel the heat from her body after the last tough incline.

  “That sounds nice, but I actually enjoy the quiet time to myself to do my thinking. Good for the soul, you know?” Looking at her still staring up at me with those dreamy, starry eyes, I know I need to get clear of her. I scramble trying to think of a reason to get away. Reaching around for my backpack, I twist my body enough so her hand falls. I crouch down to retrieve my water bottle to grab a drink, rising back up to her standing even closer than before. Time to run, literally!

  “Nice to see you, will see you in the gym. Got to get moving, have a nice day.” I turn and start jogging towards the trail as I hear her calling in the background for me to wait for her, so we can hike down together. Not a chance in hell that is happening, so I pick up my pace as I head downhill. Not easy in the terrain but I am making sure I am clear of her before I can slow down. It’s times like this I kick myself. If I just stopped playing the field a little, then maybe they wouldn’t think it is a challenge to be the next girl I take to bed. I’m not quite the guy that everyone sees me to be, but it’s hard to change that reputation when it is already out there, especially in the work environment of a gym.

  The rhythm and sound of my feet pounding down the hill always calms my soul. My happy place, you might say, when I’m out running in the fresh air. I slow to see if I can hear anyone behind me. Pretty sure I can easily outrun Dana, but I just want to make sure before I slow to a steady jog and then walk the last part of the trail.

  Days like today, I know how Jordan feels when he complains about the fan girls who stalk him. I might not be in his high-profile role, but it still feels the same some days. I’m just a regular guy who looks after his body as part of his job, but I’m not a prize to be won. The sad thing is, I know they aren’t really interested in me as a person, it’s just the body and the title of being able to say they got fucked by Xavier Lane

  Not once have any of them thought how that makes me feel, I’m sure. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not innocent in this either, I’m a hot-blooded male who likes sex. Correction, I love sex and the enjoyment of being with a beautiful woman. I mean, come on, who doesn’t? That’s why we were put on this earth, to enjoy our fellow humans in many ways. And I sure know many ways, or shall we say positions, to create that enjoyment. Sex has got to be more than just to make babies. If I was supposed to make a baby every time I have a hard cock, then this planet will be way too overpopulated!

  I can only speak from a guy’s point of view, but our cocks have a mind of their own most days. That little pea-sized brain in there only has one wavelength and that’s the radar which points the dick in the direction of the woman he’s after.

  My mind straight away thinks of Ally and how I would like to see her in many of those positions I was imagining. Straight away, my cock is starting to respond to those thoughts, too. See what I mean about him having his own mind? One thing it does, though, is make running not so much fun when your dick is hard and bouncing around like he is playing baseball and making practice swings in the air. Not a cool look, so walking is my only option now. How has one woman managed to capture my thoughts so quickly? The quiet little mouse, Alesha, has come bowling into my life and I can’t seem to think of anyone, or anything, else. I was hoping my hike and run today would clear my head but all it’s done is clear more room for thoughts of her. Now I’m going to need to find something to fill in the rest of my day. Dana has wrecked my plans of spending most of today up on the mountain. No place is off-limits, it would seem.

  Strangely enough, I still have energy to burn off for the day, even after the hike and run. Looks like a good workout in my home gym is going to have to soothe the beast that is still growling inside me. Coming through the break in the bush into the parking lot, there’s only one other vehicle. I assume it belongs to Dana, however it looks like there is a guy laying on the back seat resting, music playing. Not anyone I’ve seen before. I’m unsure if I should approach him and ask what he’s doing in Dana’s car, but I’m not even certain it’s hers. He looks relaxed and it’s not like he has broken into the car. I should leave well enough alone and just get going before she arrives back here, otherwise I will be trapped talking to her again. I find it hard to be rude to anyone, it’s not in my nature. Plus, my parents would tan my hide if I ever turned into one of those arrogant guys who forget where they come from.

  Pulling out, I see in my rear-view mirror Dana come running into the parking lot looking all hot and flustered. She has been running hard, I suspect to catch up to me. The look of disappointment as she sees my car slowly drive away has her leaning down on her thighs, catching her breath next to the open car door. The guy in the back sits up to talk to her, but I take my eyes off the mirror and focus on the road heading into the windy bends to take me back to the highway. I feel more comfortable driving away knowing that she looked safe with whoever was in her car. She just looked more pissed that she was too late to catch me before I left.

  Pulling my Jeep into my parking spot, I’m still feeling restless. There is energy I need to burn that can only be fixed by a good boxing and weight session. Time to call Kane and see if he is up for one with me.

  Kane lives upstairs from me. He moved in about six months ago after being transferred here from another state, and we hit it off straight away. He’s a cop and trains just as hard as I do. If he is around, he’s always up for a good workout together. We have become best mates and close enough that I would trust him with my life. He now has a key to my apartment so he can use my gym when I’m not home. With his shifts and my random hours of work we can’t always coordinate our workout times, so at least he can save the money on a gym and just use mine. After years of being a personal trainer, I have accumulated a professional gym set-up in my home. One day, maybe, Natalie and I might be able to venture out onto our own and set up our own gym. It’s a dream but everyone needs to aim for something. Kane knows, though, the bro code of checking before he enters, just in case I have a woman with me. It’s not often I bring them back to my place, especially if they are from the gym, but occasionally it has happened.

  Standing in my kitchen, I crack open a cold bottle of water while waiting for him to answer. I mumble to myself about how much my gym clothes stink as I pull them out of the bag and throw them to the floor in
the doorway to my laundry.

  “Yeah, you do stink, you big beast. Showering occasionally would help.” Kane’s voice booms through my phone lying on the bench on loud speaker.

  “Very fucking funny, dick wad. Get your puny ass down here so I can beat the shit out of you in a boxing session. I’ve been out for a run but it’s just not cutting it today.”

  “Yeah, so you need a real man to give you a proper workout, not just a girly run like you do, huh?” Kane’s deep laugh echoes around my apartment.

  “Just get down here now and we’ll see who the girl is, shall we?” I yell from the laundry room while I load the washer with the pile of laundry on the floor so it will be ready to throw these clothes in after my workout and turn it on.

  “Yeah, yeah. On my way, just getting changed, see you in five.” The call goes dead, and I walk down the hall to crank up the music and get set up, ready to get started. Jogging on the treadmill to warm up again after the drive home gets me in the right headspace for Kane. The bang of the front door closing lets me know he is on his way in.

  “Bro, are you sure you can’t slam that door any harder? Heard it over the top of ACDC screaming ‘Thunderstruck’ and that’s no mean feat.” He just laughs as he jumps on the second treadmill next to me.

  “Can’t help my arm muscles are so strong that when I try to do it softly it sounds like it’s about to break in half. They just don’t make doors strong enough for us beefy law enforcement officers.” His smirk is wide as he ups the speed on the machine.

  “You are so full of shit! Now get warmed up so I can teach you about strong men.”

  This is how our relationship is. We are constantly trying to rile and one-up each other in our manliness. The truth of the matter is, though, it’s never serious and all in fun. No one has ever quite got my humour and my cocky confidence until Kane. We are so similar it’s scary. He is like my brother from another mother. I know he needs his humour to get him through his job, as some of the things he sees and hears are hard to emotionally deal with. Sometimes he talks a little about a case when he needs to digest it in his mind. The guys and girls who keep us safe in the emergency services and armed forces are a special breed. What they psychologically deal with on a day-to-day basis is intense, and they do it without asking for any praise, just so we have a safer place to live. Kane takes his job very seriously and I know at times needs a friend to have that serious conversation with to help him get through it. However, today is not one of those days.

  “You on shift tonight?” I start to slow the treadmill down, so I can jump onto the weights.

  “Nah, got the weekend off, unless I get called in, of course. You know how it goes. If a case is cracking, then you’ve got to get in there before the lead goes cold. Looking forward to a few days off, though. Want to grab a beer and a bite to eat tonight? The game is on so we can catch that down at the bar”.

  “You’re on. Jordan’s playing tonight so wanted to watch the game anyway. Even better to grab a beer at the same time. Let’s get into it.”

  Kane and I are very evenly matched, which makes working out together easy. We can use the same weights and love the same intensity in boxing. With sweat dripping off both of us, and Queen pumping in the background, we both reach for water and towels to slow down and stretch. I finally feel like I have pushed my body to where it needs to be today. I should have just called Kane earlier.

  “How did the party for Nat go last night? I know technically it was yours too, but you wanted it to be all about Nat.”

  “Yeah, good. She was surprised and loved it. Not like her to be the centre of attention so it was a success. Must say it was an interesting night, though.” Running my hands through my wet hair to get it off my face, I can see Kane look up at me with a spark of interest in his eyes.

  “Want to expand on that little sentence? Because I have a feeling it’ll involve a hot chick that I need details on.”

  I know he will give me grief for this, but no point pretending. He’ll just ask Nat and his interrogation skills are far better than mine.

  “Remember me telling you about that guy that Zara is hung up on? Well, his family were there, a few brothers and sisters and we got introduced to them.”

  “Don’t tell me, let me see if I’m psychic.” He puts his hands up to his temples on each side of his head, looking like an idiot. “Sister was hot, and you banged her. That would constitute an interesting night.”

  “You are such a dick. No, I didn’t bang her. Yes, two hot sisters.” Now he is sitting up straight staring at me.

  “Fuck, and I missed out because I was working. I always miss the good parties.”

  “Down, boy, put your dick away. You are not getting anywhere near them. Well, not near Ally, anyway. Plus, I doubt you could handle Lilly, she would give you a run for your money. That girl has men wrapped around her finger quicker than you can do twenty push ups, my friend. Way out of your league.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that. So, when are we seeing them again? I hope you made plans for a future date to help a brother out.”

  “No, I’m training them at the gym instead. Not that I think that is as easy as it sounds. You know how gym gear shows every little curve on a woman’s body? Little hard to hide my appreciation at times, if you get my gist.” Why is it whenever you think about your dick it responds by firming up to make its presence known?

  “I am sensing there is more to this Ally than you mentioned and more than just a good-looking chick. A bit too defensive there, man.”

  If I could understand it, I would try to explain it to him. Though I’m just confused as to what’s going on. I know he won’t settle for that, though.

  “I don’t know, man. There is just something about her that has me wanting to know more. She is nothing like my usual type. She’s a quiet, shy, brunette with a beautiful curvy body. Exercising is not her favourite thing and she struggles to talk to me. All of that is not like me at all, but I can’t stop thinking about her. I pushed her into booking into the next lot of training sessions, so I have an excuse to see her again.”

  “Wow. Looks like I missed a very interesting night then. So, when are you training so I can happen to be at the gym, huh?”

  “Fuck off. You’re not coming anywhere near her until she gets to know me first. I can imagine the bullshit you will fill her head with that will have her running for the hills. I’m already trying to work out how to get around the ‘pussy whisperer’ calling card.”

  “Why the fuck would you tell her that if you are interested in her, and she is a shy woman? You’re an idiot, my friend.” He starts to pick up his water bottle, phone and keys off the floor.

  “I didn’t. Bloody Nat did. Can you believe it? Can’t wait to get her back for that one, don’t you worry.” Standing at the front door with him, my mind is still fixed on thinking about Alesha and how I am going to get her to talk to me, so I can ask her out on a date.

  “I’m out of here. Meet you downstairs at six tonight. I’ll order the uber.” He pats me on the back as he walks out the door.

  “Catch ya,” I call as the door slams again. Man, what is with that guy and doors. Obviously didn’t have a mother like mine growing up who would yell every time we slammed a door. She would threaten to smack our butts just as hard with a wooden spoon the way we slammed the door. Only had it happen to me once and that was enough to stop me. Natalie, of course, was smarter than me and never managed to get that spoon.

  I love walking naked through my apartment to the shower after throwing my workout gear in the washer. Letting everything hang loose is great. Waiting for the shower to get to the right temperature, my mind is picturing spending lazy Sunday mornings lying around the house, naked with Alesha. Would she ever relax enough with me to feel comfortable doing that? Not sure why I’m even thinking it. I’ve never wanted a woman hanging around the house with me. For some reason, though, Alesha is different. Now I just need to figure out why?

  Chapter Eight

&
nbsp; Alesha

  I survived my day with the kids and it was just what I needed to sleep soundly Saturday night. Sunday, I buried myself in a book to take me to another world, one with a hot English prince who finds the love of his life in a poor farmer’s daughter. Even in the modern day, she is someone way below his social standing. He doesn’t care. He’s in love with her and keeps finding ways to meet in secret and show her what she means to him. Last night I had to put it down, although I didn’t want to. It was just up to the part where the king had her kidnapped and taken away, without the prince knowing so he would not be able to see her. He has his aide trying to find her and has told his father he will never marry anyone except his true love.

  You know there will be a happy ending but sometimes the suspense in the story has you hanging on so that putting the book down to sleep at night is a challenge. That was me last night. I was trying to take my mind off my Monday morning training session with Xavier.

  I know my plan for Xavier, however knowing it and pulling it off are two different things. Before bed last night, I laid out my outfit for work today, my gym clothes on the chair next to my bed, and my work bag is packed with my laptop and files I worked on over the weekend. Lunch is sorted and in the fridge waiting to just slip into my bag, and the breakfast bowl, glass and coffee travel mug are sitting on the bench, ready for when I walk in from the gym and get out of the shower. I didn’t want to be late for work. This morning gym session is going to be a whole new routine, so it will take some adjustment. I also can’t rely on Lilly to always be on time, so I need to be prepared in case we run late.