by Tina Martin
I’ve already showered and dressed in pajamas, ready for bed. I glance at the time on my phone. It’s a few minutes after eleven. Trevor wanted me to save him some time, but my eyes are already slowly batting as soon as I lie down. Getting up early for breakfast, hiking with Trevor and spending time with Lana has me seriously exhausted.
So, I lie here, staring up at the ceiling while my body is warm and snug beneath a thick comforter. My eyelids become heavier, I can’t hold them open any longer, but when I hear my bedroom door opening, my eyes shoot open and I see him – Trevor, walking toward my bed like a mechanical soldier with no shirt on – his beefy, muscular chest on full display as he showcases abs that looks fake and a pair of boxers that clings to his male form. I don’t know why, but my whole body stiffens like those dreams you have when you can’t move and you feel like something was coming to get you. Something or shall I say, someone was coming to get me, and his name was Trevor Myerson.
He peels back the covers and invites himself inside of my bed. Not only does he make himself comfortable with my covers – he maneuvers his body on top of mine and does it in a way that suggests I should’ve been expecting it.
I gasp. His body is cool to the touch like he’d just gotten out of the shower. He certainly smells fresh, looks good and oh my goodness, those eyes…
“What are you doing, Trevor?” I manage to ask before I lose my ability to speak. His solid-as-a-rock body pinned against me.
“I’m about to kiss you,” he says with all the confidence in the world.
“Why?” I ask staring into his enticing eyes. “I thought we—” I gasp. “I thought we were only supposed to kiss in the presence of your parents.”
“We are.”
“Then why are you trying to kiss me now?”
“Because I want to, Elsie.”
“But—” Before I can get words out, I feel his tongue sliding into my mouth while his left hand secures my right wrist to the mattress. He’s exploring my mouth again, same as he did in the shed, only this time, there aren’t layers of clothing restricting me from feeling his steel body. I can feel the moment his body temperature rises, feel his hand tighten around my wrist as he goes deeper with his tongue. He’s relentless, kissing me like he desires me this much. I’ve never been desired before and so this is a new experience for me as I attempt to reciprocate the hunger at which he’s kissing me. I know I’m in trouble when I feel him let go and allow the weight of his body to take me as its prisoner. I feel everything from the unsettled beats of his heart down to that thick, firm member of his flirting with the juncture of my thighs and making me ache and throb with need.
For a brief moment, I open my eyes to make sure this is real and I see his face. His eyes are closed while he’s kissing me, but the feeling and emotion I see on his face is one-hundred percent real.
I close my eyes again and attempt to free my hand from his grasp, but he holds my wrist tighter and takes the other one captive. I’m completely at his mercy.
He snatches his lips away from mine, nearly takes my tongue in the process and when our vision slams together, he says in a desperate whisper, “I want you.”
I open my mouth to speak but I’m still having trouble in that regard. My chest is rising and falling quickly – so fast I’m hyperventilating and he’s watching me. I try to speak again by asking, “You—you…um…come again?”
He grins. “That’s a poor choice of words right now, baby.”
“Trevor—”
“I want you, Ellie.”
“But—”
“But what?” he asks and sneaks a kiss. “You can’t make love to me because I know you want to?” He dips his head and takes a mouthful of my neck. “Don’t you, Ellie?” he whispers.
My body hasn’t shivered this much since I’ve been here and the wind chill tonight is negative five. Trevor has me feeling all kinds of sensations. The man has my body aching and tingly in spots I’d thought lost feeling. And he’s steadily circling his tongue on my neck. “Tre—Tre—Trevor…”
He stops, looks at me with an expression that’s somewhere between desperation and lust then slides his tongue between my lips again. He makes it a short kiss, then looks at me and says, “How did you make me want you so badly? Hunh? How did you do this to me, baby?”
“I didn’t do anything to you.”
“Oh, yes you did. I’ve never wanted a woman this much.”
“It’s probably just because I’m here with you, and—”
“No,” he cuts me short. “I’ve been celibate for over a year and have managed to dodge women throwing themselves at me, but something about being with you feels right. I like being with you. I like kissing you and yes, I do want you.”
“But, I can’t—we can’t—”
“I know we can’t. I’m just telling you what I want.” He dips his head again and kisses me druggingly slow before disappearing beneath the covers. Moments later, I feel his hot tongue dragging across my stomach after he lifts my nightshirt, licking my navel while his hands grab and squeeze my butt. I secure him by the ears and prompt him to crawl back up so that we’re face-to-face again. With my fingers, I trace his lips then stare into his eyes when I say, “You’re really real.”
“I am,” he says.
I lift my head from the pillow to kiss him back this time because I want to believe that this is genuine, and he really wants me. I have never been wanted by anyone, but tonight, I know how it feels. It feels exceptionally good, even if it is something we only share for this one moment.
“Take off this shirt,” he says, tugging at it.
“Trevor, I shouldn’t.”
“You should. My shirt is off.”
I smile at his twisted logic. “And you don’t have breasts.”
He laughs. “But it’s skin-to-skin contact I crave the most with you,” he tells me.
I feel his hand crawl up my quivering stomach towards my breasts and when he touches me there, squeezing with gentle pressure, I nearly convulse.
“Okay, you’re dangerous,” I say grabbing his hand.
He flashes a wide-mouth smile and says, “Be dangerous with me, Ellie.”
“No. I’m not going to let you seduce me, Trevor,” I say and it takes all the strength and willpower I can gather to remove his hand away from my breast. “Go back to your room.”
“I want to be with you. I can’t do that from in there,” he says, lying next to me. To get comfortable, he spoons me then holds our bodies together tightly. He moves the strands of hair that hides my neck, then kisses me there. My body stiffens.
“I had a good time with you today. I almost don’t want to go back home.”
“I have to be back to work on Monday.”
“I know.” He sighs deeply, probably exhausted from our long day and from the fact that he wants me still. I can feel the swell of him nestled against my backside.
“Goodnight, Ellie.”
“Goodnight, Trevor.”
He gives me a final kiss on my neck, then tightens his hold on me, keeping me bound to him.
Chapter 22
Trevor
Trevor brought a few more items from his old apartment to his new house. The weekend had flown by, but the memories – the hike with Elsie and then, last night when he’d kissed her into oblivion then held her in his arms – brought a smile to his face. She was something special.
They’d arrived in Charlotte late last night, and after carrying her bag up to her apartment, he pulled her into his arms again and delivered a heart-stopping kiss that had him panting for air right along with her. Kissing her was becoming an addiction – a habit he didn’t want to break.
After he’d unloaded boxes from his jeep, he drove to Good Vibes Coffee bar to meet Priscilla. She’d requested to meet him – wouldn’t say why, but he assumed it had something to do with his upcoming interview with her husband.
As he approached the table, he said, “Good afternoon,” then took a seat.
Inste
ad of being cordial, Priscilla offered no good vibes when she said, “You need to stop seeing her immediately or the deal is off.”
Trevor frowned. “What are you talking about, Priscilla?”
“I’m talking about Elsie. You need to stop seeing her or the deal is off.”
“How do you know if I’m seeing her?”
“I saw you drop her off at her apartment last night with an overnight bag, kissing her like you’ve never kissed a woman before.”
“So, you’re stalking her now.”
“I like to call it protecting her.”
“She doesn’t need protection from me. Maybe she does from you. You’re her so-called friend, right? I would think you would want to see her happy. To see her fall in love, but not you. You’re perfectly content with being the it girl who flaunts her marriage and millionaire husband in Elsie’s face.”
“You don’t know what—”
“And you’re fine with Elsie being boring and introverted because it suits your lifestyle,” Trevor said, interrupting her. “Any time you need company, you can always count on your loyal, shy friend, Elsie, because I’m sure there aren’t many more people who can stand you. But you know Elsie will always be there because she doesn’t do anything else. She doesn’t go anywhere. She’s always home and so you take advantage of that because again, it suits you. You’ve been keeping her down while you build yourself up.”
“That’s a blatant lie!” Priscilla said angrily.
Trevor raised his brows. “Is it? Because you knew from day one when I asked her out she would say no. She was so shy, she couldn’t make eye contact with me and you sent me to her, not because you wanted your friend to meet a nice guy and fall in love. You sent me to her to satisfy your own selfish curiosity.”
“That’s a lie!” Priscilla repeated, gathering her purse. “I’m going to tell Elsie who you really are and you can kiss your chances with EBN goodbye.”
“Screw EBN. I’d rather have Elsie.”
Priscilla rolled her eyes and stomped toward the door like a spoiled teenager. Trevor could only shake his head. He took out his phone and sent Elsie a text.
Trevor: Need to talk to you asap and not over the phone. Can I stop by your place after you get off work?
Elsie: Sure. Is everything okay?
Trevor: Yes. I’ll see you around 6.
Elsie: Okay :-)
Trevor sighed heavily and thought about how he would tell Elsie this. He put it off before, but since Priscilla was on a warpath, he couldn’t put it off any longer.
Chapter 23
Elsie
After we spent the entire weekend together, Trevor wants to see me again. Score! I wonder what it’s going to be this time? Dinner and a movie at my place? Or will he take me out and we go back to his place? I’m dreaming of the endless possibilities as I skip along the crowded sidewalk to my car. I smile at strangers as they walk by me. I feel joy swell my heart. I never thought this level of happiness would ever find me, but my time has come. Finally.
I round the corner, then jog across the street even though the crosswalk sign is clearly flashing ‘DON’T WALK’ and when I’m closer to my car, I see Priscilla standing there in full winter gear with her arms crossed. She looks p-o’d but I don’t let her foul mood destroy my happy one.
“Hey, Priscilla.”
“I take it you’ve been busy,” she says with an unwarranted attitude and a slight edge to her voice.
“I have. What about you?”
“Um…not busy at all. I’ve just been wondering where my best friend has been these days since she doesn’t call on text me anymore.”
I can’t believe she’s trying to make me feel guilty. “I’ve been busy,” I tell her, hit the button to unlock my car doors and toss my backpack on the backseat.
“Busy with who? Trevor Myerson?” I frown and look at her trying to figure out how it’s possible that she knows my boyfriend’s name when I’ve never introduced the two.
“Yeah, I know him,” she says as if reading my thoughts.
“How do you know him?”
“Okay, I have to tell you something. I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of it.”
“What’s going on, Priscilla?”
“Trevor Myerson is not who he says he is, okay, and he probably doesn’t even like you. I found him on a social media site and basically, I told him to ask you out.”
My frown deepens. Heart races as it slowly begins breaking. “You’re lying.”
“No, I actually did it,” she says, matter-of-factly. “I met him at a coffee shop, gave him your information and offered him a consultant position with Billie if he asked you out. He accepted my offer.”
My head is spinning. This can’t be real. It can’t be.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but—”
“Why would you do something like that, Priscilla?”
“Because you told me you wouldn’t talk to a guy unless he was the man of your dreams. Well, I found the man of your dreams and when he asked you out, he told me you said no like I knew you would. It was supposed to end there, but he took it upon himself to convince you to have dinner with him.”
I can’t wrap my mind around what she’s telling me so, I question her further. “So, this was all a joke to you?”
“Well, no—I was trying to help you, Elsie.”
“Help me do what? Make a fool out of myself!”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Priscilla stares at me but doesn’t answer my question. After a moment of silent guilt passes, she says, “Look, I just wanted to come clean before you get too wrapped up with this guy. I mean, think about it. If he’ll be willing to go out with you in order to get a position with Billie, I don’t think he’s the right kind of guy for you. But don’t worry. There will be others.”
I’m tempted, I’m so freakin’ tempted to peel off this glove and slap her, but I’m hurting. The man I thought I was falling for—the man I thought was falling for me is nothing but a liar. He didn’t meet me by chance. He met me through a stunt, a joke that Priscilla had planned out.
“I can’t believe you would stoop so low and do something like this to me, Priscilla.”
“I’m sorry. Jeez. If I could take it back, I would, but—”
“But you did do it, and you call yourself my friend?”
“Elsie—”
I open the door to get in my car and she jumps in the way so I can’t close it.
“Move out of the way, Priscilla.”
“Just wait a minute, Elsie.”
“Move! And if I have to say it again, I’m going to get out of this car and push you out of the way.”
She moves this time. I slam and lock my door before speeding off. How could I have been so blind? So stupid? So easily fooled into thinking that a man like Trevor would find me interesting? Now, that I know the truth, it all makes sense. This was a hoax cooked up by Priscilla to see if I would turn down a chance to go on a date with the man of my dreams, and then Trevor saw it as an opportunity to befriend me so I could play the role of his fiancée in front of his parents. I guess, in the end, everyone got what they wanted, except for me. All I am is a fool and a fake fiancée.
Chapter 24
Trevor
As soon as he saw her car pull into the lot, Trevor got out of his jeep and walked toward her car as she parked.
“Hey,” he said when she opened the door but he already saw the pain in her eyes as she glanced at him briefly before opening the back door to get her backpack. That’s when he knew Priscilla had gotten to her first.
“I can explain, Ellie.”
“You don’t have to. I think I got a good understanding from Priscilla,” Elsie said, slamming the door.
“Please just hear me out.”
Elsie threw one strap of her backpack over her shoulder. “I’ve heard enough for today,” she said heading for the stairs, not even looking at him.
“But you haven’t given me a chan
ce to say a word, Ellie.”
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped. A tear fell from her eye when she paused at the bottom of the stairs and turned to look at him. “Was it all a lie? When you told me I was special and beautiful and I could make any man happy?” she asked, her voice broken. “Was it all lies?”
“It wasn’t,” he said reaching for her.
“Please don’t touch me!” she yelled, taking a step back.
“Okay,” he said with his hands up before lowering them to his side. “It wasn’t all lies. I honestly do like you, Elsie.”
“Sure you do,” she sniffled. “Like I’m going to believe anything else you have to say.”
“Elsie—”
“Fool me once, shame on you,” Elsie said tearfully before taking more steps away from him.
“I never meant to hurt you, Elsie, but—”
“Just go, Trevor,” Elsie said, sniffling. “Go get the job Priscilla promised you.”
“I don’t want the job. I want you.”
“Well, you can’t have me so, go get the job. That way, you won’t walk away empty-handed. And you can have this back, too,” she said, digging in her purse for the red box that housed the ring she’d worn all weekend. She tossed it to him and continued upstairs, not concerned with whether he caught it or not.
He was running out of time, explanations and options. She was upset and rightly so and the messed up part about it was, he wouldn’t get through to her this evening no matter how badly he wanted to. So, as difficult as it was to do, as much as it pained him to see her cry, he walked away, got in his car and drove off. He knew the decision to go down this path wouldn’t turn out well. He told Priscilla that out the gate, and at the time, he had no idea he’d fall for Elsie – that he would care so much for her. But he couldn’t shift one-hundred percent of the blame on Priscilla for something he’d been a willing participant of could he?