2HotCurvesAhead
Page 19
“Not bad at all, old girl,” she said to her reflection, shaking her hips, making herself laugh. Now all I need is a man to scratch my itch. Speaking of which… Gretchen walked into the kitchen to the built-in desk and turned on her computer, pouring herself a cup of coffee as she waited for it to boot up. She had just enough time to drink another cup of coffee and check her matches on Mates.com, the dating website she had joined a few days before. The idea of an on-line dating website made her a little nervous, but it was also exciting. She had known pretty much everyone in her Ohio hometown and had dated the same dull asshole off and on for the last three years. It had always felt like such a dead end, but now the possibilities seemed endless. She was ready for a change. She had written a thoughtful description of herself and detailed her likes and what she was looking for in a man. She had tried to be as honest as possible. If she was going to do this, she had decided, she might as well do it right.
Gretchen sat down in front of the computer with her coffee and logged into her Mates.com account. Every day she would have six new matches to choose from. Not a single one yet had piqued her interest. Maybe I’m being too picky, she thought as she perused the photos. It probably wasn’t the right way to approach it, but she made her first decision based on appearance. If it was a good-looking dude, she read his profile. If not, they were discarded. She knew that by describing herself as “big and beautiful” or BBW, she was limiting herself but that sounded so much better than the category “a few extra pounds”, and although she was solid and buxom, she felt like it would be deceitful to describe herself as “toned and fit”.
At first glance Gretchen noted the matches Mates had picked for her were exactly what she expected—big, brawny football player types or big-bellied truck drivers—until she got to the last listing. The picture of a fit, handsome guy in navy-blue horse jockey attire with dark curly hair astride an impressive black stallion caught her attention immediately. She sipped her coffee and glanced at the clock on the microwave to see if she had enough time to read his profile. Good, she still had ten minutes before she was meeting Kristi. Cool, she thought as she scrolled down to check his occupation, he really is a jockey. She had grown up on a farm in Ohio and had always had a horse of her own, one of the few things she had been missing since her move to Austin. Her family were big fans of horse racing. Some of her favorite memories growing up had been weekend excursions to attend horse races at River Downs and King’s Island amusement park. Gretchen was even more intrigued when she read that he was also a yoga instructor.
Gretchen had actually been planning on checking out some nearby yoga studios the following week. Her friend Kristi was a yoga fanatic, but the studio she belonged to was a little too far for Gretchen to commit to on a regular basis. It had been a while since she had taken yoga classes, but she knew that it was good for her writing to be centered and focused, and yoga was supposed to help with that. She clicked “interested” on the jockey’s profile and “not interested” on the five others, turned off the computer and hurried out to meet Kristi. She couldn’t wait to tell her about the jockey/yoga instructor.
* * * * *
“Hey, girl!” Gretchen called to Kristi when she spotted her on the trail under the bridge. Kristi was a cute, petite brunette Gretchen had been good friends with since fifth grade. She had moved to Austin five years ago when the IT company she worked for had offered her an opportunity to transfer. Kristi stopped stretching, waved and jogged over to meet her.
“Where you been? You’re five minutes late and live two minutes away,” Kristi said, laughing. “I’m usually the late one.”
“Don’t laugh, but I got a little side-tracked when I checked my Mates.com and actually had an interesting match, a hot dude who looked pretty damn interesting if not downright perfect for me. A horse jockey/yoga instructor no less. What do you think?”
Kristi laughed. “I’d have to see him first, silly. Do you have the mobile Mates app? You can show me on our run. A horse jockey, huh? You and your predilection for little guys. That does sound perfect for you.”
Gretchen handed Kristi her cell phone as they took off down the trail that encircled the lake conveniently located in the midst of downtown Austin, one of the main reasons she had picked the locale for her apartment.
“You’ll see what I mean about the big brutes Mates usually matches me with. It’s really kind of weird this hot little jockey got into the mix. How do you think that happened?”
“You act like I’m some kind of Mates.com expert,” Kristi said laughing. In truth, Kristi had met Kent, her boyfriend of two years on Mates.com and appeared to be head over heels. “Here, you have to set up a password for the mobile site.”
Gretchen tripped and almost fell as she took the phone from her friend. “Can we go a little slower? I’m afraid I’m going to break my neck or run over someone. I’m not talented like you.” She set a password and passed the phone back to Kristi.
Kristi quickly scanned Gretchen’s profile. “Beautifully and truthfully written. I would have expected no less.” Kristi scrolled down to look through Gretchen’s matches and laughed. “Oh my, this is pretty discouraging. Maybe it would be better for you to sign up for speed dating. It’s face-to-face, and you’re freaking gorgeous. So far, from what I’ve seen, this is a total waste of time for you. These guys aren’t anywhere near your caliber.”
“Just go to the jockey. You’re right; all the other dudes they matched me with are in the same big-brute category. Ugh!” Gretchen shuddered.
“No fucking way!” Kristi exclaimed, coming to a dead stop in the middle of the trail.
“Hey, watch out!” a preppy-looking guy with matching kelly-green Lululemon attire said as he narrowly missed running into Kristi.
Kristi giggled and pointed to the man’s Nikes as he passed. The Nike swoosh was a kelly-green that matched his shirt, shorts and headband. They moved to the side of the path to get out of the flow of runners as Kristi continued studying Gretchen’s phone.
“I know him, Gretchen,” she said looking up at Gretchen with raised eyebrows. “Jacque Dubois. He’s a yoga instructor at my studio. He’s a little short for my tastes, but I’d say he’s exactly the type you’re looking for. He has all the other women following him around with their tongues out. He’s so hot, no one cares about his height. And oh my God is that man limber! You should see what he can do in the aerial classes he teaches. I’ve heard he’s pretty good outside of his classes, too.” Kristi gave Gretchen a salacious wink.
“You’re kidding! Are you sure?” Gretchen took the phone back from Kristi and studied the photo. She had an excited feeling in the pit of her stomach. Kristi was right. He was exactly the type of guy she went for, and the pickings had been slim in Wapakoneta. It hadn’t helped that she had been so self-conscious of her size. She had towered over all the boys in elementary and middle school. The guys who did surpass her in height in high school had been more interested in the petite cheerleaders, like Kristi. Since then she had become more comfortable with her looks and size and had learned to carry herself proudly and confidently.
“I’m positive, Gretch! I can check the schedule now to see when he teaches next. I’ll introduce you myself.” The girls took off at a slow jog as Kristi consulted her phone for Jacque’s yoga schedule.
They hadn’t gotten more than a few yards when Gretchen’s phone emitted the sound signaling a message. “Oooh. I just got a message from Mates. Oh my God, Kristi! It’s from him!”
“Let’s read it, then finish out this run. He actually teaches an aerial yoga class tonight that we can check out,” Kristi said as they headed to a bench just ahead of them on the side of the trail. The girls sat down to read the message.
Gretchen was excited and nervous and had to wipe her palms on her tank before opening the message. The girls put their heads together to read it. “Hi there. Great pictures. From what I’ve read about you, we have quite a lot in common. I would love to take you out for a drink soon. Tell me yo
ur thoughts on this subject.”
“Cool!” Kristi said, grinning at Gretchen. “Don’t answer yet. We can surprise him at the studio tonight. This is super exciting!”
The girls finished their run and headed to a yoga store downtown where Kristi liked to shop. “You are going to blow him away, girl!”
“I’m not ready for advanced aerial classes, Kristi! I need to ease into this a little more slowly.”
“I know.” Kristi flipped through a sales rack of yoga clothing. “There’s a traditional intermediate class and a hot yoga class at the same time. We don’t have to go to his class.”
“Hot yoga sounds fun, but I don’t want to look like shit when I meet him. Maybe we should arrive early before classes begin.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Kristi said holding up a baby blue yoga top with an intricately cut out design in the back. “This is sexy and it’s an extra-large. It matches your eyes.” Kristi eyed Gretchen’s bust wistfully. “I wish I needed an XL.”
“No you don’t. This is super cute! Help me find some yoga pants that look good with it.”
Chapter Three
The Agent
Kristi was too late picking Gretchen up to get to class early. “Crap, Gretchen, I’m sorry. There was a wreck,” she said as Gretchen fastened her seat belt. “Damn girl! You look hot!” Gretchen did think she looked pretty good in the new yoga outfit. The pants were perfect and accentuated her curves and showed of the musculature of her long legs. The material of the top was a little thin, though and it bothered her a little that her nipples would protrude prominently if she got chilled. Her nipples were so sensitive.
“I was debating putting a better sports bra under this top. I love this new one but—” She paused. “Do I look too sleazy?”
“Fuck no,” Kristi answered as she accelerated out of the parking lot. “Jacque is going to be panting and following you around like a puppy. It will be funny to see his face when he lays eyes on you.”
As the girls were signing in at the front counter, Kristi nudged Gretchen with her foot and nodded toward a glass window directly behind the counter. Gretchen looked up and watched entranced as the little jockey spread his mat on a raised platform at the back of the room and commenced to stretching. “God, he is limber,” she whispered to Kristi.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was sitting on his mat with one leg behind his head in an unbelievable contortionist pose. As if sensing someone watching him, Jacque glanced up and locked eyes with Gretchen across the expanse of the studio. The butterflies in her stomach took flight as if in mass exodus. His dark curly hair was pulled up into a man bun, which Gretchen was really digging. Gretchen could almost see his muscles ripple as he stretched himself into several impossible yoga poses. She smiled when she noted the bulging outline of Jacque’s cock in his incredibly form-fitting yoga pants. Jacque smiled with a slight nod and continued stretching.
“Well hung and limber,” Kristi murmured under her breath as they grabbed towels and removed their shoes. Gretchen swatted Kristi with her towel and laughed.
“So you noticed that too. Yes.” Gretchen licked her lips and giggled. “Very impressive.”
Gretchen followed Kristi down the hall to the intermediate class they had decided to attend rather than the hot yoga class. Gretchen did not want to be drenched in sweat when she met this guy for the first time. There will be plenty of time for that later, she thought wickedly. She couldn’t believe how excited she was feeling about meeting him.
The girls had to pass in front of the window where Jacque and his class were already undergoing stretching exercises. “Wow! That looks like quite a workout. Maybe I can get some private lessons,” Gretchen said as she looked into the room at the colorful, intricate setup.
“From what I’ve heard, he’d be up for that.” Kristi caught Jacque’s eye and waved. Jacque stared at Gretchen as they walked by. “He definitely looks interested. Give him a wave.”
Gretchen lifted her hand in a little salute and nudged Kristi so she would keep moving. “We’re going to be too late to join our class if we don’t hurry,” she said. Her knees were feeling a little weak just from the amazed look he had given her when he had returned her wave. Surely he didn’t recognize her from Mates.com…but maybe. He is so damn cute. She wondered if she would be able to make it through an entire hour and a half before she got to meet him. He was all muscle and extremely sexy with his curly dark hair and his formfitting yoga pants that displayed his manliness so nicely. She didn’t know him at all, but the prospect of getting there was very intriguing.
Gretchen and Kristi made it to through their yoga class after a few admonishments by the instructor to focus. They hurried out of the room first and bee-lined it to the women’s dressing room for Gretchen to freshen up before Kristi introduced them. She brushed out her long hair and pulled it into a flowing ponytail and applied some lip gloss.
“How do I look?” she asked Kristi, giving herself a critical once-over in the mirror. The thin material of her yoga top was clinging to her nipples, hardened by the coolness of the air-conditioning. “I’m not so sure about this.”
“You look ravishing. I can’t wait to see his face when I introduce you guys! He’ll probably still be picking stuff up from his class. Let’s hurry!”
The class had emptied out except for a couple of girls who were painfully obvious in their fawning all over him. They followed him around the room chattering as he went about the motions of picking up mats and water bottles left by careless class members. Kristi and Gretchen smiled at each other and watched through the glass, hoping the girls would get tired of flirting and leave. Jacque hardly looked at the girls as he worked. When Jacque looked up and saw Gretchen and Kristi watching, his eyes widened, and he quickly turned to the girls and said something that made them gather up their things and head for the door. They were giggling as they exited, but their expressions changed when they caught sight of Gretchen and Kristi. The waiting girls were awarded with cold stares.
“I wonder what he said to them,” Kristi whispered after the girls had passed. Jacque smiled and motioned for them to come in as he started walking to the door to greet them.
“I’m nervous as fuck,” Gretchen whispered as she followed Kristi into the studio. I’m glad I had a pedi. She looked down at her French-manicured toes and giggled quietly. She had butterflies in her stomach. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been this excited about meeting a guy. It was weird, as if this were meant to happen. She had never been a big believer in destiny but you never know. Anything is possible.
“Hey Jacque,” Kristi said, taking his outstretched hand.
“Hey, Kristi,” Jacque replied with a big grin. “I haven’t seen you in my class lately. Have you been unfaithful to me with that rascal, Phillip, and his attempts at hot yoga?” He waggled his eyebrows at her and awarded her with a look of mock displeasure as he pulled his hair down from the sexy bun and shook out his shoulder-length curly brown hair.
He smiled at her then turned his attention to Gretchen and gave her a long searching look that shot through her with an exciting jolt. His hazel eyes were mesmerizing and his French accent was too damn sexy. I think I’m falling in love. Gretchen smiled at him shyly.
“Have we met?” he asked Gretchen. He bent to kiss her hand, his eyes locked on hers.
“Jacque, this is my best friend Gretchen. She recently moved to Austin from Ohio. Aren’t you from somewhere in the Midwest?”
Jacque looked from Gretchen to Kristi with amazement. “Ohio, really? I’ve done a lot of racing there. My favorite place to race is actually River Downs.” He continued to hold Gretchen’s hand as he looked deeply into her eyes. I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I just signed up with Mates.com. I’ve been looking for a certain type of woman I haven’t had much luck meeting on my own so I decided to get a little help. The reason I’m telling you this is because I just recently ran across the profile of someone from Ohio who you share an incr
edible resemblance to. Could it be?”
Gretchen shivered as an excited chill ran over her. She felt herself blush a little as she felt her nipples, almost at Jacque’s eye level, tighten against the thin material of her yoga top. She knew from the glazed expression that came over Jacque’s face he had noticed, too. She felt a strange sense of empowerment that quickly traveled down into her nether regions as she watched Jacque reflexively lick his lips.
“Sorry I haven’t had a chance to reply to your message,” she said, drawing Jacque’s worshipful eyes back up to her face. “This is funny, but I was just leaving to meet Kristi at the lake for a run when I checked my email and saw your message. So far I haven’t been interested in meeting any of the men I’ve been matched with on Mates, so I don’t check it that regularly. I mainly joined the site to appease Kristi. She and Kent are one of the Mates.com success stories.” Gretchen laughed. “When I mentioned your message and that you seemed different from the big brutes I normally get paired with, she insisted on looking at your picture and recognized you—”
“And of course I checked the class schedule to see if you were teaching today and dragged her here to meet you in person,” Kristi finished for her with a shrug and a laugh. “What are friends for? So, Jacque, my favorite yoga instructor, meet Gretchen, my best friend.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Jacque said, grinning at Kristi before returning his reverent gaze to Gretchen. “What are your plans for later? Maybe we can meet up for drinks?”