Perfection: A Neighbor From Hell Novel

by R. L. Mathewson

  She thought she deserved something a little more than a "thanks" like she'd just handed him the remote or something. It wasn't as if she was expecting his undying love or something, she wasn't an idiot after all, but something with feeling would have been-

  "That was great," he said as he gave her bottom a little rub and a pat.

  Well, that was something, she supposed as she blew a strand of hair out of her face. The great part was at least true, she thought with a sniff as she heard him moving around in her bathroom.

  At least she didn't have to figure out a polite way to get him to leave. In the past she had a few boyfriends that she'd cuddled with and slept with, but Trevor wasn't a boyfriend and never would be. Not only was there no way in hell that he'd date someone like her, sex? apparently and shockingly yes, but men like Trevor didn't settle on plump, plain nobodies like her.

  This was just going to be sex, mind blowing, life altering sex, but sex nonetheless and she was going to make damn sure she remembered that. Besides he never really treated her like she was anything special so she didn't foresee herself doing anything stupid like fall in love with him. He sure as hell wasn't going to fall in love with her. Just the thought of Trevor dropping to his knees and professing his undying love for her had her laughing softly.

  As long as they both remembered this was an arrangement and nothing more there wouldn't be any problems, she decided as she rolled over, deciding that she could use a long soak in the tub before she took Toby out for his last walk for the night and went to bed.

  "Where are you going?" Trevor suddenly asked, drawing her attention to the bathroom door where he stood naked and hard, she noted with surprise. "Get your ass back on the bed, Zoe. We're not done," he ordered softly, as he ripped open a condom and slid it on.

  "We're not?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.

  Shrugging lazily, he shook his head. "We need to catch you up," he explained as he walked back over to the bed, running his hand lazily over his condom covered erection and making it really difficult for Zoe to think at the moment.

  "Catch me up?" she repeated numbly as she wondered how he got that thing back up. A few of the men she'd dated in the past had been able to go at it a second time, but that was much later and after a nap or a long break. The thing between Trevor's legs looked really angry as if it had been denied its own moment, making Zoe wonder if maybe it had. Could men fake orgasms? she wondered even as Trevor climbed on the bed and between her legs and gently pushed her back until she was lying on her back.

  "Mmmhmm," he said absently, positioning himself between her legs, but not quite entering her yet. "Yes," he said on a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid we're going to have to keep having incredible sex until we've made up your five year dry spell."

  "And um," she said, feeling her lips twitch with amusement, "you're willing to suffer through having great sex with me to do that, huh?" She couldn't help but feel pleased to discover that he'd enjoyed himself as much as she had. It did amazing things for her self-esteem.

  "I said incredible sex," he corrected her, sounding put out, "but yes, I'm willing to make that sacrifice, because that's just the kind of guy I am."

  "That's, um," she said, choking back a laugh as his wiggled his eyebrows playfully, pleasing her immensely since he was seldom playful or even joked around, "very generous of you."

  "I know," he said, sighing as he sank into her, making her hiss in a breath of surprise. "That's just the kind of guy I am," he said, sounding completely serious. She couldn't help it. She burst out laughing and couldn't stop until he gave her a very delicious diversion and then for a good while she couldn't stop screaming.

  *************

  "I'm going now, Zoe," Trevor said quietly, ducking out of the way and laughing when Zoe went to swat him away.

  "Stop touching me, you pervert. I'm tired," she grumbled crabbily, but he noted the very pleased and content expression on her face that probably matched his own.

  Of course that was why he was waking the poor thing up at three in the morning after the seven hour marathon of mind blowing sex they'd just had. He had to make sure they were on the same page here. This was sex, fucking incredible sex, but nothing more.

  Before he left he needed to make sure that she knew there would never be anything else between them. This was an arrangement, nothing more. As long as she remembered that, and please god let her remember that so they could continue with this, but at the very first sign that she thought this was more and he was going to cut his losses and end this. Well, maybe after he slept with her one more time, just to get it out of their systems. He'd be an asshole not to have sex with her one last time, he decided.

  He was just so damn giving sometimes.....

  "I'm going," he said, brushing a strand of hair off her bare shoulder before he pressed a kiss to it, because he simply couldn't be near her and not touch her.

  She groaned something as she rolled over away from him, baring one large pale breast and rose pink nipple that had him licking his lips and his poor dick whimpering. He forced himself to step back, knowing there would be a tomorrow, hopefully. Besides, they ran out of condoms a half hour ago and he never took chances.

  "Are you okay if I leave?" he asked, waiting for her to start whining and pouting for him to stay. Then it would be over. Well, after he got his hands on another pack of condoms and sated himself between her legs for a few more hours it would be, but still if she became clingy it was the sign that Zoe truly didn't understand their arrangement.

  "Why are you still here?" she mumbled, sounding close to tears. "I'm so tired and if you touch me one more time I'm going to kick your ass," she promised, well mumbled really against her pillow as she buried her face in it, making Trevor smile.

  Oh yeah, she understood all right and unlike Haley he had a feeling Zoe knew exactly how to take a man down so he took it as his cue to haul ass.

  "Fine I'm out of here, Grouchy," he said, smiling as he leaned over and pressed a loud kiss against her lips just to piss her off.

  She whimpered pathetically as she pulled the pillow over her head. "Bastard."

  "Don't forget that you have to get up in three hours to make my lunch," he said cheerfully, knowing it would just piss her off more and for some reason really enjoying himself, probably more than he ever had with any other woman, which he decided was just post sex euphoria.

  "Jerk," he thought she said, making him chuckle as he left her bedroom.

  He couldn't help smiling as he jogged down Zoe's stairs to the living room where he found Toby, they really needed to do something about that name, sitting by the door holding that damn teddy bear leash in his mouth.

  "You're killing me here, buddy," Trevor said, taking the leash out of the dog's mouth and exchanging it for the black leather one he'd purchased and he noted the dog could have easily reached as well, but apparently preferred the damn sissy one.

  "You and I are going to have ourselves a little man to man talk," he said, clipping the leash to the black leather collar he'd switched out late last night after he helped Zoe in bed. "Let's go," he said, fighting the urge to look up at the stairs one last time and winning.

  This was just an arrangement, a brilliant arrangement, but nevertheless an arrangement.

  Chapter 18

  "And where have you been all night?" she demanded with her arms folded over her chest as he came sauntering into her kitchen like it didn't matter that she spent half the night, okay the last hour, worried sick about him.

  "Well?" she demanded when he tried to look innocent. He tried to give her his most adorable expression, but she wasn't having it.

  "Relax, he was with me," Trevor announced as he stepped into the kitchen, giving Toby an affectionate rub behind the ears as he passed him.

  "All night?" Zoe asked, hoping she didn't sound or look as nervous as she felt. A little over three hours ago she'd been sitting on top of this man fulfilling five years of fantasies. Not that she regretted a moment of it.

&
nbsp; Oh god no.

  After five years of going without real human contact, last night had been perfect. The sex was great and instead of taking her chances on a total stranger it was with Trevor, whom she trusted more than any person she'd ever met, she suddenly realized.

  That didn't mean there wasn't going to be a little awkwardness the next morning. They went from having a very informal, semi professional relationship to buck naked and doing a hundred different things that just thinking about made her knees wobble and her stomach flutter with anticipation. Then again just because she was happy with last night didn't mean that he was, she realized, instantly killing any lingering happy thoughts about last night.

  He said the sex was incredible, but maybe that was just something he said during sex, she thought, making herself depressed. Maybe it was pity sex, she thought, horrified by the very idea. Pity sex was worse than no sex.

  If it was pity sex then she wouldn't be getting anymore anytime soon and she desperately wanted more, not just the sex, she realized, but to spend time with Trevor, another human being and just feel close to someone. Even though it had no chance in hell of going anywhere it was still more than she'd had in years.

  "He ate with me," Trevor pointed out as she reached to grab a can of dog food.

  Sighing, she shut the cabinet door and washed her hands. "Thank you for taking care of him," she said, not knowing what else to say or really how to act.

  "No problem," Trevor said, leaning back against the counter the same way he did every morning as he sorted through her fruit bowl, looking for something to snack on while he waited for his lunch.

  It hit her then that this truly was only an arrangement for Trevor and she could relax and be herself. She didn't have to try and impress him or keep his interest, because once the sex was over they could go right back to this and not have to worry about any of the drama from a relationship, she realized as she did her best to hide her smile. This could so work for her.

  "How many sandwiches today?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

  "Four," Trevor said around a mouthful or something, probably fruit.

  She opened the refrigerator door and nearly groaned. "I might be able to stretch out three. I was supposed to go shopping yesterday," she muttered pathetically. She could cry. She really could. She was exhausted and sore in the most delicious places and had been looking forward to coming home to a hot bath, her bed, and a book after work, but now it looked like she had to hit the grocery store first.

  "That's fine," Trevor said, placing his hand on her hip as he reached past her and grabbed the gallon of orange juice she kept for him. "I have a few things I need you to pick up anyway." He slid his hand from her hip to her bottom and gave it a light squeeze that reminded her of something else she was really hoping to do tonight.

  "Okay, just add whatever you need to the list. It's on the counter," she said, trying to sound cool and relaxed and not ready to jump him. After last night she shouldn't be able to move never mind be anxious for round two, but she was.

  Five long years will do that to a woman.

  "I can't remember what they are just now. I'll probably remember when I'm at work," he told her as he stepped away from her. She wasn't that surprised. He usually remembered what he needed to tell her at work. He'd stop by the office or more often than not call her to tell her what he needed.

  "That's fine. As long you remember before I leave for the day otherwise I'll probably forget that you needed something," she said, grabbing all the food required to feed a Bradford and stepped around him to unload everything onto the counter.

  "I'm going to ask the guys at work today if anyone wants a dog," he said as she started the long assembly line of condiments and fillers.

  She tried not to look at the puppy that she'd started to think of as her baby and force herself to focus on the task at hand, but she couldn't help but look down at the adorable furry face that was silently pleading for a slice of Trevor's ham.

  "Don't even think about it, woman," he warned.

  "I wasn't going to give him a slice?" she lied, sounding as though she was asking a damn question. Seriously, why did she do that? She'd been thinking about it and might have decided to wait until Trevor turned his back so she could sneak Toby a piece of ham, but she'd in no way given herself away. At least she didn't think she had. Then again he was a Bradford and probably had some special connection with his food.

  He snorted his disbelief. "Yeah, right."

  She glared at him only to end up laughing when he glared right back at her. "Alright, so I was going to give him one slice, but it's not as if you would have noticed," she said, already knowing it wasn't true before the last word left her mouth.

  He cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. "You're shortchanging me on a sandwich, woman. Trust me, I would know."

  "Fine," she mumbled, returning her attention back to making his lunch and not the puppy whimpering pathetically and nudging her pajama clad knee with his muzzle, making her feel bad.

  Worrying her bottom lip, she shot a look down at the dog and met big round sad puppy eyes. Damn it! Her eyes shot up to find Trevor rummaging through the cabinet she kept filled with his snacks.

  Maybe he really wouldn't notice, she thought as she reached for the last slice of ham, never taking her eyes away from Trevor, and slipped it to the dog, who just had to go and give her away by smacking his lips.

  Trevor gasped as he turned around, narrowing his eyes accusingly on her. "Zoe," he said as he dropped the package of snack cakes on the table and stalked after her. "What did you do?"

  "Umm, nothing?" she said, backing away as he slowly advanced on her. As he passed the counter his eyes shot to the now empty deli packages and then to her.

  "Where's the last slice of ham?" he asked casually as though he weren't currently stalking her around the kitchen island.

  She worried her bottom lip as she considered her choices and kept moving her ass away from Trevor, who looked damn determined. That was understandable, she supposed. He was a Bradford she'd just screwed out of food. Her eyes shot to the open kitchen door, but she really didn't think she'd make it there in time and judging by the expression on Trevor's face, he knew it too.

  "It's gone," she said, swallowing nervously.

  "I see," he said, following her at a leisurely pace. "You gave my ham to the dog, didn't you?"

  "Maybe," she mumbled.

  Trevor sighed heavily. "I guess there's no choice but to punish you," he said in an offhand tone.

  "What do you mean?" she asked, already knowing that he would never hurt her, but really when a man well over six feet tall with an insane amount of muscle says he's going to punish her it's natural to get a little nervous.

  He simply shrugged. "I guess I'm going to have to spank your ass."

  Zoe blinked and then blinked again before she burst out laughing. "You're kidding, right?" she asked as she slowed her pace so that she could catch her breath.

  "I'm afraid not, Zoe," he said, sounding serious, really serious, but she noted the amusement in his eyes and his lips twitching as he stopped on the opposite side of the island. She paused mid-stride and jumped back to what she deemed at that moment was safety, the opposite side of the kitchen island.

  "Y-you're going to be late for work," she stammered out as the thought of what Trevor had in mind both intrigued and excited her. Never in a million years would she have thought this man had a playful side. He always seemed so serious as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was nice to see him smile about something other than food.

  "I think I can make time for this," he said, winking.

  She swallowed hard as she looked around for any excuse to save her ass from a sound spanking. When her eyes landed on the half made sandwiches she nearly sighed with relief. "I have to finish making your sandwiches," she pointed out.

  "Okay," he said slowly, nodding as he leaned back against the sink. "Go ahead," he said, gesturing lazily towards the piles of food
. "I can wait."

  She was afraid of that.

  As she finished making his lunch and packing it she kept her eyes on him, noting the amused expression on his face and wondered if she could talk him out of it. Not because she thought he'd hurt her. No, she was afraid he was turning her into a slut and she'd attack him to finish the job.

  This was bad. She never remembered being this turned on by any of her old boyfriends. Then again none of them had looked like Trevor Bradford. The man was a walking advertisement for sex and good god did the man know his way around a woman's body.

  Even though she'd like nothing more than to let Trevor have his dirty little way with her body she couldn't. For one thing they didn't have any condoms left. The other problem, she was pretty sure if she had another orgasm this soon after the dozen or so he'd already given her she'd drift off into an orgasm induced coma and wouldn't be able to get back up and go to work.

  When she loaded the last ice cold water bottle into his lunch cooler she watched as he pushed away from the counter with a look of anticipation in his eyes that did not bode well for her ass. Licking her lips nervously, she shot a quick look at the open kitchen door.

  "You'll never make it," Trevor said, chuckling.

  "We'll just have to see about that, now won't we?" she said, meeting his eyes in a clear challenge as she closed the lid on his cooler.

  "Yes, we will," he murmured as he started around the right side of the counter, forcing her to take a step towards the left. He paused and moved to the right and she copied his movements, trying not to giggle as he faked a lunge to the left and made her jump.

  "This is silly," she said, having more fun than she'd ever admit. "And you're going to be late for work," she tried to point out sternly, but the excited laugh she released when he faked her out again kind of ruined the effect.

  "If you're so worried about me being late for work then just come over here and let's get this over with," he suggested with a lopsided grin that made him look relaxed and happy. It was a very nice look on him, she decided seconds before he attacked.