My So-Called Perfect Life

by K. A. Berg

  “You don’t look cute, Danielle,” he says. “You look hot as hell.”

  As I walk down the steps, I panic. What if I lean in for a hug and kiss on the cheek and he just wants to shake my hand? What if he reaches for the hug and kiss and I stupidly offered my hand? What if all these what-ifs bubble up inside me and I throw up on him again?

  My stomach is doing cartwheels by the time I reach the bottom of the stairs. I never thought he’d continue trying to get me to go out with him, and convince me, after I was an outright bitch to him.

  Shit! Shit! Shit! What do I do? Hug? Shake? Vomit? All three? Make a decision, Dani! Do something!

  His lips touch mine, and all my worries blow up in a cloud of smoke, blending in with the rest of the city’s smog. I feel sparks in my chest. All the banter from the last week, chatting through jokes and messages, has built up and exploded into this kiss that totally has my foot popping like Anne Hathaway’s in The Princess Diaries.

  “Ready?” he asks, pulling his mouth from mine.

  I nod enthusiastically. “I am. I’ve never been to a baseball game before.”

  “Really?”

  “Nope.”

  “Not to bring him up”—he pauses a moment—“but your ex never took you to a baseball game? Not even once?”

  I shake my head. “Scott wasn’t into sports.”

  He smiles wide. “Well, I love sports. Especially baseball. It’s my favorite. I love the Dodgers.”

  “Yeah”—I laugh—“I kind of got that vibe.”

  We walk hand in hand a few blocks to the subway station while Ryan explains the fundamentals of a great baseball experience.

  “Hot dogs, beer, a beautiful summer day. Got it. Do I get a foam finger too?”

  His giant smile is infectious. “If you really want one!”

  The platform is full of eager baseball fans as we wait for the train. The cars are already pretty full when the train pulls in, so the forty or fifty people waiting all crowd on. We find a small open spot in the back corner of a car. Ryan positions himself behind me, leaning back against the wall, and pulls me into his body, shielding me from everyone around us.

  We chat quietly as the train pulls through the stops.

  “Tell me about the photos in your office?” I ask looking up at him. “About all your adventurous hobbies.”

  His pupils dilate slightly, a glitter in the middle the black surrounded by blue. “It started in high school. I went away with friends to Colorado for New Year’s. It was the first time I went skiing. It was love at first slope. It kind of escalated from there.”

  “Skiing turned into zipping through the tops of jungles?”

  His chest rumbles under my hand as he laughs. “It was actually the feeling I got coming down the mountain. I accidentally took an advanced trail instead of the beginner one. My friends thought it was a hilarious joke to play on the newbie. The adrenaline coursing through my system as I flew down that slope was a rush. It was freeing and cleared my mind. You see, I was stressing about college acceptances and as I was flying down that mountain, my mind was finally quiet. Nothing but me and the snow and what laid before us. There’s no feeling like it.”

  I can’t help but laugh nervously. “That sounds crazy. My mind would definitely not have been quiet. I would have been picturing the thousands of ways I could die!”

  “People get hurt crossing the street. I don’t let fear hold me back,” he replies. “That’s not to say there weren’t moments when I was cursing my asshole friends, but I was too consumed by the rush to think about anything.”

  “Danger man,” I giggle. “So where does baseball fit in? Next to golf, it seems like the most boring –”

  He holds up a finger. “Hey now! Baseball is not boring.”

  I wince at my mistake. “Sorry. Boring isn’t the right word. How about slow paced. I would have figured you for a hockey or football or rugby guy. Something with more bloodshed.”

  “Well, when I was about five,” he begins. “My father came home from work with a pack of tickets for the game that weekend. My dad worked a ton of hours when we were growing up. When he wasn’t working, he was working around the house, or doing stuff for my grandparents. The man never sat still. We didn’t spend a ton of time together. But when we’d go to a baseball game, I got him for nine solid innings. He showed me how to keep score and taught me about all the different kinds of pitches. I was hooked.”

  He tells the story with such fondness. It’s clear that he really cherishes that day with his family.

  “So, it’s just you and your sister?” I ask.

  “Yep, just the two of us,” he answers. “What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”

  “One sister,” I reply. “You actually met her already. The night we are never going to speak about again.”

  He chuckles. “I thought the two of you looked related, but you never know. I had two friends growing up who looked like they could be brothers but weren’t.”

  A warmth fills my chest. Everything about this feels right. His arms wrapped around me. Getting to know each other. Starting fresh and forgetting our awful beginning. I’m pretty sure most men wouldn’t have been as easygoing and casual about needing antibiotics thanks to me, let alone spend a week trying to get me to go out with them.

  I like this.

  And I think I really like him.

  “You can’t tell me that’s not the best hot dog you’ve ever had.” Ryan watches me as I take another bite of the hot dog we just got after the end of the previous inning.

  Who would’ve thought I’d find a man staring at me while I chew adorable?

  I swallow and then smile. “It’s pretty damn good.”

  This whole date has been pretty damn good.

  Once we arrived, we found our seats and then got beers. When I stopped to use the restroom before we went back down, Ryan snuck off and bought a foam finger. A piece of scratchy foam has never made me smile so big.

  Come to think of it, it’s been so long since I smiled so much. My cheeks are kind of starting to hurt.

  The crack of the bat hitting the ball echoes throughout the stadium, and the ball lands in the crowd a section over. Everyone jumps up and cheers as the home team hits a home run.

  Ryan groans next to me, as the Dodgers are now losing. “I’m telling you, the minute those black clouds rolled in, they killed their mojo.”

  The sky went from blue and sunny to cloudy and dark two innings ago. It looks like a storm is coming, but we’re holding out hope that it stays away for another three innings.

  The pitcher gets the batter out. Or strikes him out, I think it’s called. I’m not sure of the proper baseball lingo, but the teams switch sides.

  “Oh boy.” Ryan laughs.

  “What?”

  “This song.”

  I listen for a moment. A high-pitched wail fills the air as a woman sings some oldie that I’ve heard a ton of times, but I couldn’t tell you who sings it or what it’s called.

  “And then he kissed me.”

  “What about it?” I ask, still not understanding.

  “Look at the jumbo screen.”

  The camera is zoomed in on a couple who laughs and then kisses. It skips to another couple who does the same thing.

  “Aww, that’s so cute.”

  I’ve seen the videos of these things on social media a bunch of times. I think my favorite ones are when the guys are on the phone, so the person next to them kisses the girl.

  The camera skips to another couple, and then I see my face on the giant screen in the stadium filled with thousands of fans.

  My cheeks heat, and a sense of excitement and embarrassment fills my chest. I glance over at Ryan, and his eyes blaze as he pulls me into him and sears my lips with a scorching hot kiss. He tugs on my ponytail, giving himself better access to my mouth, as the crowd cheers us on.

  Thunder booms, and we pull apart.

  We look up at the deep purple sky just as it opens up, and rain pour
s down with fierceness. It’s just like a scene from a romantic comedy.

  “Guess the universe knew we’d need to be cooled down after that kiss.” I laugh as Ryan grabs my hand, pulling me from the row, and we dash up the stairs for cover.

  By the time the cab pulls up in front of my apartment building, Ryan and I are still soaked.

  The game was called because of the torrential downpour. We were already decently wet by the time we got out of the stadium stairs and into the covered area. It took a good amount of time to exit the stadium, but it was raining even harder when we made it to the street. We were dripping water from everywhere when we got onto the train to head back across the city.

  Even with the rainout, I’ve had the best time tonight. I don’t want the night to end.

  “Do you want to come up?”

  His eyes glow brightly. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  We exit the cab and jet through the rain across the sidewalk and up the stairs.

  I grab a few towels from the bathroom as soon as we’re inside my place. I toss one to Ryan, and we start wiping the raindrops from our hair and faces.

  “I had a really great time,” I tell him as I run the towel down my ponytail.

  “Me too.”

  He watches my every move as I remove the hat from my head and unbutton my wet jersey, exposing the matching blue tank underneath that is clinging to my body.

  “What?” I ask as his jaw clenches, and his eyes smolder with desire. I might even cock a hip to the side, knowing that he is picturing me without my clothes. I’m not sure where this coyness comes from, but I’m positive it has something to do with knowing how good this man can make my body feel.

  He drops the towel on the floor and steps closer, closing the space between us. His large hand tightly grips my hip, and he pulls me into him, looming over me like a giant.

  God, this man makes me feel so small.

  He leans down, his breath ghosting over my lips as he speaks, “I know I should try to be a gentleman and at least have a drink before I ravage your body, but it’s all I’ve been thinking about doing since that first night we had together.”

  I don’t know why I feel the need to poke the very testosterone-filled bear in front of me, but something tells me that it will be worth it. “We could’ve already had round two, but you left me all alone that night.”

  His hand slips down to my ass and grabs my cheek, squeezing it. “I was going to come back. The entire time I was downstairs, helping Roxy, I was thinking about all the ways I could make you cry my name again.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “And what did you come up with?”

  He growls and nips my bottom lip. “You’re about to find out.”

  God, yes, I think to myself as his hands leave my lower body and delve into my hair.

  His fingers thread through the long locks and pull. My mouth opens on a gasp, and his kiss consumes me. I can taste the beer on his breath and smell the faint scent of his cologne as his tongue sweeps over mine in a dance of lust and yearning.

  His chest heaves, and my lips tingle as he pulls back. “Christ, Danielle. Where’s your bedroom?”

  “End of the hall.”

  My heart beats so fast inside my chest that I wonder if he can hear it as he picks me up by my ass and carries me down the hall.

  He stops alongside my bed. “I think it’s time we got out of these wet clothes, don’t you?” he asks as he places me on my feet.

  Stepping back, he pulls his shirt over his head and reveals that impeccable chest. Even in the dark, with only the hall light brightening our way, I can see the vivid colors of his tattoos. My eyes don’t know where to look or focus as I want to take him all in. Truthfully, I never thought I’d be in the position with this man again, and I thought I’d have to enjoy him only in my memories.

  He stands in front of me in only athletic shorts and sneakers, and I swear, I think I could come just from looking at him.

  “It’d be so much more fun if you let me touch you though.”

  I groan. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

  He chuckles and nods before stepping closer. He drags his finger across my collarbone and down to my cleavage. “Do you want me to touch you, Danielle?”

  My lady parts quiver as I remember what it feels like to be touched by him. “Yes, please.”

  “Where?” he asks and then leans down and kisses the same path as his finger. His lips press against the swell of my breast.

  “Everywhere.”

  It only takes a few seconds for me to shrug off the jersey and pull my tank over my head. I pop the button of my shorts as Ryan toes off his sneakers and removes his shorts and socks.

  His black boxers are seriously tented as he looks me up and down while I stand in my bra and panties.

  “You and your sexy lingerie,” he groans, gripping his dick in his hand.

  I might have dressed with this moment in mind earlier today. I picked out a royal-blue lace bra and matching thong that I figured he would appreciate if we got to this point.

  “I can take it off if you don’t like it.”

  “Oh, I like it,” he says, pulling me back into him. “But I like what is underneath even more.”

  He unclips my bra with expert precision as I dig my hand into his boxers, grasping his hard length in my hand. I find the barbell under the head as Ryan slips his hand into my panties, finding my clit.

  “Two for two,” he whispers as he licks along the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

  I flick the barbell and then run my hand up and down his shaft. Ryan’s finger finds my entrance, and he fills me with a long, thick digit, making me moan.

  “I love the way you moan for me.”

  I love the way you make me moan.

  A second finger joins the first while his thumb rubs a circle around my clit, causing me to squeeze him harder.

  “Yes, Danielle, just like that.”

  I don’t know what I did with my hand, but I grip harder as he strokes me with his fingers.

  Higher and higher until I shatter.

  “God, Ryan. Yes.” The orgasm barrels through me, and my legs shake with intense pleasure.

  He pulls his hand from my panties and brings his fingers to his mouth. The obscene way he licks the evidence of my pleasure from them is enough to make me come again.

  “Delicious.”

  He steps back, forcing me to let go of his dick. His boxers hit the floor, and he bends over to pull his wallet from his pants.

  God, I wish I were behind him, so I could take in the view of his hard ass as he bends over.

  He makes fast work of the condom and then removes my panties.

  My skin feels singed by the way he looks my body up and down and licks his lips like I’m a midnight snack he’s about to devour.

  His cock stands proud and poised for action as he steps into me once again, pressing his warm skin against mine. His fingers tangle back into my wet tresses as he kisses me. He dominates the kiss, bending me back, taking everything he can.

  Laying me down, he follows suit until every part of our bodies touch. He snakes his hand down and slides the tip of his dick through my slickness. He thrusts inside me, stealing the air from my lungs.

  I swear, his breath becomes mine as my back arches up, and his arms slip under me, hugging me to his body as he fills me over and over again.

  My eyes open, and his blue ones are waiting there for me, filled with hunger. He presses his lips to my neck and then my jaw, peppering my heated skin with kisses.

  The muscles of his arm bulge as he lifts himself up and looks down between our joined bodies.

  “Watching my cock disappear inside you is sexy as hell.”

  He hooks his arm under one of my legs and pulls it back, opening me up to him further.

  “Oh God,” I cry as he drives into me, taking my body to new heights. I feel everything and nothing at the same time—the way his chest hair tickles my nipples, the stretch of the
muscles in my leg, the way his piercing increases the waves of euphoria building in my core.

  “Ryan, please.”

  “Please what, Danielle?”

  I don’t know what I’m begging for exactly, but there’s an explosion ready to detonate inside me, and Ryan holds the match for the fuse.

  “Make me come.”

  The pace of his thrust quickens, and the waves grow higher and stronger until they finally crash. I splinter apart around Ryan and dig my nails into his back, scratching down as I come.

  Ryan groans as his body stiffens above me. His cock throbs inside me as he comes.

  The room is silent other than our heavy breathing as Ryan pulls himself from inside me. My body feels sated and numb. My toes and fingers tingle as Ryan drags me into his chest. His hand runs along my back, and my eyes close as I wonder if it will always be this explosive every time we have sex. If so, I don’t know how or why I’d ever leave this bed.

  Chapter Twenty

  Danielle

  The scent of bacon fills the air and draws me from my sleep. I roll over, stretching out my arm to find the other side empty. Well, that explains the smell of bacon. The cool sheets on my skin remind me that I’m naked.

  I slept all night, naked, next to Ryan.

  It’d be nice if I could say we went another round after that phenomenal first one, but I don’t remember anything past Ryan pulling me into his chest. All night, he was wrapped around me. And I really liked it.

  Pulling myself up, I look at the clock. My alarm hasn’t gone off, which means it’s still early.

  Six forty a.m.

  And Ryan is in the kitchen, cooking breakfast.

  This is a first for me. I’ve never had a man make me breakfast. Scott never got himself up early to cook for me before work. Not once.

  Butterflies fill my stomach as I hop out of bed, feeling way too cheery as I pad across the hall to the bathroom. There’s a glow in my cheeks and a rat’s nest on my head when I look in the mirror. Turning on the water, I take the quickest shower ever. I can’t go to work looking like I was caught in a hurricane. Or worse—smelling like sex.