by Naomi Porter
“Morning sex is the best,” he mumbled against my lips.
“Indeed. It’s a great way to start the day.” I hugged him.
We finished showering and I quickly got dressed and french braided my hair. The entire time Leo watched in awe.
“You’re so beautiful, Red.”
“And you’re the sweetest man ever.” I blew him a kiss as I put on a little mascara. I adored hearing him tell me how amazing and beautiful I was, but it was how he made me feel both that made my heart flutter. I was all about the actions.
“So the plan for today? When will I see you?”
“Um... my workdays are pretty busy. I’m at the dance studio Monday through Thursday and at Club R until closing Thursday through Saturday. But I signed up for some extra shifts, like one tonight. I sort of thought…” I paused to collect my thoughts, knowing he wouldn’t like what I was about to say.
I flitted my eyes in the mirror to him and saw his jaw tick and his brow furrow as if he knew what was coming next. “Sort of thought, what?”
I turned away from the counter to face him. “I thought since you don’t work on the weekends, I’d see you then.”
“No.” He gritted out the one word.
“No?”
He came at me and lifted me onto the counter and braced his hands on either side of me to get to my eye level. “I don’t want to wait four days to see you, Red.”
“I was only able to spend the last few days with you because I’d taken time off to go to Montana. These are my jobs. I need them to pay the bills.”
“Tell me how much you make at Club R. I’ll cover the difference so you can quit.”
I laughed at his crazy idea. “I can’t let you do that.”
“I want to do it.”
I shook my head. “This is too fast.”
“It doesn’t feel fast. It feels right.”
I agreed with him, but the sensible thing to do would be to take it slower.
“And what happens if we don’t work out? I can’t just quit a job that pays me well. Then I’d be screwed.”
“You don’t think we’ll work out?” The disappointment in his eyes hurt my heart.
“I’m just being cautious. It’s been ten days since we met. I’m saying, let’s give it a little more time.”
“I need to see you before the weekend. You gotta compromise, Red.”
I bit my lower lip. “I work a lot, Leo. I picked up two extra nights to help cover Erin’s portion of the rent. I’ll only have an hour or two in between jobs. We can figure something out for tomorrow, but I work Wednesday night too.”
“Fuck, Red. This majorly sucks.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “Let me help you so we can be together.”
“Maybe this just forces us to slow down so we’re sure we aren’t making a mistake.”
“I know how I feel about you.” He pulled away. “But if you don’t know how you feel about me, then fine. I’ll just see you whenever.” He stalked out of the bathroom.
I hopped off the counter and followed him. “What do you expect from me? I like you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have spent the last four nights with you. Now, you can be angry. That’s fine, but I have to go to work now.” I grabbed my tote bag, which I’d already put my things in, and went to retrieve my makeup from the bathroom. When I came out, Leo was brooding with his back toward me.
I meant what I said. He could be angry, but I didn’t have time to deal with his unreasonable expectations. I had two freaking jobs. Laney and I needed to cover Erin’s portion of the rent for September. Coming up with an extra six hundred dollars wasn’t going to be easy for me, considering I barely made ends meet as it was.
“Okay… I’ll see you…” I paused for a few beats. He didn’t say anything, so I stormed out.
It was totally unfair of him to act like this. Lucky for him, he had wealthy parents who gave him a multi-million dollar home and money. Not that I knew how much money Leo had, but he acted as if he had an unlimited amount.
Well, I didn’t. My parents never gave me money, not even for my birthday or Christmas, like most of my friends’ parents. And they didn’t pay the difference for my double major, dance. So I also had student loans.
I flung my car door open and threw my tote into the passenger seat. Before I could get in, I was suddenly swallowed up by his strong arms.
Leo’s lips were on my neck. “I’m sorry I was an ass. I’m sorry.”
I twisted in his arms and hugged him. “I want to see you every day too. Don’t think I’m okay with my crazy work schedule. Your house is an hour away from mine. It’s just not practical to have us driving all over the place.”
He took my face in his hands and kissed me hard. “Let me decide how much driving I want to do. You’re worth it, Red.” He kissed me again, swiping his tongue to mine and making me weak in the knees.
“Okay. You do what you want to do. I won’t stop you, aside from taking your money. I won’t let you pay my bills.”
He held me for a long second. “Okay. We’ll do it your way… for a little while.”
I laughed, hearing the confidence in his voice. Did he really think I’d let him pay my bills? Crazy man. “Okay. Now I really need to go.”
“I know. Text me where you want to meet for dinner.”
“What?”
“I’m meeting you for dinner. I’m off at six. Pick a place in Malibu, it’ll be closer for me.”
“I guess it is. Okay, I’ll text you.” I popped up on my toes and kissed him but stopped before we got carried away.
Leo closed my door and watched as I drove off.
How long could we last with my ridiculous work schedule?
14
Leo
THIS MORNING I drove Red to the studio, despite her objection. She didn’t work on Sunday and Wednesday nights at Club R, so I made her promise to stay at my house tonight, Wednesday night. I’d pick her up after work, take her to dinner, then we’d go to my place where I’d get my fill of her. Her work schedule wasn’t ideal. Neither was her proud, stubborn mindset, but I admired her even more for holding her ground with me. It showed how strong her convictions were.
I kept an eye on the clock. I was cutting out early so I could watch Red teach her last class of the day. I wanted to see her in her element. The way she talked about her six-year-olds, you’d think they were all her children. She clearly loved teaching, and I selfishly wished it was her only job.
“All right, I’m back.” Chris trotted up the tower. “You are free to go get your lady.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed my backpack and shoved my sports bottle into it.
“So I guess everything is going superbly. She’s a beauty, in a Little Mermaid, Dorothy sort of way. She just needs a little dog named Toto or a crab named Sebastian.”
I laughed. Chris described Red perfectly. “I’ll tell her you said so. But yeah, it’s going better than I could ever dream of with Red. It’s fucking fantastic.”
“Hi, Leo.” A couple of leggy blondes waved.
I nodded, acknowledging them, and changed my shirt.
“You sure you want to give them up?” Chris jerked his chin toward the women.
“Yes.”
“You’re a helluva lot braver than me. Settling down and falling in love is a risk I won’t be taking.”
I snorted. “You say that now…”
“Naw, man, I mean it. You might have found your angel, but that’s not something I will ever let happen.”
“Okay, man.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Neither do you. I’m out. I’ll see you Friday.” I made my way off the tower.
“Yeah. Tell Scarlett I said hi.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and rushed out to my Jeep, anxious to see my girl.
Nine pairs of inquisitive eyes were on me once Red put me in a corner with a few chocolate cookies to ease my nerves. The kids intimidated the crap out of me.
One little brunette raised her h
and.
“Yes, Mikayla?” Red stepped toward the little girl. Her sheer black skirt flowed. Damn, she looked gorgeous in her dance clothes and hair in a bun.
“Is he your boyfriend?” she whispered but not low enough for me to not hear. I stifled a laugh.
Red looked my way as if not knowing what to say. I gave her a sharp nod. Why was she still unsure after we’d talked about being in a committed relationship just last night?
“Yes, Mikayla, he is.”
“Oooh,” the children said in unison and giggled.
My face might have turned cherry red like Red’s.
“Okay, class. Shall we begin? Enough about Mr. Ashford. I want your eyes on me and your feet in first position.” She had a remote in her hand and classical music flowed through the speakers. Hearing her call me Mr. Ashford turned me on big time.
The kids hadn’t been the only ones keeping their eyes on Red. I didn’t take mine off her the entire hour. Her beauty captivated me. She had unlimited patience for the kids, showing them how to correctly point their toes and fix their hands and posture. They stared at her with stars in their eyes, just like me.
One by one, she hugged her students. It melted my heart, observing the remarkable woman I was enamored with and listening to her students.
Bye, Miss Scarlett.
See you next week, Miss Scarlett.
I like your boyfriend, Miss Scarlett.
She whirled around after the last kid left and ran toward me and leaped into my arms. I caught her and spun her around.
“You looked so sexy sitting in the corner eating your cookies. I nearly jumped on your lap about a dozen times. You’re quite irresistible, you know.” She peppered kisses all over my face, making me smile.
“You’re the irresistible one. Now tell me, you didn’t have to bend over half as many times as you did. Am I right? You were taunting me.”
Her cheeks flamed red. “Maybe. Think you’d like to bend me over the table when we get to your place?”
“Fuck, you know I would.” I kissed her, getting all hard for her. My hand glided over her ass and up her back and she squirmed in my arms.
“We better go before you get carried away.”
I laughed. “Me? You’re the one who’s wet, baby. I can smell you.”
“Shut. Up.” She giggled into my neck and bit me. “You can’t watch me anymore. I couldn’t concentrate with you sitting six feet behind me. Dirty, delicious thoughts were running through my head.”
“Hmm, I want to hear all about them.” I put her on her feet. “Get your things so we can go. Chinese or Thai tonight?”
“Thai.” She grabbed her tote bag and clicked off the lights as I followed her out of the building. Red beamed as she looked at me. Dancing made her happy, and that was all I wanted for her.
I helped her into the Jeep, kissing her a little. I got behind the wheel and pulled out of the parking lot with Red’s hand in mine.
Life was better than I ever thought it could be. Friday, she was going to work with me, and I hoped it was uneventful.
15
Scarlett
HIS HANDS SKIMMED over my naked back and down my ass. Morning had arrived much too fast. By the time I got to Leo’s last night after working at Club R, it was after two in the morning. We had sex, of course. We could never get enough of each other.
“Mmm,” I hummed as he nestled between my legs, taking me from behind.
“This is your wake up call, Red.” His warm breath on my ear sent a shiver down to my core. “Are you ready for me?” His finger brushed across my entrance. “Fuck. Slick as ever. Raise your ass a little, baby.”
I did as requested, and he slid right in with little resistance. For as much sex as we had, it wasn’t surprising. I hadn’t had any issues taking in his girth for several days.
“Oh my God, woman. I never get tired of being inside you. Never.”
I smiled because I knew how he felt. “This is the best way to wake up in the morning.”
“If you moved in, I could wake you this way every morning.”
I didn’t respond. Leo knew I wanted to go slow, though it didn’t feel like we were with how much time we spent together. He had effectively wrapped himself around my heart in one week, and I doubted he would let go any time soon, if ever.
He picked up his speed, driving me higher and higher until we shot off together. My orgasm hit and Leo pulled out, catching his own release in a hand towel.
It bugged me that he made sure not to come in me. I had an appointment with my gynecologist next week. It was her earliest available appointment. I’d ask about birth control while there. In the meantime, I guessed this was our routine.
Leo flipped me onto my back and covered me with his body. “I need to get ready for work. Why don’t you sleep a little longer and just come out to the beach for lunch? Bring us some burgers or something.” He kissed my cheek.
“You got it.” I covered my mouth as I yawned.
“Yeah, I want you to rest. You’re looking a little worn out. Too much sex, you think?” He hiked an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” I gyrated my hips, showing him I could go again.
“Damn, you’re every man’s dream girl.”
“But I’m only yours.”
“Fuck yeah, you’re only mine.” He kissed me again. “Okay. Sleep, Red. I’ll see you in a few hours. I’ll leave money for the burgers on the kitchen counter. Chris will have anything that’s a double, extra everything.”
I laughed. “Okay.”
Leo dashed off, and I rolled to my side and fell back to sleep.
The beach wasn’t packed like it was the day of Erin’s funeral two weeks ago. The kids were back in school, but the beaches would fill up over the weekend. I enjoyed the milder temperatures September brought. Even though I didn’t want to live in Montana, I still missed the fall colors.
I trudged through the sand toward Leo’s tower, lugging my beach bag and an insulated lunch bag I picked up at Target before buying the burgers. As much as I was at Leo’s, I wanted to buy my own toiletries to keep at his place. It might be presumptuous of me, but in my gut, I knew we were going to work out.
Unless…
I stopped in my tracks and watched as Leo was talking to three women. His back was to me. The women were laughing about something he must have said. He could be quite the jokester when he wanted to be. It added to his charm.
I exhaled, feeling a fire ignite inside me but not sure what to do. Was I to just approach them and lay claim to my man in front of the hopeful women? Or dart away? Neither response felt right.
Leo loved being a lifeguard. He made no bones about wanting to help people. But I also knew the beach was where he’d met most of his one-night stands before meeting me.
Shit, this was an awkward situation.
“Hey, Scarlett,” Chris yelled and waved.
Leo whirled around and instantly ran toward me. Now it was even more awkward thanks to Chris.
“Red, I was waiting for you.” Leo went to kiss me, but I turned my face. “Baby, I know what you’re thinking.”
“I’m sure you don’t.” I shoved the bag of burgers into his chest. “Your harem seems to be waiting for you. Did I miss a text from you requesting additional burgers for your women?” Jealous much, Scar? And a bitch at that.
He grabbed my arm and dropped the lunch bag in the sand. “Don’t say shit like that ever again. Do you hear me, Red? Don’t. I am with you.” His face was in front of mine as he held me up against his body. “I don’t want anyone else. Do you hear me?”
I swallowed down my emotions. “I don’t like seeing them hanging all over you.”
“They weren’t hanging on me.” He kissed me. “I’m yours, Red.”
“But they don’t seem to care.” I looked around him. The women were still there, waiting for him presumably… and watching us.
“Forget about them. Come on.” He tucked me into his side, grabbed the bag of burgers, and
tugged me along.
“Who’s this, Leo?” one of the blondes asked. She was tall, all legs and pretty.
“My girlfriend, Scarlett.”
Gasps circulated.
“Girlfriend?” asked a different woman, who was equally tall but a brunette.
“Yup.” He kissed my temple. “Scarlett is the best thing to happen to me.” He guided me to his beach chair, ignoring the women.
“Hey, Scarlett,” Chris said with a sheepish grin on his face.
I scowled at him. “You’re a turd.”
“Yeah, I am. But I could tell you were considering running in the opposite direction, and I couldn’t let you dash off. Gotta watch my man’s back here.”
“Traitor. And here I brought you lunch.”
“You were going to take off, baby?” Leo took a seat and tugged me onto his lap. He lifted his sunglasses up to look me in the eyes. “Well?”
“I may have considered leaving.”
“Red. That would have pissed me off.”
“Well, it pissed me off seeing you talking with them.” I jerked my head toward the women as they slinked away. “Not exactly what I wanted to observe while having lunch with my boyfriend. Aren’t you supposed to be working and not hooking up with women?”
He grabbed my face and crushed his lips to mine. I could tell he was angry by the sheer force in his kiss, but it was okay. Leo needed to know how I felt about the beach bunnies.
Chris laughed and I heard the insulated lunch bag’s zipper.
Leo broke the kiss. We were both breathing heavy as we stared into each other’s eyes. Neither of us said anything. I sure as hell wasn’t about to apologize, because I hadn’t done anything.
“Come on, you two. Eat before it gets cold.” Chris nudged Leo’s arm. “Just imagine how you’d feel if you saw her with three guys making googly eyes at her.”
Leo’s jaw ticked.
“And, Scarlett, he was only talking. Leo’s a nice guy. But, babe, he isn’t stupid. He won’t screw up with you. He won’t cheat.”
