“What’s so funny?”
They quieted down with occasional snorts coming from one of the ones I hadn’t met yet. “Nothing. Girl talk.”
Faith was fidgeting. I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not. Maybe she was excited to see me, or maybe she wished I wasn’t there. “These are my friends, Shawn and Carrie.” I left it up to her to introduce her friends.
Faith stuck out her hand to Carrie’s offered one and clasped it. “It’s nice to meet you both. This is Gracie, Susie, and Chloe. We’re having a girl’s night out. The wings here are great. Not that I usually eat that kind of stuff. Really, I don’t. I just needed—”
Luckily, Chloe saved the day. I’d been around Faith long enough already to know that I hated it when she talked about herself and anything that had to do with food or size or whatever. She was perfect just the way she was.
“You guys want to pull up some chairs? The table behind us is clearing out.”
“We don’t want to intrude on your girl’s night,” Shawn said. And then grunted as my fucking foot came down hard on his. I most assuredly did want to intrude on their girl’s night.
“Thanks, we’d love to.” I started pulling chairs over for Shawn and Carrie before either one of them said anything else. There wasn’t much room left, so I squeezed in as close to Faith as I could get. Yes, I’ve got the moves!
After we ordered another pitcher for the table and some more wings, Faith quietly whispered to me. “Thank you for the flowers.”
I whispered just as softly back to her. “You’re welcome. Someone like you should always have flowers.” Taking the chance of her not wanting to make a scene, I put my arm on the back of her chair and lightly rubbed her back.
“So, we already know what Joe does for a living.” Chloe threw me a wink before addressing my friends. “What keeps you two busy during the day?”
“I work for the firm that Joe used to work for, and Carrie runs our local animal shelter.”
“You’re an escort too? And you’re married? Wow, Carrie. You’ve got to be the most secure woman on the planet.” Faith’s outburst explained what I already knew. She’d never date me while I was still an escort.
Carrie laughed as she explained. “Oh, heck no. There’s no way I’d share Shawn with anyone.” I gently kicked her under the table. “Sorry, Joe, but it’s true. No sane woman would date an escort.” Turning back to Faith, she began to tell her about the firm Shawn worked for before I had a chance to change the subject.
“No. He works for Starling Architecture. Joe and Shawn both worked there all through high school, but Joe left after everything happened. Shawn stayed through the aftermath, though.”
“Aftermath? Starling Architecture?” Faith’s brows rose as she spared a glance for me.
“It was my father and uncle’s firm. I had a disagreement with my uncle and left. It happens. I didn’t want to work there anymore. After that, I went to another architectural firm and worked there through my first year of college, until Perfect Ten found me.” I really didn’t want to go down the road our conversation was going. If I were lucky enough to be in a relationship with Faith, I would tell her my entire life story, but right now, she didn’t need to know the extent of my family skeletons.
Carrie got it and changed the subject. “What do you do, Faith?”
“I’m an accountant. It’s really rather boring, but I’ve always been good with numbers, so it just fit.” There it was again. She was constantly apologizing for herself. That was going to change.
“It may not be an exciting job to some people, but I could never do it. All those numbers would drive me nuts. I’m lucky if I can balance my checkbook. Luckily, I don’t do it much.” Faith turned to me with a truly pained expression.
“Did you seriously just tell an accountant that you don’t balance your checkbook? Geez, Joe. Now I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“I’m sure I could help you sleep tonight.” Dammit, these things just came out of my mouth. Before I could make it into a lighthearted joke, Chloe gave a whoop and banged on the table.
“Ha! Oh, I like you, Joe Starling. I think you’re perfect for our Faith. Don’t give up on her. She’s starting to cave.”
“Chloe!” Faith’s hand reached out to slap Chloe on the arm, but never connected. She was already up, throwing some money on the table.
“Well, sorry to run, guys, but I have a beautiful ballerina to see—and an asshole, unfortunately.” She shook Shawn’s and Carrie’s hands, gave Joe a slap on his rump, and off she went.
Faith took a big gulp of her beer and apologized to all of us, though it wasn’t needed. “Sorry about her. She’s wound pretty tight, but we decided long ago to keep her.”
“Nothing to apologize for. I, for one, love her. Especially if she’s on my side. So, what do you say? Have dinner with me tomorrow night.” Come on, say yes!
“All right. You win, but I can’t tomorrow. Friday?”
Fuck. I have a job Friday night and Saturday during the day and into the early evening. “I, ah, can’t Friday or Saturday.”
“Oh, right. You work those nights, don’t you? No problem. Thanks for the reminder. I almost forgot what you did for a living.” And there was the backbone she showed now and then. She shook her head and put her hand on my arm. Such a small touch, but I could feel it sear through my body. “Look, I’m sorry, Joe. I’m trying not to judge you, really, but I just can’t date someone who sees other women.” She put her hand up right in front of my face when I started to speak. “Seriously, forget it. I know it’s just a job to you, but I am not a strong enough woman to share my date.”
For the first time in my life, I was ashamed of how I’d earned my money. I can’t say I wouldn’t do it again, because, let’s face it, being able to fuck so many women with no ties was just about heaven for all those years, but I hated seeing the disapproval in Faith’s eyes. I gently took her elbow and asked her to talk with me in private. “Just give me a couple of minutes to talk to you. Then I’m going to ask you out one more time. If you say no, I’ll go away. Forever.”
She glanced sideways toward Grace, and at her nod and gentle shove, she got up and allowed me to pull her farther away from the jukebox to a darkened corner, sandwiched between the end of the bar and an old phone booth. It was marginally quieter.
“Okay. First things first. If this might be the last chance I have to be with you…” I kissed her. It was a need so great that I couldn’t have stopped myself if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to. At first, I think she was too shocked to respond, but then…then, she responded.
I had her pushed up against the wall so I could touch as much of her as possible. From head to toe, we touched. Using anything I could think of to give her pleasure, I put my thigh between hers and added gentle pressure. My cock was already hard for her. It almost always was, and I pushed into her so that she could feel what she did to me.
“God, Faith. You always taste so good.” Tonight she was a mixture of spice from the hot sauce and cold beer, intermingled with her own unique flavor. I couldn’t get enough of her. My tongue slipped past her lips when she tried to pull away, and I had her. The first lick of the inside of her mouth melted away all her resistance.
Her arms, which were pinned between us, slipped up to wind around my neck. The more I kissed her, the deeper I went, and the more she pushed her breasts against me. Little moans began at the back of her throat, and she started sliding her pussy against my thigh. Fuck… Yes…
If we were alone, I would have had her pussy in my mouth in two seconds flat. Fuck, I remember her taste and I wanted more—her juices on my lips—her hands grabbing fistfuls of my hair to push me harder into her as she came around my tongue.
Of their own accord, my hands wandered from her hips down to her bottom, grabbing her and grinding my cock against her. All the while, we were both frantic with our kisses. Just like before, we were so caught up in each other, our teeth banged together, and I tried to force my
self to slow down, but she’d have none of that. As I pulled slightly away, she whimpered and pulled me back, slipping her hands to get to the hem of my shirt. At the contact of her hands on my bare skin, my cock jumped and wanted out. And then in, and then out again, and then—you get the picture.
I’m not sure either of us realized we were still in a public place until the bartender interrupted us. “Hey, guys. If you’re going to give us a show, you might as well get up on the bar so everyone can see, eh?” He chuckled as we broke apart, Faith’s hand going up to her bruised lips. Swollen lips. Most beautiful fucking lips on the planet. And I did that. It was me who caused that lustful look on her face. I put that passion and fire in her eyes. Fuck yeah, I did.
“Oh my God. What was that? Why do you make me forget everything when you touch me? It’s maddening.” Amid the catcalls from around the bar, she fiddled with her hair and straightened her blouse.
“That was a kiss to end all kisses, I’d say.” I wasn’t entirely sure how to play this, but my eyebrow rose with a confidence I didn’t completely feel. I was definitely feeling a tad smug at her reaction to me, but this was Faith. She was skittish at best, downright negative toward me at worst.
When she turned around, ready to run back to her friends, I remembered why I wanted to talk to her in the first place. Kind of wiped the smugness right out of me. I think I only had one final chance to win her over. “Wait. I’m sorry. Christ, Faith, I’m sorry. It’s just that I lose my mind around you. I honestly don’t think you can blame me. You’re too…too…you.”
Was she going to stay or go? God, I just wished she’d say something. She shook her head but stayed put. “What did you want to talk about?”
When I stepped closer to her again, she held me back with her hands. “Uh-uh. No way. You stay over there and talk.”
I nodded in agreement, even as my feet shifted just an inch or two closer. “I wanted to tell you that I quit. I quit Perfect Ten. You won’t have to worry about me being with other women. I don’t want to—I just want to be with you.”
Her reaction was not what I’d expected. I mean, I’m not so conceited that I thought she’d jump up and down for joy or anything, but she was obviously not happy with my news.
She lifted her right palm to her forehead and scanned the room, looking anywhere and everywhere but at me. “What? You quit your job? You can’t do that because of me, Joe. That’s crazy!” Her hand slipped down to cover her eyes for a second before coming down to slap her thigh. “No way. I’m not going to be the reason you give up your job. I mean, you’re really successful there. You make a ton of money! No.”
“Listen. I don’t need to make that kind of money. I’ve saved and saved over the years. With my investments, I wouldn’t have to ever work again if I lived my life right. You aren’t one hundred percent of the reason I quit, Faith. It’s more than that. It’s even just the idea of you.” She was still shaking her head and inching away from me. To be honest, it was starting to piss me off.
“Stop! Jesus. I don’t get it. I know you’re attracted to me. That’s pretty obvious. And it’s equally obvious that I’m attracted to you. Christ, Faith! I’ve been walking around with a cock hard enough to pound nails with since the wedding. You do that to me. And I want that. I want one woman to share things with, make memories with—is that so hard to believe?”
“I don’t know, Joe. I really don’t know you. We had one date and then…well, you know.”
I chuckled at her. How could I not? Even with the passion that explodes between us, she still blushes thinking of that hotel room. “Yes. I do know. Give me a chance, Faith. Just say yes, and give me a chance.”
Barbie, standing at the bar waiting for her drink order, leaned over and said to Faith, “Honey, if you don’t take him, I will. You’re crazy if you let such a fine piece of man walk away.”
She grabbed her tray with one hand and pinched my ass with the other on her way by. “Let me know if you can’t talk her into it, sugar. I’m here all night, and I’d never say no to someone like you.”
I gave the sassy waitress a friendly wink as she continued on her way and turned my attention back to Faith. “So? This is my last time, I promise.” Yeah, right. “Can I take you to dinner? Or lunch? Or a walk on the beach?”
“Fine. After you’re done dating other women.”
Goddammit to hell. That wasn’t fair. I’d given Stan two more weeks! “But I still have five more jobs I have to do, and the last one’s two weeks from now. Actually, it’s almost two and a half weeks. Let me take you to lunch tomorrow.”
“No, Joe. I’m going to be totally honest with you. It’s super flattering that you want to go out with me. I mean, I don’t get asked out by guys who look like you. But I’m trying to put myself first, and part of that is sticking to my guns about this. I will not date someone who goes out with other women.” Wow. She really meant it. She might be wishy-washy when it came to my kisses—I could make her give in to the chemistry between us—but she sure wasn’t going to budge on this. Good for her. Bad for me.
“Fine, but I have two things before I go. One—you need to stop judging me on my appearance. I can’t help being good-looking. You’ll have to take that up with my mother. And two—I will be calling you every day so we can start getting to know each other. You better answer your phone.” That was all there was to say. So, without any further comments, I grabbed her a little more forcefully than I probably should have and kissed her just once more. Hard. Then I walked out, leaving my friends staring after me with big, goofy smiles on their faces. Especially Carrie.
Chapter 16
The next day, I woke up early. It took a lot of willpower to make myself wait until nine o’clock to call Faith. I wondered if she’d even answer the phone. She did, and on the first ring.
“Hello, Joe.”
“Good morning. How was your night?”
“Well, I got manhandled by some overbearing guy in a bar, but aside from that, it was fine.”
I was glad to hear the humor in her voice. And pleasantly surprised that she actually picked up my call. “Really? Did you enjoy it? Sounds pretty hot.” I wondered if she’d engage in phone sex. Probably not. And definitely not while she was at work, I’m sure.
“It wasn’t horrible.”
“Wasn’t horrible, huh? Tell me what you liked.” All on its own, my voice dropped an octave. “Did you like the way my thigh pressed between your legs? Did you like the feel of my cock against you?” Jesus, this girl got me going. My sweats were already tenting.
“Joe! I’m at work.”
“Yeah, and I’m not. Want to know what I’m doing right now?”
“Um, no?” Ah, see? The good girl wanted to say no, but the other one, the one who was so hot it was like holding molten lava when she was in my arms, wanted me to tell her exactly what I was doing.
“You don’t sound sure. That sounded like a question, so I’m going to tell you.” I let out a breath as my hand stroked my cock through my pants. “I’m sitting here at my kitchen table, thinking about you. Not about last night, but about the night in the hotel room. I’m thinking about you spread before me like a feast fit for a king.”
“Uh-huh.”
“More? I want you to say it. You want more? You want me to tell you how hot you make me, Faith?”
“Faith? Are you in here?” Dammit. Someone was calling to her in the background.
She gave me a very unsteady, “Hold on, Joe.”
All I could hear after that was muffled conversation. “Joe, I have to go. Um, I’ll talk to you later?”
“You can count on it. One more thing before you go…”
“Yes?” Her voice was huskier than when she first answered the phone. I’d bet my last year’s income she was wet as hell for me.
“I just want you to know that I’m going to go take a shower now. And I’m going to stroke my cock, thinking about your gorgeous body until I can’t take it anymore. And when I come, it’s going to be your
name on my lips.” I ended the call before she could reply. Then I took my shower and made good on my promise. And that’s the last time I’m jerking off to thoughts of her. Next time, she’s going to be touching me in some form…dammit.
I didn’t call her again that night, but the next day, I had an invitation hand delivered to her at work. It was an invitation I was pretty sure she wouldn’t say no to, and it was dated for two weeks from Sunday—when I would be officially unemployed.
When I had told her about my dog, Heidi, I noticed how her eyes lit up. Not everyone has that look when I talk about my pup. So, I set up a private picnic and tour at Lions, Tigers, and Bears. It was a place that means a lot to me, and one I donate to regularly.
Not only does the organization rescue lions, tigers, and bears, but they also have a menagerie of other animals, like horses, pigs, llamas, and goats, just to name a few.
LT&B didn’t have just a run-of-the-mill zoo-type of setting either. It encompassed almost one hundred acres of land and dated all the way back to the mid-1800s. I love it there. The huge, wide open spaces, the occasional roar of a big cat, and the millions of stars that fill the skies at night give me a sense of peace that I don’t quite get anywhere else. I couldn’t wait to share it with her. But first, I had to get through the next two weeks. Awesome.
Chapter 17
The first of my last five dates was a thirty-two-year-old former stripper. Fucking fantastic. Her name was Destiny (I swear to God that was her name), and I was taking her to the drag strip. Why someone would need to hire an escort to watch cars race was beyond me, but here I was, on my way to meet her at the track.
As soon as I drove through the archway into the parking lot, I saw her. Even if I hadn’t seen her picture, I’m pretty sure I could have picked her out. She looked like she was still in the stripping business, and if I was the old Joe, I would have been on that like a stallion to a seasoned mare. She had lush chestnut hair that fell down her back in soft waves, almost reaching her hips. Her store-bought tits strained against the confines of three tiny chains that crisscrossed in the front and struggled to hold her top together. I could clearly see her nipples poking through, making it abundantly clear that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Painted-on leather pants sculpted her magnificent ass and long, tapered legs. And I felt nothing. The biggest fucking machine known to Perfect Ten—felt nothing. Scary shit.
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