Work For It

by Ashley Bostock

  “Angelina,” her dad’s deep voice immediately brought out her frustrations.

  She covered her mouth, hoping the sobs weren’t loud enough to waken Dylan. “Daddy.”

  “You okay?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. Physically fine. I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch with you. Hearing your voice now…I miss you.”

  “Me too. Why are you crying though?”

  She sniffed. “I just hadn’t realized how much I needed you. Is Mom there? I don’t want to talk if she is. I’ve made her pretty upset.”

  “That you have. She’s getting ready for work.” He chuckled.

  “You’ve always been so understanding. I can’t do it anymore. I’m not who she wants.” More tears.

  “It’s okay. Did you think I’d be angry with you or think any less of you for wanting a change? Now, for you waiting this long to call me…that I’m angry about. What am I? A last thought?”

  Lina wiped her eyes and smiled. “Of course not. I’ve just been so upset. I’ve hardly turned my phone on at all.”

  “And you’re not planning on telling me where you’re at?”

  Lina still felt she shouldn’t, but she opened her mouth to tell him. “Dad, come on. Of course. I’m in Colorado. It’s so beautiful here. Well, except for right now. It’s blizzarding out like crazy, but I’m warm and safe. And I mean, the snow is still absolutely gorgeous. I just haven’t been outside for the past few days.”

  “I heard that on the news that the mountains were getting dumped on.”

  “We are.” Lina smiled as she pulled her blinds up on her window. The sun was out but small flakes of snow were flying through the air. “Still are. I wonder when the snow is going to stop. I’ll have to turn the local news on and see when I hang up.”

  “You sound good, Angelina.”

  She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Dad, I feel pretty good. I feel great. Well, except for the nasty emails Mom sent. Don’t even get me started on those. Has she found a replacement?”

  “She’s been pretty quiet since you left. I know it’s bothering her to not have you at the center. But yes, she’s replaced you, so you don’t have to worry about your clients.”

  Lina rolled her eyes. Of course her mother was bothered that Lina wasn’t there doing what her mother wanted her to do. “I didn’t even think about them when I hightailed it out of town, Dad. I—”

  “Listen to me, baby girl. You’ve always looked out for everyone else all your life. You’ve done everything your mother and I have ever asked of you. Sometimes I think we asked too much from you at times. More than a parent should. But when have you ever taken time and looked after yourself? Huh? When’s the last time you did something for yourself? Hell, got a massage? Went out on a date even? Don’t feel bad for doing this. You need this.”

  Her heart swelled. Those damn tears threatened her eyes again. “Really? You think so?”

  Her dad sighed. “I know so. Take this time to yourself. Do what you need. I can already hear the change in your voice. Colorado is doing you some good. Just promise your old man that you’ll keep in touch.”

  “I will. Promise. I won’t wait so long to call again. Love you, Daddy.”

  “Love you, Angelina.”

  She ended the call and released a breath of relief. It felt better than she imagined to hear her father say those things. She hadn’t known she needed it. But she sure as hell felt ten times better than before she’d called. Even better than she had with all the writing she’d done.

  She’d written a lot last night and was proud of her progress. Not even once had she become distracted by Dylan’s presence. Total lie. Somehow the male character in her book had morphed into Dylan. He went from being a normal guy to a man with six-pack abs and that superb stomach muscle that defined Dylan’s lower half. He had green eyes now—she’d gone back and changed them from brown to green—and his face was now covered with facial hair.

  She was a lost cause.

  Yes, Dylan intrigued her way more than she should allow. She was in a serious drought of any sexual activity and any attention from a man. She shouldn’t be letting him take over her mind the way he was. Which was why she’d had to get away from him last night. She knew she was in trouble when she saw the bulge in his pants and her hands had literally moved to reach out for it.

  It.

  His cock looked so big beneath his athletic pants. The firm outline of it had left her body feeling things she hadn’t felt in an awful long time. Do or don’t. He wasn’t the worst looking man that could make her feel like this. Her body ached now. She clenched herself together, hoping to put a stop to her desires, but the tight squeeze against her clit only fueled them.

  Shaking off that thought, she steeled her mind for the day. Since it looked like she was no longer into the idea of kicking him out, the next best thing was to accept him. Possibly get to know more about him. Holding her phone in hand, she decided to look him up on the internet. Only to be nosy and take a look at his gyms.

  She typed his first and last name in the browser and added, Denver gym owner.

  The white line beneath the browser bar was slow. Barely growing at all. Damn service up here wasn’t the best. She’d never connected her phone to the condo Wi-Fi and realized there was no real need to now. Especially—

  “Uh, Lina?”

  Lina dropped her phone onto her bed as if she’d been caught watching porn. Her hand flew to her chest. “Crap. You scared the life out of me!”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said through her shut door. “I’m making breakfast. Would you care to join me?”

  She walked over and opened the door. Dylan’s hair was still rumpled from sleep. He wore a red t-shirt that hung loosely from his frame and those black athletic pants that looked softer than the Snuggle fabric softener bear. His lopsided grin did crazy things to her insides including the dull ache that was still present between her thighs.

  She couldn’t help but smile back. “Sure thing. I’m not one to say no to someone cooking for me. What are you making?”

  “Eggs.”

  “ I have no eggs,” Lina said.

  She followed Dylan down the stairs, watching his tight butt all the way into the kitchen. She wasn’t ashamed. What the heck? A girl can’t look?

  “I got the eggs from our nosy neighbor.”

  “That was nice…and unexpected. So what are you making?”

  “Scrambled eggs and bacon. Salsa on top,” Dylan said as he began cracking eggs into a bowl. “That is if you like it on top.”

  “Oh yum, I absolutely do. That’s my favorite.”

  “Is that so?” Dylan’s husky voice made her take more notice in what he was asking.

  Her cheeks burned. “Are we still talking about breakfast?”

  Dylan shook his head slightly. His eyes alight with fire. “Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Dessert. Midnight snack. All of the above.”

  That dull ache that she thought had gone away was back in full force. Pulsing and thumping between her legs like it had a life of its own. It did have a life of its own. She was left speechless. She tried to think of something snappy and heated to say. But as hard as she tried, she couldn’t think of anything.

  “You like dessert. Don’t you, Lina?” His eyes raked over her body sending shivers to her toes. His cocky grin stayed put. “The look in your eyes right now is agreeing with me one hundred percent. What about a midnight snack? Do you mind waking up for that?”

  Lina swallowed. She shook her head. “I don’t mind waking up for a midnight snack.”

  “It’s more fun to have someone to enjoy the midnight snack with, right?” Dylan raised his eyebrows innocently, and Lina could only imagine what she looked like. She was ready to have an orgasm right there at the stove. And he wasn’t even touching her!

  The eggs were practically scrambled in the pan, the scent going straight to her brain. Her tummy growled in anticipation, but she couldn’t decide if that was from being hun
gry for food or him.

  She decided the best thing to do was to not address his flirty banter. Or the tingling sensation against her clitoris. She moved away from the stove, positioning herself so she could glimpse outside.

  “Not snowing much anymore,” Lina said.

  Dylan cleared his throat. “I saw that. You ready to go outside and play today? After I work out.”

  Lina turned to him. “Do you have to work out every day?”

  “If I want to keep looking the way I do, then yeah. You want to give it a go this morning with me? I promise I’ll go easy on you. Easy until you’re ready for me to go hard.”

  “You just can’t help yourself with the sexual innuendos, can you?” Lina asked, shaking her head in exasperation.

  “What? No sexual innuendos for me. No sexual anything for me, actually.”

  Lina frowned. “The bet.”

  Dylan busied himself with dishing their food onto plates before answering. Lina poured them orange juice to go with their coffee, and they sat down at the table together.

  “Yup and I’m not going to lose.”

  For some inexplicable reason, Lina’s insides felt as if they were crumbling into despair. Why did it bother her so much? Was she subconsciously planning to have sex with Dylan? It shouldn’t bother her at all.

  But it bothered her a lot.

  “Don’t look so sad, sweetheart. There are plenty of things we can do that don’t involve fucking.”

  “I’m not sad. It’s just hard to believe anyone would agree to something so stupid,” Lina said angrily. Why was she angry about the whole situation? She was acting like this was new news, and it wasn’t.

  “I know. But it is true. Needless to say, I’m going to win.”

  “Who would ever be stupid enough to do that though?” It was sex after all. Sex was pretty much the greatest feeling in the world, and what person would give it up when they didn’t have to? And why was she even rehashing this? Why wasn’t she taking his words at face value? Because the idea was too absurd.

  “It was a pretty stupid thing to agree upon. I wasn’t thinking at the time,” Dylan said.

  Lina frowned. It was hard to believe, and she wasn’t sure why he would lie, but she felt foolish for believing the absurdity of what he was telling her. A guy like him? No sex? Her eyes wanted to roll so hard. “Still not sure if I believe you or if that’s just some ploy to try to get me in bed.”

  Dylan shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean by that, but I thought it was brilliant at the time. But being stuck in this place with you definitely has me second guessing. But for the record, I’m open to exploring.”

  Lina’s nipples tightened. “Exploring?”

  “Yeah. My tongue is magic. My hands.” He pushed both hands out in front of him and spread his fingers apart, eyeing them like they were the next best thing. “My hands will strum your body like a harp.”

  Somehow she didn’t doubt they would. She cleared her throat. “When is your bet over exactly?”

  “Seven days, sweetheart.”

  She hadn’t realized she was holding her breath.

  Seven days.

  Hmmm. Seven days. She could live with that. If anything, it gave them time to get to know one another better.

  Dylan set his fork down. “Are you going to let me show you all the tricks my tongue can do, Lina? Prime you for my cock.”

  Dirty talk. It heated her lady parts. An image of her on her back with Dylan between her legs making slobbery sucking sounds against her clit flitted through her mind. Yes. She wanted that so bad. Except she still hadn’t showered or shaved her legs. There was no way she could allow Dylan anywhere close to her.

  “Do you like my dirty talk? Your neck is red; your cheeks pink as hell.”

  She nodded.

  “Is your pussy wet now? Sitting at breakfast and I bet your tight cunt is drowning in her own juices.”

  Holy shit. Lina squeezed her legs together. He was making this too difficult. She was going to need a cold shower. Which made her wonder exactly how many cold showers Dylan had taken for the past seven months. If his dirty talk was any indication, he was sexually charged and had needed more than one. It thrilled her to know that. She loved it.

  “Tell me it is. Tell me your cunt is drowning in her juices.”

  Lina swallowed, sure the sound could be heard in the tiny condo that was suddenly too hot. “It’s drowning.”

  Dylan gave her a sly smile. He shook his head slowly. “Uh-uh. Say the exact words. I want to hear you say it.”

  “My—” She stopped. She didn’t ever talk this way. Ever. She looked away, trying to muster up the courage to say the damn silly words. Cunt. There. She’d thought it. She could say it out loud.

  She met his gaze. His eyes were half-mast, and she wondered if his dick was at least hard from all this talk. It couldn’t just be her, could it?

  His brows rose. Waiting. Watching. His chest expanded with each breath.

  She bit her lip. Licked where she bit it. “My cunt is drowning in her own juices.” Her voice came out shaky, breathy. Not at all familiar to her ears. Her clit thumped a staccato pulse between her thighs as she waited for Dylan’s next move.

  He let out a chuckle. “That was by far the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard a woman say. I’m about two seconds away from saying to hell with this bet and sliding you across the table right now and sinking my thick cock between your legs.”

  Oh my. Not what she was envisioning for breakfast.

  Certainly not opposed to it either.

  He stood suddenly breaking the moment. “I’ve gotta work out. Come with me?”

  Lina tried to keep pace with him. A great breakfast. Then dirty talk. Now on to working out. Not wanting to lose their connection, she nodded. “I’ll try it. Promise you’ll go easy on me?”

  He pumped his fist. “Yeah! You have my word. I’ll go easy on you. This is awesome. Let’s do it.”

  Thirty minutes later, Lina was regretting her moment of weakness when she said yes to joining Dylan for a workout.

  Because damn, it was tough.

  He wasn’t putting her through anything like what he did. He was true to his word on going easy on her, but she was still struggling.

  “Can we quit?” she whined as she did four modified push-ups.

  “Almost, sweetheart. Another superset and we’re done.”

  Superset. She couldn’t keep track of all the jargon he was using. Sweat pooled in her tank top beneath her breasts and down her stomach. She could feel it between her butt cheeks even though she had on a thong.

  “Alright. Last round. The squats. Calf raises and then the pushups. You’ve got this. Come on.”

  The agony was too much, but Lina ignored it. She pressed through the horrendous final moments and finished their routine. Her breath came in fast bursts.

  After the push-ups she dropped to the floor. “That. Was. Horrible,” she barely managed.

  “You did great!” She felt Dylan’s hands creep across her sides. Next thing she knew, she was flipped over on her back staring at the ceiling fan. Dylan came into view above her.

  “I feel like I might throw up.” She sighed.

  “It’ll pass. I promise. Just take even breaths and let your heart rate slow. You have great form. That’s the number one thing when beginning fitness. You have to learn the proper mechanics. You have to learn the right way to do things. Otherwise, you’ll end up hurting yourself.”

  He sounded so smart. She’d been impressed throughout their entire workout with the way he spoke. So familiar with what he was teaching. It made her look at him in a new light. She knew before that he owned gyms, but she hadn’t realized the extent of what physical fitness meant to him. It was in his soul.

  She sat up just as Dylan shed his tank top and got on the floor next to her.

  “Even though I’m dying right now, I’m impressed. You’re very knowledgeable. You clearly enjoy this stuff.”

  Dylan looked away from her. �
��Trying. This was the first time I genuinely enjoyed teaching someone about it in a long time. Like, somehow I need to get back to that feeling. That’s what I’ve lost.”

  “How do you get it back?” Lina placed her hand across the top of his. “You can’t not do this. I mean, not because you own a few gyms, but because this is you, Dylan. Granted, I don’t know you that well, but you have this fire in you, this passion over what you know and how you teach it. I’ve never experienced something like that before with someone.”

  “Thanks. I don’t know how to get it back. It’s gotten so monotonous. So expected.”

  “I can relate to all of that. Is there a way to try something new? Within the gym, of course. Just something different.”

  Dylan squeezed her hand. “Every night since I got here, I have this same dream, but I can’t make shape of it yet. Like it’s telling me something. Like God is telling me something.”

  “I’m confident it’ll come to you.”

  “Maybe some foreplay would help.” Dylan nudged Lina’s shoulder with his in a joking manner.

  “What? I need to shower,” she said in horror.

  In a matter of seconds, Dylan was on top of her. Her backside pressed into the plush carpet as Dylan’s mouth hovered above hers. “I don’t care about that.”

  “What? You should. I care. I stink. I haven’t showered since the morning you showed up here.”

  “You’re kidding?” he said. “That was three days ago.”

  Lina shook her head. Her heart in her throat. Her hair probably smelled like stale sleep or dry shampoo at the very minimum. Her deodorant was only masking her smell temporarily. Her legs were itchy from stubble beneath her tight leggings. Her thong was soaked with sweat. Add the sweaty and intense workout they’d just experienced together, and she was a wreck.

  Dylan leaned forward while still holding himself up on his elbows. “I don’t care,” he whispered. His lips brushed against hers. She groaned from the sweet sensation. The heady aroma of fire and salty sweat filled her mind. His lips touched hers again. His hands came up to her face to cup her cheeks.

  She liked when he did that. It made her feel cherished. Like he cared for her.