Perfect Ten (9 page)

“Oh God. That feels so good.”

“Good,” I breathed out between kisses. “Just relax and feel.” I continued my onslaught and let my thumb slip inside her panties. Her knees were trembling as I ran it along the folds of her pussy.

She was so wet that it was driving me mad. All I could think about was tasting her, lapping up the abundant juice I could feel all over her pussy. I was starting to lose control again. She was too much for me. Me. Joe fucking Starling, brought to heel by a five-foot-six bit of woman.

I picked her up and raced over to the bed, almost angry at how much I wanted this woman. Even knowing I wouldn’t have her the way I wanted to that night, I practically threw her on the bed, as I climbed up and over her, fusing our lips together before she had a chance to stop me.

My hands went right back to her legs, and I pulled her dress up. She was grabbing me frantically and thrusting her hips upward. I don’t even think she was aware of it. I’ve never seen a woman so hot for me, not even slutty Sophia.

Her inhibitions were surely lowered thanks to the copious amounts of liquor she’d consumed. “Please, Joe. I need…something.”

I wish I could say I calmly and slowly kissed my way down her body and smoothly took her thong off with my teeth, but that’s not how it happened. What I did was grabbed it with both hands and tore it off, pulling her down to the edge of the bed as my knees hit the floor. When I got my first taste of that sweet pussy, I felt the low groan that left my throat in every part of my body. She tasted even better than I’d imagined.

She stiffened with shock and need. I made myself relax my hold on her and gave her long, sensuous licks stopping on her clit, sucking gently on that perfect nub.

“Joe. I’ve never—”

Her speech was cut off when I blew on her sensitive pussy, immediately following with another sharp, quick suck. It was entirely possible that I was having the best night of my life. Although my cock was ungodly hard and wanting.

“Ah Jesus.” My smile widened as her legs involuntarily did the same, giving me greater access to what I wanted. I took full advantage and doubled my efforts for her pleasure. I wanted the wedding party, seven floors down, to hear her scream when she came.

Her hands gripped and twisted the bedding the closer she got to release. I backed off quickly. It was her begging that I was waiting for. Raining light kisses over her heated flesh got me a sharp tug on my hair as she grabbed a fistful and pulled me back toward her core.

“Finish me, Joe. Please. Finish me.”

Good enough.
I sank back into her with abandon. My tongue lapped at her while I gently inserted one finger into her opening. One second, then two went by as I allowed her to get used to me inside her. Slowly I slid another finger in, my cock twitching as I did. I crooked both fingers, moving them until I found that perfect spot that brought a surprised gasp from Faith’s lips.

“Oh God, Joe. Yes. Yes! Don’t stop.” Faster and faster, my fingers went until I felt her tightening around me. Her breaths were short and shallow, and I sucked hard on her clit as my fingers continued to fuck her. “Jesus. Yes. God, yes. Ah fuck… Joe!” She roared my name.

Honest to God, I almost came right then. Of course, that could be because I’d freed my cock sometime during her moaning and was pumping it hard and fast. I didn’t let up on her yet since she was still making lovely mewling sounds of pleasure. All of a sudden, my orgasm sprang up on me, and I moaned into her still-contracting pussy as I came onto the side of the bedspread.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, what was that? I’ve never. I have never had an orgasm like that. Wow. I really hope I remember it in the morning.”

She glanced down at me with a horrified look on her face. “Did I say that out loud?”

My head was still resting on Faith’s thigh while I recovered from the intense orgasm that had just ripped through my body. When I felt her legs sliding down the side of the bed, I peeked up at her to find her asleep. Just like that. One screaming orgasm and then nothing.

Chuckling, I got to my feet, stuffed myself back in my pants, and moved her so that she was lying fully on the bed.

After I cleaned up the mess I’d made, I stood staring down at Faith, wondering what to do about her dress. If she woke up naked, I’m pretty sure she’d be mad at me for undressing her. But should I let her sleep in her dress? I mean, we were just about as intimate as two people can get, weren’t we? Sweet heaven, I could still taste her. What I wouldn’t give to climb up on that bed and play with her some more, ending with my cock buried balls-deep inside that magnificent wet pussy.

Instead of doing what my body yearned for, I wound up grabbing a beer from the mini bar, sitting down in the oversized chair next to the bed, and watched her sleep. It bothered me a little that I was content to simply watch her sleep. I’d spent all of eight hours or so with this woman, but yet I took notice of the way the sparkles on her gown kept winking at me with each tiny movement she made. I paid attention to how her still-kiss-swollen lips parted as she breathed the breath of the slightly inebriated. When she turned onto her side, her dress twisted around her legs. She moaned her frustration while she kicked and tugged ineffectively at the material. I got up and unzipped it for her, thinking only of her comfort, and then left her in peace—for about five seconds. Resistance was futile. My clothes hit the floor quicker than a whore pockets her money, before I divested her of her dress.

Then the damnedest thing happened. With both of us under the covers, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until the first rays of sunlight filtered in through a small slit in the curtains. Insomnia is an ever-present pest in my life, so sleeping all night was a rarity, and a treat. But the best part was that when I woke, Faith was still wrapped up snug in my arms. I think I could get used to that. It was a softer side of me that I don’t often feel where women are concerned. Of course, I was also involuntarily rocking my formidable hard-on against Faith’s ass. So, okay… Baby steps.

I
woke up
by degrees
. As soon as I was aware of my surroundings, I noticed two things. One, Joe’s cock was riding the seam of my bottom, and two, I was ready to hurl. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which one to address first. My body made the decision for me.

“Oh God.”

Joe stirred behind me, rubbing my belly as he said, “I liked the way you said it better last night.”

Crap!
I was going to puke. I could feel it coming up. Oh my God. My dress was draped over the chair by the window. Awesome—I was naked. How was I going to make it to the bathroom? “Shit.” I made a bare-naked run for it. There was little choice for me.

The bathroom door slammed shut as I lunged for the porcelain god just in time. The more I vomited, the sicker I felt. What a disgusting way to wake up. I swore I’d never drink again. Not ever.

To my eternal mortification, Joe walked into the bathroom. I’m sure the sight of my bare bottom sticking up at him as I heaved into the toilet bowl was a picture he’d not soon forget. Me? I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth. Just as I was sure I would die of embarrassment, I felt myself being covered. A robe maybe?

“Aw, Faith. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should have put the trashcan next to the bed for you.” His voice was soothing, and I wanted him to keep talking. The sound of the toilet flushing roared in my ears. Everything was amplified in my overly sensitive head. He gently wrapped his arms around me and helped me up. God, I just wanted him to leave. I already owed him another bazillion dollars or something for staying all night. Why wouldn’t he go?

“Thank you. Please go now. I’ll send you a check for staying all night.”

“What? I told you I wanted to stay. That was me, not my job.”

“Oh, is that how it works? You don’t make your dates pay extra if they have sex with you?” I knew I was being catty, but I was so sick, I didn’t care. With Joe’s help, I made it back to the bed. All I wanted was for the room to stop spinning. Just as I was about to lie down, Joe stopped me.

He ignored my questions too. “No. Don’t lie down, Faith. Here, sit in this chair, and I’ll get you some water.”

Maybe he had a point. My head didn’t swim so much when I wasn’t horizontal. I drank a quarter of the bottle and pushed it away. Time would tell whether the water was going to stay down or not. “Thank you. Now please go.” He needed to leave. I needed him to leave.

“Let me stay until you’re feeling better. I can take care of you.”

“Why, Joe? What’s the point? You did your job and then some.” Wait. And then some. My head snapped up to his, making me dangerously dizzy again.

Holy shit!
It all came back in a rush. Kissing in the elevator, more kissing in the room, Joe ripping my thong, and—oh my God!—me screaming his name while he—oh God. I buried my face in my hands, embarrassed at the memory of what I let him do to me last night. And now he’s seen my entire, huge body. Ugh.

Joe came over to my chair and got down on his knees in front of me, taking my hands in his. “Look, Faith. This is new to me. I don’t want to just go away and never see you again. Let me spend the day with you. We can talk and just relax. When you’re ready, I’ll get you something to eat, and you’ll feel better. Okay?”

“No, Joe. I’m sorry, but you need to go. I’m sorry about last night too. Alcohol is not my friend, and I will not be getting together with it ever again.”

The look he gave me made me kind of sad. He looked disappointed or maybe confused. His lips were compressed together, his brows were furrowed, and his head was tilted. It was a mish-mash of emotion. “Faith, let me stay. I want to get to know you.”

I honestly saw no point in getting to know him. He was way out of my league. Why didn’t he see that? My family certainly saw it. And just for argument’s sake, let’s say I agreed to get to know him—when would I see him? When he had an occasional night off? Or maybe after he’d been with another woman? No, thank you.

“Please, Joe. Go. I’m sure you have a beautiful woman to escort somewhere tonight.” I was starting to feel somewhat human again, but I needed to go back to sleep. “I’ll make excuses for you to my family.”

Not another word was spoken as I watched him shake his head and stand up. He gave me one last look and punched the doorjamb on his way out.

He was actually angry. Maybe he really did want to get to know me. I want a man in my life. Why do I keep pushing them away? When will I ever believe I’m good enough? Shit! I think I may have just made a huge mistake. Sometimes I doubt everything I do.

J
ust about a
week’s
gone by since my date with Faith, and guess what? I miss her. A lot. From the way we left things, I think I have to accept that she’s just not interested in me. But I have this nagging bit of hope that won’t go away. Honestly, I don’t know what to do.

She does have a point about the whole job thing. Who in their right mind would want to date a man who goes out with other women three or four times a week? But the idea of quitting scares me a little. Yes, I have plenty of money saved, and I
have
been thinking about going back to school to finish my degree in architecture, but being a number one escort is what I am. I’m good at it. What if I try something new and find out I suck?

One thing I am sure of is that I’m changing. I’m sure age factors into it somewhat, but Faith does as well—or at least the idea of Faith. What am I doing going from one woman to the next? Where’s the substance in my life? I’ll be twenty-seven at the end of the month. Maybe it’s time to move on from Perfect Ten. Time to set the wheels in motion anyway.

It was just before noon on Friday when I knocked on my boss’s door. “Hey, Stan. You have a minute?” I already knew he wouldn’t like the conversation we were about to have. I was, after all, the biggest money maker the agency had, and until the next guy came along to take that spot, he’d do a lot to keep me.

Stan looked up from his desk and pointed to the chair across from him with his pen. “Sure. Take a seat.”

Once I sat down and started talking, I felt more sure of my decision. I wanted out, and I didn’t care if Stan didn’t like it. It was simply business. I had nothing personal invested in Perfect Ten or the people who worked there with me.

“I’ll get right to the point. I’ve decided to move on from Perfect Ten. While I appreciate everything the company’s done for me, I don’t want to be an escort anymore.”

His shock was immediate. The pen he had been tapping dropped to the desk with a clatter as he let out a bark of forced laughter. “Quit? You want to quit? You’re the number one guy here, you can’t quit.”

“Look, Stan, I’m sorry, but this job just doesn’t fit me anymore. I want more out of my life. Maybe an actual relationship, you know?”

Sitting up in his chair, Stan folded his hands on the desk in front of him, like he was a father speaking to a kid who just said he wanted to be an astronaut. “Sure, kid. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you take your workload for the weekend, and we’ll talk again on Monday.”

I’d overheard Stan talking to one of the other escorts earlier in the week. He told him that I was acting differently since I’d gone out with Faith. He’s right, I guess. I just don’t think that’s a bad thing, but he seems to think I just need to go on a couple of more dates to get back in the groove. Maybe he’s right, but I don’t think so.

“I’m not saying I’m going to walk out today, Stan. I wouldn’t do that, but I am giving you notice.” That took the condescending smile off his face. He went from shocked to patronizing to angry. It was a swift shift in emotions, but the way his nostrils flared while he actually bared his teeth, left no doubt as to the level of his anger. I’d seen it before, but never directed at me. He’d always run hot and cold.

“What the hell’s gotten into you? It’s that fucking fat chick isn’t it?” He threw his pen across the room, hitting the back of the door with a bang. “Goddammit!”

Yeah. I wasn’t really caring for how our conversation was going. I may not be as explosive as Stan, but he definitely crossed the line. “She’s not fat, for Christ’s sake. Jesus, Stan, your mother should have fucking swallowed you.” Before I did something I’d inevitably regret, I got up, pushed my chair with enough force to ram it into Stan’s fucking pristine mahogany desk, and stormed out of the room.

“Joe—Joe, wait! Come back,” Stan yelled after me. His hard-soled shoes pounded on the hardwood floors as he followed me. He caught up to me at the vending machines, and put his hand on my shoulder. “Look, I’m sorry. You caught me by surprise.”

I’d had a good working relationship with Stan for over six years and didn’t want to end things on such a sour note. “Fine, but I’m still quitting.”

“Are you one hundred percent sure that’s what you want? Think it through, because as good as you are, and as much as I want you to stay, if you go, you don’t ever come back.”

He really was a ballbuster. I knew he meant it, but I suddenly had clarity. Even if I couldn’t have Faith, I was through with this lifestyle. “One hundred percent.”

Stan hung his head and shook it as he let out a resigned breath. “All right. Can you give me some time to rearrange your schedule and look for a replacement?”

“Of course.”

He shook my hand with his brows raised, still in a bit of shock over my leaving. “Thanks.”

* * *

B
efore I went
on my date that night, I sent Faith a text. I’d decided to go for it. Maybe if I was persistent and she knew my days as an escort were numbered, she’d give me a shot.

Joe:
Hi Faith. It’s Joe Starling. Want to go out with me?

I didn’t send that. Take two.

Joe:
Hey, Faith. I really enjoyed our night together. Want to have another go?

How fucking cool am I? Yeah… Take three.

Joe:
I miss you. Let me see you again.

Hmm. Is that too pathetic? Too much? Jesus, getting laid is so much easier than trying to get a date. Okay, fourth time’s the charm. I’m really going to send it this time.

Joe:
Hey, Faith. I was thinking… I really enjoyed making you scream out my name. Care to repay the favor?

Ha-ha. Calm down, ladies. I’m not going to send that one, but damn, I would if I thought she’d say yes! Here’s the text from my heart. No sarcasm, no smart-ass comments.

Joe:
Hi, Faith. It’s Joe Starling. I can’t seem to stop thinking about you. Could I take you out sometime? Dinner? Drinks? Or even just a walk on the beach? Okay, let me know. Bye.

Maybe it’s not Robert Frost, but I think it’s okay. I could second-guess myself until the jellyfish roll in. Screw it. I hit Send—and then stared at my phone, willing it to beep with an incoming text.

* * *

The text from Joe was certainly unexpected, to say the least. After the way I shot him down the day after Sassy’s wedding, I figured that was that. Maybe I’m a little slow on the uptake or a Doubting Thomas, but I’m getting the feeling that he really is into me.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know what to do. I mean, hands down, Joe is the hottest person I have ever seen. He makes my girl parts clench just watching him breathe. But my self-esteem is a work in progress. There is no way I could take dating someone whose job is literally dating other women. Could anyone? But let me tell you. It’s damn hard saying no to him.

After the night I spent with Joe, I’m pretty sure I’m ruined for other men. Good Lord, can that man make me feel good. And think about it. That was just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t zonked out (and wasn’t
that
embarrassing). He was definitely into what he was doing. Sheesh. It was really good. I mean, between us girls? Best sexual experience for me ever. Wow. I’m sure a lot of you find that sad, but remember, I don’t have a ton of experience. Or, maybe he’s just that good.

But dating Joe? I don’t think I could handle it. Now I just need to figure out how to handle his texts. I have a feeling there will be more. He doesn’t seem like the type to give up easily.

* * *

I
was right
. A couple of days after I got the first text from him, I got another. He deserved a reply. Heck, I should have responded to his first one.

Joe:
Hey, Faith. I just wanted to make sure you got my text the other day? I’d like to see you. Please think about it.

Faith:
Hi, Joe. I was kind of surprised to hear from you. Sorry I didn’t get back to you, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other.

Hit Send, hit Send!
I didn’t want to hit Send. I wanted to see him again. I know, I know, I’m an idiot. I hit Send.

The next day, I received a huge bunch of sunflowers. They came to the office just after lunch and whipped up a maelstrom of chatter. It was a simple arrangement. The stems were kept long to fit in a tall glass vase. Intermixed with the dark yellow and brown of the flowers were taller bits of grass, and that was it. It was a very simple arrangement, and I loved them.

“Wait right there, girlfriend. Don’t you take those flowers back in that office of yours without doin’ some explainin’!” Shonda was the office busybody. She was harmless, but once she got a hint of any kind of interesting tidbit, it was all over the office in a matter of minutes, being embellished upon as she saw fit. Her high-heeled boots slammed down on the floor with a resounding thud as she got closer and closer to me. I had no choice but to stop in my tracks.

“They’re just a thank-you. It’s not a big deal.” I hadn’t even read the card yet, but I was pretty sure I knew who they were from.

Only about four inches away from me, way too far into my personal space, she wagged her finger at me. “Uh-uh. Oh no, hun. They’re not a ‘thank-you.’ They’re a ‘be my baby tonight.’ So, who is he?” A small crowd had gathered around us, and I looked over my shoulder to see if the boss was around. I wasn’t comfortable being the center of attention, as you could probably guess, and I sure didn’t want to be reprimanded by my holy terror of a boss for taking so many people away from their work.

“Come on, Shonda. You’re drawing a crowd. I haven’t even read the card yet, but I think they’re from my date I took to Sassy’s wedding.” Before she could say any more, I turned and dashed into my office, closing the door as quickly as I could once I got inside.

My office was small, but it was all mine. I had an Andrew Wyeth print of
Christina’s World
on the wall directly in front of my desk. It’s always spoken to me. I see Christina looking with such longing at the house up the hill, and I can feel her yearning. For what, I’m not sure. It could be a multitude of things. That’s what I love about it. Sometimes it makes me sad, and sometimes it makes me want to conquer whatever is bothering me at the time.

To the left of my desk, I have a credenza with my in and out bins on it, along with a few other boring accounting things. I moved a couple of binders and set the flowers off to the left. They were very eye-catching. Then it was time to read the card.

Faith,

Still thinking of you.

Joe

Four words. That’s it.
Still thinking of you.
I have to admit, he’s determined. Dare I? My body and heart want to, but my brain is still winning. This guy could easily break my heart if I let him. He’s so considerate and tenacious where I’m concerned. But the thought simply won’t leave my head that he can have his pick of women. For the life of me, I can’t see him being content in the long run with a plain,
husky,
Jane like me, but maybe I’m not being fair to Joe.