Weighting for Christmas Page 8

  “Great. Feel free to join me if you’d like,” he winks, and kisses me once more on the cheek.

  All I can do is blush.

  As he disappears down the hall and into the bedroom, I exhale. Would I like to join him in the shower? Of course I would! But I won’t. I rinse off the plates and load them in the dishwasher, and then clean the frying pans. It’s not nearly as fun as I assume taking a shower with Chad would be, but it’s definitely a lot safer.

  Twenty minutes later, he emerges from the bedroom. I’m sitting in the living room scrolling through my Facebook feed on my phone.

  “I have a client at eight-thirty, otherwise I’d stay,” Chad frowns.

  “You should go to work,” I say.

  “You’d rather me go to the gym than stay here?” he grins and feigns being physically wounded in the heart.

  “We do need to talk,” I reply.

  “About?”

  “When are you done at work?”

  “Pretty sure right after your appointment. I think you’re the last one of the day for me.”

  “Okay,” I nod. “We can talk then.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  I smile. “No, not at all.”

  “Good. See you this afternoon.” He kisses me on the cheek and leaves.

  As I’m standing in the bedroom deciding on what to wear, the realization hits me. My car is still at the restaurant.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  *****

  “Tell me everything!”

  I’ve had to call Grace to give me a ride to my car. Unfortunately, she was more than willing because she wanted the scoop on what happened after she left the restaurant last night.

  “There’s nothing to tell,” I shrug as I buckle the seatbelt.

  “Come on,” Grace insists. “There must be something worth telling.

  And therein lies the problem. I wish I could remember exactly what happened. “He drove me home and we fell asleep. Then I woke up this morning and can’t remember anything else.”

  “We?”

  Fuck! I should be more careful.

  “Yes, we both fell asleep.”

  “So what happened this morning?”

  “He made breakfast and then he left for work.”

  “Did you sleep together?”

  “We slept in the same bed.” I know that because I made my bed after he’d left and there had definitely been someone sleeping beside me. “Nothing happened, Grace.” I think nothing happened, but who knows? I might be wrong.

  “You know he’s totally into you,” Grace giggles.

  “He is not.”

  “Yes. He is. Will and I both noticed the way he looks at you.”

  “Looking doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Why didn’t he leave your apartment last night then?”

  I have no answer for her.

  “Because he’s totally into you.”

  I’ve heard enough so I turn on the radio and find a great song by Coldplay to listen to. We drive the next few minutes not talking, which is just fine with me, but Grace has this annoying smirk on her face, like she knows my secret. I wish I knew my secret.

  I’ve timed it so I can get my car and just go straight to the gym and meet up with Chad for my session. It seemed logical and efficient, but I’ve arrived about twenty minutes early. I stash my stuff in a locker in the women’s locker room and then head out to the treadmills and elliptical machines. I may as well get started with my walking warm up.

  As I’m doing some basic stretches, I glance into the weight room and see Chad. He’s laughing and talking with someone who is just out of my view. Then he kneels down and is holding a leg… a woman’s leg. I take a step to the right, and then another, so that I have her in full view. Good God! It’s Anna Baxter!

  Anna Baxter was Miss America two years ago. Then, because she’s just that gorgeous, she was runner up in the Miss Universe pageant. And Chad is her personal trainer?

  I watch for a few minutes as he massages her calf. She’s sitting down as her foot rests on his thigh and his fingers do their magic. I know they’re magic because they’ve massaged out more than one Charlie horse in my legs over the past few months.

  Anna Baxter! And she’s prettier in person. She has this glow about her. No, it’s not sweat like everybody else. It’s a glow that makes her skin look even more perfect than it already is. And she’s wearing the cutest workout outfit I’ve ever seen. Her purple lyrca shorts end above the knee and her sports bra is so colorful, with purple being the base color, so of course, they match perfectly, and show off her hourglass figure. Her stunning auburn hair is pulled into a French braid and her makeup is exquisitely done.

  I look down at what I’m wearing – black capri leggings and a neon green running tank top with a black sports bra underneath. Pretty plain, but fitting for the occasion. I certainly don’t look breathtakingly superb like Anna Baxter.

  Of course we didn’t have sex last night! What on earth was I thinking? He has women like Anna Baxter as clients. He can sleep with whomever he chooses. And, as I recall, Anna recently broke up with her rocker boyfriend of two years so she is back on the market.

  I guess I’ve stood here watching for fifteen minutes because Chad is standing in front of me trying to get my attention.

  “Earth to Kate. Come in Kate.”

  “Oh, hey,” I frown.

  “What’s wrong?” I detect concern.

  “Nothing. That was Anna Baxter.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yeah.”

  “How long has she been one of your clients?”

  “About four years or so.”

  “Hmm.”

  If he’s noticed my catty response, he doesn’t say anything.

  “Okay. Let’s get the burn on, shall we?” He’s moving on.

  I step back to the treadmill and start my warm up. I can jog now, so Chad has me at a relatively slow pace and keeps inching me a little faster every couple of minutes.

  “You are doing great!” he encourages. “Seriously awesome. Look at you go!”

  I feel as though I have a completely different body than when I started a few months ago. It’s truly amazing what commitment and some encouragement can do.

  I’m feeling pumped, and strong, and I continue my workout with vigor, until…

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Chad asks as I am working my biceps on the weight machine.

  It’s as though my bones instantly vaporize. I’m left weak and unable to push the bars together with my arms. Chad notices the sudden change in me.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  “I don’t remember anything from last night,” I admit.

  “Okay.”

  “Did we, or didn’t we have sex?”

  Well that didn’t come out the way I’d hoped. There must have been another way to phrase that.

  Chad smiles. “You fell asleep, Kate. I helped you under the blanket and then I crawled into bed next to you, and we slept… all night. Nothing happened. I don’t take advantage of unconscious women.”

  I should be relieved, right? That’s what I’ve been fretting over all day and now I know my worries should be alleviated. However, I am startled at the acute disappointment I feel.

  “It’s certainly not because I didn’t want to,” he continues. “I was really hoping there for a minute that you were sobering up and…”

  His pitiful expression makes me smile. He’s being truthful. “But I fell asleep,” I interjected.

  “You did.”

  “We could try again tonight?” he winks with a grin.

  “Why?”

  “Why try again?”

  “Yeah. Why me when you could have Anna Baxter?”

  “Shit, Kate. Do you not remember anything from last night?”

  I shake my head. “Not really.”

  “Fine!” he glares at me. He appears annoyed. “Tonight we’ll have a do-over, only without the colossal consumption of alcohol. I’d like you
to remember everything tomorrow.”

  I’m slightly scared of his tone, but anticipation sweeps over me at his promise for a do-over. That sounds like a raging good time, even if there’s no alcohol allowed.

  TEN

  Chad is going to meet me at my apartment. He needs to do a few things on the computer before he can leave the gym, and I’d like to make sure my apartment is ready for company, and by that, I mean light a candle or two and take a shower. I’m stinky and sweaty from my session and want to be clean before he arrives. Plus, Chad’s offered to bring dinner with him and I want to eat the couple of donuts I have stashed away in the cupboard before he finds out that a.) I still eat donuts, and b.) I’ve had an appetizer so he doesn’t know exactly how much Chinese food I can put away in one sitting. Let’s face the truth about Chinese food. You can gorge yourself on the stuff to the point of never wanting to eat again, only to be hungry in two hours. Hopefully the donuts will help to avoid that tonight.

  I take the fastest shower in history and put on a springy sleeveless dress and some flip-flops. My hair is wet, but I braid it to keep it out of my face. Plus, I like the soft waves it makes in my hair after I’ve slept in it. I make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink and that my bathroom counter is uncluttered and all feminine products are hidden in a drawer.

  Then, I wait.

  It’s over an hour before there is a knock on the door. Thank goodness for those powdered donuts, otherwise I’d be sure to make a real pig of myself in front of Chad. I open the door and the first thing he does is leans in and kisses me on the cheek. There is a definite change in our relationship – certainly more than trainer and fat girl – even more than good friends.

  I’ve placed two plates on the kitchen counter so we can dish up straight away. I don’t like sharing out of the boxes the food comes in; I have a little more class than that. We serve up and, as expected, Chad loads his plate high with food while I take the portion appropriate for one on a lifestyle change. Did I already say ‘thank God’ for the donuts?

  I suggest we get comfortable on the sofa in the living room while we have dinner and Chad asks if I mind if we watch a little television while we eat. Apparently, there is a basketball game that he’d like to catch the end of. I don’t care so I hand him the remote control and let him have at it. Two teams are playing – one in blue uniforms and the other in white. I have no interest in basketball so instead of watching the game, I am watching Chad watch the game. It’s far more interesting. During a commercial, he gets up and refills his plate after calling out to see if I want anymore. Do birds fly? Do cats meow? Of course I want more.

  “No thanks,” I reply. “I’m stuffed. I just can’t eat like I used to.”

  “Okay. I’ll finish it off.”

  Fuck! I guess I won’t be sneaking any leftovers in the middle of the night. I guess I’ll just starve. Dammit!

  There’s a quarter left to play in the game and after I throw the empty cartons in the trash and put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, Chad and I sit and watch the last few minutes of the game. We hold hands, and his thumb casually strokes the back of my hand. It’s so innocent, yet so affectionate. I rest my head on his shoulder and every now and then he turns his head and presses a kiss against my hair. We are so comfortable with each other, it feels natural.

  I foolishly think that if there’s ten minutes left in the quarter, then in ten minutes it will be over. Obviously, I know nothing about sports!

  Half an hour later, there’s still four fucking minutes left to play. Between time-outs, commercials, free throws, replays, and every time the umpire blows the whistle, the clock has hardly moved. The anticipation I felt for whatever Chad has planned has left the building. I’m practically falling asleep by the time the game ends and Chad jumps up and paces around the room while swearing for another five minutes about how the referees sucked balls and how his team should have won. I’m not even listening to him, although it is kind of funny to see him so riled up over a stupid game. Apparently, it’s the play-offs and these are important games.

  Whatever.

  My eyes are closed and I feel tranquil. Every muscle in my body is relaxed and my breathing is even as I’ve kicked off my flip flops and laid down on the sofa, my head resting on a pillow. The sensation of a feather trailing down my arm makes my eyelids open slowly. I see Chad. He’s kneeling on the floor next to the sofa and his expression is one of desire as he watches his finger move down my arm. My breath hitches deep in my throat as I appreciate his profile.

  He hears the change in my breathing and his eyes find mine. Without a word, he leans in and touches his lips to mine in a barely-there kiss. I want more. I need more. I reach for him and pull him closer, bringing his lips back to where they belong. We kiss and kiss some more and our tongues dance in unison, each of us exploring and tasting, losing track of the world, and time, as we inhale one another one pleasurable kiss after another.

  My mouth captures a moan that escapes his throat and it is the most erotic moment of my life. Even though we are both still fully clothed, my head held gently in his hands and my hand around his neck, my body is responding to him like nothing I’ve experienced before. My breasts are straining against my bra, my panties soaked with anticipation, my body ready to accept all that he offers.

  As our lips passionately embrace, our tongues dancing ferociously, Chad’s fingers find the elastic band holding my hair in a braid and pulls it from my hair. He sweeps his hands mercilessly through it and grabs fistfuls as he presses his rock-hard chest to my breasts. But it’s not enough. Without warning, he pushes me from my side onto my back and practically jumps on top of me, his body covering mine, his hands still fisted in my hair, his lips still hungry for more.

  This is lust.

  This is desire.

  This is heaven.

  Slowly, Chad’s hands release my hair and finds my hands. He entwines his fingers with mine and holds them above my head, resting on the arm of the sofa. My breasts are again smashed against his chest and I can’t wait any more.

  “Touch me, please?” I plead softly, my eyes closed, afraid for him to see me beg.

  “Where?” he breathes against my lips.

  The warm air escaping his mouth sends shivers down my spine and my body shudders in response, my nipples hardening even more. I’m too embarrassed to say anything else. I know he knows what I want, and instead of satisfying my need, he remains fixated on my lips, happy to leave the almost painful throb of desire unfulfilled.

  With each kiss, with each gyration of his hips, with each swipe of his tongue, my ragged breathing becomes shallower and my back arches just a little higher.

  “Soon,” he hums against my neck as he deliberately and skillfully inches down, although at this rate it’ll be Christmas before he takes my pulsing tits in his mouth and soothes the ache that has built to a gargantuan urgency.

  “When?” I’m almost crying and hearing the low rumbling of a chuckle doesn’t help me to remain calm. “Asshole,” I mutter, but I only feel his chuckle against my neck.

  “Patience is a virtue,” Chad taunts, but I’m not listening as he gently sucks the skin at the base of my neck. “You taste like lavender and vanilla,” he whispers. “You taste like you only belong to me.”

  I smile. I can’t help it. “How can I taste like yours?”

  “Because I lay claim.”

  “On me?”

  “Mmm.” He sucks some more.

  “Kate? Would you like to be mine?”

  How do I answer that? I mean the obvious and truthful answer is YES! But then what exactly is he asking?

  “Let’s move to the bed and you can show me what you’ve got to offer.”

  “Is it time to show you my package?”

  “Past time,” I grin.

  He holds my hand as we walk down the hall. It could easily be the sweetest moment of my life as I rest my head on his shoulder - something so simple, yet so significant.

  Once we are nex
t to the bed, he turns to me and wraps his arms around me but not to embrace me. He finds the zipper of my dress and carefully pulls downwards, then pushes the fabric from my shoulders and I allow it to fall haphazardly at my feet. I’m left standing before him in my underwear and the realization brings beads of sweat to my forehead. I busy myself with untucking his t-shirt from his jeans and lift it upwards. He accommodates me and lifts up his arms and I suck in my breath at the sight that lays before me. It’s not that I haven’t seen it before, but not like this – not in my bedroom with the promise of what is to come.

  “Come,” he says and takes me by the hand once again. We walk over to the closet and he opens the door so we can look in the mirror. “Do you remember standing here with me last night?”

  I shake my head. “Not really.”

  “I don’t mind repeating,” Chad smiles at me in the mirror.

  He’s standing behind me, his hands on my waist softly kneading my flesh. I‘m looking at him in the mirror and the way he’s looking at my reflection is like nothing I’ve ever seen in a man’s eyes before. My hands instinctively try to cover my stomach.

  “Don’t,” he orders as he grabs them and pulls them behind my back. He takes both of my wrists in one hand and uses his other hand to push my hair from my shoulder so he can swipe my skin with his tongue. Once again I shiver.

  “Kate,” he murmurs as our eyes lock in the mirror. “I wish… I want you to see yourself the way I see you.”

  My eyelids lower as my cheeks blush.

  “Look up,” he whispers.

  I do.

  “I want you to try and remember back to December, right before you started coming to the gym. I want you to imagine standing right here and looking in the mirror. Can you remember what you looked like?”

  I cringe.

  “No! I don’t want you to hate what you see. Love what you see. Can you do that?”

  I shake my head. “I can’t. I don’t want to look like that ever again.”

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s your choice, but what makes you amazing is what’s on the inside. It’s your intelligence and wit. It’s your kindness and honesty. It’s your courage and determination. That’s what makes you amazing. Your body is just the vehicle for all of that.”