Wrong Number, Right Guy Read online

  “It still sounds heavy.” Of course last month I picked up a big bag of cat food while it was on sale, and that weighed fifty pounds and I’d managed to carry it without breaking anything.

  “It only sounds like it.” Jason places a warm hand on my shoulder, urging me closer to the bench. “Once you start handling the bar, you’ll probably find that it’s not enough and have me add some heavier weights.”

  “Unlikely,” I mutter. I want to duck out from under his touch and leave the room, but there’s something undefinable in Jason’s eyes that does funny things to my resolve. I want to make him happy, and if that means lying on this stupid bench and proving I can, or can’t, lift a stupid bar over my head, then so be it.

  It’s not easy to preserve one’s dignity when it comes to straddling a weight bench while wearing nothing but a man’s button-down dress shirt, but I do my level best.

  “Good.” Jason hooks his hands under my knees and scoots my back along the bench until my ass presses against the end. The move causes the hem of his shirt to bunch under my thighs and expose several more inches of bare skin.

  “Plant your feet firmly on the floor. Like this.” Jason sounds breathless as he crouches and adjusts my feet. Anticipation zings through me and crimson heat stains my cheeks.

  Jason stands, his large hand stroking my left thigh before he gives himself a shake and moves to my head.

  I’m disappointed. Here I am, primed, positioned, and willing, and he doesn’t take advantage.

  “Okay, now grasp the barbell like this.” Jason takes my hands in his sweat-dampened ones and lifts them. He helps me wrap my fingers around the barbell.

  I look up at him, which is good. Listening to him talk gives the impression that he’s lost interest in me, but his face tells a different story. The veins in the side of his neck stand out and small beads of sweat that have nothing to do with his own workout session bubble near his temples. I watch as his gaze sweeps the length of my prone, naked but for his shirt, body. He swallows hard.

  Hmm …

  I give my hips a little wiggle, causing the edge of the shirt to creep up a fraction of an inch more. Jason’s eyes track the fabric’s movement. The hem has now reached the top of my thighs, just a whisper away from exposing me completely.

  Jason gives himself a visible shake, as if pulling himself together, and returns to the subject.

  “Right,” he says, his voice still slow and steady – if a little more strength in the moment for. “You’re going to lift the bar off the hook and slowly lower it to your chest. Weight a beat or two, and then gradually extend your arms, pushing it upwards until your elbows are straight. Keep your movements slow and steady. If you get into trouble, I’m right here, ready to take the bar.”

  Jason’s hands hover near the bar as I remove it from the hook and slowly lower it. Following his directions, I push it up into the air.

  “I did it,” I tell him. “Can I get up now?”

  Jason rocks forward a little so that he’s looking down at my face and grins. “How about you shoot for ten reps.”

  Ten reps! He’s certifiable. Ten reps at my current fitness level, that’s the very definition of insane.

  “I don’t think so,” I inform him through gritted teeth. “I did what you asked. I tried it. That should be enough.”

  “How about five reps? At least that’s enough to really feel it.”

  Grumbling under my breath, I slowly lower the barbell back to my chest, resting for a moment before straightening my elbows.

  The first two aren’t bad. Like Jason promised, the barbell isn’t as heavy as it looked and even my spaghetti-thin arms are capable of handling it.

  The third one is a different story. My arms are starting to burn and I really want to hook the bar back to the bench and forget the whole matter, but my stubborn pride insists I keep plugging away at things.

  By the time I extend the barbell over my body for the fifth time, I’m starting to understand why Jason lifts. Not only does focusing on what it takes to complete the exercise empty my mind of everything else, it also helps me feel more centered and connected with myself.

  Still, that doesn’t mean it’s something I see myself doing on a regular basis.

  I return the bar to its hook and sit up. I glance at Jason and find him staring at me, his expression undefinable.

  “What?” Suspicion slowly unfurls within me. “No. If you have any intention of sweet talking me into trying something else, the answer is no.”

  “I love you.” His words are barely louder than a whisper. For a moment, I think I imagine them.

  I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out.

  “Marry me,” Jason continues.

  I shake my head frantically. “No!” the word is ripped from my chest. “I can’t. How can you even ask me such a thing? We barely know one another. Just no!”

  13

  Jason

  No?

  Granted, I hadn’t meant to propose marriage—it just kind of popped out—but still, ‘no’ seems harsh. Here I am offering her my heart in my hand and she’s all but kicking it to the curb. Which doesn’t make any sense. I know Ella. She’s tactful and kind. Not cruel. She’s the type of person who would soften a rejection with a kind explanation and a hug. Not a shouted no.

  Needing clarity and not trusting my voice, I reach for her, tipping her chin up so I can look into her pretty eyes. In their depths I see desire, longing, and something else, something that looks alarmingly like fear swirling together, before she brings her emotions under control and her eyes become clear blue pools.

  Anxiety bites into my gut. Am I right? Was that fear? And if it was, what’s she afraid of? Not me. No one who was afraid could have responded like that to my touch. So, what is it?

  I sit down beside her. “I know you have feelings for me,” I say in a low voice. “Your body gives you away each time I touch you.”

  She reaches over and places a hand on the side of my jaw. “Jason,” she says, the word hesitant. “I want to, God knows I want you more than anything…almost anything, in the world. But it’s not possible.”

  “Why?” I grind out between gritted teeth. “I love you, and I know you love me, even if you’re not willing to admit it.”

  A deep line appears between Ella’s brows, indicating that she’s taking her time, weighing each possible word and choosing the ones that will get her point across the fastest.

  No. I won’t let her.

  Frustration, mixed with fear and a little anger, brews inside of me. I’ve worked so hard to make sure that when I finally found Ella, I’d have something to offer her, and now that I’ve finally found her, finally gotten my chance to build the future I’ve always dreamed about, she wants to walk away from me and pretend that I don’t matter.

  I’ll be damned if that’s how this scene is going to play out.

  I don’t want a pretty speech that’s designed to make things easier on both of us. I want the truth, and the only way I’m going to get it is if she speaks from the heart. One way or another, I just need to figure out a way to get her to step away from her logical nature and tap into the emotions I know lay just beneath.

  I’m positive that once she does, she’ll fall into my arms and swear that I’m her one true love.

  I reach out and with one finger, I trace the elegant line of her throat. She draws in a sharp breath. How can anyone who isn’t head-over-heels in love with me react so strongly to a simple touch?

  “You don’t have to promise me forever.”

  Her eyes widen. I’ve shaken her. Good. Clearly, she expected me to push, to provide her with a list of demands as to why she should stay, and not provide an alternate option.

  “I’m perfectly happy taking things day by day. Getting to know you before we commit to one another.”

  The sunlight streaming through the window above our head does interesting things to her skin. Makes her appear almost luminous. It’s as if I’m being held captive by some
magnetic force that’s drawing me closer and closer to Ella until my lips brush hers in a kiss that’s softer than a whisper.

  “One day,” I place a light kiss on the tip of her nose. Her eyes flutter closed, allowing me to kiss each eyelid. “Surely you can spare a single day.”

  Ella doesn’t say the words I want…need to hear. Instead, she wraps her arms around my neck, her fingers tangling in my hair as she draws me close. She nips my lower lip before sliding her tongue across it. She might not be willing to provide me with the words I want, but her body tells me everything I need to know, even if her mind still refuses to accept the truth.

  I open wider, welcoming her sweet intrusion, accepting that her body’s response is enough, at least for now. Sooner or later her mind will catch up and we can settle down to the serious business of building a life together.

  Ella twists and arches her back, pressing her breasts against my chest. My hands slide up her hips, pushing the hem of my shirt aside as they settle on her waist.

  I lose myself in the mindless pleasure created by the heat of her mouth and the ancient rhythm of her tongue. Mine matches hers stroke for stroke.

  My hands move higher, gliding over her soft stomach and over her ribs until they cup both of her breasts, my thumbs stroking over her nipples, thrilling at how the slightest touch turns them into impossibly hard peaks. She gasps into my mouth and thrusts herself more firmly into my hand, demanding more.

  “That’s my girl,” I whisper as I gently bear her backwards, laying her flat on the narrow bench. There’s just enough room on either side of her head for me to rest on my elbows as I stare down into her passion-glazed eyes.

  She nips my lower lip, catching it between her teeth in a love bite that goes straight to my groin. “More,” she demands, her voice thick with need.

  Chuckling, I skim my hands back down the sides of her body, thrilling in the way she writhes and twists beneath my slightest touch. She’s the most responsive woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Her reactions make me feel like some sort of sex god.

  Ella slips a hot hand past the waistband of my athletic shorts, and my eyesight dims. Sweat beads on my forehead as I fight the instant reaction my body has, to control the orgasm I’m rapidly heading towards. That’s something both of us are going to enjoy, even if making sure she’s with me every step of the way kills me. Which is starting to feel like a very real possibility.

  But what a way to go!

  She locks her ankles around my hips, rubbing herself against my hardness while her hand continues to stroke, measure, and explore. Groaning at the sheer pleasure, I nuzzle the collar of the shirt she wears aside and bite her shoulder.

  My hand slides down her body to her core and I plunge two fingers into her sopping pussy. She screams and bucks beneath me, causing both of us to tumble off the weight bench.

  I twist, taking the brunt of the crash. Ella doesn’t even notice the sudden change in location. She presses down on my fingers and rotates her hips.

  “More,” she demands, her own pending orgasm thickening her voice. Her hand finds my cock and wraps firmly around it, the sudden pressure causing my own hips to buck and stars to dance before my eyes. “More, now.”

  I respond by pumping my fingers in and out of her pussy, thrilling in how each movement elicits a fresh gasp from her and how she bears down on me. The way her body trembles on mine tells me that I’m not the only one fighting a climax.

  Keeping her hand wrapped firmly around my cock, Ella leans forward. Her breasts press against my chest as her mouth clamps down on mine. She alternates almost lazy tongue strokes with sharp little bites that send shock waves of pleasure directly from my lips to my already over-stimulated dick.

  Groaning, I use my free hand to rid myself of my shorts before rolling over, pinning Ella beneath me.

  “Ella, look at me,” I demand. It takes a moment, but eventually her pretty eyes open. Her pupils are dilated with lust. I love knowing the effect I’m having on her. I reward her with a hot kiss that has her groaning my name.

  I slide my hand free of her delightful pussy and cup her face between my hands. “I want to watch your eyes while I fuck you. Understand?”

  She nods and lifts her head for another quick kiss.

  I slide my fingers from her sweet center and catch her clit between them, giving it a light twist that has her screaming my name while my cock nudges her entrance.

  She doesn’t wait for me to come to her. The moment she feels the head of my cock, she lifts her hips, thrusting upwards and taking my entire length in one smooth stroke that steals my breath.

  Her gaze remains locked with mine.

  Her slick, hot heat surrounding me is my undoing. I can’t hold back anymore. I pound into her and she meets me thrust for thrust. A moment later, I feel the first wave of her orgasm roll through her, and her body bears down, clenching around my length, demanding more.

  I am right there with her. My balls tighten and I drive into her one last time. The climax that rocks through me is one of the most powerful I’ve ever experienced. My own shout mingles with Ella’s as we’re both pulled under a tidal wave of pleasure.

  It’s more than my body can handle. My knees and elbows tremble before giving way completely and I collapse on top of her. I use the last remaining strength I have to nuzzle her sweat-dampened hair to one side and place a light kiss on the pulse point throbbing against the side of her neck.

  We lay together in complete silence, too shaken by the power of our releases to do anything more strenuous than enjoy the aftermath of our lovemaking.

  I adjust my grip on her, moving my hand so it lays on the gentle curve of her left breast, where I can feel her heart. It beats in perfect time with mine. How can we be so in sync physically, but so far apart emotionally?

  And what can I do to make Ella see what I see, that we’re meant to be together forever? That it’s written in the stars. Ordained my fate. Completely, irreversibly inevitable.

  “Ella.” The blood still pounding in my ears makes it sound like my voice is coming from some distant realm. “Stay with me. Just for tonight.”

  My heart, and my body, want her to agree, but my head knows that she probably won’t.

  She rolls her head to one side so she can see me. We’re so close I could count each eyelash if I so desired.

  “I’ll stay,” she says in a voice so soft I think I imagine her words.

  I blink. Hope slowly unfurls in my chest. “You will? Really?” The question has to be asked, even though I’m worried that when she responds, she’ll change her mind.

  “Yeah.” She wiggles out from underneath me, her movements contradicting her words. “I just need to make a phone call to let…my roommate know I won’t be back tonight so she doesn’t worry.”

  Happiness warms my heart and I grin at her. “Great.” I’ve convinced her to be my overnight guest, something she had no intention of agreeing to when she walked into the weight room, so it’s reasonable to assume that with a whole night at my disposal, a block of time during which I’ll woo her like she’s never been wooed before, I’ll be able to convince her to stay forever.

  Right?

  Her agreement rejuvenates my body enough to scramble to slightly watery legs. I scoop up my shorts and tug them on. “You make your phone call and I’ll find a bottle or two of champagne. Let’s reconvene in my bedroom in, let’s say,” I glance at my watch, “five minutes.”

  Ella stands on tiptoe and lightly kisses me. She pulls back before it has time to become interesting. Pity.

  She smiles at me. “It’s a deal.”

  14

  Ella

  Sleep pulls at me, beckoning me with its siren’s call, making it difficult to keep my eyes open. Just as I’m about to give in, Jason rolls off me and leaps to his feet.

  “Come on.”

  I crack one eye open a slit and look at the hand he’s extending down to me. “I thought guys were supposed to fall asleep right after sex, and gi
rls were the ones who were supposed to have all sorts of energy.”

  Jason shrugs. “Maybe. Could be we’re breaking the mold. Or it could be that since I work out and you don’t, I have more stamina.”

  “If that’s some weird and devious plot to get me to lift more weights, you can bite me.” The experience was interesting, but it wasn’t one I want to repeat anytime soon.

  He waggles his eyebrows. If I wasn’t so tired, I’d giggle. “With pleasure.”

  He doesn’t wait for me to take his hand. Instead he reaches down and grabs hold of both of my mine and hauls me to my feet. Not an easy task, since this last round of lovemaking has left me completely boneless.

  He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in tight against his torso, steadying me. “Come one Sleeping Beauty, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  I groan. “Do we have to?” Getting cleaned up seems like so much effort right now. I’d rather just curl up in a ball and sleep for a few hours.

  Instead of leading me upstairs like I expect, he turns me to the far side of the basement. Eventually, we reach a door which opens into the most amazing bathroom I’ve ever seen. Its appearance is enough to wake me up.

  “You have a shower in your basement?”

  “Yeah,” Jason says. “It was one of the things I insisted on when the contractors were getting the house ready for me. I wanted it down here, where I work out, so I could shower and change and not worry about my post-work-out sweat stinking up the entire house.”

  I nod to the mini washer and dryer installed against one wall. “And this is also where you do your laundry?” I notice that my cell phone is nowhere to be seen.

  Jason shakes his head. “Nope, not exactly. Working on the same concept that I didn’t want my entire house to smell like a men’s locker room, I had those set up in here so I can throw my stinky, gross clothes right in them and wash them here. I have a standard sized set upstairs for the rest of my laundry.”