Love Me, Not My Body

CHAPTER 12

"Hey," I drew out nervously as I laid in Scott's arms in our bed.

He turned toward me; his eyes droopy with sleep. His dark hair was messy and curly atop his head making him look rather adorable.

"Is it okay if I go dress shopping with Tricia on Saturday?" I had decided the lie would be better than the truth. It shouldn't matter that I was meeting a client on Saturday. I knew Scott would be thrilled with the news of the payday, and he was the one who initially hooked me up with Preston. But there was something about the rendezvous that felt wrong. It felt dirty; like I was somehow cheating on Scott to take Preston as a client. I knew exactly why, though I would never admit it out loud. I had feelings for him, feelings I shouldn't have.

Scott grinned lightly at me, fatigue showing across his face. "Why does she need to go dress shopping?"

I mentally smacked myself on the forehead. "Fred proposed! They're getting married."

"Really?" he remarked in surprise.

"What's so surprising about that?" I asked with a laugh. "They love each other."

He shrugged. "I don't really care what they do."

He was silent and I waited a moment before asking my question again. "So, is it okay if I take Saturday off and go dress shopping with her?"

"Sure baby," he said as he kissed my forehead. "I'll let Dominic know."

"Thank you." I closed my eyes and snuggled into his chest but another thought began to nag at me. "Do you know how much I still owe him?"

Scott sighed. "I don't know, Kendra. I'll ask him."

"Okay," I whispered out. "Sorry."

"I'm just tired baby," he said as he squeezed me closer to him and kissed the top of my head. "Got to sleep."

---

Saturday morning brought nervous butterflies to my stomach. I paced around our apartment as I waited for Preston to arrive. Scott had already left for work, making the pickup much easier. My breath caught when I heard a knock at the door. I scrambled toward it but stopped before opening it. I ran my hand over my light blue camisole with a leopard print. I had tucked it in to my cutoff jean shorts and paired it together with a thin, black belt. I took a deep breath before opening the door.

Preston stood in the doorway with a smile on his face. He wore a white, button up shirt with thin, grey vertical lines which was halfway unbuttoned revealing his toned, inked chest. The sleeves were rolled up high in the summer heat. Black skinny jeans covered his legs, and a pair of tennis shoes on his feet. Atop his head was a khaki colored fedora with a light brown belt around it. His brown, wavy hair fell down on either side of his face in a glorious mess to about his chin. He had dark sunglasses over his eyes which he took off as I opened the door. His eyes trailed up and down my body as he discreetly licked his lips.

"You ready to go?" he asked, his British accent dripping sexily on his words.

Unable to speak with my head spinning and my heart thudding, I nodded my head. He put his hand out to me and I placed mine in it. Sparks shot through me as we touched. He led me out to his awaiting sports car and opened the door. I hopped in and he got into the driver seat and drove us away on our adventure.

We stopped at a small restaurant for breakfast on the outskirts of town. It wasn't anything special, but it was a small mom and pop shop and the food was delicious. I caught him several times throughout the meal studying me. Heat burned my cheeks beneath his gaze as I averted my eyes to anywhere except for the stunningly handsome man in front of me. He cracked the lamest, silliest jokes over our breakfast, but his laughter at them was contagious. He was so relaxed and easy-going it began to rub off on me and relax my nerves.

"So what are we doing today?" I asked as I took a long drink of my orange juice.

"Sky diving," he responded with a smirk.

I nearly chocked on my orange juice. I swallowed and coughed for a moment before looking at him in horror. "Sky diving?"

He chuckled as he held his hands out. Rings adored most of his fingers. "Why not?"

My eyebrows furrowed downward as I looked at him in utter confusion. "Because it's terrifying and could kill you."

His smile fell as a look of concern swept over his face. "Are you scared of heights?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head.

He smirked as he shrugged. "Then you're fine." His voice made it sound like it was simply the easiest thing in the world.

"No," I stuttered out in horror. "No, I'm not fine."

He studied me with those green eyes that haunted my sleep. "You don't want to go?"

"I don't know," I confessed as I sat back in the booth with a huff. "I wasn't expecting to sky dive today. I kinda figured...I mean I thought...I don't know."

A smile slowly began to tug at his lips as it grew until it took over his entire face and the dimples appeared on his cheeks. "You just thought we'd be having s*x all day?"

I laughed nervously as I brushed my fingers through my hair and my cheeks burned red hot. "Kind of."

"Have you ever had a client go all day? That's a hell of a stamina."

"No," I replied as I dropped my hands to my lap. "I've never had a client go all day. I've never even spent all day with a client before."

He quirked an eyebrow as a gleam of excitement lit up his face. "I'm your first?"

I smiled at him, meeting his gaze as my insides warmed at his words. "Yep."

His eyes traced over me, taking me in as he nodded slightly. "I think I rather like that." He took a sip of his tea. "So, sky diving?"

I chewed my cheek as I studied his his begging face. I might as well give in because I knew I would do practically anything this man asked. He had some kind of spell over me. I had never been so drawn to a man in my life before. It excited me and terrified me at the same time as I didn't understand it.

"If I die," I drew out slowly, "my death is on you."

He laughed and it was an absolutely amazing sound. "I'll bear that in mind."

After breakfast, we drove to Sammy’s Skydiving. I stared with unease at the tiny building, but Preston assured me it was completely safe. He held my hand and led me into the building with confidence. Sammy himself greeted us enthusiastically as he spoke to Preston about the current, perfect conditions for a jump and heights and equipment I had never head of. My hand tightened on Preston’s as my nerves began to mount within me. He glanced at me occasionally, giving me a reassuring smile and my hand a gentle squeeze.

“This is my friend, Kendra.” Preston glanced at me as he introduced me. “This is Samuel. He’s the best skydiver around.”

Samuel chuckled as he shook my hand. “Its nice to meet you, Kendra.”

“She’s a little nervous,” Preston drew out slowly in his accent.

“No worries,” Samuel said reassuringly. “We’ve already had an accident this morning so we aren’t due for another for,” his face scrunched as he thought, “probably a couple days.”

My jaw dropped in horror as they both broke out into laughter. Preston turned toward me and pulled me into his chest.

“He's joking, love,” he whispered in my ear.

My heart beat erratically as a shiver of desire zipped down my spine at his breath on my ear and hearing him call me ‘love’.

For the next two hours, Samuel went over safety precautions and the details of the jump. Preston would be jumping solo. He was a common patron here, and the closer it got to jump time, the more excited he became.

I would be jumping tandem with Samuel. He would be doing all the work of watching our descent and pulling the parachute. Despite his reassurances that he had never had an accident, my stomach still churned nervously.

As we put on our jumpsuits, my hands were beginning to visibly tremble.

We boarded the plane and I sat between Samuel and Preston. My legs bounced up and down while my hands fidgeted in my lap.

“What are you thinking?” Preston asked, leaning near my ear.

I turned toward him as I nearly shook with terror. “I’m not getting paid enough for this.”

He threw his head back in laughter. He had left the fedora on the ground, now miles beneath us, and put his hair up into a bun.

He grabbed my hands, pulling me into his lap. I straddled him, glancing self-consciously at Samuel.

“Just imagine what we'll do after this,” he murmured in my ear before kissing my neck.

I turned my attention back to him, his kisses beginning to excite my body.

“I’m going to take you home and f**k you until you cry my name out of those beautiful lips of yours.”

My breathing increased as my heart began pounding not from my nerves, but from the excitement Preston was stirring within me.

“You jump out of this plane with me,” he said as moved his lips within inches of mine, “and I’ll give you the greatest pleasure of your life later.”

I moaned softly as his lips crushed onto mine. His tongue was insistent, spreading my lips as it invaded my mouth. He groaned as his hands slid into my hair, his mouth exploring mine.

“Hey Romeo,” Samuel called out. “We're at peak.”

Preston drew his lips from mine, his green eyes looking over my face as they burned with a flaming desire.

“Later,” he whispered as he helped me off his lap.

I sat down beside him, but he stood up and put his hand out to me.

“Come on,” he smiled. “It’s time to jump.”

My eyes widened as my fear overloaded my senses and wiped out the desire I had had moments ago. I put my hand in his and stood up on shaky, weak legs.

“I don’t know…I don’t think...I can't do this,” I stammered out as I looked nervously between Preston and Samuel who was preparing to open the plane door.

Preston stepped closer to me. He raised his hand toward me and I flinched. Hurt flickered across his face. His hand froze in the air as his green eyes studied me. He moved his hand slowly toward my face and gently cupped my cheek.

“I’ll never make you do something you’re not comfortable doing,” he explained gently. “But if you jump out this plane with me right now, you won’t regret it. The adrenaline rush will make you forget everything and anything that has ever hurt you. It’s an indescribable freedom.”

My eyes nervously searched his face. I desperately wanted to follow him into his reckless search of adventure and freedom, and yet I was terrified of plummeting to the earth below and splatting like an egg.

He smiled, that wide, beautiful smile that covered his entire face. “You’re entirely safe. You have a professional with you.” He glanced behind us at Samuel standing near the door as he dropped his hand from my face and pointed toward him. He turned back to me. “Sammy’s here, too.”

I burst into nervous laughter and my response seemed to make Preston proud as he gleamed happily at me.

“Will you do the me the honor of jumping with me?” he asked me with a mock bow as he extended his hand to me.

I laughed lightly as I blew out a breath. Screw it all. I was doing this. I put my hand into his and he smiled broadly at me. He towed me along behind him toward Samuel. He held my hand as Samuel hollered out a reminder of instructions to me. I nodded, trying to remember them all as I tried to listen while my eyes kept steadily on Preston. He watched me intently, a permanent smile on his face.

We made final preparations as Samuel connected to my back before opening the door. The wind roared in and I glanced out. I lost my breath as I stared out at the earth so far below us. Everything looked tiny as I stared at the crystal blue sky.

Was I really going to do this?

“Are you ready?” Samuel called out.

My face shot to Preston’s. His green eyes danced over me and it was easy to see his excitement at this moment. He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Ready love?”

My nervous heart somehow managed to flutter at his words and, drunk on his attention, I nodded.

He smiled as he suddenly leapt from the plane. Before I could scream his name, Samuel suddenly launched us out of the plane.

I screamed like I was being murdered. It was a high-pitched, terrified scream as I clenched my eyes shut. Wind whipped all around me as there was nothing solid to hold onto or put my feet onto. I was falling freely through the air.

Samuel hollered out excitedly behind me and I could hear Preston somewhere nearby doing the same. I forced my eyes open, if for nothing else than to see Preston.

I flew through the air as if I was some magical creature. We were falling yet flying. The wind whipped past us as we fell closer and closer toward the earth far below. The sun beat down upon us as we soared through the endless blue sky.

I stretched my arms out and let out an excited shout as the freshest air rushed into my lungs. I felt so alive. Adrenaline surged through my body causing a high like I had never experienced before. Every single inch of my body was alive and reacting. I didn’t want this magical, surreal moment to end.

“Here goes the shoot,” Samuel hollered in my ear.

The parachute deployed and gave a yank upwards as the wind caught it. We soared upright through the sky, no longer at a rapid, out of control, freefall but at a steady, controlled pace.

Preston pulled his parachute moments after us and I watched him fly through the sky with wonderment. He had somehow just convinced me to jump out of a plane. I had never been a thrill seeker. I had never sought out adventure. I had kept my head down. I had been trained to stay sweet and silent. Yet here I was, jumping out of a plane because a gorgeous man convinced me to.

I watched him fly through the sky, the warm sunshine beating down on us, and realized he was quickly capturing a part of my heart I had never intended to give away.

Gliding through the air was easy. Landing was not. I completely blanked on what I was supposed to do. We hit the ground and I attempted to run with Samuel like I think I was supposed to do, but I tripped and ended up knocking us both down. Thankfully, Samuel took it in stride and had a good chuckle at my expense.

Preston, of course, had to make a perfect landing.

“What did you think?” Preston asked as he walked over to me. I was covered in mud and grass stains, but I didn’t care.

“That was amazing!” I squealed with laughter as he lifted me up into his arms.

“Are you glad I made you do it?”

“Hell yes!” I laughed as he spun us around. “I think that was the most phenomenal thing I have ever done.” He lowered my feet to the ground. “Thank you for taking me.”

He smiled as his eyes bore into mine. “Thank you for sharing this with me, Kendra.”

He took my hand into his as he led us back toward Samuel’s awaiting car.

We went back to Sammy’s Skydiving. We took off all the equipment and the jumpsuits and left in Preston’s sports car. We drove in silence with the windows down, both of us seeming to reflect on the amazing experience we had just participated in.

Preston drove us to his condo and parked. He opened my door for me as he led me into his home. I excused myself to the restroom as he began rummaging around the kitchen talking about burgers and grilling.

I returned to find the condo empty and noticed the sliding glass doors off the kitchen slightly ajar. I headed toward them and found Preston standing outside in front of the grill. I cautiously stepped out onto the stone patio.

A large, built-in grill was surrounded by tan and light brown bricks with a beautiful countertop. It made a large L shape and had a dark, wooden canopy over it. Across from it was an oversized umbrella with four patio chairs made of a dark wicker with light brown cushions beneath. Matching ottomans sat in front of each chair.

I stared around at the patio I would expect to see in a magazine or on one of the home improvement shows. I never imagined actually being on one. I almost didn’t want to touch anything in fear of making it dirty. This patio off his condo probably cost more than an entire year of my rent. Or more.

“This is beautiful,” I remarked softly.

Preston turned toward me, a grilling spatula in his hand. “You like this?” he asked, waving around the patio with the utensil in his hand.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

He turned back toward the grill as he slid a burger onto it. “Do you like hamburgers?”

“Of course,” I replied as I looked up at the sky that not long ago we had been falling in.

“So where are you from?”

I lowered my eyes and stared at his back. It was a simple question, but for me it was anything but. “South Dakota.”

“Never been there,” Preston responded as he put another burger on the grill. “Nice place?”

“No,” I replied honestly.

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Bad childhood?”

I shrugged as somehow I felt more nervous about this than when we had jumped out of a plane. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

He nodded as he turned back toward the grill. “Fair enough.”

“What about you?”

He turned toward me as he set the spatula down and closed the grill lid. “I’m from London.”

“Do your parents still live there?”

He shifted on his feet and something unreadable crossed his face. “They’re dead.”

“I’m so sorry,” I quickly breathed out.

He shrugged. “We all die.”

Before I could respond, he made the funniest face as though he had just shocked himself. He looked at me as though he was stunned.

“That was dark,” he remarked.

I laughed lightly at him. “Yeah, it was.”

He smirked playfully at me as he leaned against the countertop. “What about your parents? Are they still in not nice place South Dakota?”

I grinned at his wordage. “Yeah, I mean…I think so. I don’t have any contact with them.”

He nodded as his eyes studied me as though he was trying to find more information within my words than I was willing to give. I couldn’t offer him what he wanted. I couldn’t give anyone that. Not if I wanted to stay alive.

“Do you have any siblings?” I asked, trying to shift the conversation away from myself.

“No,” he quickly replied. “You?”

A pain hit my heart and I took a moment to breathe before answering. “I had a brother, but he’s gone.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, and I could hear the honesty in his words. It’s like he connected with it somehow. He had no idea of the circumstances and hardly knew me, yet he sympathized with something that had obviously caused me pain.

I shrugged and repeated his earlier words. “We all die.”

“We need to get out of this dark slump,” he hollered as he ran his hand through his hair and shook it into a messy, yet perfect display around his face.

“How do you get your hair so perfect?” I asked with a smile.

He chuckled as he threw his head down and back up. He ran his hand through his hair again and somehow it was absolutely perfect once again. “You like it, do you?” he asked with a wink and a silly model pose.

I laughed as I covered my face with my hands. “You’re too much!”

“Mmhmm,” he drew out as I peeked at him through my fingers. He flipped his hair and turned back to the grill.

He opened the lid and glanced at me as he grabbed the spatula. “Are you watching?”

I lowered my hands and looked curiously at him. “Sure.”

He slid the spatula beneath one of the burgers and tossed it into the air before expertly catching it back onto the spatula and putting it back onto the grill.

“Impressive,” I remarked.

“Want to try?” he asked as he held the spatula out to me.

I raised my eyebrows. “A man willing to share his grill? I’m shocked.”

He grinned as he winked at me. “I’m secure in my manhood to let you in.”

He handed me the spatula and I slid it beneath the other burger. I flipped it only a few inches into the air, afraid of dropping it onto the ground. It hardly made it one rotation before landing half on the spatula and falling ungracefully onto the grill.

“I am terrible at this,” I laughed as I turned toward him.

“You just need more practice,” he said softly as he slid behind me. His back pressed against me and his body heat warmed my skin. His hand slide down my arm and his fingers wrapped around mine as my heart pounded as sparks flickered within me. He helped me hold the spatula as, together, we scooped up a burger and tossed it into the air. We hardly caught it as our laughter joined together in a beautiful song. He helped me attempt several flips before moving beside me.

“I never thought I would have burger flipping lessons,” I joked as I handed the spatula back to him.

“I never thought I’d have a beautiful woman to teach,” he replied. His face held a seriousness as his green eyes studied me.

I blushed as I stepped closer to him. My fingers glided gently atop his exposed chest. His breath caught at my touch and I slowly unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. My fingers traced over the rose and birds on his abdomen.

“What do your tattoos mean?”

He inhaled a long breath as my fingers continued tracing the black lines. “My mother’s name was Rose.”

My eyes rose to his and there was a sadness within his green eyes that tore at my heart. “What about the birds?”

“My mother use to sing me a song about the soul riding a bird to Heaven after someone passes.”

My face saddened at his tender words. “What was the song?”

The corners of his lips suddenly began to tug upwards as his body began to shake slightly. “I don’t know. I made that all up.”

“Preston!” I scolded as I stepped back from him. “I can’t believe you made that up! I was sad for you!”

He burst into laughter as he reached for me but I quickly stepped out of his reach.

“No!” I yelled as I tried to hold back my own laughter. “That was horrible!”

“I’m sorry,” he laughed uproariously. “I didn’t think you would believe me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” My laughter began to slip out despite my efforts.

“I don’t know.” His laugher began to subside as he gently grabbed my hand and tugged me toward him. It was a gentle maneuver, nothing like the way Scott would grab me and control me.

I stepped toward him but kept my face down to the ground.

“I’m sorry,” he said with a much more somber voice. “My mother’s name really was Rose. The birds are for the sky diving. They’re in the sky flying free like me. Want to know about any more of them?”

I lifted my face to his and he looked at me as though he was worried. “I can’t see all of them,” I responded coyly.

He smirked naughtily at me as he took a step back and took his shirt off. He tossed it onto one of the patio chairs as he stepped back close to me. “Better?”

I nodded as my fingers gently touched his bare skin and began to explore. He slowly lowered his face to mine. His hands slid onto my hips and pulled me against him as his lips crushed onto mine. My fingers slid up his chest and around his neck as he leaned in deeper, his mouth exploring mine. His hands slid from my waist and grabbed my butt. I moaned in pleasure as I could feel his erection beginning to grow.

He suddenly pulled back, dropping his hands from me. I looked at him in horror. What had I done wrong?

“I don’t want to burn the burgers,” he explained hoarsely as he turned back towards the grill.