Love Me, Not My Body

CHAPTER 16

Air whooshed out of my lungs, knocking the wind out. I gasped for a breath as his screaming continued, along with his kicks. Each one sent an indescribable amount of pain shooting through my abdomen. I clawed desperately at the floor, trying to move away from his foot. Tears streamed down my face as the man I loved screamed obscenities at me as he kicked his foot into my stomach and sides with as much force as he could.

"Don't ever f*****g lie to me again!" he shouted as he spit on me before turning and storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I laid in the corner against the wall on the floor, unable to get up. My sobs only hurt my abdomen more as a river of tears streamed down my cheeks.

---

I gingerly got out of bed the next morning. After Scott's outburst, he had stormed out of the apartment and hadn't returned.

I got into the shower and cringed as I looked at the damage Scott had left behind. My entire mid-section was one big, black and blue mess. I cringed as the running water felt like a hammer pounding upon my bruises.

I took some ibuprofen and considered canceling my day with Preston. It was terrifying to think of Scott finding out I was with him again after what he had just done. But I also knew I needed the money. Scott was back to using drugs, and it was all my fault. I had been stupid and snuck out without telling him the truth. If I hadn't done that, he would never have used the drugs. I would have been here to stop him. But I had selfishly been gone to be with Preston. Now I had to make it right. I would spend the day with Preston and make the needed money so Scott could go to rehab. He would get better, and we would put all of this behind us.

---

I sat outside my apartment as I waited for Preston to arrive. I was enjoying the beautiful, warm day. It certainly beat the cold winters back home.

I heard a car pull up and I looked up to see Preston's sports car parking in front of me. I quickly stood up, straightening my Bermuda jean shorts. I wore a red floral tank top that I had tucked into my shorts. I didn't want to chance my shirt coming up and exposing the horrendous marks left behind by Scott.

Preston strolled over toward me. I couldn't help but stare in awe at him. He had on his now common skinny black jeans with hiking boots. He wore a tan, button up shirt with a weird quilt pattern with large, dull-yellow flowers. Only he could pull that off. It was unbuttoned halfway down his chest, and a white hair scarf was tired loosely around his neck and left to hang upon his bare chest. He had black sunglasses covering his eyes that I always enjoyed seeing.

"Hello Kendra," he called out in his British accent.

"Hey," I replied with a dorky wave. I internally rolled my eyes at myself.

"Are you ready?"

"It depends," I replied as he reached me and stopped just inches away from me. "What are we doing?"

He smirked and it had a tinge of naughtiness to it. His eyes wandered up and down my body. "You'll see."

Butterflies erupted in my stomach as he took my hand and led me to the car. He deposited me in the front seat before climbing into the driver seat and heading out on our adventure.

I sat quietly in the seat as he listened to rock music softly as he got onto the interstate. I stared out my window at the passing palm trees and endless traffic. My eyes began to get heavy and I quickly re-opened them. He was paying for my companionship. I couldn't sleep on the job! My painful midsection had kept me up last night, along with the fear of Scott returning to inflict more damage.

"So where are we going?" I asked as I looked toward him.

He glanced over at me with a smile. "You'll see."

I groaned. As I laid my head back on the headrest. "Why is everything with you such a secret?"

I saw him shrug in the corner of my eye. "Why not?"

I rolled my head toward the passenger window as I stared out at the blissfully blue day. Would Scott return home and find me missing and wonder where I was? My stomach knotted as I tried to push back the thoughts of what he would do if he found me gone again. I was doing this for him. He needed help, and I was going to get it for him.

“Kendra. Kendra.”

I slowly opened my eyes and stared into Preston’s green ones. I quickly sat up and cringed as my abdomen cried out in pain. My hand shot over it as Preston looked at me in confusion.

“You alright?”

“Yeah,” I breathed out as I quickly dropped my hand to my side. “Stomach cramp. Sorry. Did I fall asleep?”

He grinned broadly at me. “You’ve been snoring for the past couple of hours.”

I groaned as I raised my hand to my forehead. “I’m so sorry. You can take off some money from what you owe me for today since…”

He chuckled as he took my hand into his. “I’m not going to do that. I enjoyed the snoring. It went in tune with the music.”

I burst into laughter as I covered my face with my hands. “I don’t snore!”

His laughter mixed with mine as he gently pulled my hands away from my face. “You do, and it was adorable.”

I rolled my eyes as he turned and exited the car. He came around and opened my door and I stepped out beside him. I glanced around and realized we were at a state park.

“What are we doing here? Swimming with alligators?”

He nodded as he bent down to retie his boot. “If we can find any.”

I shook my head at him. “Ha ha.”

He grinned as he stood up and opened the back door. He pulled out a backpack and slung it over his shoulders. “I thought we could do some hiking today. Enjoy the outdoors.” He threw his arms out around him as though to model the nature all around him.

“Okay,” I agreed. It actually sounded like something fun to do.

His eyes wandered up and down me again before he nodded and took my hand into his and led me off onto a trail.

---

The dirt path wound around through a tropical paradise that seemed untouched by man and far away from civilization. Preston had pulled water bottles for us from his backpack as the bright Florida sun shone down upon us. I found myself sweating more than I wanted to admit. Preston only got hotter the more he sweated. He was like some Greek God that never looked undesirable.

Around lunch time, he led us out to a sandy beach along a river. He pulled a blanket out and laid it out upon the sand. He waved his hand gallantly to show me a spot to sit. I sat down on the blanket as he sat down across from me. He pulled some bread out of the backpack, along with a couple apples and oranges. And then he pulled out a can of Spam.

“What is that?” I asked as I crinkled my nose in disgust.

He looked at me with a goofy look of excitement. He held the can up as though he was modeling it. “Spam!” he announced excitedly in a higher voice.

I giggled at his silliness. “That is disgusting.”

He dropped his jaw dramatically at me as he lowered the can. “It’s delicious!”

I shook my head as I picked up a shiny red apple. “No, it’s not.”

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at me skeptically. “Have you even tried it?”

“Yes,” I said. “How can you even eat it when you open the can and it comes out with that nasty layer of slime on it?”

He looked at me, wide-eyed with shock. “That’s the best part!” he declared loudly.

I shook my head as he peeled the lid open on the can. He set his bread on the blanket and began shaking the can of Spam upside down. It made a repulsive, squishy sound as it slid out of the can and splatted onto the bread.

I covered my mouth as I pretended to gag. “That’s so gross.”

He looked at me with wild amusement. “Is it?” He picked the brick of Spam up and pushed it back into the can. He stared at me as he tipped the can upside down and shook it out again.

“No!” I squeaked as I covered my ears. “That’s so gross!”

The meat fell onto his bread again as he shrugged his shoulders. He pulled a plastic knife from his backpack and sliced a piece off. He held it out to me as I squirmed backwards.

“No!” I laughed. “I’ll just eat an apple.”

“Try it,” he drew out with a laugh. “You’ll love it,” he added in his great pitchman voice.

“No!” The laughter began to hurt my injured abdomen as he continued to move closer to me with the meat. I grabbed it from him, and a look of delight sparked on his face. I threw the meat to the side, sending it hurling toward the river.

“Hey!” he shouted as he jumped to his feet. “That’s good meat!”

“Now it’s fish food,” I joked as he suddenly took off toward the river.

“Preston don’t!” I screeched with laughter as he went running toward the water.

He ran into it without a second of hesitation. He splashed around for a moment, pretending to fight a fish for his coveted piece of Spam. He held it up into the air as though it was a trophy he had just won.

I laughed so hard my abdomen began to shoot out in pain. I put my hand over it, unable to contain my laughter as tears actually accrued in the corners of my eyes from my delight.

Preston held the Spam to his mouth and my hands shot over my mouth.

“Preston don’t!” I screeched just as he took a big bite out of it.

I screamed as he quickly spit it out into the water. He gagged a couple times and I wasn’t sure if he was faking or not.

“Not good wet,” he remarked as he smirked at me.

I shook my head at him. “You are crazy.”

He smiled as he walked out of the water and back to me. “I’ve heard a lot worse.”

I stared at him, unable to imagine anyone saying or thinking anything at all negative about him. He always seemed so positive and happy. He was like a radiating light of kindness.

He plopped back down onto the towel, his pants and shoes wet from his excursion.

“Now how are you going to hike all wet?”

He shrugged as he raised his eyebrows. “Naked?”

I laughed again, but quickly cut it short as my abdomen cried out in protest. I put my hand over my stomach as though to hold the pain in.

Preston looked at my hand as his face quickly sobered. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I quickly assured him as I waved it off. “Just a cramp.”

He looked at me quizzically for a moment but thankfully let it drop. “I brought something for the boring eater.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out a pre-made sandwich.

He handed it to me as I took it into my fingers like it was gold. Thank goodness I didn’t have to eat the nasty Spam.

“You are missing out though,” Preston said as he sliced up his Spam and placed it on his bread.

I shook my head as I unwrapped my sandwich. “I’m pretty positive I am the winner in this.” I looked up at him as he took a bite of his sandwich. “Thank you.”

He nodded as he chewed and motioned for me to eat.

I compliantly took a bite of my sandwich. “So what made you decide to bring me hiking?”

He looked around as he waved his hands around him. “Why not?”

I shrugged. “Just a different thing to do with someone you hire.”

Something flickered across his face, but I wasn’t sure. Annoyance? Anger? He took a bite of his Spam sandwich and didn’t give me any hints.

“It is beautiful out here,” I commented as I looked around. “Have you ever been here before?”

“Yeah,” he replied but didn’t elaborate.

“So you’re a thrill-seeking fireman who boxes and is amazing with fashion.”

His eyes widened in shock as he pointed at himself before looking behind him as though he was trying to figure out who I was talking about. “Me and fashion?”

I chuckled as I threw a piece of bread at him. “Don’t even deny it. You look better than I do most of the time.”

His eyes slowly trailed from my head down to my toes. “That isn’t possible.”

Heat rose to my cheeks as I lowered my eyes to the blanket. I drew in a slow breath as I looked back up to him. “Why do you hire me anyway? Surely you can get a date extremely easily.”

He shrugged as though it was a silly question. “I enjoy your company.”

I eyed him curiously but didn’t question him further. No need to give him reason to second guess his decision. I needed this money, I reminded myself.

We ate our lunch and packed up before heading back out onto the trail. Preston held my hand, making sure to always be a gentleman and help me over an uneven area or fallen logs. Being secluded in nature alone with him felt intimate, in a way more intimate than the things we had already done.

His hand felt natural and so very right wrapped around mine. He never once lost his temper with me when I was obviously slowing him down or when I clumsily tripped. He had patience for days with me. And his smile. That gorgeous smile that overwhelmed his face and pierced dimples into his cheeks was nearly always on display. He would run his hand through his hair constantly and the urge to run my fingers through it grew with each passing minute.

“How do you keep your hair so perfect?” I asked absentmindedly.

He glanced at me and grinned. “You like it?”

I laughed lightly as I looked up at the tall branches of the trees all around us. They stood green and vivid against the blue sky beyond. “Maybe.”

He stopped walking and leaned his head over to me. “Have a go at it.”

I looked at him with a smile as I studied him a moment before turning toward him. I ran my fingers through his thick, wavy hair and it was every girl’s dream. Both to touch him and to have that gorgeous of hair.

He angled his body toward me as he lifted his emerald green eyes to me. I could see the hunger within them as he slowly leaned his face toward mine. His lips caressed mine gently before a more urgent need began to surge through them. His hands slid onto my waist and trailed around to my back. He pulled me toward him, and my body pressed against his. My lips parted and his tongue explored my mouth. My fingers were lost in his wavy locks as his hands slid onto my butt. He gave my cheeks a squeeze and I moaned in excitement. His hands trailed up slowly toward the waistband of my shorts. He grabbed at the fabric of my shirt and went to pull up, but my hands quickly shot down to his.

“No,” I murmured as I pulled my lips from his and he moved to kiss my neck. “I can’t have s*x with you.”

He slowly lifted his head to stare down at me, a mixture of angry frustration plastered onto his face.

“I’m…I’m um…I’m so sorry,” I stuttered out, suddenly realizing how stupid my plan really was. He was paying me to spend the day with him as a prostitute, not as a happy little companion. If I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, perform the acts of the job, there was no reason for me to get paid. I had wasted his time and my own. “I’m on my period, and I don't have s*x while on my period. I’m sorry. I should have told you. I’m so sorry I wasted your time.” I glanced around nervously, trying to figure out how to fix this. “I can do something else,” I quickly declared as I dropped to my knees and grabbed his pants. I quickly undid his button and zipper when his hands grabbed mine.

“Kendra,” he said softly as I felt the first tears prickle my eyes. He attempted to pull my hands off his pants, but I fought to keep them there. I had to do my job. I didn’t want him to get angry with me.

“Kendra,” he repeated as he took a step back so I couldn’t reach his pants anymore.