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 fWe 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 fro
We sat out on the patio beneath the Florida sunshine and ate our burgers with some fruit he had grabbed from the fridge. We talked about much lighter topics of favorite movies, sports, and foods. “Favorite song?” he asked as he took a large bite of his burger. “Easy,” I replied as I lounged in the patio chair with my feet up on the ottoman. “Everything I Do, I Do It For You by Bryan Adams.” He looked at me in shock. “Really?’ “Yep,” I assured him with a confident nod. “Nothing will ever beat it. I used to listen to that song over and over again in my room and write every single lyric out. I was obsessed with it.” He chuckled as he took a drink of his soda. “Care to explain why?”I shrugged. “It was the first glimpse for me that love like that could exist. That a man could love awoman so immensely and…” I trailed off as I froze, the Florida sunshine suddenly unable to touch thefreezing chill inside me. I slowly shook my head, realizing I was on the brink of revealing too much.
Scott was in an exceptionally good mood the next morning and it was contagious. He kissed me as he danced with me in our small kitchen. I was dying to tell him how much money I had made. I wanted to break open a bottle of champagne and celebrate with him. But I only wanted to share it with this Scott. I didn’t want drug addicted Scott to know about the money I had made, or where it was hidden.Scott drove me to work my lunch shift at Kiki’s. I nearly skipped into the restaurant in my joy. I was finally hitting a good streak in my life. I had an amazing client, who maybe saw me as more. It was possible, right? He did want to spend an entire day with me. He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t truly like me. He would have just had the quick roll in the sack and went on his way like the other men did.And Scott was currently sober. I hoped with all my might it would stay that way. We couldn’t do down the dark path of his drug abuse again. Perhaps I should use the money Preston ha
The bass pounded loudly from the speakers in the large room where the engagement party was being held. It was packed full of all of Tricia's and Fred's family and friends, which seemed to be half the state of Florida. It was an interesting mix of Fred's accountant friends and upper-class family and Tricia's former co-workers at Blue Hades and her current co-workers at her receptionist job.There was a large dance floor which was constantly full. Scott had taken me out to dance to a few songs, but had since disappeared. Large, rectangular tables sprawled across the half of the room which was not occupied by the dance floor. I sat at one of them, sipping on sparkling water when Tricia approached. "You can't look glum at my party," she drawled out in her Southern accent. "It's going to be bring the entire party down and Lord knows I can't have that."I chuckled at her as she sat down beside me and threw her arm around my shoulders. "I'm just resting my feet. These heels are killi
"You gotta be fucking kidding me," Scott remarked as I dropped my eyes downward. I was completely and totally ashamed of what had occurred and what Preston was now witnessing. "What happened?" Preston asked in his British accent. His voice sounded restrained with anger. "She was clumsy as usual and hit her head," Scott drew out as he pressed the napkin harder against my head. I winced at the pressure. "Is that what happened?" Preston asked gently.I lifted my eyes back up and my heart fluttered as he was crouched down, inches away from me. His concerned green eyes bore into my inner soul and I struggled harder than I ever have with the lie. "What the hell, man," Scott said angrily beside me. "You don't believe me?" "Yeah," I whispered out. "That's what happened. I tripped."I could see the disappointment in Preston's eyes and it tore at my heart. "Let's take a look," he instructed as he slowly raised his hand toward my face. He pushed Scott's hand away as he reached into a bag
Scott didn’t come home that night. I slept alone in the apartment. I hid Preston’s suit jacket in the back of my closet. I wanted to sleep in it, wrapped in his scent, but I didn’t want to risk Scott coming home and asking questions about it.Preston came into Kiki’s while I was working the next day. I didn’t wait on his table and tried my best to avoid him. I did sneak some looks at him, and he caught me once. I quickly turned away and acted busy.Scott didn’t come home until Wednesday. He was there when I came home from work. He was sitting on the futon when I walked in.I slowly closed the door behind me as I looked at him. “Hi.”He quickly stood up and walked over to me. I watched in stunned horror as he dropped to his knees infront of me. He grabbed my hands, kissing them as he broke down in tears.“I’m so sorry Kendra,” he wept as he laid his head in my hands. “I’m so sorry I hurt you again. I’m a fuckup and I know that. I don’t know why you stay here with m
I spent the rest of the week dwelling upon what I had agreed to. I sat in my apartment with guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. I loved Scott. I wanted to be with Scott. He was doing so much better. Why was I willing to risk screwing that up for Preston? He should just be a client, yet somehow he was something more to me, and that scared me.I told Scott I was going to Tricia's on Friday for a girl’s night. He accepted the lie and it broke my heart the trust he had in me. I gave him a kiss as he left for work before going and changing into a black miniskirt and a lace camisole. I grabbed Preston’s suit jacket and slipped into it. This encounter would be my opportunity to return it. I left my hair down but put loose waves into it and applied my make-up. I slipped into black heels and hurried out the door to catch the bus.My legs bounced nervously the entire ride to the fight. Once off the bus, I had a few minutes to walk. As I approached the building, I noticed a man stand
Preston drove us back to his condo. He opened the door for me and I walked in, admiring once again the beauty of the place. He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my neck.I smiled, my body electric with his touches. I turned around to face him and he immediately slid my jacket off. His hands came up to my face, cupping my cheeks as his mouth pressed onto mine. His lips attacked mine, his tongue quickly prodding at my lips. I grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside. He quickly did the same to my camisole and made quick work of my bra.He bent down, picking me up as I straddled him. He carried me over to the couch and gently placed me down upon it. He laid down atop me as we made out. He pulled away, moving down my body to pull my skirt and thong off. He lowered his mouth to my most sensitive area and I gasped. My hands went into his hair as he tasted me. Never had a man done this while paying me for sex. It wasn't about me, it wa
The quiet conversations were soon interrupted by the announcement and arrival of the bridal party. They filed in, waving and dancing along the way to their table. Food was served, toasts were made, and cake was cut. The bride and groom had their first dance before the dancefloor was opened up to everyone. The band's music was turned up as people began dancing and mingling throughout the tables.Preston's arm returned to the back of my chair as he leaned back in his own. I turned toward him and took in his handsome profile as he causally looked around the room. His jawline was strong and pronounced yet his face had a softness. He wet his full, red lips as he turned toward me. "Are you having a good time?"I nodded, refusing to divulge even the slightest hint of my jealousy. "It's a beautiful wedding."The band began the first musical bars of an infamous rock song as Preston opened his mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted. "Preston! Preston!" a flock of women su
I emerged over an hour later. I slid my fingers over my red dress. It had a deep v-neck which extended all the way down to the red belted waist. The red fabric beneath the belt flowed freely and openly. A large slit ran up one side to add to the sexy feature of the dress. I matched it with black, strappy heels and left my hair down in beach waves.Preston stood in front of me openly gawking. His eyes ran over every inch of my body, burning my cheeks and tingling my insides with his inspection. "What?" I asked nervously as I looked down at my feet. "You're gorgeous."My eyes slowly lifted at his words, a slight smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I took in the sight of him standing in front of me as he stood star struck before me. He had on black slacks with a white, button up shirt and black suit jacket. He had on a black tie and black dress boots. His hair was slicked up and back and fell in perfect waves on either side of his face. His piercing green eyes drank in the si
I sat atop my suitcase outside my apartment waiting for Preston to pick me up. Scott was still inside asleep. He had been snoring soundly when I left, but nerves still made my legs bounce and my hands tremble. I had to get out of here before he woke up. I told him Tricia was driving me to the bus stop for my private getaway. He couldn't find out the truth.I stood up as my eyes caught sight of Preston's black sports car heading toward me. I grabbed my suitcase and started toward the car before he was even fully parked. He quickly jumped out and ran over to me. He swept the suitcase out of my hand as I took in the sight of him in his skinny blue jeans and an old tour shirt from a rock band. Sunglasses sat atop his head as he smiled at me with his shining green eyes which traveled up and down my body with a simple, yellow sundress on. "Are you in a rush?" he chuckled in his British accent. "Sure," I breathed out in reply as he walked with me over to the passenger door. He opened it
I skipped working at Blue Hades the next weekend. Truthfully, I never planned to return there again. Scott didn’t have much to say about it. I’m pretty sure the guilt of what had occurred between us last time I was there still weighed heavily on his heart. I was able to pick up a couple shifts at Kiki’s to make up for the loss income, though it came nowhere close to what I made at Blue Hades.I leaned against the wall behind of Kiki’s near the backdoor on my break. Tricia stood beside me. Her and Fred had come in to eat lunch and he had left to wait for her in the car while I took my break at the smoking spot out back to talk to my friend. “So what did Scott say this time?” Tricia asked as she kicked at a cigarette butt on the ground.I hesitated as I mentally debated how much I wanted to tell her. With a sigh, I finally confessed the truth. She was my closest and most trusted friend. She was the only one who knew anything about the abuse I had suffered. “He says he never mean
“It’s rape, Kendra,” Tricia stated as she stared wide-eyed at me. I had fled Blue Hades as soon as Scott had left and went straight to her place. She had quickly swept me inside as I showed up sobbing at her doorstep.My hands shook slightly as they held the hot chocolate she had offered me. I sat on her couch, my tears now dry. Why had I run away? What would Dominic and Scott say?“Kendra,” Tricia called in her Southern accent. “You need to report this to the police. You can’t let himget away with it.”I shook my head as I quickly stood up and set the cup down. “I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’thave told you. I’m sorry. I just…”“Kendra.” She quickly leapt to her feet and wrapped me in a surprising hug. “Sweetie, you can’t let himdo this anymore. I have turned my head to several of his outbursts and one too many bruises, but this isa new low. Even for him. You don’t have to allow him to get away with this.”“He’s my boyfriend,” I challenged her. “We
The music in the nightclub pounded loudly, the bass taking control of my heartbeat and forcing it in rhythm with the music. The place was packed with scantily dressed woman and roving men ready to take them home. A DJ sat at the front of the dancefloor, pounding the music out of the speakers. The dancefloor was an ocean of people all moving to the beat of the music.I sat with Scott in a reserved VIP section of the club as I watched the action below. He had his arm around my shoulders as he relaxed beside me. Dominic sat across from us with his blonde date whose large breasts were spilling out of her dress. They unfortunately seemed to have caught Scott’s attention and I caught his eyes wandering to them several times already. “Do you want a drink?” Scott asked as he sat forward and spoke into my ear over the music.I shook my head as I turned toward him. “No, thank you.”He nodded as he waved for the waitress for our area. It didn’t seem to matter that neither Scott nor I
“Married,” Jessica remarked as she eyed the man sitting at one of her tables at Kiki’s. He winked at her as we glanced at him. “All the married ones hit on me.”I turned toward her suspiciously. “How do you know he’s married?”She turned her back to the man and leaned against the counter. She raised her left hand and pointed to her ring finger. “He’s got a tan line from his missing ring.”My jaw dropped as I glanced back at him. “That’s disgusting.”She shrugged. “At least I’ll get a good tip if I flirt back. It doesn’t have to go anywhere.”“Kendra!” Becca, another waitress, called my name.I turned toward her to find her carrying a beautiful arrangement of a dozen roses.“You have a delivery,” she said as she handed me the flowers.“Aw,” Jessica drew out with big eyes. “Scott is such a sweetheart.”“He’s definitely a keeper,” Becca remarked.Jessica sighed. “I need a Scott.”“Don’t we all,” Becca called out as she headed off to grab some plates of food
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 mewhen 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 wasnearly always on display. He would run his hand through his hair constantly and the urge to run myfingers 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 vividagainst the bl
“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