Perfect Ten (15 page)

“Oh, that was fun, dear. Now, about that glass of wine?”

Halfway through our meal, I was still trying to think of a way for me to be able to go to the family dinner Faith’s mother invited me to. See, the problem was I had a damn date Saturday night. I was seriously regretting allowing Stan to talk me in to so many last dates, but I’d given him my word. I might be a lot of things, but when a man gives his word, he keeps it.

When I finally dropped Mrs. Covington off at her house, I promised I’d call her to set up a time for Faith and me to come back and visit—yes, I know I’m being optimistic, but I will have her.

“I’d love that, dear. Thank you for giving an old woman such a lovely day. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun.”

I leaned down and gave her a gentle hug. She was one of the bright spots in my life, and I looked forward to our next visit.

Now I had just three more dates to go until I was a free man.

* * *

O
n Friday morning
, I went into the office to discuss the possibility of Stan getting someone to cover my Saturday night date, so that I could go with Faith to her parents’ house for dinner. There was no way he was going to be happy about it, but he was going to have to accept it.

Stan’s door was closed when I got there, which was a bit unusual. His secretary wasn’t at her desk either, so I knocked on the door myself.

“Come in.”

There was a tall dark-haired guy sitting in the chair across from Stan, looking like he had the world by the balls. I figured he must be my replacement. Fresh meat, so to say. If I were any judge of what the women who hired escorts wanted, this kid would work out well. As long as he could be elegant and sophisticated when called for, and then fuck the hell out of them, banging headboards until they came so hard they saw stars, he’d do great. He needed to be good with his fingers—deliver gentle strokes to—fuck! See how my mind wanders when I’ve been without sex? Christ.

“Hey, Stan. Sorry to interrupt. Your secretary’s not out there. Can you let me know when you have a minute to talk?” I still had my hand on the door, ready to leave him to his meeting.

“Come on in.”

I walked in and stood next to the new kid. He got up out of his chair to size me up. Stan stood as well and introduced us.

“Vaughn Hollywell, meet Joe Starling.”

Vaughn? I didn’t know if that was his real name, but either way, that was going to work for him here in the land of the rich and famous. Who was I to judge anyway? I couldn’t tell you how many people thought Starling was a made-up name.

“Wow. Joe Starling. You’re leaving some pretty big shoes to fill.” He looked down at my feet and then actually glanced at my crotch on the way back up before he said, “But I think my
feet
are even bigger than yours.” He winked at me like we were sharing some inside joke. God, I wonder if I was as much of a tool when I started escorting.

“Yeah, okay. Good luck to you.” As each day went by, I had less and less tolerance for Perfect Ten and everything they stood for. I just wanted it to be over. I could feel anger bubbling up at the prospect of having to go on three more dates. I mean, if this hotshot was raring to go, why the fuck did I have to take those last few dates?

“So, Stan. Can we talk?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Fuck it. If he wanted to talk in front of the new kid, so be it. “I need you to get someone else to take my Saturday date. I had something come up. I can still take my Sunday and next Saturday’s if you need me to, but I’d really prefer to be done with all of this today.”

“Oh no. You can’t back out now. Especially from Saturday’s date, Joe. You were specifically requested. When I told her you were retiring, she insisted on an all-nighter too. That’s eight thousand dollars. You’re not fucking me out of eight thousand dollars.”

Goddammit!
“Then change the day, Stan. I can’t do Saturday.” You know how much I wanted to do an all-nighter? About as much as I wanted to have my dick removed sans anesthesia.

“I’m not sure that’ll work.” He got a shit-eating grin on his face while he let me stand there waiting for him to continue. “Sophia DeMarino is not a woman to be put off.”

“No way, Stan. I told you last time that I wouldn’t be her escort again.”

“Yeah, well, things change. And Vaughn here’s going to go with you too. That’s another three grand. Guess she wants you to go out with a bang.”

Vaughn piped up at that. “Only three grand for me and eight for him?” He was severely offended that he didn’t garner as much money as I did.

“You work your way up here, kid. That’s how Joe started, and that’s how you’ll start. You please the ladies and get a good name for yourself, and you’ll be pulling in the same kind of dough.”

“Look, Stan. I can’t do it.” There was no way I was going to miss that fucking family dinner on Saturday. I’d just not show up if I had to.

“Vaughn, let me have a minute with Joe. Go wait in the outer room, please.”

When Vaughn was out of the room, Stan lit into me. I’d seen him pissed off, I’d heard about his underhanded ways, but I never experienced it firsthand quite like this. “Listen up. You gave me your word that you’d finish these appointments. Aside from
requesting
that you not have to see Sophia again, there were no restrictions set forth. You
will
take the date with Sophia DeMarino, you
will
show Vaughn the ropes with that nasty slut, and you
will
earn me that fucking eight thousand dollars. If you don’t, well, I don’t think your girl would care to have her family find out about her having to hire an escort for her sister’s wedding. I’m also pretty sure she wouldn’t want to know how many women you’ve actually fucked, would she?”

Now I’d had enough. Who the fuck was this asshole to threaten my private life? “Are you fucking insane? You can’t do that! You do that, and I’ll drag the name of Perfect Ten through the mud so deep, you’ll never recover. I can spread secrets too, Stan. Remember that.”

After my little outburst, Stan stood there with an evil grin on his face, obviously not one iota worried about my threat. As if he were on a Sunday stroll, he walked back behind his desk and sat down. “Joe. What’s my last name?”

“Venziani.”

“Nice old Italian, name, huh? Do you remember Mikey Thompson?”

I really didn’t like where our conversation was going. Years ago, Mike Thompson disappeared after he got rip-roaring drunk at a ball for the newly elected governor of California. The day after, Perfect Ten’s name was all over the news for employing drunks who could do no more than embarrass themselves and their dates, not to mention the thousands of dollars of damage he caused as he fought off the security guards who tried to restrain him.

“Yeah. What about him?”

“He cost Perfect Ten quite a few thousand dollars and gave us a bad name for a while. We don’t like that here, Joe. We provide a service, and we provide the best. Anything less is unacceptable, you understand?”

“I understand, Stan, I just can’t do Saturday night.”

“Joe, Joe, Joe. What happened to Mike?”

“No one knows.”

“Yeah. Weird, huh? You should think about that. Tell you what I’m going to do for you. And I’m only doing it because, all things aside, I actually do like you, Joe. I’m going to push Sophia off until ten o’clock. Can you get your shit done by then? You get there by ten at night and stay there until ten the next morning. I’m not saying you have to fuck her. We never say that here, but she paid to have you all night, and she will. You
and
Vaughn. Got it?”

Well, okay. Guess I was going to be seeing slutty motherfucking Sophia one more time. But at least it gave me time to have dinner with Faith. “Yeah. That’ll work. Thanks, Stan.” I saw no reason to anger him any further. Whether he really did have anything to do with Mike’s disappearance or not, I thought it was time to cut my losses and run.

“Send Vaughn back in, will you?”

“Yup. Sure thing.” I was outta there.

I
hadn’t heard
from Joe in a few days, so I gathered up my courage and gave him a call. It wasn’t too hard to do since it was Friday night. I knew there was a good chance he’d be working, so when he picked up the phone at seven o’clock that night, I was a little surprised, and a lot nervous.

“Faith?”

“Hi, Joe. I kind of thought you might not answer. You’re not um, working tonight?”

“Nope. I’m sitting on my balcony, listening to the waves hit the shore with Heidi. We do that a lot. I’d rather be out to dinner with you, but you keep turning me down.”

I heard a soft yip in the background at the mention of Heidi’s name. “So you live on the beach, too?”

His chuckle let me know that he noticed the way I skipped over his comment, but he let it go. “Sort of. It’s not as nice as your place. I live in Long Beach on the twentieth floor of one of those high rise condo buildings, so I at least have a great view of the ocean and the harbor. I’m thinking of selling it though. Heidi would love to have a yard to roam around in, and I’d like to have a grill.”

From what I knew of Joe, the condo suited him more than a backyard with a grill. “I can picture you sitting out there now. Dressed up in a suit and tie, sitting very proper so as not to wrinkle your clothes while you sip a glass of red wine, being ever so careful not to spill any.” That isn’t how I was really picturing Joe, but it was better than telling him that I was picturing him shirtless and sweaty, bouncing a basketball around, wondering how long I’d have to wait to inspect that mysterious happy trail of his. I’d like to follow it down below his waistband. Run my fingers down his length, cupping him with one hand while stroking him with the other.

I’ve dreamed about getting my lips on his again. And I really wanted to nibble on his neck. I’ve always loved to do that, I’m not sure why. I know I’d feel clumsy with him at first, but I also knew what I wanted to do. Licking every inch of his body was a good place to start, I’d say.

“Faith? You still there?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was, um putting my laundry in the dryer.” Well, that was embarrassing.

“I call bullshit. You were daydreaming, weren’t you? Dare I hope you were thinking about me?”

“Maybe.” I hate playing these games. I’ve played them all my life. Telling the guy I’m interested in exactly what I thought I was supposed to say. Why not try honesty for a change? I mean, all the time. Pure honesty. What did I have to lose? Nothing I haven’t faced before.

“You know what? I wasn’t picturing you like that. I was picturing you the way you looked playing basketball. I was picturing you shirtless and sweaty. I was thinking about all your muscles and the way they flexed as you moved around on the court. I like looking at you, Joe.”

“Wow. She’s back.” What did he mean by that?

“Who’s back?”

“My vixen. My sex kitten. It’s like there are two of you, Faith.”

Great. I screwed up already. “Oh. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be difficult.”

“I don’t think you’re difficult, sweetheart. I think you’re a woman who is a little unsure of her own power. You’re a little bit afraid of that hot woman inside you, and that’s okay. I like all sides of you, and believe me, I’m more than willing to help you explore that sensual side, every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Don’t ever doubt it.”

Oh man. Why was I even waiting until our date? I could be in his bed right now. Damn my morals. “So, how would you, um, do that? Explore my other side?”

“Sensual side. I’d start by kissing you. I know you like the way I kiss you. While my lips are covering yours over and over, my hands would run all over you, searching out your most sensitive spots. I’d know I found one when you would make one of those sexy sounds I love so much. Then I’d deepen the kiss, giving in to the lust running through my veins.” He was really good at this. I could literally feel my body reacting to his words. I actually slipped my hand up my shirt. Not something I’ve ever done before with someone on the phone.

“Faith? You still with me?” Like I was supposed to carry on a conversation now?

“Uh-huh.”

Another chuckle came over the phone and caused me to smile. “You want to know what else I would do?”

“Uh-huh.”

“First, tell me where your hands are. And no lying.”

“Well, one’s holding the phone …”

“And?”

“Oh God. This is embarrassing.” I thought I could just do the honesty thing, but it was hard.

“No, it’s not. It’s just you and me here, Faith. Now tell me.”

“I slipped it under my shirt. I’m just rubbing my belly and under my breasts with my fingernails.”

“Oh God. That’s good, Faith. Keep doing that. So, I’d go back to kissing you deep, thrusting my tongue into the sweetness of your mouth, gently sucking, pulling back, and then plunging in again. Slowly, I’d lift your shirt up over your head. After I tossed it to the floor, I’d turn my attention to your lovely neck. You’d tilt your head back for me, granting me better access while you grabbed my ass, pulling me hard up against you. My lips would find that tender spot on your collarbone you seemed to like so much, and I’d give you a nip. Still with me?”

My breathing was definitely getting ragged, and my bra was gone. “Uh-huh.”

“And?”

“I took my bra off and am pinching my nipples.”

“Oh fuck. Faith, let me come over there?”

I thought about it, I really did, but by the time he got here, I’d have changed my mind. I know I would. “No, Joe. Not yet. Crap. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a tease or play around. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“No. No, it’s me. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry. I’m a bit rusty at real dating. I promise I’ll get better.”

“Is that what this is? Dating?”

“I don’t know, Faith. I just—I can’t help the way I feel about you. You drive me crazy—in a good way. And I feel like I could fuck this up before it even starts.”

I agreed with him, but I kind of wanted to finish our conversation. My body absolutely wanted to finish it. “Well, okay. I guess that would be best. So, okay. I’ll talk to you later.” Guess it was going to be another night with battery operated Bob.

“Wait!”

“Yes?”

“I didn’t tell you about my date on Wednesday, and you haven’t said anything, so you obviously haven’t spoken to your mother.”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but my mother seeing him with one of his dates kind of sucked. It was rather shocking that she hadn’t called me to tell me the gig was up.

“Crap. How did my mother see you out on a date?”

“Not like you’re thinking. This date was with one of my favorite ladies. Her name is Mrs. Covington, and she’s eighty-five years old.” He went on to tell me about this lovely woman, and my heart softened toward him. The way he spoke of her, saying such nice things and with a smile in his voice, told me how much she meant to him.

“She sounds great, Joe, but what does she have to do with my mother?”

“Well, after we left the museum, Mrs. C fell asleep, and instead of driving her home, I took a detour so that I could take her to dinner at her country club. That’s where we ran into your mother.

“Ah,
that
Mrs. Covington. You mean Esther Covington? My mother has been trying to get in her good graces forever! She’s a great lady. And the best part is that she doesn’t give my mother or my sisters the time of day, but she’s always been very nice to me the few times I’ve talked to her.” I think the reason I remember her so well is that she went out of her way to make it seem like I was the best of the women in my family. I’d only talked with her a few times, but each time, she told me how beautiful I looked without mentioning anything about my mother. It was obvious that she didn’t like the way they talked to me, but my mother never quite caught on.

“She mentioned how nice you were. I actually told her how we met, and when we saw your mother, she sang your praises and told her how glad she was that you and I were together. This is where it got interesting. You ready to hear the rest?”

My throbbing body momentarily forgotten, I pushed myself up on my elbow, waiting to hear the rest of the story. I couldn’t imagine what he had to tell me. “Sure.”

“Your mother asked if we, meaning you and I, could get to dinner early on Saturday so that your parents could get to know me. So, what time should I pick you up for family dinner?”

Oh, he was smug. I’d been telling him no dates until he was done at Perfect Ten, and here was one I couldn’t really say no to. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?” I admit it was cute how he was so sure of himself.

“I don’t have anything figured out where you’re concerned, and frankly, I hate that, but I’m banking on the idea that you don’t want to tell your mother how we really met, and I’m cautiously optimistic that maybe you won’t ever have to. Or maybe you’ll tell her after we have our fourth kid or something.”

“Whoa there, buddy. Now we’re married with children?” Although, to get technical, he didn’t say anything about marriage.

“Nah. Just thought I’d see if you were paying attention. So, dinner tomorrow? At your parents?”

It wasn’t the worst way I could imagine spending my Saturday night. And I’d already decided to give Joe a shot, so dinner at the parents might be just the thing. “Okay. You can pick me up at five thirty.”

“Great. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh, one last thing.”

“Yes?”

“What are you wearing right now?”

And just that quick, I flopped back down on my back and my mind went back to where it was before we ended our flirting, or whatever you wanted to call it, just a few minutes ago. I wanted to tell him I was wearing sexy lingerie, but I’d already made up my mind to go with honesty. “Well, I’m wearing pink yoga pants.”

“I’ll bet you look great in pink.” Pink actually wasn’t a good color for me, but whatever. “What else?”

Uh, that was it. I kind of tossed my top and bra off when, well you know. “Nothing.”

Joe made a choking sound at my answer. How satisfying to be able to take his cool away momentarily.

“All that gorgeous skin of yours is just bare, waiting for the taking? If you have even a tiny bit of pity in you, describe for me in detail what you look like right now.”

Why did a picture of the girls pop into my head at that very moment? All three of them were in there telling me to go for it. Chloe was telling me to finger fuck myself while I was at it, of course. Not an altogether unwelcome idea. Gracie was a bit more couth, but thought I should dirty it up just a tad, and Susie, well Susie thought it was romantic that he wanted to know.

“I don’t know, Joe. I’ve never done anything like this before.” What if he laughed at me? What if I sounded like an idiot?

“That makes it even better. What if we try it a different way? What if you just listen to me?”

“Listen to you what?” He was going to do
that
again? On the phone with me? Oh my God!

“Trail your fingers over your belly and up your rib cage.”

“Okay.” As I did, I tried to imagine they were Joe’s fingers.
His
hands gently caressing my skin. How I’d love to have his lips follow the path his fingers made.

“Does it feel good?”

The more I pictured him, the better it felt. “Um-hm.”

“Circle your nipples lightly. First one, then the other.” When I didn’t make any comment, he continued with his instructions. “Now lick your fingers and wet your nipples. Then blow on them.”

“It’s cold.”

“I know. And how do they look?”

“They’re pinker and hard now from the cold.”

“Ah, fuck, Faith. You’re killing me. Squeeze them for me. Gently at first, and then pinch those pink, hard nipples until they can’t get any harder.”

“Umm, that feels really good.”

“That’s what I would do if I were there. After sucking them and nibbling every inch of your breasts, I’d soothe them with my tongue, making slow, torturous progress from one to the other. I’d warm them up for you, Faith.”

“Jesus.” I needed Bob. Without telling Joe of course, I slipped my hand into my pants and rubbed my clit, letting out an involuntary low moan. “Hold on a second.” Battery-Operated Bob actually had a little brother, who was quiet as a mouse. It was a tiny vibrator that was a part of one of my other toys. I grabbed it and nestled it in my pussy with the point directly on my clit. When I hit the button to turn it on, I about jumped off the bed. “Huh!”

“Faith, what are you doing?”

The heck with it. I was tired of being the nice girl, the sweet girl, the good girl—always living out my fantasies in my head. Why not play with the real thing? Even if it were just a phone call. “I put a small, um, toy on my, um—down my pants.” I could hear his door open and close. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going into my bedroom so I can get my own toy out. This is getting to be too much for me. I’m a simple man.”

Now that did surprise me. “You have toys?”

“Yeah, I call it my cock.”

“Oh.”

“How’s that toy feeling?” I heard his sharp intake of breath and imagined him gripping his cock. His voice was a whisper. “Tell me how sensitive your little clit is.” My pussy clenched and said clit swelled at the sound of his breathy command.
Holy shit, what am I doing?
I really didn’t want to be the good girl, but it was just too much. I thought I could do it; I really did. What was I doing having phone sex with a guy I hardly knew? No. I couldn’t do it. Why was it so damn easy to do this stuff in my head?

“Jesus, Joe. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I—I can’t do this.” Now it would happen. Now he’d tell me I wasn’t good enough. I was too fat or quiet or boring. I’d heard it all before. Maybe I deserved it, but when I had an orgasm and a real man was involved, I wanted him to at least be in the room! I’m such a mess. To my horror, a small sob escaped me before I basically hung up on him. Would I ever be able to just let go in real life?