I Love You More Than (7 page)

To say things have been a little tense at home would be a serious understatement. It had been four weeks since Felicia had stopped by her parents’ house and had the discussion about finally getting her life started. Starting with getting rid of her two-hundred and thirty-five pound dead weight she’d been carrying for almost fifteen years now.

David sensed a change in Felicia. He’d completely stopped asking her if she’d showered. Felicia could sometimes get away with showering right after work if she got home early enough. David was such a fucking obsessive compulsive nut. In order for him to feel like his partner was clean enough to have sex with, a shower must be taken no more than thirty minutes prior to sexual act. That left room for none, nada, absolutely no spontaneity whatsoever.

Felicia was convinced the main reason David was so against foreplay, was because he felt
all those fluids
were unclean. Felicia had a better time with B.O.B. her battery operated boyfriend than she did with David anyhow. B.O.B. never let her down, it was always about her. He also allowed her to go to sleep immediately after she’d gotten her pleasure.

Felicia couldn’t lie though, there were times where she did miss the feel of a man. B.O.B. couldn’t replace how it felt to be wrapped tightly in an embrace or spooning. Luckily for Felicia David did none of that, so it made it extremely easy for her to withstand his advances. The last thing she wanted to do after a hard day’s work was come home and put in more work by riding David. Or better yet, feeling like a bull as he rutted against her. In his words,
putting it on her!

Ha! Felicia didn’t know what universe David Foster actually thought the little bit of movement he was able to do was actually doing something? Now Harrison on the other hand, that man could make her wet just by looking at her…. Now where had that thought come from? Felicia had found herself daydreaming about Harrison a lot lately. At first she chalked it up to just running into him at the store followed by spending a Saturday with him. However now…now she was starting to crave Harrison.

Sometimes when Felicia found herself awake in the middle of the night she’d allow herself to imagine and wonder what it would feel like to be with Harrison? Was he always the ever perfect gentleman? Was he a slob? Did he have some deep dark habit that would drive her crazy? Or was he actually the way he’d always been around her…. An honest to goodness, down to earth, hardworking man. One who definitely was not afraid of getting down and dirty. That Felicia was certain of.

This night was no different from pretty much every night. Since she’d made the decision that she was done trying to create a family with David, she’d felt great. Felicia was laying wide awake listening to the somewhat quiet sounds of the house. David as usual was sleeping in the living room with the television on. At least the volume was somewhat bearable. Glancing up at her ceiling where her alarm clock reflected the time, Felicia saw it was 10:56pm. This was not going to make for a good day of productivity that was for sure. Well….definitely not without coffee anyway.

Felicia’s phone let out a soft buzz. She always put her phone on vibrate when she went to bed. Picking it up from her nightstand, Felicia read the message. She couldn’t help but smile, it was from Jenna.

             
Hey! I know you’re probably sleep

              but don’t forget we’re hitting the gym

              right after work tomorrow!!! Bring your

              clothes.

              Jenna

Felicia and Jenna were getting along very well. She didn’t know how much longer they would be making the great team they made. There was still no word on when Saroya would return. On the plus side, Felicia and Jenna had brought in four clients just from the word of mouth on their last two projects.

Tom and Rich were happy that business was moving right along. The fear of a firm when they lost a designer, even temporarily, is that the clients will go with them as they’ve built a good rapport with their designer. Luckily Saroya had always been an advocate for Felicia being involved up front versus keeping her in the back. Most leads operated like that with their assistants. So their existing clientele felt more than comfortable dealing directly with her. She still got asked when Saroya was coming back….but that was to be expected. She was a great designer!

Felicia was making such a concentrated effort on not being so reclusive and shut off socially from people. She really enjoyed Jenna’s company and friendship. During a drive to a client’s property Jenna was telling Felicia about the regimen she followed when it came to working out and eating healthy. She was amazed at all the things Jenna did to keep her shape and stay healthy.

Jenna confessed that she’d been doing it so long, it was second nature now. She no longer dreaded going to the gym. It was just a normal part of her daily routine. At Felicia’s snort of laughter and look of disbelief Jenna challenged her to workout with her for two months straight. Eight little weeks. And if after that time Felicia felt like it was still a struggle to workout, Jenna would let her off the hook.

And just to sweeten the pot, Jenna had the eight weeks taken care of. Her fiancé` owned the gym so there would be no downfall. Who could refuse that offer? Felicia gladly accepted. She’d never been a stick, but she’d been more slender than she was prior to giving birth to the girls. It was more than time to get back on the ball. Felicia was ready to do something to get the extra weight that was holding on for dear life, off! That was her last thought as she finally drifted off to sleep.

****

Felicia had a hard time waking up that morning. After she was able to drag herself from the bed, she woke the girls up. She had to drag Elena around until she finally woke up enough to eat her breakfast without any additional help. To Felicia’s surprise, David was actually awake before they left the house that morning. Felicia didn’t know what was going on with him. He’d been overly quiet lately. With David, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Usually meant it was just the calm before the storm.

His eyes being on her the entire time didn’t help to ease her nervousness one bit. After declaring they were finished, Felicia made the girls go brush their teeth and wash their face so they could get going. Making sure she had everything she needed, Felicia put all bags and her briefcase by the door where she was waiting. Suddenly remembering the trash needed to go out, she went into the kitchen to grab it out the trashcan. Lord knew
hell
would freeze over before David took a damn bag of trash out of the house. He’d make Dana do it or Elena try before he’d even make an attempt. Felicia didn’t have time for his foolishness this morning.

“Are you guys going somewhere after work?”

Startled to hear David’s voice so early, interrupting her as she was about to call for the girls. Causing her to choke on her saliva.

“No. Not that I know of.” Felicia responded brusquely.

“What’s with the duffle bag then?” he inquired further. So unlike him. Felicia couldn’t even ask him if the sun was shining if he were going outside. Let alone where he was going.

Felicia raised her brow, fully expecting David to catch on to the faux pas he’d just committed. But he continued to sit on her couch in his draws looking at her waiting for an answer.

“It’s for me.” That was all Felicia was willing to give. “Girls come on. It’s time to go, we’re going to be late!”

****

“See I told you it wouldn’t be that bad!”

Jenna exclaimed a little too brightly as they made their way back to the women’s locker room. All Felicia could manage was to give her a side eyed look.

“Come on Felicia! You can’t tell me it was horrible. I saw you getting into the moves more than a few times.”

Jenna had talked Felicia into taking the Zumba class after they warmed up via cardio on the treadmills.

“Whatever you say Jenna.”

Felicia was too tired to debate how hard the workout was or wasn’t. In all honesty, the workout really was not that bad. She was very much out of practice when it came to being active outside of running the girls around. And of course running around for work. But the only way to get back to it was to do it. Felicia really did enjoy the class. But there was no need to tell Jenna that.

“Mmmm hmm. You can say what you want, I know you enjoyed yourself. So what do you think of Antonio’s gym?”

“I think it is great! Even though I’m not a health or gym nut, I’d join this gym in a heartbeat. I don’t feel like it’s a fashion show. Everyone is focused on what it is they came to do. And I must admit, although I haven’t been inside a gym in years…I don’t remember them having locker rooms as nice as these.”

“Well I have and I can vouch that. No other gyms’ locker rooms have anything on ours. That was a stickler with us when he was building this place. Antonio felt that since most of your time was spent out on the floor, he really didn’t need to put a lot of money into the locker rooms. I told him if you make the locker rooms nice, inviting and decadent not only will your clients continue to be patrons. They’ll pay and come back for the amenities alone!”

“Well remind me to tell him he needs to listen to you more often. I’d come back just to relax back here.”

The locker room at Get It Right/Keep It Tight was beyond anything Felicia could’ve imagined a locker room to be. It was dry. That was the first big thing she noticed. Usually due to the body heat and other agents Felicia didn’t like to think about, gyms and their locker rooms usually always felt damp to her. But not at GIR KIT.

Each locker room was equipped with masseuse stations, saunas, hot tubs and a steam room. Felicia was serious when she’d said she would come back just to hang out in the locker room. The floors were heated marble. She found they felt exquisite after a workout and hot shower. She was so relaxed by the time they left the gym she almost told Jenna she could see how she works out five days a week. Almost.

When Felicia located her car in the parking lot she had to dig through her purse then her gym bag looking for her car keys. She was so focused on finding them that she didn’t hear the approach from behind.

“Wow. I am definitely kicking myself for not coming earlier and missing this view.”

Felicia was startled until she placed the voice. She snagged her keys from her gym bag and stood up as quickly as she could. Harrison reached out his hand to assist her which she gladly took. Her body felt like a noodle after all. When they stood face to face Harrison couldn’t help but be taken with Felicia.

She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen while in their natural state. Felicia was makeup less and a little flushed from her workout. Hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail. And that smile. That smile always could make him weak.

“I see you were a comedian in your past life Harrison.” Felicia stated matter of fact. “Trust me when I say I’m almost positive, it was not pretty seeing me workout in there.”

“So you say. But something tells me that you don’t have the right vision to be the judge of that. I do and I can say for certain that if it looked anything close to the way you looked just bent over, I missed what could’ve been the highlight of my year.”

Felicia couldn’t help but to
blush
at Harrison’s words.
His expression and the way he said it let Felicia know he was serious about the words he spoke. She let out a laugh to lighten the arousing atmosphere that seemed to surround them whenever they were together lately.

“Wow, you almost make me sad you missed it. Would’ve been nice to be the highlight of someone’s year. That hasn’t happened for quite some time…”

Realizing what she’d just divulged, she wasn’t doing a good job of keeping things light between them. But had instead let Harrison know that she hadn’t felt special in a long time. Unable to look him in the eye, Felicia stared down at his shoes. Harrison couldn’t resist the attraction he felt for her any longer.

Stepping forward, Harrison filled up the little bit of space that had existed between them. Lifting Felicia’s chin up with his finger until she was looking up at him, Harrison swooped down and fastened his mouth to hers. Felicia was taken by surprise. She had expected to be given a pep talk, but this…. This was so much better than any words Harrison could’ve possibly spoken.

Felicia stepped into Harrison, bringing them closer together. He quickly enfolded her into a tight embrace. Harrison secured her tightly to him, gripping the back of Felicia’s neck immobilizing her ability to turn away. As if the thought would strike her. Felicia couldn’t stop herself from letting out a moan when Harrison started to massage the nape of her neck and scalp.

If he didn’t stop, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from trying to jump Harrison’s bones. He felt her trying to pull away and break their kiss. Not ready to stop what he’d imagined and dreamed of for so long, Harrison tightened his hold on her walking with her until her back was up against the car door. Harrison then took his time tasting, licking and teasing Felicia’s mouth until he felt Felicia trembling from arousal. Then and only then did he step back, breaking their kiss. But never their connection.