Persuading Perfection Read online

  I’m hot. Really hot. My entire body broiling from the inside out. I’m pouring sweat. A hot and heavy hand rests on my hip. I open my eyes.

  Zach’s features are softer, the lines on his forehead smoothed out. His lips are relaxed, his breath even. Stubble lines his jaw, over his chin, and disappears into the pillow chasing his cheek. It’s hard to imagine this is the same teenage boy who captured my heart all those years ago. I developed a crush the first day I saw him sitting on the couch, and it wasn’t long afterward, I fell in love with him. I knew I did when I’d see him in the crowd at every volleyball game, or when we would have splash contests in the pool, or when Noah would kiss me and I’d fantasize about it being Zach. Even when he broke my heart, I couldn’t help but keep loving him.

  It hurt when he left for college and moved five hours away. He ripped his presence out of my life and left a gaping hole.

  It hurt when he chose Tiffany over me, even though it was to prevent a war with Max. And when Max told me Zach was going to propose to Tiffany, it destroyed me. I was devastated. My heart was shattered. My life dulled and facing the day was grueling. Zach singlehandedly turned love into my poison.

  Not long after Max told me that, the “happy” couple split up. I sat around waiting for his phone call, but it never came. Instead, I was shocked when I was face to face with a Tiffany replacement who wasn’t me.

  He breaks my heart every time he utters the words that he loves me. Zach would never physically hurt me, but he’s very capable of breaking me. His love doesn’t come without hurt. I’ve seen the pain in the eyes of many women in the wake of heartache he’s caused…including mine. He’s got the ability to devastate…

  Suddenly, his eyes flutter open and I’m staring into a sleepy set of hypnotizing dark brown eyes. A smile tics his lips slightly and he begins circling my hip with his thumb.

  “You okay?” he asks, his voice scratchy.

  “Yeah.”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  And the first question that pops up is something that I’ve often wondered but never asked. “Remember when we all went to that upscale art thing? Max, Megan, you, Breanna, Noah and me?”

  Mischief flashes in his eyes as he arches a brow. Breanna was stunning, tall with a model-perfect body. Her blonde hair was ramrod straight, and she had these cat eyes that devoured and adored Zach. He met her not long after splitting up with Tiffany and whether he admits it or not, I know he was crazy about her. I thought she was too sweet and too good for him. And although he proudly had her wrapped in his arms, he couldn’t stop stealing glances at me.

  “Did you buy that painting?” I ask.

  He chuckles under his breath. “The one you swore was a couple holding each other in the rain, but it was really just a bunch of colors swirled on the canvas?”

  “I can’t believe you couldn’t see them.”

  “I enjoyed watching you try to act it out,” he says.

  “I told Dad about it and he gave me some money to buy it, but when I went back, it was gone. Did you buy it?”

  “Why are you awake and thinking about something that happened years ago?”

  I don’t answer, afraid he’ll hear the truth in my lie. “You know you caused a really ugly scene between Noah and me?”

  His face lights up. “I did?”

  “He told me he scuffed you up in the bathroom because he had already warned you earlier that night to keep your eyes to yourself.”

  A laugh rumbles from his chest and he closes his eyes briefly. “He warped his truth to you. He didn’t scuff me up. More like puffed his chest out. The football douchebag thought he was something else with his little muscles flexing. He was crazy about you,” he trails off, tucking an errant strand of hair behind my ear and adjusting his head on the pillow. “Poor kid had no clue that I surpassed his level of crazy for you years before he came into the picture.”

  “We’ve got a lot of past,” I say quietly.

  “We’ve got a lot of future too,” he says.

  I run my fingers over the hard stubble along his jawline. “I’m sorry for being a bitch. I’m overwhelmed. I’m pregnant, my brother hates me and you, and…” I swallow gathering myself. “Too much of you. I need time away to get back on track.”

  He grins as if he understands my silent plea. “I love when you’re here but am grateful for when you leave.” He rolls to his back and tugs me into his side where I rest my head on his hard muscle. His heartbeat is solid, humming steadily. “Don’t worry about Max. He can’t stay mad at you.”

  “I know, but what about your friendship?”

  “I’ll figure it out. He has to calm down first.”

  “Why didn’t you fight him back?” I ask.

  He’s quiet for a second. “I told you I deserved it. He had the right to demolish me.”

  I lift to my elbow and kiss his cheek. “That says a lot about you.”

  His smile is sad. “I wish one day you’d see it.”

  There’s nothing I can say to that, so I rest my head back on his chest and run my hand over his abs. His chest rises and falls with each breath, the lullaby of his heartbeat comforting me and pulling me back into sleep.

  Zach

  Slowly, I ease out of the bed to let Jade keep sleeping while I take another shower before driving back home. Unfortunately, I have several things I need to do, so staying here for another few days isn’t an option.

  Quietly, I shut the bathroom door, start the shower, strip and ease into the morning bliss of hot water. I need to remember to bring soap that doesn’t smell like her. It fucks me up and wakes my dick up too. I wash and then tilt my head toward the water, allowing my thoughts to travel aimlessly. I swear last night, she and I reached a different place in our fucked up relationship. My hard work of persuading and proving myself to her seemed to have an affect…or it could’ve been how sick she’s been. Hopefully, it’s not the latter and she genuinely knows where I stand.

  I sense her presence, but I don’t act on it, keeping my face in the water. The door slides and she steps in behind me, her hand dragging over my ribs and playing across my stomach.

  “Someone is feeling better,” I say twisting toward her. Immediately she grips my cock and begins stroking it.

  She rolls her eyes upward. “What are you thinking about in here?”

  A rumble vibrates my chest. “I smell you all around me and it fucks me up.”

  She squeezes, dragging her hand up and down my shaft. Excitement tightens my nuts, skipping through my veins and coming alive. Digging my hand through her hair, I jerk her head toward my face and force her to stare at me as she works my dick. Her eyes are heavy with lust, and I’m happy to see the color back in her skin.

  I drag my tongue up her neck, drinking the water running down her skin. Drifting my other hand down her ribs, I slide them to her back, and squeeze her ass. Softly she moans.

  “What do you want, Jade?” I rasp beside her ear and then kiss the spot right under her earlobe.

  She whimpers as her body limbers. She tightens her grip around my cock and digs her palm into my chest. “You…”

  A deep hum vibrates from my throat. “I’m all yours.” More than she’ll ever understand. “As much as I’d love to fuck you hard and have you screaming, I don’t think that’s a good idea given the circumstances lately.” I snake my hand to her thigh and pull her leg up. “But I’ll take you begging and moaning…”

  Bending at the knees, I ease into her. Her mouth falls open as her head falls back. She sighs.

  I fill and empty her, pushing in and pulling out, rolling and gyrating my hips. She slaps the wall and grabs the metal at the top of her shower door as she rocks into me. Her slick heat glistens on my dick as the hot water spills over me, the steam engulfing her.

  Snaking my hand between us, I circle her clit. Immediately, the walls of her pussy clamp down and she moans, pushing her hips toward me.

  “I love when your body begs for me. But I need to hear yo
ur mouth do it,” I rasp.

  I grip her hair and tug her head to the side and back, forcing her to propel her hips farther off the wall. It offers more room for me to drive into her. I tease her, alternating between long strokes and short rams while continuing to tantalize her swollen clit.

  Shudders roll down her spine, and her body begins to jerk. Her moans are becoming louder, but it’s not what I need. I bury myself to the hilt and jut forward.

  “Please…” she finally releases the needy plea. “Zach…” she groans.

  I can’t help but smirk as I begin thrusting into her. She writhes and cries out, shattering around me. Blinding heat rushes my entire body and she obliterates me.

  “Fuuuccckk,” I hiss, grunting as I come.

  My brain short circuits. My body right behind it as my knees feel like they’re about to buckle. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her as I root deeper. Our bodies shudder and jerk together as our breaths begin to slow. She’s drawing circles on the back of my neck and it makes me smile.

  Rubbing my thumb across her lips, I slip out of her. “The things you do to me…”

  I lather her wash rag and run it over her body…turning me the hell on again. Together we wash her hair and I drop a kiss to her cheek before stepping out and giving her space to enjoy the water.

  I’m dressed when she exits in a towel heading to her dresser. Her eyes eat me alive, soaking me in.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” I tell her.

  Bashfulness causes her to tuck her chin. It’s odd seeing her this way. She’s always been confident. “Thank you,” she says.

  She starts toward her dresser and skips a step, eyeing the picture I put on her mirror. Her eyes widen and mouth drops before casually ignoring it, gathering clothes like I didn’t just take her down memory lane.

  “I’ve got to get back to the office. I have a few meetings I have to attend and a few jobs to check on. But if you need me, I can come back and—”

  She holds up a hand, shaking her head. “I’m fine. Don’t make this awkward. Our goodbyes are normally easy.”

  I nod even though the argument is there. How the fuck is telling her if she needs me I’ll be here awkward? Why is it so damn hard for her to see that I’m not going anywhere?

  Biting a polished smile, I drop a kiss to her cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

  Reluctantly, I walk away without any other words.

  I’ve actually been pretty edgy about today for several days. Normally, I’d bullshit with my best friend with no issues as I checked on the progress of his winery. But today is a different story. While I have no problems with him, he’s quite the opposite with me. I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re enemies, but I’m pretty sure he wants to murder me. If that doesn’t scream best bros, I don’t know what does.

  I talked to Mich, the leading supervisor, and went over a few slight issues. I’m checking the prints when I spot Max out of the corner of my eye. When he sees me, he rotates and walks back out the door.

  I call out after him, chasing the asshole down. “Max.” I clasp his shoulder stopping him. “Dude, talk to me.”

  He jerks out from under my hold and murders me with a glare. “I prefer to do my business with Mich. Not you.”

  “Man, listen. I—”

  “I’d advise you to leave me the hell alone and let me continue to deal with Mich.” His fists are balled at his side, his lips tight. The lines between his brows are deep and angry.

  “Max. I never wanted to—”

  “Hurt me? Betray me? Sneak around my fucking back and screw my sister? Deliberately annihilate all of our trust? Destroy ten years of friendship?” He cocks his head to the side, narrowing his glare. “Which one is it going to be? Or were you around just to fuck my little sister?” He grits the end.

  I exhale the sting from the wordy slap to the face. “It wasn’t like that. I—”

  “Honestly, I don’t care about whatever excuses you give me.”

  “Quit interrupting me and hear me out, dammit,” I bark.

  “It would be in your best interest to leave me the hell alone. From here on out, I’ll deal only with Mich.”

  “We’re going to have to settle our differences at some point,” I say.

  Malice drips from his laugh. “No. We won’t. We’ll learn to be cordial for the sake of Jade and the baby. They are the only things stopping me from putting you six feet under. Now, excuse me. I have better shit to do than to speak with you.”

  I clench my jaw, holding his glower for long torturing seconds that feel like they’re dancing with eternity. Finally, he breaks it, turns on his heel, and strides away with his shoulders back.

  Finishing up with Mich and telling him how to adjust the issues, I leave without my normal carefree smile.

  I hate that Max is pissed. We’ve been friends through some rough times. And although I understand why he is, I’d do it all over again with the same consequences. Jade has the biggest part of my soul. I just need for them both to see and believe it.

  Yesterday’s event with Max doesn’t compete with the hell of a meeting I had this morning with Mr. Miller, the CEO of Miller Projects. That man is enough to make you want to slam your head through a cinder block wall. He’s worked with me on multiple projects, long enough to know ridiculous threats only fuel my desire to piss him off worse. Everyone knows my reputation—I get shit done and I get it done right. If you want me to cut corners, you might as well forget my name because at Calloway’s we don’t half ass shit. This is my livelihood, my business, and I’ll be damned if anything will destroy it.

  I’ve taken a shower, eaten, and now I’m enjoying a beer while I sit on the couch. My phone chirps.

  Jade: Can you talk?

  Code words for—screw you for taking care of me you big, well-endowed, sexy as fuck, asshole.

  I laugh. Yesterday, I had another case of root beer delivered along with a case of ginger ale, a box of chocolates that Valorie said she’d love, and a huge ass pillow that is as long as Jade is tall so she can snuggle into it wishing it was me. It had immaculate reviews from many pregnant women.

  Yeah and I also sent her money via PayPal.

  I can almost feel the burn of her words now.

  “Yes, dear?” I answer with frivolous sugar.

  “You’re infuriating, you know that?” she snaps.

  “Me? No. I think you’ve dialed the wrong number.”

  “Oh no. The return address definitely says Zach Shithead Calloway.”

  It cracks me up. “I swear you’re the only woman who complains that the man is stepping up to the plate.”

  “You have it skewed. I’m not complaining. Not about the gifts. Those are sweet gestures and I really like them. But the money…that pisses me off. I’ve got a good job. I don’t want you for your money.”

  “You’ve made it very clear you only want me for my cock, but it comes with a wealthy owner.”

  This breaks her and causes her to giggle. “I’m serious. I don’t want your money. And truth be told, it kind of hurts my feelings. It’s like you think I’m incapable of taking care of myself.”

  “Oh, you almost got me to roll my eyes,” I joke. “You’re very capable of taking care of yourself, but newsflash, I’m not going anywhere, which means I, too, will be taking care of you and our baby.”

  “But I—”

  “Give it a break, please. This is becoming redundant.”

  She doesn’t reply.

  “And if you’re trying to master a plan to give it back, I’ll only find another way. Just accept it.” My words are soft, yet stern so she’ll understand it’s not up for discussion.

  “Thank you,” she finally says. “Anyway, I’ll let you go. I know you’re about to go out.”

  “I am?” I take a swallow of my beer.

  “It’s Thursday. Isn’t it ladies dance night or some shit like that at Skye’s?”

  I’m grinning like a smug ass. “Ladies dance every night at Skye’s,
but it doesn’t mean I need to go there.”

  “When did this change?” I hear the surprise in her voice.

  “I’ve got more important things to worry about than getting my dick wet,” I reply.

  If she tried to hide the small gasp, she failed. “Oh. Okay.”

  “Yeah. The new Big Bang Theory comes on tonight,” I add for the fun of it.

  “Umm…okay then. Enjoy your show,” she says, but it comes out more of a confused question.

  “Hey, Jade?”

  “Yeah?”

  “This would be easier if you were closer.” It’s a small plea and I’m hoping she hears it.

  “Maybe for you, Zach.”

  Right there tells me how much she’s fighting all of this and it’s frustrating as hell. “Good night, Jade. I’m here if you need me.”

  She hangs up.

  I sigh, tossing the phone to the cushion beside me, and rake a hand down my face. It would be easier if she’d quit fighting this and give me a damn chance. I’m trying to remain patient while I break down her walls, and I don’t plan on stopping. But sonofabitch, this is hard on the nerves.

  Jade

  I finish the transaction with Mr. Johnson and rest back into my stool, rubbing my stomach as it lets out the loudest growl. Lunch is in thirty minutes, but I’m quite sure I’ll wither away before then.

  The entrance door squeaks and in struts Zach in dark suit pants with a light blue shirt and a black tie sporting a grin and carrying a Styrofoam box. Silence permeates the room for a split second as he catches everyone’s attention and their brains quit working momentarily. He’s always had that effect ever since his physique matured.

  He moves through the red ropes and pauses at the Please Wait Here sign.

  I tuck my chin, looking at him from under my lashes with a grin yanking my lips high.

  “Can I help you, sir?” Melissa, the branch whore manager calls out.

  Of course the cougar would. If he’s walking, handsome, and has a dick, he’s her type of man.

  Zach shakes his head and points to my window and then sidles up to the counter, sliding the box to me. “I bought you lunch. I hope I’m not late.”