My Perfect Man

By Leah Matheny

This book is the 2nd in a series. The 1st is: My Captor, My Love

Karen is conflicted...and in love. Can she give up everything she’s worked so hard for to follow Liwanu and live in his world, a world she could never leave? What if she can’t convince him to stay with her? She’s already made two bad choices in her life, what if she makes another? This decision is important; there won’t be any more do-overs.

Karen is in danger and Liwanu can’t protect her. Should he trust his chief, and the man within himself, and just take her? Or should he listen to his instincts and let her make the decision. Karen wants him to stay in her world, can he? At least then he’ll know he could have a future with her...if he can keep her safe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leah Matheny
• Release date: Feb 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466116016

Book preview

My Perfect Man

By:

Leah Matheny

Smashwords Edition

*****

My Perfect Man

Copyright © 2010 by Leah Matheny

All rights reserved.

This is a fictional story. Names, organizations and characters are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

*****

Once again, I’d like to thank my sister-in-heart for all her help, time, and advice. I’d also like to thank my sisters, Karen and Bonnie; they’ve both been there for me more than once. Their encouragement was greatly needed and appreciated.

A note from the author: I just wanted to let you know/remind you that this is the second book in a series. If you’re like me, you have hundreds of Kindle books and don’t remember all book descriptions. The first in the series is: My Captor, My Love. I hope you enjoy my book.

*****

Chapter 1

Liwanu should have returned five days ago. He told me that he’d be gone for two weeks, and almost three weeks have passed. Liwanu left to return Dani and her baby, Jack, to the village--to her husband, Honon.

Well, it was good while it lasted. Right, you just keep telling yourself that, I sighed out loud and quickly looked around to see if any of the nurses had heard me. I’ve worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, California for almost eight years. I started out in oncology, but switched to Labor and Delivery four years ago. That was Dani’s idea.

Dani, Danielle, and I have been friends since we were three years old. Our moms had been best friends and our families did a lot together as we grew up. When I was a senior in high school my mom died of cancer, so Dani and I decided to become nurses. After working the oncology floor for a few years I became severely depressed; I guess it brought back too many memories of my mom and made it hard for me to move on from the pain I had from losing her.

My dad got remarried right away to a woman I referred to as my Step-Monster. She and her daughter, Monster, Jr., pretty much turned my dad against me, so I didn’t have him to help me heal. I was glad I had Dani; in fact, we’re closer than most sisters. She was always there for me, through all my trials and tribulations. Dani was the one who suggested we switch to Labor and Delivery, to work with the beginning of life instead of the end of it. I still have a hard time when a baby dies, but at least it isn’t the slow, disintegrating loss of life from cancer.

My problems and thoughts were put on hold as another screaming mother was brought in to deliver her baby. Karen, you take this next patient, the head nurse called out to me. I liked that about work, it kept my mind busy.

As I drove home from work I thought about what TamTam and I had planned for tonight. TamTam, Tamara, is a friend of Dani’s and mine from high school; the three of us were inseparable during those years. After school Tamara went her own way going to law school, but we three started hanging out again when Dani needed legal help six years ago; her parents died in a car crash. Tamara’s a lawyer specializing in probate.

She and I are the only ones who know the full, true story about Dani--about Dani, Honon, and Liwanu.

Chapter 2

Last August

Dani was eight months pregnant and she was given a surprise baby shower at work. I was helping her carry the presents to her car when I happened to look over at the waiting room as we were walking toward the elevator. There were two absolutely gorgeous men.

Whoa, check out the eye candy in the waiting room, I purred, and Dani turned to look. The two Mr. Goodbars stood up and walked toward us with a look of intent. The model perfect one was carrying a bouquet of roses, and his intense gaze shifted back and forth from Dani’s face to her bulging stomach. The other delectable hulk shifted his eyes from Dani to me.

Dani gasped right before she dropped all her presents. She turned sheet white and whispered, Honon?

That’s Honon! Dani, come here and sit down. I led her to a chair; she really looked out of it. Dani, do you want me to call security?

I moved forward to protect her from Honon, but the other guy grabbed my arm. I tried to jerk away but didn’t succeed because I was held securely. He wasn’t hurting me; I wouldn’t have stood still for that. When I tried to push him away he didn’t budge, so I raised my head to look at him, to yell at him to let me go to Dani--the words stuck in my throat. He was staring at me with eyes so dark they were almost black. They narrowed, hardened, but in a flash he blinked; then his glare softened and lowered to my lips.

He was pure male--huge--not only tall, over six feet, but his chest, neck, and arms were massive. I looked to where his hand held my arm; his fingers completely encircled it, and my arms aren’t exactly skinny. I’m not overweight, just right for 5’7", but far from skinny or having the perfect California beach body.

My gaze returned to his face, after a leisurely stroll up his muscled arm and over his massive chest. The full, hard line of his lips slowly parted.

Please, give them a minute, he said in a deep, rumbling voice.

Oh…that was yummy. He radiated sex. This Indian can raid my fort anytime. My heart thumped. I hadn’t dated in almost a year--on purpose, for a reason. And I considered myself a born-again-virgin. Uh oh, he’s gonna be trouble. Gonna be hard to stick to my Keep Away From Men Rule. Two divorces are enough. No strike three for me.

I’ve dated a couple of men casually, but no man had sparked much interest in me until the delicious hunk standing in front of me. I could feel myself getting hot, thermal temperature hot, not Ohh baby hot--at least not yet. I just knew my neck was turning red so I forced myself to turn my attention back to Dani.

Dani was the one with pale skin that went with her red hair, and I had olive skin and dark brown hair from my Italian mother, yet I was the one who blushed so easily. Honon was telling Dani that he was sorry, that he believed her and loved her. He’s come back for her. I finally turned from Tall, Dark and Sexy to see Dani go pale and sway as she stood. There were nurses and doctors standing around watching her. I had to get her out of here.

I spoke up, I have a truck that’s big enough to fit all of us. I doubt these two big boys could get you home, and you’re not in any condition to drive. Considering the seclusion of the village where they still live the way they did in the early 1800’s, I didn’t think the guys had driven to the hospital or even knew how to drive. I picked up the bouquet of roses Dani had dropped, and I grabbed the presents I was carrying before.

Come on, handsome, get the other presents, I said, turning to Mr. Good and Plenty--that sex-on-a-stick whose pheromones were wrecking havoc on my sensory glands. I wanted him to know, to think, I was in control. I turned toward the elevator and hoped they were following me. I needed some fresh air, fast.

Taking deep breaths when we got outside, I tried to calm myself as Mr. Yummy walked next to me toward my truck. I was acutely aware of him; I swore I could feel his body heat. I tried to act nonchalant, but I didn’t have the guts to look at him again. When I opened the car doors for them, Honon carried Dani in the backseat with him. Luscious got in next to me.

Keeping my eyes on the road and my breathing even, I tried to act casual and felt I was doing a good job. Because of the stick shift, I kept hitting and rubbing his leg every time I put the truck in third or fourth gear. He didn’t move his leg out of the way and I could feel him staring at me. When we got to Dani’s, I raced ahead to open the door, ordered food, and tried to compose myself. I wasn’t going to let him get the upper hand; I wasn’t going to let that happen to me ever again. I remembered mama telling me to never marry a man better looking than me, and to have him more in love with me than I was with him. I didn’t listen the first two times. When I turned around, I saw Dani and Honon kissing.

All right, you two, get a room. I’ll keep this big boy company. I wanted to wink at Big Boy, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. My heart was beating at my false bravado.

The food came while Dani was talking; I set it on the table and went to the kitchen for the plates and everything else. Sir Muscles-A-Lot stood up and took things from my hands as I brought them from the kitchen, and he set them on the table. When he turned, I checked him out. Oh, nice. He looked good in his jeans--no flat butt there, and the muscles in his legs stretched the fabric. His black t-shirt pulled tightly against the width of his back, and his black hair was in a pony tail that hung a few inches past his shoulders. He wasn’t obscenely, wrestle mania, steroid big--just…big.

I noticed the scar on his face; it began at the edge of his right eyebrow and continued to the top of his cheek, then jumped to his lip and down his chin. It didn’t mar his looks; in fact, it made him look more rugged, mysterious, and…sexy. I smiled at him as we sat down.

I tried to concentrate on what Dani was saying, but all my senses were taken up with the object of my lust. He was sitting a couple feet from me, but because of his bulk, his presence, I felt like he was right up next to me.

Dani said a name, his name, and that grabbed my attention. Liwanu, I whispered, giving him a quick look with my eyebrows raised to my hairline. My eyes moved back to Dani, Liwanu? He’s the one! She said he’d be perfect…for me? No shit! Dani smiled and winked. I wanted to kick that smug look off her face.

For diversion, I took another bite of food and refused to look at anyone. Perfect for me? What’s she thinking? When I was licking food off my lip, I caught him watching me; he licked his bottom lip and my breath caught in my throat. Whoa. I quickly looked back down at my food, but my attention was diverted again when Dani stood. Honon wanted to know how she was positive the baby was a boy.

Show him the sonogram pictures, I told her. She grabbed them from the drawer and handed them to me before she headed for the restroom. I took them and sat on the couch to show Honon. As I was pointing out body parts in the first picture, Liwanu came and sat down on my other side, close enough that our arms and legs were touching. He moved his head down to better see the picture and I could smell his hair--outdoorsy, clean, nice. I took a deep breath. My voice came out a few octaves higher when I pointed out how the baby was sucking his thumb in the next picture and I cleared my throat.

Liwanu turned his head to look at me with one eyebrow raised. Ignoring him, I quickly looked back at the picture and tried to keep my breathing even. He moved his arm and pointed at a picture.

What is that? His voice rumbled. His arm had brushed against my breast and I bit my tongue to stop the quick inhale of my breath--I couldn’t stop the goose bumps. Damn, did he do that on purpose? His hands were huge; I remembered him circling my arm with ease. His fingers are so long…so thick. I wonder… Damn, girl, get your mind out of the gutter! I was no match for this guy. Women probably threw themselves at him all the time.

You’re pointing at the umbilical cord, I said with relative calm. Whew.

When Dani came back into the room, Honon went to her and I stayed on the couch with Liwanu; I wasn’t going to be the first one to move. Honon told the story of how they’d traveled from their village, the long horse ride, and their terrifying plane and taxi ride. Whenever Liwanu moved, I felt him against me. He was like rock. I looked down; his spread thighs were over twice the size of mine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him turn his head toward me so I quickly raised my eyes to look at Honon.

Wow, Dani sure hit the jackpot with that one. He was model gorgeous. I wasn’t one for cleft chins, but his wasn’t one of the deep, belly-button types. He had gorgeous green eyes. Between his and Dani’s green eyes, their baby was sure to have the same. We would just have to wait and see if the baby got Honon’s dark brown straight hair or Dani’s red wavy hair. It’s sad that Dani lost the twin; maybe there would have been one of each.

Honon then told us, told Dani, how he came to change his mind and trust her. I believed he was sincere; good for Dani. The hell he put her through with his jealousy was horrible--not to mention him kidnapping her in the first place and taking her to his primitive village to be his wife. Thank God the chief had allowed Dani to leave, to return home. She told me they had never done that before; they never let their captives leave.

It was soon time to make sleeping arrangements. Dani looked at me pointedly when she said she didn’t really have a comfortable place for Liwanu to sleep.

Uh, I have an extra room with a bigger bed you can use if you want. Yeah, this guy needs a big bed. I’m only five minutes away. We don’t have to work tomorrow so I can bring you back in the morning. Damn, what’s wrong with me? Did my voice just shake? I nervously licked my lips and felt a blush start to move up my neck.

Liwanu stood up and held his hand out. Yes, I like that idea. He helped me up off the couch, picked up a suitcase, and we walked out the door. Did I say goodnight to Dani and Honon? As we walked to my truck, Liwanu’s hand was on my lower back. Most of my senses were diverted to his heated touch. My nerves were in hyperdrive.

Well, this is certainly a surprise…having you two show up. I haven’t seen Dani look this happy since she found out she was still pregnant. I really hope things work out between her and Honon. I know she never stopped loving him…and he certainly seems to love her. Okay, you can stop rambling now.

We stopped walking and I noticed we were standing next to the driver’s door of my truck. Oh…I guess I need my keys, I nervously chuckled as I unlocked my door and got in. He waited until I had my seatbelt on before he shut my door, and I watched him walk around to the passenger door. Settle down, dummy, I mumbled to myself, and started the engine as he got in. Once again, my hand hit and rubbed against his leg as I shifted gears.

Do you know Dani and I have been friends since we were three years old? We’re actually more like sisters than friends. We’d do anything for each other. I really love her and want her to be happy. I stopped talking when I was shifting from second to third; I didn’t want my voice to do anything funky and let him know how much he affected me, though he already probably thought I was an idiot. He never took his eyes off me or said a word.

It was almost a relief to get out of the truck, but my panic rose as we walked to my apartment. Now what? I was afraid to take the thought any further. After we walked inside, I heard him shut the door and hoped he wouldn’t be able to see my heart beating. Slowly, I turned to look up at him and took a deep swallow; he’d been standing right behind me. I had to raise my head to look him in his eyes. Oh, mistake. My heart thumped and I took a quick step back.

He cocked his head to the side. "Are you all right

I wanted to hear him talk more. Yes…yes. I was just wondering…you don’t say much, do you? I took a step behind him to lock the door before turning toward the kitchen.

I talk when there is something that needs to be said. His voice rolled through my body. I could feel him behind me again as I opened the refrigerator.

Would you like something to drink or eat? How about dessert? I stopped myself before I started rambling again and turned to look at him. He was leaning back on the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining/living room area; his legs and arms were crossed and he looked at me intently with his head cocked as if he was studying me. What? I squeaked.

He barely smiled and looked at me down to my feet and slowly back up again. I almost wanted to check to see if I still had clothes on. My nurse’s uniform didn’t exactly make me look my best, but…he looked like he wanted to devour me. Oh no, I’m not that easy. I gave him a haughty look with a raised eyebrow as I walked past him, grabbed his bag, and walked down the hall.

Here’s where you can sleep. I tossed his bag on the bed. When I turned around, I walked smack into him. I gasped as he grabbed hold of my arms; those strong fingers held me gently. Don’t you make any noise when you walk? Each word was a higher note than the last.

He didn’t say anything--at first. Do I make you nervous? He said in a deeper, huskier voice.

While I told myself again that I wouldn’t be easy, I slowly shook my head. I wanted to lick my lips but stopped myself because he was looking at them. Taking a step back while looking at him, I pointed to the closet.You can hang your clothes there in the closet.

His eyes didn't follow my finger.

I moved to walk around him, trying to keep our bodies from touching and pointed again. The bathroom is across the hall here. There are already towels and soaps for when you shower. I turned on the bathroom light.

He didn't look or utter a sound. I forced my eyes to stay above his shoulders.

Well…goodnight then. I smiled.

Goodnight, Karen.

I walked down the hall to my bedroom. He was still standing there watching me when I turned to shut my door. I threw myself on my bed.

Oh, be still my beating heart. Beating? It’s pounding! I couldn’t figure out what was going on with me; sure he was hot, but…I felt like an animal in heat. Go for it. What am I afraid of? I dunno. What am I saving myself for? What…a one night…one week stand? Who knows how much longer he’ll be around…then I’ll never see him. No…I don’t do this. No man has ever affected me…I’ve never met… Damn. I was going to need some help getting to sleep, so I went in my bathroom and started a hot bath. I need wine, I grumbled.

I slowly opened my bedroom door and peeked around. The hallway was empty and I could hear him in the shower, so I quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine, the opener, and a wineglass. On the way back to my bedroom I stopped at the guest bath. He was in there, probably naked. When I found myself reaching for the doorknob, I quickly pulled my hand back and raced to my bedroom. Girl, what is wrong with you! You gonna molest a guest in your home? Somehow I didn’t think he’d mind if I slipped into the shower with him.

The two glasses of wine and the warm water helped me to relax. Part of me hoped he would come in, but another part of me hoped he wouldn’t because I didn’t want him to turn out to be one of those pushy creeps.

I tried to remember everything Dani had told me about him. She said he was big like a bear, yep; that if you did something nice for him, he’d be your friend for life; and that he’d be someone I could trust one hundred percent. Those were good traits. She said he didn’t have any female friends and I wondered why. She also said he was gentle. Right then, gentle was not what I was thinking of. The fact that she said he would be perfect for me scared me. Right, so we hook up…then what? He stays here and I support him? I give up my life and go live in a secluded Indian village? Uh uh, I don’t think so. I shook my head with determination.

The water started to get cold so I got out and went to bed. With the help of the wine, thankfully, it didn’t take me long to fall asleep. But I woke up a couple of times during the night having erotic dreams about Liwanu; and by the time the third dream woke me, it was early morning and I was thoroughly frustrated. It wasn’t even six o’clock, but I got up anyway and took a shower. I towel dried my hair, brushed my teeth and hair, and put my old fuzzy robe on.

Before turning, I stopped to look at myself in the mirror. Thinking of Liwanu, I saw the pupils in my lavender-blue eyes grow. I looked past my high cheek bones and small nose, to my full top lip--wondering how his lips would feel. Damn, I need coffee, I growled.

I stormed out of my bedroom and was rapidly walking down the hall when the bathroom door opened and Liwanu walked out. I ran right into his wet, hard body that only had a towel wrapped low around his hips. In reflex I put my hands up so they were resting on his chest--his rippled, muscled chest. His hands were on my upper arms. My part gasp and part squeal was loud in the quiet of the morning.

Slowly, I looked up from his huge chest to his bottomless eyes. His pupils were so large; I could see them clearly up close. My breathing was loud, shallow. He moved a hand up to gently take hold of my chin and used his thumb to rub my top lip. I gasped again at the electric shock that zinged through my body, and my eyes must’ve been opened wide because I needed to blink them.

The side of his mouth lifted slightly in a sensual grin right before he brought his other hand up to my neck. I knew he had to be able to feel my heart racing, hell, he could probably hear it. His head slowly lowered down until his lips hovered over mine where I could feel and smell his cool, minty breath. His thumb moved aside and was replaced with his lips; he kissed me softly, tenderly.

He brought his thumb back to rub my lip again and it was followed by his tongue. When I groaned, he held the back of my head still and deepened the kiss. His tongue probed and sought mine while his steel corded arms crushed me against him. His tongue rubbed against the roof of my mouth. A hard bulge pressed against my stomach when he pulled me even closer with his hand on my lower back. That time the sound I heard was a groan from him, but it sounded more like a growl.

Damn, you’re good, I panted when I leaned away from him. But this isn’t gonna happen, big boy. This is too much, too soon. I patted him on his chest and backed away. When I did, I noticed the tent he made with the towel; I forced my eyes to stay on his as I hugged the wall to pass him. Are you hungry for breakfast?

He just grunted. I could feel his eyes follow me until I turned to enter the kitchen. When I heard his bedroom door shut, I immediately sat on the floor. Ohmygod, whatwasthat? Wow! Thirty more seconds and…straight to my room. I can’t let him… What…have great sex until he leaves? I screamed in my head. Somehow I didn’t think I’d like that.

My physical feelings were already stronger than I’d ever felt before. Plus, I wasn’t the type to go to bed with men just for sex. I dated Rob for three months before I let him get me in the sack, but I hadn’t exactly been panting for him either. I needed to think; I heard the bedroom door open and I rushed to stand up and open the refrigerator.

Okaaay, how do pancakes sound? I said as casually as I could.

I do not know what they are, but you make what you want, he said, appearing as if there was no friction.

While I cooked, Liwanu looked at things around my apartment. He was squatting down in front of the TV, so I grabbed the remote control and turned it on. He jumped back so fast that he tripped over the coffee table, but he didn’t fall. When he looked back at me with a scowl, I bit my cheeks to keep from laughing.

That’s a TV, a television. Hmm, how to describe a TV. I tapped my front tooth with a fingernail as I glanced at the ceiling for an answer. You can watch lots of different stories about people. You can watch a news program that tells you what’s going on in the world. That there is a commercial, I pointed, they’re trying to get you to buy their product. I brought the controller over to him. Here, push this button and you can get different channels.

He channel surfed while I finished in the kitchen. Haha, he just learns how to use a TV and he already uses it like every other man in modern society, I snickered to myself. After I got the food on the table, I had to go over and grab the remote from him; he’d turned the volume up to blasting.

Hmmpf, he grunted once I turned it off.

After breakfast, Liwanu helped me clear the table, then leaned against the counter while I finished cleaning up. I accidently bumped into him a couple of times and the electricity shot right through me. Why don’t you go play with the TV again while I finish up in here?

No. He said it so gruffly that I looked at him in surprise. He smiled lightly, I am good here.

I went back to cleaning.

Why do you put the dishes away dirty?

Dirty? I saw him eyeing the dishwasher. No, this is a dishwasher. I push a few buttons and everything comes out clean, then, I put them away. I received another one of his grunts.

Okay, I’m done. Are you ready to go back to Dani’s?

No.

No. Okay…will I need to pull my foot out of my mouth if I ask you what you do want to do? I had my eyebrows raised and arms crossed, waiting for him to suggest something sexual--I know that that’s where my mind was, but that’s different. Okay, here it comes.

I do not know what you mean. I think we should wait. Give Dani and Honon more time alone.

Wow! Not what I’d expected. He seemed considerate. Good idea. Okaaay… What to do…what to do? I had it. Here, let me show you the computer. I moved over to sit at my desk. Grab a chair and bring it over.

Liwanu sat down so one of his legs was behind me and the other bumped into my knee. One of his arms was draped over the back of my chair and his other arm rested on his knee while he leaned forward. I felt surrounded by him. I could feel my heart thumping inside my chest while I took a deep breath of his captivating smell. I showed him maps from Google Earth; I pulled up different animals, figuring he’d never seen a giraffe