Page 13 of Friends with Benefits (Club Risqué)

An invisible coil tightened in her abdomen like an overwound spring which, any moment now, was going to snap and uncoil explosively, under the pressure from which it strained.

And then she was there, chased to the top of that glorious climb by the feel of Christian's experienced fingers on her clit.

Her world exploded into a kaleidoscope of colour and light. Fireworks went off inside her brain and her body was swept with a wave of incredible pleasure, the likes of which she had never known.

In the recesses of her subconscious, she heard Christian shout his own completion and ride their orgasms until the very last pulse.

It seemed like forever. The pleasure went on and on until a sublime and sated satisfaction gentled her torrid emotions and Christian collapsed on top of her, his own breathing ragged and noisy in her ear as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

She wanted to mourn the loss when he rolled to her side, but his arms came around her and pulled her close. She felt secure and cherished, and her heart, which had already been lost to this man, expanded in her chest as the reality of their physical relationship hit her. Okay, so it wasn't perfect just yet, but Taryn was confident that they'd get there.

With that final thought, she slipped into sated but exhausted sleep. This was definitely the best birthday present ever!

ChapterNine

Weeks turned into months, turned into years.

While their relationship remained stable, nothing really changed.

Taryn continued to accompany him to whatever functions might be necessary, and while he might hold her closer and tighter while they danced, he never revealed any outward displays of affection. Those were limited to behind closed doors.

He took her out to dinner, and the same restrictions applied there—strictly no PDAs. If Taryn didn't like it, then she at least accepted it and respected his wishes. As much as she yearned for more, she found her own solace in helping him wherever she was able.

It wasn't as if they didn't spend enough private time together. They often stayed over at each other's apartments, doing no more than relaxing and unwinding together.

Sometimes, she cooked for him, other times, they watched a movie. There were times when they just talked…though never about their relationship or where it might be heading.

Krista remained ever dependent on Christian, almost as if she were afraid that if he weren't right there beside her, then he, too, might disappear from her life like Ian had.

While privately Taryn thought Christian did too much to foster his mother's dependency, she still did whatever she could to support Krista, herself, and her relationship with his mother continued in much the same vein as it had from day one.

If Krista guessed at the new path Taryn's relationship with Christian had taken, which she suspected the older woman had, then she never said anything outright, though there were enough veiled innuendoes to suffice.

Taryn stoically kept her mouth shut about it all. That was for Christian to decide, and she respected his wishes.

The sex was still incendiary. Christian was a skilled and generous lover, and if Taryn felt like he was sometimes holding something back, she put it down to the somewhat transient nature of their relationship and the fact that nothing between them was official.

Always in the back of her mind was the fundamental belief that one day things would change. She just needed to be patient, to prove to Christian that she could maintain his wishes without pressuring him. And so, she never pushed, and she never hinted. She simply abided in his life for his benefit, doing her best to be everything he wanted her to be with no thought for herself beyond what she was able to give.

That was all she needed to remain fulfilled.

She had flunkedher business classes that first year and resignedly found herself a job in order to pay her way for a re-sit. Her father had his hands full providing for her siblings and she wouldn't dishonour him by expecting a free ride when she hadn't been able to repay his initial generosity with strides towards a meaningful qualification.

Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to find a part time, evening job that paid enough to support her while she also paid for college, so instead, she had found a day job which provided enough free time to spend with Krista and left her evenings free for Christian.

Diligently, she saved every penny, determined to get herself into a position where she could resume her education, but it was slow going and sometimes Taryn struggled to stay positive.

She kept her predicament quiet from Christian. He had enough on his plate after all. He knew she was working a day job, rather than expanding her education, but he believed it was because that was her preference.

And it wasn't all bad. She worked in a Care Home as a health care assistant. It was basic and minimum wage, but it didn't require anything beyond in-house training, and it warmed her soul to make the lives of the residents more comfortable, even if she was little more than a glorified cleaner and companion.

Her day would come, Taryn was sure.

Unexpectedly, it was Krista who realised what had happened and Christian’s mother offered to pay for Taryn's education herself, but Taryn wouldn't allow it. It just didn't seem right to take advantage of the woman's generosity.

And then it happened.Three years had passed. Three years of being caught up in a 'non' relationship with Christian. Three years of allowing things to just drift along and take their own course.

Christian had been tied up rather more often than usual, and Taryn had contemplated looking into evening courses, not only to try and finish her business degree, but to fill the lonely evenings she spent without Christian.

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