The Personal Trainer

The Personal Trainer is a carnal tale of section and adultery. Gabriella Black’s life is turned upside down when she lands an internship at one of the most renowned fashion designers in the country. In order to survive an industry where appearance is everything, she gets help from a personal trainer. If only she had known it would lead to a twisted tale of forbidden love and jealous boyfriends...

Excerpt from The Personal Trainer:

Dean worked me even harder than last time. Though I now knew the proper form for most of the exercises, his hands remained on me throughout the workout. Deep down, I knew I should ask him to distance himself from me, but I constantly felt myself craving his touch.

I don’t know the precise moment, but at some point during the workout, I stopped paying attention to my movements and started focusing on the flexing of Dean’s muscles. The bulge of his biceps. The swelling of his pectorals. The ripple of his abdominals. Those were the only things I could focus on. The longer I stared at Dean, the hotter I felt—trust me when I say it had nothing to do with my workout—and the worst I felt. I knew I should tell him about Matt, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak the words.

I have a boyfriend. How hard could that possibly be to say? Unfortunately, it was just about the hardest thing imaginable. No matter how many times I willed my mouth to form the words, not once did it obey. All I did was moan each time Dean’s hands made contact with my body. I made it sound like I was grunting from the effort, but deep down, I knew that was only a façade. I wanted Dean. More than anyone, than anything. But I couldn’t have him.

The workout came to an end moments before I lost my resolve. As soon as I realized what I had almost done, I breathed a sigh of relief. I had come so close, yet I had managed to keep from stepping over the line. Unfortunately, there was no guarantee I would be so lucky the next time.

After gathering my things, I let Dean accompany me to the front door. He opened the door for me, but I didn’t use it. I knew I should, but I could not bring myself to cross the threshold. What was stopping me?

I stared at Dean and the answer was immediately revealed. I could see the desire in his eyes, the longing. He wanted me just as bad as I wanted him. But I couldn’t have him and he couldn’t have me.

Unfortunately, I had not told him about Matt, so he remained oblivious to the invisible barrier that stood between us. He leaned forward, his head tilting to the side and his eyes closing.

Run! said a voice in my head, but my legs refused to obey. They remained frozen in place as his lips neared mine. I knew what was coming, but I couldn’t move, so I let it happen. My eyes closed just as our lips touched. The result was electrifying.

All the longing, the desire that had inhabited me throughout the last few days filled me, invading every inch of my body. Dean and I were he only two people in the world. Giving in to the magic of the moment, I kissed him back. It was perfect, exactly as I had pictured it.

But then Matt’s face appeared in my mind’s eye and the magic of the moment was shattered. My lips left Dean’s and I found a frown of confusion on his handsome face.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I wanted to tell him about Matt, but the desire to flee was greater. I ran off, leaving Dean standing on the threshold of his beautiful mansion…