chapter 1

Sam arrives at work, just like always, at 9 am. Toned, tanned, and muscular, his appearance is part of his job. Sam is a bodybuilder working as a personal trainer, and no one is going to pay for his services if he doesn’t look like he knows what he’s talking about. For years Sam has helped clients lose weight and get in shape.

Right now, he’s standing at the outside entrance of his gym, staring across the street. Right across from the gym is a bakery. Sam never liked that fact; he considered it cruel for his clients to smell high-calorie goodies on their way to the gym. It’s just not right to tempt people who are trying to lose weight like that. But that was before he saw Tess of Tess’s Bakery.

Sam has spent a lot of his life confused. He hates fat on himself, but it has always aroused him on other people. He’s a great trainer who has helped hundreds of people lose weight and get in and shape, but there were times he thought it was a damn shame, especially when said client was a beautiful woman with a few extra pounds on her. He isn’t into true obesity or anything extreme, but he always agreed with the tshirt “Chubby Girls Cuddle Better.”

As a teen and young 20-something, Sam discovered his love of contrast and his desire for overweight women. Terrified he would be teased and ridiculed by his friends and co-workers if seen publicly with these women, he acted like an immature idiot, going to bed with a few of these women and then leaving without a trace the moment they fell asleep. It made no sense to him why he wanted to be in such great shape but wasn’t attracted to female personal trainers.

There was something about what he considered “femininity”, which for him, meant a well-rounded, soft, beautiful girl who looked like she could carry his baby. His protective and possessive instincts were greater than other men’s. The truth is all he wants to do is find a plump princess of his own, treat her like a queen, spoil her rotten, and love her forever. Someone he can keep at home and protect. Someone he can come home to and worship. But it’s always proven harder than he thought.

In his 30’s, he started doing research into why he felt this way. He found websites, he chatted, he tried everything, but found only a lot of women who just wanted money from him to strip on camera or would chat and disappear. If he wanted porn, he could find it elsewhere. He wanted a relationship.

At 36, Sam has lost his past immaturity, and the truth is, he doesn’t give a shit what his friends, family, and co-workers think of his tastes. He likes what he likes, just like everyone else, and that’s that. It isn’t a comment on his character, any more than it’s a comment on a gay person’s character to be attracted to the same sex. If you’re going to give him shit about it, you’re not going to be his friend anymore.

But this newfound confidence hasn’t really helped in the romance department. It’s been ages since he’s had sex, mostly because he’s done pretending to be aroused by skinny women and bigger ones always think the worst of him.

Right now, he watches through the window as Tess comes out of the back of the bakery with enormous tray after tray of cakes, cookies, and donuts. Sam thinks she’s as sweet as what she sells. He can tell by the way her tshirt clings, she’s got very big boobs and her tummy is soft. Her bottom looks plump and round. All he wants is to get his hands on her, but he’s not an animal and she’s not prey. He has to take his time and show her that he’s not the asshole they always presume he is.

At lunch break, Sam walks across the street for the first time. He’s done just looking at what he wants. He wants a life. He wants to be happy. As he walks in the door, a bell tinkles overhead and he jumps. He’s nervous as hell. Tess looks up and Sam stops breathing. She’s beautiful. Stunningly so, blonde hair, blue eyes, perfect features. Her face is only slightly round. His eyes drift to her large breasts and a soft belly below them. He clears his throat and exercises as much control as possible over the little head.

“Hello! Can I help you?”, she asks. He’s frozen.

“It’s uh…lunch time…so I thought I’d come in for lunch”, he says. Brilliant, dude. He wants to roll his eyes at himself.

“Well, we only have sweets here”, she says, “But you could certainly make lunch out of them. I do all the time! Glazed donuts just came out of the oven and they’re hot…you want to try one?” He’s mesmerized.

“Only if you’ll have one with me”, he responds. “You get a lunch break, right?”

“Well, I’m the owner. I usually work through lunch, but…okay”, she says. “That’s $2.25.”

“For both?”, he asks.

“For yours.”

“I want to pay for yours too. You shouldn’t be out a dime for having lunch with me”, he says and smacks down a ten.

They sit at a little table in the corner.

“I have to ask”, she starts, “I’ve noticed you…I mean, who wouldn’t? You’re a trainer, right? And obviously a body builder. Isn’t this like…poison to you?”, she laughs.

“Poison is a strong word. I eat healthy 99% of the time, yes. But the occasional treat doesn’t hurt”, he responds. His body has a visceral reaction to the pile of sugar and fat on the plate in front of him. He wants to vomit just looking at it. He hasn’t eaten sugar in years, and he just knows he’s going to get sick if he eats this, but it’s worth it.

She picks up her donut and takes a big bite. “Mmmmm. Mmmmmm”, she moans and he gasps out loud. He can’t believe this show is free.

He just stares at her. “Oh for goodness sakes”, she says, picks up the donut and feeds it to him, “It’s excellent, I promise.”

He takes a bite and joy rushes through his body. The sugar hits his veins immediately. “It’s delicious”, he pronounces, almost shocked.

She laughs. “I didn’t figure you bought it because you thought it would be bad”, she jokes.

He finishes half the donut, but knows he’ll be sick if he eats more. Instead he offers it to her and she takes him up on the offer. “Listen, I’ve been watching you for a while”, he starts and he sees a drop of fear mirrored in her eyes. Dammit, he’s done it again.

“I don’t mean watching…I mean I’ve seen you. Would you have dinner with me?”, he asks in a rush.

“Dinner? With you?”, she asks. “Why?”

“Why? Because I think you’re attractive and kind, and I would like to get to know you better”, he says. Good job, Sam, that doesn’t sound too weird.

“You’re attracted to me? YOU are attracted to ME?” She laughs. “Give me a break. Listen, whatever bet you have with your buddies, you’ve officially lost. Now get out of my shop, asshole.” Here we go again.

“I don’t have a bet with anyone and I’m not lying. Please have dinner with me. If you don’t like me afterward, you never have to see me again”, he says.

She bites her lip. “Okay…I close up at 6:00.”

“I get off at 6:30”, he says, “I’ll swing by at about quarter to 7, does that work?”, he asks.

She just nods. Sam smiles, stands up and throws his trash away. “Looking forward to tonight”, he says, and rushes out the front door. He looks back to see her staring at him with her mouth open.