X-Treme Measure

By S.N. Garza

* this is a contemporary romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter*

X-TREME MEASURE: where everything is for your pleasure.

Daniel 'The Duke' Greensboro wants nothing more than to take care of his little girl. Being a male stripper and escort made that happen. He wasn't looking for anything else. Until she moved into the apartment next door and turned his world upside down.

When Moriah's financial aid is cut off, she has to find a new place to live and going home to deadbeat parents wasn't an option. Finding a posh apartment in the heart of Houston was her only choice. She didn't anticipate meeting hot, sexy-as-sin, single dad Daniel Greensboro..the neighbor across the hall. When he asks for a favor, she just can't say no.

Then one night Moriah goes out with the girl's from work and they head straight for X-treme Measure. She has no idea what to expect, until she sees Daniel, heating up the stage.

Seeing Moriah at X-treme Measure is shocking but it provokes him to give her just a little tease of what she could have.

Sometimes you find love in all the wrong places. Every once in awhile, it's so worth it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.N. Garza
• Release date: Aug 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370105434

S.N. Garza

I am a 37 year old wife and mother of two who lives in a small country town in southeast Texas. I work during the day at Chilis Bar and Grill. I write dark, deeply emotional stories weaved with erotic romance that leaves you wanting more. My debut novel is Love Came Back & my best selling book & series, is The Billionaire’s Baby, book one in my Nauti Billionaires of Houston series. It is all sexy passion with an alpha hero who’ll sweep you off your feet.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Moriah

Miss Augustus, I’m sorry, but you're no longer eligible for financial aid.

I just looked at my academic advisor with wild, crazy eyes as he told me I was no longer getting financial aid for my tuition. This was not happening.

I'm sorry? What do you mean? I support myself; have no help from anyone and I'm no longer eligible?

Mr. Echols put his bony forefinger and thumb on the frames of his glasses and took them off grabbing a cleaning cloth with his other hand, he tried cleaning the ‘imaginary’ smudge on his glasses. I'm sure he was only doing this because he didn't want to see how freaked out I was becoming. And he was blind as a bat, so all he’d see was a blur. The blurry mess that was me.

The only financial aid I got was room and board. I had to pay for my food, books, and supplies.

I was majoring in Psychology, which wasn’t the easiest major to go for. I wanted to be a kid’s psychologist. I was in my third year, and everything had been working out just fine.

Mr. Echols sighed and pushed his glasses back on. With a look of pity and sympathy, he said, I'm sorry, Moriah. The eligibility requirements have changed. You work on campus and with your job, you make just above what is required.

How am I supposed to find a place to live? I can't commute between Downtown Houston and Liberty. And I don't even have a place to live there anyway. My parents are deadbeats. That's too far. Just above, as in, what a few hundred dollars? Can't there be like an exception?

"I'm sorry. If we give one person special attention—

Mr. Echols, please. There must be something.

I'm sorry.

Of course you are. You don't have to keep saying it. It's not helping. Thank you, Mr. Echols.

I got up, strapped my backpack over one shoulder and hurried out of the cold, sterile offices of the admin building.

This day sucked. Big. Balls. I already registered for classes in the fall. I had all summer to work and save but tuition money to hold a dorm had to be paid in advance. Could I get a loan? Doubtful. I had to save up four grand to buy my measly rust bucket Chevy Cavalier. Yeah. That's how old my car was. Ten years. It was in good condition with only a hundred thousand miles on it. I've had Rusty for almost three years. This was messed up beyond recognition.

The Texas summer heat hit me like a tidal wave as I pushed out of the building. Students were milling all around, unaware of my inner meltdown. I felt like I was about to hyperventilate.

I would have gone back to Liberty for the summer, worked at the Chili’s there to save money for books, supplies and the little stuff I needed. I definitely couldn’t afford campus apartments. I couldn’t pay thousands of dollars upfront and then have money left over for books. I was a full-time student, worked a thirty-hour job at the one of the local Chili’s restaurants and then I worked fifteen hours a week at the campus library.

I wasn’t kidding when I told Mr. Echols my parents were deadbeats. They were welfare people who used and abused the system as much as they could. I had the bare necessities growing up. As soon as I hit sixteen I practically begged the manager at Chili’s to hire me. I had tried other restaurants, but they didn’t want to hire someone with such little experience. And fast food places were not an option for me.

There was only so much Texas ghetto I could take. I had gotten a few raises since I had started working there and when pay check time came around, I had to give my parents ‘living expenditures’. You’re like what? I know. Sixteen, and I was paying my parents’ rent, bought my own food, and took care of buying myself clothes or whatever I needed, which usually came from Goodwill. And if I was lucky enough, they had some pretty decent items.

I had always dreamed of going to a university, living in a dorm, and being away from this place as much as possible.

I saved up for a car. Took me two and a half years of saving to get Rusty. I was proud even though she was a used, old car.

To get into college I did an extreme amount of financial aid programs, signed up for grants, and filled out scholarship applications. I had stayed away from loans. There would have been no way I’d be able to pay a loan back. I was able to get the Texas grant but it was only good for room and board. Which was great. I ate a lot where I worked, but I was only given so much, and with my diabetes and high metabolism, I ended up snacking a lot.

First thing, I needed to find a place. I had a few friends, but not people I felt comfortable with to ask if they wanted a roommate. I walked around campus looking at all the boards to see if anyone needed a roommate. A lot of college kids went to their hometowns for the summer, so it shouldn’t be too hard. I lived in the dorms for all three years I’ve been here. I knew I could probably live in one of the on-campus apartments but it was a bit more than I could afford. Like I said, upfront costs, not really my thing. Especially when I had financial aid to take care of that.

I snagged about five possible phone numbers that looked promising and headed back to my dorm room. I had a single bedroom, no roommate. Thank God. I liked my solitude. If I was going to look around Houston for a place, I’d have to room with someone. It would be bye-bye solitude, hello busy-roomie. I had a big work load this semester and had loaded down with so much crap, I had practically ran myself ragged. But it was so worth it, now that it was over. I couldn’t say the same during. It felt like I was going insane.

When I got inside my room, I dropped my bag onto my desk and sat down, taking out the numbers I had collected. Looking them over, I gave them better examination with price descending.

Philys Daqueen. Roommate needed. $500/month. Great room. Private bath. Call 713-597-1876

Ashley Wells. Roommate wanted. $430/month. Room with walk-in closet. Private bath. (Address given, no number. Not really smart. If I went there I’d have to tell her about privacy and safety. Although I don’t know if that amount was okay for me.)

Christina Matte. Seeking roomie! $400/month. Spacious room. Shared bath. 832-232-8890

Latoya Jacks. Roommate needed. $350/month. 281-407-6867 (No other facts were given for this one, but hey $350 was a good price for me.)

Maribel Garza. Roommate wanted. $300/month. 281-407-3580 (Another no facts, except phone number.)

I looked them over and then put my head down.

God, please send me a prayer and a miracle none of girl’s are psycho, creepy, rude, mean, or crazy ass chicks with shit for brains. Sorry. Gotta survive in your big, scary world. A little help would be great. In your precious name. Amen.

Okay. Sending up a prayer gave me just the juice I needed to call the numbers on these papers.

By the time I got to the fourth name, the three cheaper rates had found a roommate—which in my mind I'm thinking ‘Then get your ass out here and take down your advertisements, lazy losers.’ In which case I was almost feeling down and depressed. The fourth, Philys, didn't answer. So maybe I could try and call later. The one that only gave an address was only a five-minute drive according to my phone’s GPS, so I got in my car and got to a really nice apartment building. As in so nice I didn’t think $430 was enough. Was this chick for real? There’s no way someone would charge only $430. But since I was here, there was no use turning back. These looked like apartments people with serious money rented. Like two grand a month charge. Balconies and everything. Holy crap.

I walked up to the fourth—I tell you FOURTH—floor and realized I was totally out of shape for that kind of exercise. But I was desperate so I knocked on the door. I really hope she was home because I didn’t want to have come all this way for nothing. I faintly heard footsteps and then the door was opened to reveal a seriously hot guy. Like, muscular, tall, with milk chocolate skin and holy mackerel, blue eyes that gave me a run for my money. I could barely speak. I didn’t normally think myself attracted to guys like this, I mean hey, Shemar Moore, a.k.a. Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds was hot like lava but this guy? Wow.

Hi, can I help you? His voice? Wow. Not dark and hard, but nice and easy.

Hi, yes. I was looking for Ashley Wells. Is she home?

The guy tilted his head to the side and looked at me with curious amusement.

Can I ask why you’re looking for Ashley? this guy talked like he should be an English professor.

Yes, sir, hey, the guy was older than me, maybe by five-six years, and I wasn’t about to disrespect somebody I just met. I saw an ad on one of the community boards at school that there might be a room?

You sound unsure.

Really? Was this guy really going to keep me from meeting the girl who lived here? I was getting irritated, add that with the four flights of hell on earth stairs and this hot as hell weather, and I was ready to smack someone.

Listen, dude, it’s been a really rough day. If she’s not home, tell me now so I can keep looking. I mean, who would just charge $430 for a place like this? These apartments are at least two grand. And you have a balcony looking over Houston. Prime real estate. You know what? Forget it.

I turned to head back the way I came when I heard a chuckle lift from his lips. Which was really annoying.

Now, now. Calm down, girl. I’m Ashley Wells.

Chapter 2

Moriah

My head snapped up and I looked back at him. I’m sorry?

Shocked? Well, yes. I am Ashley Wells. If you’re still interested, I’ll give you the grand tour.

You are a guy.

Last time I checked.

I’m a girl.

He gave me that long look people did when they were trying to figure out what a person was about and I knew how I looked. Ragged. My dirty blonde hair was in desperate need of some highlights. My cheeks were pink from the heat and I huffed and puffed my way up these stairs to get here so I was still trying to catch my breath. With my MLP tee, shorts, and sandals, I hadn’t thought I looked like something the cat drug in but the way this guy looked, well, I looked like trailer trash.

You look like one. But I can’t be for certain. Are you?

Wasn’t he sarcastic? Was I going to like that in a roommate? I sighed, the outside heat and the exertion it took to walk up those flights of stairs were finally getting to me. With a little bit more snap, I said, Of course I am. That might be the problem, won’t it?

His brow quirked high as a smirk tilted his lips. For who?

Your equally hot girlfriend.

His head popped back and his eyes widened. No girlfriend. Why would she be hot though?

Was this guy really that clueless? He looked smart enough but that response just made my eyes roll.

Look at yourself.

I do. Every day.

You’re hot.

Quite. Thank you, but I’m bisexual. I usually bat for the other team, and you’re not exactly my type. So there would be no problem.

Wow, I feel so unattractive right now.

Nothing to feel unattractive about. You look like a pixie gone wild. And please, come in from that heat, it looks like you’re about to expire.

I cautiously walked in, like I was actually considering living with a guy. Gay, bisexual or whatever—he was still a guy with guy parts.

And holy crap. This place was immaculate. I felt dirty.

I sat down on his pristine leather sofa. On the edge. Just like how I felt.

Now that you know who I am. Who are you and what is your name?

I’m Moriah Augustus.

Pretty name.

Sorry, but I have to ask, how can you afford this place?

Oh, God. Foot in mouth. Idiot.

Ashley’s eyes widened as he said, Do I look like I can’t?

No. Sorry. That was so inappropriate.

It’s okay, Moriah. My father owns the apartment building. I live here free. I want some extra cash. I’m not some spoiled princess though. I work, I study and I live. If you’d like I’ll give you the tour and show you where you’ll be sleeping and all that jazz.

I nodded and got up to follow him. He led me down a hallway that held a ton of art. No personal photos of him and friends or family.

This is the bathroom, which doesn’t really get too much use since we both have bathrooms in our rooms. I don’t normally have company over. Do you?

No, not really.

A loner, huh?

Not by choice. I just have a lot going on with school. I don’t have time for friends. I work at Chili’s Bar and Grill on Buffalo Speedway, so I have coworkers I sometimes go out for a drink with, but no besties.

I know how lonely and pathetic that sounded but that’s just how I was. I’ve been a loner for all my life. I didn’t mind it.

Ashley nodded and continued to show me the kitchen. And what a kitchen it was. Oh. Em. Gee. This kitchen was like brand new.

Do you ever cook in here?

Of course. I do clean up after myself and I have a cleaning lady who comes once a week to clean the place. Of course, if you choose to have a lock on your door, please keep your room clean. That’s all I ask.

Yes, of course.

Was I was seriously thinking about moving in here. This was like a dream come true. A little pricey for me, but it just might be worth it.

If there is nothing to your liking in the fridge, I do encourage you to go out and get whatever you like. I don’t mind sharing. Okay, now to show you the room you’d be staying in. I really do hope you like it, if you decide to move in.

I followed him down a hallway with more art photos and inside a big room which almost looked like a master bedroom.

Is this the master bedroom?

No, mine is and almost twice as big. I custom made this apartment to my liking.

I looked around and it was already furnished. A queen size four poster bed sat in the middle of the room, with a boudoir. Yeah. One of those like in Beauty and the Beast. Except for the whole talking thing. Then he beckoned me to the closet, and while I thought maybe walk-in, this was like live-in.

I do not have enough clothes for this closet.

Then use it as storage, desk space, however. You haven’t even seen the best part. Follow me.

And I did. Like a freaking puppy. This was like a dream room. For the price he was asking for, it was like an apartment all in itself. Then he walked into the bathroom. As soon as I stepped a foot inside, I was instantly floored. Holy baby Jesus.

This bathroom should be in like a magazine. A huge whirlpool tub with jets and everything. Oh, mama. Then a separate shower room, and a double sink. This bathroom was huge!

My apartment is the biggest apartment in the entire building. Even the four bedrooms. They are not as big as this. I have a gaming/theatre room. Which if you like gaming, then I could totally use a partner in crime.

I just shrugged. I wasn’t really into video games very much, but there was a couple at work who were serious gamers in their spare time.

Hmmm…you could be tempted though, huh?

Maybe. If I learned how. I’ve never really played video games. I had a Super Nintendo when I was a kid. That was pretty much the extent of my gaming experience.

Oh, a classic. I have that, too.

I’m pretty sure I was sold on this apartment. I didn’t know how I would feel living with a guy, his sexual orientation notwithstanding. A guy was a guy was a guy. Never lived with one before. It’s not like I had guy friends.

How are your neighbors?

Oh, yes. We walked back into the living room and sat down in front of his 72’ inch flat screen, mounted TV set and he looked somehow relieved.

The neighbor on the left is an older couple, in their forties. Mr. and Mrs. Klosky. And on the right is a middle aged woman, she’s a lawyer. And across from us is a single father, Daniel Greensboro and his nine year old daughter, Reighlyn.

A single dad. Wow. Tough break.

Still interested?

Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?

Most people, if they stick around this long after learning who I am, when they hear the neighbor has a kid, well, the few bailed.

Kids don’t bother me. I want to be a child’s therapist. That’s my major. Child Psychology.

Then this is definitely the place for you. That girl is sweet and sassy and has her daddy wrapped around her little finger.

Yes, I know this might sound coming off as a little shystie, but is $430 for rent, electricity, water, etc.?

Yes. You needn’t pay for anything else. I would just ask if you use a lot of the Wi-Fi, to go in on half the bill. Not much, about twenty dollars.

Reasonable. Alright. You have a roommate!

There was just something about Ashley that seemed safe. He was nice. I didn’t get any weird, creepy vibes from him, so unless my instincts were just whacked from being in this magnificent apartment, or in his presence, well, I couldn’t be any happier. Especially since the semester was just about over and I had to get out of the dorm.

How soon can I move in?

Whenever you want.

He sounded happy and pleased to have a roommate and I prayed this worked out.

I got up, excited to go back to the dorm to start packing.

Oh, here, don’t forget. He walked me to the front door, opened a foyer desk drawer and handed me a key. It opens the bolt and the lock. Feel free to bring whatever it is you want whenever you like. I will be gone most of the week. I’m usually in and out a lot, so you’ll have the apartment to yourself quite a bit. Thank you for not freaking out when you realized it was me you’ll have as a roommate.

Parents had a thing for Gone with the Wind? And my only issue was the whole I’ve never lived with a guy before. This will be new territory for me.

Eh, kind of. They thought if they gave me a rich, white dude’s name, I’d have a rich future.

And do you?

I’m all good. He opened the door, stuck out his hand for mine which I took. Welcome home, Moriah.

Riri.

Welcome home, Riri.

I waved to Ashley and turned to the stairs. I dreaded the walk down, but I was too excited to really care about the ache my thighs would feel later.

Riri!

Just as I stepped on the first step, I turned to see Ashley point to something.

There is an elevator. Behind the stairs, and just inside the building. You have to use a separate key, He disappeared inside and in just moments, had given me another key. This will let you inside and you could use the elevator just in case the steps don’t agree with you.

That bad, huh?

He chuckled, placed a hand on my shoulder and said, You’ll get used to it. But if you want to, the elevator is more convenient. Oh, also, since it’s the middle of the month, don’t worry about rent. Just consider this a probationary period. If you like the living conditions, then rent is due on the fifth of June.

Wow. Thanks, Ashley.

He nodded and closed the door behind him. Right now I didn’t let the steps bother me too much because I was excited to find a great room this quickly. I know it might sound cheap, but I was happy that the rent would include cost for utilities. Tallying it up in my head, phone, car insurance, rent—yeah. I got so super lucky. I now had a freaking bounce in my step as I went down the stairs and got back in my cavalier.

It hadn’t taken me long to pack up my belongings. Five boxes and two duffel bags later, I was taking my dorm key back to the RA. The resident advisor Marilyn was sad to see me go, but wished me luck. I said thanks and on my way back to the apartment, I stopped at Wal-Mart and got a few groceries that I knew I couldn’t live without.

Why stay at the dorm when I could live at the apartment already? Ashley already had a comforter and sheets on the bed and if I wanted he said I could use those or get my own. Which I will as soon as I got the money. I was used to full size beds at the dorm so having a big space all on my own was definitely something new. I’ve never slept on anything bigger than a dorm bed.

After grabbing some essentials and food, I stopped and grabbed some Subway. I didn’t even have Ashley’s cell phone number. Must get. I wondered if he was home. Maybe I should pick him up something, too. I went ahead and ordered two of the same, hopefully if he didn’t like plain, he had the stuff at the apartment or if he didn’t like it, I’d eat it for dinner later. I was glad I was off today and tomorrow.

Working in a restaurant most of the time required you to work weekends. I had no problem with that because I banked on the weekend shifts. I could make rent on a Friday and Saturday night. I was a bartender with many regulars. When I began bartending, I’ve had to educate myself in sports, which was difficult and I sometimes got some things confused, but I could keep a convo with the more sporty drinkers. It was nice being so close to River Oaks and their occupants. Most were pretty generous with their tips. That or they liked how I looked. Could go either way.

Houston was a hustle and bustle city where I could walk to most places. There was always something going on at Discovery Green Park. It was a beautiful place to walk, see the sights of Houston. They had tons of events there.

Pulling into the parking garage, I got out, grabbed the groceries, and my lunch before making my way inside to the elevator. I had a HAIM song in my head as I waited for the elevator to ding and when it did it was like my eyes slowly opened with the sliding doors at the sight in front of me.

Oh. Em. Gee. I heard something clash to the floor, but I didn't pay no mind. The man that was in front of me was like this tall, tan, muscular and all kinds of rough and tough, sexy god. He wasn't paying attention to me though since he was on his phone.

Yeah, I gotta get Reighlyn settled with a sitter. You know Magen doesn't give a shit.

This is the single dad that lives across the hallway? My eyes bugged out of my head as he stepped from the elevator, bent down and grabbed whatever I dropped, didn't really give me a side glance (figures) and handed it to me before walking with sexy confidence out of the building.

Holy mother of all things good looking. He was at least a foot taller than my five foot five frame, big broad shoulders, muscles to match but not in a body building way. He was all proportional. My insides melted and I scurried into the elevator punching the number four.

He didn't even look my way. Maybe like a side glance but nothing noteworthy to write home about. Not that I had a real home anyway but if I had a best friend, I'm sure I’d be calling her all about the encounter like a giggly girl who saw a cute boy. Hot, sexy boy. Man. Oh, God just shut up now. The gritty drop of his voice with that one sentence made me want to get closer so I could hear it again. But that would be completely horrible.

One, he’s a single dad. Two, most sexy-schmexy guys were complete dirt bags that a girl like me could not even compare to their normal pickin’s. Not that I was a dog. I never thought myself ugly. I was blessed to have my mother’s complexion, and hair. She was almost Miss Texas. Until she got pregnant with me. Then it was downhill from there.

Guys like this one, no matter if they were married, single, or single parent—they usually went for girls that had tall, thin, fit bodies. I was not fit. I hated working out. I weighed a little over my ideal weight, but I was fine with it. I watched what I ate, I walked. That was the extent of my working out. I walked a lot on campus so it kept me semi in shape.

Besides, it didn’t matter, that guy was a dad. He didn’t look over thirty, but then looks could be deceiving. Compared to my twenty-two years of age, he looked well-educated I guess. Not that I wasn’t attracted, I’d have to be completely dead to not be, but he had baggage. Would I want to get with a dad? Not really. He had complications. I don’t even know why I was still thinking about him. Way out of my league.

I walked over to the apartment just as it opened, Ashley was there with a briefcase strapped over one shoulder.

Oh, you’re leaving?

Yes, I am on the board of committees for my father’s company. Meeting time.

Want a Subway sandwich?

Oh, how nice of you. Sure.

I passed it over to him, and he nodded his thanks before rushing for the stairs. I was loaded down with groceries so I hurried inside to