Page 19 of My CEO Neighbor (Neighborhood Hotties #5)

T ed

Three Weeks Later

Ted's alarm went off at six, but instead of the jarring corporate ringtone he'd used for years, Monica's voice drifted through his apartment guiding him via a recorded morning meditation she'd made specifically for him.

"Breathe into your intention for the day," her voice said over his phone's speaker. "Let your first thoughts be of gratitude rather than obligation."

Ted smiled against his pillow, remembering how Monica had presented him with the recording two weeks ago, claiming it was "girlfriend privilege" to reprogram his morning routine.

The meditation was only ten minutes long, a compromise between Ted's productivity anxiety and Monica's belief that rushing into consciousness was spiritual violence.

It was working. Ted's days felt more grounded now, less frantic. He still worked long hours, still cared about CloudSync's success, but the desperate edge was gone. Success felt like expansion rather than survival, growth rather than proof of worth.

Of course, having Monica in his life might have something to do with that shift.

Ted stretched and went to his kitchen, where the coffee maker was already brewing thanks to a timer he'd finally learned to use.

Outside his window, he could see Monica on her fire escape, tending to plants that had multiplied since she'd moved into the new studio space.

She was wearing one of his t-shirts over yoga leggings.

That made him happy with possessive satisfaction.

The new studio had ground floor space in Fremont with natural light, room for thirty students, and a small office where she could expand into teacher training programs. Bill Armitage had been so impressed with Monica's business plan that he'd offered her a five-year lease at below-market rates, with an option to buy if her revenue projections held steady.

Ted didn't need to ask to know they were holding steady.

Monica had been glowing with success these past few weeks, her confidence radiating in ways that made her even more beautiful than before.

She'd started offering corporate wellness consultations too, bringing breathing techniques and stress management to companies whose employees were burning out at alarming rates.

Ted's phone had been the first consultation.

Monica had convinced him to offer optional meditation sessions to CloudSync employees, and the response had been overwhelmingly positive.

His team seemed genuinely happier, and Ted had discovered that productivity didn't suffer when people actually took breaks to breathe.

It had given Ted an idea for his next venture, that combined his business expertise with Monica's wellness philosophy. But that was a conversation for later, when they'd figured out more of their own balance.

Ted poured two cups of coffee and walked to Monica's apartment, using the key she'd given him the week before. Her door opened to the scent of sandalwood and the sound of soft music, the kind of peaceful atmosphere that still felt foreign but increasingly necessary.

"Good morning, beautiful," Ted said, finding Monica in her kitchen, preparing what looked like enough green tea to hydrate a small army.

"Good morning yourself." Monica turned to accept his kiss. "How was the meditation?"

"Surprisingly effective. I only thought about quarterly projections twice."

"Progress." Monica accepted the coffee cup with a grateful smile. "And how are you feeling about today?"

Today was the official launch of CloudSync 2.0, the platform upgrade they'd been developing since the Dexter funding came through. It was Ted's first major product launch where he wasn't running on pure adrenaline and existential terror.

"Good," Ted said, and meant it. "Nervous, but good nervous. Like anticipation instead of panic."

"See what happens when you sleep more than four hours a night?"

Ted wrapped his arms around Monica's waist, pulling her against him. She fit perfectly, all soft curves and strong muscles, her body familiar now in ways that still made his dick hard.

"I can think of better ways to spend those extra hours in bed," Ted murmured against Monica's ear, enjoying the way she shivered at his voice.

"Mmm, like what?"

Ted's hands slipped under the hem of his t-shirt, palming her bare breasts and making her gasp at the contact. "Like fucking you so hard against this counter that you forget how to teach breathing exercises."

"Ted," Monica's voice was already breathless, her hands fisting in his shirt. "I have a class in an hour."

"Then you'd better come fast."

Ted lifted Monica onto her kitchen counter, spreading her thighs wide and stepping between them. His hands yanked at her leggings, dragging them down her legs along with the scrap of lace underneath.

"Christ, look at you," Ted growled, fingering her fast. "Already soaked for me. Such a needy little thing."

Monica's head fell back as Ted's thumb circled her clit with practiced pressure. "Fuck, Ted, don't tease."

"I'll do whatever I want with this pussy," Ted said, his voice dark with possession. "It's mine, isn't it?"

"Yes," Monica gasped, her hips rocking against his hand. "Yours."

Ted freed himself from his pajama pants, thick and hard and ready.

"Think you can take all of me?" Ted asked, running the head of his cock through her wetness.

"I can take whatever you give me," Monica said, her voice challenging.

"That's my girl."

Ted pushed inside with one hard thrust, burying himself to the hilt in her tight heat. Monica cried out, her back arching off the counter as her body stretched to accommodate him.

"Fuck, you're tight," Ted groaned, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to bruise. "Feel so goddamn perfect wrapped around my cock."

"Move," Monica demanded, her nails raking down his chest. "Fuck me properly."

Ted didn't need to be asked twice. He set a punishing rhythm, the counter creaking under the force of his thrusts. Monica was completely at his mercy, pinned between his body and the granite, taking everything he gave her.

"Look at you," Ted said, watching her tits bounce with each thrust. "Perfect fucking tits, perfect pussy. All mine."

"Harder," Monica gasped, her legs wrapping around his waist. "I need it harder."

Ted obliged, fucking her with a force that made the dishes rattle. Monica was making those sounds he loved—desperate, needy whimpers that went straight to his cock.

"That's it, baby," Ted growled. "Take it. Take all of me."

Monica's pussy clenched around him, and Ted could feel how close she was getting. He reached between them, his thumb finding her swollen clit.

"Come on my cock," Ted commanded. "Show me how much you love being fucked like this."

Monica shattered with a scream that echoed through the kitchen, her body convulsing around Ted's dick as she came harder than he'd ever seen. The sight and feel of her orgasm pushed Ted over the edge, and he buried himself deep as he emptied himself inside her.

"Bedroom," Ted said when he could speak again, still buried inside her. "I'm not done with you."

"Ted, the class—"

"Can wait." Ted pulled out and immediately scooped Monica up, carrying her to the bedroom despite her protests about time. "Right now, the only thing that matters is making you come on my tongue."

He dropped her on the bed and immediately covered her body with his, his mouth finding her throat. Monica's hands tangled in his hair as he worked his way down her body, leaving marks on her skin that would remind her of this for days.

When Ted finally settled between her thighs, Monica was already trembling with anticipation. "Look at this pretty pussy," he said, his breath hot against her sensitive flesh. "Still dripping with my cum."

"Ted, please—"

"Please what?"

"Make me come."

Ted's tongue delved between her folds, tasting himself mixed with her arousal. Monica's hands fisted in his hair, holding him against her as he worked her with his mouth.

"That's it," Ted murmured against her clit. "Ride my face."

Monica obeyed, her hips rocking against his mouth as he sucked and licked and drove her toward another orgasm. When she came this time, it was with a broken sob that made Ted's cock throb with renewed need.

"My turn," Monica said, pushing Ted onto his back and straddling his hips. She was already reaching for his cock, stroking him back to full hardness.

"Christ, Monica—"

"Shut up and let me ride you."

Monica sank down on Ted's cock in one smooth motion, taking him completely. The sight of her above him—hair wild, skin flushed, tits bouncing as she began to move—was enough to make Ted forget his own name.

"Fuck yes," Ted groaned, his hands gripping her hips. "Ride me just like that."

Monica set a pace that was wild and desperate, chasing another orgasm while Ted watched in fascination. She was incredible like this—uninhibited, demanding, taking what she needed from his body.

"I'm close," Monica gasped, her movements becoming erratic.

"Then come," Ted said, reaching up to pinch her nipples. "Come all over my cock."

Monica's third orgasm was quieter but no less intense, her pussy fluttering around Ted's dick as she collapsed forward onto his chest. Ted held her close, his own release building.

"Inside," Monica whispered against his ear. "I want to feel you come inside me."

Ted flipped them over, pinning Monica beneath him as he chased his own climax. When it hit, he buried his face in her neck and let himself go completely, filling her with everything he had.

They collapsed together, breathing hard, skin slick with sweat and satisfaction. He pulled her against him, her head on his chest, both of them coming down from the high.

"We're going to be late," she said eventually, though she made no move to get up.

"Worth it," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Your product morning meetings—"

"Will happen whether I arrive at seven or seven-thirty. The world won't end if I spend an extra few minutes in bed with my girlfriend."

She lifted her head to look at him. His arms tightened with possessive satisfaction. "Listen to you, being all balanced and reasonable."

"You're a terrible influence."

"The best kind."

They eventually dragged themselves out of bed and into the shower, where Ted tried very hard not to get distracted by the sight of Monica wet and soapy and completely gorgeous.

They managed to keep their hands mostly to themselves, though he couldn't resist pressing her against the tile wall for one more kiss that left them both breathing hard.

By the time they were dressed and caffeinated, he felt centered in a way that had nothing to do with meditation and everything to do with starting his day connected to something real.

"I have to go," he said, checking his watch. "But dinner tonight? To celebrate?"

"I'd like that. My place or yours?"

"Yours. I'll bring takeout from that Thai place you like."

Monica stood on her toes to kiss him goodbye, and Ted felt that familiar flutter of gratitude for whatever cosmic accident had trapped them in an elevator together.

"Good luck today," Monica said. "Not that you need it."

"Thanks. You too. Try not to corrupt any corporate warriors with your breathing techniques."

"No promises."

Ted left Monica's apartment feeling like he could conquer the world, or at least successfully launch a software platform without having a stress-induced cardiac event. The drive to CyberHub was peaceful rather than frantic, Ted's mind clear and focused instead of churning with anxiety.

The launch went flawlessly. CloudSync 2.

0 exceeded every performance metric, user adoption was ahead of projections, and the press coverage was overwhelmingly positive.

By six PM, Ted's team was celebrating in the break room with champagne and the kind of genuine joy that came from achieving something meaningful together.

"Speech!" Jennifer called out, raising her glass.

Ted looked around at the faces of people who'd believed in his vision, who'd worked countless hours to turn an idea into reality. A year ago, this moment would have been pure validation, proof that he was worthy of the risks people had taken on him.

"A year ago," Ted said, "I thought success meant proving I was worthy of your faith in me. I thought it meant working harder than everyone else, sacrificing more, caring more about the outcome than anyone thought reasonable."

The room was quiet, listening.

"I was wrong," Ted continued. "Success isn't about proving anything. It's about building something meaningful with people you trust, that makes the world a little bit better. It's about balance—caring deeply about your work without letting work consume everything else that matters."

Ted raised his glass. "So here's to all of you, for making this possible. And here's to whatever we build next."

The team cheered, and Ted felt the kind of satisfaction that went deeper than profit margins or market share. This was what achievement was supposed to feel like—shared, sustainable, connected to something larger than ego.

Ted left the office at seven-thirty, a reasonable hour that would have been unthinkable six months ago. The drive home was peaceful, his mind already shifting from work to dinner with Monica, to the conversation they'd been building toward about his next venture.

He found Monica in her kitchen, cooking a meal that smelled like heaven and looked like it required actual culinary skill.

"You were supposed to bring takeout," Monica said, accepting his kiss without turning away from the stove.

"I got inspired. How did the launch go?"

"Perfectly. Better than perfectly." Ted wrapped his arms around Monica's waist, breathing in the scent of her hair. "And I had an idea I wanted to run by you."

"Oh?"

"What would you think about a wellness app? One that combines corporate productivity tools with actual stress management, meditation features, breathing exercises. A platform that helps companies support employee wellbeing instead of just extracting maximum output."

Monica turned in his arms, her expression bright with interest. "That's... actually brilliant. You could reach people who would never set foot in a yoga studio but desperately need these tools."

"Exactly. And I was thinking... maybe you'd want to be my co-founder. Help design the wellness components, ensure everything is authentic rather than just corporate wellness theater."

Monica's smile was radiant. "Ted Corwin, are you asking me to go into business with you?"

"I'm asking if you want to change the world together."

"Is that your idea of a romantic gesture?"

"Is it working?"

Monica kissed him, deep and sweet and full of possibility. "It's working."