Fire & Desire (Hero Series) Read online

Tiffany followed her into the ladies room.

  “What’s up?” she questioned, anxiously.

  Josephine checked each stall for vacancy. When she was assured they were alone, she turned to face Tiffany. “Tiff, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, Jo. I thought you were going to tell me. Isn’t that why I followed you?”

  “You and Trevor Wayne?”

  Tiffany’s heart skipped a beat. “What about us? We’re just…just nothing.”

  One of Josephine’s eyebrows arched toward the ceiling. It was the second time someone had given Tiffany that expression.

  “It’s not what it looked like to me when you two were on the dance floor.”

  Were we that obvious? Or was it because Josephine is my best friend that she noticed?

  “So we’re acquaintances.” For a brief moment, the image of him and Sherri on the dance floor flashed across her mind, and she said quietly, “And as you can see, he’s acquainted with a lot of women.”

  “Well, I’m not concerned with lots of women…only you. For that matter, you need to be thanking me for keeping the reporters tied up with interviewing Lavonia. Otherwise, there would’ve been pictures of you and this Wayne fellow plastered all over tomorrow’s society page.”

  How stupid could I have been? Tiffany berated herself.

  “There’s nothing to worry about.” Tiffany was trying to convince herself.

  “If you had seen the two of you embracing out there and the expression on your face…you’d be worried.”

  “Hey, Jo, what can I say…?” In an attempt to laugh away the situation, she finished by saying, “I was completely zoning while I was out there. I just needed a break. I’m human.”

  “Contrary to popular belief…Tiffany Selina has always been human. But Tiff, you’ve been acting strangely for a while now. If you would like to talk—”

  A woman entering the bathroom saved Tiffany from having to respond. She smiled at her friend, hoping to reassure her that everything was all right. “I’m fine. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  Josephine didn’t respond, but her eyebrow lifted in question. Tiffany was beginning to dislike that gesture.

  Tiffany linked arms with her friend as they exited the confines of the restroom. “I should be back to my old self soon; trust me.”

  Josephine said, “I’m always here if you need to talk. I hope I don’t have to tell you that you can always trust me.”

  Tiffany nodded to her friend as they re-entered the large room where the remainder of the guests gathered. She was going through a lot, and she would have loved to open up—particularly with her best friend. Mostly, she was hoping the situation would go away soon.

  She couldn’t have stopped herself if she wanted to from noticing that neither Trevor nor Sherri was among the lingering guests. I don’t have to guess where they’ve gone off to, knowing Sherri.

  She also noticed Christopher had departed, too. She already knew he and Sherri had history together.

  Now which one was the un-lucky one, Tiffany thought.

  Looking around, and thankful Josephine had already walked away, Tiffany said aloud, “Well, none of them are my concern. And my marriage problem will be over soon enough.”

  Tiffany shook away the gray cloud that hovered over her at the thought of Trevor and Sherri together.

  A divorce was what she wanted, after all…wasn’t it?

  Nine

  “Ms. Sanders, it’s nice to meet you. If I’m not mistaken, your late husband was one of the main physicians at the Cancer Research Center,” Trevor said to the older woman whom Governor Selina introduced to him outside of one of the luxury suites in the new FedEx Field.

  It was the game of the season in Washington, and he’d had his tickets for months.

  Anyone and everyone who was a football fan was there—the place was packed to see the Redskins versus the Cowboys! He was on his way to his seat to watch the opening kick-off when he passed the governor and his guest.

  “You have a very good memory, Mr. Wayne. My husband has been dead for three years now,” the woman said with a soft smile and hint of sadness in her eyes.

  “That’s how we met,” the governor added. “When we found out my wife had developed breast cancer, I personally invited them over to the house for dinner to see what could be done.”

  “I’m very familiar with the agony of the disease. My sister was diagnosed with it, and I’m very thankful she survived it. When the family is strained with worry, you look at all the options,” Trevor said.

  “Even if some are experimental…you’re willing to try anything,” Ms. Sanders commented.

  The governor spoke, breaking the moment of silence between all of them. “Trevor, why don’t you join us for the game.”

  As much as he would have liked to, Trevor couldn’t. “Sir, I know you probably already have the seats reserved for your colleagues.”

  The governor nodded his head. “I do, but one of my comrades will not be able to make it.

  He had something unexpected come up at the last minute. So there’s room.”

  Trevor looked toward the outdoor seats and thought about the hype of the game and the excitement of being in the active stands with the other Redskin’s fanatics. He considered the joy of leaping to his feet excitedly with others at a touchdown and having someone spilling their coke on him, by accident. Having the opportunity to sit on a misplaced hotdog after he’d hovered above his seat in tension while following a quarterback down the yard line in anticipation that he’d reach the goal. That was most of the reason he came to the stadium—part of the game.

  Trevor only deliberated for a moment, and then agreed. After the game, he still had a company to run and see succeed. Not to mention, this man was his father in-law. He wasn’t sure for how much longer. Better to be in his good graces while he could.

  The governor patted him heartily on the back and escorted him in along with Ms. Sanders.

  Trevor smiled at his own good fortune as he stood up with the other people in the box in honor of the pledge of allegiance. The stands were divided in half, one side red and gold, the other silver and white.

  Trevor loved football. Playing the sport had been his dream for as far back as he could remember—until it was snatched from him.

  His heart raced with excitement as he watched the coin toss and the Redskin’s team captain calling it in the air. Luck was with the home team as the quarter landed head side up—per the coach’s request; they opted to receive the ball.

  Trevor shook his head with many other fans. He was always an advocate for deferring the ball, to have the advantage in the second half. Despite the decision, Trevor could feel the vibrations of the fans’ roars as the game began.

  ~ML~

  The Redskins were down by six when Ms. Sanders excused herself during half time to use the restroom.

  “I guess your daughter doesn’t like football.” Trevor opened the discussion to the person who was never far from his mind.

  “Actually, she doesn’t mind it, but she’s been keeping herself so busy with her business and my obligations. She’s doing a great job of burning her energy candle at both ends.” The concern for his daughter was evident on his face.

  “I’m sure that doesn’t leave much time for a personal life.” Looking around, Trevor briefly observed others in the box. Few people sat watching the game like he and the governor, Douglas Selina. Most milled around the back end of the box, talking, eating and socializing like it was a party instead of a football game.

  “Personal life?” The governor chuckled. “It’s truly evident you don’t know my daughter.”

  Trevor could imagine the governor would’ve been shocked to know how familiar he was with Tiffany and how close he’d come to knowing her in the biblical sense. He figured the governor would have been downright astonished to know he was actually sitting next to his son in-law.

  “Tiffany finds it hard to see past her responsibilities. I’m to blame for a l
ot of that. I leaned on her at such a young age. She was so busy taking care of me, she never learned how to take care of herself.”

  The governor’s voice was weighed with the heaviness of his burden, and Trevor was sure he didn’t need any comments from him. Hearing Tiffany’s father’s words just reiterated to him that Tiffany wasn’t doing a good job of taking care of herself, reaffirming he needed to.

  ~ML~

  Tiffany walked into her house after mid-night, feeling as if she’d been dragged brutally behind a sixteen wheeler during the forty-minute drive home from her office. Earlier that evening, she and Josephine had worked out the arrangements for a few Christmas functions they were planning. Three hours ago, Josephine had left for a date with her boyfriend, Ruben. Tiffany had stayed on, taking the time to figure out a balance between both of her itinerary schedules—her father’s and her business.

  While they’d worked, Tiffany’s mind wandered. She was having an internal conflict about whether or not to open up to Josephine. She really wanted to talk to someone about everything but could not bring herself to do it. Ever since the BCS dinner, she’d felt ashamed she was not being forthright, but for now it was best to keep things quiet.

  She decided tonight it would be best for her to file for divorce and soon. She resigned herself to the fact that Trevor was not going to do it. The question of why continued to plague her. Every time she brought it up to him, he changed the subject. Fear that he would contest it had kept her from filing in the months since the Vegas trip, but no more. She had to take a stand and fast. She knew the real reason. After the erotic words Trevor had whispered in her ear while they were dancing, vivid images haunted her no matter if she were asleep or awake.

  She couldn’t deny she was more than a little sexually attracted to Trevor. Every time he was within touching distance of her, her hormones went wild. She yearned to have his hands on her, fondling her breasts and using his magnificent talented hands between her legs. Tiffany wanted to be pleased, touched by him. She wanted Trevor to make her beg. Now where did that thought come from? Then she recalled the carousel and how she had acted impetuously and as if starved for affection.

  She had never had sex with anyone else. Not even Christopher, who had attempted to cajole her into it several times during their brief dating period. It had been easy to say no to Christopher. He had never made her feel like Trevor did. Never made her body even come close to shaking and trembling the way Trevor did.

  Before the divorce was said and done, she would have loved to feel what it was like to have him between her legs, deep inside. And remember it.

  It was just sex, right? she thought.

  But she knew her feelings were beginning to grow for Trevor. Every time he showed up, she learned more about him that she liked. On the way to the harbor and at dinner, they had talked and opened up to each other about their families. Not to mention, every time she needed rescuing, he was there. First with her computer, and then rescuing her from Christopher on the dance floor.

  However, if she didn’t cut the strings soon with Trevor, it would be too late.

  Already too late.

  She felt no need for light as she walked through the dark house and mentally shook herself to regain control of her thoughts. Maybe I should have driven to the mansion. It was only twenty-minutes from her job. She could have stayed with her father tonight. The football game was over hours ago. She could’ve ridden in with him tomorrow afternoon to the family home, her home, where she was now. She didn’t want to be alone tonight, nor did she feel like company.

  She exhaled forcefully, making her cheeks puff out.

  Her father would be home tomorrow for the annual Labor Day party. That meant there would be security personnel and state troopers everywhere when he arrived. Socially, she already felt drained.

  Worse yet, she was emotionally exhausted.

  Over the past month, she’d tried not to think about Trevor and Sherri possibly being together since the night of the BCS banquet. As much as she tried to fight it and tell herself otherwise, she desired Trevor. Her body yearned to know what she had missed the night she drank herself into a black out when they’d gotten married—what Sherri had most likely enjoyed.

  Tiffany took a deep breath to clear her mind.

  Something must be totally wrong with my life. She reached the top of the second level and entered her bedroom. I should have better things to do than to worry about who Trevor is doing.

  “I truly need a life,” she said aloud. “Anything to keep my mind off him.”

  Tiffany walked through the blackness and headed toward her bathroom, placed her hand out and located the doorjamb. She reached around it and found the light switch.

  “I can only hope you’re talking about me?”

  She froze, could that voice have materialized audibly out of her thoughts. Yet her body went on automatic alert—fight or flight. Instantly, her mind registered the distance between herself, the voice and the door.

  “How should I take your silence? Is it a yes or no?” he asked, reaching out to her across the darkness.

  Her heart began to race, she knew without turning around who was there. Only one person could stir her senses so erotically. One person could cause her body to begin to pulse.

  One person caused the lips of her sex to swell instantly. “How’d you get in here?”

  “Your balcony window was open, not to mention a perfectly solid table underneath it on the patio. Even though your room is on the second floor, you should really be more careful.”

  “Only lately have I had a problem with unwelcome guests strolling around the property. A bit medieval, don’t you think? What are you doing here?” she asked, becoming keenly aware of the heat of his body, directly behind her.

  She was astounded that she hadn’t heard him moving toward her.

  “Would you believe me if I said I wanted to see you?” He placed his hands on her shoulder, causing her skin to tingle.

  “Why?” she asked, trying to keep her mind focused.

  “Because I’m concerned about you, and I can’t get you off my mind.” He lightly squeezed her shoulders.

  Tiffany stepped out of his arms, turned on the light and faced Trevor. His face appeared a bronze color in the glow of the light.

  “Don’t play with me, Trevor. I don’t have the patience for it tonight.”

  Unable to respond quick enough to stop him, Trevor grasped her hips and propelled her body forward, closing the gap between them.

  Holding her firmly against him, he asked, “Does this feel like I’m playing?”

  Tiffany couldn’t have mistaken the look in his eyes, nor the significant feel of his hardening sex pressing intimately against her. Her body responded instantly. The sensation of heat building in the center wasn’t something that was foreign to her. This was a feeling she fought in the middle of her nights when she awakened with dreams of him.

  “We can’t,” she said breathlessly, placing her hands on his chest between their bodies; she pushed herself away. Turning away from him, she said, “This has already gone far enough.”

  He walked up behind her. “That’s where you’re wrong, Tiffany…I don’t think it’s gone far enough.”

  Trevor leaned forward and began to place light kisses in the curve between her neck and shoulder above the scooped collar of her blouse. Her body promptly acted in response: her eyes closed, heat ran down her spine and her heart skipped a beat.

  “Tell me you want this just as much as I do.” His lips progressed around to the back of her neck, and his tongue joined in, making lazy circles over her skin while his hands advanced to her breasts and began to squeeze simultaneously.

  “Hmm…” the soft moan slipped past her lips as her head descended forward. She could feel the tightening of her nipples as Trevor mastered them in his hands.

  Tiffany could feel his breath whisper against her skin as he said, “Tiffany, I’ve needed you for so long.”

  Tiffany felt like scr
eaming that she wanted him too, that she was tired of fighting her feelings. “Make love to me, Trevor.” She placed her hands over his as the ministration continued. “I want to wake up tomorrow and remember what it was like to be totally consumed by you.”

  ~ML~

  Trevor turned her around and lowered his mouth to her lips. Her confession had given him permission to proceed to the next level. They’d never kissed before, so it was like an electric shock for him.

  Drawing her closer, he deepened the kiss. Her lips opened to his. He placed both his hands on the side of her face, and he delved into the hot recesses of her mouth.

  Tiffany surrendered completely to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Trevor was only vaguely aware of moving deeper in the darkness of the room and backwards toward the bed until he felt the mattress against the back of his legs.

  Heavy breathing filled the room as he detached his mouth from hers, saying, “Turn on the lights…I want you to know who’s making love to you.”

  “I know who you are.” Tiffany leaned over to the lamp on the nightstand without moving out of his arms. The lamp filled the room with a soft amber glow.

  He pulled her blouse out of her pants and over her head. “Then say my name.”

  “Trevor.” She reached out and assisted him in removing his Redskins sweatshirt.

  He liked the quirky lift of the corner of her mouth as she looked at his shirt logo.

  “Would you stop if I told you I was a Dallas fan?” she asked.

  Sitting down on the bed, he proceeded to unfasten her slacks. “Not on your life. Especially since your team just lost.”

  “I heard on the radio…” her words faded in and out as he began to rain kisses across her abdomen, “…one poi—” she stopped talking completely when he dipped his tongue into her navel.

  Trevor slid her pants down her hips. After she stepped free of them, he ran his hands along the inside of her thighs and felt the tremors in her legs.

  He paused for a moment to enjoy the view. Tiffany wore a sheer black bra and the sexiest pair of matching boy-legged cropped panties with lace trimming. If the translucent material of her bra didn’t take him over the edge, the transparent underwear almost did the trick.