Fire & Desire (Hero Series) Read online

  “Whatever is going on with you must be really big…” Leslie commented, watching him as he gazed around the room.

  Trevor looked at his aunt. “Do you have any regrets?”

  She didn’t bat an eyelash, nor did she question what he was talking about before she began, “Yes. However, it doesn’t do me any good to dwell on what might’ve been. None of us are born with the power to change the past.”

  Trevor pondered what his aunt had said. She didn’t know how close her comments were to the emotions moving through him.

  “So who is she?” his aunt asked.

  He gave her a half smile. “I can’t tell you that because I’m not in a position right now to say.”

  “Hmm, a little intrigue.” Leslie smiled, wiggling her eyebrows at him.

  He laughed. His aunt could always find a way to lighten his mood.

  After his laughter subsided, he said, “I’ll tell you, I never anticipated my feelings becoming engaged the way they have.”

  “Which I can assume is causing you some problems.”

  “In a big way.” He lifted his head and stared blankly at the ceiling.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  He refocused on his aunt. “Losing her in the end.”

  “Well, they say that it is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all.”

  Trevor made a grumbling sound in his throat.

  The same pain he had seen back when she told of her lost love returned to his aunt’s eyes and weighted down her voice. “But having been in that position before, I would say…do whatever you can not to lose it at all.”

  “What makes you think I’m in love with her?” Trevor questioned.

  His aunt’s soft laughter fluttered through the air, easing the heavy atmosphere. “Pahleeese, sweetie…only a smitten man sits with his youthful aunt and contemplates life decisions.”

  “Maybe,” Trevor smiled and rose to his feet. “Well, Leslie, I need to get going.”

  His aunt got to her feet, linked her arm through his and escorted him back toward the front of her condo.

  Once at the door, Trevor turned to his aunt. “Thanks for listening.” Leaning in, he kissed her cheek.

  “You’re welcome, even though you didn’t say much.” Leslie reached up and touched the side of his face, her gaze full of compassion and understanding.

  “I will in due time.” Trevor opened the door.

  “Trevor, you have to be the gentlest man I know,” she said, stopping him, “with the softest heart you attempt to hide from the world. Watch out you don’t get hurt in the end.”

  Trevor looked back at her, paused and left without commenting.

  ~ML~

  Tiffany stood next to the table in the conference room with the Children’s Christmas Gala project spread over the top. A large diagram of the Four Seasons’ Garden Terrace Lounge covered almost half the table. The paper replica was speckled with mini tables, chairs and trees with little color squares underneath. It always helped Tiffany to set up the event, so she could visualize how she wanted things situated. She leaned over the table, her hand busy arranging the pieces, organizing the room in correspondence to her notes.

  “Now, that’s a position every man wants to see his wife in. Spine dipped low, hips arched high and thighs parted.”

  The tingling sensation sliding up her spine was the telltale sign of who it was that spoke behind her. It reminded her of how she felt listening to her favorite jazz artist. Her eyes slid shut and all of her senses became focused on Trevor.

  “I’m surprised my secretary didn’t notify me I had a visitor.” Tiffany didn’t turn or rectify her position, even though she’d ceased what she was doing.

  Heat caressed her back as his masculine presence moved up behind her, but not touching.

  “If she’s a college age platinum blond with a small natural, I caught a glimpse of her before she exited through the fire escape.”

  She inhaled the rich smell that was only Trevor. No cologne, he always held a clean, robust male scent. “Jaunice likes to take the stairs. It’s all about fitness she says.”

  “Where’s your partner?” he asked huskily.

  Tiffany could almost hear the room crackle with sexual tension. “She took a contract over to a client, which just leaves the two of us.” Body straightened, she attempted to turn around and face him.

  Firm hands touched her waist, halting her movement. Intense seduction pulsed throughout the room as he said, “Don’t move.”

  “What are you up to?” She couldn’t stop the butterflies of excitement from moving with zeal in the lower part of her stomach.

  “Lasciviousness,” he rumbled deep, as his hands made their way around the front of her shirt and began unfastening her buttons.

  Tiffany’s breasts felt full and heavy, and her nipples tightened in expectation of his touch.

  She couldn’t stop the giggle of anticipation. “Oh really, I do believe I was taught against such acts in my Sunday school class.”

  “Well, in mine, I was told the marriage bed is undefiled.”

  One hand slid inside her open blouse. Her skin tingled from the warm contact as her heart picked up its tempo and her breathing became strenuous. “Trevor, my darling, if you will notice there isn’t a bed around.”

  “We’re married, honey, which means wherever we lay, or stand, is our bed.”

  Tiffany glanced over her shoulder. “Glad to know I won’t need to repent tomorrow.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her soundly on the mouth. “If you knew what I had in mind, you wouldn’t be so quick to say that.”

  All thoughts of conversation left her mind. Trevor began to run his hands up her torso, under her bra and cupped her breasts. “It never ceases to amaze me when I feel your heartbeat against my fingertips…” Emotions hindered his speech. One hand began to massage her breasts, as the other moved away to unbind her hair from its clip. “I feel like an addict when I’m away from you. I can’t get you out of my system, and I can’t stay away.” He kissed her on the back of her neck.

  Oh, my. He’s as entangled in this as I am. Her pulse quickened from his words and the feel of his fingers massaging her scalp and her breasts. Flustered, Tiffany didn’t know whether she wanted to lean back into one hand or forward to the other. She solved her internal struggle by arching her back, allowing her to meet both needs and more. Her hips brushed his groin, making the level of his desire very evident.

  Trevor squeezed and lightly tugged on her protruding nipples through their thin covering.

  “Ohh, Trevor. I know. I feel like I’m turning inside out.” Tiffany’s hips began to undulate against his groin, attempting to prolong and enhance every sensation. I’m definitely an addict.

  The intimate masseuse technique halted and Trevor groaned. “Baby, are you trying to drive me mad?” He gripped her hips and fused them against his.

  Tiffany’s senses were alive. She trembled inside. She could feel the forceful breath he exhaled across the side of her neck, the occasional flexing of his fingers on her hips and the distinct imprint of his groin against her buttocks. The desire to have him buried deep overwhelmed her.

  Memories of their previous night were vivid in her mind, and she knew she played with fire as she boldly asked, “If I’m trying to drive you mad, what do I get as my reward?”

  As if all the restraints he held on himself snapped, Trevor became the audacious lover in response. He reached up without instructions or pausing to release the front clasp of her bra, baring her breasts to his seeking hand. Simultaneously, he hauled her skirt up around her waist.

  A month ago, Tiffany would have been shocked with the thought of a man displaying such sexual aggression. For her first time, she was glad he had been sensitive, gentle, tender and caring, but not tonight. Tonight, she wanted him to lose control. She wanted him to desire her beyond thought or reason…she wanted to feel his unbridled passion.

  ~ML~

  Trevor had no p
roblem fulfilling her verbal taunts and unspoken requests. The desire to be inside of her was so strong, he felt animalistic—like a beast whose mate was in heat.

  He smelled her arousal. Her scent was thick and heady, sweet and musky at the same time. The aroma of her essence enveloped him while beckoning him closer. He answered the call, sliding his hand inside her underwear to discover the lips of her sex swollen, in full bloom and saturated with her wetness. His questing hand met with the same fate. She was more than ready. She was his for the taking.

  Trevor wasted no time shoving her underwear down so she could step out of them, and then leaned her forward. “Brace yourself.” He masterfully clutched her hips and thrust home.

  He heard her gasp a quick breath, felt the tightness of her core adjust to his quick invasion and sheath him in wet acceptance. It was pure heaven in its most erotic form. The connection between a husband and his wife, the thought raced through his mind.

  She was his, his alone, his woman, and he wanted to brand her so there would be no doubt in the coming weeks.

  Pumping into her, his thrusts were deep and sure. He ran one hand up her back and around her side until he reached her full, silky smooth breast. He smiled at the feel of her erect nipples.

  He rotated his hips and moved his other hand to the seat of her desire. As he began to play her body in the sensuous dance, she trembled, and he knew she was close to the edge.

  “Please, Trevor…” Tiffany moaned as she tilted her head back, allowing breathy sounds of rapture past her lips.

  Trevor, on the edge himself, knew what Tiffany was asking for. “Your wish is my command, honey.”

  He relinquished the hold he had on his passion and drove into her until she shattered with a scream. The walls of her center clenched him repeatedly as he buried himself to the hilt against her womb. His own release came out as a growl between his clenched teeth. He squeezed his eyes shut and threw his head back.

  ~ML~

  The afterglow of their passion permeated the atmosphere in the room.

  Long moments passed before either spoke.

  Respecting the silence in the room, Tiffany began softly by saying, “We need to talk, Trevor.”

  “I know. There are a lot of things that I wish to say to you, but I can’t right now, Tiffany.” Trevor responded in the same tone as he ran his hands gingerly along her spine.

  Tiffany’s curiosity was piqued as she turned her head to look at him. “Things like what?”

  Trevor withdrew from her and cool air greeted her in his place. The sounds of him fastening his clothes echoed in the room. Seconds went by, before she felt his hands readjusting her skirt. Then she turned her body into the envelope of his arms.

  She wasn’t sure if he was going to answer her as his eyes ran slowly over her face.

  He reached up and smoothed the wrinkle in her brow with his thumb. “Just trust me.”

  “My heart really wants to trust you, Trevor, but my mind is screaming out that I don’t know you.”

  “You know me, Tiffany. Trust in what your heart is saying.” He ran his finger down the cooling flesh of her arm.

  His eyes held an intense look in them she could not grasp, as if he were trying to lure her to trust him.

  “Is there something I should know?”

  “Of course there is, but my darling, now is not the time.” He kissed her softly on the lips, ending the conversation, and then disentangled himself from her.

  “When will that be?” She closed the front of her blouse over her bare chest as she watched him walk backward toward the door.

  “Soon.”

  “You claim you want us to have a normal relationship, but every time we’re together, it starts with you arriving out of the blue and ending with me watching you walk away.”

  A sexy smile crossed his lips. “How about dinner tomorrow night at seven?”

  “You’re on.” She returned his smile.

  Twelve

  “Wow, Tiff, I just came from the conference room. The Gala set-up looks great, and you even tagged in the seating arrangement. What got you pumped up while I’ve been gone?”

  Josephine began as she walked into Tiffany’s office.

  Tiffany hoped the heat rising to her face wasn’t evident to her friend. “I just got a burst of energy and couldn’t stop.”

  “Well, that’s great because that shaved an hour off our time tonight. We’ll give the names one final look and make sure there aren’t any ‘do not place in close proximity together’ people at the same table.”

  Silently, Tiffany grabbed the file off her desk and followed her friend to the conference room, where she had only left moments before Josephine showed up. She hadn’t lied to her friend. She’d felt a burst of energy after Trevor left…guilt was always a great incentive. She threw herself full steam into the project in an attempt to compensate for the time used while she’d made hot, passionate love with Trevor instead of finalizing the gala plans.

  Now, standing next to her business partner, they worked through the list of guests and seating arrangements. She couldn’t help but feel buried under the lie of omission she had withheld from not only her best friend, but also her father.

  “Perfect as always, Tiff, all I’s and T’s appear to be dotted and crossed.”

  “Thanks,” Tiffany said, distracted by the weight of what she needed to do. She took a deep breath. “Jo, we need to talk.”

  “About Las Vegas?”

  Tiffany wasn’t shocked Josephine was right on target about what was on her mind. Her friend had a memory like an elephant and was very intuitive. “And more. It would probably be best if we went to your office because you’re going to need to sit down…so am I.”

  When they were seated at Josephine’s desk, Tiffany began, “Jo, I know you know I’ve been keeping something from you since we went to Vegas for the weekend? Also, knowing me as well as you do, you know nothing short of cowardliness has kept me from talking to you about it.”

  “I’m assuming this has to do with why you didn’t get back to the townhouse until the following morning?”

  “That’s right. I could go the long way around this in explanations, but I won’t. The fact is, I got married that night.”

  There was no mistaking the look of shock on her friend’s face, but the look of hurt tore at Tiffany’s heart.

  “You’ve been married for almost three months and you never felt like you could tell me?”

  “Honestly, Jo, I didn’t want to tell anyone because I prayed I would be able to get a quiet divorce and no one would know. Besides, how do you tell someone that you got drunk and did the most cliché thing by getting married in Las Vegas?”

  “Just like that,” Josephine snapped.

  Tiffany smiled at her friend’s simple reaction. However, her father would see things differently.

  Tiffany walked over to Josephine’s office window, pausing for a moment to watch the night activities on the street.

  “I’m the governor’s daughter, Jo. Up until this point, I’ve tried to live my life above reproach.” Tiffany sounded distant as her thoughts drifted to past memories. “I remember one day when we were in high school, I was in the kitchen reading a tabloid that someone had left on the counter. There was an article in it about some senator’s daughter getting arrested for indecent exposure at some club, and it made references to some past indiscretions she had committed. I remember Wallace walking into the kitchen, seeing the article and saying how everything that I did would impact my father’s career.” She faced Josephine. “I got the message.”

  “Tiff, as long as I’ve known you, I’ve watched you restrict yourself to some invisible boundaries that stop you from existing. A lot of the boundaries that constrict your life have been erected by you and you alone.”

  “I wish you were right, Jo. But regardless of how they got there…they are there, and I have to deal with them.”

  “Or get rid of them. Maybe it’s time you knock some of them down and l
ive.”

  “Look at me, Jo, I’ve lived.” Tiffany held out her arms in a gesture to remind Josephine where they were standing.

  “Tiff, we opened this company two years ago, and up until these last few months, you’ve only spent one to two days a week here. You’ve lived alright, but when it’s in someone else’s shadow, it doesn’t count.”

  Tiffany was silent for a moment as she turned back toward the night scenery. “Funny, you and Trevor could be clones. He tells me the same thing.”

  Josephine’s eyes lit up with shock. “Trevor…wasn’t that the guy you were dancing with?”

  Tiffany nodded.

  “Well, maybe you should start listening to one of us.”

  “I want to, but I love my father.”

  Tiffany felt the presence of her friend beside her.

  “I know you do, but don’t you think it’s about time you love yourself a little, too?”

  Tiffany dropped her chin to her chest. The urge to cry was so strong, she pinched her eyes tight to hold back the flow. She feared that, if she gave in to them, she wouldn’t be able to stop.

  “Tiffany, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a life. Get married, have a family maybe. Your father had one…don’t you think you deserve the same thing?”

  Tiffany swung around toward her friend. “He’s a stripper, Jo, a male dancer. I paid for his services through an escort or entertainment service…whatever they call them now.” Her shoulders shrugged in a hopeless gesture, the dam broke and she began to cry.

  “Oh, Tiff.” Josephine exhaled loudly as she embraced Tiffany. “I wish I could tell you how to get around it. But even I know if that got out, the press would have a field day.”

  “So what am I supposed to do? Ruin my father’s career?” Tiffany prayed she didn’t sound as pitiful as she felt.

  “If this was just a fling, I would say have your fun and walk away soon. But if you love him…” she trailed off.

  Tiffany looked at Josephine. “I love him, Jo. Lord, knows I didn’t want to…but I do.

  Who couldn’t love a man who wants nothing more from you than to see you live your own life?