Fire & Desire (Hero Series) Read online

  “How was everything in the kitchen?” Josephine asked her when she took the seat beside Tiffany’s.

  Josephine wore a black chiffon dress with a scooped neck that left the crown of her shoulders bare. It clung nicely to her body, stopping modestly above her knee. Sheer black stockings and a pair of black chiffon covered heels topped off the outfit. The only color to her ensemble was the honey color highlights in her bone-straight, jet-black, short, tapered haircut.

  Her best friend’s eyes were so dark brown even they appeared black.

  Tonight, Tiffany wore a black tuxedo dress with a white lapel collar. The dress was sleeveless, tapered in the front at her waist and ended at the tips of her shoes. The back of it was the part that made her a little self-conscious because the dress wasn’t as conservative as those she normally wore. It left the full expansion of her back bare.

  She’d received some curious looks from people. More than once, she’d wished she’d just worn her sequin suit, or had left her hair down to cover up part of her back instead of deciding on the French roll.

  “Great, no problems, Jo. Any concerns or worries from Lavonia?” Tiffany sat next to Josephine.

  “Not a one. Things are going smoothly.” Josephine smiled.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Breast Cancer Society, we would like to welcome you to the Virginia Chapter’s Sixteenth Annual Benefit dinner.” The emcee Bridget Kruse, the vice president of the chapter, began the opening remarks as the servers collected the dessert plates.

  ~ML~

  “Wow, Tiffy, you look fabulous. I almost didn’t recognize you,” Christopher said in a soft whisper as he came up behind her. She stood on the outskirts of the dance floor, watching people move to the beat of the live band.

  Tiffany drew in a slow breath, then turned around with a smile. “Christopher, I didn’t expect to see you here. Things like this aren’t usually your thing.”

  Looking at her with a conspirator’s smile, he said, “You know me so well, Tiffy. Another reason why we’d make a great team. Anyway, now that I’m running for congressman, it’s important for me to show face in the right places. People in the BCS are heavy voters.”

  “That’s true and they’re pretty smart also.”

  “Humm,” he grumbled. “So what do you say about allowing me a few moves with you on the dance floor?”

  The first thing that came to mind was to turn him down, telling him she was working wouldn’t work. With the main part of the program concluded and a few people having already left, it was a weak excuse. The truth of the matter, she liked to dance, and even though Christopher was a very persistent friend, she knew he would be safe.

  “Sure, that would be nice.”

  Tiffany allowed him to escort her to the dance floor and even disregarded the cocky look on his face as he led her to an empty spot.

  She and Christopher danced to one fast song, then the band switched to a slower ballad.

  She allowed Christopher to pull her in close and hold her. She admitted to herself for a moment that it felt good to be in a man’s arms, even if only for a moment.

  ~ML~

  Trevor stood holding a Sprite in his hand. As the carbonated bubbles rose to the top, so did his anger as he watched Manning hold Tiffany in his arms.

  He was supposed to be listening to Matthew Benedict, an alderman and congressman hopeful from Texas, talk about the benefits of health care for migrant workers in border States. It was known that Benedict’s wife was at one time an illegal alien who had been trying to escape the border patrol in Del Rio, Texas, when she jumped in his car at a gas station. Rumor had it he had waited weeks before turning her in to the officials—only to marry her a month after she was deported. That didn’t stop Benedict from lobbying to whomever would listen. It was easy to tune him out.

  Trevor glanced around the room while he gave Benedict an occasional, “Hmm, interesting…” or a “You may have a point there,” when he spotted the couple on the dance floor.

  He had seen Josephine earlier that night but didn’t realize Tiffany was there also. After their “date” two weeks ago, he’d learned about their business Occasionally Yours and knew they managed functions such as this one but assumed they alternated who showed up for the engagements.

  Tiffany looked sexy tonight. Her hair was in some type of up-do. Different from the normal conservative bun she wore, making him desire to reach up and remove every pin and clip until it cascaded unencumbered down her bare back. Trevor’s eyes followed the curve of her spine. Her skin made him think of caramel or toffee. He’d always had a sweet tooth for both. In the weeks since he’d smelled her scent on the carousel, sweet musk, he’d continued craving her, desiring to know what she tasted like. While in Vegas, the perfect opportunity had been within his grasp, to spread her legs wide and sample until his lust was slacked. Even if only temporarily.

  Tiffany was someone whom, if he ever had her, there would never be an end to his wanting her. He would never get enough.

  Even at that moment, he recalled the sound of her voice begging him to touch her.

  Trevor, I want your hands on me. I need them inside, she had cried. He had given in to her request and touched her. Felt her slick wet heat surround his finger as it slid inside. Felt her walls tighten and quiver around it. However, the alcohol-induced memory was nothing compared to the memory of seeing and feeling her in Baltimore. The memory of watching the freedom of her sexuality. That had been a remarkable sight.

  Trevor felt the response of his body—rapid heartbeat, beads of sweat rolling down his spine and the rush of blood in his ears as it left his head and moved south. He felt his shaft begin to pulse with the increased blood flow.

  A dish clattered somewhere in the kitchen and brought Trevor’s mind out of the fog. Pull yourself together, man. He cleared his throat and refocused on Tiffany.

  He would have been pleased to see her under any other circumstance, but she looked too cozy with Manning for his comfort. Manning held one of her hands while his other hand lay on the bare flesh of her back. Tiffany in a skin revealing dress had shocked him enough without adding her dance partner into the mix.

  It took all of his will power to keep his hand relaxed and not squeeze the glass until it shattered.

  A bead of sweat trickled down his spine; his temperature rose and he saw red. He’d never felt blind rage like what he experienced at that moment.

  It was one thing to see Manning and know how he had gotten away with murder five years ago, but seeing him standing so close to Tiffany pushed him beyond his breaking point.

  Turning, he headed to the bathroom for a moment to get himself together. The urge to walk across the room and plant his fist in Manning’s face was a temptation too hard to resist if he continued to watch them. In the end, he would have made a spectacle and embarrassed Tiffany publicly. After he entered the men’s room, he made his way to the sink and splashed water on his face. The anger burned so hot inside of him, he thought for a moment he saw steam when he looked into the mirror. He blinked and the illusion was gone.

  Short of him telling Manning explicitly to take his hands off his wife, there was little he could do to rectify the situation right now. Grabbing several paper towels, he dried his face. He couldn’t do what he wanted to do, but he could take care of what he needed to do. Remove Tiffany from his clutches.

  ~ML~

  “Tiffy…”

  God, I really dislike that name.

  “Look how people are watching us.”

  Must I.

  “You can practically hear them whispering about how good we look together.”

  Tiffany looked at him. They stood eye to eye with her heels on. He was tall, at least six one, and slender in his build, in an athletic runner sort of way. He was fair skinned with curly hair he kept cut low, no facial hair and hazel eyes. He was a “pretty boy,” never lacking for female companionship. One reporter had described him as captivating to the camera’s lens.

/>   “Christopher, you could never understand how that doesn’t matter to me.”

  He looked at her as if she had just begun to sprout warts on her nose.

  Voice laced with disgust, he questioned, “Tiffany, how could it not matter to you? You’re a governor’s daughter for crying out loud.”

  Tiffany stopped dancing for a moment. “And that’s enough lime light for me.”

  Christopher gave her a slight tug to start her feet moving again. He glanced around them quickly to make sure no one had noticed her moment of insurrection.

  “What do you want me to do,” he whispered, “turn down the congressman seat? Is that what you want, for us to live some quiet no name life?”

  “Christopher, I wouldn’t dream of asking you to give up anything on account of me—except me.”

  He gave her one of his camera flashing smiles. “Tiffy, you’ll give in to me eventually.

  We were too good together for you not to want us again. I don’t know why you’re playing hard to get.”

  He is truly unbelievable. How could he be that self-absorbed with his own desires and discount mine.

  Thankfully, the song ended, and she broke contact with him. “Thank you, Christopher, but I must get back and check on some things.”

  Tiffany intended to leave the dance floor. She turned around as the next slow song began and walked straight into Trevor.

  For a brief moment, she stared into his eyes and felt like a fox in the sight of a hound.

  However, without saying a word or doing anything, he completely consumed her, once again, making her oblivious to everything around them.

  “Trevor Wayne…I haven’t seen you in years and wouldn’t have expected to see you here.

  I wouldn’t have thought this was your forte.” Christopher’s voice did what she would have never been able to accomplish on her own—break the spell.

  Trevor looked past her to Christopher. “Then you never really knew anything about me.”

  Christopher smiled broadly, but there was an unreadable look in his eyes that didn’t carry the same happy glow.

  Immediately, Tiffany knew there was friction between the two men.

  “You’re probably correct. Considering I was a year ahead of you.”

  “I did have the pleasure of crossing paths with you on a significant occasion,” Trevor said.

  “Hmm.” Christopher paused slightly. “Aah, yes, now that you mention it, I do remember an encounter. I must say that after all of these years, it slipped my mind.”

  Tiffany saw Trevor’s chest expand.

  “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to dance with Miss Selina.”

  Oh, no, Tiffany thought.

  “I didn’t realize you even knew Tiffany.”

  Please, Trevor, don’t say anything, Tiffany pleaded with him silently.

  Trevor looked at her briefly as if hearing her, then back at Christopher. “Her father introduced us almost two months ago.”

  Voice raised, Christopher said, “Well, then by all means I don’t mind you dancing with her. Just don’t get too friendly. You’re a little out of your league with this one…besides she and I are practically married.”

  Trevor lifted an eyebrow.

  “Oh, really?” The steel tone of Trevor’s statement almost sounded like a threat.

  Tiffany fervently prayed to God that Trevor would not let the truth out.

  Tiffany’s gaze shot daggers of fury at Trevor and Christopher, but neither paid any attention to her as they let the level of testosterone build in the atmosphere.

  Tiffany took a quick breath and fought the urge to grind her teeth. “Excuse me, but neither of you have even asked me what I want.”

  Christopher placed a hand on her bare shoulder. “Come on, Tiffy…this is a benefit. I’m sure you can find it in your heart to be charitable.” He finished his statement by leaning down and kissing her on the corner of her mouth before she could turn her face away from him.

  Christopher walked away, leaving her and Trevor standing in the middle of the dance floor.

  “Well, Tiffy, let’s dance.” Trevor wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her forward.

  She tried to disregard the tingling sensation she experienced when his warm hand made contact with the lower part of her back. She placed her hand in the one Trevor held out to her and the other hand around his neck, bringing her body lightly against his. “Please don’t call me that…I detest that name.”

  “Why do you allow him to call you that?”

  “Like I have a choice. Christopher does what Christopher wants to do.”

  “So is that how it’s going to be when the two of you marry? You’re just going to allow him to delegate your very existence.”

  Tiffany looked into his light brown eyes. “I think that’s a bit much. Besides, as I’ve told you before, my life is not up for discussion by you.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I just came over here to dance with you,” he said with a slight lift of one corner of his mouth.

  Her gaze rested on his mouth, and the urge to lean closer was strong.

  Shaking herself, she remembered they were in a room with three hundred other people.

  In the arms of her long time friend, she felt nothing, so it amazed her that with Trevor, a virtual stranger, her senses sang and her thoughts fled.

  She would never admit it to Trevor, but she liked the feel of his arms around her. She felt safe and secure. She stood on an even eye level with Trevor—light hazelnut colored eyes, to match his smooth mahogany skin.

  Trevor was muscular and well built. She remembered quite vividly his chiseled body.

  Something she’d thought for years would never attract her. Boy, was I wrong.

  Attraction was not everything; otherwise, she would have said yes to Christopher a long time ago.

  The music faded as Trevor’s thumb softly grazed the skin of her lower back. His breath fluttered across her earlobe as he turned his head and whispered, “Your skin always feels like velvet, soft, warm and inviting.” His thumb brushed against her spine.

  Tiffany’s steps faltered.

  He pulled her tighter. “I remember so much of our night together. Do you?”

  Tiffany felt the heated weight of desire as it moved from her lower belly and headed toward her sex. “No.”

  Trevor made a soft chuckle in her ear. “It was hot. We were all over each other.

  Touching. Grinding.”

  Trevor’s feet never missed a beat as he continued to lead Tiffany on the dance floor. Just for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of being snuggled firmly against him.

  Even though she knew she should stop this. Not allow the flow of words that was evidence of her reckless behavior.

  Her pulse rate picked up as every nerve became alive to the feel of his body moving against hers. Her breath quivered. “Trevor, what are we doing?”

  “Dancing, sweetie, just dancing.” He fused her body to his and continued in a tone that was as smooth as silk. “Aww, Tiffany honey, you had me on fire. I would have gone up in flames if not for your wetness. I still imagine your creamy, lush scent, like my very own spice treat.” He placed his mouth directly on the shell of her ear. “Tiffany, baby, just thinking about it makes me want to eat until I’m full.”

  She couldn’t breathe. Trevor’s words were making her head spin. “Trevor, you shouldn’t say these things to me. You have no right.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, I haven’t even begun to take my rights.” Trevor’s hand moved up to the center of her back, then returned to the small of her back.

  She felt her nipples tighten and press against the fabric of her dress. Tiffany knew she was in dangerous waters. “Trevor—”

  “I feel your nipples coming alive.” He moved his chest and brushed the sensitive tips concealed in her gown.

  The air caught in her throat. She had to swallow to force down the sigh trying to escape.

  “I could write poems about your breasts
, baby. Poems about how full, soft and responsive they are. How I suckled them for hours and you begged—”

  “Tiffany, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to see you.”

  The sound of Josephine’s voice startled Tiffany out of the cocoon Trevor had so eloquently weaved around them. Tiffany opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them and looked at the other woman.

  She couldn’t miss the look of concern in her friend’s eyes.

  Tiffany stopped dancing and immediately stepped out of Trevor’s arms as if she’d been burned. “Thank you.” She bowed her head slightly. She appreciated him letting her go without a scene.

  “It was my pleasure.” He leaned forward and placed a firm kiss on her cheek, lingering slightly longer than appropriate. “Miss Dailey, I believe it is. It’s nice to meet you.” His words accompanied a nod of his head toward Josephine.

  Remembering her manners late, Tiffany made introductions. “Yes, you’re correct.

  Josephine Dailey, this is Trevor Wayne, an associate of the governor’s.”

  “I hope you’re enjoying the evening, Mr. Wayne,” Josephine said.

  He pierced Tiffany with a lust-filled gaze, and then to Josephine said, “I am.”

  He gave them both a smile and turned to leave.

  Sherri stopped in front of them briefly, saying, “Tiffy, I was beginning to get worried that you weren’t going to let him go, so some of us single women could have at him. You’re virtually married already, and you were hogging Trevor all to yourself.” Sherri tapped her arm lightly as if she were disciplining a child. “Shame on you.”

  Tiffany refused to look at Trevor.

  “Well, don’t let me stop you.” She pasted on a fake smile.

  Sherri led Trevor away. “Oh rats, it’s a fast song coming up.”

  Tiffany was truly seething inside but refused to allow either one of them to see her anger.

  Besides, what reason do I have to be angry? I don’t want Trevor, right?

  “So what was it you ne—” Tiffany began to ask, when she turned around and saw the questioning look on Josephine’s face.

  “It would be better if we discussed it in private.” Josephine led the way through the crowd.