Something Better

by Gail R Delaney

  "So..." he said in a low voice that scraped over her intensified nerves with a pleasant roughness.

  She could only manage a soft hum in answer. Her fingers wanted to reach into open jacket, to feel the warmth she knew would be trapped inside between his body and the smooth lining.

  "We ate," he stated.

  Andi nodded, raising her chin so she could look at him. His eyes shifted over her face, touching her with his gaze and she had to reach out. She absolutely had no choice than to let her hands slide over his shirt to his sides, releasing a shuttered sigh at the warmth she knew she'd find. An unfamiliar sense of satisfaction snapped through her when his body tensed beneath her touch and he turned to face her fully -- his hands coming up to rest on the car on either side of her shoulders.

  David leaned into her, his hips pressing hers back into the car and she let her hands shift from his sides to his back beneath the jacket. It fell open further and he stood so close the warmth trapped inside warmed her arms. Andi couldn't catch her breath, and knew her heart pounded so hard he had to see the jump of her pulse at the base of her throat. He bent his neck and the tip of his nose brushed the side of her neck, his breath hot on her chilled skin.

  "Andi..."

  The word reverberated against her and his lips brushed her skin when he said her name, his voice rough like gravel and honey. Her fingers curled impulsively into his shirt and she moaned low in her throat. Her knees liquefied and she slumped back against the car, but his arms came around her as his mouth pressed to the bend where her shoulder met her neck.

  His mouth on her skin wasn't enough and she pulled at his shirt, bringing him closer and at the same time pulling away from him to find his mouth with hers. Then he was kissing her so deep the only thing she could do was open her lips to him and kiss back with the same need and intensity. His hands held her head, cushioning her against the edge of the car.

  She couldn't touch him enough, couldn't pull him close enough, couldn't feel enough of him and when his hips pushed hard against her, she groaned into his mouth and the pitch of the kiss amped up another degree. One hand cupped her head, his fingers laced into her hair, and the other slid down her body to her waist and around to the small of her back, yanking her hard against him.

  Andi wanted... that was all her mind could process. She wanted more... wanted to have him closer, wanted to kiss him deeper, wanted to taste him and breath him and feel him.

  She almost cried when he moved his mouth from hers and pressed his face into the hollow of her shoulder. David wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tight and the only sound she heard was their hard, rapid breathing as they both fought to find sanity again. Andi pressed her eyes closed and tucked herself against his chest, and after a few moments his arms relaxed their hard hold. His hands stroked her back, and she focused on the contact.

  Too soon he raised his head to look at her and touched her temple with his fingertips, curling her hair behind her ear. A small, sexy smile just touched his lips and he drew in one final long and deep breath, shaking his head.

  "I don't think I'll ever be ready for what kissing you does to me."

  Andi tried to smile, but everything felt weak and she was thankful that he held her so close because she wasn't sure she could stand on her own. "I know what you mean," she managed to whisper, and tipped her face toward him, wishing he'd go back to kissing her.

  He cupped her face in his palms and pressed a closed-mouth kiss to her lips. She still wanted more, but better sense ruled. She knew she couldn't handle any more than that, and suspected neither could David. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, their breath mingling in the space between them.

  Then he took one hand away and opened the car door. Reluctantly, Andi stepped from the cocoon of warmth around his body and slid into the car. He shut the door and by the time he walked around to get in himself, her heartbeat was nearly back to normal.

  *****

  "I feel like a teenager," Andi whispered, gasping for breath, even though she knew no one would hear them. "Sneaking home after curfew."

  David chuckled against her throat, and she smiled against the buzz it created on her nerves. She threaded her fingers into his short hair, clutching it as best as she could while he kissed and sucked in tiny shots along her neck and shoulder. They were twisted awkwardly in the front seats of his sports car, the gearshift and console creating a cumbersome -- and probably necessary -- barrier between them. Through the progression of their 'good-night kiss' that had turned into a teenage-esque make-out session, Andi had twisted in her seat to face him with her knees drawn up beside her and David leaned half across the console so he could reach all the places he wanted to kiss... her lips, her cheeks, her throat, her shoulders. His hands had slipped beneath the hem of her dress, sliding it up her thigh, but his touch ventured no further.

  That was a fact that both relieved and annoyed Andi.

  His heavy breath against the exposed skin of her décolletage made her shiver, even though the breath was warm. David's hand left its resting place on her thigh to press his palm to her cheek, drawing her a fraction of an inch closer to her so he could run a trail of kisses from her throat to her jaw and finally to her mouth. His tongue brushed her lips and she opened her mouth, another one of many such groans escaping her throat.

  She pulled at his shirt, his jacket having already been tossed in the back seat along with his wrinkled tie, and David shifted again to close the space between them. Andi heard a thunk and immediately felt the motion of the car.

  "Damn," David cursed. He jerked back into the driver's seat, slammed his foot on the brake, and yanked the parking brake back into place. The car rocked, settling again in the driveway.

  David looked across the small space, a wide and wickedness-inspiring grin on his lips, and Andi laughed. His deep chuckle followed and he dropped his head back on the high seat back, scrubbing his face with his hands.

  "I think that's my cue to go inside," Andi said on a sigh and righted herself in the seat, tugging her skirt to her knees before smoothing her hands over her hair in a pointless attempt at returning order to the curls that had been irreparably disheveled by David's fingers. She didn't bother flip down the visor to look in the mirror, figuring she was better off not knowing how rumpled she looked.

  He didn't verbally agree, but opened his door and swung his long body free of the car to come around and help her out. The night air was cold against her heated skin and she stepped against him, stealing his warmth as he wrapped his arm around her to walk her to the door. He walked her under the portico, and stood behind her so he could rub his hands up and down her arms while she unlocked the door. Andi pushed the door open and took a step inside, but he didn't follow, stopping in the doorway with his arm braced on the frame.

  "Do you want to come in?" she asked.

  He reached his hand out and she took it without thinking, closing the space again between them. When she stood this close, she had to tip her head back to see his face, and loved what she saw. Andi had put in her books that one character 'saw' happiness in the eyes of the other, but it was a concept she only imagined and narrated, not one she had ever experienced. Until now. The warmth and what she could only describe as glee that she saw in David's eyes made her smile and she stood up on her toes to kiss his chin.

  "It's not a good idea," he answered just before touching a quick kiss to her lips. He pressed his hand to her back and pulled her against him. "Trust me, I want to. I really, really want to." He touched another kiss to her forehead, holding his lips there.

  Andi released a slow breath, nodding into his touch. She understood what he meant. She didn't have to like it, but she understood it. David laid his hands on each side of her head and pulled back enough to look into her face.

  "I will see you Sunday." He twisted his wrist enough to look at his watch and chuckled. "Correction. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll come early."

  Andi nodded, and with one lingering kiss -- a chaste
kiss in comparison to the others of the night -- he stepped away. She stood in the doorway until he was in his car and pulled out of the driveway.

  Maggie cleared her throat from behind Andi, and Andi jumped with a yelp as she spun around. Maggie stood in the kitchen bundled in her favorite yellow chenille bathroom, her hip resting against one of the counter barstools with her arms crossed over her chest. She arched her eyebrows in a terrible attempt at disapproval, but her smirk destroyed the effect.

  "Oh, please..." Andi said with a toss of her hand as she shut the door. "You've come home much later after a much wilder night than mine."

  "I don't know... he may think those car windows are tinted--"

  "Mags!"

  Maggie laughed and crossed the kitchen with her arms open. Andi could have kept up the annoyed personae, but didn't want to kill the endorphin rush so she hugged her best friend back.

  "About damn time," Maggie said, and Andi could hear the smile in her voice. "You deserve a little fun in your life, and hot damn, that boy is smitten."

  Andi moved away to go to the refrigerator, taking out a cold soda. She wanted to tell Maggie how she felt, about how her blood felt like champagne in her veins and she felt like dancing around the house, but for once the 'writer' in her was absent and she couldn't find the words. She hoped the look on her face said enough.

  She climbed into one of the barstools and popped the can open, letting the cold douse the heat beneath her skin. Maggie leaned on the counter to face her, resting her chin in her hands.

  "I hate to spoil your evening, my dear, but I have to."

  "Why? Did something happen?"

  Maggie sighed. "Boner called."

  The elation of the evening leaked out of her like air from a deflating balloon, and thick dread replaced it.

  "Three times," Maggie added. She looked over her shoulder to the clock on the microwave. "And he'll probably be calling again any minute."

  "What did he want?"

  "You know Butthead," Maggie explained with a shrug. "He's not going to tell me anything. But, if I had to guess, I'd say it's about Jake's birthday."

  Andi pushed the cold soda away and slammed her elbows on the countertop, hiding her face behind her hands. And on cue, the phone rang. Maggie picked up and answered with a short "Yeah". Andi's insides tensed when Maggie's frown tightened and she held the phone out to her.

  "Hello, Lawrence," she forced herself to say without the slightest of waver.

  "Do you have any idea how late it is here, Andrea? I've been trying to reach you for hours and your friend wouldn't tell me where you were."

  "I wasn't home."

  "That much is obvious. My concern is where you're spending your nights while Jacob is left at home unsupervised."

  Andi bit off her words, wanting to argue that leaving Jake with Maggie was far from leaving him unsupervised, but she knew he wouldn't hear her or wouldn't care. "What do you want?"

  "I'm picking Jacob up on Sunday for four days."

  Andi shot up from the chair, gripping the edge of the counter. "What? Lawrence, you can't just--"

  "The stipulations of the divorce are very clear, Andrea. Do you need me to explain them to you once again?"

  "I am very clear on the stipulations of the divorce. They say that with proper notice you can request visitation time with Jake, but as custodial parent, I can say yes or no. You didn't request anything."

  "I'm his father. I'm not going to ask permission to see him. Do you have a justifiable excuse why I can't take him for a few days?"

  Andi slumped onto the stool again, bracing her forehead in her hand with her eyes closed. She could lie -- tell Lawrence they had a trip planned and pack everyone up for a week -- but they'd have to come back eventually. And if he ever found out she lied, he'd hold it over her head. Her stomach twisted at the thought of not being with Jake for four days. Four days that he'd have to be alone with Lawrence. Not once had Lawrence ever raised a hand or threatened them in any way, but his abuse was the worst kind. Verbal. His words could sting worse than any punch.

  "Andrea," Lawrence ground out.

  "No," she finally forced herself to say. "But you can't pick him up until Sunday evening. We're having a party for him here."

  "I'll come to the party."

  "No, you won't," she snapped, slapping her hand down on the counter. It stung, but it focused her. "You'll come after the party."

  The dead phone line was her answer.

  Chapter Eight

  "Is this what you had in mind when you offered to help?"

  David was on his knees on Andi's lawn, surrounded by bits and pieces spread out on the grass around him that would eventually resemble something called a Razor, according to the instructions. Andi stood over him, her silhouette shielding him from the sun.

  "I live to serve," he said with a smile

  She lifted the hem of her sundress above her knees with one hand and knelt on the grass in front of him, holding out a glass of cola with ice. "For your hard work." He took it from her, but before he could drink, she leaned forward and kissed him.

  The effect was instantaneous, and in a beat he'd forgotten the hot sun and the frustration over assembling the birthday gift, and blindly set the glass down so he could hold her face in his hands, humming his appreciation against her mouth. It was like this every time he kissed her, and he hoped to God it always would be.

  He opened his mouth and she matched him, her hands brushing his sleeves when his tongue touched hers. David didn't dare do more -- didn't dare kiss her the way he wanted to -- since her son could round the corner any minute. So he eased out of the kiss until finally they were still, their mouths pressed together. With a rough sigh, she moved away and sat back on her ankles, brushing her thumb across his lower lip.

  "And that was for coming," she said softly.

  Too softly. And her voice was too rough. It hadn't been right all day, and the spark he loved in her eyes was absent. Whenever he looked at her without her knowing, her lips were turned down it a poorly hidden frown that she quickly forced away when he said something. She smiled now, but it was false and shallow -- strained like she couldn't keep it up much longer.

  David took a drink, but didn't look away from her, watching her. After just a few brief moments, she slid her eyes away to look at her hands in her lap. With a sigh, she looked off across the yard to a fence that ran between the grass and a parking area beyond. Then she picked up a long screw from the grass and toyed with it. Fidgeting. Nervous energy.

  "Andi," he said gently, reaching out to touch her chin and get her to look at him. She did, not fighting his touch, but her gaze only connected with him for a moment before dropping away. "What's wrong?"

  Andi shook her head, moving back from his fingers, forcing the smile again. "Nothing. Just a lot to get done before the party and people will be getting here soon."

  She started to roll back onto her feet to stand, but David grabbed her hands and shifted forward until his knees touched hers on the grass and they knelt face-to-face.

  "Look at me. Please."

  Andi swallowed and closed her eyes before she blinked them open again, looking him straight in the face.

  "What are you trying to hide from me?"

  Her lips wavered and she swallowed hard, her eyes shining brighter. David's chest clenched and he brushed his thumb across her cheek. She shook her head and scrambled away from him to her feet. Standing again, she swiped at her cheeks and sniffed, taking in a sharp breath as she brushed her dress with rough purpose. Heavy dread landed in his chest, and for a moment he wondered if coming had been a bad idea. Andi took one step away from him, then spun back and he rose up on his knees in time for her to wrap her arms around him, which was interesting with the new angle. She touched his hair, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead, and her entire body trembled like it was about to fly apart.

  "I'm not hiding from you," she whispered roughly against his brow, sucking in a ragged breath before she kissed
him again. "I promise. I'll tell you later."

  David reached up to lay his palms along her jaw and drew her down for a kiss. "Okay."

  Then she was jogging across the lawn to the back door of the house, and disappeared inside. David sank back on his feet, staring at the back door. Part of him -- a huge part of him -- wanted to follow her and push until she told him. But, she said it wasn't him she was acting for... and that's what she was doing -- acting... so, he hoped that she would tell him when she didn't have to keep it up any longer.

  He rubbed his face with his hands and stared at the remaining pieces left to the gift. The thing was together, but he had extra parts. How did that happen? Giving up, he picked up the glass she'd brought him and drained the contents.

  The rhythmic thump-thump of a basketball on cement echoed from other side of the wooden fence. Followed by a swish.

  Thump-thump.

  Thump-thump-thump-swish.

  He stood up and dusted grass from his slacks and set his empty cup on a table as he passed, heading for the gate leading to what he suspected to be a basketball hoop. Jake was on the other side, dressed in swim trunks and a tee shirt and ready for the party. He bounced the basketball back and forth between his hands, hitting the same spot between his feet with each thump.

  When the gate closed behind David with a clunk, Jake looked over his shoulder at him but never stopped the rhythmic bouncing.

  Thump-thump-thump.

  The area had been intended to park an RV or maybe a boat, like a lot of houses in California. But there was nothing parked, and a hoop had been hung against the garage wall. David held up his hands, wrists together, positioned to catch the ball.

  "Send it here."