A Taste of Temptation (Love Spectrum Romance)

by Alexis, Reneé

  “I’m really sorry. Had I known, I wouldn’t have suggested the wedding. We could have done something else tomorrow.”

  “No way. I wanted to be with you. It was your cousin’s wedding, and you couldn’t miss that.” He parked and faced her. “I’ll do anything to be with you.”

  “We have worked pretty darn hard to be together, haven’t we?”

  “Yeah, I’m in the game now; no sitting on the bench for me.”

  “If this is any consolation, Verdeen told me that you were ‘hot-t-t.’ She said it just like that.”

  “No one cared that I was the only white guy there?”

  “Everyone thought you were great. Were you uncomfortable?”

  “I had you there to keep my mind active, too active. You look, well, that dress you’re wearing is enough to make me lose it.”

  “That’s why I wore it, and I caught the bridal bouquet, too. What do you think about that?”

  “Good catch. One day you’ll be tossing it.”

  “At our wedding?”

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  “I hope Tiffany catches it. She’ll need to be off the market, if she doesn’t marry before I do. Actually, she needs to be in an asylum for the sexually insane. You know, I had to peel her off me at the mall last weekend. She wanted every detail of our date. She’s got it bad for you.”

  “Do you have it bad for me?”

  She leaned over and kissed him. Her tongue danced with his briefly before pulling away. “Does that answer your question?”

  “Yes, but I have more questions.”

  “Walk me inside and you’ll get your answers. Mom and Dad haven’t left the reception yet.”

  “What about Brian?”

  “Staying the night with a friend.” She winked at him. “Let’s go.”

  Once inside, he helped her out of her coat and then embraced her. “We’d better get in some really good kissing before your parents return.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders, caressing his silk shirt, feeling his muscles flex as though they were rods of lightening—hot, wild, and dangerous. She ruled his every move, edging him on, feeling him pressing hard against her stomach.

  Tim loosened his tie, then lifted her dress to finger the band of her panties. His fingers tickled her stomach as she responded to his advances. His hand slid inside the silk panties, stroking her skin, inching towards her core. “Keep doing that. Your hands are so strong.” She was moist for him, and he took advantage, dipping inside, feeling her throb against his fingers, slow, rhythmic movements in and out of her body.

  He moaned, “I want you, Brandi. I know what we agreed on but…”

  “I know, but not here.” The ringing phone startled them. He whispered in her ear. “Let it ring.”

  Brandi pressed against him, not wanting him to stop. She ached for him as they kissed. Her body soon shuddered against his, holding on to him, clawing at his back as a rush filled her mind and body, I love you, Tim. She slowly broke from him, staring at him in awe. “You really are incredible.”

  He kissed her shaking hands. “No, but you are. That was a heck of a good-night kiss, darling.”

  “Sure was.” She re-buttoned his first two buttons, looking into his eyes. “I really think I’m falling hard for you, Timothy Edward. You’re the only man my eyes can see.”

  Minutes later, they heard keys turning the lock on the front door. Mr. and Mrs. Miles stepped inside. Her mother smiled at the couple still standing in the middle of the floor. “I see you two beat us back.”

  An embarrassed smile crossed Brandi’s face. “By seconds only.” It was definitely time for Tim to go before their faces gave them away. “Here’s your coat, Tim. Call me tonight. I’ve got practice early tomorrow for the championship game between Madison and East Pointe U.”

  “You’ll do well. I’ll be there, too.”

  She smiled and lowered her voice; her father was still standing within earshot. “Good, I can see you after the game.”

  All he could do was smile. “Walk me to the door.” He looked at Mr. Miles, who was pretending to fix a crooked picture—with his coat still on. “It’s getting late, and we both have to get up early.”

  Mr. Miles watched Brandi kiss Tim good night and waited until the door was closed before confronting her. “Brandi, about this Timothy guy. There are things about him that you should…”

  “Yeah, isn’t he great? I’m crazy about him.” She started to run up the steps but her father stopped her again.

  “Brandi. You and I need to talk about Timothy Polaris.”

  “What is there to say about him other than he is all I’ve ever wanted?”

  “You don’t know this guy the way you should.”

  Brandi slowly walked back down the steps and looked her father square in the eyes. “Dad, I know you don’t want me dating white men, but this isn’t your decision. Tim and I are a couple now, and that’s all there is to it.”

  “He has a past, honey, and…”

  “He told me about his being arrested as a teen. We all have problems, and apparently he has worked through his. I don’t want to discuss this anymore, Dad.”

  Mrs. Miles entered the room again as Brandi left. She stared at her husband with an I can’t believe you approached her about him kind of look. “You don’t need to talk to Brandi about Tim, Jeff.”

  “She needs to know about him.”

  “He will tell her, not you. If you keep hounding her, you will drive a wedge between you and your daughter. Don’t you know I would have left my parents’ house in a heartbeat had they said anything negative about you? She will, too. You don’t want your daughter to leave, do you?”

  “No, that I don’t want. But she just doesn’t understand about him.”

  “You need to drop this, Jeff. You run old issues into the ground. You always have.”

  “Fine, it’s dropped. I just don’t want her hurt.”

  “He won’t hurt her.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. “Can you make me some coffee? Add some scotch to it; I think I’ll need it.”

  After the loss to East Pointe U, Brandi took an unusually long shower after everyone else left the locker room. Her Aunt Theresa drove her to the game and was waiting for her in the stands. Brandi needed to think about things. Everything seemed to be on her mind that night; the game, her life with Tim, even Eric’s juvenile actions were still on her mind. Eric had denied responsibility for the tire tracks across Tim’s lawn. But she wondered if he was behind that. He was always wrongfully accused—in his mind. He never faced things. But Tim was first and foremost on her mind that night, and every night. He was the reason she wanted everyone gone so she could walk from the dressing rooms with him and steal a juicy kiss. Theresa would just have to wait an extra five minutes to take her home.

  When she stepped out of the shower, all activity had ceased, letting her know the place was still empty. She put on her stockings, bra and skirt. Before she could finish with the buttons on her blouse, the power went off—then the lights. Not being able to find her way in the darkness, she anxiously called out. “Hello, is anyone here? Is there someone in here?” When she didn’t get a response, her fear intensified. She began to feel her way around the walls until she got to the light switch. It immediately came on time enough to see a figure duck around the corner. “Hello?” Nothing. “Who is out there? I’m not kidding. I’ll get security. Eric, is that you?”

  Tim stepped from the corner laughing. “If you get security, then the kiss is off.”

  “Tim, you animal! What are you doing here? I thought you left home in tears like the rest of Madison’s crowd.”

  “I was in the mood for one of my swims, since it was such a tough loss. Besides, I wanted to stay behind and see you.”

  She ran into his arms, kissing him. He backed her against the wall moving his mouth up and down her neck. His hands did double duty trying to fin
d a way around her bra. He slid the straps from her shoulders and fondled her breasts, making her call to him more and more.

  Brandi could taste the perspiration on his skin. That excited her and made him feel and smell more primitive than he wanted to be. Her legs parted for him and his hands quickly moved between them, pressing her deeper into his erection. She pulled the T-shirt over his head and caressed each caramel-hued nipple then kissed his lips. Her words sounded choked as she tried kissing and talking at the same time. “God! I thought you would never get in here, and then scaring me to death with that little stunt of yours. You’re so bad.”

  “I am bad; bad enough to scare the panties right off you. Speaking of panties, where’s those cool red and white ones that makes me crazy every time I see them?”

  “Part of a uniform…had to take them off. You can pull these off instead.” She moved his hand to her panty line, feeling his fingers enter her. Her voice lowered. “God! Don’t ever stop doing that to me.”

  Suddenly, pleasing her became a second thought. He had to tell her, talk to her about what had happened earlier that evening, but he didn’t want to scare her. He also didn’t want her dead, so there was no backing out of what he had to say. His words might ruin their relationship, but she would be saved in the process—if they were lucky!

  His mouth left hers. “Brandi, you know how I feel about you, don’t you? I mean…no woman’s ever made me feel the way you do.”

  She saw worry in his eyes. “Yes, I know how you feel. I know how we both feel.” Her nose brushed his playfully. “Why are you so serious all of a sudden?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, well…not exactly.”

  Her fingers brushed his still-damp sideburns. “Not exactly?”

  This was so hard for him to say; having to take Brandi out all the time instead of them being alone in his house for once. Everything seemed to be falling apart for him, just when his life was at its best. Getting over Charlotte, which Claire helped him do, would be a breeze compared with making it difficult for him and Brandi to be together.

  She brought his face back to hers. “You left me, Tim. Where were you?”

  “A world away.”

  “Can I be in that world with you?”

  “There are a lot of complicated things going on in my life now, and I just don’t want anything to happen to you because of them.”

  “What could happen? Whatever it is, we can deal with it together. Right?”

  She didn’t get it, and he didn’t know how to make her get it unless he was bold and up front with her. “What I’m trying to say is that maybe we should continue to go other places instead of to my house like I promised. I mean…”

  “What brought this on? I want to be alone with you, Tim. I think we can handle that now.”

  “I know we can, but things are happening lately. The truck incident, me being attacked, the trashcan in my living room—something could happen to you.”

  Something else was going on, but making him admit it was difficult. “What else aren’t you telling me, Tim?”

  “Brandi, I…”

  “There is something. What else happened?”

  She was too smart for her own good, and he knew she could read him, so he came out with it. “There is something else. Racial slurs were spray painted across the back of my house. The first thing I thought about was your being in there and getting attacked.”

  “Are you okay? You weren’t attacked, were you?”

  “I’m fine, but my house is trashed.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “Before the game; that’s why I can’t take you there yet. I don’t mean for long, just until I find out who is doing these things.”

  “How long are we talking?”

  “Not long. I swear.”

  “Tim, I don’t think anything will happen.”

  “I don’t want to take that chance. If you were to get hurt, it would kill me. I really wish you would do this for me, just for a while. We can still be together.”

  She moved into his arms again. “I know, but I want to be alone with you. I don’t want you handling this thing alone. I’ll help you.”

  He had to smile. “You really care about me, don’t you?”

  “You know this already.”

  His lips engulfed hers tenderly; he could hardly believe a woman could care for him that much. “You’re right, we can handle this together. I just don’t want you hurt.”

  “I won’t be. Now kiss me again before I pass out.”

  “Whatever Brandi wants, Brandi gets.” His mouth covered hers in relentless passion, barely able to break from her long enough to breathe.

  Moments into their kiss, they heard a voice coming from the hallway; startling them. “Brandi? Where the heck are you?”

  CHAPTER 14

  Brandi broke the kiss. “Oh, my God; it’s my Aunt Theresa! I forgot about her. I don’t want her catching you back here with me.”

  “She knows about us, doesn’t she?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “You think she would rat on me being in here with you?”

  “No, but she has loose lips. You being back here with me may get out accidentally. I just don’t want you in any trouble, Tim. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Don’t panic. Everything will be fine. I’ll hide behind the lockers until she’s gone. Hurry and button your blouse before she gets here.” He gave her a quick kiss before ducking behind the last row of lockers near the mirror. His back pressed firmly against the wall just before Theresa opened the swinging doors. Perspiration dripped from his wet hair. With no towel in sight, he reached for the hem of his t-shirt. Having forgotten he’d taken it off, he cursed under his breath, realizing he’d left it on the floor.

  Brandi saw the shirt on the floor and quickly stuffed it into her duffle bag as Theresa entered the dressing area. She smiled as if nothing was wrong, patting her half-buttoned blouse. “Wow, sorry I’m so late. I didn’t realize the time. These showers were acting funny; first, cold water, then all hot; hard to do anything without the right temperature.” She knew her temperature was on fire due to Tim making advances on her body—and mind. “I’m almost ready. Have a seat on the bench while I finish.”

  “Just slow down; we have time, although I have been waiting over a half hour for you. I haven’t gotten in a word edgewise since walking in here; and you know that’s unusual for me.”

  “Sorry. I’m just so rushed.”

  “I’ve noticed. What’s got you in a tizzy all of a sudden?”

  “Excitement from the game?”

  “Maybe it’s excitement of Dr. Timothy Polaris.”

  “What? No, it’s not that. Yes, he is a cutie, but I’ve got other things on my mind.”

  “Who could have other things on her mind when she’s dating Timothy Polaris?”

  “True.” Brandi was sick of the small talk. Her concern was Tim sitting in that cramped corner, aching to get the heck out of there. “Look, I just need to check my hair, then, we can go.”

  “Mirror big enough for two?”

  “Sorry, it’s a small one.” Is she deliberately trying to destroy me, or what?

  “Odd for a lady’s locker room.”

  “Give me a second.” Brandi hurried to the mirror, looked around it and saw Tim in a huddle, practically sweating bullets. She whispered. “Tim, I’m so sorry about this. I know you’re dying back there.”

  “It’s hot in here. You two hurry up.”

  “I found your shirt on the floor and picked it up before she saw anything.”

  “Don’t sweat it. It was all bunched up; could belong to anyone as far as she’s concerned.”

  “You don’t know my Aunt Theresa. She scopes anything she thinks belongs to a man, especially you.”

  He pulled her into him and kissed her warm lips. “Go on and get out of here before your aunt figures out something.”

  Brandi returned to Theresa and picked up her duffle bag, “Okay, let’s roll.”
>
  Theresa eyes her. “Not just yet.”

  Oh, my God! “Why? What’s up?”

  “Don’t play with me, girl. You know I can’t leave yet.”

  “Is something wrong, Aunt Theresa?”

  “Sure is.” She walked towards the mirror and stopped in front of it. She patted her French roll and makeup. “Girl, you know I can’t walk out of here without making sure my hair is on-jam. Your boy Timothy could see me. I can’t be looking bad in front of his fine self. As I suspected, there is room enough in this mirror for two. I swear, you are so dramatic, Brandi Elaine Miles.”

  “Can we go now?”

  “Yep. Good as new now.”

  “Wait! Let me see if the shower is completely turned off.” It was a ploy to see if Tim had been able to duck around to the other side. The stall was empty, so she knew he had made it out.

  Hearing the women’s locker room door slam, Tim let out a sigh of relief. I can’t risk getting caught like this again. This is too much for me. He looked at his watch and realized the building would be closing soon. He looked out to see if anyone was in the vicinity. All clear. He washed up and left, his mind on Brandi, remembering how wonderful it was to have her in his arms.

  After approaching his truck thirty minutes later, he was surprised that no one had done anything to it. He thought that maybe the heat was finally off him after he had contacted the police. Then he remembered that a patrol car constantly circled the campus at night.

  * * *

  That night, Brandi ran from the bathroom to catch her ringing cell phone. “Hello?”

  “Hello yourself, sexy queen of my dreams.”

  “Tim. I was just thinking about you. I wish you had been in that shower with me tonight.”

  “I was near it.”

  “Yeah, after the scare you gave me.”

  “You recovered quite nicely.”

  “You did, too. I see you made it back to the men’s side without running into trouble. That was a quick move.”

  “I’m a quick guy, which brings me to why I’m calling. I can’t stand being without you now that I can actually date you. Let’s do something tonight.”