A Taste of Temptation(25)
“Tiffany, Tim is more to me than just someone who’s great in bed. He’s a sweet guy, smart, and the fact that he loves helping people makes him that much more attractive.”
“I know this already. I just love to fantasize about him.”
Brandi and Tiffany sat in the back of one of Columbia’s lecture halls watching Tim speak on the importance of adult literacy programs. Brandi missed him so much; he looked great up there speaking to a large crowd. He seemed relaxed, happy. But Brandi was lonely for him, needing contact with him—any contact. She was determined to see him at the end of the session, to find out what was up with him, what was up with them.
Tiffany followed her to the podium at the end of his speech. They waited for the crowd to thin out before squeezing in.
Tim had spotted them at the back of the crowd and could barely keep his eyes off Brandi. He knew why they had waited in the back to get the chance to speak with him alone, and he was glad. He had missed Brandi terribly, but time hadn’t been his of late. Getting settled at Columbia was more involved than he had anticipated, but he was still happy with his decision.
Tim shook hands with the last of the attendees, then turned to Brandi and Tiffany. “Funny seeing you two here; how are things?”
Tiffany spoke up first. “Not too well without you. You really had to leave us, huh?”
“I have more flexibility here.” His eyes met Brandi’s. “How are you doing, Brandi?”
“Good.”
“I’m glad. You look well.”
Tiffany noted the awkward exchange and decided to come to the rescue. “Brandi, I want to look at some materials on the back table. Take your time; I’m in no hurry. Dr. Polaris, it’s really great seeing you. We’ll miss you at Madison. I’ll pay you if you come back.”
“Can’t do it, Miss Jackson; Columbia is it for now. I’m glad you came tonight.”
Brandi waited for her friend to be a good distance away. “Are you going to be happy here?”
“Yes, very happy. I miss Madison, but I expect to love my new classes.” He moved closer, lowering his voice. “I haven’t had the chance to call…”
“It’s okay Tim. You must be very busy.”
“I’ve been under pressure to get set up. It’s been hectic, leaving Madison and rushing over here to get my office together all before the break. There hasn’t been any time in between to do anything other than fall into bed when I get home. I hope you understand.”
“No need to explain. I know you will call me when you can.”
“I’ve missed you more than I had imagined possible, but I will call. You know that.”
“Is it okay if I call you?”
“Sure. I’m hardly ever home, though.”
“I’ll take my chances. Just relax. We can take it slowly, work ourselves into a relationship…if you still want one.”
“I do.”
“Then go easy on yourself. I wanted to see you, Tim. That’s the main reason I’m here, that and my adult tutoring job.”
He was close enough to smell her perfume, something floral and sensual, and she looked so sensational in her designer baby pink and silver suit. He suppressed the urge to take her into his arms right then and there. “God, I’ve missed you, Brandi.”
Security walked in before she could respond. “It’s late, Tim and I need to get going.”
He caressed her baby-soft skin on the back of her hand. “Give me a few days.”
“I’ve waited this long. What’s a few more days?”
They slowly parted, hands lightly touching. He watched as Brandi joined Tiffany. He had been so glad to see her he could barely think straight enough to pack up his briefcase. No woman before had excited him quite the same way. He would not rest well until he made that call to her.
Tiffany could hardly wait to get the low-down on Brandi and the professor. “So, what did you two talk about for so long?”
“I wasn’t up there that long. I wanted to know if he liked Columbia.”
“Hell, you could have asked him that with me standing there.”
“Then why did you leave?”
“Brandi, I know that look in your eyes. You love the guy, so admit it. I think he feels the same way.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe. Look, it’s okay now. He is not your professor anymore. Don’t you know what that means?”
“Why not enlighten me, Tiff?”
“Act snotty all you want, but it means you can get into that bed with him, girl! You can get down and dirty with the one man women on both campuses are drooling over.”
“Both campuses?”
“Yeah, dummy! Didn’t you see how he captivated the women at the lecture?”
“He was interesting. The men enjoyed it, too.”
“But for different reasons. The women were checking out his fly butt!”
“I know.”
“All I’m saying is that the man makes your head swim. Go with the flow of the tide, girl!”
“We’ll see.” She hoped he would call; prayed he would call.
* * *
Tiffany sat on Brandi’s bed and watched her finish dressing. “I’m glad you decided to go skating with me. You need to do something to get out of this funk you’ve been in for the past few days. What’s wrong with you, anyway? You haven’t done a thing during Christmas break. All you do is go to that part-time job then come back home. What’s the deal?”
“I can’t deal with this weather. It was too hot for too long, then the storm, now this snow.”
“It is the middle of December! There should be snow in New York by now.”
“I know that, Tiff. I’m sick of the changing weather.” She took her ice skates from the closet and slung them across her shoulders.
“That’s a cop-out, Brandi. Something else is wrong, and you’re not telling me. Come on, I’m your best friend. You can tell me.”
“I can’t talk about it right now. I will soon.”
“Must be bad. You’re not sick, are you?”
“I’m not sick.”
“Then what?”
“I can’t talk about it now, okay? Let’s go. The rink at Rockefeller Plaza gets crowded fast.”
“Yeah, with dudes.”
“Yeah…dudes.”
Tiffany stopped in her tracks. “Why did you say it like that?”
“No particular reason.”
“I know what’s wrong with you. You’ve been in this depression since you saw Dr. Polaris at Columbia.”
“Will you drop it? I don’t want to talk about him, either. Now come on, before the rink fills up.”
“Wait one damn minute! Did I hear you say you didn’t want to talk about Tim?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Yeah, so? Girl, what’s really going on here? Have you two fallen out?”
“How can you fall-out with someone who hasn’t spoken to you or called you like he said he would?”
“He hasn’t called?”
“No.”
“Have you called him?”
“He said he would call, Tiffany, and I don’t want to seem needy.”
“The hell with that. Call him and find out what the deal is.”
“That might be the only solution. But suppose he doesn’t care anymore?”
They continued walking away. “How can you say that? You know he cares. Maybe he’s just been busy Christmas shopping and getting adjusted to his new job. Besides, how will you know anything if you don’t call him?”
“Naturally, you’re right. Maybe I’ll call him tonight when we get back.” Brandi saw the red BMW parked across the street. “That darn thing’s been here off and on for days. I think it’s Eric trying to get into my business again, and I’m tired of it. I need to tell Dad. He’ll make him buzz off.”
Later that night before drifting off to sleep, Brandi awaited Tiffany’s late-night chat. This was a nightly ritual for them.
As she waited, her mind went back to that weekend she and Tim were stuck in the motel together…but not really together. He never touched her. She smiled as her hand traveled beneath the sheets, stroking her thighs and inching up to where she was most potent. Thoughts of him crowded her mind. She soon climaxed at the very thought of him being inside of her.
She picked up the phone after one ring, knowing it was Tiffany. “I can’t talk right now, Tiff. I want to call Tim before it’s…”
“I don’t think you have to call now; you’re speaking to him.”
She sat up quickly. “Tim?”
“Who else?”
“I was just thinking about you.”
“Really? What kind of mind-blowing things were we doing in that imagination of yours?”
“You really want to know?”
“Sure.”
“I was imagining you in my arms, and that’s all you get for the night.”
“Poor me; I guess I just have to suffer for a little while longer.”
“What took you so long to call me?”
“Lack of nerve. You know how I am.”
“I’m so glad you finally called. I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too. I was thinking…maybe I had better take you out before I lose my mind from not seeing you.”
“A real date?”
“A real date, not a hot night at some club.”