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 find 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.”