“I gotcha, don’t worry,” he whispered.
Once we reached the stairs, he sat down with me still wrapped in his arms. Pulling back, I tried to see his face, but it was too dark for making out anything clearly.
“See, I can serve and protect after all.” He laughed.
Just as sudden as they’d disappeared, the lights turned back on, the light whirring of motors from the pool filter and house’s air conditioner sounding in distance. It must’ve been a quick outage, something that happened occasionally in our area when temperatures were very hot or very cold.
Even with the electricity back on, the pool and surrounding outdoor lights remained off. That’s how they had been set up when they were installed. They needed to be turned on manually each time by setting a timer, one of the many ways our house was built to be more economical. Although the few lights that were on in the house cast a light glow in the yard, the pool remained blanketed in darkness.
I lightened my grip, but didn’t let go. I wasn’t scared any more. I was now acutely aware of our naked flesh entwined together. My racing heart didn’t even have a chance to slow down, as it began thumping wildly from my arousal.
Reaching my hands to his face, I felt his wet, stubbled skin beneath my fingertips, as I traced the shape of his jawline. My breasts were rising and falling at the same rate as his and I wondered if he felt the same desire as I did.
“Brett?” I whispered.
“Yes, princess?” he whispered back.
“Can I kiss you out here?”
“There’s no way I could possibly say no right now.”
Carefully finding his lips in the dark, our mouths instantly devoured each other. My legs tightened around him, his hands sliding down my back, and gripping my ass under the water.
Continuing our kiss, I searched his body, my hands feverishly trying to find a way closer to him. He nibbled my lip, my mouth opening to his, as he swallowed my moan.
Carefully lifting me in his arms, he stood, and began walking toward the house. I have no idea how we made it to the patio in the dark. My eyes were closed, my mouth fully focused on kissing and sucking his neck and shoulders.
Opening the door, he stepped inside, lowering me to my feet, and bringing his mouth back to mine. I felt him reach behind me and shut the door, then slide his hands along my wet back, pulling me into his body once again.
Just as he began sliding his hands to my breasts, my hardened nipples begging for him to find them, the phone rang. It was almost midnight and there could only be one person who’d be calling this late. Joan.
Wanting to scream at the disruption, I stepped away from him, and answered the call. Brett followed, keeping his hands on my hips, his mouth passionately kissing and licking the beads of water left on my back.
“Hello?”
“Sorry, Sis, but Josie isn’t feeling good. He wants to come home.”
I groaned. She probably assumed it was because of how late it was, but it was solely due to Brett sliding his hands to my front, his fingertips dipping below the edge of my bikini bottom.
“I tried, really I did. He wants his mommy though.”
I took a deep breath, trying to focus on what she was saying, and not the wonderful feel of the man behind me.
“I know. I’ll be there in a little bit. Don’t worry about it, Joan. He’s been through a lot lately.”
I hung up the phone, Brett and I both sighing that we had to separate our bodies.
He offered to take me to go get him, but not before we allowed ourselves one more kiss. This time, I reached inside his shorts, feeling his need, and fighting the desire to make Josie wait. It took everything we had to separate our bodies, but after a few teasing bites, and his mouth finding my nipples through the bikini fabric, I knew we had to go or I’d never leave.
After changing our clothes, we made the trip to get him, returning home forty-five minutes later, and falling into bed together. This time, with Josie between us. It wasn’t how I thought the evening might turn out, but it was a good feeling. A safe feeling. When he reached his arm across my little boy, gently lacing his fingers through mine, it was a loving feeling. I sighed, whispered goodnight, and fell asleep quickly.
CHAPTER 36
During the next two months, I received a letter, sometimes two, a week from Miguel. After reading the second one, and realizing it said the same things, but still didn’t explain why he did what he did, I didn’t read any more. Brett still had to read them and report back on anything that was said though. The only thing I’d ask him was if they were the same. He always said, “Pretty much” and asked if I was sure I didn’t want to read them. I didn’t see the point in it. I was doing everything I could to move on and put it all behind me. If I read each letter, it would open up old wounds and reverse my progress.
Brett and I had developed a better “working” relationship. If anyone else was around, we kept with formalities and called each other “Mr. Caveleri or “Ms. Sandviel,” but in private he almost always called me “princess” and once in a while I’d throw in the “big brut” nickname. We rarely went even an hour without finding a way to hug or touch each other. Our kisses were short, but they were sweet, and fueled an on-going fire I wished we could extinguish with our bodies.
It was strange knowing that he was always with me, watching what went on, and who came near me, but it was also reassuring. I usually did well during the day, but when I’d lay down at night, memories often found me. During those times, Brett threw out the rules, climbing in bed with me, and holding me while I wept.
Although it easily turned into more after I was calmed down, we hadn’t had sex again. There were plenty of times that we both came close to giving in, but unfortunately, my occasional nighttime crying sessions probably convinced him I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t want to agree with him. Forgetting and pretending everything was fine was much easier. But I knew I didn’t want to live like this or have it come back to haunt me in the future. I wanted to have a life, a family, and hope. I refused to allow Miguel and his brother to steal that from me, too.
Tonight I had a fundraiser for a scoliosis foundation with which I’d developed a close relationship over the past two years. I was scheduled to be one of two primary speakers, telling Josiah’s story. No, not the bomb story, the public version of how he was diagnosed, the family struggles that accompany the disorder, and what types of treatment we considered and pursued. The other speaker would follow me, and go over all the advances the medical community has made in the past ten years, what treatments were now available here compared to in Europe, and then he’d close by asking people to support his push to gain approval to bring those treatments to the US. I had never given a presentation in front of so many people, about three hundred people were expected to attend, and I was very nervous.
Knowing I needed the support, plus someone to accompany me, I had asked Brett to do the honors. He would’ve been required to go with me anyhow, so I figured why not get him in a tux, and trick him into having some fun. Yes, my thoughts continually wandered to the picture of taking the tux off him, but as I said before, I’m not perfect!
“I need to take Josie to Joan’s house,” I told Brett as I was doing my hair, “Are you coming with me or is one of the others?”
“I’m gonna have Dale go, if that’s okay. I need to pick up my tux and get dressed, myself.” He gave me a sulky look.
“Okay. Thanks again for doing this with me. I’d be scared to death if you weren’t with me.”
“Oh, Mel, you’d do fine either way. You’re amazing. Other than the tux, I’m looking forward to it.”
He had argued with me over the tux for the last few weeks, insisting that jeans and a suit coat could pass. Each time I told him it wasn’t an option. He tried to make wagers over card games, racing from one room to the other, anything he could think of. Hoping that if he won, he’d get to choose his wardrobe. I was too excited to see him in the suit to ever let him win any of those contests.
“You’ll look great, stop being a baby.” I gave him a small hug, chuckling as I smacked his butt before pulling away. “I’m going to get dressed at Joan’s, then come back here for you. I’m assuming Dale’s driving us then?”
“Yeah, he’ll be with us the entire time. He’s more in charge tonight since I’ll be with you and won’t be able to watch everything goin’ on around us.”
That would make it a little trickier. Not that I was intentionally trying to get Brett to cave in, but we had grown very close and didn’t always realize when we’d do things to each other. It was normal for us to rub each other’s back in passing, sit by each other and lay our head on one another’s lap, or even pause for a small kiss when we walked near each other at home. Silly things that were affectionate in nature, but definitely not approved for his job position.
After taking Josie to Joan’s, Paul took over childcare, and she helped me finish getting ready. We were enjoying our time together, Joan overly indulging in her opportunity to play beautician, but my nerves were wreaking havoc. Realizing I needed more time, I asked Dale to go back to the house and pick Brett up for me, using the excuse that I still had a few things to do. Truthfully, I just needed a little more time to get control of myself before we left.
We were on our second glass of wine, Joan insisting that it would help calm me down. She was full of shit.
“What if I get up there and accidentally say something about what happened? Or forget my name, Joan?”
I was looking in the mirror, double-checking that everything was complete. I had bought a new evening gown for the night. It was a strapless, black silk dress that showed plenty of cleavage. It was tight on the top, but the bottom of the gown flared out, with a slit that went half way up my thigh when I walked. I wore a simple pair of pearl earrings and matching necklace that were our mother’s and my hair was up with a few pieces hanging down from a bun-type thing Joan put in the back. I was pleased with how I looked. The heels, on the other hand, worried me the most. They were silver, four-inch stilettos. I rarely wore heels, and almost never wore any that high.
“You’ll do great. You know that. You’ve never failed at giving speeches before.” Joan reassured me with a big smile.
Walking out the bedroom door, I went to check on the kids, using the opportunity to adjust to the shoes. Joan followed closely behind, holding my purse and cell phone.
“Yeah, but there’s always a first time.” I told her.
Turning the corner, I paused when I saw Paul get up from his chair. He had Josie in one arm and their baby in the other. Halfway into his standing position, his mouth fell open, his eyes staring directly at me.
“Mel, you look…”
“Good, I hope?”
He smiled, standing the rest of the way.
“Yes, but good doesn’t describe it. You and Joan are the prettiest women I know. You’ll have to fight the men off tonight. It’s a good thing you have protection with you.”
He was teasing me, but I had no doubt that Brett wouldn’t allow anyone near me, anyhow.
“Thanks, Paul.”
I walked over and gave Josie a kiss on his cheek and left a red lipstick mark. Leaning over, I smiled, and kissed Paul’s cheek as well.
“You’re not so bad yourself, even in sweats and a t-shirt. My sister’s a lucky woman.”
She was too. She had the closest thing to a perfect marriage, three happy, healthy children, a loving husband, and they were doing well, financially, too. I envied them. I thought I’d have that by this time in my life. I thought I did have it all at one point, but things don’t always go as we plan.
Before my thoughts were able to fully ruin my mood, the doorbell rang. Butterflies filled my stomach. I had been with Brett every day for over six months, but this would only be the second time we went on a real date. For some reason, the formal dress I was wearing, and the tux that he’d have on, made this feel more official in my mind.
“I’ll get it.” Paul said, walking away with the kids.
Moments later, I heard him open the door and greet Brett, teasing him about the tux. Brett teased him back about the two handfuls of kids and sweat pants. The two men had become buddies during the past few months. It was nice.
Waiting anxiously by the couch, I listened as the men came around the corner. Paul entered first, eagerly returning to his chair with the kids. Brett followed, coming to a stop just as he turned the corner.
He looked amazing. He was wearing a black tuxedo and he must have gone to have his hair cut. It was still somewhat shaggy on top, but the sides and back were nicely trimmed. His face still had a small shadow of a beard, which I was happy to see. I loved fantasizing about touching it every day. He appeared glamorous, even sexier than normal. Only a hint of his bad boy persona was visible, but knowing what was underneath all that made him irresistible.
Tilting his head to the side, his eyes appraised me as he stood there, rapidly tracing my body up and down.
Joan cleared her throat beside me. “Um, doesn’t my sister look beautiful?”
I felt my face flush and wanted to smack her for drawing more attention to me.
“There are no words for how beautiful she is Joan.” Brett grinned and walked over to me.
Resting his hands on my hips, he leaned into me and whispered, “You look delicious.”
Leave it to him. His words always held a double meaning. I wasn’t complaining though, he could taste me anytime he wanted.
“Thanks,” I whispered back, “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
We both stood there, our bodies almost on top of the other, gazing into each other’s eyes. There was no one else in the room, nothing else in my mind, except the amazing man before me.
“Well, you two have fun tonight.” Joan interrupted our eye sex and grinned unrepentantly. “Be careful.”
“Always.” Brett replied, holding his hand out for mine.
Carefully walking out the door and down the steps, he led me toward the waiting car.
“Mel, ya really do look beautiful. Thank you for inviting me. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss bein’ with you tonight for anything.”
Opening my door, he helped me inside, carefully tucking my long dress in beside me. I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too busy undressing him with my eyes and feeling my heart melt a little more. I simply nodded my head, consciously trying to fight the heat building on my face.
His eyes traced my body as I waited for him to shut the door. From my feet, along the slit in my dress, to my chest, and up to my eyes, his look burned into mine. With a devious little grin, he shut the door and came around to the other side of the car.
“You look beautiful tonight, Ms. Sandviel.” Dale said, glancing in his review mirror, and pulling my attention back to the present.
“Thank you, Mr. Johnson.”
********
I wasn’t ready for the crowds of journalists when we exited our car outside the venue. They were lined up along both sides of a red carpet walkway, held back only by a long rope. The way they aggressively leaned forward, taking pictures, and yelling questions took me by surprise. It wasn’t a celebrity affair, but they acted like it was.
Taking a deep breath, I felt Brett come up beside me, lacing my arm through his, as we started walking toward the entrance. The flashes blinded me, and when I heard their questions, I almost fell over.
“Is your husband still in jail, Ms. Sandviel?”
“Who’s the new man?”
“Is it true that your husband sold your son?”
“Are you in a new relationship now?”
Panic overtook my body. I had panic attacks when I was little, but until the day of interrogation at the Embassy, I hadn’t had any since I was an adult. Right now, I thought I might have three.
“Forget about them, Mel.” Brett leaned over, whispering in my ear.
I tried to nod, but even that was hard.
“Maybe you should know how I plan to t
ake that dress off with my teeth and lick every part of your body.”
I turned, leaning toward his ear, and whispered back, “Thank you, but you better keep your word, because I’m already wet under here.”
I pulled back and smiled, watching as he too a long, deep breath, and nodded his head this time.
Yes, he always knew what to say. I gathered my courage and thought about the man next to me as we walked forward. Let them have their pictures. I didn’t care anymore. All I could think about was how happy Brett and I were. For the first time in many months, I felt happy and carefree.
I didn’t eat much during dinner. I was extremely nervous about my presentation and still shocked about the questions outside. But after finishing my speech, I relaxed and enjoyed dessert and the wine that was served. The final speaker talked for about an hour, and during that time, I drank three more glasses of wine. It wasn’t all my fault. The waiters kept refilling my glass.
I hadn’t drunk anything since the last time when we were at his apartment. Seeing his sexy body in the tux next to me, and feeling his hand on my knee under the table, was not a good combination. Especially considering how the alcohol was making me want to throw every rule we ever had out the window.
Concluding his presentation, the speaker invited everyone to continue the evening in the ballroom. After finishing his discussion with the man beside him, Brett stood and pulled out my chair, helping me stand, and escorted me to the next room.
It looked stunning. Chandeliers hung low throughout the room, the light was dimmed, and there was a live orchestra playing on the opposite side. Women in elegant gowns were being escorted to the dance floor, with the men looking equally dashing. They gave the ball an old world charm.
We made our way to a large circular table on the side of the room that seated eight. Ever the gentleman, Brett held my chair, pushing it in from behind after I sat. Sensing his body lingering behind mine, I got goose bumps as I felt his body lean over my shoulder. The scent of his cologne and the stubble along his cheek as he brushed against my neck, heightened every desire I already had.
Twisted Truths & Leveled Lies Page 33
