Full Court Press (38 page)

This was bullshit. She knew that what they had was far from exclusive but it still hurt. More than that, it made her angry.

She got into her Jeep and slammed the door shut. One day he was buying her lingerie and expensive dresses, and the next he was getting head from some girl when he knew she was coming over.

It was almost as if he had
wanted
her to see. Was it supposed to be some sort of hint? She shook her head and sped out of the driveway. She meant to go back to her apartment, to cool down, but as she passed Anderson’s house, she had a sudden idea.

She had to slam on her breaks and squeal into his driveway to make the turn, stopping just short of the bumper of his car.

Andy must have heard the noise because he met her at the front door. “Hey, Car, whatcha doing?” he asked as he let her in.

She shrugged and looked around. “Where’s your mom?”

“Asleep, she won’t be up for another couple hours. Night shift, you know.”

“Good.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs to his bedroom.

“What’s up?” He laughed as she pushed him into his bedroom and shut the door behind them. “Someone’s feisty today. What’s going on?”

She grabbed his face in both hands and smashed their lips together.

Anderson was too shocked to respond. He stood dead still as she pressed her whole body against his. When she realized he wasn’t going to respond, she pulled back, looking him in the face.

“Uh...Carmondy?”

“Yeah?” she asked breathlessly.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to kiss you.”

“I got that...but why?”

“Do I need a reason?” she asked.

“Well...no...I guess not, but...”

“I’m not proposing, Andy. I’m just looking for a little fun.”

“And Beck?”

“We’re not dating. Does it matter?” she asked too quickly.

“No, I guess not,” he said again.

“Good.” She pulled him close again and this time he hesitated only a moment before kissing her back. Anderson’s kiss was both different and similar to Beck’s. It was softer, more careful, but still intoxicating. There was more, something she wasn’t used to. The kiss was desperate, as if it was the only thing that could hold him together, as if he needed it, had been waiting for it.

Several moments into the kiss, Anderson wrapped his arms around her. His hands didn’t go for her ass, or chest, like Beck’s always did. Instead, one splayed across her back, and the other held the nape of her neck gently, his fingers massaging her skin.

She pulled away for a breath and Anderson sighed, brushing his lips against her forehead.

“Why now?” he asked.

She couldn’t answer when he was looking at her like that so she tucked her face against his neck. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It might.”

“It doesn’t,” she said, pulling back to look at him. “Now, how about we just forget everything. Any drama. All the stress. Everything. And just...see where it takes us.”

“If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

“And you’re sure there’s nothing...bothering you?”

“I’m sure.” She pushed him backwards until the back of his knees hit his bed. She gave him a meaningful look as she pushed on his chest again. She followed him down onto the bed, landing on top of him.

She straddled his hips and pulled off his T-shirt, revealing the lithe muscles underneath. He didn’t have the bulk she was now used to, but it was definitely enough to make her want to run her fingers over his skin.

Andy pulled her down for another kiss, this one hungrier than the first.

He rolled them both over so that he was on top. “Carmondy...”

She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Don’t think, Anderson, just go with it.”

“But—”

She kissed him hard, using both hands in his hair to keep his lips against hers. He seemed to give up any protests and kissed her back. Their tongues mingled and teeth scraped. They weren’t as used to kissing each other as she was with Beck, but it still worked. It was a little clumsy and a little awkward, but it worked.

Andy propped himself over her on his elbows. “Car...”

“Hmm?” she asked, nuzzling the hollow of his neck.

“How far is this going to go?”

“How far do you want it to go?” she asked. Her mind seemed a little cloudy but she still found herself grasping his ass tightly, pulling his hips against hers.

He groaned and rubbed himself against her, through his shorts and her sweats, and she could feel that he was getting ready.

“Why the change of heart?” he asked, his hand going to the waistband of her sweats and pushing them down, allowing her to kick them off.

“No change of heart, I’m just giving in to a desire that I should have given in to a long time ago.” She pushed his shorts down as far as she could manage while lying under him and used her feet to finish the job.

“You know, I’m not normally quick about this, but I haven’t had sex in...”

“A couple weeks?” She laughed.

“Yeah.”

She kissed his chest. “Good thing it’s like riding a bike.”

“It’s just...” He sighed and kissed her for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong. You are...god, so sexy. It just seems—”

She wrapped her legs around his waist again. “Stop thinking, remember? Just let it go.”

He couldn’t resist. There was no way. She slid her hands up and dug her fingernails into his shoulders, getting a deep moan from his throat.

She kissed his neck and repeated herself. “Just let it go.”

He seemed content to kiss her forever, but she wanted more. Her hands went to his boxers and started to push them down.

She stopped.

Why did she stop?

It suddenly felt wrong.

Anderson seemed to sense her hesitation. “What is it?”

She shook her head. “I don’t... this isn’t...” She removed her hands from him completely, flattening on her back so that their bodies were touching the least amount possible.

“Carmondy, I—”

“Get off, please,” she said.

“Wh—”

“Get off!” She said it louder than she meant to, but it worked.

He rolled off her and she just lay there, unable to do anything else.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m sorry, Anderson. This was a mistake, a really big mistake.”

“Okay.”

“Just...give me a moment?”

“Sure.” They both just stared at the ceiling.

A few minutes later, he laughed softly. “I knew it was too good to be true.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right, really. I’m sorry that I didn’t try to talk you down more. I knew there was something going on, but I ignored it.”

She smiled and turned her head to face him. He did the same. “I mighta helped you out a little on that front.”

His eyes twinkled with humor. “Maybe just a bit.”

She blushed, feeling ridiculous.

Andy rolled over onto his side to see her better, his abs stretching nicely. “So. Are you going to tell me what this was all about?”

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiled playfully. “Yep.”

“Well, in that case...” He suddenly rolled her over onto her side and used his legs to latch around her hips. He trapped her against his body while his fingers pushed her shirt up and found the most ticklish spots on her ribs.

She squeaked in surprise and tried to twist away from him. “No!” She couldn’t help but laugh. “No, please, Andy!” She kicked her legs wildly and tried to push his hands away, but he was talented. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“Tell me!” he demanded, pausing his fingers for a moment.

“Never!”

That was a mistake.

He started tickling her again and this time he meant business. She couldn’t even get a word out between laughing and gasping for air.

“You’ll never stand a chance against me!” he said in his best evil voice. “Just tell me what I want to know!”

“Okay!” she exclaimed. “I give up! I give up.”

His fingers stilled but he didn’t let her go. His legs remained around her hips while his hands wrapped around her ribs.

“What’s the real reason you came and tried to seduce me?”

“Tried?” she teased.

He tickled her a bit more.

“Okay! All right! I’m sorry!”

He stopped. “Spill it!”

She sighed. “I went to meet Beck at his house for homework and he had a girl over. She was giving him head.”

“Are you sure?”

“I know what I saw.”

“Well, jeez. That’s low, even for Beck, if he knew you were coming over.”

“Yeah.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to rub his nose against the back of her neck. “I’m sorry. So you came here to make him jealous?”

“I dunno, I’m not exactly sure. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing.”

“Well—”

Footsteps sounded outside Anderson’s bedroom. “Andy! Where are you, idiot? You better not be asleep already. Where’s Car? I saw her Jeep outside. And don’t—”

Anderson’s door flew open and Beck stood in the doorway, stunned.

“What the fuck?”

They let go of each other.

“Beck.” Car grabbed her sweats and pulled them on, tugging down her T-shirt that had ridden up.

He clenched his teeth tightly. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Just let me explain—”

“No, you know what? I really don’t think I need a play-by-play.” He turned to go, but this time, she actually felt emotion spilling from him in waves.

“Beck, wait!” Carmondy got in front of him and planted herself in his way.

“What?” he asked, obviously trying to keep his anger under control.

“Don’t you dare be mad at me for this.”

“For fucking my best friend? I’m not mad, I’m disgusted.”

“Fuck you! You said you didn’t care!”

“That was a while ago, Carmondy. I was pretty sure things had changed.” He actually sounded hurt.

“Changed? Nothing has changed, Beck! Don’t you dare go off on me for messing around with Andy when you were back at your place getting sucked off by some random whore!”

Beck blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!”

Anderson tried to intervene. “Uh, guys?”

I’m not playing dumb! I have no idea what you are talking about!” Beck snapped.

She glared and crossed her arms haughtily. “Fine. You wanna play it that way? I went to your place, to do your homework. I get there and what do I see? You, half naked, in your living room, getting a blow job!”

“I don’t know what you’re smoking, but there is no way you saw that, because it never happened!”

“I saw her, Beck! I saw her car, and then I saw her on her knees, in front of you. So stop fucking lying!”

Sudden comprehension dawned in Beck’s eyes and then he started laughing.

“What the hell is so funny?” Car demanded.

Beck laughed some more and shook his head. “You got it wrong. That woman was like 40, she—”

“I don’t give a damn how old she was!”

“No, listen to me. She wasn’t giving me head. She was taking measurements.”

Carmondy’s face twisted in disgust. “That’s—”

“For my suit! For the party, you know? You probably saw her measuring my legs or something. That’s why I was half naked. She always makes me strip down to get the accurate measurements.”

Carmondy blinked, confused. “What?”

“I wasn’t getting head. She’s a suit-maker and she’s way out of my age range. Did you actually see her?”

“No, not very well.”

“Well, if you had, you would have known. She’s just a lady who makes suits. Her company logo was on her car. I don’t suppose you saw that, did you?”

Carmondy dropped her head. “Jesus Christ.”

“Jealous, much?”

“Shut up.”

“Jealous enough to fuck Anderson, I guess.”

“We didn’t have sex,” Andy piped up.

“No?” Beck asked.

“Nope.”

“You two looked pretty flushed for not having sex.”

“Yeah well...tickle fight.” Andy shrugged.

Carmondy scoffed. “Tickle fight? More like tickle torture...tickle interrogation.”

“Ahh, I see.” Beck turned back to Carmondy, who now felt completely ashamed.

“God, Beck, I’m sorry.”

“For what? It was a misunderstanding. As long as you didn’t fuck him.”

“It was close,” she admitted.

“Close, but no cigar,” Andy said.

“Well...whatever.”

“But, I don’t understand. You said you didn’t care. And now you say that things have changed?”

Beck started to look uncomfortable. “Come on. Let’s go back to my place to talk about this.” He headed for the door, using a hand on Carmondy’s lower back to propel her in the right direction.

Carmondy nodded and let him direct her down the stairs. “Bye Andy!”

“Uh…bye?” she heard as she stepped off the stairs.

“Actually,” Beck said as he opened the front door for her, “You hungry?”

“What?”

“Are you hungry?” he repeated. They had made it to his BMW but she made no move to get in. He opened the door for her; one hand on her hip, the other on the top of her head while he helped her slide in without cracking her skull.

“Umm, yeah, I guess...I could go for a snack.”

He nodded and shut her in before climbing into the opposite door. “I’m starving. Do you want the café down the street or something fancy?”

“You’re taking me to dinner?”

“I’m hungry, you’re hungry. We can talk there.”

“Oh...yeah, the café is fine.”

He nodded and drove the couple of blocks to the little café. “What do you want?” he asked as they stepped in the door.

“Umm...I don’t know. I’ve never been here before.”

He nudged her toward the area with little tables. “Go pick a seat. I’ll order you something good.”

“Okay.”

She picked a seat in the corner that allowed for a decent amount of privacy from the other customers. The café was nice, not too big, not too small. It was just right for a nice conversation. Hopefully, being in public would allow them to stay focused, and not get distracted.

Beck slid into the chair across from the little table. “I ordered you a fruit salad. It’s really good here. If you’re still hungry, we can get something else.”

She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”