Troy kissed her there one last time, then pressed his hand between her legs. He rose to kiss her lips. He rubbed her with his palm until she calmed, then he caressed her until her hips began to move again.
Troy stood and removed his clothes quickly, pulling a condom from his pants pocket. He could still taste her. He smelled her on him. Her scent made his pulse beat even faster. As he moved toward Andrea, she rose to her knees and licked his arousal with one long, slow stroke of her hot, wet tongue. Troy shook. His body hurt with his arousal.
Andrea lay back down and watched him. Her eyes were sharp and intense. Troy covered his erection with the condom, then joined her. He needed to slow his pace. He ached for her too much. But he didn’t want her to think he was an animal without control. He didn’t want her to turn away from him.
Troy drew Andrea into his embrace and kissed her, slowly, thoroughly. She shifted closer to him. Her body was soft and hot to his touch. He slid his hand down her smooth back, loving its curves and the toned muscle beneath her silky skin. He tangled his fingers in her thick, dark hair.
“You feel so good,” he murmured against her lips.
“I want you,” she said against his.
Troy closed his eyes. Her words strained his self-control. He rose away from her, then watched as Andrea rolled onto her back. She raised her arms, encouraging him to come to her. Troy settled between her legs, lowering himself gently onto her. Andrea wrapped her arms around his neck and he lost himself in her kiss.
He lifted his hips to enter her. Troy squeezed his eyes shut and groaned into Andrea’s mouth at the pleasure of being in her. She was tight, hot, and wet. He stilled to catch his breath. Andrea wrapped her legs around his hips and rubbed herself against him. Troy had to move. He pressed into her. Deeper. Wanting to get even closer to her. She arched her back, lifting her breasts. They were an offering he couldn’t refuse. Troy dipped his head to kiss and suckle her nipples. Her restless movements beneath him made his body burn. The spell of desire wove around him until it was just the two of them and their hunger for each other. Their breaths gasping. Their blood rushing. Their muscles straining. He needed their release now. He never wanted this feeling to end.
Andrea threw back her head and screamed his name. Troy covered her mouth with his own, then leaped over the edge with her.
16
“Why didn’t you tell us you were having problems with your job?” Charles Marshall’s voice commanded his son’s respect from the other end of the long-distance telephone line.
His father’s attack stole the satisfaction he’d felt in the wake of his afternoon with Andrea. Minutes ago he’d kissed her good-bye before she left for the Empire Arena to cover game four of the Cavaliers versus Monarchs series. “Shelley told you?”
“No, she didn’t.” His mother was on the other extension. “We guessed.”
“How?” Troy hadn’t really believed Michelle had told their parents he’d been fired. She was a know-it-all younger sibling, but she wasn’t a tattletale.
Danielle Marshall’s patience sounded forced. “When we asked her when she’d last spoken to you, she sounded concerned. And, since all you ever do is work, we thought that was it.”
His father interrupted. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Troy pinched the bridge of his nose. That had been a lame response. But it also was the truth. He hadn’t wanted them to think less of him, either.
“What happened?” His mother made it sound like all his woes were skinned knees and all his cures could be found in Neosporin and a hug.
Troy hesitated. How much had they figured out? “I had a difference of opinion with Gerry Bimm. He’s one of the team’s owners.”
“You argued with your boss and got yourself fired?” His father sounded as though his head were going to pop off. Troy was twelve years old again.
In the background, probably in the room from which his father spoke, Troy could hear the television. “The situation sounds worse than it is.”
Charles spoke over him. “Were you fired?”
Troy’s temples throbbed as muscle memory kicked in. “Yes.”
“Then it’s as bad as it sounds.” Charles’s tone didn’t leave room for debate. “What were you thinking?”
“What about your other boss, Jackie? Can she help you?” Danielle seemed to realize Troy would need more than Neosporin and a hug.
He sank into his armchair. “It’s complicated, Mom.”
“We aren’t nitwits. Explain it to us.” Charles made it a command.
Was there any way out of this conversation? He stared around his living room and imagined his parents in the home where he’d grown up. His father must be in the living room watching the Washington Wizards on the big-screen television. His mother was using the extension in the master bedroom, perched on the edge of the mattress.
Troy stood and wandered to his picture window. “I went on TV and accused Gerry of writing a damaging column about the team. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the anonymous columnist. Gerry demanded my resignation.”
“Oh, my word.” Danielle whispered the words.