Exposed (13 page)

He began thrusting into her—deep, hard, relentless thrusts fueled by weeks of deprivation. She moaned, her voice vibrating unevenly as he pummeled her, his hips drilling like a piston.

“Fuck me, baby!” She shouted encouragements to him as he reached under the T-shirt she wore, palmed her large, swinging breasts, and tugged at her thick, erect nipples. “Oh baby …
Fuck me!
”

Moments later they came violently together, bellowing each other’s names. Brandon pulled out just in time, massaging his dick as he emptied himself into the hollow in her lower back.

Before all was said and done, he’d fucked her in four different positions and brought them to climax at least twice as many times.

And when it was over, he shuddered and declared,“Now
that’s
what the fuck I’m talking about,” before collapsing on the bed and gathering her into his arms.

After Brandon fell asleep, his sweaty body spooning hers, Tamia lay awake in a state of drowsy bliss. She couldn’t
believe
the way Brandon had taken her tonight. Roughly, possessively, showing her no mercy as he repeatedly rammed into her. She smiled in the near darkness, her toes curling as the erotic aftershocks rippled through her sated body. She couldn’t remember the last time Brandon had been so aggressive with her, so raw and animalistic.

Amazing what nearly three weeks of deprivation can do,
she mused.

She’d never intended to neglect her baby for so long. But
giving Dominic his due every night took so much out of her, she was operating on fumes by the time she saw Brandon.
If
she saw Brandon.

But something had changed tonight.

For the first time since Dominic had invaded her life, Tamia was beginning to think that she could make this complicated situation work. Dominic was giving her some of the best sex she’d ever had—the kind of freaky, mind-blowing sex that made her old porn performances look like child’s play. And because he was satisfying her so thoroughly, she didn’t have to cling to Brandon as much as she used to. As a result, her unavailability had driven Brandon out of his mind, making him want her more than ever. And,
boy,
how he’d wanted her!

So in a sense, having Dominic in the picture actually worked to her advantage. She was the object of desire for two gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy men. In one evening she’d experienced the most incredible sex of her life, courtesy of her two lovers. She was living a reality most women could only fantasize about.

She was having her cake and eating it, too.

A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips. Maybe she
could
handle the balancing act her life had become. And as long as her two worlds remained separate, never colliding, she would enjoy every scorching moment of it….

“Guess who came to visit me last week.”

Tamia grinned at her sister through the glass partition that divided them.“As excited as you look, Fee, you’d better tell me it was President Obama.”

“I wish!” Fiona snorted a laugh.“
You’ve
got a much better shot at meeting the president than
I
do, future daughter-in-law to our next governor.”

Tamia smiled, wishing she shared her sister’s unwavering optimism.“Who was your mystery visitor?”

Fiona beamed.“Sugar Bear.”

Tamia’s smile vanished.“Your ex-boyfriend?”

Fiona nodded quickly. “He heard through the grapevine that I was being released next month, so he decided to pay me a visit and let me know that he’d be there for me when I got out.”

Tamia’s lips twisted with displeasure.“You don’t need to be getting mixed up with him again, Fee. There’s a reason you broke up with him three years ago. That nigga ain’t about nothing.”

“But he has a steady job now,” Fiona explained,“and he’s paying child support to help take care of his kids.”

Tamia snorted.“How long will
that
last?”

Fiona glowered at her.“Why do you always have to think the worst of people?”

“Because I’m usually right,” Tamia retorted. “Look, there are some people who don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, and Sugar Bear’s one of them. I mean, just think about it, Fee. You’ve been here for almost two years and he’s never written or visited you until now, when you’re about to be released.”

“He didn’t know I was locked up,” Fiona insisted.“He just found out.”

Tamia gave her sister a skeptical look. “Do you really believe that?”

Fiona wavered for a moment. “Why would he lie? We broke up three years ago. He doesn’t owe me anything.”

Tamia heaved an exasperated breath. She loved her sister dearly, but sometimes the girl could be so damn naive.“He lied because he doesn’t want you to know what he’s up to. He’s waiting for you to get out and reclaim your booth at the hair salon. Once you’re situated and earning money again, he’ll start hitting you up for cash—
just
like he used to. I hope you won’t be gullible enough to fall for his bullshit this time around.”

Fiona chewed on her thumbnail, looking sullen. “I think you’re wrong. He’s different now. He’s way more mature and responsible. I don’t think he’s gonna pull the same shit he did before.”

Tamia raised a brow. “You also didn’t think Marquis was gonna hold up a liquor store while you were waiting in the car, but he did.”

Fiona scowled. “Damn, Tamia, why you always gotta be throwing that shit back in my face?” she spat into the phone. “You think I need any more reminders of the stupid mistake I made that night, driving off even after Marquis told me he’d just robbed the store? I’ve spent the past two years of my life locked up in this hellhole. Believe me, I don’t need
you
or anyone else to remind me how the fuck I got here.”

Tamia stared at her, taken aback by the force of her anger. “I’m sorry, Fee. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just trying to help you avoid making the same mistakes with the wrong guys.”

“I know you mean well,” Fiona grumbled darkly, “but sometimes you come off sounding so superior and shit. Like you’ve never made any mistakes or done things you’re not proud of. And I know for a fact that you have.”

A whisper of unease slithered through Tamia. Her hand tightened around the phone receiver as she stared at her sister. “What are you talking about?”

Fiona glanced around the room, checking for eavesdroppers before leaning toward the glass, her eyes locking with Tamia’s.“I know you used to do porn,”she confided in a hushed voice.

Stunned, Tamia gaped at her, thinking—hoping—she’d heard wrong.“What?”

Fiona grinned slyly.“I’ve known for years. I never said anything ’cause I figured if you wanted me to know, you woulda told me yourself.”

“How …” Tamia swallowed with difficulty. “How’d you find out?”

“Remember Tyrell, that dude I used to go out with back in high school?”

Tamia nodded mutely.

“Well, one day after school I was over at his house, and he popped in one of your videos, trying to get me in the mood. Even though you were wearing a mask, I recognized you as soon as you came on the screen—your eyes, your mouth, the way you walked. Needless to say, I was shocked as hell! I made Tyrell turn off the DVD ’cause I wasn’t trying to watch you having sex with some dude. I didn’t tell Tyrell it was you ’cause I knew that fool would run his mouth to everyone, and I didn’t wanna put your business out in the street like that.”

Tamia stared incredulously at Fiona. “I can’t believe you never said anything to me.”

“And
I
can’t believe you used to be a porn star!” Fiona exclaimed.

“Shh!” Mortified, Tamia swept a quick glance around to make sure no one had overheard her sister’s outburst. Fortunately, the visiting room wasn’t as crowded as usual, and none of the other occupants seemed to be paying any attention to her and Fiona.

“Why did you do it?” Fiona asked curiously. “Why’d you do those movies?”

Tamia slowly exhaled. “I needed money for school. You know Ma couldn’t help me. She was living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet. And I couldn’t get enough in student loans. One day I heard about a casting call at a local studio. So I showed up, met the director, did the audition and”—she shrugged uncomfortably—“the rest is history.”

“Wow.” Fiona shook her head in wonder. “What was it like?”

Tamia grimaced, awash with memories she’d spent the past seven years trying to bury deep. The indiscriminate sex with strangers. The monthly trips to the free clinic to get tested for HIV and other STDs. The fear, the uncertainty, the humiliation of being judged by the nurse administering the tests.

“Tamia?” Fiona prompted.

She met her sister’s inquisitive gaze and sighed. “It was what it was, Fee. I’m not proud of doing those videos, but I’m not going to sit here and tell you it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I made good money, enough to put myself through college and help Ma pay some bills. It was a means to an end, that’s all.”

“Does Brandon know?” Fiona asked.

“Hell, no! And I intend to keep it that way.”

“I don’t blame you.” Even Fiona understood how much
was at stake for Tamia. “Speaking of your man, I think I saw him the other day.”

Tamia was alarmed.“You did?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was him. About six-two, dark chocolate, sexy-ass dimples?” At Tamia’s quick nod, Fiona grinned broadly.“Yup, that was him. Dayum, girl, you weren’t lying. That brotha is
foine!
No wonder you’re keeping him tight in your clutches. I would, too!”

Tamia smiled weakly.“Did he … see you?”

“Yeah. He was staring at me like he recognized me.”

Shit!
Tamia thought anxiously.

“He must have been visiting one of his clients,” Fiona con-tinued.“I didn’t realize who he was until after he’d left. Next time I see him, I’ll be sure to say hello and introduce myself as his future sister-in-law.”

Tamia panicked.“Don’t do that!”

Fiona laughed. “Relax, Tam-Tam. I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t embarrass you like that. Besides, I know you haven’t even told Brandon that I’m here.” She paused, holding Tamia’s gaze.“Have you?”

Tamia hesitated, wondering if she should lie to spare her sister’s feelings. On the other hand, Fiona needed to know the truth so she wouldn’t blow Tamia’s cover.

“No, I haven’t told Brandon that you’re incarcerated.” Guilt washed over her. “I’m sorry, Fee. It’s not because I’m ashamed of you or anything. It’s just that Brandon comes from such a high-profile family. I don’t want to jeopardize my … future with him.”

Fiona nodded wisely.“I understand. If his father decides to run for governor in the next election, the whole family will be under a microscope. You and Brandon could be married by then. Throwing a convicted felon into the mix definitely wouldn’t be good for his father’s political campaign.”

Fiona’s gracious acceptance only compounded Tamia’s guilt.“I still intend to introduce you to Brandon once you get
out. With any luck he won’t remember seeing you here, and we’ll just tell him that you’ve been away at college.”

Fiona grinned.“Hey, works for me.”

As Tamia left the detention facility ten minutes later, she thought of her late uncle Aubrey, a notorious gambler whose card-stacking hobby had often drawn fascinated neighbors to the family’s front porch. Aubrey had wowed the crowd with his gravity-defying card castles, but he’d always warned that the taller the structure, the more likely it was to fall due to the higher number of cards that had to be supported.

Tamia was building herself a house of cards, stacking one lie on top of another, doing her best to keep them balanced and secure.

She knew that one wrong move, one miscalculation, was all it would take to bring her tower of lies tumbling down….

The next afternoon, Tamia sat at a small table in the corner of her favorite gourmet coffee shop. It was after three o’clock, so the place wasn’t as crowded as usual. She’d just had a late lunch and was now leisurely enjoying a chai latte. Every so often she glanced out the window to watch as passersby strolled up and down the busy downtown sidewalk. She was in no hurry to get back to the office, because she legitimately had to work late tonight, which meant no hooking up with Dominic
or
Brandon.

“Tamia Luke?”

She turned from the window. A petite, exotically beautiful woman with cocoa-brown skin and long black hair stood at her table, one hand thrust upon her hip in a confrontational pose.

Tamia frowned.“Who’s asking?”

“My name is Isabel Archer.” She spoke with a thick, lilting accent that was unmistakably familiar.“I believe you know my husband, Dominic.”

Tamia stared at her.“Your
what?
”

“My husband.”The woman sneered contemptuously.“Are
you gonna sit there and pretend you didn’t know you’ve been fucking a married man?”

Tamia was floored. Glancing around quickly, she met the scandalized stares of other customers seated at nearby tables before returning her gaze to Isabel Archer.

“Look,” she said through clenched teeth, “I don’t know what the hell Dominic told you—”

Before she could finish, Isabel snatched her latte cup from the table, twisted off the lid, and flung the contents at her. Tamia gasped in shock as the lukewarm chai splashed her neck and the front of her expensive silk blouse.

“
That’s
for fucking my husband!” Isabel spat furiously.

“Bitch, no you didn’t!”Tamia screamed.

She jumped out of her seat and lunged at the woman, who threw a punch that caught her on the jaw, snapping her teeth together. Ignoring a sharp burst of pain, Tamia swung back, her fist connecting solidly with Isabel’s face. The bitch grunted and staggered backward, crashing into an empty table. Tamia barreled into her, grabbing a fistful of her long hair and yanking until Isabel screeched in pain.

“Hey!” a man shouted in angry protest.“You two knock it off before I call the police!”

Heedless of the warning, Tamia and Isabel kept clawing and punching at each other, both determined to inflict as much damage as possible. Isabel was maniacal in her fury, but Tamia had the satisfaction of landing more blows.