Page 28 of Audra: The Prequel

“Huh. No pressure, I guess.”

“No pressure, but...” Audra sighed.

Initially, she had thought that going slow was a good idea because she hadn’t been sure about Damon, but sexual frustration was now a constant companion. Every time she came into contact with him, her libido drove her to run her hands all over his delicious body. He reciprocated, driving her mad with teasing kisses and caresses. While her fingers trailed over the warm muscles beneath his shirt, his hands cupped her bottom and cradled her breasts. Every time they separated from each other, she was left wet, horny, and frustrated.

“I know. He’s so hot,” Claudia whispered.

Audra vigorously nodded, and they both erupted into giggles.

“Claudia, could you come here for a minute, please?” one of the managers called from his doorway.

“Sure thing.” Facing Audra again, she rolled her eyes. “He probably needs me to hold his hand while he makes a phone call.”

Audra swatted her hand. “Stop it, you’re so bad.”

Claudia gave an evil laugh. “Yes, I am. Lunch later?”

“Yes.”

“All right. See ya.”

Audra watched her friend saunter toward the manager’s office on the other side of the floor. She couldn’t blame Claudia for being annoyed. He was one of the needy ones.

Gently gnawing on a fingernail, her mind wandered as she worked on the report for her supervisor. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the last text exchange between her and Damon. She wanted more of him.

“Stop being greedy,” she muttered to herself.

After all, each week they spent hours talking on the phone, especially when he was out of town. She had started going to his games, and when they were together, they made the best of every moment.

Dinner and dancing at an exclusive spot owned by one of his acquaintances, where they enjoyed themselves without the worry of someone taking photos or bothering him for an autograph. Then there was the private wine tasting at Chateau Elan, where they explored the winery’s offerings and then had a delicious meal that evening. They also had a couple of double dates with his famous friends and their partners. Each and every time, he put forth significant effort to create a unique experience.

Audra fiddled with her pen. She needed to do the same. She needed to show how much he meant to her, and it was long overdue. She’d been busy basking in his attention and hadn’t reciprocated the planning of their times together, partly because she was worried about doing too much.

That was her problem. She wished she were like her younger sister, Monica, carefree and determined never to marry. But Audra imagined herself as a mom with several kids, being a domestic goddess—cooking and decorating. It wouldn’t kill herto put forth a little more effort in the relationship. Stop taking and start giving.

Instead of working, she scoured the internet and came up with an idea. There was a retreat located thirty minutes south of Atlanta where she, Monica, and their mother had stayed before. Couples massages, farm-to-table cuisine, and quiet walks along the nature trails might be something Damon would enjoy. At lunch, she told Claudia about her idea, and she loved it.

By the time Audra arrived at home, she was excited about the trip for the next time Damon was free, but there was one more thing she wanted to do.

Her knowledge of baseball was practically nonexistent. Half the time, she didn’t understand what was going on at the games, and there had been conversations when Damon talked to her about the sport, and she had no clue what he was talking about. She needed to rectify that.

Audra knocked on the bedroom door of her youngest sibling, Maxwell, and then pushed her way inside. “I need your help,” she announced, standing in the middle of his room.

Unlike the typical teenager, her brother was a neat freak. His room was spotless—the bed made, his office supplies neatly lined up on the desk, all his clothes put away—and he knew when anyone had been in his room and moved an item.

The seventeen-year-old sat with his feet crossed atop his L-shaped corner desk and looked up from texting on his phone. His curls had grown long, coming down past his ears and falling across his forehead to touch his eyelashes.

“Ever heard of knocking first?”

“I did knock,” Audra said.

“You’re supposed to wait until I say you can come in,” he said pointedly.

Audra moved closer. “If you don’t want people coming into your room, lock the door.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. What do you want?”

“I need you to explain baseball to me.”

---