Color Her Red (8 page)

“Thomas, did Michael pack a bag for Kate?”  The thought creeps into my mind.  I hope he did, even though the thought of him picking out lace panties for Kate makes me cringe. 

He answers from the bathroom, “He is getting it now.  I didn’t anticipate her joining us.”

Relief sets in, although I now know that Kate has a new set of panties that Michael possibly hand picked. 
What does he think about that job requirement?

“You should give him a raise.”  I yell back as I lay across the bed, falling into the soft mattress.  I hear him let out a small laugh.  I’m not sure how much Michael gets paid but I know it is some ridiculous amount.  He earns every penny of it though.

A few minutes pass before I reluctantly sit up.  I need to call my mom; I can’t let her worry all night.  I scoot across the bed to grab my purse off the nightstand and let out an exhausted sigh.  I find my phone and toss the purse carelessly onto the floor.  Growing up I only had my mom; my father left when I was born.  She’s been my rock and I have tried to be hers.  I know I’ve failed tonight.  I failed miserably in so many ways.  I’ll just call her; I can’t listen to the voicemails.  If I start listening to them, I know I’ll cry.  I cry so much it’s a joke.

I dial her number and relax into the bed running my hands through my hair and under my eyes; they feel slightly swollen.

“Baby girl!” My mom answers the phone so warmly.  “I was so worried about you!”  And there’s the disapproving motherly tone I was expecting.

“Hi
, Mom,” she puts an immediate small smile on my face even though she’s scolding me.  “I didn’t mean to make you worry, I was just trying to pull myself together.”  My voice sounds a bit distraught, which causes hesitation on the other end of the phone.

“Sweetheart, have you talked to Thomas?  I talked to him earlier-”

“We talked.  I’m with him now.”  I cut her off; I don’t want her to think that Thomas and I are fighting.  I do believe him, I’m worried and angry, but I believe him.  I hear her instantly relax on the other line.  “He’s going to fix everything.” 
Was that for your benefit or hers?
  “It was just a publicity stunt.”  My heart drops a little with the last line.  It was more than a publicity stunt but she doesn’t need to know the details.  I can barely even wrap my head around all of it.

“My poor baby, it’s not fair that you are in such a difficult place with the media.  It’s all a bunch of nonsense.”  I can hear her getting heated.  I must get my temper from my mom.  “Don’t you worry about a thing, sweetheart.  As soon as I get
a chance to fly to New York, I’m going to take you two out on the town.”  I snicker a little at the thought of her ‘out on the town’.

“How about we take
you
out on the town?”  I feel the smile on my face.  My mom’s light-heartedness is infectious and I welcome it.  There’s giddiness in my voice when Thomas paces back into the room.  His body is less tense; he looks like my loving husband.  He’s wearing his blue flannel pajama pants hanging from his hipbones and nothing else.  I eye his perfect muscular physique. 
Yum.

“I have to go, it’s getting late.”  I can’t take my eyes off him.  I feel scandalous having a conversation with my mom while I quietly admire every inch of his body.  I wonder if he knows what I am thinking.  He’s not looking at me
; he doesn’t notice me or my gaze.  He’s concentrating on finding something in one of the larger suitcases.  I feel awful that I ignored him and made everything more difficult for him.  I want to make it up to him, tell him I’m sorry and that I love him.  Exhaustion may put that on hold.

“I love you Emma, sleep well and call me tomorrow.”  She puts emphasis on “call me tomorrow.”

“I will Mom I love you too.”  Thomas sits down next to me, moving my hair to the side and kisses my cheek.

“I’m sorry about everything today and so is Thomas.”  I feel
terrible that she had to see all of that.  I can’t imagine what was going through her head or how she reacted.  I need to delete those voicemails; I don’t want to know.

“Oh pssh!  It’s not your fault.  You two did nothing to be sorry about.”  I helplessly grin at her tone.  “Tell him I love him too.  Give him a big kiss from me.”  Her approval makes me smile and my whole body relaxes, sinking deeper into the soft mattress.  “Good night
, Emma.” 

“Good night
, Mom.”  I hang up the phone and reach across the bed stretching my body to put it on the nightstand.  It’s almost dead but I don’t have the energy to dig through my bag to find the charger. 

Thomas grabs my waist and pulls me to his chest.  I impishly object letting out a small playful groan.

“I’m so sorry, Baby, I really can’t tell you enough.” He whispers in my ear and gives me small kisses on my forehead, my cheek, and my neck.

“No more
apologies just make it all go away.”  I feebly look up at him and kiss him under his chin and then on his throat.  I take in his scent, his masculine fragrance.  I just want it all to go away, I don’t want to think about it anymore.  A thought awakes my curiosity. 

“What are you going to do to the broadcast station?”  I nudge his chin with my nose.  He looks down at me passed his eyelashes.  He has enough money to buy the entire company and fire everyone if he really wants to.
Part of me wants that bitch that reported all of this, with that smug smile on her face, to get her ass out kicked out onto the street.  I know it’s not her fault, but I can’t help but to feel indignant.  Resentment starts coursing through me.  Thomas can tell I’m angry.  He runs his hand through my hair and tilts his head to the side.  His look calms me.

“Nothing.  I’m not going to do anything.” He says calmly.  I’m a little bit shocked. 
He’s not going to do anything?
  I eye him with curiosity.

“I'll issue a statement tomorrow before work.  Just saying they were photos from a long
time ago and that we are happily married and a little shaken that someone would go through so much trouble to hurt us.” 

I guess that’s reasonable, more reasonable than what I would do and more reasonable than what I would like him to do. 

“Don’t worry about a thing, Emma.  I'll take care of everything.”  He whispers in my ear and I lay my head on his chest.  His warmth comforts me and again I believe every words he says.

“I can’t keep my eyes open.”  I mutter as my eyelids fall unwillingly.  My entire body relaxes lying against him.

“Sleep, Baby.”  He gives me another kiss and shifts me slightly so he can turn off the light.  “Everything will be better in the morning.” 

It sounds like a promise. 

Chapter 5

Everything is sparkling white and dripping in diamonds.  The most beautiful roses, nearly thousands of them, are huddled in perfect centerpieces on every table and existing surface.  Taller arrangements are lining the immense windows of the candle-lit ballroom. The snow is gently falling and the twinkling of Christmas lights surrounding Fifth Avenue is so romantic that, for a moment, it steals my gaze.   I can see all of our guests seated in black-tie formal attire, happily chatting with one another. 

They can’t see me just yet; I’m peeking through the gap between the oversized walnut doors.  Thomas seems amused by my child-like giddiness.  Who would have thought, just a year after spilling coffee on the most eligible bachelor in New York I would be exchanging vows with him?  Fate, I think as I close my eyes and take in the intoxicating floral aroma. 

He holds my hand tightly as the doors open and we make our grand entrance. There’s an immediate applause followed by an eruption of knives clinking on champagne flutes. An amorous melody begins to play in the background.  His soft blue eyes meet mine as he moves to twirl me on the dance floor.  He pulls me in close, forcefully embracing me for a kiss. He leans into me, and whispers. “I will love you forever.”

I smile and let out a small teasing laugh.  He spins me again and again allowing my full ball gown of a dress to expand.  His hand gently caresses my waist pulling me towards him, pushing me away.  Lace is hugging my body and gravity pulls me outward. Soft loose curls are gently falling on my back.  I open my eyes and see his gorgeous face.  His blue eyes pierce into me with passion and endearing love.  He kisses me, gently biting my lip.  He smiles when I open
my eyes.  And with a move of his arm I am twirling on the dance floor once again.  I am overwhelmed with pure happiness.  I close my eyes and wonder, how could life get any better?

It can’t you fool.  And when you can’t go up, you must come down, crashing hard, smashing onto the cold concrete into a million shards of nothingness.

A chilling shudder runs through my body and I open my eyes, mid spin; I think I see a woman outside, not amidst the guests.  In that fraction of a second I thought I saw the silhouette of a woman tightly grasping her long white coat around her chest, glaring at us.  My smile disappears for a moment but on the second twirl around, I don’t see her.  I stand still, pushing him away.  The music stops, silence.  The warmth in the room is replaced by a cold, so cold that I’m immobilized.  I stare at the window. 
Where did she go?
  I feel her behind me. 

I JOLT AWAKE GASPING FOR AIR. 

“Emma, wake up!”  Thomas is here, holding me, his fingers gripping into my trembling shoulders.
  I glance around anxiously; we’re in the hotel room. My body is shaking and the pounding in my chest deafens me.  

“I saw her.”  I take a deep breath and then another, trying frantically to calm myself.  Tears start falling down my face.  “I can’t get her out of my head.” 

He takes my head in his hands and pulls me to his chest.  He gives me soft kisses on my lips and wipes my tears away with his thumb and then gently moves his thumb to my lips quieting me.  His soft blue eyes are compassionate.  I rest my head on his shoulder and nuzzle under his chin doing my best to relax my breathing.

“I’m scared.”  I feel weak
as I say it; the words I speak are hopelessly true. 

“Hush Baby.”  He kisses my hair.  “Everything will be all right.  You have nothing to be scared about.”  He holds me for a moment until my sobbing stops, his warm embrace sooths me, calming my quivering body. 

Thomas has had stalkers in the past.  This is easily fixed.  In just a few days life will be back to normal.  I shouldn’t be so shaken up.  But then again, I’ve never come so close to his stalkers, at least not that I’ve known about.  I steady my breathing; everything will be all right.  He will fix everything. 

As I finally calm, the throbbing in my head and a
pounding on my temples cripples me. 
Ugh, hangover.
  As if he has read my mind, Thomas releases me, kissing my upper neck and laying me into the comfort of the duvet.  I feel lonely as he leaves me.  I sit up slightly and surround myself with the warmth of the blanket, burying my head in my knees.  Huddling the white sheets close to me, I think,
it was only a nightmare
.  Thomas returns softly sitting on the edge of the bed and hands me a glass of water and two Advil’s. 

“This should help.”  He looks at me with a humorous grin. 

“Don’t tease me.”  I playfully warn as I crane my neck up to sip the water and swallow the precious medicine.  The water alone is enough to immediately ease some of the pounding.  I lay my head on his comforting shoulder, moving my hand to his chest, and feel a sense of happiness.  I’m safe in bed with my loving husband.

His thumb travels down my cheek and rests on my bottom lip.  He pushes my mouth open just a little, enough to get the tip of his thumb wet.  He moves his warm finger down past
my chin and down my throat.  I look up at him past my lashes, fragile.   “Thom-” I start to speak, but he interrupts me with a forceful kiss, nipping my bottom lip. 

He moves one of his hands to my waist, keeping the other grasped around my neck.  His deft fingers push past my shirt
and move up my curves to my back.  His capable hand glides gently over my skin, sending a sweet sensation down my body.  His touch makes my lips part as I release a demanding moan.  I don’t know if I have the energy for this, but it feels so good.  I have been craving his touch, needing his touch.

“Baby, I want you.”  His voice lowers as he kisses my neck tenderly and then whispers in my ear, “so bad.”  I feel his hot breath on my neck and he kisses me past my throat down to my chest.  In a swift movement he takes my shirt off and carelessly tosses it on the floor.  He grazes my breasts with his lips, then back up my neck, finally
meeting my wanting lips.  His hand on my back gently moves to my waist, making me wriggle under him. 

My lips part as his kisses comfort my neck and move lower.  I feel heated, wanting his touch, wanting him to love me.  His hands go to my hips.  His fingers curl around the soft fabric of my thong.  I tilt my hips up, giving him the permission that he wants.  He slips them down moving them past my knees, slowly sending an intense sensation down my body as his fingers caress my skin.   He kisses my breasts, my nipples, moving from side to side, down to my navel as he removes my thong completely.  He stays below my waist, as I close my eyes and enjoy his tender kisses.  He brushes his nose against my clitoris making me moan a soft sweet gasp.  A rush of warmth surges through my body.  I arch my back in response to his tongue on my wetness, my fingers carelessly comb through his hair.