Make-Believe Marriage (17 page)

Chapter
IX

On Friday Amanda left her
son at school and went home. That day there was not a lot for her to do at the
store, thus she preferred to be alone for a bit. She decided to rest; she picked
a flowery bikini that Tony had bought and went to the pool. She spread a towel
on the floor and lay down to sunbathe. Feeling very hot, she went into the
water staying there for a few moments and returned to the towel after spreading
some more of her sun screen. Tired, she fell asleep briefly waking up startled
by a huge shadow above her. Protecting the face from the sun she saw Tony’s
tired face.

- You look tired. - She
said what she thought.

- I had a stressful day
and decided to come back home earlier – he said taking off his jacket.

- Then get in the water,
it will help a lot, it worked for me. - Amanda said.

- I'll take your
suggestion. I'll be right back. – When he left, Amanda threw herself into the
water to calm down her heart. She had not felt her heart pounding so fast for
some time and now her heart raced just by being next to him. Now, when
everything needed to be as natural as possible, things changed in her life,
especially in her body.

 When he returned, Tony was
wearing blue shorts with a white striped shirt on the sides. His body was fully
in shape – even too much in shape, from her point of view. Amanda analyzed it
as she had never done before. “He must have chosen those shorts on purpose”,
she thought. It was difficult not to look that way. Tony placed his wristwatch
on the stretcher and turned to her.

– It looks like we had the
same Idea. – He said as he plunged into the pool throwing water all over the
place. With quick strokes, he came close to her.

– What do you mean? – asked
Amanda surprised at the remark. Would she have thought out loud and Tony heard
her foolish comments? She was not that crazy!

- We both thought of
coming to the pool today.– He replied. Amanda smiled relieved.

- Ah! It's true. -Less
tense, she began to swim slowly to get some distance and let herself go
floating on the water. Tony stayed where he was watching her. When Amanda
realized he wasn't moving, she  turned and stood upright.

- Any problem at work? -
She wanted to know.

No. Just a lot of work. I'm
going to have to be two of me to complete some projects because I have
something important in mind and I will need to speed up the ones in process of
completion. And with your store, how are things? -He always observed closely
when she needed something.

– Today we didn't have a
lot to do, I left Carol taking care of things and came back home – she said. Tony
went to her side and they stood leaning on the side of the pool looking at each
other.

- Do you think we're
confusing things?– She asked realizing that she would be kissed immediately.

- I do not know. – He said
standing in front of her. -Want to find out? -Tony grabbed her between his arms
and they remained firm at the edge beside her body to keep her from getting
out.

- Tony! – she said pleadingly.

– I love hearing you call
me that with your hoarse voice, you know? -Amanda sighed deeply and accepted
the kiss she received. Embraced to him they kissed passionately. They could
feel their bodies shaping each other in unique magic. Tony took her by the
waist and lifted Amanda off the ground surrounding the pool.

-You're driving me mad. –
He spoke when he felt her legs circumvent his back.

- What is it, Tony? – she
asked feeling his hands caressing her buttocks. They kissed again while Tony
undid her bra knot.

- I want to love you here.
– He said removing the piece leaving her breasts naked.

- Someone may come in,
Tony. - She knew they would be alone for a long time, but was afraid of
something. Maybe herself. He gently kissed her belly and climbed up to get
between her breasts. As soon as he sucked one of them, Amanda stuck her fingers
in his hair while he was on fire with the warm tongue going around her
sensitive and eager skin for more. Feeling that he wouldn't put up with it any
longer, Amanda descended slowly into the water where they joined their
passionate mouths. Into the water he removed her bikini while Amanda involved
him again with her legs. Then Tony penetrated her gently all the way.

– I confess I wanted
exactly that when I thought I'd come back home, but I had no idea I would be
this lucky. -Amanda kissed him then feeling the pressure of the back and forth
of hungry bodies. They made love slowly, wishing that moment would not end.

- My love I will not be
able to hold out much longer. We need to stop or I will come here in the pool.

- Enjoy - in view of the
request he pumped her for a few more seconds and gushed the nectar inside her. Embraced,
they remained in the same location until they recovered.

- The pool needs to be
emptied. - Amanda said when he pulled away.

– I will see about that
now. Tony kissed her and as soon as she left and went inside the house with the
top of the bikini in hands, he started the process feeling the most
accomplished of men.

They took their baths and
when she reached the kitchen Tony was already there sipping his coffee.

-
               
It's not as good as
Flora’s, but failing Flora, it’s all right. – He informed offering some to her.

– Don't worry, I'm not too
picky. - She said smiling.

- What a relief. - The two
were facing each other and the atmosphere was much better than days ago. -You
realize a nice atmosphere is beginning between us, right? – asked Tony afraid
of her answer.

- Yes – she said unsure.

- I'm not going to charge
you anything, Amanda. I just wanted us to let things happen until you decided
what you really wanted. - He was afraid that if she was only in need for love, she
would soon find out she did not want that relationship.

- And you Tony do you
already know what you want? - she wanted to know to prepare herself better. Now,
some long time later, she started to notice what Carol had so insinuated. Tony
seemed to be really in love with her for some time, but as he was very discrete
she had not perceived it or she preferred to ignore not so as not to opt for
one thing or another, when in fact, their friendship was a priority.

- I am completely sure of
what I want for myself. - Eyes fixed at her, he made her speechless. - There
will be a party for the professionals in my area this weekend and another one
at national level in two weeks in Rio de Janeiro. Will you go with me? - he
asked serious.

- In the celebration here,
we will, of course; the one in Rio, I will have to answer you another day. -
She confirmed being thankful to him for changing the subject.

- Thank you for wishing to
accompany me. I hope that you can go to the other celebration too – he thanked
her. It would be a great chance for both to understand each other finally. He
thought cheering for it to happen.

- It is the minimum that I
could do for you after all that you have done for me and my son.

- If I did all that it was
really because I wanted you to be well and would do it again as many times as
necessary. - She heard Antônio talk, knowing of this, always did.

- Thank you! - Amanda completed
knowing that that trip could be positive for both. Looking in her eyes, it was
evident for her that this would only depend on her.

They talked about the
possible trip, the place where they would probably stay and Amanda ended up by
being infected by his joy describing the event
.

Amanda was beautiful for
the party. She had decided that that night she would be charming beside her
husband. On the days that had preceded the event they had not had any more
close contact after the occasion in the swimming pool, due to lack of time or
because they needed to ripen that new relationship a bit more. Amanda missed
his body on hers, but this was not the sufficient to be together. She wanted to
know a little more about her feelings for Tony. She was sure of one thing: her
best friend had all the attributes to be the man of her life, she only had to
make sure that he really wanted that, or she could not go forward with the
relationship the way they were doing.

- You look beautiful! -
praised Tony seeing Amanda come into the room where he waited for her. She wore
a blue silk dress, tight-fitting, of fine and delicate straps. There were small
frills in the skirt making it looser with a light movement when she walked. The
Anabela sandals provided a more informal contrast to her clothes, making her
elegant, however basic. A light make-up and few accessories completed the
model.

 - Thanks – she said happy
for the compliment.

During the event, Amanda
had the chance to meet many of Tony’s colleagues and adored when several of
them praised her to the husband. Jealous, he protected her like a diamond due
to the hungry eyes of some men who did not care about Tony’s frown.

A colleague of Tony’s
invited her for a dance and Amanda accepted readily. Tony talked with one of
his partners and said nothing. They danced the music that was playing and at
the end, he invited her for one more. She, however, declined and went toward
the jealous man on the other side of the dance floor who already missed her. On
the way two other colleagues of Tony’s invited her, but she only had eyes for
one man in that party. As soon as she came close Tony enlaced her not allowing
that she moved away from him again. They talked with a couple for some time and
Tony called her for a dance. He seemed to want to say something, therefore he
invited her.

- You are doing a lot of
success here. - He mentioned drily.

- Do you think so? - She
said noticing his jealousy.

- All looked at you as if
you did not have an owner. I did not like to see this - he confessed. - Tony
pulled her, kissing her possessively. Amanda was sorry to have contributed to
that feeling in him.

- Tony. Everybody is
looking. - She said in a whisper trying to turn aside a little from his mouth.

- Damn them. - He wanted
to show to the hawks that that woman had a man. Tony kissed her again with less
intensity. - Let’s get out of here! - He said grasping her hand.

- Aren’t you going to say
goodbye to your friends? - Amanda asked following right behind him.

- They will not mind if we
leave. Any man who left a party with you would be understood. - When he had
more space in the hall he caught her by the waist and they walked side by side
until the exit.

When Tony arrived at the
car, he opened the door for her. Then, he went around it and sat behind the
wheel.

- I feel very sorry if I
embarrassed you at the party. She wanted to be a good wife, that’s all – she
said noticing that he seemed calmer.

- How do you think I feel
witnessing several men wishing my wife? - The remark cheered her. - Who
actually is not even mine. The worst was that her appeal attracted more looks
than I was prepared to see. I had the impression that you were making me
jealous, Amanda. Am I right? - he asked looking at her in the same intense and
tender way that he used to do.

No. I would never do that
– she defended herself knowing that deep down, that was really what she did. She
wanted to call his attention. Tony, who was driving quickly, stopped the car on
the curb to hear her argument. - I did not realize I was doing it. - She had
declared herself guilty.

- Without noticing! I
wanted to take you out of there from the moment we set feet on that party. Why
did you do this Amanda? - His eyes gleamed. They were in a little dark place
and when a car went by, his face lighted up bestowing on him a mix of seduction
and mystery.  

- I do not know. I am so
sorry – she apologized for the infantile act. Amanda’s heart was beating fast. He
had been foolish and he seemed upset with her.

- I know. - He said. - Now
I want to enjoy everything that they had thought that was mine. - He came close
to her making her lean against the door.

- You are scaring me - she
said nervously noticing there that he would possess her right there easily. The
confirmation brought another feeling to her, luxury.

- You do not have to be
scared, love. I would never hurt you; you are very important for me to do
something bad. – Amanda felt at that moment that love took hold of her. She was
madly in love with that wonderful and worthy man.

He held her close, kissing
her white neck. When he bit her ear, whatever fear she felt, melted away.

– Tony this is not the
place – she asked without a lot of conviction, because her body and soul
already belonged to him.

– There is no place for
love, honey. He took her to the back seat and started to make love to her. His
experienced hands slided across her body, leaving a trace of fire and desire. Too
weak to resist, Amanda received him inside herself when he pulled up her dress.
Tony penetrated her tenderly, making their hungry bodies into one.  That act
was necessary for him as well as breathing. After they had made love, they
continued holding each other for a few moments.