Truth (71 page)

“
I have nothing to do with
this break in,” Tony said. “I do, however, think you should
consider staying here. It is significantly safer.”

“
Well, Tony, I’m being
honest with you. That laptop contains information regarding
Nathaniel and Samuel Rawls. If you aren’t the person responsible
for its disappearance, perhaps you’d like to learn who has
it.”

“
I will do my best. This
is getting out of hand.”

“
Well, back to my original
question, do you have a car I can take into town for coffee with
Sue? I need to call her.”

Tony leaned forward, “Claire, are you
asking? I’m having difficulty with your wording.”

“
Are we in the presence of
others?” She looked to her right and saw the empty pool deck. She
looked to her left and saw the southeast wing of the mansion; she
knew the woods and gardens were behind her. “No, I’m not asking
permission to go into town, only permission to use one of your
cars. I would hate to be accused of stealing.”

With her get-together complete, Claire
maneuvered the BMW toward Tony’s estate and contemplated the long
winding drive. She tried unsuccessfully to diminish the beauty of
it. She’d driven off his estate twice; this was her first solo
drive back onto it. Looking at the dashboard clock, it was nearly
eleven, and the wedding wasn’t until five thirty.

Coffee with Sue was nice. Sue obviously felt
guilty for not supporting Claire in her troubles. In many ways
Claire felt bad lying to Sue now about her and Tony’s
reconciliation. Or was she? Claire’s emotions were so jumbled --
sometimes she didn’t know what was real and what was pretend. To
Claire, the best part of their meeting was seeing Sean again. While
the ladies chatted, he busied himself with toys. Claire smiled,
remembering how Sue picked the bright colored rattles off the floor
at least fifty times.

Claire pulled the car to the front door, not
worrying about taking it around to the garage. Eric would do that.
As she walked up the steps toward the house Claire realized how
easy it was to slip into that place where others did things for
her. Was this part of Tony’s plan? Did he want her to remember the
perks of being here?

She opened the door to the massive sparkling
entry. While she decided if she wanted to go upstairs to her suite
or down the hall to Tony’s office, Catherine came hurriedly down
the hall to greet her. “Claire, you are back!”

“
Yes, I just went to
town,” Claire looked questionably at Catherine, “Did you think I
wouldn’t come back?”

“
I was only concerned when
Mr. Rawlings told me you’d taken one of the cars.”

“
Where is he?” Claire
asked.

“
He is in his office.
Would you like me to let him know you are back?”

Claire remembered his rules: she was only
allowed in his office by invitation or summons. Claire decided this
was another opportunity to push the envelope. “No, thank you. I
will.” She saw Catherine’s surprised expression as Claire turned
toward the corridor and walked to office. Should she knock?

As she contemplated, she heard his voice
from behind the large doors, “... that was two days ago. I wanted
an answer yesterday. Your incompetence is...” His speech stalled,
hearing the simultaneous knock and opening of his door. Claire
watched his expression morph through a series of emotions. Wasn’t
there a time when she couldn’t read his thoughts? Seeing him go
from anger -- at the person on the telephone -- to shock at the
unrequested intrusion and finally to amusement by Claire’s
forwardness, she wondered how anyone couldn’t read his every
thought. With a mischievous smile, he continued speaking. Although
his heart was no longer in his tirade, he attempted to conceal that
from the poor soul on the other end of the line. “It seems as
though another pressing matter has come to my attention. We will
postpone this conversation. Mr. George, I expect to hear from you
Monday morning. Do not disappoint me.” He disconnected the line.
His eyes remained fixed on Claire’s from the moment she opened the
door.

She smiled as he walked
around the large mahogany desk toward her. His movements were
graceful yet powerful, like a lion stalking its prey. The light
behind his intense dark chocolate eyes made her tingle with
anticipation. She’d seen that sultry look before.
Why was she smiling?
She’d come to his office to let him know she was back, and
suddenly the temperature of the regal room was rising
exponentially.

She thought about his words on the phone.
She’d heard that closing statement a hundred times. “That should be
your tag line.”

“
Oh, but you are so
right.” He was now only inches away, looking down into her
confident expression. His cologne penetrated her nostrils and
filled her lungs. “I do not like being disappointed.”

“
I remember that about
you.” She hesitated. If she just leaned forward, they would be
touching. She stood straight, fighting the urge for contact. “Your
car has been returned in one piece, scarcely a scratch.”

The tips of his lips twitched and his
eyebrow cocked, “A scratch?”

Claire’s grin broadened, “Wasn’t that your
concern, that I might scratch it?”

He took the initiative and leaned forward.
Their subtle touch increased the beating of her heart. Almost
instantaneously, her tender breasts responded to the sensation of
his massive chest. “I don’t recall being concerned with a scratch,”
he said. “The whole damn car can be replaced. I believe my concern
was with your safe return.” Because, Claire hadn’t resisted their
contact, Tony chose to make another move, wrapping his arms around
the small of her back. With their proximity, her face tipped
upward.

Her mind told her to back away. However, she
could barely hear the instructions over the intense pulsation of
blood in her ears. Her words slowed with breathy expectation, “I
have returned.”

With one hand still behind her, Tony gently
brought her chin skyward. His touch combined with a new husky tone
caused Claire’s emerald eyes to flutter. She felt the vibration of
his speech against her chest, “You, my dear, are continually
teaching me new things?”

“
What, pray-tell,
have
I
taught
you
?”

His lips tenderly brushed hers. “I believe I
mentioned before, I liked the black panties. The other night, the
light blue satin bra straps monopolized my thoughts. Every time I
looked at you, I wondered if it was part of a matching set.” Claire
nodded, their noses touching with the movement of her head. “And
just now, I realized how much more satisfying it is to have you
bring yourself home, freely – willingly, than to know you have been
driven, perhaps reluctantly.”

“
It seems - s....” Claire
giggled, “You
can
teach an old dog new tricks.” The breath of his laugh bathed
her face in warmth. She went on, “and as I recall, you’ve taught me
quite a few things too.” Her mind screamed to stop. Did she really
want to go here? Yet, her mouth seemed to be attached to another
part of her anatomy. That part knew exactly where it wanted to
go.

“
I had been thinking about
the pool, but I am up for review, if you are willing?”

She smiled at the
reference. He was definitely
up
for review. She could feel him
up
against her hip. This
wasn’t her plan either. But for some reason it felt right. Maybe
she needed to know. Lifting her hands to his dark hair, Claire
allowed her fingers to weave their way through his thick black mane
as her green eyes opened wide, searching his softening brown
irises.

He pulled her closer, pressing himself
against her. She lowered her lids and willingly consented. Parting
their lips, their tongues engaged. The passion ignited Claire in
ways she’d forgotten. In ways she’d safely compartmentalized away.
Even with Harry.

None of it made sense. Claire wanted Tony to
pay for his sins. She wanted to bring him down. And, and ... and
she wanted what they had, but more... better. She wanted what
seemed to be staring her in the face.

Tony -- his magnetism, his control, his
dominance -- was erotic. Claire also wanted freedoms and liberties.
She wanted a non-monitored telephone, the ability to come and go,
and freedoms... and him.

Didn’t their child deserve
to know his or her father? Could Tony ever be a man to swing his
small child into his arms with a laugh? Claire told herself, she
was consenting for their child, but currently
her
needs wholly dominated her
thoughts.

As Claire’s arms encircled his neck, her
breasts tingled against his solid muscular chest. Everything she
did or said was brought on by deep suppressed carnal desire. She’d
spent too much time during the past three years thinking. Today she
wanted to respond and react... she wanted her screaming
consciousness to take a much needed break. Claire wanted Tony.

When he bent down with his nose touching
hers and asked, “Are you sure?”

Claire didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’m sure.”

Tony didn’t ask again. Instead he bent
slightly and scooped Claire into his arms. They did not stay in the
regal office; instead, Tony carried her away from the grand
staircase, down the corridor to his room, laying Claire on the
large regal bed.

Today she wore pink underwear, matching the
color of her top. Once again his skilled fingers played with the
bow directly below her bellybutton. After removing the lace bra, he
caressed her growing breasts. Their tenderness intensified his
manipulation, rousing stimulation and bringing Claire unknown
ecstasy. His prowess within the defined skill set was unequaled.
Multiple times Claire gripped Tony’s shoulders or the satin sheets
trying desperately to remain earth bound as her body surged toward
heaven.

When they were both satisfied, she laid
within the crook of his arm enjoying the feel of her head on his
shoulder and his intoxicating scent. Claire thought about what
she’d done. Unashamedly, she didn’t regret her decisions. His
steady breathing was an aphrodisiac, electrifying her already taut
body. Was this insatiable need, too, a result of the pregnancy? The
more he gave, the more she wanted.

The draperies of his large windows were
open. The midday sunshine illuminated his suite. Seeing past the
glass, the crystal blue sky reminded her of the pool. “Do you think
we could have lunch at the pool and enjoy some of this day
outside?”

He turned to her with a grin that matched
his sultry stare, “I would like to stay here forever, but I like
the idea of getting you more sun.”

Her lips found his neck and began to roam,
between suckles she said, “At this second, I wouldn’t argue, with
staying here.” The low growl elicited by her actions was enough to
split her body wide open. “But, I’m hungry, and that sky, looks
beautiful.”

He rolled her onto her back as her long
brown hair fanned the pillow behind her glowing face. “Not as
beautiful as you look this moment.”

Claire felt her cheeks blush. Her eyes went
to the grand ceiling above as she felt his lips nuzzle her collar
bone and move south. “Mr. Rawlings, I believe we were discussing
lunch?”

His smile filled her as
much as his actions. Claire didn’t want to enjoy it or him. But she
did. When she sat to get out of his bed, her vision turned toward
his grand fireplace. There were so many good memories associated
with that hearth and the warmth radiating from it. What caught her
attention causing the air to leave her lungs was
above
the
fireplace.

“
Tony,” she stammered,
“how long have you had that there?”

His expression changed. Had he forgotten her
wedding portrait was hanging above his fireplace? “Ever since you
left.”

Perhaps it is impossible to
wear an identity
without becoming what you pretend to be.
–
Orson Scott Card

Chapter
48

Pictures of Tony and
Claire flooded the internet. Someone at Brent and Courtney’s house
made good use of their cellphone. There were even pictures of
Claire with Sue in Iowa City. Claire wondered,
isn’t there any real news happening in the world right
now?

As she viewed each picture, Claire
questioned her expressions. How long could she continue to argue
her facade? Was she truly that accomplished at lying, or had Tony’s
bold move and forced togetherness induced his desired outcome?
Could Claire possibly be enjoying herself with him?

As she completed the final
touches of her wedding attire, Claire thought about their
afternoon. From his office, to his suite, and the pool deck with
the warm sultry water...his expressions and touches kept her body
on high alert. Even while napping under the shade of a large
umbrella, Claire remembered the feel of his large strong hands
caressing her skin with sunscreen. It wasn’t the first time her
body rebelled against her better judgment. Claire reasoned,
tomorrow I will fight. Today I want to
enjoy
.

Radiant
was the word in Tony’s mind as he watched Claire
descend the grand staircase. With the blush of afternoon sun on her
cheeks, her hair and makeup done to perfection, and the light green
Herve Leger dress she’d found in the closet, Claire looked
radiant.