Truth - Romig Aleatha (читать книги полностью без сокращений бесплатно txt) 📗

It felt as if Tony were wrestling with himself, wanting to ask more questions, yet not wanting to divulge more information. After a moment he asked, “So all of this is on your laptop?”

Claire nodded, “Yes.”

They drove in silence until Tony said, “I want you to seriously reconsider your return flight. The estate is much safer and more secure than a condominium which has already been broken into.”

Claire squeezed his knee. “I’ve had a wonderful time. Please don’t ruin it. Let’s please take all of this one day at a time? I’d like to think about tonight now and tomorrow later.”

His grip loosened upon the innocent wheel as he contemplated her words.

When they reached Tony’s estate, he left the Mercedes sitting in front of the steps, gallantly opened Claire’s door, and kissed her hand. Earlier, in the dashboard light she’d watched the man she’d once loved fight his emotions. The intensity in his black eyes and grip upon the soft leather steering wheel no longer frightened her. Hadn’t Catherine asked her to see how hard he is trying? Claire did. And now, that same gorgeous man had her hand at his lips with an equal but different intensity in his gaze. The aura surrounding them wasn’t about laptops or airplane tickets but about pure and simple desire. She could over analyze; however, the way his lips electrified her skin and melted her insides, nullified any arguments she could form.

They walked hand in hand into the house. At the base of the grand staircase, Tony hesitantly whispered, “I suppose this is good-night?”

She stretched her toes allowing her lips to linger on his. When she pulled away, she suckled his neck, just above his perfectly starched collar. Tony’s grasp of her small waist tightened as a low groan escaped his clenched teeth. “That’s up to you.” Claire purred, “I don’t plan on using that lock.”

With their fingers entwined, they made their way toward her suite. At the door, Tony stopped to kiss the woman before him. “There is more for us to discuss....”

Claire’s finger touched his lips. She watched as the pressed straight line below her touch slowly formed a sensual grin. With her face tilted upward she whispered, “Tonight is about us... non-charade, non-performance. If you want something different, go downstairs.”

The copper walls and satin drapes were different, but the suite was the same. It held so many memories. Their history was made within these walls. Yet, as they came together it didn’t feel like the past. It felt new, rejuvenated, consensual, and real.

Their bodies united like they’d never been apart, but their roles were different.

Prison and being away hardened Claire. No longer could she trust without question or believe without confirmation. That didn’t mean she couldn’t trust or believe – it meant she needed the ability to question without fear and confirm on her own terms. As she surrendered to his erotic caresses, Claire pushed the questions away. Right now their carnal needs demanded attention. She craved what only he could give.

With all his entrepreneurial success, Tony’s private life had been anything but. He never wanted love. Why would he? He wasn’t even sure it existed, until her – the woman now willingly beneath him. Her beautiful eyes saw into his soul. And her petite body dominated his mind. Somehow despite all of his mistakes and manipulation, Tony was once again where he longed to be. He wanted to control her and limit her access to his past and his heart. However, he knew it was too late. She’d managed to open places he didn’t know existed. And now they had a child coming. He felt his power slipping through his fingers. Nevertheless, as her eyes opened and Tony watched the shimmering emerald irises glow and her lips form a smile, he no longer cared.

Hope is the dream of a waking man. 

 —Aristotle

Chapter 49

Claire didn’t knock, and she didn’t enter reverently. The sudden rush of his office door made Tony turn toward the commotion. His emails could wait. Her displeasure radiated throughout the room before she uttered a word.

“Tony, what the hell have you done?”

“What are you talking about?”

“After I got dressed, I checked my emails. One is a confirmation of my airline reservation cancellation.” She stood defiantly before him, “I did not cancel my reservation. I called the airline. They informed me my seat was sold. They have no open seats for my original flight or any others until tomorrow. I told you – I was going back to California today; you promised me!”

He smirked, taking her tirade too well and fueling Claire’s anger. “I promised you,” he said with a smooth calm voice, “a return ticket. I am a man of my word; you have a ticket.”

“A voided ticket –semantics! I want to be on that flight!”

“Claire, listen to reason.” He gestured toward the chairs, “Have a seat.”

She looked at the straight backed chairs near his desk. How many times had she sat in those seats while he rattled off rules or perimeters for her behavior?

“No.” As the word left her lips, she watched the muscles in his neck tighten and his eyebrow rise.

“Very well, stand if you prefer. How are you feeling today?”

Claire glared. “You’re not changing the subject. I’m going home.”

“I hoped you would consider yourself home.”

Claire exhaled, paced the length of the desk and back, and collapsed into one of the chairs she’d just refused. “Tony, why do you have to push and push?” Exasperation came through her tone, “I truly have had a wonderful weekend, and I’ve surprisingly enjoyed being on your estate. But I have a life. I have plans. Amber is leaving for a conference, and I want to see her before she leaves. John and Emily will be in Palo Alto Monday. They’re spending four days looking for housing. I need to be there.”

“Amber is leaving? You will be alone?”

She misinterpreted his question, “I will not be with anyone in public, if that’s what you’re asking.”

His voice hardened, “That goes without saying. I’m asking – will you be alone?” His volume rose, “Christ, Claire! Your condominium was broken into. It isn’t safe!”

“You are trying to scare me into staying. I’m not falling for it. My building has top notch security, Harry is utilizing more SiJo resources, and then there are always your people watching me. I lead a damn parade!”

“Your laptop was stolen.”

“Stuff happens – it isn’t cause to stop living.”

He tried to reason, “We have plans beginning Friday in Chicago. In your condition, you shouldn’t be flying all over the country.” She pressed her lips tightly together. The words forming in her head were not appropriate and would not add positively to their conversation. He exhaled and added, “In a commercial plane. Do you know how many people get ill after breathing that recycled air?”

“You’re really stretching here. Tell me, how I’m getting back to California today?”

He sighed, “I want to take you back upstairs and lock that door,” his eyes glared as he added with excessive emphasis, “from the outside.”

Claire stood and walked toward him. Her closed lips formed a soft smile as she peered deep into his dark eyes. There was a time the expression before her would have frightened her, that was no longer the case. Framing his freshly shaven face between her petite hands, she bent toward him. Their noses touched, and she brushed her lips to his. “Tony, I believe you. I know that’s what you want. I drove to town yesterday, and I came back.” She kissed him again. “I will go to California today, and I will be back to Chicago on Friday. Remember what we said the other night?” She didn’t wait for his answer, “We said we needed to trust each other.”