Eventually, she said, “Obviously you disagree. If someone is able to access my information, they’d see documents and reports from your parents’ death.”
No longer was peripheral vision enough; Tony turned to stare incredulously at his ex-wife. “What possible business of yours is my parents’ death?”
“I suppose that before, it was morbid curiosity. I wanted to know if you were truly capable of hurting your own parents. Now, however…” She hesitated and sat straighter, defiantly. “…now, it is very much my business. I need to know about my child’s family history.”
He exhaled, releasing some of the stress upon the leather wheel. “I suppose that’s true.” He paused. “I didn’t harm my parents.”
Claire reached out and covered Tony’s hand, a simple touch that reassured him more than words. “I know that now. I’ve known for a while. It wasn’t you—it was the woman in a blue Honda.”
His newfound calm disappeared. Before he could process, Claire continued. “Whoever that woman is, you’ve been protecting her for years.”
“Protecting her?”
“Yes, whoever she is, you’ve kept her secret secure.”
Tony struggled with Claire’s knowledge. How could she have learned about Catherine’s car? That information, as well as eyewitness accounts, had been disposed of years ago. Could he now tell her the truth? After all, Catherine had opened his secret world when she mailed that damn box. Should he return the favor? First and foremost, he needed to get her laptop back and discover who took it. “So all of this is on your laptop?”
Claire nodded. “Yes.”
He contemplated her return flight. No doubt she’d be upset that he’d cancelled her flight; perhaps he could make her think it was her idea. “I want you to seriously reconsider your return to California. The estate is much safer and more secure than a condominium that has already been broken into.”
Her petite hand once again made contact. Reaching for his knee, she explained, “I’ve had a wonderful time. Please don’t ruin it. Let’s just take all of this one day at a time? I’d like to think about tonight now and tomorrow later.”
Tony didn’t argue. It wouldn’t matter; she no longer had a seat on the commercial flight. When they reached the estate, Tony opened Claire’s door and took her hand. She’d said she wanted to concentrate on tonight. So did he. Even without the airline ticket, Tony doubted he’d be able to convince her to stay an extra night, week, or month—that left tonight. Gazing into her emerald eyes, he touched his lips to the top of the hand resting within his. Silently, they walked hand in hand into the house. At the base of the grand staircase, Tony 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 he pulled her hips toward his and 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. He wanted what was beyond that door, what they’d done in that room hundreds of times. However, if he didn’t tell her about the ticket, was that lying? He began to confess, “There’s more for us to discuss—”
Claire’s finger reached out and covered his mouth. He pressed his lips together and watched as desire and determination swirled before him, creating a beautiful, blazing emerald fire. It wasn’t sparked by anger, but yearning. He’d seen it before and knew it was being reciprocated in his gaze. Slowly, below her touch, the tips of his lips moved upward. She whispered, “Tonight is about us, noncharade, nonperformance. If you want something different, go downstairs.”
She wanted control; he’d allow some. They wouldn’t discuss her return flight, her computer, or his history. Instead, they’d continue their reunification within the walls of their shared history. It was a room that contained memories—both good and bad—of domination and consent, and of lust and love.
Love? Tony couldn’t believe it was real, yet it was. He’d never wanted love. Why would he? He wasn’t even sure it existed, until her—the woman once again willingly beneath him. Their roles were redefined: Tony no longer desired domination, and Claire wasn’t submitting. She was an active, willing participant, capable of accommodating his needs as well as voicing her own. Her beautiful eyes saw into his soul, and her petite body dominated his thoughts. Despite all of his mistakes and manipulation, Tony was once again where he longed to be.
He knew it wouldn’t be easy. Each moment was an internal battle. Instinctively, he wanted to control Claire and limit her access to his past and his heart; however, Tony knew it was too late. She’d already managed to unearth emotions he never knew existed, and now they had a child coming. Despite his power slipping through his fingers, when Claire opened her eyes and Tony saw the shimmering emerald irises glow and her lips form a smile—he no longer cared. Within the copper walls and satin drapes of Claire’s suite, it was only the two of them—and that was all they needed.
The next morning when Tony woke, he didn’t slip from bed as he’d done in the past. He lingered, enjoying the warmth of Claire’s body against his side, the sweet smell of perfume that whiffed from her hair, and the soft tickle of her breaths across his chest. Everything within him wanted to wake her and repeat last night’s activities; however, the entire weekend had gone too well. He didn’t want to push her any further than she was willing to go. With their relationship still undefined, Tony forced himself from her bed.