“Those black lacy panties.”
Claire released his hand and stood abruptly. “What did you say?”
“I’ve been thinking about your black lacy underwear; there was a small bow.” His smile turned sensual, “I’ve been wondering what color you’re wearing tonight.”
Her voice came out an octave higher, “How do you know about black lace panties?”
Tony stood, his hands grasped her shoulders. Their chests touched and his breath quickened, “Why can’t you believe I still love you?”
“Really? After an entire night of blackmailing me into being your companion, threatening my friend’s company with disaster, and now learning that you ... that you,” her body trembled, tears once again flowed, her voice broke and became a whisper, “raped me.”
His tone was more of a plea, “No, Claire. Don’t even suggest that.” He lifted her chin and their eyes met. “You agreed to everything. You more than consented; you wanted it as much as I did.” He released her chin and her face fell against his chest.
She remembered the day he came to the condominium. She’d been up half the night dreaming about him, about them. She remembered telling him good-bye, and she remembered wanting him.
Her knees weakened as his arms surrounded her. The sound of his heart echoed in her ear, and the familiar aroma of his cologne filled her subconscious. Claire melted into his embrace; she had no strength left from which to draw. He was right. She wanted him that day. Truthfully, even at this moment she enjoyed the familiar touch. There was something about the continual challenge that kept her senses electrified. The range of emotions he elicited and the depth of understanding they shared, created a bond. She’d fought it all night. Closing her eyes she conceded the current battle. There was no fight left within her.
Tony kissed the top of her head and scooped her up into his arms.
Her voice was soft, but determined, “No. Tony, not tonight.”
“I’m putting you on the sofa. You’re about to fall.”
She nodded against the silk of his shirt. The softness against her cheek and the steady drum of his heart calmed the aching in her temples. Together they sat on a large white sofa facing the tall windows. With Tony’s long legs stretched out onto a matching ottoman and his arm still tenderly around her shoulders, Claire removed her high heels and curled her legs onto the plush cushions. Molding to his side she accepted the comfort of his embrace. For the longest time they stayed like that, silent, watching the vista before them.
The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge glowed from the street level illumination. That same light reflected picturesquely onto the water below. The night was clear and the sky appeared a deep blue black. There were no visible stars, yet the moon shone low over the darkened land on the other side of the suspension bridge.
Claire felt his chest rise and fall with the inhale and exhale of a deep breath. His rich voice resonated through the silence, “Are you ready for me to call Eric?”
When he spoke the vibration tickled her cheek. She didn’t lift her head. “What I really want are answers.”
“What kind of answers.”
“Truthful.” It was what he’d asked of her in the past. Some of their deepest heart-to-heart discussions occurred in a similar pose, intimate times when they couldn’t see one another’s expressions. When Tony didn’t respond, Claire pushed on, “You say you still love me. You’re a very intelligent man. Surely you understand actions speak louder than words.”
“You said, no.”
“I don’t mean sex. I mean actions, like tricking me tonight and setting me up for your attempted murder.” His chest rose and fell again. She felt his warm breath blowing across her hair. “Tell me why.”
“I told you. It was a loop hole.”
Claire shook her head, “I don’t understand your puzzles.”
“You, too, are very intelligent. I don’t believe you’ve spent the past year and a half without suspicions.”
“I truly didn’t understand, until I received that box of information.”
“And what did you conclude from that?”
She contemplated her answer, as her fingers mindlessly played with the small buttons down the center of his silk shirt. Finally she spoke, “Well, it’s hard to answer. You see at first I thought you’d sent it. So, I thought you were adding insult to injury, you know, rubbing salt in my wounds.”
His embrace tightened, “And you thought I’d do that?”
“What else could I think? You set me up and left me.” Her emotion ladened voice trailed into silence. Closing her eyes, she remembered him at the jail in Iowa and saw visions of her prison cell. Her body trembled as she fought to contain the sobs within her chest.
“There are few people in this world whom I’ve cared about.” Tony’s voice had a faraway quality. “Few people whose opinion of me I value.” He lifted her chin and looked into her moist glistening emerald eyes. “I know you have reason to doubt me. Hell, reasons. But, Claire, you are one of those people.” She closed her eyes, and he continued speaking, “I need you to understand. I made promises, and I keep my word.”
She didn’t know where the words came from. It wasn’t something she’d been consciously thinking, yet they came anyway, “You made me a promise, on December eighteenth...”
He interrupted, each word coming slower than the one before, “Two thousand and ten, in our estate, to love you forever. I keep my word.”
His lips found hers and passion glued them together. It wasn’t fevered, like a wildfire roaring through the California Mountains. It was deep and painful; the kind of bond that yanks at your heart, until your only desire is to remove the pumping organ with your bare hands.
Abruptly, Claire stood. The room spun from her quick movement. Tony reached up and steadied her. She heard the honest concern in his voice.
“Are you all right? What happened?”
Claire picked up her shoes and smoothed her dress. “I’m fine. I want to go now.”
He didn’t argue, though his gaze never left hers. He reached inside his pocket and removed his phone. She waited while he spoke to Eric.
“Eric will have the car ready in the private garage in a few minutes.” Her expression must have asked her unspoken question about the location. In the past, cars were always outside. Tony replied, “If we enter the car in the garage, we can avoid paparazzi.”
“Oh, good idea. I need to use the restroom, and I’ll be ready to leave.” Claire turned to walk away and then turned back. “We? Tony I don’t need you to ride with me.” She paused, “I’d prefer you didn’t.”
“Then I will escort you to the car. If that is acceptable?”
Claire nodded and walked away; her dress swept the cool floor, while her shoes dangled from her fingertips.
Though considerably less tense than the earlier decent, the ride down the golden elevator was awkwardly quiet. Their reflections in the gold mirrored doors were much less polished than before. Claire’s eyes displayed signs of her multiple emotional breaks. Her lids were no longer painted to perfection and her mascara was gone. While freshening up in the restroom she cleaned the dark circles from under her eyes. If they’d planned on exiting through the lobby, she would have needed to redo a great deal of her make-up.