Читать книгу Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger - Charlene Sands - Страница 13
Seven
ОглавлениеRena snuggled deeper into her bed, rebelling against thin rays of dawn creeping into the room. She closed her eyes tighter, rolling away from the light and into familiar warmth. Cocooned in the heat now, she relaxed and let out a stress-relieving sigh.
Her eyelids blessedly shut, she breathed in a pleasing musky scent and smiled. A warm breath brushed her cheek, then another and another. She popped her eyes open. Tony was there, inches from her face, his eyes dark and dusky. He lay stretched out on his side, apparently watching her sleep. âMorning, beautiful.â
Alarm bells rang out in her head. She couldnât believe she was in bed with Tony. And enjoying it. His warmth surrounded her. She focused on the firm set of his sculpted jaw, then opened her mouth to speak, but Tony placed his finger to her lips, stopping her words. âShh. Donât overthink this, Rena.â He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer.
She remembered putting on her most unappealing nightshirt last night, a soft, brushed cotton garment with tiny cap sleeves just in case Tony held true to his word to sleep with her. But Rena liked to feel feminine in bed, so the least suggestive nightgown she owned was still a far cry from head-to-toe flannel.
âDonât overthink what?â
âThis,â he said, moving closer and touching his lips to hers. The heat of his mouth and the intimate contact should have caused her to panic. Yet, she didnât resist, her body and mind not fully operational at the moment. He pulled away long enough to search her eyes and must have been satisfied with what he saw in them.
Tony knew how to kiss a woman, and he held nothing back with the next kiss. He drew her in with expert finesse, coaxing a reaction from her. His hand on her waist, she felt his strength through the thin cotton fabric of the nightgown. He squeezed her gently, and immediate tingles coursed through her body. She sighed aloud, a throaty little sound that emanated from deep within. Tony moved his hand up, stroking her side slowly up and down, his fingers brushing the underside of her breast.
Oh God, it felt good to have him caress her, teasing her breast until she ached for his touch.
Rena loved the physical act of making love. She loved the intimacy, the joy of having her body succumb to infinite pleasure. Tony had taught her that. Heâd taken her virginity and taught her to enjoy sexual intercourse. Of course, back then theyâd been so much in love that holding back wasnât an option. Sheâd given herself fully to him, surrendering her heart and her body. Sheâd only been with two men in her life, and each in their own way had taught her about loving a man. Where David had been sweet, patient and dependable, Tony had been irresistible, hot-blooded and sexy.
Tonyâs passionate kisses unnerved her. His touch drew her like a magnet. She moved closer, arching toward him, her breaths heavier now. He nibbled on her lips, whispering how beautiful she was, how much he wanted to touch her.
She gave him permission with a sigh.
His hand came up and cupped her breast over the fabric of her cotton nightie. He flicked a finger over the tip, rubbing back and forth, sending shock waves through her body. Intense heat swamped her, and she longed for more.
She knew the instant Tonyâs body went taut. His breaths deepened, and his kisses became more demanding as he parted her lips. His tongue beckoned hers, and she met him halfway. They sparred in an endless search for satisfaction.
While her body craved the physical release, her heart and mind screamed no. Torn by indecision, she stilled, forcing herself to think this through.
âYouâre overthinking again, Rena,â Tony said in a low rasp. He continued to stroke her breast, unraveling her mind.
She mustered her willpower and covered his hand with hers, stopping him. âOne of us has to.â
âI told you I donât plan on being celibate in this marriage,â he said quietly. âIf I thought you werenât ready, Iâd back off. But the woman I was just kissing wasnât protesting at all. You were enjoying having my hands on you. In another second I would have taken off your nightgown, and we would have been skin to skin. I want that, and I know you want that, too.â
Renaâs heart pumped hard. He was right, but she had to voice her innermost thoughts. âWanting and having are two different things.â
âRenaâs rules, not mine.â
Rena drew oxygen in. âI canât forget who you are. I canât ignore what you did to me. My heart is empty where youâre concerned.â
âSo youâve said.â Tony flopped onto his back and looked at the ceiling. âWhatâs done is done, Rena. I canât change that.â
âI know. And I canât change how I feel. I may want you physically, but youâll never really have me. I canât love you again. I wonât. Youâll never own my heart.â
âAs long as youâre faithful to me, thatâs all Iâll ask for now.â
Stunned by the statement, Rena lifted her head off the pillow. âYou know me, Tony. Iâd never even considerââ
He turned onto his side again to face her. âWhat you donât know about me is that Iâd never consider it, either. But Iâm a man with physical needs, and since weâre married and compatible in bed, thereâs no reason not to make love.â
âYou mean, have sex? Because without love, itâs just sex,â Rena pointed out.
He lifted a strand of her hair, eyeing it as he let it fall from his fingers. âJust sex?â Tony cocked her a playful grin. âEven better.â
Rena shook her head in bewilderment.
âCâmon, Rena. Weâve cleared the air. I get it. You donât love me, but you crave my body.â
âI never said that!â
âOh, no?â he said innocently. He was such a tease. He crushed his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately. Sheâd hardly come up for air when he grabbed her hand and set it on his chest. âTouch me.â
Crisp scattered hairs filled her palm and underneath muscles rippled. She wove her hand up along his sculpted shoulders then down to tease his flattened nipple. His intake of air let her know he enjoyed her flicking her finger over him, the way he had to her.
Laying her hand against his torso, she inched her way down, tempted by a perfect body and powered by the sounds of Tonyâs quick jagged breaths. Okay, so maybe she did crave his body. She had memories that wouldnât go away. Sexual flashes that entered her mind at the most inopportune times. Sheâd remembered how heâd made her feel, how potent his lovemaking was, how satisfied sheâd been afterward. If anything, Tony had matured into a stunning male specimen. He knew how to give pleasure, and he knew how to take it. Heâd always made Rena feel special and cherished, no matter what act they performed.
She slid her hand farther down, slipping below Tonyâs waistline. When she reached the elastic band of his boxers, she hesitated, tentative in her approach. Myriad thoughts flitted through her mind one right after the other, but Tony interrupted that train of thought. âJust let go, Rena,â he whispered. âWe both need this.â
Rena touched him then, her hand gliding over silken skin. His arousal shocked her, though she didnât know why it should. He was a virile man, and they were in bed together, ready to consummate their marriage.
âI want you.â Tonyâs low tone held no room for doubt. He cupped her chin and brought her lips to his. There was a sense of urgency to his kiss, yet he remained gentle and patient, waiting for her to respond. She stroked him with trebling fingers, bringing him to a fuller state of arousal.
âThis is notââ Rena began, but Tony kissed her again, his mouth generous and giving, coaxing her to fulfill their destiny. Torn by indecision, she shoved all thoughts of the past years aside and tried to focus on the future.
âWeâll have a life together, Rena.â Tonyâs words mirrored her own. Her life included him now, whether planned or not, whether she liked it or not. She had no other option now.
âI know,â she said, finally resigning to her fate.
Tony removed his boxers then placed her hand back on him, skin to skin, and her insides turned to jelly. There was life to Tony, a vitality sheâd missed during these past months. He filled the void, the hollowness that beseeched her since sheâd become a widow. She had her precious child, yes, but this intimacy fulfilled her need to feel alive again.
She stroked him until his pleasure heightened. Instincts, or perhaps recollection, told her that heâd reached his limit. He flipped her onto her back, and in one quick sweep, he removed her nightgown, pulling it up and over her head. His kisses burned her through and through, and his hands roamed over her, touching, tormenting, caressing and teasing every inch of her skin. His voice was low and consumed with passion. âYouâre as beautiful as I remember.â
He brought his mouth down to suckle her breast, his tongue wetting her with long swipes. After laving each nipple, he blew on them, and every ounce of her body prickled with need. Her pulse raced with exquisite excitement. Unmindful of any repercussions, she relished the thrill of the moment.
Tony praised her body with quiet expletives and cherished every limb before moving on to touch her at the apex of her legs. His palm covered her, and she arched up.
âYouâre ready for me, sweetheart,â he acknowledged. Without hesitation, he rose over her. She gazed up at him, and images of their past, of doing this very thing with nothing but love in their hearts, played out in her mind. Sheâd relished their joining, eager to show the man she loved how much he meant to her. It had been perfect. Blissful. Exciting.
Tony stared into her eyes in the dawn light, and she witnessed that same spark. The memories had come back to him, as well. His lips lifted and his eyelids lowered. Then he gripped her hips and she squeezed her eyes shut, ready for him to take her.
âLook at me,â he commanded.
âTony,â she murmured, popping her eyes open. It was clear what he wanted. No memories of any other man. No memories of David.
He nodded when their eyes met, apparently satisfied, then he moved inside her with extreme care. Rena adjusted to his size and accommodated him with her body. It wasnât long before his thrusts magnified, their bodies sizzled hot and the burn sheâd remembered from long ago returned fiercely.
Infinitely careful and recklessly wild, Tony made love to her, seeing to her needs, giving as much as taking, gentle at times and feral at others. He was the perfect loverâthat much hadnât changed. And all the while, Rena gave up her body to him but held firmly onto her emotions.
It was just sex.
And as Tony brought her to the peak of enjoyment, her skin damp, her body throbbing for the release that would complete her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and arched up, her bones melting but her heart firmly intact.
Tony wrapped Rena in his arms. They lay quietly together on the bed after making love, each deep in thought. It had been months since heâd had sex, and his release had come with powerful force. Rena had responded to him as she always had, with wild abandon. At least her body had reacted as heâd hoped. He knew what she liked and how to please her. Sheâd been his first love, too, and a man doesnât easily forget how to please the woman he loves.
Theyâd been so young back then, full of dreams and plans for the future. But Tony had been a rebel. Heâd hated being under his fatherâs thumb. He hadnât wanted any part of the family business, not when racing cars meant so much to him. Heâd never planned on leaving Rena behind. It just happened. While his professional life had been great, his personal life had suffered.
Once heâd become a champion, he had women knocking at his door at all hours of the night. They followed him from race to race. Theyâd called him, showed up when he least expected it. Beautiful, sexy, outrageous women. Heâd never fallen in love with any of them. Heâd had flings and a few casual relationships that never lasted more than a couple of months.
Heâd held hope for Rena in the early years, but he hadnât blamed her for giving up on him. He hadnât known what the future held for him other than racing cars. He was on the road a great deal of time, thrilled by his success but heartbroken about Rena.
His gaze fell to Renaâs face, her expression glum, her eyes filled with regret. Hardly the loving wife in the aftermath of lovemaking.
Hell, he felt like crap himself, guilt eating at him. He wanted to do right by David, but he couldnât forget that a few months ago, his friend was alive and well and living with the woman he loved. He was to become a father, something that David always wanted.
Tony had suspected David had feelings for Rena early on. They had been good friends in school, yet all three understood in an unspoken agreement that Rena and Tony were meant for each other. When Tony left town, David stayed behind to pick up the pieces of Renaâs shattered heart. Heâd loved her that much to forego a chance to enter the racing circuit with Tony. To Renaâs way of thinking, David was her white knight coming to her rescue, where Tony was the villain whoâd abandoned her.
Now theyâd consummated a loveless marriage.
Her remorse irritated him more than it should. Was it ego on his part? Theyâd just made incredible love, and now Rena looked so darn miserable.
Damn it, what did she expect? She was his wife. He would raise her child as his own. Theyâd both agreed to honor Davidâs last wishes. That meant living as man and wife and sleeping together. He blinked away anger and guilt then rose abruptly, mindless of his state of undress. âIâll grab a shower, then I want to go over your accounts.â
Rena glanced at him for an instant, bit down on her lip then focused her attention out the window. âIâll make breakfast.â
âIâm not hungry,â he said. âCoffee will do. Meet me in the office once youâre dressed.â
Rena nodded without looking at him.
Tony showered quickly and dressed with clothes heâd taken from his bag. He put on a pair of faded jeans and a black T-shirt then shoved his feet into a pair of seasoned white Nike shoes.
He heard kitchen sounds as he walked down the hallway, the aroma of hot coffee brewing, whetting his taste buds. But instead of greeting his new wife in the kitchen, he strode outside and closed the door. The northern California air was crisp and fresh, the brilliant sky laced with white puffy clouds.
He filled his lungs several times, breathing in and out slowly, enjoying the pristine air. The vineyards were far removed from the city, elevated to some degree, the vistas spread out before him, glorious. Funny, as a young boy, heâd had no appreciation for the land or its beauty and solitude. Heâd never seen this country as his father had seen it.
Now heâd make a life here. The irony that his father was getting what he wanted in death, rather than in life, was never far from his mind.
Tony entered the office adjacent to the gift shop with the key Rena had left for him on her dresser. He glanced around, noting two tall file cabinets, an outdated computer, a desk that had seen better days and shelves displaying certificates, wine awards and pictures of Rena and David. He walked over and picked one up that was encased in a walnut frame. He looked at the image of the couple standing among the vines ripe with cabernet grapes.
âIt was a good year for cabernet. Our fifth anniversary.â Rena walked into the office with a cup of coffee and set it down on the desk.
Tony stared at the photo. âYou look happy.â
âDavid made me dinner that night. He set up twinkling lights out on the patio. We danced in the moonlight.â
Tony put the frame back, deciding not to comment. What could he say to that? âThanks for the coffee.â
She shrugged. âWell, this is the office. Our accounts for the past ten years are in those file cabinets.â
Tony picked up the coffee cup and sipped. The liquid went down hot and delicious, just what he needed. âIâll start with the past year and work my way backward.â
âOkay, Iâll get those for you.â
âAre they all paper files? Do you have anything loaded into the computer?â
Rena glanced at the machine. âWe have our inventory computerized now. And David had started to enter the paper files. But he didnât get very far, Iâm afraid.â
Tony sat down at the desk and signed on. âWant to show me where everything is?â
Rena came close, her hair still slightly damp from her shower. She bent over the computer, clicking keys. Her clean scent wafted in the air. âWhat is that?â he asked.
She looked at him in question. âWhat?â
âYou smell great.â
She smiled softly. âItâs citrus shampoo.â
Tony met her eyes, then took her hand gently. âRena ⦠listen, about this morning.â
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. âDonât, Tony. I canât help how I feel.â
âHow do you feel?â
She hesitated for a moment, but Tony fixed his gaze on her and wouldnât back down. She sighed quietly. âLike I sold my soul.â
âTo the devil?â
Her lips tightened as if holding back a comment.
Tony leaned in his chair, releasing her hand. âPhysically, are you okay?â
âYes,â she said. âIâm fine. I see the doctor next week, but Iâm healthy.â
She continued clicking on keys, showing him where the files were kept and how to access them. Then she came upon a document and lingered, her gaze drawn to the words on the screen: Vine by Vine. âDonât worry about this,â she said, her finger on the delete button.
âWait.â Tony stopped her. âWhat is it?â
âItâs nothing.â Rena said, but he wouldnât let it go. Something in her eyes told him, whatever it was, it was important to her.
âI need to see everything, Rena. If Iâm going to help you.â
âItâs got nothing to do with the accounts, Tony. Trust me.â
âSo why wonât you let me see it?â Determined, he pressed her.
âOh, for heavenâs sake!â Rena straightened, her eyes sparkling like blue diamonds. âItâs just a story I was writing.â
âA story?â That sparked his curiosity. âWhatâs it about?â
âItâs about a girl growing up in the wine country.â
âItâs about you?â
âNo, itâs a novel. Itâs fiction, but yes, I guess some of it is about what I know and how I feel about living here. Itâs sort of a wine guide but told from a different perspective. Itâs an analogy of how a girl grows to womanhoodââ
âAnd you relate that to how a vine grows? Sort of like, how you need to be cared for and loved and nourished.â
âYeah,â she said, her expression softening. âSomething like that.â
âYouâre not finished with it?â
She made a self-deprecating sound. âNo, Iâd forgotten about it. Thereâs too much to do around here.â She shrugged it off. âI never found the time.â
âMaybe someday youâll have time to finish it.â
Rena stared deeply into his eyes. âRight now, Iâm more interested in saving my winery.â
Tony glanced at the computer screen, satisfied that sheâd removed her finger from the delete button. âAgreed. Thatâs the first order of business. We have to find a way to keep Purple Fields afloat.â
Rena walked into the gift shop through a door adjacent to the office, leaving Tony to work his magic on their books. Sheâd given him all the files, answered his questions and left once he was neck-deep in the accounts, unaware of her presence any longer.
Her small little haven of trinkets and boutique items always perked up her spirits. She loved setting up the displays, making each unique object stand out and look desirable to the customer. They made very little profit on the shop, but it complimented the wine-tasting room and made the whole area look appealing.
Rena sighed with relief rather than anguish this time. For so long sheâd had the burden of saving Purple Fields on her shoulders, and the weight had become unbearably heavy. Now she knew that with Tonyâs assets backing her up she had salvaged the future of Purple Fields, thus insuring her babyâs future as well. She could only feel good about that.
But saving the winery had come at a high price. If it werenât for the promise she made to David, she wondered if sheâd be standing here right now. Sheâd been set to sell Purple Fields and move away, making a fresh start with her child. Now she was tied to Tony Carlino, and the notion prickled her nerves.
She didnât want to enjoy being in his arms this morning. She didnât want to admit that having sex with him made her world spin upside down. She hated that sheâd liked it. That sheâd responded to him the way she always had. Tony wasnât a man easily forgotten, but sheâd managed it for twelve years. Now he was back in her life and planned to stay.
Solena entered the gift shop, thankfully interrupting her thoughts. âHey, youâre up and out early this morning.â
Rena smiled at her friend, happy to see her. âItâs just another workday.â
Solena eyed her carefully. âIs it? I thought you got married two days ago.â
âSeems longer,â Rena said, lifting her lips at her little joke.
âThat bad?â
Rena glanced at the door leading to the office. âI shouldnât complain. Heâs in there right now, going over all our files and accounts. Heâs owning up to his end of the bargain.â
Solena walked behind the counter and spoke with concern and sympathy. âAre you doing the same, my friend?â
Rena lowered her lashes. âIâm trying. Iâm really trying. I never thought weâd live together like this. We, uhââ Heat reached her cheeks, and she realized sheâd blushed, something she rarely did.
Solena spoke with understanding. âTonyâs a very handsome, appealing man, Rena.â
âSo was David.â Tears welled in her eyes.
Solena leaned over the counter to take her hands. Rena absorbed some of her strength through the solid contact. âDavid is the past, Rena. As hard as that is to hear, itâs true. You have to look forward, not back.â
âBut I feel so ⦠guilty.â
Solena held firm. âRemind yourself that David wanted this.â
âThere are times when I really hate Tony,â she whispered. âAnd Iâm ashamed that Iâm not too thrilled with David for making me do this.â
âBut we both know why he did.â
Rena tilted her head to one side. âThereâs more. I should have told you sooner.â
âWhat?â Solenaâs dark eyes narrowed with concern.
Rena hesitated, staring at her friend. Finally she blurted, âIâm pregnant.â
Solena drew in a big breath then let it go in relief. âOh! You had me scared for a second there, imagining the worst.â Quickly, she walked around the counter to give Rena a hug. âThis is good news ⦠really good news.â
âYes, it is. I know.â A tear dropped down her cheek. Sheâd already fallen in love with her baby. âIâm happy about the baby, but now do you see why Iâm so, soââ
âYouâre torn up inside. I can see that. But you have hope and a new life to bring into this world. Oh Rena, my dear friend, I couldnât be happier for you.â
She glanced at the office door and lowered her voice, speaking from the heart. âDavid should raise his child, not Tony.â
Solenaâs eyes softened with understanding. âBut that canât be. Your feeling bad isnât going to change that. It takes a remarkable man to raise another manâs child. Tony knows?â
âHe knows.â
âYou resent him.â
âYes, I do. I resent him for so many reasons. Iâm so afraid.â
âAfraid?â Solena met her gaze directly. âYouâre afraid of Tony?â
She shook her head. âNo, not of him. Of me. Iâm afraid Iâll forgive him. I donât want to forget the hurt and pain he caused me. I donât want to ever forgive him.â
Tony spent the morning loading the Purple Fields files into a new database program. His first order of business was to update the computer. He wasnât a genius at business like his brother Joe, but he knew the value of state-of-the-art equipment. Rena needed a new computer, but for now heâd do what he could and download everything to a flash drive.
Rena walked into the office holding a plate of food. âItâs after one, and you havenât eaten lunch.â
Tony glanced at his watch, then leaned back in his seat. âI didnât realize the time.â
She set the plate down onto the desk. âHam and cheese. I have chicken salad made if youâd prefer that instead?â
Tony grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. âThis is fine,â he said, his stomach acknowledging the late hour. âDid you eat?â
âSolena and I had a bite earlier. Since Davidâs death, sheâs been babysitting me. She thinks I donât know it, but itâs sweet. We usually have lunch together.â
âWhat about Ray?â
âHe eats a huge breakfast at home and skips lunch.â
âDo you have time to sit down?â he asked. âI could use the company.â
He rose from his chair, offering it to her. He waited until she took the seat before he sat on the edge of the desk, stretching his legs out. He wasnât used to poring over a computer screen for hours. He wasnât used to being holed up behind a desk in a small office either.
He gobbled his sandwich and began working on the apple sheâd cut into wedges. âHowâs your day going?â
âGood,â she said. âI gave a wine tour at eleven, and we sold a few cases today. Want something to drink?â
âIâll have a beer later. Iâll need it.â
She tilted her head, her pretty blue eyes marked with question. âToo many numbers?â
âYeah. Iâm inputting files. Setting up a database. My eyes are crossing.â
She laughed. âI know what you mean.â
Tony liked the sound of her laughter. He stared at a smile that lit the room. âYou do?â
âAll those numbers can make you crazy.â
He grinned. âI think Iâm there now.â He gobbled up the apple wedges. âThanks for lunch.â
Rena watched him carefully. âYouâre welcome.â
âYou need a new computer and some stuff for the office. This thing is outdated. Weâll work out a time to do that.â
Renaâs eyes widened. âA new computer? I, uh, we never could affordââ
âI know,â Tony said softly. âBut now we can.â
âAnd you need me for that?â
âYes, I need your input. Look, we can drive into the next town if youâd feel more comfortable, butââ
âI would.â She offered without hesitation.
Tonyâs ego took a nosedive. Heâd promised her a secret marriage and heâd stick to it, but he wasnât accustomed to women not wanting to be seen with him. Usually, it was just the oppositeâwomen enjoyed being seen around town with him.
Irritated now, he agreed. âFine.â
âSo what are your plans?â She stood and picked up his empty plate.
âI loaded the info to a flash drive. Iâm going to have Joe take a look at everything. Though I have my suspicions, I need his opinion.â
âYouâre going home tonight?â
Her hope-filled voice only irritated him some more. With legs spread, he reached out and pulled her between them, the plate separating their bodies. âYeah, but Iâll be back.â He kissed her soundly on the lips reminding her of the steamy way theyâd made love early this morning. He nuzzled her neck, and the devil in him added with a low rasp, âI have more inputting to do.â
Renaâs eyes snapped up to his.
He smiled and then released her.
Heâd told her no more tiptoeing around and heâd meant it.