Page 46 of A Lone Star Love Affair
So were those mere rumors about Tony? Or had he reformed? Or had his employees just not seen him do anything yet that was harsh or ruthless, but the time would come when they would see that side of him?
She wondered what was true. She liked Sydney Ryder. Could Tony be like his sister? Or was he like his father? Controlling, unethical if necessary to get what he wanted. She considered all his manipulations to get her into bed, including his enormous promotion and the salary that was almost a bribe. He had two sides and she wasn’t sure which one would dominate.
In minutes he was back, placing the wineglasses on the ledge of the tub and picking her up to place her leaning back against him in the deliciously hot water.
Tony was warm, his arms around her while they talked. She could feel the vibrations in his chest against her back as he spoke of his childhood and his closeness to his sister.
“Thanks to you, it sounds as if Dylan will be my brother-in-law soon.”
“I don’t know whether this will get them back together. It still means your sister will be disinherited and Dylan won’t be able to live with that.”
“I think they both are really in love. I don’t know about Dylan, but Sydney is a wreck and she doesn’t need to lose another pound.”
“Evidently that hasn’t moved your father.”
“No, it hasn’t,” Tony said, and a harsh note entered his voice. “I’m still shocked over what he’s done. As I’ve said, I’ve never known him to do anything dishonest. I doubt if I will ever trust him as much as before.”
“You were probably right about him feeling desperate over losing control of both of you. I can’t imagine trying to control others. My family is so far removed from that. We’ve always supported each other every way we can and everyone does what he wants.”
“I’ll never get this family of yours straight. Tell me again.”
She laughed, turning to give him a look. “Tony, you learned all the hundreds of Morris employees. You call them by name and you really know all the executives. Don’t tell me my family confuses you.”
“They do. That’s different. When do I meet them?”
“I’ve decided I’ll take you home to meet my family when you take me home to meet yours. Which I assume will never happen. Besides, if I took you to meet mine, they would think we’re getting seriously involved with each other, with an engagement and a marriage looming. I don’t think you would want to deal with that. And then, if they think you’re leading me on without serious intentions, I have brothers who take a dim view of anyone messing with their sisters. If you are protective of Sydney, imagine three of you running around protecting her. It compounds,” she said, smiling up at him.
“You definitely have a point. So I suppose we don’t meet each other’s families.”
His hands went around her and he cupped her breasts, playing with her nipples, caressing her. “That’s better, isn’t it?”
She gasped with pleasure and closed her eyes. She ran her hands along his muscled thighs. “Tony—” she whispered, closing her eyes and becoming absorbed in touching him.
“Ah, Isabelle. Beautiful, beautiful,” he whispered.
She twisted to kiss him and in minutes she moved over him, holding him tightly with her eyes closed as he caressed her. He climbed out, getting protection and pulling her into his arms to pick her up. They rocked together, climbing to a pinnacle to burst with release. She fell on him, clinging to his broad shoulders while he held her close to carry her back into the warm water.
A half hour later, she climbed out. He came up out of the water to follow her, reaching to take her towel to slowly dry her, rubbing her from head to toe.
“Now I get to return the favor,” she whispered, taking a folded towel and starting with his shoulder, running the towel over his chest and around to his back, slowly inching her way down his back and legs and then moving around in front to work her way up.
By the time she reached his upper thighs, he was aroused, hard and ready for her.
“Come here, Isabelle,” he said in a deep, raspy voice. He picked her up to carry her to bed, where he held her and they made love, leisurely at first, then with abandon and finally with a desperate urgency.
“Now, I am far too exhausted to move or think,” Isabelle said, sprawled on top of him, her hair spilling over his shoulder and chest.
He ran one hand through her hair while his other hand stroked her bare back. “This is good right now. Just holding you like this, close to my heart, here in my arms for the night. This is perfect.”
“I agree,” she said languidly, feeling as if she had melted and been poured over him. “So very handsome, Tony. You are handsome, sexy, charming.”
“And you, love, are beautiful, sexy, gorgeous, burning me totally when we make love.”
“I hope so,” she said, smiling.
“This is grand, Isabelle. I wasn’t kidding earlier. Move in with me. You want commitment. There’s a commitment of sorts.”
She raised an eyebrow. She would be hurt if she expected anything more from him. “Tony, moving in with you isn’t a commitment in my view. I would definitely be free to move out at any time. No, I’m not moving in with you and we weren’t going to talk about tomorrow yet. Not until it happens.”
