“Tony,” she whispered as he encased her in his strong arms and pulled her against his warm chest. The tears that had threatened to fall all day soaked her cheeks. “He was my friend. I feel so empty. He’s not going to be there when I get home. He’s gone, Tony. He’s gone.” She wiped her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
He took her wet cheeks into his hands. “Poppet, I couldn’t leave you alone the whole night.”
Lily’s throat tightened. “Where’s Renee? I’ve never known a girlfriend to let her guy stay away from home so much. I’m surprised she hasn’t walked out by now.”
“She’s at home. She knows your training comes first. Don’t worry about anything. Let’s get you out of here and into bed.”
His voice sounded reassuring and full of comfort, as it always did. He let her lean on him as he held her close with his arm wrapped around her waist. He took the carry-on bag from her shoulder and walked her to his car.
“I was going to take a cab,” she said.
He helped her get settled and shut the door before letting himself in on the driver’s side. “I know, but I’m here to take care of you.”
Chapter Two
Tony left Lily next to the bed so he could start the bath water. As he walked through the large, cozy bedroom, he remembered the first time he’d been in her room. Lily had been so nervous that night. The memory of her naked, standing next to the bed brought a smile to his face.
She was so nervous the first time he gave her any type of instruction. The innocent way her tiny voice asked if she was doing this right or did he like when she did that was his undoing. Know her tender heart had prayed for so long for someone to train her properly brought him to his knees.
He flicked the light on the bathroom wall. The blush-pink and off-white colors sprang to life, making him feel at home as he sat on the edge of the marble tub and turned the brass knobs. She liked the bath water hot enough to blush her ivory skin. He’d learned that early on. Bath time was one of the things he enjoyed most about their visits. Renee, his girlfriend, had grown to love it too.
He reentered the bedroom to find Lily leaning against the bedpost, her shoulders slumped in exhaustion. “Sit down on the bed.”
Without a word, she did as he instructed and sat back on the covers. He knelt to remove her sling-back pumps. As he pressed his thumbs into the arches of her feet, he felt her legs start to bend. She closed her eyes as she tipped her temple against the bedpost. He knew she was tired. Since Nicholas’s death she hadn’t been sleeping well at all. Hell, she’d been a terrible sleeper before she ever got the devastating phone call. The news had only escalated the problem. He’d have to stay tonight so she could get some rest.
He gently urged, “Lie down.”
He helped her to recline into the nest of crimson-and-gold pillows as he managed to pull her skirt free and over her ankles. She had done as he’d asked and hadn’t worn panties. The simple command had eased a bit of her anxiety as she’d fumbled through the closet and drawers, trying to find something to wear. Watching her go through the motions was agonizing. Thoughts had raced through his mind. Taking the pain away was out of his control. The immense torment that he was failing her ate away at his core. He was her dominant trainer, here to ease the overwhelming feelings surging inside a heart so tender yet so strong. This would be his balm to soothe her. Letting the grief take a reprieve, the time had come to give her the one gift he had left. Himself.
The backs of her knees rested against the side of the mattress. His whole body tensed with the feel of her against him. She lay still as he unbuttoned her blouse. Taking a moment to admire her naked body, he pulled in a calming breath. Her breasts were round and plump, hips flared from a soft waistline. His gaze stalked the gentle slope of her stomach that led to the neatly trimmed patch of dark hair covering the lower part of her mound. Not fucking her was torture. Fucking her would be their destruction.
“Come with me,” he said and took her hand to help her up. The water was almost to the edge of the marble wall by the time they entered the bathroom. “Get in.”
“Thank you,” she murmured as she sank into the water. “I know you really don’t have time to do this.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You don’t have to thank me. Have I not always made time for you?”
She rested her neck on the edge of the tub as Tony took the soap from the metal dish on the small side table and lathered it between his hands. “Yes, you always make time for me, but I know the day’s going to come when you can’t.”