Silently, I slipped into her room and looked over at her. She was curled up under the comforter, and her face still held the strained tightness of earlier. I saw that she’d taken the time to leave her dress neatly over the chair and the jewelry in a safe place. She’d learned her lessons and she was mine.
It was time to tell her that I loved her and I was going to make her mine. Perhaps she’d got suspicious, knew that something was amiss.
Maybe she even … oh, I didn’t know. We needed to sort things out. I couldn’t lose her. I stripped my suit off, taking care not to leave it on the floor as a bad example. I grinned, or the mischievous Toni might try and insist on spanking me. That was out of the question.
Slowly and softly, I slipped in behind her. She was deeply asleep, but her body curled instinctively, pushing back into me. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the heat wherever our skin touched. She began breathing more deeply, her muscles relaxing. We fitted together beautifully. I nuzzled my face into the back of her neck, breathing in the scent of her. I could never let her go.
I glanced over at the window, where the drapes were still open. Dawn was only an hour or so away. I could rest. I had Toni safe in my arms, where she should always be.
* * *
I roused when she shifted in her sleep, and waited while she settled down again. Then I went back to sleep. I knew I could wake before she did, and I wondered what to say to her then.
I woke with a jump when she did.
“Oh!”
I tightened my arms. “It’s okay, Toni. I’m here looking after you. I want you to be safe, and I want to care for you always.” I felt her racing heartbeat as she lay in my arms.
“I’m here for you, Toni. I don’t know what I did yesterday, but I want you to tell me, so I can put it right.” I pulled her closer. “I don’t ever want to see you unhappy again.” She didn’t move, or try to pull away from me, and my hopes rose.
“Whatever it was, please let me change it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think you can.”
I held my breath. Was it that awful?
“What is it? It’ll be better if you share. It will. Let me help.”
She rolled over, and buried her face in my shoulder. “I wish I knew you better.”
I rocked her soothingly, feeling puzzled. “We’re getting to know each other, Toni. All we need is trust, and then time. Time together, trusting each other.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t … wasn’t …” Her voice tailed off. “I know it doesn’t make any sense.” She lifted her head up. “Will you make love to me, please? I want to feel you inside me.”
I shook my head against hers. “No. I didn’t come in here for that, Toni. I came to support you and find out what was wrong, help to get it right.”
Her face turned up to mine. “But it will help make it right. I need to know — need to feel if …” her voice caught. “If you care.”
I’d been about to lift her face to mine, drop a kiss on her forehead, but when I heard her, I froze. How could she think I didn’t care? How had she come to that conclusion?
“Show me you care. Make love to me and show me.” Her hand was gripping my arm, vice-like.
I couldn’t think this was a good idea, but I couldn’t see a way of denying her without making it seem like I wasn’t respecting her feelings. “Toni. I care. How could you think I don’t care?”
Her face was close to mine. Fuck, she was irresistible. “Don’t talk. Show me.”
That wouldn’t be difficult. I was hard as a rock with my need for her. But how could I really show her when I didn’t know what she was looking for?
“All right.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “Let me just grab a condom.” And I rolled away and went to my room.
When I got back, she was lying on top of the comforter, and was naked. Her body gleamed, long and elegant, but her face still bore the strain of yesterday, and she looked exhausted. Her eyes were closed.
I knelt beside her, my eyes exploring her. I had to try and find clues to what she wanted, how she wanted me to do this, and not just take my own pleasure. I could sense she was waiting for me, her breathing was rapid, and I could see a fast pulse beating in her throat. I delighted in looking at her, the swell of her breasts, the way her belly hollowed, and the fine shadow of the promise between her thighs.
“Toni, I’m here. I’m going to touch you now.” I kept my tone very low. I had to speak as I didn’t want to startle her. Then I let my hand touch the side of her face and trace down the side of her jaw. I drew her face closer to mine and lowered my lips to hers. As my mouth touched hers, she sighed and her lips parted. I ran my tongue along the edge of her teeth, not pushing or invading.