Consequences

head. He’d said that. Claire’s eyes brimmed with tears and her chest swelled with fear, but she had to know. “Is that still coming?”
    He reached out to grab her shoulders. He intended to be gentle, but Claire backed away, tripped, and fell onto the ground. His eyes said gentle but she remembered fury. She didn’t know what to think or feel. Not feeling was so much easier. Confusion, apprehension, anger, and dread all showed in her eyes. He followed her to the ground. “Claire, please stop.” He knelt beside her. “No, that isn’t coming. I don’t think you need any more reminders on how to behave, do you?” She said no, she didn’t. “Claire, may I please touch you?”
    She started to tremble again. Sobs resonated from her chest. His voice still gentle but firm. “You know I don’t need your permission to touch you. I don’t need your permission to do anything.” Claire’s eyes closed. She tried to swallow her sobs. She nodded her head yes. She knew too well her permission was not necessary. “But I would like to have it. Please, may I have your consent?”
    She braced herself and opened her eyes. She looked at him and his brown eyes. She closed her eyes again and said, “Okay.”
    He scooted next to her, sitting on the cold hard ground, and softly placed his arm around her back. He could feel her tension. He gently bent down and tenderly kissed her lips, very lightly brushing his lips against hers. She didn’t back away. He could smell her hair blowing in the breeze. It reminded him of flowers. “Have I told you how much I like the highlights in your hair?” She shook her head no. He lightly stroked her hair. “I think you are amazing. You are so strong and resilient. I don’t deserve your forgiveness for what I did, but you deserve to hear me ask for it.” She didn’t want to look at him. Her emotions were too raw. She wanted to forgive him.
    He didn’t touch her, instead he moved himself in front of her so they were eye to eye. “Claire, I am sorry I hurt you.” She felt the tears as she tried to maintain eye contact. He gently took her hands. “I ask that one day you will consider forgiving me.” He kissed her hands.
    When she looked into his eyes she saw sadness and remorse. The swirl of emotions that had so violently erupted at the estate now settled into her chest. She wanted the sadness to go away. He’d been so patient. He was being so tender. She didn’t forgive him, but she began to respond to his advances. It started with kissing, he kissed her and she began to kiss him. Then she felt her hands as they caressed his arms and shoulders. Tony bulged with excitement, yet he didn’t rush or push. He stayed compassionate and tender.
    “Tony, I’m scared.”
    “I promise I will be gentle.” For some reason, she believed him.
    “Can we please go home to a nice soft bed?” He quietly stood and helped Claire to her feet. She took his offered hand. They walked back to the car, this time she got in willingly.
    When they pulled up to the house, Claire leaned over. “I really want this. But please be gentle.” He parked the car, walked around to her door, and helped her out of the car. They walked up the front steps hand in hand, where hours before she’d been hysterical. When he opened the door he scooped Claire into his arms, and instead of going up to her suite, carried her to his room. While he held her, she closed her eyes and nuzzled his neck. The aroma of his skin and cologne intoxicated her.
    She had never, in all the time she’d been there, been in his bedroom. It was grand, almost royal. The walls were covered with cherry paneling and ornate carpentry. One wall was covered with a large screen framed like a picture, like the one in his office. His bed was massive, tall and larger than a normal king-sized. There were steps to reach the height of the mattress.
    He gently placed her on his bed. She watched as he slowly removed her shoes. Then he unbuttoned and tenderly removed her jacket, her blouse, and her jeans. He removed his own clothes while she observed his every move. He was gorgeous, and his moves were slow and sensual. He softly kissed her, causing her to lie back. She looked up at the beautiful ornate ceiling. She felt his lips move down her body. They lingered at her neck, at her breast, stopping to lick and suckle her nipple. Claire’s back arched, and she pressed her breasts toward Tony. He continued to touch her warm body, taste her skin, and inhale