Truth

you Monday morning. Do not disappoint me.” He disconnected the line. His eyes remained fixed on Claire’s from the moment she opened the door.
    She smiled as he walked around the large mahogany desk toward her. His movements were graceful yet powerful, like a lion stalking its prey. The light behind his intense dark chocolate eyes made her tingle with anticipation. She’d seen that sultry look before. Why was she smiling? She’d come to his office to let him know she was back, and suddenly the temperature of the regal room was rising exponentially.
    She thought about his words on the phone. She’d heard that closing statement a hundred times. “That should be your tag line.”
    “ Oh, but you are so right.” He was now only inches away, looking down into her confident expression. His cologne penetrated her nostrils and filled her lungs. “I do not like being disappointed.”
    “ I remember that about you.” She hesitated. If she just leaned forward, they would be touching. She stood straight, fighting the urge for contact. “Your car has been returned in one piece, scarcely a scratch.”
    The tips of his lips twitched and his eyebrow cocked, “A scratch?”
    Claire’s grin broadened, “Wasn’t that your concern, that I might scratch it?”
    He took the initiative and leaned forward. Their subtle touch increased the beating of her heart. Almost instantaneously, her tender breasts responded to the sensation of his massive chest. “I don’t recall being concerned with a scratch,” he said. “The whole damn car can be replaced. I believe my concern was with your safe return.” Because, Claire hadn’t resisted their contact, Tony chose to make another move, wrapping his arms around the small of her back. With their proximity, her face tipped upward.
    Her mind told her to back away. However, she could barely hear the instructions over the intense pulsation of blood in her ears. Her words slowed with breathy expectation, “I have returned.”
    With one hand still behind her, Tony gently brought her chin skyward. His touch combined with a new husky tone caused Claire’s emerald eyes to flutter. She felt the vibration of his speech against her chest, “You, my dear, are continually teaching me new things?”
    “ What, pray-tell, have I taught you ?”
    His lips tenderly brushed hers. “I believe I mentioned before, I liked the black panties. The other night, the light blue satin bra straps monopolized my thoughts. Every time I looked at you, I wondered if it was part of a matching set.” Claire nodded, their noses touching with the movement of her head. “And just now, I realized how much more satisfying it is to have you bring yourself home, freely – willingly, than to know you have been driven, perhaps reluctantly.”
    “ It seems - s....” Claire giggled, “You can teach an old dog new tricks.” The breath of his laugh bathed her face in warmth. She went on, “and as I recall, you’ve taught me quite a few things too.” Her mind screamed to stop. Did she really want to go here? Yet, her mouth seemed to be attached to another part of her anatomy. That part knew exactly where it wanted to go.
    “ I had been thinking about the pool, but I am up for review, if you are willing?”
    She smiled at the reference. He was definitely up for review. She could feel him up against her hip. This wasn’t her plan either. But for some reason it felt right. Maybe she needed to know. Lifting her hands to his dark hair, Claire allowed her fingers to weave their way through his thick black mane as her green eyes opened wide, searching his softening brown irises.
    He pulled her closer, pressing himself against her. She lowered her lids and willingly consented. Parting their lips, their tongues engaged. The passion ignited Claire in ways she’d forgotten. In ways she’d safely compartmentalized away. Even with Harry.
    None of it made sense. Claire wanted Tony to pay for his sins. She wanted to bring him down. And, and ... and she wanted what they had, but more... better. She wanted what seemed to be staring her in the face.
    Tony -- his magnetism, his control, his dominance -- was erotic. Claire also wanted freedoms and liberties. She wanted a non-monitored telephone, the ability to come and go, and freedoms... and him.
    Didn’t their child deserve to know his or her father? Could Tony ever be a man to swing his small child into his arms with a laugh? Claire told herself, she was consenting for their