She smiled, and he felt his whole world turn on its axis.
“Why do you call me ‘Petal’?” she asked.
Now he felt like a love-sick wimp. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Do you want to know?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”
“Because a petal is on every flower, and every flower reminds me of you. Everywhere I go, I’ll never forget you,” he said. To his own ears it sounded corny. The truth was he’d seen her wearing flowers in her hair, much like on that blasted wedding day, and for the first time in his life he’d seen something good and pure. Opal was his one salvation. The one whom he knew would never hurt another person.
“That’s really sweet. I’ve been called many things but never something that reminded them of a flower.”
He smiled. “Petals are beautiful, and the main reason people pick a flower is based on the beauty of the petals. You’re beautiful to me. Always have been and always will be.”
Chapter Twelve
The days wore on and turned into weeks. Opal had never been so happy before. Tony was attentive but not overbearing, which probably had something to do with the fact he had her to himself.
They made love at every opportunity. In bed, on the floor, on the pool table that made her blush every time she saw it. She couldn’t get enough of being with him. When they got back home she would find him a ring, so she knew he wore her band of ownership. As their time progressed at the resort, he opened up about his past. The way he felt about his parents. What he wanted to achieve. He wanted children and to have a future. She wasn’t ready for children. Opal wanted the time to enjoy being a wife before she became a mother.
The weeks went by, and Tony was spending more time on his laptop and the phone. She knew he needed to leave, but she didn’t want their time to end. Being alone with him without women from his past or her brother and parents stepping in had really given them a shot.
She felt she could be a good wife to him and provide him with everything he needed. When she woke up on one Friday morning, she heard him shouting down the phone. She ignored what he was saying and went to the indoor pool.
She tested the water before walking in. If it was cold she’d go and read one of her many salacious books. She smiled as she recalled Tony reading one of the passages from her book and copying everything that was written on her body. Her reading material had come in handy for something. The water felt right, and she placed her towel on the side and slowly climbed in. At first she walked the width of the pool rather than the length, getting used walking through the water. After a time she lay back and floated on the surface, but the sound of Tony shouting invaded her peace.
Opal closed her eyes and swam from one end of the pool to another. Their time at the resort was coming to a close. She knew he needed to get back to work. Richard would love to make sure she survived the event intact.
She would like to stay in their own little world they’d created forever. Unfortunately, she missed Scarlet and would like to see how her nieces and nephews were doing. At least that was the excuse she gave herself. She’d rather quit the world and stay at the resort. While they were there Tony wouldn’t leave her.
A shadow passed over her. She opened her eyes and saw Tony leaning over the side of the pool.
“Hello, Petal. I see you’re wearing one of the costumes I bought you.”
“Yes. I love it. Are you still working?” she asked.
“The plague of being a business man. I’m always working.”
“Something sounded urgent,” she said.
“Everything is urgent when you’re away. People make mistakes, which is why I’m always needed at work.”
Opal moved so she stood standing at the pool edge. “Now you’re not,” she said. She caught him by the shirt and pulled him into the pool with a giggle.
He laughed as he came up for air. “You little minx.”
She screamed and swam away. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it to the pool. “So we’re playing that game?” Her hands went behind her back, and she unhooked her bra, letting it fall into the bottom of the pool.
With his attention on her, she did a quick jump, flashing him her br**sts before swimming away.
It didn’t take long for him to catch her. Opal was in a fit of giggles as he pressed her against the side of the pool. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he said.
“You are older than me, so it makes sense for you not to keep up.”
“When did you become a tease?”
“Right around the time my husband made me his.”
He slammed his lips down on hers, the passion inside him igniting a flame. The only way for it to burn out was to let it burn brighter. She moaned, wrapped her hands around his neck, and kissed him back with the same amount of pent up lust.
She never knew how amazing it could be. His hands went to her bikini panties in the water. He pulled, and the fabric sank to the bottom. She tore at his trousers. Together they removed the few scraps of clothing on their bodies.
Tony lifted her and sank deep inside her in one smooth quick thrust. They didn’t wait for each other. Both sought for their release.
Opal knew this would be the final time they were together. This was good-bye. But she refused to let it be the last. Tony was hers, and she would do everything to keep him. She loved him more than she ever thought possible.
They cried out together as the dam between them blew, as the world came back into focus. Their breathing heavy, Tony leaned down and whispered in her ear. “We’ve got to go back home.”
Chapter Thirteen
They’d been home a grand total of a week, and already their life had changed. Something at work meant Tony spent most of his days and nights at work. When he got home he locked himself in the study. When they returned, he’d spent enough time to tell her she’d be living with him permanently. She tried not to think about the nights when he didn’t come home. The press were having a field day at hinting about his getting back together with the model.
For the most part she ignored what they had to say. Nothing good ever came from listening to idle gossip. He still wouldn’t listen to her reasons for getting a job. She was going crazy being cooped up in his apartment, which was nothing more than a fancy hotel room. She needed to get out and do something with her time.
One night, she heard him get home and head straight to his study. She got out of bed and went to the kitchen. Taking down a cup, she made him a drink. The idea sounded stupid to her. She needed to see him, to talk to him and assure herself he was okay.