CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“So, you let him take your virginity?” She blurted when we made it to the kitchen and sat at the breakfast table.
“Yes, but he doesn’t know.” I felt, rather than saw her stare because I was too busy watching the guys as they walked over to the stable.
“What do you mean he doesn’t know?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. When it happened I thought he’d be able to tell, but he just thought I hadn’t had sex in a long time.”
“Don’t tell me he still thinks you had sex with Destiny’s fiancé?” she asked suspiciously.
“I told him I didn’t, but he doesn’t believe me.”
“He loves you,” Lex informed me.
I faced her and lifted my eyebrows.
“How the hell did you get that he loves me from everything I just said?”
“I don’t know. The way he was looking at you outside when Adam was holding you. Tony didn’t like it. If he thinks you cheated on him, but he still looks at you like that… he loves you.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I asked him if he loved me; he said he cared about me.”
Lex smirked. “That’s because he’s scared and too macho to admit it.”
I thought about her words and admitted, “He said he was scared to love me.”
“Well, there you go. He’s scared because he already loves you and he doesn’t know what to do about it. You have to tell him everything.”
“I’ll think about it,” I told her. And I did.
All damn day.
“Trish, you ready?” Tony called from the bedroom just as I walked out of the bathroom. Oh yeah, I was ready… more than ready.
“Yup!” I said excitedly as I headed for the closet to put on my sandals. I wore a red strapless top and wide-leg jeans with my silver gladiator sandals. I shouldn’t have even been this dressed up, but I went a little overboard when Tony said we were taking my friends to town for dinner.
I walked over to the dresser, spritzed on a little perfume and Tony walked up behind me. He wrapped his arms around my hips and kissed my shoulder.
He faced me in the mirror.
“You look gorgeous,” he said at my neck.
“Thank you.”
“Once Zacharias is caught, I promise I’ll take you out, just me and you and we’ll do it often.”
“Really? You’re not going to kick me out as soon as you can?” I asked softly. Tony placed another kiss to my neck making goose bumps spread out over my skin.
“I’m not letting you go,” he whispered as he stared at me in the mirror. “Come on, your friends are waiting for us.”
I turned in his arms and met his eyes. “Promise me,” I whispered. “I know you can’t predict the future, I know you’re scared to love me, but please promise me you’ll try.”
“Hold that thought,” he said, backed away and headed for his dresser.
When he came back, he said, “Lift up your hair.”
I did.
When he finished, he kissed tenderly. “I’m already trying, mi reina,” he said and I glanced down to see the crown charm necklace he’d given me years ago. I thought it’d been lost forever. I’d dropped it and never found it.
“Don’t cry,” he ordered when he saw my eyes water.
“How did you get this?” I asked softly.
“It’s not the same one. It’s new. I saw this one awhile back and had to buy it. It’s identical to the original.” I fisted it my hand so tight it left an indention in my palm. It made me feel special.
“How long have you had it?”
“Awhile,” is all he said, and his tone said he wasn’t going to elaborate.
“I love it. I’ll never take it off,” I promised.
He replied in an instant. “Good.”
Dinner was great. We didn’t go the diner, but the restaurant we ate at wasn’t much nicer. The food was fantastic though. Lex and Landyn really seemed to enjoy themselves and Adam flirted with every piece of ass that walked by.
Lex and I excused ourselves to the restroom
“Where the hell did that come from?” Lex asked, shocked. She knew what it was.
“Tony gave it to me earlier. He said it wasn’t the original, but he’s had this one awhile.”
“I told you he loves you.”
And that’s when the older, attractive brunette at the counter washing her hands laughed. I stiffened. So did Lex.
“Do you mind?” I asked.
“Sorry, honey, I couldn’t help but overhear. Don’t get your hopes up with that Tony of yours.”
“Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you are?” I snapped.
She smiled.
“Let’s just say that he likes to visit me… often, but I can see why he’s stopped coming by. Hadn’t seen him in a few weeks and I wondered what happened. Knew that little Bobbie Jo never could keep his attention even though she begged for it.”
Oh my God! He was sleeping with them both!
I grabbed the counter to steady myself. I didn’t feel so good.
“Good luck to you though. You look like you can handle him better than she did.” And with that, she walked around us, and out the door.
“Don’t listen to her, T. It’s different with you and Tony, and you know it.”
“He was sleeping with them both,” I whispered and met her eyes. “I’m trying to stand strong here, Lex, but every time I turn around I get knocked on my ass.”
“He wouldn’t cheat on you.”
I didn’t know that. She didn’t know that and I really didn’t want to hear any more. “Let’s just get back. I’m ready to leave anyway.”
“Trish--”
“I’m just tired, Lex. Please,” I said and didn’t give her a choice because I opened the door and walked out.
Tony watched for me. As I started for the table he smiled his beautiful smile and I tried to smile back, but I knew it didn’t meet my eyes. He stood and headed my way.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Geez, could he really tell something was wrong just because I didn’t smile right?
“Trish, don’t lie to me,” he said deeply and I glanced around the restaurant until I found who I was looking for.
“That’s what’s wrong,” I said, looking in the direction of the brunette. Tony looked too.
“What’d she tell you?” he growled.
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it, I wasn’t even going to say anything,” I said. I wanted him to drop it because I wanted to forget, but when he stared me down until I caved.
“She said you visit her often. She said you were fucking her and BJ at the same time. Well, not like in a threesome, but… you know what I mean.”
“What the fuck?” he asked in a low, dangerous tone and I knew whatever was coming next was not going to be good. I glanced over his shoulder to catch Lex’s attention, but I didn’t need to, she was already watching. So were Landyn and Adam.
Tony grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. He ignored me and didn’t stop until we made it to the brunette’s table. She sat with two other women and they all faced us. A huge smile broke out across the brunette’s face and she opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it shut when Tony demanded, “Apologize.”
“What?” she asked looking between the two of us now, a frown having replaced her smile.
“Apologize to her,” he barked so loud and she jumped.
She looked at me and breathed, “I’m sorry.” I didn’t say anything in return because I was uncomfortable and pissed, and there wasn’t anything to say. I just tugged his hand so we could go back to our table. He followed, but not before warning the brunette, “Keep your fuckin’ mouth shut.”
Everyone at our table, the whole restaurant actually, stared at us when we sat down.
“Everything all right?” Adam asked. He looked directly at me, but Tony answered, “Fine.”
“Are they everywhere? Will I see someone you’ve had sex with everywhere we go?” I asked and Tony’s face softened when he looked at me. “Because if that’s the case, I’d rather not leave the house.”
“”Oh shit,” Landyn groaned.
“Why weren’t you going to tell me what she said?” he asked, ignoring my question.
“Well, I was, I just didn’t want to embarrass you in front of everyone like you just did me.”
“Then we’ll talk about it when we get home.”
“You’re the one that started this crap here.”
“Did she upset you?” he asked and I stiffened.
“She did,” he answered for me and then lifted a hand to my cheek. “I’m telling you now, preciosa, you have nothing to worry about. I’d never touch another woman. I can barely handle the one I got,” he said softly against my lips, just before taking them quickly.
“Well, it’s nice to know my brother isn’t the only douchebag at the table,” Adam chimed in. Tony and I both glared at him.
“Shut up, Adam,” Landyn and Lex said at the same time.
Our company left as soon as we got home. And thank goodness for that.
“Somebody upsets you, I wanna know about it. Don’t keep anything from me,” Tony groaned at my neck as he held me up against the shower wall. My legs were wrapped around his hips, hands digging into his shoulders as he pushed deep inside me.
“Okay,” I breathed.
“You taste so fuckin’ good.” He bit my neck and I moaned.
“You’re close,” he told me.
“Come with me,” I whispered.
He groaned and possessed my mouth, his tongue opening the seam of my lips to find entrance. He throbbed inside me when he groaned in my mouth again and I called out his name as I came. He seated himself inside me completely as he came with me.
I could barely stand after we finished, but we took turns washing each other. Neither one of us bothered to dress after we toweled off. We just went straight to bed. He enveloped me with his body and we both passed out… but not before I whispered, “I love you.”