Consequences (Consequences #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,28

his statement made Claire shiver. After he left, she looked down at her arm and saw the goose bumps that rubbed her sleeves. She told herself the cause was the breeze.

Claire returned to her suite recognizing that with the ability to roam she didn’t feel the need. Besides, she was tired. Sleeping late can do that to a person. However, her gut told her that yesterday’s glitches were more likely the cause of her fatigue. Her body felt stiff, and she thought about a nice long bath in the beautiful garden tub as she entered her room.

On the bed, laid out so she could see each one, were multiple bathing suits: one-piece suits like she wore in high school swim class and bikinis that would be perfect for the sun. She liked the styles but wondered if they would fit. Of course, they would, hadn’t everything else? She had to wonder how a promise made Saturday morning could be so quickly fulfilled on a Sunday, seemingly far away from anywhere. He told her that she would have bathing suits tomorrow. Apparently, he is a man of his word. That earned him one on the positive column. The negative column had more tallies than Claire could count.

Peeking out from under the white cover up was a wrapped gift. It was a small box wrapped in white paper with a gold foil ribbon. Claire always liked gifts but she didn’t feel good about this one. What did it mean? Was it because of how he had been or because of how he would be? She picked it up and decided she didn’t want to know. She sat the gift on the corner of the bed and wearily entered the bathroom to soak in the tub.

After the bath she chose the same soft robe she wore before. It felt warm. With some slippers, she would be comfortable until she retired. She combed out her wet hair and didn’t put on makeup. It was only five thirty but she was exhausted.

He said he would look for her before he left. She expected to find him in her suite. If she opened the door and he wasn’t there, would she be disappointed? Only because she wanted him to leave, so seeing him one more time would be a means to that end. Upon opening the door, she wasn’t disappointed and his presence didn’t startle her. He was seated at the table with the gift in his hand. “You haven’t opened your present.”

“I knew it was from you and thought you might want to see me open it,” she lied.

He set the gift on the table and walked toward her. Although his height dominated her small frame she held her ground and looked up at him as their bodies touched. He pulled her close and held her there with his strong solid arms. Her emerald eyes appeared weary as he examined her face. His eyes softly flickered milk-chocolate brown while his musky fragrance overwhelmed her senses. She wasn’t afraid, only tired. She silently prayed, “Dear God, if he wants me to do something, I hope it is over soon.”

In one swift yet gentle motion he lifted her and carried her to the bed. Although he had a trip to take, he didn’t seem rushed. Instead, he lay her on the bed and leisurely untied her robe. Claire didn’t move as he stood and looked at her body, completely nude, pink from the warm bath, and smelling of bath beads. She didn’t speak, nor did he. There were no instructions, no insults, and no rules. He began to touch her lightly, ran his hand over her breasts, down her stomach, and over her hip bones. She could sense a carnal desire that he was unable to control.

He gently stroked her soft skin with the tips of his fingers. Then he tenderly caressed her body with his lips. Using his mouth he started at her neck, her collar bone, the flesh of her breasts, where he softly enticed her nipples with his tongue. She didn’t want to respond. She wanted to be unfazed by his touch. She kept telling herself, “This is the man that hurt me.” Her mind heard but her body stirred down deep, and uncontrollably her nipples hardened as her back arched, pushing her breasts toward his lips. His mouth tantalized her skin. The open drapes made the room light. She sat forward as he gently removed the robe.

Anthony gasped.

Claire froze, unsure why he made