Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger. Charlene SandsЧитать онлайн книгу.
alone.â Then she turned to him. âWhy did you do this?â
âYou deserve it, Rena.â
Before she could respond, he turned her shoulders and pointed out toward the ocean. âLook, thereâs Alcatraz.â
Rena focused on the island that had once been a notorious prison. âThe view is amazing. All of this is amazing.â
Tony kept his hands on her shoulders for a few seconds, caressing her lightly. The air fresh and clear, he breathed in and caught the subtle scent of her exotic perfume. Sheâd put her hair up for the wedding ceremony, giving him access to her throat. He took in another breath before he felt her stiffen. He backed away, giving her space and time to adjust to the situation and pulled out a white iron patio chair. âSit down and enjoy the fresh air.â
She did and he sat facing her. âIâm not the big bad wolf, Rena. I know this is difficult for you.â
âDifficult doesnât begin to describe it. I never thought Iâd see this day.â Her eyes appeared strained. Her body slumped with fatigue.
âWhat day?â he asked.
âThe day that Iâd be your wife.â
âIâm not the villain here. Iâm trying to do right by you and David. Iâm going to save your business, take care of you and raise ⦠our child.â
Rena flinched, and regret filled her eyes. âYouâre trying to ease your conscience and fulfill an obligation.â
Tony shook his head. âYou wonât cut me any slack, will you?â
âIâm sorry Iâm not the doting wife youâd imagined. I canât be ⦠this is all so unfair.â
âI wish to hell David was alive, too. He was my best friend, damn it.â Tony rose and paced the terrace. He hadnât planned on any of this. But he was trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Heâd been patient with Rena, though she still blamed him for Davidâs death. Heâd tried to please her. Heâd tried being the nice guy, yet she wanted no part of it.
Okay, the gloves were coming off.
âYouâre exhausted. Why donât you take a bath? Itâs waiting for you. Then get into bed.â
Rena hoisted her chin. âIâm not sleeping with you tonight, Tony.â
âWrong,â he said pointing a finger at her. âIâm not sleeping with you, but Iâm your husband whether you like it or not.â
âWhat does that mean?â She asked with real fear in her voice.
Tony was too annoyed with her to care. âIt means that I donât plan to tiptoe around you anymore, Rena.â
He left her on the terrace and strode over to the wet bar, pouring himself three fingers of scotch. He hated that Rena had it right this time. He had married her out of obligation and a sense of duty to David. But he hadnât expected her resentment to irk him so much.
Hell, heâd never had to beg a woman for sex in his life. And he wasnât about to start now.
Rena had never stayed in a hotel as extravagant as this one and decided to take advantage of her surroundings. True to Tonyâs word, the bathtub was steaming and waiting for her. Her body craved the warmth and tranquility a nice hot soak in a tub would provide. She closed the bathroom door and lit the candles that were strategically placed around the tub, sink and dressing area. The Ritz-Carlton knew how to pamper and she wasnât going to deny herself this pleasure. She kicked off her shoes, then stripped out of her clothes folding them neatly and setting them on the marble counter. She turned on the large LCD screen on the wall, finding a music station that played soulful jazz. All lights were turned down but for the flashing abstract images on the flat screen and the candles that burned with a vanilla scent.
Naked and relishing her impending bath, Rena stuck her toe in the water. âPerfect,â she hummed, sinking the rest of her body into the exquisite warmth. For the first time in days, she relaxed.
She closed her eyes and obliterated all negative thoughts. Instead, she thought of the baby growing inside her. She wondered if it was a boy or a girl. She hoped it would have Davidâs kindness and intelligence and maybe her blue eyes. She hoped for so many things, but mostly she hoped her child would be happy.
A smile surfaced on her face as she pictured a sandy blond-haired little boy or a raven-haired little girl. Or perhaps a boy would have her coloring and a girl would have her fatherâs. Either way, Rena would love that child beyond belief.
The door to the bathroom opened and Tony strode in. She gasped and sunk farther down into the tub. âWhat are you doing in here?â
Tony unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it onto the floor. He looked her over, his gaze following the valley between her breasts. âIâm taking a shower.â
Her heart rate sped. âIn here?â
âThis is the master bathroom, right?â
Rena narrowed in on him. âHow much have you had to drink?â
He cocked her a smile and shook his head. âNot enough, honey.â
His shoes were off in a flash, and when he reached for his belt, she closed her eyes. She heard him stepping out of his clothes, open the glass shower door, then close it. The shower rained to life, and steam heated the room.
Rena opened her eyes slowly. Tony was deep into his shower, soaping himself up. She took a swallow and watched, unable to tear her gaze away. At one time, Tony Carlino was everything she wanted in life. Those old feelings surfaced, and she tried to shove them away, but it was darn hard to do. Not when he was built like a Greek god, stunningly masculine and boldly beautiful. He moved with grace and confidence, comfortable in his own skin. And so she watched him lather his body, wash his hair and let the water pelt down in streams over his broad shoulders, down the curve of his spine and into the steam that hid the rest of him from view. He turned abruptly and caught her staring. His brows elevated into his forehead, and the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Rena turned away then, afraid that if he read her expression, heâd know what she was thinking. Heâd know that some feelings canât be destroyed. Some feelings just simply ⦠stay, no matter how hard you try to abolish them. They hide under the anger and pain, waiting.
When the shower spigot turned and the water shut off, Rena tensed. She didnât know what Tony expected. His comment about not tiptoeing around her had her perplexed. The shower door opened, and Tony stepped out, naked. Rena refused to let him intimidate her. She didnât look straight at him, but she didnât look away either. Instead she focused on a point beyond his head.
After wiping down his body, he wrapped the towel around his waist and glanced at her. âYou should get out. Youâre getting cold.â
His gaze lingered on her chest. No longer covered with flower petals and bubbles, her nipples were now visible beneath the water. She covered up and nodded. âI will, as soon as youâre through in here.â
Tony scrubbed the stubble on his face, contemplating. âI guess Iâll shave tomorrow. You can get out now.â He reached over and handed her a plush chocolate-colored towel.
She grabbed it and hoisted it to her chin. âWell?â
âIâll be sleeping in the second bedroom. Get some rest, Rena.â He bent over and kissed her on the cheek then cast her a rather odd look.
âWhat?â she asked, curious.
âWhen we were together,