Claiming His Wife (Unlikely Love) (9 page)

“Why will you need practise?”

“I might have a daughter one day who’ll want me to do her hair.”

She tensed, and he knew he’d hit a nerve.

“Do you really think you’ll have kids one day?” she asked. Tony smiled. He was hoping to have enough to fill at least seven bedrooms. Maybe more.

“We’re going to have children someday, Opal.”

He laid a kiss
on
her shoulder and finished drying her hair. It was surprising how happy he was to simply be with a woman. Opal wasn’t just any kind of woman. She was his woman and would be so for the rest of her life.

When he was done, he picked up the brush, careful not to hurt her.

He heard her yawn. “I take it I’m good with the whole hair brushing thing?” he asked.

“Much better than I expected.”

Tony spent a great deal of time on her hair until it was dry and silky smooth. “Maybe you should read the fine print on your conditioner. I’m going to jump in the shower.” He kissed her again before leaving her to go and shower.

With her being closer, he took a long cold shower to try to get rid of his hard on. He didn’t want her to be worried about him wanting to get his rocks off this early.

Twenty minutes later, he walked back into the bedroom. She sat reading a book.

“You’re into erotic romance, I see.”

She blushed, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t hide it from me. I pay the bills for all the books you read. Can’t you get one of those e-reader things that everyone is raving about?”

He switched off the main light. He was purposefully trying to keep the topic light so he could make it into bed without her panicking.

“I thought about it. I guess I should give it a go and stop allowing trees to be cut down,” she said.

Tony pulled back the cover. His got a glimpse of pale, creamy thigh. Ignoring the instant reaction in his body, he climbed into bed beside her. She leaned over and switched out the lamp.

“I’ve never slept in a bed with a man before,” she said as she settled down.

He knew that already, but hearing the admission come from her lips moved him a little bit more.

“I only want to hold you,” he said. They moved together. Tony wrapped one arm around her waist as the other snuck under her head. Her ass was against his groin. He pressed his legs against hers.

“This is nice,” she whispered.

“Get used to it,” he told her. A giggle sounded next to him. Tony smiled and laid a kiss on her head. “Go to sleep, Petal.”

She relaxed against him. Within moments he heard the change in her breathing. Sighing he held her, his hand stroking small circles along her belly and up. He wished the light was on so he could get a good look at her.

Opal never really opened up with anyone. Having her in his arms meant the world to him. He counted off the seconds until sleep claimed him.

****

Someone was calling out in their sleep. The bed shook with each quiver. Opal opened her eyes and saw the time on the bed side clock. Two o’clock in the morning. Glancing round, she saw Tony lying curled up in a ball at the end of the bed.

“Please, please, don’t hurt me,” he said.

Opal rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Panicked, she leaned over to switch the outside light on.

His shouts were getting louder. Not knowing what to do, she reached out and touched him on the arm.

“Tony?” she said. He responded lightning quick. Before she could stop him, Tony had her on her back with his hand around her throat. He snarled and shouted.

“
Tony,”
she screamed his name over and over again. The one fortunate point was the hold he had on her throat wasn’t too tight. “Tony. It’s me, Petal.”

With a final scream, he woke up out of his dream. He looked horrified as soon as he saw his hand round her throat.

“Opal. Oh my God. Did I hurt you?”

“You didn’t hurt me. What were you dreaming about?”

Tony withdrew. He sat up in bed, ran his fingers through his hair.

“I should leave you to sleep,” he said.

“Don’t leave me alone,” she asked. She sat up and rubbed her throat. “What were you dreaming about?” she asked. “Come on. If I’m going to be your wife completely, you can’t keep hiding stuff away from me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

She took hold of his hand, kissed his knuckles, turned the light off and snuggled down.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting some sleep. Hold me, Tony.”

Opal rested her head against the pillow and waited. She didn’t want to make Tony relive something that hurt him.

After awhile he began stroking her stomach. Usually, she’d be upset with him messing with a large part of her. But she liked the feel of his arms around her and wouldn’t dream of making him stop.

“When I was growing up my dad use to hit me,” he said. Opal froze as everything she’d learnt about the man she was married to hit her square in the face. Charles had made a reference to him being like his father. “No one would believe good old Mr. Hunt would even dream of hurting his wife and kid. Whenever he had a bad day at work with no one to take the blame, me and my mum would take the pounding he couldn’t dish out to anyone else.”

She remained silent. Tears blurred her vision as she looked out at her side of the bed. She’d seen his father. He seemed like a kind man, but then her parents didn’t look the type to sell their daughter off to the highest bidder.

“At first it started with a couple of slaps here and there. My toys were lying around, so I got a slap to make sure I sorted my mess out. My mum cooked a bad dinner, so a slap to teach her to the follow the recipe.”

He stopped, and she couldn’t control the flow of tears. In her mind she saw a young boy cowering in a corner, terrified of when a parent came home.

“After a while he chose to use his belt. The leather ones with a metal buckle. When he couldn’t control his aim he moved to his fists and then a few kicks. My mum wouldn’t leave him. She thought his hits were a sign of love. He loved us so much he had to hurt us.”

“But you got out?” she said.

“Don’t cry for me, baby. As soon as I could, I was gone. My mum wouldn’t go. She didn’t see anything wrong in what was happening. I know Wayne and Richard had their faults with their parents, but they thought mine were amazing. I never had the heart to tell them how bad it was at home.”

“They don’t know?” 

“No. You won’t tell anyone else this?” he asked.

“Of course not.”

“I’m surprised you’ll still let me hold you,” he said.

Opal turned to try to see him. “Why wouldn’t I want you to hold me?”

“Because of what I’m capable of.”

She sat up and turned the light back on.

“You’re not capable of raising your fist to anyone. I know you wouldn’t dream of hurting me. You’ve done nothing but protect me.” She held his face between her hands. “I trust you, Tony.” She kissed his lips before turning the light out and settling back down. The rest of the night he slept in peace.

Opal wondered why he’d never told any of his friends about the treatment he’d gotten as a child. She closed her eyes as sleep claimed her. The love she felt for Tony meant more to her than his fear about being like his father.

Chapter Ten

The first few days passed with them growing more comfortable together. They took long walks on the beach, shared meals and laughed at old television shows. Opal relished every little touch and kiss he gave her, but she wanted more. The longer he held back, the more she wanted him.

On their third night at the resort, she’d had enough. The honeymoon and sex were taking too long. She was twenty years old. A virgin and she wanted to give herself to Tony. To show him that it didn’t matter about his parents. She still loved him regardless of what he’d been through.

He sent her upstairs to get ready for dinner. She’d put some chicken breasts with peppers, garlic, onions and tomatoes in the oven to roast with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. He promised to keep an eye on it while she changed. She went into the bedroom, looking for the sexiest dress she could find. The only one she owned that didn’t make her look like an escaped whale was a pastel green summer dress which ended at her knee and exposed most of her cleavage. Grabbing some make-up, a hairbrush and other items, she went to the bathroom.

The time it would take to have a bath could spoil the mood she intended to set. She quickly showered, wiping away all the day’s sweat and grime. Once she’d done she got out and dried every inch of her body. She used some moisturiser to keep her skin soft. She chose simple, plain white underwear to go under her dress.

She put on the dress and some make-up. She brushed her hair and winced whenever she caught a knot.

Thirty minutes later, the food smelt heavenly, and she was ready to leave the bathroom. He sat on the sofa watching a football game. Placing a hand on her hip with one against the door she tried her best not to look like she was in seduction mood.

“What are you watching?” she asked.

She didn’t dare look at him in case she crumpled and ruined the mood.

“A football game,” he said.

“Enjoy. Dinner will be in two minutes. Do you want to eat here or at the table?”

“The table will be fine.” She nodded her head, and she set the table to make sure she could be seated right next to him.

The chicken was cooked through and still juicy, along with all the vegetables. She served it up on two plates with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

Tony was already sat at the table as she brought the food in.

“You’re hungry, huh?” she asked.

“What are you up to?”

Ignoring his question, she placed his plate in front of him. “I don’t have much for dessert, so eat up and enjoy.”

She took a swig of her water and wished she’d tried some of the wine she’d seen in the fridge.

They ate in silence. Every once in a while, she’d stroke her foot along his leg, or touch his arm. The only seduction she’d ever heard about had been in the books she read. The women knew what they were doing, or at least the men ravished them before they had to make the first move.

Come on, Tony. I’m ready to explode over here. Give me something.

She jumped as his hand landed on her thigh. He didn’t speak or even look at her as he worked his hand underneath h
er
dress. She waited with bated breath, but after a few minutes passed he hadn’t moved his hand past her knee. Biting her lip in disappointment she speared a piece of chicken and took a bite.

His hand moved up to mid
-
thigh making her drop her fork. The clatter as it hit the plate made her jump. In that time his hand went directly over her panties. She noticed he wasn’t eating anymore, and his body was turned toward her.

“I know what you’re trying to do,” he said.

“What am I trying to do?”

“Seduce me, but it’s not supposed to work like that, Opal.”

He didn’t move his hand, and his thumb moved slowly. She hoped he was doing it on purpose. From the simple movement she was ready to burst at the seams.

“I’m ready, Tony. I want you,” she said.

“What I meant to say is, I’m the one supposed to seduce you, Petal. Not the other way round.”

A little woman inside her head was jumping for joy. “I want you, Tony. Please.”

“I shouldn’t. I’m not right for you.”

“You won’t let any other man touch me. You want me to be your wife. How can I be with you when you won’t even make love to me?” she asked.

“Because I want to fuck you, Opal.”

“What?”

“I don’t know if I have it in me to be gentle. For your first time you deserve to have the time spent making sure it’s good. I’ve never made love to a woman before.”