His Desert Rose (2 page)

Chapter 4

Antonio stopped at the nurse’s station to get directions on where the family and friends of South Carolina State Representative, Jasmine Anderson, were gathered.

When he looked up and saw Renee hug a tall African American woman with pecan tan colored skin, and her hair cut in a layered chin length bob. His eyes swung from the lady Renee was talking with, to her.

Renee had her natural black hair with red tones color treated to bring out more of the red and blonde highlights. It was secured tightly in a curly ponytail. She was wearing a navy blue halter top professional dress, with navy blue heels.  Antonio admired her from afar. He had always called her his desert rose, because she like the flower, was rare and oh so beautiful. She had bloomed in an environment that was designed for her to fail. Against all odds, Renee survived. She was slowly getting back on her feet, but she looked exhausted.

Renee accepted his hug. He smelled of mango fused with a hint of silver armor something else she couldn’t quite catch. He smelled delicious.

“I came as soon as I could,” Antonio said.

“Thank you1 for coming,” Renee said. “This is Nicole a longtime family friend. And Nicole this is Antonio also a longtime family friend.”

Nicole and Antonio exchanged greetings.

Renee gave him a quick run-down of the events that had transpired since they last talked.

“Jasmine is in a room where she is recovering. She made it through a three hour surgery, and several hours of observation. Trenton Blake-Moore and his team of Inactive Marines were here running interference at Jasmine’s request, yet the FBI is keeping a strong presence until she leaves the hospital. It looks like she will make a full recovery after she has some physical therapy,”  Renee finished.

“And how are you, holding up?” Antonio asked.

“I am a little exhausted, but I can handle it,” Renee advised.

Nicole stepped in, “Why don’t you take her back to Blake-Moore Estates? She will need to get some rest, since she will be running back and forth from the girls and Jasmine. Her mind and body will need a break at some point. I will take this watch,” Nicole finished.

“Are you sure Nicole?” Renee asked.

“Yes, go,” Nicole encouraged.

“Thank you again,” Renee said as she hugged Nicole again.

Before she broke her embrace Nicole whispered, “Remember what I said.”

Renee blushed and followed Antonio out of the hospital into the car park. As soon as people began to recognize her, she and Antonio were surrounded. Microphones and cameras were being shoved in her face. All she would say as Antonio pushed them through the crowd was, “No comment.”

When Renee arrived at Blake-Moore Estates, she had Antonio punch in the code to the gated estate. She went in and checked on the girls who were asleep in one of the guest rooms. She spoke to Eleanor and Jacob Blake-Moore briefly before she was handed the key to a villa style home on the property. Renee thanked them for everything and retreated to the villa with Antonio.

The pantry and the refrigerator had been stocked for her stay, and for that she was grateful. She had everything but clothing. Oh how she longed to wash the day away. Her feet hurt from being in her high heels too long, and she sincerely was ready to be out of her dress.

Antonio lugged in his suitcase and laptop from the car.

“I will seek an alternative place for lodging tomorrow,” Antonio said.

“Oh, don’t be silly. There is more than enough room for the both us. To be honest, I’m not sure that I’m ready to be alone. Again, thank you so much for coming at a drop of a dime,” Renee said sincerely.

“My family and I care deeply for you and your family. You said you needed me, so here I am. You would do the same for me,” Antonio finished.

“You are right, I would help you and your family in any way that I could. Now seemed like a good a time as ever,” Renee continued, “I’m sorry for cutting you off when I first got sick. It was embarrassing and I didn’t want you to see me at my lowest.”

Antonio stopped unpacking his things and looked at her. “Renee, I was angry at you for a long time about that. I wanted to be there for you and you wouldn’t let me. I thought we were more than just family connected friends. I could have handled you at your lowest, but you didn’t trust me enough to allow it,” Antonio finished.

“I’m sorry,” Renee said again.

Antonio started back unpacking his things avoiding eye contact. Renee walked over and grabbed his white long sleeved button down dress shirt. Then teasingly, she threw it over her shoulder. “Can I borrow this please?”

“You have it now,” Antonio responded.

Renee went into the bathroom and took off her clothes. She took her hair out of the ponytail and ran her fingers through her hair. She grabbed a shower cap and covered her loose curls.

She stood under the spray of the water and allowed it to spray over her face, neck and onward. She used the bar soap and lathered her body. The warm water helped to release tension in her muscles throughout her body. She stood under the spray of the water until it started to run cold.

Renee stepped out of the shower and toweled dry. She put on Antonio’s shirt, which swallowed her up and removed the shower cap. Renee ran the water to rinse out the shower then walked into the living room.

Antonio was reading off the list of suitable women, who his father believed would be a good wife. Antonio rubbed his hand across his brow because his father’s list was giving him a headache. He either already been there done that with the women on the list, with no intention of returning to them. Or there had never been any chemistry between him and the women that he had never tried to make a go of it with them. A lot of these women came from good breeding, had good looks, were well connected, and knew how to be great hostesses. Most of them only desired to marry well, to live comfortably, and have the customary heir and a spare. Adultery would be permitted also, as long as it was discreet.

Antonio wanted more out of a relationship than that.

“What’s got your head in the clouds?” Renee asked with playfulness that she did not feel.

“Oh the same old foolishness, that goes hand in hand with being a Favero,” Antonio responded letting out a deep breath. Dad wants to retire, yet he refuses to do so until I get married and start a family,” Antonio explained.

“Wow, that’s heavy, Renee responded. “You have worked very hard since we were teenagers to learn the family business. You have expanded your company’s market and product line and improved your distribution methods. You love the people of your home town and they adore you. I can’t believe Mr. Favero is blackmailing you into settling down,” Renee finished.

“Believe it,” Antonio answered.

“When I was last in Europe, you were considered quite the catch. With your dark brooding mannerisms, outlandish generosity, and chiseled good looks,” Renee said reciting a popular magazine article.

Antonio pushed Renee playfully. She in turn burst into laughter at his expense. Antonio threw his arm behind the chair as he sat up straight to observe her. Right now in this moment, she looked young, healthy and happy. No one in the world could tell that she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looked sexier than any woman had the right to in his dress shirt. Her curls were bouncing here and there. There was still life in her after all, Antonio mused.

“Oh, don’t take yourself so seriously Antonio,” she said.

“No worries love, payback is coming,” Antonio teased.

“Probably when I least expect it, huh?” Renee inquired.

Antonio moved his dark head from side to side before answering, “I do love the element of surprise.”

Easy banter went back and forth between them for some time. On and off they would talk about matters of International Business, several public interest stories that at least one of them had been following, her breakdown and her recovery after the loss of her parents and her unborn child.

Antonio had comforted her, encouraged her, and shared with her.

Antonio wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into his embrace as she pulled her legs up under herself on the couch.

“Thank you again, Antonio. I didn’t know I needed this until you were here. I miss talking to you like this, you know,” Renee said looking up into his face.

For a moment Antonio was captured under her spell, then he said as he used his free hand to brush some stray hairs from her face, “I know what you mean.”

“I want to be kissed by you right now,” Renee said. “Do you want to kiss me too?” she asked, her coffee black eyes locking with his sea green eyes.

Antonio brushed his fingers across her delicate chin and leaned in and kissed her full lips briefly. Antonio ran the tip of his tongue along the bottom of her lip from one corner to the next, as he familiarized himself with her taste.  Renee parted her mouth and heat and raw passion ripped through the both.

Antonio used one arm to scoop her up in his lap where she was saddling him. Her soft curves crushed into his hard edges as she grinded more and more against his swollen arousal. Her nipples were clearly aroused and visible through his white dress shirt. He could smell her womanly scent drifting up from her wet secret treasure.

Antonio pulled back, and asked her if she was sure because he would not wish to take advantage of her in her emotional state.

Renee responded, “I want more, take advantage of me and I will do the same for you.”

Antonio growled deep in his throat as he swoop her up and carried her into the bedroom. There were no beautiful love songs playing, candles lit, or endearing words. Just two people enjoying one another’s bodies offering physical comfort through passion, pain and pleasure.

Antonio lifted her hair and nibbled her ears, rained slow kisses down her neck then he began to unbutton her shirt. She was trembling, not from fear but from anticipation. He leaned back to take all of her in. Her round breast was heavy with arousal.

Antonio brushed his thumb across her medium brown skin of breast until he was touching her Hershey milk chocolate colored areolas. He took one in his mouth and then the other one, until both nipples were standing at attention. Renee ran her fingers through his wavy hair encouraging him to give her more. To her amazement she realized that she could cum like this.

“Antonio,” Renee said breathlessly.

“Yes,” he said between flicks and stokes with his tongue.

“You have on to many clothes,” Renee responded.

Antonio chuckled. He laid her on her back across the bed and removed his shirt first.

Renee laid there and counted his abdominal region. He removed his belt then removed his pants and underwear over his very large, long, thick arousal.

Renee reached out and grabbed his swollen mankind in her hand testing the length, and width of his penis. She took his long shaft into her warm mouth, swirled her tongue over the tip and smiled to herself because he was already leaking.

Antonio eased her back into to the bed because he would never live down losing his load before ever entering her.

He lay on his back with his head propped up on some pillows and invited her to ride him. Renee threw her tangle of curls over her shoulders as she mounted him. She slid down on his shaft taking in every glorious inch. He set a pace slow at first, then faster, and faster. Before too long, a violent shudder went through her as she climaxed. The muscles of her tight wet vagina sucked and squeezed his erection, trying to get every inch inside of her. They reached the top together and landed in a tangle web of his and her limbs.

Renee drifted off to sleep in his arms.

Shortly afterwards Antonio dozed off as well.

Chapter 5

Over the next four weeks, Antonio stayed in Emerald Grove at the Blake-Moore Estates in the villa with Renee. He was able to conduct his business affairs as well as play. Boy did he know how to play, Renee mused from across the room. She had never done the horizontal tango so much in her life. She even felt like she was using him for sex and that was not fair. He had become her drug of choice. It wasn’t just about the sex either; she liked having someone there for her. In the last four weeks someone had left letters for her sister Jasmine in the offering plate at church. The letter was more of a warning than a threat. Their home had been burglarized, but apparently nothing of value had been taken. It was meant to scare them and it had worked. The team from Blake-Moore and Associates were getting close to capturing whoever was responsible for the violent act against her sister. Her sister healed physically, but was suffering with PTSD.  Amazingly enough her sister seemed to be blossoming like a flower in a relationship that had developed between herself and the point man, Ethan Hightower.

Soon all of this would be coming to an end Renee thought to herself. She enjoyed having someone to talk to who didn’t judge her, who wasn’t trying to fix her. She was able to be completely honest with him, and he with her. His presence calmed and comforted her in some way.

Renee moved further into the bedroom when Antonio’s phone began to ring to give him privacy.

A few moments later there was a quick tap on the door. Antonio walked in and said, “No questions please, pack a small bag with only the important items and secure your passport. We will have to do the same for your nieces. We have one hour,” Antonio finished.

“What’s going on Antonio?” Renee asked as fear snaked its way down her spine.

“No time for questions, Renee. Just do as I ask please,” Antonio answered.

She packed a small bag as she had been ordered, with shaky hands and a stomach full of nerves.

Antonio made two quick phone calls were he spoke in rapid Italian. The first to the pilot who he ordered to have the plane checked out and fueled for takeoff. The second to his family home where he explained to his father that he was coming home with guest, six of them, and would need rooms prepared at once. It was a matter of life and death.

Antonio secured their things in the truck of his rental car. Then they drove in silence to the Blake-Moore Estate main house and she did the same for her pre-teen twin nieces, Alyson and Amber. Donna, the nurse that had been working with her sister Jasmine, had gotten her son and mother prepared. The teacher Jasmine had hired for the home schooling was also going. Renee walked outside to allow the cool air to hit her face. She was feeling sick to her stomach.

Her sister Jasmine looked worse than she felt. This would be the first time she would be separated from her girls. She was on her knees in front of them telling them to behave and to use their manners.

Jasmine walked over to her and tried to hand her a credit card which she refused. “You have done so much for me sister, let me do this for you,” Renee told her sister.

“Are you sure,” Jasmine asked with watery eyes.

“I will take care of them, and spoil them a little with some shopping,” Renee said making a sign which was to be interpreted as Aunts honor.

“Thank you both,” Jasmine said as Antonio joined them.

Trent Blake-Moore said it was time for them to roll out. Jasmine kissed her girls once more before allowing Renee to escort them to the waiting car. Her heart was breaking for her sister as she climbed into the car. She didn’t deserve this.