Beyond the Consequences: Book 5 of the Consequences Series (Volume 5) (29 page)

She worked to suppress a smile. “You know you’re cute when you’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.” His dark eyes widened in a ploy of innocence. “I’m merely curious.”

Sitting back up, Claire scooted closer, close enough to feel his radiating warmth. She reached out to touch his chest. “You’re warm. I think you got a lot of sun today with the kids.”

Tony grasped her hand and looked her in the eye. “Curiosity, Mrs. Rawlings. Could you please help me out?”

“You know what they say about curiosity, don’t you, Mr. Rawlings?”

“You’re playing with me right now, and I’m not in favor of it.”

Claire giggled. “Would I do that? Maybe I should get you something for the burn. You should’ve worn sunscreen…”

Before she could finish, Tony’s lips were on hers and she was back on her pillow. When he broke their kiss, his nose lingered millimeters from hers. “Thank you for your concern. Perhaps you could be as considerate of my mental health.”

“Emily told me that Harry’s in a relationship and he’s happy.” She lifted her lips to his. “See? No big deal.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why does she think you need to know that?”

Claire pulled away from the weight of his chest and sat back up. “Honestly, I don’t know. I guess she wanted me to know that he’s doing well.”

Tony shook his head. “Well, fine. He’s living in North Carolina near his daughter and in a relationship. I know I’ll sleep better tonight.”

Claire tilted her head to the side. “Wait a minute. How did you know about his daughter?”

“You knew too. Didn’t you tell me?”

“Noooo.” She elongated the word. “I didn’t know anything about him being married or having a child until this afternoon.”

Tony shrugged. “I’m not sure then.” He feigned a smile. “He’s happy, you’re happy, I’m happy—we’re all happy.” He lifted a brow. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes, you wanted to get me lotion.”

Claire’s neck straightened. “Don’t do that. You asked me a question and I answered it. Now I want to know how you knew about Harry. I was shocked when Emily told me that he’d been married. Obviously, you’ve known it for a while but never felt the need to tell me.”

“Why would I tell you that? What possible reason do I have to bring up your ex-boyfriend?”

“It was a long time ago. You know how upset I was when I learned he was FBI.”

“Roach told me.”

Claire contemplated his response. “Phil told you I was upset? Because yes, he was with me when I found out. Or… Phil told you about Harry and has kept you up to date on him.”

“Claire, you’re making this into more than it is. Emily shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t you dare turn this around on her. Answer my question. If you don’t, I’ll ask Phil tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Tony admitted. “Roach has kept me up to date on Mr. Baldwin as well as Ms. McCoy. She’s still in prison, by the way.”

Claire crossed her arms over her chest. “Is there anyone else you two are investigating? Any other secrets you’d suddenly like to share?”

“Yes,” his tone mellowed. “I have a burning secret I’d like to share.” As he spoke, he inched closer. “Are you ready?” When Claire didn’t answer, he lowered his lips to her neck. After a few butterfly kisses, he breathed heavily with each word. “Here’s. My. Secret.”

Goose bumps materialized as Claire waited for his revelation.

“I love you more than life itself.” His kisses moved from behind her ear to her collarbone. “I didn’t investigate Mr. Baldwin for any other reason than curiosity.” His lips continued to roam. “I’m insanely jealous of the time you two spent together, but…” He brought his head up and looked directly into her eyes showing her the chocolate swirls of desire and regret. “…I don’t blame anyone for the pain you were in when the two of you met, other than me.”

This was more than Claire wanted to hear. She looked away, knowing she too was guilty.

“Look at me.”

Slowly, she turned.

“Tony, stop. I’m not innocent.”

“Nor am I. We’ve moved beyond all of this. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to have this conversation, for no other reason than when it comes to that man my feelings are irrational.”

Giving up her pretense of anger, Claire reached for his cheeks. The warmth of his face as well as the abrasiveness of his five o’clock shadow electrified her hands, sending shockwaves through her body. “I’m sorry. I admit that I thought it was cute that you were jealous. I shouldn’t have baited you. I haven’t thought about Harry in years. That may make me a terrible person, but I haven’t. I’m too happy and satisfied with everything that I have right here to spend my time thinking about the past.” her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve lost too much time in the past. I want the now.”

AS TONY CARESSED
Claire’s cheek her eyes closed causing a tear to fall. Shit, this wasn’t what he wanted. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut? Without thinking, Tony leaned nearer and kissed away the salty moisture.

“We both have. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. I should’ve answered you. I knew you’d want to know.”

Tony looked down into the sea of emerald green. “How? How did you know?”

A slight grin materialized on his wife’s face. “I saw it when you opened the door.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

Her hands on his cheeks pulled his lips toward hers. “You are to me,” she answered. “You have been for as long as I can remember.”

As their lips united, their bodies molded together. They were like pieces of a puzzle: one made especially to fit the other. They moved in sync, their caressing hands sending warmth and energy from one to the other. Their tongues danced, creating a waltz of give and take. Within minutes Claire’s nightgown was gone, lost to the abyss of the carpet below only to quickly be accompanied by Tony’s shorts. Tucked safely behind the security of their locked door, it was only the two of them moving as one.

Claire’s back arched as they united, inviting him not only to enter her warmth but also to tease her taut nipples. Each time he sucked or taunted her hard nubs, moans of desire filled the suite. Their rhythm increased as the room around them disappeared.

She had been right. Too much time had been lost in the past. Their eyes were rightfully set on the present, and as they settled into one another’s arms and the night air stilled, Tony’s mind was not in their history, but filled with what he had in the here and now: his family, his wife in his arms as well as his children sleeping soundly in their rooms.

Though many may question the choices they’d made, as Tony and Claire neared sleep they both knew that every second of their past had been worth it. They wouldn’t spend their lives rehashing it, but they also wouldn’t regret it. For without their past, they wouldn’t have their present, including the two young Rawlingses who would change the legacy of the Nichols-Rawls families forever, because tomorrow held the possibility for only the best of consequences.

Theirs was a long, complicated story with a monster and a knight. What made their story unique was that these two players were the same person.

—Aleatha Romig, CONVICTED

Dear Reader,

Your love and appreciation for Tony and Claire’s story made this book possible, as well as each one post-Consequences. I’ve tried too many times to say that I’m done writing about this family. I won’t say that again.

What does that mean? I make no promises. Someday I may explore the lives of Nichol and Nate. How did they grow up? What did they become? How did their parents influence them? What was it truly like to grow up Rawlings? Perhaps Phil will want a story of his own or maybe Harry?

However, for now, I’m content in knowing that Claire and Tony overcame their impossible beginning and love prevailed through impossible odds. I hope you’ll not only allow me that reprieve, but perhaps also join me if the story ever decides to continue in my mind. For if that happens, for my own sanity, I must share it with you.

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES. If you’ve enjoyed this peek into the future, please tell your friends, leave a review, and shout it from the rooftops!

If you’d like to take a different dark journey with a little more heat, I recommend my new TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone. INSIDIOUS, my first erotic thriller, is now available and DUPLICITY, another stand-alone dark tale, will be available in 2015.

All my books are listed following the Consequences glossary and timeline.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

~Aleatha

-Primary Characters-

Anthony (Tony) Rawlings
:
billionaire, entrepreneur, founder of Rawlings Industries

Anton Rawls
(birth name):
son of Samuel, grandson of Nathaniel (birth name)

Claire Nichols Rawlings
:
meteorologist, bartender, woman whose life changed forever, wife and ex-wife of Anthony Rawlings

Aliases:
Lauren Michaels, Isabelle Alexander, C. Marie Rawls

Nathaniel (Nate) Sherman Rawlings:
son of Claire and Anthony Rawlings

Nichol Courtney Rawlings
: daughter of Claire and Anthony Rawlings

Brent Simmons:
Rawlings attorney, Tony’s best friend

Catherine Marie London (Rawls):
housekeeper, friend of Anthony Rawlings, 2
nd
wife of Nathaniel Rawls, Anton Rawls’ step-grandmother

Courtney Simmons:
Brent Simmons’ wife

Emily (Nichols) Vandersol:
Claire’s older sister

Harrison Baldwin:
half-brother of Amber McCoy, president of security at SiJo Gaming

John Vandersol:
Emily’s husband, Claire’s brother-in-law, attorney

Liz Matherly:
personal assistant to Amber McCoy, love interest of Harrison Baldwin

Meredith Banks Russel:
reporter, sorority sister of Claire Nichols

Phillip Roach:
private investigator hired by Anthony Rawlings

-Secondary Characters-

Amber McCoy:
Simon Johnson’s fiancée, CEO of SiJo Gaming

Derek Burke:
husband of Sophia Rossi, great-grandnephew of Jonathon Burke

Eric Hensley:
Tony’s driver and assistant

Nathaniel Rawls:
grandfather of Anton Rawls, father of Samuel Rawls, owner-founder of Rawls Corporation

Patricia Miles:
personal assistant to Anthony Rawlings, corporate Rawlings Industries

Aliases:
Melissa Garrison, Charlotte Peterson

Sophia Rossi Burke:
adopted daughter of Carlo and Silvia Rossi, wife of Derek Burke, biological daughter of Marie London, and owner of an art studio in Provincetown, MA