He leaned down and kissed her moist lips. “Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Yes, but it’s Wednesday. I wasn’t expecting you until the weekend.”
“I missed you,” he responded huskily, cupping her chin and leaning down and kissing her once more. It was a deep kiss, long and warm. His lips left hers then moved to her ear, her temple, and her nose before retracing the path back to her mouth. The sensual force about to explode between them was acute. He pulled her closer to him. “Do we eat first or make love?”
Syneda looked up and studied the face of the man she loved, the man she was going to marry. Desire-filled eyes stared down at her. She had missed him, too, and wanted nothing more than to lose herself in his arms, to lose her body in his.
Her hands slowly slid up his chest and around his neck. “Make love to me, Clayton. Now.”
He kissed her again as he swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
“I’m hungry.”
Clayton smiled at Syneda’s words. He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her lips. “You could have eaten first. I did give you a choice.”
“I know, but I preferred doing this first,” she said, smiling against his lips. She eased up on her elbow and looked down at him. “At this moment I’m happier than anyone deserves to be.”
He reached up and captured her face in the palm of his hand. “If there’s anyone who deserves to be happy, you’re that person.”
Clayton kissed her, knowing he had to discuss the reason he had come to see her during the middle of the week. He would never forget how Syntel had taken the news of Syneda’s existence. He had been filled with joy, sorrow and anger. Joy that Janeda had given him a daughter, sorrow that he had been cheated out of twenty-eight years of her life, and anger in knowing his father had been the cause of it.
A deep sigh escaped Clayton’s lips. He had had to explain to Syntel why it was so important how they handled revealing his identity to Syneda. As best he could, he had told him about Syneda’s rejection-and-abandonment complex, and how at first she would not accept a serious relationship between them because she had associated loving a man with abandonment and rejection. He had seen fresh tears cloud the older man’s eyes when he had told him how confident Janeda Walters had been when she’d been told upon her death bed that he would be coming for his daughter and how Syneda had waited patiently for him to come for her.
“Clayton, I’m hungry.”
Syneda’s words cut into Clayton’s thoughts. He smiled at her. “Then I guess I’d better feed you. But first I need to tell you something.”
She looked up at him curiously. “What?”
“We’ve been invited somewhere this weekend.”
“Oh? Where?”
Clayton reached up and traced his knuckle across her smooth skin. “To S. T. Remington’s ranch.”
Syneda’s eyes widened. “Really? Why?”
“He wants to meet you.”
She laughed. “Why would S. T. Remington want to meet me?”
He smiled, a slow, lazy smile. “He’s eaten up with curiosity about the woman who nabbed me from the throes of bachelorhood. Trust me, he’s dying to meet you.” Dying to meet her was an understatement, Clayton thought. Syntel had been ready to fly to New York and claim his daughter.
“Well, what about it, baby?”
Syneda leaned up and kissed him. “I had relished the idea of spending this weekend here alone with you. But if you want us to go, I will. Is anyone else going to be there?”
“Yes. Senator Lansing will be there, too. They’ve been best friends since college.”
Syneda nodded. “Then I’ll finally get the opportunity to meet the senator. I never did meet him at Whispering Pines.”
“Now you’ll have your chance.”
Syneda snuggled closer to Clayton. “Hmm, sounds like it will be a rather interesting weekend.”
Clayton pulled her to him. “Yeah, I have a feeling that it will be.”
“How did things go with S. T. Remington?” Braxter asked as he entered the senator’s office.
Senator Lansing sighed raggedly, pushing his chair back from his desk. “No different than I expected. Syntel loved Jan very much and to discover he had a child he didn’t know anything about because of the deceit of his father was a lot for him to take in.”
Braxter nodded. “I’m sure it was. Has Ms. Walters been told anything yet?”
“No. Clayton strongly suggested we wait until the weekend. He’s taking her to Syntel’s ranch then.”
“I hope things turn out all right. In their own way, both of them have suffered enough.”
“I fully agree.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do about Senator Harris?”
“Yes. I’m not going to do anything. He didn’t get the report, and nothing has happened.”
“But he tried to ruin you.”
“And no doubt he’ll probably try again. I can’t go around worrying about people like him, Braxter. All I can do is continue to do the job I was sent here to do. I don’t have time to play games like Senator Harris is inclined to do.”
“So you’re going to let him get away with it?”
“Thanks to Celeste Rogers, he didn’t get away with anything.”
“Yes, thanks to Celeste Rogers,” Braxter said bitterly.
“Have you seen her since that night she brought the report here?”
“No, and I don’t intend to, either.”
“She apologized for what she’d done.”
“How can you forgive someone who has betrayed you? Someone who deliberately used you?”
A few seconds followed before the senator answered. “It can be done, Braxter, but you have to want to do it. None of us are perfect. All of us have flaws, and we all make mistakes. We don’t know why she did what she did initially. The only thing we do know is that in the end, because of you, she couldn’t go through with it. Forgiving someone is never easy. It takes a big person to say I’m sorry, but it takes an even bigger person to say I accept your apology and you’re forgiven.”
Braxter didn’t respond for the longest moment, then nodding his head, he turned and walked out of the office.
The snow was coming down in light flakes, the first for D.C. this winter. It took all of Braxter’s concentration to operate the car and not think about Celeste. He had not gotten a lot of work done today for thinking about her.
Suddenly his mind became filled with what the senator had said to him earlier that day…“It takes a big person to say I’m sorry, but it takes an even bigger person to say I accept your apology and you’re forgiven.”
He took a long, deep breath. For so long he had not allowed himself the time to get interested in anyone. He had been too busy to include a woman in his life, at least not seriously.
Not until he’d met Celeste.
When the car came to a stop at a traffic light, he shifted his weight in the seat and massaged the tightness at the base of his neck. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking of her. And no matter how much he tried he couldn’t stop loving her.
When the light signaled it was time to go, he found himself heading in the direction of Celeste’s apartment.
Celeste answered the knock at her door and was surprised to find Braxter’s tall figure filling the doorway.
“May I come in?”
Numb, she simply nodded and stepped aside.
For the longest time Braxter didn’t say anything to her, he just stood looking at her.
“Braxter, why are you here?”
He shook his head as if to clear it. “I asked myself a similar question while driving over here. I wasn’t completely sure until you opened the door. Now I know.”
He took her hand in his and led her over to the sofa where they sat down. “There’s a lot of things I don’t understand, but I want you to talk to me. Let’s get things out in the open. I want you to help me to understand your connection with Senator Harris, and why you did what you did.”
Celeste met his gaze, not believing he had actually come and was giving her an opportunity to explain things to him. She really couldn’t ask for any more than that.
At least it was a start.
“Y
ou’re pretty good at flying this thing,” Syneda said, watching Clayton at the controls of the Cessna 310. She glanced around the cockpit of the small plane before returning her eyes to him. Although she disliked small planes, she couldn’t help admiring his abilities as a pilot. He handled the controls with both ease and competency. They had been in the air fifteen minutes, and she had not experienced even the tiniest bit of queasiness.
“Thanks,” Clayton replied, casting her a smile. “And thanks again for taking this trip with me.”
“I didn’t mind. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.” Her lips twitched in amusement. “You evidently made a darn good impression on S. T. Remington when representing Caitlin in that land deal for the two of you to have gotten so chummy. I’m sure not too many people get invited to his ranch for the weekend. Anyone who keeps up with the lives of the rich and famous knows S. T. Remington is a very private person. I understand he’s very selective when choosing his friends and associates.”
Clayton grinned. “Remington and I aren’t chummy. I told you, you’re the reason for the invitation. He wanted to meet you.”
Syneda rolled her eyes upward. “Yeah, right.”
He smiled. He knew Syneda didn’t believe him. She thought he was getting together with Syntel Remington on business and had merely invited her along.
Syntel had contacted him yesterday to make sure they were still coming. He had also advised Clayton that after making a few phone calls, he’d been able to track down the investigator who had handled his search for Janeda years ago. Now retired, the man had remembered the assignment well, and what he’d told Syntel was no longer hard for him to believe. He had been paid a hefty sum by Syntel’s father to omit certain information in his report. Specifically, any information regarding Janeda’s child.
“Tighten up. It’s time to take this baby down,” Clayton said to Syneda moments later.
Clayton smoothly landed the small aircraft. “Syntel has sent someone to get us,” he told Syneda as he motioned to the vehicle parked near the runway. “We’ll be on our way to the ranch as soon as I check in.”
Not long afterward, they were on their way to the home of one of Texas’s richest oilmen. Syneda was not disappointed when the vehicle came to a stop in front of the big sprawling Spanish-style ranch house moments later. She had always thought the ranch house at Whispering Pines was huge but this one took the icing off the cake. It was surrounded by numerous flowering trees, plants and shrubs. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered to Clayton. “I can’t believe he lives here alone.”
Clayton took her hand in his. “He doesn’t live alone. He has an entire house staff and this is an operating ranch. In addition to being in the oil business, Syntel raises Arabian horses. There’s a slew of ranch hands living around here.”
“What I meant is that I can’t believe he isn’t married. He’s one of Texas’s wealthiest bachelors, and from the pictures I’ve seen of him, he’s extremely good-looking. I’m surprised no one has snatched him up by now.”
“I understand he fell in love rather young…in his twenties. The woman died and he never wanted anyone else after that,” Clayton replied as the door to the vehicle was opened for them. “He loved her very much.”
“How sad.”
“Yes, it was, but they did have a daughter together.”
Syneda accepted Clayton’s words without any further comments or questions. Her attention was immediately drawn to the tall, broad-shouldered, handsome, older man who had come out of the house to greet them. Clayton introduced Syneda to Syntel.
“Welcome to Viscaya.” Syntel captured Syneda’s hand in his. A lump formed in his throat as he tried suppressing any outward emotions he felt in knowing this young woman was
his
child, his and Janeda’s. She had been created in their love.
Syneda smiled up into eyes that she failed to notice were the exact color of her own. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Syntel beamed down at her. “Clayton told me how beautiful you were, but I didn’t believe him. Now I see he really didn’t exaggerate.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind, Mr. Remington,” Syneda replied. For some reason, she had taken an immediate liking to the man. He seemed full of warmth and friendliness and was nothing like the private, closed person the media had painted him to be. “You have a beautiful home.”
“I’m glad you like it. And please call me Syntel. Come on inside,” he said, leading them through the huge front door made of dark wood. “Emilie is my housekeeper, and she’ll show you to your rooms. Later today, after the two of you have unpacked and relaxed a bit, I’ll show you around.”
Once inside, Syneda couldn’t help but view with approval the decor of the house. A few minutes later she and Clayton were led down a long hall where the guest rooms were. The rooms they were given were next to each other. Her room was beautifully decorated and contained a fireplace. A huge window overlooked an interior courtyard filled with lush plants and a small man-made pond. There was also a swimming pool within her sight.
Syneda smiled as she began unpacking her belongings, anticipating what she deemed to be a weekend of fun spent on a ranch deep in the heart of Texas.
True to his word, Syntel took Syneda and Clayton on a personal tour of his ranch. More than once Syneda looked up to find his intense gaze upon her. It wasn’t the look of male interest, but a look of something she couldn’t quite figure out.
That night she retired to bed early to give Clayton and Syntel a chance to talk privately. After taking a bath in the huge bathtub, she walked out of the bathroom dressed in a silky mauve-colored slip-style nightgown to find Clayton stretched out on her bed.
Her heart began beating rapidly from the sight of him on the bed. He looked so big, powerful and strong. The jeans he wore hugged his muscular thighs, and the shirt he wore greatly emphasized his broad shoulders.
Before she had a chance to realize what he was up to, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her down to him on the huge bed.
“Clayton, what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, laughing.
“I think it’s obvious,” he said huskily, closing his arms around her like steel bands.
“What will Syntel think if he finds out you’re in my room?” Syneda asked moments before her breath caught in her throat. Clayton’s hands had begun roaming underneath her gown.
Clayton had thought of that. Syntel had given them separate rooms. Evidently he didn’t think it was too late to be a protective father to his daughter. However, as far as Clayton was concerned, it would take more than separate rooms to keep him away from the woman he loved.
“Don’t worry about Syntel. He knows we’re engaged to be married. Besides, his bedroom is on the other side of the house. There’s no one in this wing but the two of us.”
“Are you sure?”
Clayton swiftly and expertly removed the gown from Syneda’s body. “I’m positive,” he answered moments before savoring the taste of her mouth. And at the same time he let his hands move leisurely over her, finding pleasure in her soft nakedness.
“I want you, baby.” He whispered the words against her lips before claiming them again, pressing her back against the pillow.
Syneda was completely aware of Clayton’s tenderness as he went about pleasing her. She automatically surrendered to the passion he was stirring inside of her. He teased her by keeping his mouth on hers lightly, toying with her tongue and nipping at the corners of her mouth.
He lifted his mouth from hers and met her gaze. Deep desire flared in his eyes. “I want to love you tonight in the full sense of the word, Syneda. I don’t want anything separating us. Not anything. I want to give you all of me. But doing so will put you at risk of getting pregnant, and I don’t want to do that. I want you to have my baby but only after we’ve gotten married and feel the time is right.”
Clayton’s words echoed in Syneda’s head. A rush of emotions surged through her. Clayton Madaris, a man who thrived on being careful and in control, wanted to be careless and out of control with her. What he had held back from numerous other women, he now wanted to give to her. He wanted to be a part of her in the most elemental way, in the most special way. But he thought doing so would put her at risk of getting pregnant.
She looked up at him. Love swelled in her heart. “And I don’t want anything separating us, either. I want all of you.” Syneda’s voice was a mere notch above a whisper when she spoke.
“And don’t worry about placing me in any kind of risk. I’m on birth control.”
Clayton’s surprised gaze held hers for a moment before asking, “You’re on the pill?”
Syneda shook her head. “No. I didn’t think I’d remember to take one of those things every day. They’re only as reliable as the person who takes them. I had an injection.”
His look was thoughtful when he asked, “When?”
“Right after our trip to New Orleans.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, threading his fingers through the softness of her hair.
“I started to tell you a number of times, then changed my mind. Using a condom always seemed to be the most comfortable and safest method to you.” She smiled slightly. “Not too many men can boast of having a case of them in their closet. The reason I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want you to feel you had to change your way of doing things just for me.” She lowered her eyes from his.
“Look at me, Syneda.”
When she raised her eyes to his, he brushed his lips across her lips before saying, “I’ve always believed in safe sex. More men should take responsibility for their actions in the bedroom. But there was never a time when I made love to you that I didn’t think about how it would feel to be skin to skin with you, without having some type of covering, no matter how thin, separating us.”
He pulled her closer into his embrace. “You don’t know how often I wondered how it would feel to make love to you, knowing the very essence of me would become a part of you. I’ve never made love to a woman without using a condom, but that’s all I’ve ever thought of with you.”
Anticipation combined with heated desire flowed through Syneda’s body with his words. “Then do it, Clayton. I’m not at risk. I want the full Clayton Madaris experience.”
Clayton’s heart raced. There was no mistaking the love and trust he read in her eyes. Excitement and desire tore through him. She was a very special woman. His woman. Then he kissed her in a way that left her shivering and murmuring his name. He touched her in a way that made her tremble, taking his time to build their passion until Syneda almost shattered in his arms.
Reveling in his touch, Syneda clung to him. His scent exuded a virility that was a combination of man and heat. His body was warm and hard. She loved the feel of him on her and was ready for the feel of him inside her. She kissed the tender skin underneath his ear and whispered. “Love me, Clayton. Now!”
He did, both mentally and physically.
As he slipped into her body, he gazed down into the depths of her sea-green eyes that were dark with passion. He felt himself losing control. He was powerless in her arms.
They began moving together in rapturous rhythm, the heat of his passion inciting her to move under him and cling to him tighter as he filled her completely.
“I love you.” Clayton whispered the words in Syneda’s ear just moments before their passion soared to greater heights. All sense of time and place escaped them as their bodies convulsed and their passion crested.
Syneda flexed her inner muscles to hold him tighter within her. She heard herself make a low sexy sound as her senses began slipping. She soon heard Clayton’s groan mingle with that sound and felt his body trembling as they simultaneously reached the peak of total fulfillment together. She strained against him when she felt him emptying himself into her.
“Clayton!”
The force of what was taking place made Syneda’s entire body grow still as a tidal wave of sensuous pleasure flooded over her. It was a violent culmination for both of them as together they reached the pinnacle of sexual pleasure.
A long time afterward, Clayton lay holding Syneda as she slept in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, her soft body tucked into the curve of his.
He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Sometime tomorrow her eighteen-year wait for her father would end. He hoped and prayed she would not resent him for interfering, but she needed to deal with her past before the two of them could have a future.
“Did you get a good night’s sleep, Syneda?”
A blush crept in Syneda’s cheek. She quickly took a huge swallow of orange juice before answering Syntel’s question. “Yes, thanks for asking.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Clayton’s thin smile. Of all the things she had gotten last night, a good night’s sleep wasn’t one of them. The memories of her lovemaking with Clayton made her body ache with both desire and soreness. She cast a quick glance at him and the delicious tension within her intensified when she watched his lips form a silent message:
I love you.
“I have a little celebration planned for tonight,” Syntel said, unknowingly interrupting the soundless byplay between Clayton and Syneda.
Syneda shifted in her chair. “Oh? What’s the occasion?”