Page 24 of The Wedding Deal

Beside her he could see a suitcase and he had frowned.

“What is going on?” he had asked more sharply, as she had stood, her hands shaking her expression nervous.

“John phoned” she had said, the words hardly audible.

Alexis had moved further into the bedroom, the flowers dropped onto the table carelessly, his voice colder.

“Oh, and what did he say?”

Tessa had wrapped her arms around herself, pain filling her with what she was being made to do.

“He said that unless you lift the restrictions, then our deal is off, and so is yours”

She had heard the gasp of disbelief from him, not able to meet his eyes.

“And you are going to go along with this?” the steel edge in his voice was unmistakable.

Tessa could only nod her head as she had felt him move closer, his hands grasping her shoulders.

“Tessa, whatever your grandfather has on you………you can tell me…………I can help………..we need him out of our lives”

Tessa had bit her lip, finally looking up at him as she had shaken her head.

“No, you can’t” she had managed, wishing with all her heart she could tell him.

She had felt his fingers digging deeper into her soft skin.

“Why won’t you trust me?”

Lowering her eyes once more she had shaken her head again.

“I’m sorry Alexis, I really am”

She had felt as he had quickly released her, felt the anger from him as he had moved over to the door stopping to look at her, his hands dug deep into his pocket, his eyes watching her with real anger deep within, an anger she had never seen before.

“Do you have any idea what you are asking?” he had finally said, seeing as she had only looked back at him, her eyes full of sadness.

“At the speed your grandfather wants to pull those minerals out of the ground, they will be depleted in just over five years. Then what are the people living there to do Tessa?” he had asked, his tone sharp, cutting, seeing as she had looked down unable to answer. After a taut second she had heard him take a sharp intake of breath.

“Fine, tell your grandfather I will arrange it in the morning” his said, his voice so cold.

“I guess Tessa, that you really are a company girl after all” he had bit out, seeing as she had flinched.

“Alexis……..” she had beseeched, as his eyes had racked her contemptuously.

“Save it Tess……..I don’t really think I have the stomach for you right now” and with that he had pulled open the door and left, the sound of the front door slamming and his car starting following soon after.

Tessa had felt cold, used. That morning she had been so happy, so in love and she could not blame him for hating her. She felt dirty. Closing her eyes in pain, she knew there was only one place he would be going, to Clara, to his mistress and bitterly she could not hate him for it. Moving over to the table, she had run her fingers over the beautiful flowers, their brightness mocking her, as she had lifted them dropping them in the bin not prepared to even read the message inside the card. Turning to once more unpack her belongings she had then made the phone call John Jones was waiting for, the bitterness filling her, as she had heard the satisfied gloating in his voice, heard as he had laughed. Finally she had lain down, hating herself, unable to sleep as thoughts of Alexis and Clara had filled her mind. That morning she had been filled with so much hope, now she knew she had destroyed any chance they might have had.

Alexis had not returned that evening, and Tessa had slept little, hoping to hear him return, not that she knew what to say when he did. In the morning she had risen early, having given up on any notion of sleep, looking tired, as Mrs Lowe had regarded her over tea.

“You coming down with something Tess?” she had asked, her voice concerned as the younger woman had smiled wanly.

“No…Just couldn’t sleep…all the plans for the studio getting to me I think” she had smiled softly, seeing as the other woman had regarded her thoughtfully.

“Well maybe you should take the day off” she had said kindly, seeing as Tessa had shaken her head.

“No, I’ll be fine honest” she smiled, the thought of having to just sit all day waiting to hear from Alexis torturous.

That evening on her return Mrs Lowe had met her.

“Alexis has called several times” she had chuckled.

“Seems he couldn’t reach you on your mobile”

Tessa had groaned softly, remembering leaving it on the bedside cabinet.

“Oh…….is everything OK?” she had asked warily, as Mrs Lowe had smiled.

“He has had to go out of town for a couple of days……some emergency, mineral rights or something”

Tessa had bitten her lip looking away, a look the older woman had taken to be upset at the fact he was not there, not the guilt that had coursed through her.

“You newlyweds” she had grinned “You do have the rest of your lives together” she had smiled, patting her arm comfortingly, before turning and moving back to the kitchen.

When he had finally phoned later than night, he had not commented on the previous evening, but his voice had been distant, polite even. Taking her cue from him, she had only talked briefly of what had happened that day, as had he.

“How…how long are you going to be?” she had finally mustered the courage to ask him, hearing a small pause on the other end.

“About a week” had been the response, as silence had filled the line.

“I see” she had finally said, her voice full of sadness.

“I understand”

On the other end she had heard a soft sigh from him.

“Things have to be rearranged, you have put me in a very bad situation Tessa” he had said, the steel once more in his voice.

“I’m sorry” she had said in almost a whisper, not sure what else to say, wishing that she could tell him everything, that he could hold her in his arms and tell her he could make everything right, but knowing that he couldn’t.

“I have to go” he had said more softly, “I’ll phone tomorrow”

For the next four days things seemed to go along the same routine. Tessa would work all day at the studio speaking with builders and organising the first semester for her students. She would return home late, tired enough to help her sleep, her conscience still bothering her. His call would come about nine and they would exchange news of their day. Tessa felt sore at the way the warmth seemed to have left his voice, but she could not really blame him. He had made a deal and she had been the weapon with which to force that deal to be changed against him. In his place she would feel angry and used too, so she had responded with pleasantries of her own, both of them saying nothing to each other avoiding the subject.

Alexis had slipped into the house. Looking at his watch he had noted how late it was, nearly 2 in the morning, the complete silence and darkness of the foyer echoing the lateness. Quietly placing his bag on the floor he had decided to leave it there for the following morning, choosing instead to move up the stairs quickly and quietly. It had been a long and tiring week, but with the promise of extensive reimbursement from himself, he had managed to secure a settlement even quicker than he had anticipated from the mining community. The anger at John Jones still burned deeply within him, and that of the way Tessa had been part of the plan by the older man. Now after a long flight he needed a shower. Moving to one of the main bathrooms, he had slipped into the small jets of warm water, feeling them slowly bring life back into his tired body. Drying off, he had wrapped a towel around his lean well toned stomach before moving back to his bedroom.

From the small shaft of moonlight he could see Tessa in bed, lying on her side, one hand level with her head the other resting gently over her stomach. He had watched her even breathing before pulling off the towel and sliding into bed beside her. The mere sight of her, wearing only a small strappy night dress had excited him. Lifting her hair from her shoulders he had moved against her, her bottom against his groin, his mouth gently kissing along her shoulder.

Tessa was dreaming. In her dream Alexis was caressing her, his hands exploring her as she has moaned against him, her supple body responding to his touch, to his kisses on her back and neck. As she had moved to gently caress the hardness of him she had heard the soft growl from him, her eyes flying open instantly, the realisation that she was not dreaming crashing down on her as she had started, turning quickly onto her back into his arms.

“Alexis” she had gasped, her voice full of surprise as he had lifted a finger to her cheek, slowly letting it trail down her soft skin.

“Did you miss me?” he had whispered huskily, before not even waiting for a response his mouth had descended, his kiss full of fire, setting her ablaze with the need for him. As she had wrapped her arms around his neck his had snaked around her waist, lifting her to enable him to pull the night dress from her. With a soft groan he was able to slide his eyes over her wonderful figure, seeing as she had lain quivering beneath him, her eyes half open watching him, her soft mouth slightly open as her body showed its longing for him. Moving once more his tongue had slid over her causing her to moan. With the growing need for him her hands had pulled his head down harder to her gasping louder as he had taken the whole into his mouth rolling it on his tongue, his teeth nipping at her. Her hand had moved to gently, shyly stroke his hard shaft, feeling the warm silkiness of it as he had sucked in a breath needing to feel himself deep within her. Pulling her hand from him he had kissed her mouth sending her head spinning once more as he had positioned himself over her, pulling her legs around him as he had surged deep within her. Alexis had groaned, a deep masculine sound, the feel of her muscles holding him so tightly driving him to the very edge of reason. She had gone wild beneath him, her fingers clutching him, sliding down his back as her moved with him, as she had kissed him, her mouth needing to feel his.

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