Page 34 of Tony

Her imploring gaze sought his as she captured his strong jaw in her hands. “This is what I need. This is what I want,” she explained. “I. Need. You. Inside. Of. Me.”

He held her eyes for just a moment, seeing nothing but truth and trust. Growling he grabbed a condom and rolled on top of her, stilling his cock just at her entrance. Holding her legs apart, he looked down at all her beauty. Pale skin gleaming in the moonlight. Blue eyes looking into his.She’s truly mine.A sexy smile lit her face and he swore his heart stopped as her arms rose up to him.

Plunging to the hilt, his dick reveled in the soft warmth of her body. Leaning over her, his hands on either side of her head, he pounded deeply, trying to reach the innermost part of her soul. Hanging on to his self-discipline by a thread, he was determined for her to come again.

“Close, baby?” he panted.

“Yes, yes.” She grabbed his shoulders, holding on for all she was worth. The sparks shot from her womb out through her limbs as her orgasm rocketed. Digging her fingers into his arms, she cried out once again.

He followed her, his neck thrown back as the cords of muscles strained. Continuing to thrust until every last drop was drained, he fell to the side taking her with him. Holding her close, he wrapped his arms around her trembling form, pulling her tight into his chest. Legs tangled. Arms wrapped. Breaths mingled. Heartbeats pounding in unison.

Slowly awareness crept in and he looked back into her face, seeing her smiling at him.

“Are you okay, baby?” he asked.

“Oh yeah. I couldn’t be happier,” she whispered back.

Pulling her back tightly to him, he threw his leg over hers as his arm wrapped around her waist. Tucking her sated body next to his, he allowed the sound of her deep breathing to lull him to sleep.

* * *

A dream overtook his sleep, as he wandered around the battlefield of his mind.

The dust. The dirt. The blood. He began to run, wanting to escape the desolation of the war-torn country. Something green was on the horizon and his booted feet pounded toward the color. As he came closer, he could see a beautiful, green park and in the distance was a dark haired woman holding a baby. Marla and Sofia. With his last ounce of strength, he continued to run toward them. But the park became a cemetery and he had to wind his way around the tombstones to try to reach them. They disappeared, but as he stumbled to a halt, he looked at the closest tombstone.

Their names were carved in the cold marble. Beloved wife and beloved daughter. There were new words at the bottom and he dropped to the ground to see them. Wiping the grass away, he readThere is no life without pain.

“I’m letting you go, Tony,” he heard behind him. Turning he saw a smiling Marla, standing with the light shining behind her head, Sofia tucked safely in her arms. He stood, his breathing sharp and ragged. “Now you have to let me go too,” she said again.

He reached his hand toward her but she began to slide toward the light. “Marla?” he whispered.

“Be happy, my love. Be happy with Sherrie,” came the only response, as she and Sofia disappeared.

For the first time since his family had passed away, he did not waken with sadness. Instead he continued to sleep, peacefully, his soul finally at rest.

Turning over, he clutched Sherrie closer to his chest as dreamless sleep calmed him.

Sherrie lay awake, her heart pounding in her chest, a sharp pain with each breath. She tried to quiet her breathing, but found that nothing stilled the ache.

She had not imagined it. She could not will it away. She could not pretend it had not happened. He had cried outMarlaright before pulling her in tightly.He may be holding me, but in his mind he’s holding her.Pain sliced through her, knowing her body was just a replacement for his wife’s.He tried, I know he did. But maybe we were just fooling ourselves to think we could move beyond the past.

Silent tears slid down her cheeks as she slowly left the bed. Gathering her clothes from the pile on the floor, she dressed silently and moved to the living room. Slipping into her shoes then grabbing her purse, she left his apartment and drove home.

Arriving, she quickly stripped again before pulling on her pajamas. Soft. Comfortable.Not as comfortable as his arms around me,she thought ruefully, dashing the tears again.

I may not ever be much, but I deserve all of him.She continued to lay in bed although sleep eluded her.But if I can’t have him, he’s ruined me for any other man. I love him,she realized. And allowed the tears to fall once more.

12

Tony woke the next morning, rested and relaxed in his bed for the first time in…ever. Rolling over to see Sherrie’s beautiful face, he found the bed empty. Senses alert, he knew the cold side of her bed indicated that she had left hours ago. He jumped up and as he bent to snag his jeans off of the floor he noticed that his clothes were the only ones there.

Stalking into the living room he instantly saw that her purse was missing as well.Goddamn it. Where the hell did she go? He grabbed his cell phone but his call went to her voice mail. A niggle of doubt crept in.

Like any mission, he carefully thought back over the evening. He knew he had not read the signals wrong.She wanted to be here. She wanted to be with me. So what went wrong?

Walking back into the bedroom, he sat on the edge of the bed as he pulled his socks and shoes back on. Determined to find her, he intended to let her know that the next time she thought about leaving in the middle of the night, she had better wake him first.

Wake him. I was sleeping so deeply, I can’t believe I didn’t hear her get up. What had me sleeping so soundly? My dream! Damn, that crazy dream.His body stilled as he remembered.Marla holding Sofia. The cemetery. She’s letting me go and telling me to be with Sherrie.

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