Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Rating: PG-13
Chapter 5
All Tony could think about as they mounted the stairs was the way Angela's hand felt wrapped around his. The touch was light and warm, but there was no way he could pull away his hand, even if he wanted to. And he didn't. So he blindly followed her only feeling nervous as they stopped outside of her door. In his mind he corrected himself, their door. It was in this moment where the implications of all that had passed between them today and in the past finally came to a fore. This room, he had always considered it Angela's private domain. Even when he was forced to clean it he had moved cautiously and respectfully, never dreaming of imposing any of himself on her room. Yet, of all the rooms in the house he enjoyed this one the most, because everything in it was so intimately Angela. He watched as she shyly opened the door and felt an overwhelming need to lighten the moment. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards him and then swung her up into his arms.
She laughed as she linked her arms around his neck, realising his intentions. "You know, I think carrying your wife over the threshold is supposed to take place at the front door, not the bedroom door."
Tony just grinned and perfected his hold on her. "Yeah, but this is the one threshold we've never crossed together." With that he stepped into the room, nudging the door closed with his foot. Their lips met and his grip lightened, allowing Angela to slide to the floor. Unfortunately, the manoeuvre was less than graceful and Angela continued to slide without finding her footing. She broke out laughing as she crumpled to the floor, watching him momentarily kiss thin air. As he held out his hand to help her up, she allowed herself to gaze around the room. The lights were dimmed and a fire was crackling in the fireplace. Bouquets from the wedding had been spread about the room and champagne was chilling in a cooler.
She looked back at Tony, finding herself surprised once again upon entering a room and seeing the unexpected. "Did you do this?" she asked.
But Tony was staring at the room in wonder too. They looked at each other with puzzled expressions for a moment before it finally dawned on them. "Mother." She said.
"Mona," he agreed.
A familiar quiet fell upon them as they studied each other nervously, each wanting to make a move, but unsure of how to do it in a manner that seemed completely natural. Finally Angela broke the silence as she took a deep breath and announced, "I'm going to go hang up this dress. Why don't you pour us some of that champagne Mother so thoughtfully provided while you're waiting? I won't be long." She spoke quickly as a red flush crept over her cheeks and she purposely avoided making eye contact with Tony. He noticed her discomfort and moved to comply, secretly relieved that she had been the first to speak. Angela made broad strides across the room toward the bathroom, but stopped at the door, suddenly remembering something. She turned around and spoke hesitantly, "Tony?"
He turned his head towards her, still working at taking the plastic off of the champagne bottle. "Huh?"
"Um Tony... Could you help me with my zipper? Sam helped me zip it up but I don't think I can..." She trailed off, a little uncomfortable with asking him for help.
Tony smiled and nodded, moving across the room towards her. As he neared, she turned around and tried to sweep her hair out of the way to allow him better access. He paused behind her for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then brought a slightly trembling hand up to brush away a few remaining tendrils that fell across the zipper. He tried to ignore the sharp intake of breath his gentle touch had caused her and instead focused on the maddenly tiny zipper that hung just below the nape of her neck. His fingers fumbled for a moment before he finally caught it triumphantly. As his hands worked the zipper slowly down the curve of her back, he couldn't help but admire the creamy, smooth texture of her skin or the way the delicate little hairs curled on the back of her neck. Almost without realising it, he found himself leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to her newly revealed shoulder blade. He felt as much as heard the breathy sigh she released as she arched her back towards him and he continued to trail kisses up her spine, gradually making his way up to her neck. She tilted her head and leaned into him, savouring the sensation of his lips on her skin.
Eyes half closed, she breathed in slowly and deeply before turning in his arms to catch the mouth that was teasing her neck. This was the kiss from that first heated evening before the car rolled into the lake. It was the kiss she remembered from that night in Jamaica that told her without words how much he wanted her. But this time it was she that pulled away, wanting to take all the time in the world to relish the moment. She looked deep into his intense dark eyes; her own filled with desire, and smiled at him seductively but coyly. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she reminded him, and disappeared into the washroom.