Dear reader, parts of this chapter are certainly T++.

Chapter 4

Tony was confused like never before, he almost equaled Angela's habit of thinking everything to death. Over the past few days he had talked to the principal of Stamford School as well as the principal of Saint Monica. He couldn't make a decision and no one advised him in one way or another. He took long jogs through the streets and parks of Fairfield, but he didn't find the relaxation he desperately needed. One time he had yelled out of frustration after running for hours on end. Not even the yelling eased his raging thoughts. Like a tiger in cage he paced back and forth. If only Angela were here with help and advice; he would be more confident about his future. When he looked at his watch he was amazed. It was after 10pm and he hadn't realized how much time had elapsed with all his running and thinking. After a short shower he jumped into a pair of black sweat pants and collapsed on his small couch. Since it had been so hot the last few days he decided to forgo a shirt. Why should he put on a shirt? No one would see him anyway.

Tony only wanted to take over some leftovers out of the fridge when the doorbell rang. He closed the fridge and walked to his apartment door. It could be Jonathan again, he thought. He opened the door and there she was… Angela! For a moment he was stunned. He admired her beautiful face and his gaze went over her entire body. Why had he ever thought Kathleen was pretty? She never could stand the comparison to Angela. Angela had a mystical aura of natural beauty and a loving nature. Tony realized he hadn't said a word for a few moments and remembered his manners.

"Angela, come in," he opened the door a little more and let her pass.

Angela, dressed in an off-white summer coat, walked over to the middle of the room where she turned around and looked at him. She had to swallow at the view of his muscular shirtless chest. She noticed his sad eyes. Why am I here? She asked herself and almost lost all courage.

"Angela, what are you doing here? Isn't it the night of your bachelorette party?" Tony asked, still surprised by the unexpected visit, "didn't Mona invite a hunky stripper for you? A sort of 'Mr. March' guy?"

"I'm sure she would have if I had let her, but this is my second wedding… I was out with Wendy and Isabelle and tomorrow is a work day so we all have to start bright and early," Angela came up with an explanation, still standing motionless in the middle of the room, her shoulders tense. Her bachelorette party had gone a little overboard after Isabelle and Wendy had become tipsy and marveled about her relationship to Tony while Angela herself had been completely sober. Mona of course had attended as well, but left early because Angela had cut her short after she spent most of her time mocking her daughter's future husband. Mona knew of course that Angela wasn't the type for naughty bachelorette games anyway, so the evening had been very boring for her.

Tony moved a little closer to Angela. "That still leaves open the same question. What are you doing here?" His eyes never leaving hers, he came one more step closer. The air became thick. It was like the essential oxygen had left the room. Her eyes seemed to be different; there was something in them he couldn't explain to himself.

Searching for the right words Angela made a desperate attempt to explain.

"I'm here because I wanted to know… I need to know…," she whispered and took a step forward until their bodies almost touched, "I need to know how it feels when… I can't go on with my life before I… before we…." She couldn't speak anymore and she knew there were times to talk and times to act, now was the time for acting. Angela had to muster all her forces to go on with this. Never in her life had she tried to seduce a man. They gazed in each other's eyes both unable to stop the inevitable. She let the coat slide slowly and seductively off her shoulders and it fell unnoticed to the floor. She placed her hands on his bare shoulders and glided them over his chest like she had always wanted to do, never losing eye contact.

"Angela, what… what does that mean? Are you toying with me?" Tony breathed heavily; aroused from her sudden and unexpected touch. He lost himself in the contemplation of the sight of her. He never saw her looking that beautiful, sexy and desirable. Her silk champagne-colored strap dress caressed her soft lightly tanned skin. Just the soft touch of her small hands drove him crazy.

"I want to know how it feels and I know you want it too. We both always wanted to know." She started running her hands back to his shoulders to his neck and to his hair. Tony didn't move at all. He just couldn't.

"Angela, please… if you don't stop I… I'm not a saint," he managed to get out.

"I don't want you to be a saint," she whispered, " I want you to be the man I think you've always been, only not with me, and I don't want to stop." Her voice deep and seductive.

He couldn't resist any longer and put his fingers on her now bare shoulders, stroking them lightly. Then his hands came slowly back to her neck, made their way to her face which he cupped with tenderness. She was so right, he always wanted this. Wanted her and only her. He pressed his lips on hers, carefully at first then gently demanding entrance to her mouth with his tongue. Eager for more they explored each other, the feeling caused a sensation neither of them had ever felt before. Their kiss deepened and Tony pressed her tightly to his body. She felt so good, no other woman fitted so perfectly to him than her. "Oh god, what am I doing? This was wrong, all wrong. She belongs to another man. Cogitation was impossible." Tony's mind was in a haze. Kissing her lips, her cheeks, her eyes his mouth traveled to her earlobe, to her neck and down to her shoulder.

She moaned lightly when his hot mouth came down to the base of her breasts. Her hands moved over his back, impatient. She wanted him, always, now. They stopped for a moment, both breathless, pressing their foreheads together. She looked in his eyes again. Their expression mirrored her own; desire, deep longing, arousal and something inexpressible, something desperate. Tony's hands moved over her back to unzip her dress carefully. In a stimulating slowness he drew down the small straps of her dress and it slid down her body in a fluent motion. He sucked in his breath when she stepped out of her heels, his fingers slowly stroking over the lacy fabric of her bra. He kissed her again, got bolder and travelled down to her collarbone and her breasts. He needed more, so much more and kneeled down, placing his hands on her hips. Slowly his mouth went down to the smooth skin of her stomach and he placed feather light kisses on the edge of her panty, then looked up to her. She had her head back and her eyes were closed, her breath shallow and fast.

He stood up, never losing physical contact, "please come," he whispered and guided her to the foldaway bed, their eyes ever connected. With one move he pulled the bed out and laid her down on the sheets. He took his place at her side, resting on his elbow. His other hand drew tender circles with his fingertips on the smooth skin of her cleavage. She put her one hand behind his neck and pulled him closer, her chocolate brown eyes as dark as his. She started kissing him again, biting tenderly at his bottom lip. He pulled away a moment.

"Angela, what are you doing to me, you're making me crazy," he breathed in her ear. "So do you," she answered, low-voiced, "please stop thinking, don't think about tomorrow and let us have this night."

He opened the front bra clasp and one by one he shoved the straps off her shoulders. Her breasts now free from the garment were softly touched by him. He replaced his fingers with his mouth, kissing and sucking, his tongue caressing her nipples. His hands were leaving a hot trace on her skin and the tension became more and more unbearable. When he reached the satin material of her panties and his fingers stroked slightly over the soft fabric her legs became restless. "I need you so much," she murmured and put her hands under the waistband of his sweat pants, "please, Tony. I want to touch you." She pulled the pants off, over his knees and ankles. He kicked away the rest with his feet and in an instant he felt her hand on him. "Oh god, Angela. I want you so much. I've always wanted you," his words tingled in her ear. He shoved her panties over her hips and she bent her body to help him. He embraced her tightly and leaned back to look at her again.

Their eyes were bonded when she parted her legs for him. In a cautious flow he moved above her, seeking permission by the expression of her face. She kissed him deeply and that was all he needed when he finally made them feel one. For a moment they were silent in a tacit accordance, both aware of the sensation of their unique sexual embrace. When he slowly started to move, her eyes became wide and demanding. Like their unusual relationship their lovemaking was a preternatural experience, but neither expected that it would be this way. Their heated bodies found an easy rhythm and he cried out her name when they finally crashed into an explosion of their feelings. " I love you," he whispered," I love you so much, I'm so sorry for everything that happened. Please forgive me, Angela."

"Don't do this to us, Tony. Please don't say this," tears brimming in her eyes, "just hold me."

And he did. Fulfilling her wish, he pulled her as close as possible, whispering more words of love and letting Angela know that she was cherished. When their breath calmed down they both fell into a peaceful slumber.

When Tony woke up two hours later he found himself alone in bed. He reached out to his right side finding only empty sheets still warm from her body.

"Angela?" he called out.

The same second he heard his apartment door shut. He jumped out of the bed and into his pants then ran to the door. When he opened it he heard the clicking of her high heels a few floors down.

"Angela," he yelled again," don't go." For a moment the clicking stopped, but got even faster seconds later. "Don't marry him," Tony shouted down and sat down on the stairs, "please don't marry him." He buried his face in his hands and tried to get his heartbeat under control. First he wanted to run after her, but she would never listen to him when she was in that state of mind. Desperately he tried to find the reasons for her leaving. He knew he needed to talk to her, tell her about his feelings. Did he make a mistake by giving in? By not resisting her? No, he knew she wanted this to happen as badly as he did. Slowly he stood up and crossed the hallway to his door.

Meanwhile Angela sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel. Tears were flowing over her face and she sobbed, pressing her head against her hands. What had she done?