Eternally Yours

Lunch with her had been even worse. He had sat across from her in a booth at a sandwich shop eating a submarine sandwich when he happened to notice the peaks of those same breasts poking through the front of her thin blouse. He had almost choked on the bite he'd just taken out of his sandwich. Desire, hot and rampant, had consumed him, had hardened him, and had made him fully aware of how much he wanted her.

Clayton sighed deeply. He would no longer fight the inevitable. He wondered how Syneda would handle the fact that he had every intention of getting close to her. Very close. He was a man who believed in going after what he wanted.

And he wanted her.

Chapter 4

“I'm ready, Clayton.”

Clayton turned his attention away from the television to cast his gaze upon Syneda as she entered the room. He was utterly spellbound as he stood to his feet. She looked absolutely radiant.

While waiting for her he had begun watching a sitcom that he had found rather enjoyable. However, all thoughts of the television program left his mind when he saw her. He could only stare at the stunning woman standing across the room.

She was dressed in a fuchsia-colored dress that fit like a glove.

A knot formed deep in Clayton's throat. He was totally captivated, and before he could stop his mouth from saying aloud his innermost thoughts, the words flowed from his lips in a voice rich with masculine magnetism and sensual appeal. “You look great, Syneda.”

The dark intensity in Clayton's eyes touched Syneda to the core. The dress she had chosen to wear was one she had bought earlier that year to attend the law firm's annual get-together. The style of the dress showed off her figure to alluring advantage. She had made quite a hit in it at the party.

“Thanks, and you look pretty good yourself.” She thought he looked particularly handsome dressed in a charcoal-gray suit, white shirt and printed tie.

Anxious to get away from Clayton, if only for a minute to get her bearings and to stop her senses from spinning, she said, “I think I lied earlier.”

“About what?”

“About being ready. I left my purse in the bedroom. I'll be right back.”

Clayton drew in a deep breath when Syneda turned to leave the room. His gaze traveled over her from behind. Her dress had a daring deep V-back that seemed to end at her waist. His skin felt flushed, his tongue felt thick in his mouth and his eyes felt swollen from expanding. He stared at her bare back, small waist, soft curves and long shapely legs. He could feel the hammering of his heartbeat in his chest and was no longer stunned at the rush of pleasure that surged through him.

Syneda hurried off into her bedroom. Pausing just inside the door, she took a long, deep breath. What was happening to her? Clayton wasn't a man she had just met. Why was being around him affecting her this way? Why was every sensory nerve in her body sharpened with maddening awareness of him? With no answers but a determination to enjoy herself during the evening, she took another deep breath before snatching her purse off the bed. Moments later she returned to the living room where Clayton was waiting.

“I'm really ready this time.”

“No more than I am,” Clayton replied softly. Taking her hand he led her out of the condo.

“What a beautiful ship,” Syneda said to Clayton as they boarded the Rivership Romance. It was a 110-foot triple-deck catamaran that was positively elegant. On board was an interior of Tiffany lamps and plushly carpeted dining salons and a lounge.

The exterior contained promenade decks with seating that provided a stunning view of the ocean.

“Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Johnstone,” a tall man dressed in a starched white captain's uniform greeted. “Tonight we're featuring live entertainment and a full cocktail service. Dinner will be served promptly at eight and will include a selection of several mouthwatering dishes. Our crabmeat-stuffed whitefish baked in parchment is usually a favorite.”

“That sounds delectable,” Syneda replied, flashing the captain a warm smile.

“It is and we're here to please. We want you to enjoy yourselves.”

“Thank you and I'm sure we will,” Clayton replied, ushering Syneda on board. He hadn't liked the smile the good captain had given Syneda.

“Just as I thought,” Syneda said moments later after grabbing a treat off the table of tantalizing hors d'oeuvres.

“What?” Clayton asked, also grabbing a plump chilled shrimp off the table.

“All the people here are paired off. And from the looks of things they're just as I predicted, either married or lovers. Just look at them.”

Clayton did look. Most of the people were hugging and kissing, walking along the deck holding hands, or on the dance floor moving to slow music.

“Don't let it bother you, Syneda,” Clayton said quietly, his eyes holding hers as he casually leaned against the ship's railing. “If you feel uncomfortable, you should consider the old cliché, when in Rome do as the Romans do.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning this.”

Syneda didn't know what she expected, but it wasn't Clayton suddenly taking her into his arms, cupping her chin in one firm hand, tilting her head back and lowering his mouth to hers. Her heart began pounding wildly as Clayton's tongue began an erotic exploration of her mouth. His hands massaged the center of her back, touching her bare skin.

Her body began to vibrate with liquid fire. She surrendered completely to his masterful seduction. A deep ache that began in her abdomen radiated downward, to the very core of her. The kiss was like nothing she had ever experienced, and she was shocked to discover she wanted more.

Clayton lifted his mouth from hers and looked into wide, amazed eyes. What he saw in them almost took his breath away. He was too experienced not to recognize total desire in a woman. And he was inwardly elated to discover Syneda wanted him just as much as he wanted her. The burning question of the hour was where to go from here?

“Clayton, I—I…”

He silenced her by placing his finger against her slightly swollen and undeniably moist lips. “Don't say anything, Syneda. Not yet. We'll talk later. I think we have a lot to discuss.” His body ached with the sweetness of taut sexual awareness. Then maybe we shouldn't talk at all, he thought, seeing signs of apprehension in her eyes.

After dinner the live band continued to provide the music. Clayton and Syneda walked along the promenade deck holding hands, not saying anything but very much aware of each other.

“Would you like to dance, Syneda?”

“Not if it's going to end like it did the last time we danced together a few nights ago,” she replied teasingly.

“It won't. I promise.” With deft fingers he led her onto the dance floor where couples were already moving slowly to the instrumental version of Billy Ocean's classic, “Suddenly.” The music wrapped them and every other couple on the dance floor in a romantic web where everything else, except the person you were with, faded into oblivion.

It was quite obvious most of the people there were in love, Syneda thought. She and Clayton began to slow dance. She felt his hand tighten around her, gathering her closer to him. A gust of desire shook her. She never dreamed his hands would feel so warm, so gentle, so hypnotic. In response, she moved her hips against his rock-hard thighs and heard his sharp intake of breath.

“You feel good,” Clayton whispered, his warm breath hot against her neck. She felt so right in his arms, so perfect. It was as if she had been made just for him. “I can't believe we've never—” He cut off his words and began chuckling to himself. “The music they're playing is very appropriate for our situation.”

Syneda lifted her gaze to his. “How so?”

“We felt pretty comfortable about coming on vacation together because there was nothing romantic or sexual between us. Then whammo, suddenly, after two years, I discover you're the sexiest woman alive. What do you think of that?”

Syneda gave her head a wry shake, feeling totally off balance. Passion was flowing through her entire body. “I really don't want to think anything about it, Clayton,” she replied in a husky voice. To think about it would make her see reason and remind her that nothing had changed. She and Clayton were still not compatible. At the moment she didn't want to dwell on that. All she wanted was to share this special moment with him. But then again, maybe she should think about it. Their not being compatible just might be a plus. Clayton could very well be the type of man she needed to become involved with. Especially after Marcus.

She had explained to Marcus Capers when they'd first begun dating that she wasn't in the market for a serious relationship. But as far as he'd been concerned, she was the perfect woman to settle down and begin a family with. He just couldn't get it through his head that she wanted no part of love and marriage.

After dating each other for a little over six months, he had proposed to her. She had turned him down. Syneda doubted she would have that kind of trouble with Clayton. Like her, he wanted no part of a commitment with anyone. He was a man who knew the rules and would play by them.

The band began playing another slow number, and Clayton pulled her back into his arms and held her close. He rubbed his hand, slowly, sensually over her bare back, tracing erotic patterns with his fingertips. Again she felt passion rising in her like the hottest fire, clouding her brain.

Syneda was so close to him she could hardly move without her body moving both seductively and suggestively against his. She couldn't help but feel his virile response to her movements. For the first time in her life, she felt an aching emptiness in her that demanded fulfillment. Clayton's face was so very near that all she needed to do was turn her head just a little to touch her lips to his.

Her pulse raced. The urge to do more than kiss Clayton was a physical ache deep within her, and her fervor mounted. “Clayton,” she whispered. Her sea-green eyes held his dark ones.

“Yes? What do you want, Syneda?” he asked quietly, hoping it was the same thing he did.

They had stopped dancing and were standing in a secluded area of the dance floor. Syneda reached up and boldly traced his lips with her fingers. For a long while their eyes held. She drew a deep breath. She didn't understand what was happening to her, but she did know what was happening between them. Blame it on the magnificent sunrise she saw each morning upon wakening, or the plush condo and its gorgeous ocean view, or the cruise that was taking them around the island setting the mood for romance. No matter where the blame was placed, the result was the same.

She wanted him.

“What do you want, Syneda?” Clayton asked again.

The sexy huskiness of his voice made blood race through her body. She attempted to calm herself down, discovered she couldn't and decided the devil with it. Why fight it anymore? Known to be upfront, candid and straight to the point in her dealings with anyone, Syneda slowly moved closer and whispered in Clayton's ear. “I want you, Madaris. Bad.”

Clayton crushed her to him. Sharp needles of sexual excitement were pricking his every nerve with the five words she had spoken. It was impossible to maintain any semblance of control, physically or emotionally. He drew in a tremulous breath. “And I want you, too, baby.” He then leaned down and kissed her deeply, tasting her fully.

The hours didn't pass fast enough for either of them before the ship finally returned to dock. Clayton drove the rental car back to the condo. Neither said anything. However, Syneda couldn't help but study his profile, exalting at the male strength and beauty of him. She couldn't stop her gaze from lingering on his lips. Lips that had masterfully kissed her for the first time that night and had her own still quivering in desire. They were lips that had awakened a craving within her so strong it had literally transformed her into another person; definitely not the cool, calm, levelheaded person she usually was.

She fidgeted restlessly in her seat, thinking about what would happen once they returned to the condo. She wanted the feel of Clayton's mouth on hers again. She wanted him to touch her all over. And more than anything, she wanted him to make love to her.

Sensing her anxiousness, a copy of his own, Clayton relieved one of his hands from the steering wheel and reached for her hand. Tenderly turning it over, he began tracing erotic circles in her palm. “This means I want you very much.”

Syneda's breath caught in her throat. She was stunned by the wild and dangerous feelings coursing through her from his words.

“Here at last,” Clayton said a few minutes later. At a brisk walk he came around to open the car door for her.

“Did you enjoy yourself tonight, Syneda?” he asked as they walked at a fast pace away from the car holding hands. Sexual tension between them was at its maximum. Small talk was the last thing either of them wanted to engage in.

“Yes, very much. What about you?”

His dimpled smile almost made her knees weaken. “I had a great time,” he replied, increasing his pace. The door to the condo was now only a few feet away.

“I'm glad,” Syneda said, almost having to run to keep up with him. Her heart was pounding with anticipation. When they finally made it to the door, he had the key in his hand. As they stood in front of the door facing each other, calming their deep, erratic breathing, Syneda gave Clayton a breathtaking smile.

He was surprised at his lightning-quick reaction to that smile. Drawing her closer, he enfolded her in his arms. Leaning down, he touched his lips to hers, kissing her deeply and simultaneously reaching for the door. Before he could use his key, the door was flung wide-open.

“It's about time the two of you got back!”

Clayton and Syneda broke apart and stared in surprised shock at the couple standing in the doorway.

“Justin! Lorren!” Syneda exclaimed in astonishment. She quickly recovered and threw her arms around them.

“Did we surprise you two?” Lorren Madaris asked speculatively, eyeing Clayton and Syneda with a sort of stunned expression on her face. “We arrived a few hours ago. When we discovered the two of you weren't here, Justin used the spare key to get in.”

Clayton hugged Lorren and shook hands with his oldest brother. Although he and Syneda had been well hidden in the shadows, it was apparent they had been doing a lot more than chitchatting outside the door.

“Surprise is putting it mildly,” Clayton muttered to them. His voice was as unwelcoming as his expression. “Your timing is lousy, big brother,” he whispered for Justin's ears only.

Justin Madaris gave Clayton a hard look. “Apparently it was right on time,” he whispered back.

“So what brings the two of you here?” Clayton asked, entering the condo, still holding Syneda's hand. “Whatever the reason, I hope it's a short visit.” He wasn't kidding. And to make sure Justin and Lorren knew it, the tone of his voice was deadly serious.

Evidently it wasn't serious enough. Both Justin and Lorren were smiling with a look that said, “Now that we see what you're up to, not on your life, buddy.”

After a moment of tense silence, Justin finally spoke. “Lorren has some news she just couldn't wait to share with Syneda. And your lack of phones in this condo made calling impossible.”

“Our lack of phones was to ensure complete privacy and avoid untimely and uninvited interruptions,” Clayton replied, placing emphasis on the last part of his sentence. “So what's your news, Lorren, that was so pressing you had to deliver it in person?” His eyes fell on the sister-in-law he had come to love and adore but at the moment wanted to strangle.

He couldn't help noticing her love-mussed clothes, tousled hair and slightly swollen lips. Despite not wanting to do so, he couldn't help smiling. Evidently Justin and Lorren had found a rather interesting way to pass the time while they had waited for him and Syneda to return.

Lorren's eyes sparkled with total happiness. “We're having another baby!”

“Lorren, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for the two of you.” Syneda threw her arms around Lorren, sharing her excitement.

Clayton couldn't help but roar in laughter. Now he had two pregnant sisters-in-law. Evidently his brothers had taken the good book's directive to be fruitful and replenish the earth rather seriously. “Somehow Lorren being pregnant again doesn't surprise me,” he said. “It really doesn't surprise me at all.”

Senator John Harris sat across the table from the other three men in the large conference room. They were all staring at him as if he'd lost his mind. He hated it whenever they stared at him like that.

Finally one of the men, Senator Carl Booker, spoke. “I think you're taking all of this too personal, John.”

“Because it is personal, Carl. Nedwyn Lansing and I have been at odds with each other since the first day we both arrived on Capitol Hill. The passage of that bill was important to me.”

Matthew Williams, the oldest senator in the group, spoke. “But it didn't pass, so I suggest you get over it. What you're proposing to do is crazy. I'm not all that fond of Lansing, none of us are, but I wouldn't deliberately do anything to destroy his political career.”

“That's why you and I are different, Mat. I would destroy his career in a minute if I had the right ammunition. All I'm proposing is to get someone to dig into his past, just in case something is there. No one can be that squeaky clean. Even George Washington had skeletons in his closet.”

“Forget it, John,” Senator Paul Dunlap said. “If the media hasn't uncovered any dirt on Lansing, then there isn't any to be found.”

The other men in the room nodded in full agreement.

Senator Harris fumed. “That's not necessarily true.” One by one he looked in the eyes of everyone at the table. “No one has found out about that twenty-two-year-old woman you've been two-timing your wife with for the past two years, Mat. Nor have they found out about your lovely teenage daughter's recent abortion, Paul. And last but not least, Carl, I really don't think anyone knows a thing about your son's drug addiction.”

Senator Harris's eyes crinkled at the corners at the surprised look on each of the men's faces. He had just stated information they all thought no one knew. “And don't insult my intelligence by denying any of it. I have everything I need to prove otherwise.”

“What do you want from us, Harris?” Dunlap asked in a voice with an edge to it. “It's getting late and I would like to make it home before midnight.”

“I want all three of you to back me on this. Ruining Lansing has to be a group effort. And another thing, he has too many close friends who happen to be Fortune 500 CEOs. I find it hard to believe he's never accepted any type of kickback from any of them.”

“I assume you're referring to Garwood Industries, Remington Oil, and Turner Broadcasting Corporation?” Carl said. “Everyone knows those three are loyal financial contributors to Lansing's campaign coffers.”

“Yes.”

“That can be explained,” Paul replied. “Lansing and old man Garwood were friends since Garwood Industries opened their first Texas branch office. And since his grandfather's death, Kyle Garwood has maintained a close relationship with Lansing.”

After taking a drink of water he continued, “As far as his association with S. T. Remington is concerned, it's my understanding they were roommates in college. And as for Ted Turner, they became good friends during the time Lansing was the mayor's assistant in Beaumont, Texas. He encouraged the school board to do an experiment using cable television as a teaching tool for elementary and secondary students. It was a project that proved to be very successful and got Turner Broadcasting much recognition.”

“Besides,” Mat contributed, “none of us can deny the fact that Lansing has done more for the interest of the oil and cattle industries than anyone in Congress. That's why he's always gotten such strong support from the oil companies and the cattlemen.”

Senator Harris slammed his hand down on the table. “There has to be something in his past that will drop his popularity with the voters,” he thundered. “And I plan on finding out what it is and destroying him the same way he destroyed my bill.”

Chapter 5

“Clayton and Syneda. I don't believe it.”

Justin Madaris shook his head as he whispered the words to his wife as she lay in his arms.

“They're the last two people likely to end up together. Who would have thought they would have stopped opposing each other long enough to get interested in each other,” he added.

Clayton and Syneda had retired to their separate bedrooms, and Justin and Lorren had made the sofa into an extra bed.

“I can't believe Clayton,” Lorren said tersely. A thundercloud of indignant frowns bunched her brows together. “The nerve of him hitting on Syneda.”

Justin rolled his eyes heavenward. “Aren't you getting a bit carried away?”

Lorren lifted her head to glare down at her husband. “If I am, I have every right to. I don't want Clayton and Syneda involved with each other.”

“Why?”

“He'll hurt her.”

“Have you ever considered letting Syneda handle her own love life, Lorren? She's a grown woman, you know. Besides, don't you think you're being a little too hard on Clayton?”

“No. I love Clayton dearly, but he's a man who loves women. Lots of them. And I don't want him adding my best friend to his flock. Having a constant supply of willing women has spoiled Clayton. I know just how he operates, and I don't want him operating on Syneda.”

Justin smiled. “Is that why you ignored his hints that we check into a hotel tonight?”

A satisfied glint appeared in Lorren's eyes. “You got that right. He was trying to get rid of us. As far as I'm concerned, we arrived right on time.”

Justin laughed, pulling Lorren closer into his arms. His eyes glowed with amusement. “Clayton didn't think so.”

“I'm sure he didn't. Especially when Syneda retired to her own bedroom.”

“What happens when we leave the day after tomorrow?”

“Hopefully by then you'll have talked Clayton out of this foolishness.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” Lorren looked at her husband with appealing eyes. “You have to do something. You're his older brother. He might listen to you.”

Justin laughed shortly and shrugged. “Lorren, I respect Clayton's privacy. Besides, it's none of my business and neither is it yours.”

“But Syneda is my best—”

Justin didn't let her finish. “It isn't our business, Lorren,” he repeated. “We should have enough faith in Clayton to believe he won't deliberately hurt Syneda.”

He cupped his wife's chin with his hand and lifted her eyes to meet his. “Clayton loves you. He knows how close you and Syneda are. He won't ever do anything to ruin that.”

Lorren took a deep breath. “I hope you're right Justin,” she said softly in a voice that seemed to come from a long way off.

“I believe I am. Besides, I think you've overlooked one very important fact here.”

“What?”

“One of the reasons Clayton and Syneda were never interested in each other was because neither was the other's type. Syneda is nothing like those women Clayton normally dates, flashy with no substance. She's an attractive, intelligent woman who has a lot going for her. I feel confident she'll be able to handle him.”

Justin grinned. “In fact, you may be worried about the wrong person. I don't know if he realizes it yet, but I think Clayton has finally met his match. You just might want to take out the prayer book for Clayton.”

“Where is everyone?”

Justin raised his head from reading the newspaper and met his brother's eyes. It didn't take much from Clayton's brooding expression to figure out he hadn't enjoyed sleeping in his bed alone.