LAYING HIS CLAIM

by Beverly Barton

  What were they going to do? What if Christa never came around? What if she never wanted them to be a part of her life? Oh, God, how will I be able to bear it? Kate's heart wept. Bowing her head, she covered her face with her hands and moaned, the grief welling up inside her, ripping her apart in its wake.

  The bathroom door opened. She glanced up to see Trent enter. He came to her, knelt in front of her and clasped her hands, completely covering them with his. She looked at him and saw her own pain reflected in his eyes.

  "Oh, Trent…"

  "Let it go, honey. Rant and rave and cry some more, if that's what you need to do."

  She shook her head. "What good will that do? Besides, I'm not the ranting and raving type. And I've already cried an ocean of tears."

  "Yeah, I'm the one with the temper. Believe me, I really need about an hour working out at the gym, preferably with a punching bag."

  Kate reached out and caressed his face. "What are we going to do?"

  "We're going to wait until tomorrow and hope that Christa will be willing to see us then." Trent took Kate's hands and urged her to stand, which she did. "But for tonight, we're going to try to put today's events behind us. I've arranged for room service, so our dinner should be here within the hour. In the meantime, I'll draw you a warm bath and you can soak in the tub while I make a few phone calls."

  "Who are you going to call?"

  "Aunt Mary Belle, Dante Moran and my lawyer. I've got the name of a top man in the field of child custody cases. I want to put him on a retainer."

  Kate nodded. She didn't know for sure why he would call Moran, but she didn't really care. Not at this precise moment. And as for hiring a lawyer, she'd leave that up to Trent. At least for now. "A warm bath sounds good. I'll get my pajamas and robe—"

  "You aren't going to do anything except relax and allow me to take care of you." He went over and turned on the faucets, then unwrapped the guest soap and laid it atop a washcloth on the edge of the tub. After that he set the small bottles of shampoo and conditioner alongside the cloth. "Undress and get in. I'll bring your robe and slippers in here shortly."

  "Thank you."

  "My pleasure."

  As soon as he exited the bathroom, Kate removed her clothes and stepped into the tub. She slid down into the delicious warm water and sighed with contentment. The water level rose higher and higher and when it covered her almost to her neck, she turned off the faucets and laid her head against the back of the tub. She rested in that position for a good five minutes, doing her best to clear her mind of all unpleasant thoughts. Her headache didn't go away, but the throbbing eased up considerably. She soaped the washcloth and scrubbed herself from face to feet. After shampooing, rinsing, conditioning and rinsing again, she let out some of the cooling water and refilled with fresh warm water.

  She stayed in the tub for quite some time, soaking away the stress of the day and her body's minor aches and pains. Not until Trent entered the bathroom again did she realize she'd practically dosed off. Glancing up at him, she smiled when she saw he held a small glass in his hands.

  "That looks like wine," she said.

  "It is wine." Trent grinned. "Compliments of the manager."

  "How long have I been in here?" she asked. "I seem to have lost track of time."

  "About twenty minutes." He walked over to the tub and held the glass out to her.

  She didn't feel the least bit awkward being naked in front of Trent. She supposed she should, but she didn't. He had been her first lover, her husband for more than two years and he had once known every inch of her body better than she had.

  Kate took the glass from him, sipped the wine and sighed. "Not bad."

  "Finish that off while I get your robe and slippers."

  She sipped the red wine, savoring the taste and appreciating its ability, if she drank enough, to partially anesthetize her. Just as she finished drinking the wine, Trent returned carrying her robe. He hung it on the back of the door, then snapped open a large towel and came toward the tub. She understood that he was holding it for her, waiting to wrap her in it when she emerged from her watery bed.

  If you allow him to take care of you, things can and probably will get out of control, she told herself. Is that what you want?

  Kate set the empty glass in the floor, then rose from the water and stepped out of the tub and right into Trent's waiting arms. He wrapped the towel around her and led her over to the commode, the lid still down. After seating her, he took another towel and rubbed her hair until all the excess moisture was absorbed. Using another towel, he dried her feet and calves, dropped that towel to the floor, and then opened the towel draped around her and gently patted her stomach, breasts and neck. Kate drew in a quivering breath.

  "You're even more beautiful now than you were when we first got married." He whipped the towel off her and gazed appreciatively at her body.

  Her nipples peaked. "You're a skillful liar," she told him. "And I thank you. I suppose I'm in pretty good shape to be thirty-five, but—"

  He placed his index finger over her lips to silence her. "You're in great shape." He reached out tentatively, bringing the tips of his fingers to one breast.

  She sucked in her breath. He grazed the nipple softly.

  "You can't imagine how much I want you," he admitted, his gaze hungry as it moved from her breasts, down her belly to the downy apex between her thighs.

  "Maybe I can," she told him, "if it's half as much as I want you."

  "Kate?"

  "A little comfort to soothe our battle scars?" she asked.

  "Label it whatever suits you. Comfort. Lust. Mutual need."

  She leaned forward, placed her hands on his cheeks and cupped his face. "Just for tonight." She wouldn't ask him for any promises, wouldn't expect a commitment just because they had sex again.

  "Yeah, honey, just for tonight."

  He lifted her up and into his arms. She cuddled close as he carried her from the bathroom to the bedroom. After laying her on the turned-down bed, he stripped out of his clothes. She expected him to join her, but instead he went back in the bathroom. Within seconds he returned, a small bottle of lotion in his hand.

  "Roll over," he told her.

  Without questioning him, she did as he'd asked. He sat on the bed, screwed off the bottle lid and poured lotion into his hand, then he spread the cool, lightly scented cream across her back and shoulders. She relaxed as he massaged and caressed her. He worked his way down each arm, then along her spine and over her buttocks. A tingling sensation spread through her, like minuscule currents of electricity bringing her body to life.

  Trent rubbed the back of her thighs, her calves and even her feet. When they were married, he'd often given her this type of sensual massage and it always ended with sweet and tender lovemaking. The kind of lovemaking that lingered in the body and on the mind for hours afterward.

  "Turn over," he said, his voice husky with desire.

  She turned slowly, languidly, an odd combination of relaxation and excitement controlling her movements. Her breasts felt heavy and achy. Her nipples were spiked points, begging for attention. Her femininity clutched and released, creating tension between her legs. Moisture gathered between her intimate lips and sexual heat warmed her from head to toe.

  Trent used what little was left of the lotion on Kate's belly and hips, his big hands amazingly gentle as they stroked her flesh. When she thought she couldn't bear his ardent attention another minute, became down over her, his erection pressing against her stomach.

  His mouth covered hers and they shared a long, lingering kiss. His lips moved across her cheek to moisten her earlobe. "I want to be inside you. Deep." He licked a path down her neck, then lifted his head and looked right into her eyes. "I want to take you and take you and take you." He flicked the tip of his tongue over one pouting nipple and then the other, eliciting a cry of pleasure-pain from her lips. "Once isn't going to be enough."

  She gave herself over to the moment, to Tre
nt and to the love that had never died. While he suckled her breasts, she ran her hands over his broad shoulders and across his back, loving the feel of him. His sex throbbed against her, arousing her even more.

  "Trent, please…"

  "Not yet, honey."

  His hands, lips and tongue explored her body, each little nook and cranny, turning every inch of her into a quivering mass of sexual need. Just when she thought he was going to enter her, he withdrew from her and leaned over to pick up something off the nightstand.

  She whimpered.

  "I had the hotel manager send out for some condoms," Trent said, a wicked grin on his face.

  "You didn't?" Kate giggled.

  "I did."

  "What must he think?"

  "Who cares? But he probably thinks that I wanted to make love to my wife."

  "Your wife?"

  "That's how I registered. Mr. and Mrs. Winston."

  The former Mrs. Winston sighed, then held open her arms, issuing Mr. Winston an invitation.

  Hurriedly he undid the foil packet, sheathed his sex and returned to her. When he slid his hands beneath her hips and lifted her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped into her with one slick, even stroke. And she was in heaven. Back in Trent's arms. Their bodies intimately joined. Their loving was as natural as breathing to each of them, as if they had been created for only each other. They kissed and touched without rushing, no urgency fueling their desire. She sensed that he was being intentionally gentle, drawing out each precious moment, making it last as long as possible. He did all the giving, showering her with attention.

  Kate had never felt so cherished, so completely adored, as she did tonight. Trent's every touch, every move, every word was a form of worship. After he had brought her near fulfillment several times, then held back to intensify her satisfaction, he finally allowed her to do more than enjoy the pleasure he gave her. Their loving became a mutual giving and taking, the passion growing stronger and hotter by the moment. As her body tightened, the end close, Trent quickened the pace, pumping into her hard and fast.

  This was right. This was so right.

  Her climax hit her with the force of an explosion. Although he was buried deep inside her, hammering her repeatedly, she bucked up, seeking to gain the last ounce of release. And just as the waves of completion washed over her, Trent groaned. He came with a fury, his hard, hot body trembling with fulfillment.

  I love you. The words were on the tip of her tongue. It would be the most natural thing in the world to tell him how she felt. But she couldn't. Not unless he said the words first.

  When he rolled off onto his back, she snuggled against him. He shoved his arm beneath her and hugged her to his side, then he stroked her naked hip. The aftershocks of her climax rippled through her as she kissed his chest.

  "God, Kate, I've missed you."

  And she had missed him, more than she'd realized. "It was always so good … so right with us, wasn't it?"

  He kissed her temple. "Always."

  She lay there in the semidarkness of their hotel suite, waiting for him to say those three magic words. Moments ticked by. Neither of them spoke again until a loud knock on the door roused them.

  "Room service," a feminine voice called.

  "Damn! I'd forgotten about ordering supper." Trent jumped out of bed. "Be there in a minute," he yelled. He found his slacks on the floor, picked them up and rushed into the bathroom. When he reentered the bedroom, he grinned at Kate. "You stay right there. I'll go to the door and bring the serving cart in myself."

  By the time Trent wheeled in their evening meal, Kate had slipped on her house shoes and robe. Despite the fact that her ex-husband had not mentioned love before, during or after their lovemaking, Kate appreciated the efforts he'd gone to for her sake.

  "Dinner is served," Trent said.

  "Good. I'm starving."

  "Save room for dessert," he told her and winked.

  "Don't tell me—whipped cream and strawberries?" They had indulged in those items during their honeymoon, putting more of the cream on each other than on the berries.

  "No strawberries," he said, then lifted the cover from a large, round bowl. "But lots of whipped cream."

  Kate laughed. Only Trent could have worked this miracle. Only Trent could have taken her mind off their problems and given her such pleasure.

  * * *

  Trent's cell phone rang at eight o'clock the next morning, just as Kate and he were dressing after the shower they'd taken together. They had made love again the night before, using the whipped cream to full advantage. And then he'd awakened her before six this morning and they'd made love for a third time. He couldn't get enough of her. But that wasn't something new. It had always been that way with them. The passion had never faded, even when the love and trust had wavered.

  How could he have ever let her leave him? Why hadn't he done more to save their marriage? Hurt pride and his own feelings of guilt had paralyzed him when she'd asked him for a divorce. Kate had been the best thing that ever happened to him, but he hadn't been able to hold on to her after they'd lost their child.

  Wearing only a towel around his waist, Trent came out of the bathroom and removed his cell phone from his coat pocket. He flipped it open and said hello.

  "Trent, this is Brenda Farrell." His heartbeat accelerated.

  "Yes, Brenda, how are you this morning?"

  "I'm all right, considering the fact that I slept very little last night." She paused and when Trent didn't say anything, she continued. "I've done a great deal of thinking and soul searching and I've decided that the best thing for Christa is to get to know you and Kate. She deserves to have two loving parents again and I'd be selfish to keep y'all away from each other."

  Kate came up to Trent and draped her arm around his waist, then mouthed the question, "Who is it?"

  "You can't imagine how glad I am to hear you say that, Brenda." He emphasized her name for Kate's benefit.

  "Brenda." Kate whispered the name.

  Trent nodded. Kate stood on tiptoes and dragged Trent down enough so that she could put her ear against the phone in order to hear the telephone conversation.

  "Christa isn't being cooperative," Brenda said. "I need some time to bring her around. I don't think it's a good idea for y'all to see her today."

  Trent's heart sank. "How much time do you need?"

  "Just until her birthday. That's not long."

  "Mary Kate's birthday is February the fourth."

  "We've always celebrated Christa's birthday on the seventh. That's the date on her birth certificate, the one the adoption agency provided Rick and Jean."

  "Are you saying we can see Christa again on February seventh?"

  "I'm saying that I want to bring Christa to Prospect the day before her birthday for a weeklong stay with you and Kate. I'll make arrangements with her school so that she can make up any work she misses. And you do understand that I'll want to stay with her in Prospect. I can't leave her there. She would feel totally abandoned."

  "Of course, you'll come with her," Trent said. "And we'll have a birthday party for Christa, if that's all right with you."

  "Yes, that would be very nice. I'd thought perhaps y'all would enjoy giving her a small party."

  "We'd love it. Thank you for doing this."

  "I realize it won't be easy for you and Kate to wait for a while longer, but please, trust me. I want what's best for my granddaughter and if we can all be a part of her life, then no one has to lose, most of all Christa. If we can work things out to everyone's satisfaction, Christa will be the real winner."

  "I agree completely."

  "I'll contact you again later on to get driving directions and—"

  "I can send someone to get you and Christa, if you'd like."

  "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

  "All right. Whatever you want."

  "If you'd like to call me to check on Christa, I won't mind. Tell Kate she can call me everyday
if she wants to."

  "I'll tell her. We appreciate the way you're handling this situation."

  "I don't want any of us to suffer more than we already have."

  "We feel the same."

  "Goodbye, Trent."

  The phone went dead. Brenda had hung up. He tossed the phone into a nearby chair, turned and lifted Kate off her feet.

  "Brenda is bringing Christa to Prospect to spend a week with us, beginning on the sixth of February."

  Trent swung Kate around and around, then stopped and slid her down his body, effectively knocking the towel from his hips. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

  "You and I are going to give our daughter a birthday party for her twelfth birthday."

  "Oh, Trent, this is too good to be true."

  "It's true, honey. It's true."

  He kissed her again and before either of them knew what was happening, they were back in bed and making love again.

  * * *

  Chapter 11

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  Kate arrived at Winston Hall around twelve-thirty on the sixth of February. Guthrie met her at the door, welcomed her home and told her that Mr. Trent was in court until three o'clock this afternoon and Miss Mary Belle, who was having lunch in the breakfast room, would be delighted if Kate joined her. She sucked it up, stiffened her spine and marched into the lion's den. To her great surprise, Kate was met with open arms and a warm smile. Mary Belle hugged her with great affection, then took her hand and led her to the table where two places had been set for the noon meal.

  "The minute you telephoned to let us know you'd be here by lunchtime, I had Cook prepare salmon croquettes," Mary Belle said. "As I recall, they were one of your favorites."

  "Yes, thank you."

  Kate sat down across from Mary Belle, in a semi-state of shock. Cook brought in their salads first and smiled at Kate. "Good to have you back, Miss Kate."

  "Iced tea—no sugar," Mary Belle said. "That is right, isn't it? And we'll have our Earl Grey with dessert. A delicious raspberry torte."