Chapter 122
Chapter Title: A Moment of Intimacy
“My eyes are ugly now, though…”
Myra’s voice was quiet, tinged with self-doubt. Her eyes were swollen from hours of crying, and she was certain she looked hideous. The last thing she wanted was for Tony to see her in this state. But to her surprise, he gently caressed her temples, brushing his lips lightly over the tops of her eyes.
“Your eyes are anything but ugly,” he whispered. “In fact, they’re beautiful.”
“You must be blind,” she muttered, though a small part of her secretly hoped he would agree, even though she didn’t believe it herself.
Tony chuckled, a sound that sent shivers through her. His voice was already deep and sultry, but when he laughed like that, she felt as if she could reveal every part of herself to him. His gaze was unwavering, and Myra’s cheeks flushed under his intense scrutiny.
“Blinded by your beauty,” he teased, his voice laced with meaning. His lips brushed past hers before trailing down to her neck, where he bit and sucked gently on her skin, marking her as his own.
A rush of warmth spread across Myra’s face, and she felt her body betray her. She had abandoned all efforts to pull away from him, surrendering to the desire coursing through her veins. This was different from anything she had ever experienced. She had never been this intimate with anyone—especially not Sean.
Myra gripped the bedsheet beneath her, her thoughts spinning wildly as Tony’s kisses continued. She suddenly felt shy, but it wasn’t the same kind of shyness she had known before. This was something deeper, something that stirred her heart and body alike.
Tony, noticing her hesitation, narrowed his eyes, sensing her shift in mood. His gaze darkened with an intensity that made her pulse race. He pulled her closer, wrapping her in his arms.
She could feel his weight pressing against her, but he didn’t push any further. His body was tense, his muscles coiled as if he were holding himself back. It was as though they were two halves of a whole, and he was desperate to mold her to him.
“Tony?” Myra whispered, surprised by how tightly he held her without moving further.
After a long pause, he muttered, his voice husky, “Say it again.”
Myra stiffened slightly, and Tony repeated, “Say my name again.”
Her face flushed as she stared at him, her eyes shimmering with emotions she couldn’t quite name. Then, she spoke softly, “Tony…”
Her voice was soft and gentle, almost like a prayer. The moment she spoke his name, she felt his body tense against hers. She bit her lip, a mixture of confusion and desire swirling within her. “Are you alright?”
Tony, though clearly struggling with his own emotions, didn’t answer right away. The sound of her voice had unlocked something within him, something he had been holding back for years. The pressure of thirty-five years of waiting had finally reached its breaking point.
Sweat dotted his forehead as he fought for control, trying to keep his restraint intact. But Myra could see the strain in his features.
Her hand, without thinking, moved toward his belt. Her fingers fumbled nervously with the buckle, her movements hesitant, unsure of herself. Tony’s eyes darkened as he watched her, sensing the sweetness of her nervousness.
When she struggled, he didn’t wait any longer. He grabbed her hands gently, guiding her to undo his belt. The sound of it hitting the floor was loud in the still room, but it didn’t seem to matter.
Tony reached out, his fingers brushing against hers as he covered her hand with his. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if handling something fragile.
After a few moments, he saw how flushed Myra’s face had become. His heart softened, touched by what she had just done. With a quiet sigh, he grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and carefully wiped her hand, holding her close as he did so.
Myra, unsure of herself in this new territory, decided she needed a moment to collect her thoughts. “I think I’ll take a shower,” she murmured, wanting a bit of space.
Tony didn’t stop her. Instead, he helped her get the water running for her bath. Once everything was prepared, he gave her a soft smile and said, “I’ll be outside if you need anything else.”
Her thoughts, however, were far from peaceful as she stepped into the bathroom. The events of the night replayed in her mind, but they were clouded by an unsettling thought—the divorce. She had not yet signed the papers, and the weight of that decision began to settle in her chest.
As she sank into the warm water, the heat seemed to loosen her tense muscles, but it couldn’t ease the gnawing uncertainty inside her. Everything was changing. The future was uncertain, and she wondered if, once the divorce was finalized, she would regret her choices. Would others regret their treatment of her?
Meanwhile, Tony stepped out onto the terrace, cigarette in hand, his phone tucked between his ear and shoulder. The orange glow of the cigarette lit up his face in the darkness, and the smoke curled around him like a veil.
When Leo called, Tony didn’t even glance at the caller ID before answering.
“Director Hart, everything’s been taken care of,” Leo said respectfully.
Tony responded with a hum, taking another drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray. There was a pause, and Leo hesitated before adding, “Once Miss Stark finalizes her divorce tomorrow, you can reject Miss Fisher’s request. That would be a major blow to both her and the Chase Group.”
Tony was silent, his eyes scanning the distant city lights. The skyline of Bradfort City was a tapestry of brilliant colors, its vibrancy only heightened by the dark night.
He flicked the cigarette box in his hand, deep in thought.
“We’re still buying Hilliville,” Tony finally said, his voice firm and resolute.
“But, Director Hart—” Leo began, but Tony hung up before he could finish.
As Leo stared at the documents in front of him, he sighed in frustration, resigned to the fact that there was no changing Tony’s mind.
Back inside, Tony stood still on the terrace, contemplating his next steps. He had listened to Leo, and part of him knew it made sense to back out of the deal. But when he thought about Myra, about everything that had transpired, he knew what he had to do. There was a part of him, a deep-rooted part, that felt like he had already signed up for this, and backing out wasn’t an option anymore.
The next morning, Myra woke up in Tony’s arms.
She had slept soundly, comforted by the warmth of his chest. As she rested her head there, she couldn’t help but feel safe. Tony was still asleep when she stirred, a small beam of sunlight falling across his face. In that moment, he didn’t seem quite as imposing. His features were softer, his expression gentle as he slept.
Myra couldn’t resist the urge to trace the curve of his lower lip with her fingers, marveling at the softness of it.
It was often said that men with thin lips were reserved, distant. Sean had certainly been that way. But Tony… Tony was different. He had the same cool, distant demeanor, yet there was a fire within him that burned hotter than anyone else’s.
“You’re so silly…” she murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.
But as she spoke, she was surprised to feel a warmth envelop her fingers. She looked up, startled to see Tony’s eyes flutter open, locking onto hers. The intensity in his gaze told her that he had likely been awake the whole time.