Brad’s face darkened ominously.  ‘You did not see fit to inform me first that you’re seeking outside help to resolve our marital issues?’ he yelled.

‘What!’  Tessa blinked in confusion. 

Brad flung a copy of that tabloid’s online front page article onto the coffee table.  Stunned, Tessa cast a cursory glance at the caption: 

“Blakely’s marriage on the rocks.  Heiress seeks psychologist’s help.” 

‘What the hell were you thinking airing our personal issues in such a public place?’

Tessa looked upstairs, certain one or both of the boys would come crying down the stairs, hearing their daddy’s thunderous voice.  She had not known what Mercia’s profession was.  Tessa and Mercia generally took a minute to exchange pleasantries, nothing more than that.

‘You’re wrong.’ Tessa replied, ‘and so are they.  Can we talk about this in your study?’  Tessa walked away, ignoring the page on the coffee table. 

Brad just stared incredulously at Tessa’s retreating back.  Did she think he was stupid?  Was she going to sweet talk her way out of the mess she created?  Because of her, Brad had, had to sit with his PR people who were pressurizing him to put out a statement in the name of damage control.  Brad had listened to them.  He never justified his private life to the public.  He was not going to start now, even if his wife decided to take their problems into the public domain.  Brad had stormed out of the meeting, saying he would sleep on it, and make a decision the following morning.  His PR team had not agreed with him.  Good thing he was the boss.  They wanted an immediate press release circulated to contain the wildfire.  Brad knew unscrupulous savage vultures were waiting for Tessa to become single again.  Well he was not done with Tessa.  She was his wife.  She would be his wife forever.  He was never letting her go.  Never!

Now his wife wanted the privacy of his study to attempt to soften the blow.  He was surprised she did not want to use the bedroom.  She would definitely have been more effective there.  Brad shut the door.  He shoved his hands into his pockets and glared at Tessa expectantly.

‘That was Mercia Campbell, Elli’s mom. ’ Tessa started.

‘The clinical psychologist, I know,’ Brad raised his voice impatiently. 

Why the hell didn’t I know that? 

‘The kids wanted to have drinks.’

‘So you decided you’d kill two birds with one stone and seek professional counsel?’

The picture from the article vividly flashed across Tessa’s mind.  Mercia leaning across and placing her palm over Tessa’s wrist. 

How misleading and out of context that damn picture was!

‘I was not aware my marriage was on the rocks,’ Tessa stated.

Brad’s eyebrows shot up accusingly.  ‘It’s pretty late Tessa.  I am tired and neither have I had a meal yet.  Can you hurry it up?’ he demanded.

‘I did not seek her help about anything!’ Tessa exclaimed.

  What the hell?  I don’t need a shrink! 

‘We only chatted about our kids.  She’s Elli’s mother for heaven’s sake! I would never seek professional counselling from an acquaintance! Not that I have even harboured the thought to even engage one.’ 

What’s the point?  Once you’ve made up your mind, it’s like attempting to move a concrete boulder with one hand!

‘So you’ve not discussed our impasse, about your desire to have another baby?’

‘No!’ Tessa denied. 

She would never talk about something as personal as that with anybody, not even to her mother.  She could not be that disrespectful to her husband.  Brad was taken aback.  His wife would never lie to him.   If she did something wrong, she would rather face the music and beg his forgiveness.  She was no coward.  There was not a single dishonest bone in her body.

God, how stupid and irresponsible the gutter press was.  The morons could wreck marriages just to sell their papers!

That picture was certainly misleading.  At first glance, one would assume that Tessa looked unhappy in the picture, but if Brad studied the look on her face, he would say she was looking thoughtful, not troubled, or unhappy.

‘I apologise Tessa.  I was wrong just like that gutter press,’ he clenched his teeth.  ‘I should have known better.  Can you forgive me?’ his eyes met hers squarely.

‘Yes,’ she answered instantly. 
If the picture was not of her, she would have been misled as well, although she never believed a word the tabloids wrote.

‘May I have a hug?’ Brad opened his arms expectantly.

Tessa inhaled and very slowly walked into Brad’s arms.  She shut her eyes, inhaling his unique scent, feeling the strength of his sturdy, protective arms comforting her.  Her arms tightened around him.  She caught her breath as Brad’s lips brushed against her throat.

‘I’m hungry,’ Brad murmured.

‘I’ll fix your dinner,’ she replied quietly.

‘Have you eaten?’ 
He knew his wife waited for him each night, so they could dine together.  Unless he called her to tell her he was late and he had not called her tonight.

‘I’m not hungry.’

Brad knew he was responsible for her loss of appetite.  ‘How about I take you out for a romantic dinner?’ he suggested.

‘To appease the gossip mongers!’ Tessa questioned.

‘No darling,’ Brad took a step back so he could look into her eyes.  ‘I’m trying to find a way to break through the stone wall you’ve erected around your heart.  It’s shutting me out.  I don’t like it,’ he sighed.

Let us have another baby and there will be no wall.

‘Will you go to dinner with me?’ Brad pressed, when Tessa did not answer.

‘Okay,’ Tessa relented.  She would now have to ask Stacy to keep an eye on the boys.  This was so short notice.  It was lucky Stacy had an apartment on the premises.

‘Wear something sexy,’ Brad requested.  He mentioned the classy restaurant he had made reservations at.

Tessa’s eyes darted narrowly to Brad’s.  ‘Why do I get the feeling this is a GR PR ploy to assure all and sundry that we have no problems?  As opposed to my husband wanting to take me to a quiet dinner,’ Tessa questioned, seeing he had already made the booking before even telling her about it.

‘That had been my intention, as I drove home,’ Brad confessed, ‘though it was really the last thing I desired to do.’

‘So you bowed to pressure?’

‘No.  They wanted me to issue a press release tonight.  I wanted to talk to you first.’

Talk?  You mean fire with all guns blazing?

‘If you’ve changed your mind, I can cancel,’ Brad conceded.

Perhaps they did need some time together at a neutral environment.  ‘We’ll go,’ she murmured.

Brad wanted a shower before they went out.  Tessa decided to have one as well.  When Brad entered their bedroom Tessa was in front of the mirror applying nude lip gloss to her lips.  She stopped.   Her eyes stared at Brad in the mirror.

‘You don’t like this tux?’

‘No.  I ... mean it’s fine,’ she murmured.  It was more than fine.  He looked gorgeous ... delicious.  She wanted to rip it off him and devour him.

When Tessa looked away, Brad took his time to appreciate the sexy red satin cocktail dress hugging her hourglass shape.  He almost did not want anybody else to see his wife in that dress.  It should be for his eyes only.

‘You look gorgeous darling,’ Brad complimented.

You do too.  ‘Thank you,’ she replied politely.

‘I don’t like the way every man is ogling my wife,’ Brad murmured in Tessa’s ear as they were led to their seats.

‘Didn’t you ask me to wear something sexy?’  She reminded him, not bothering to verify his comment.

‘I made a mistake,’ his arm curved possessively around her waist.  Tessa smiled to herself.  Brad seated his wife himself, then took the seat opposite her.

Brad seemed in a reflective mood.  He didn’t make much conversation.  Tessa thought he would, just incase somebody was lurking with a camera.  Instead he seemed content to just lace his fingers in hers in between the different courses that were served.  Tessa preferred the companionable silence.  Now and again her eyes strayed to Brad’s handsome face. He would smile, not to impress spectator value, but merely to privately convey to his wife, his love for her.

‘I need to go to Rome,’ Brad announced, after their dessert was served.  His eyes rested on her luscious lips, then fell to her enticing cleavage.

Tessa nodded, ‘when?’ she asked.  He occasionally went on business trips to Paris or Milan or somewhere within Europe and returned the same evening.

‘On Thursday, I’d like you to join me,’ Brad requested.

Tessa was about to put a spoonful of blueberry cheesecake into her mouth.  ‘What will I do whilst you’re in your meeting?’ she asked.

‘Sightseeing,’ he grinned.  He wished he was licking the delicious looking cream from her lips.

Tessa raised an eyebrow.  She and Brad had already done three trips to Rome previously.  ‘If you don’t mind, I’d rather stay home,’ she replied.

‘I want you to come with,’ he pleaded.  ‘I need to be there for two days.’

‘I don’t want to take Lyndon out of his routine,’ Tessa sighed, ‘and Daniel won’t appreciate any of the sights.’

Didn’t she understand what the gossip mongers would concoct if they were apart? 

Besides he never took overnight trips without Tessa.  She always accompanied him, if he was not returning the same night.

‘I’m not going without you,’ his palm closed over hers.

He was going to nag until she caved in.  ‘Fine Brad, the boys and I will join you.’ 

‘Would you like anything else?’ Brad asked, before he could call for the bill.

‘No thank you.  That was a lovely meal,’ she replied sincerely.

‘Thank you,’ Brad’s caressing eyes raked over her face.

As they drove home in the limo, Tessa was at pains not to look at Brad.  Instead she stared out the window.  When Brad spoke on the odd occasion, she looked at him answered and quickly looked away again.  She could not see Brad hyperventilating next to her.  Neither could she tell, her mini skirt that was not covering much was driving him crazy, or the view was.  Her sexy thighs were begging for his touch.  When Brad’s hand eventually rested on her thigh, Tessa jumped.  Brad laughed.

She raised an eyebrow.  Her eyes met his curiously.  Tessa knew Brad was not going to take this very far.  He had his policy about not making love in the car.  But whilst he was made of iron and steel, she was not.  He was stripping her of all control without even knowing it.  She was not inhuman.  Tessa removed his hand and dipped her head against the backrest.  She groaned aloud when Brad’s hand returned and boldly slipped further beneath her skirt.  Tessa lifted her eyes to Brad.  By now her eyes were accustomed to the darkness.  The desire in Brad’s eyes was unmistakable.  When Brad’s fingers hovered near her silk undies, Tessa’s legs shifted slightly.  Her mouth opened, her lips drew apart.  Her head moved towards Brad.  Her eyes fell to his adorable lips with unmistakable intent.  Brad tapped on the panel that separated them from the driver.  The window wound down and the driver waited for instructions.

‘Keep driving until I ask you to turn around,’ Brad wound the screen up again, giving them privacy.

They met halfway.  His mouth closed over hers.  Tessa’s tongue locked with Brad’s.  She moaned her pleasure.  Her hands hastily undid the buttons of his shirt.  His bowtie was ripped off.  Tessa’s hands caressed his muscular chest.  Her teeth nibbled at his throat.  Brad’s finger pushed behind the flimsy material protecting her womanhood.  Tessa cried out when his finger found her moistness.  He lowered her onto the extra large seat.  He leaned over, tugging at her dress.  His lips ached to suckle her delicious nipples.

‘Please don’t damage my dress,’ Tessa pleaded.  She did not want to walk out of the limo, or into their home looking ravished.  She still had to see Stacy.  Brad nodded.  His fingers brushed the straps of her shoulders.  He lifted her leg, draped it over his neck.  His lips burned the flesh on her thigh.  Tessa gasped and moaned at the same time.  She pulled Brad down and kissed him hungrily, her tongue duelled with his erotically.   Brad ripped at her silk briefs.  It split in two.  He shoved it into his pocket.

‘Brad!’

‘Don’t stop me now,’ he pleaded.  His head dipped.  His palms pushed her legs apart, and his mouth tasted her moistness.

‘Oh darling...,’ Tessa protested.  Her one leg was around his neck, the other was hanging off the seat.  Brad was hungrily having his fill of her.

‘Brad take me___,’ her fingers raked through his hair.  Her nails pierced his shoulders.

‘I will,’ his husky voice promised.  ‘I will.’

Tessa moaned impatiently, her pelvis lifted, giving his mouth better access.  She reached for his trousers, unbuckled him and freed him.  He was rock hard.  His trousers and boxers were pushed down his legs.

‘I want you now,’ she sobbed, pulling him towards her.

Brad lowered himself over Tessa.  She sighed blissfully as his weight covered the length of her body.  In one deep thrust, he filled her with his possession.  Tessa purred contentedly.  Her arms draped around his neck.  She lifted his head and kissed him.  Brad withdrew, his face contorted slightly.  He lifted himself and plunged into her repeatedly until Tessa exploded and he followed her, collapsing onto her.

‘Wow,’ Tessa whispered.

‘Wow indeed,’ Brad was dripping with perspiration. 

That was probably the best sex he had had in a long time.  Certainly a first.  He’d never did the dirty ever before in a vehicle, moving or not.  He re-adjusted Tessa’s clothes, minus her briefs.  Righted his own clothes and when he thought they looked presentable enough, he tapped on the screen and instructed the driver to take them home.  Brad cradled Tessa in his arms.  She settled against his chest sleepily, holding onto him possessively.  Satiated and exhausted, Tessa fell sound asleep. 

Neither of the Blakelys was aware, baby number three had just been conceived.

          -end chapter forty two-