“New York autumns ... winters ...” she remarked with a soft chuckle, “they’re no joke.”
“Mmm-hmm. Can I have the truth now?”
Topaz remained silent. They reached the platform, taking their place in the line of passengers waiting to board. Alex looked down at her then and she knew he was waiting for an explanation.
“I know it’s stupid ... I just feel so suspicious of everyone, like any one of them could be the one who’s been hired to ...”
“Damn,” Alex hissed, hating that he’d pressed her to put her fears into words. “This’ll be over soon,” he vowed. “I don’t want you to feel threatened by anyone.”
Topaz curled her fingers around the lapels of his heavy tan suede jacket. “I feel completely safe with you,” she declared.
Alex wasn’t satisfied. “I don’t care,” he snapped, his gaze scanning the length of the silver train with unmasked distaste. “You’re too special. Too good a person to be goin’ through this crap. I’ll do what’s necessary to put this mess behind you.”
“Alex, listen to me good. I don’t want any more violence over this,” she said, waiting until they’d taken their seats before voicing her thoughts. The set look on his face filled her with a sense of foreboding.
“I’m afraid more violence is necessary,” he callously remarked, not realizing how serious she was. “Only way to deal with these fools,” he added.
“I don’t want you resorting to that. Just let the police handle it.”
“The police,” Alex parroted, smiling at the cuteness of her naïveté. “Baby, the police are no good at this. Trust me, you’d feel even more unsafe than you do now. What’s needed here is—”
“I don’t want to hear about what’s needed here!” she whispered fiercely. “I’m serious, Alex” she emphasized, leaving her seat and storming out of the car.
Alex found Topaz a short while later. She was nursing a cup of hot tea at a table in the dining car. She stared out at the stunning late afternoon view past the huge windows. Alex watched her for a moment, before he squeezed next to her in the booth she occupied.
Determined not to acknowledge him, Topaz kept her face turned. Alex propped his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled his handsome face against her neck.
“What’s the matter?” he whispered.
“Not worth going into,” she retorted.
Alex focused on the passing view. “Well, considering you just snapped at me and stomped off, I’d have to disagree. Now talk.”
Topaz enjoyed another sip of the delicious berry tea and continued to observe the picturesque view. She was all set to take another sip when Alex took the cup from her hand. With a frustrated sigh, she turned her angry glare toward him.
“There’s been enough violence,” she declared. “I don’t think we need any more. You’re not that young thug anymore, Alex. You’re older, a respected publisher and businessman. You should be able to handle things better now.”
Alex looked down at the white oak table where he’d begun to tap his fingers. “I’ve struggled a long time tryin’ to do just that, Topaz.”
“Alex, this is dangerous,” she warned, facing him more fully as she rested one hand against his chest. “I don’t want you getting hurt or worse because of me.”
Alex cupped her chin and brought his face closer to hers. “I can’t think of a better reason to get hurt.”
Topaz slapped away his hand, rolling her eyes as she did so. “That doesn’t make me feel better. You’re gonna mess around and get your ass killed!” she hissed.
Alex chuckled while pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. “Baby, I honestly appreciate your concern, but I’ve been taking care of myself for quite some time. I think I got this.”
“Alex—”
“Shh ...” he ordered, leaning in to kiss her more thoroughly. “Now,” he called, breaking the kiss as it grew more heated, “you need to get some rest.”
“Are you coming with me?” Topaz asked, smiling when Alex nodded.
He read her thoughts easily. “I have my own compartment,” he told her, hiding his grin while watching the disappointment creep into her amber eyes.
“A separate one?” she parroted, her fingers loosening around the neckline of his Hampton sweatshirt.
“We need sleep, Topaz.”
“We can sleep together.”
“No, we wouldn’t,” he assured her with a lazy smile as he caressed the flawless dark skin of her face.
Moments later, their heated kisses had resumed. Several interested stares were cast toward the gorgeous couple locked in the sensuous embrace at the rear of the car. Alex and Topaz had no concern for the outside world. Their lips met in waves of fiery emotion, their tongues battling passionately.
“Topaz ... we need to go. I mean it this time,” Alex managed to say.
Topaz pouted when he pulled away and eased out of the booth. She was reluctant to follow, but knew his mind was set.
Alex met Topaz the next morning as she made her way down the aisle of one of the passenger cars.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked, his hands closing over her hips when they stood before one another.
