The Ten Year Affair (19 page)

Peter couldn’t believe his ears. The arrogant bastard was still after
Alex even though she had agreed to marry
him
.

“Foster you are the most conceited bastard I know. I had hoped we could
remain friends since it’s inevitable that we will be working together. But Ian
if war is what you want, you’ve got it. I won’t let you try to win Alex back
just for the sport of it, to prove that you’re the one she truly loves then
dump her for the first blonde bombshell that comes along. I’m not a fool Ian.
As much as I hate to admit it I know that you’re the man she loves now. But she
loves me too Ian and we have a very special bond. Once she’s married to me she
will never betray me. She’s got far too much integrity to fool around on her
husband. Especially a husband who’s her best friend. She’ll learn to love me as
she loves you now Foster. Especially when
our
first baby comes along. Those
are bonds between us you won’t ever be able to break you pompous son-of-a-bitch.”

“Well, I see you’ve thought this out all so well haven’t you buddy? All
this talk about bonds is so true Pete. Alex and I have shared our own bonds
together since kindergarten. We were best friends once too for many years. We
were each other’s first kiss in junior high. She gave me her virginity in high
school and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am, I’m the only man
she’s ever made love to. We have special bonds too Pete. Special bonds you
can’t even imagine and I won’t embarrass you by going into detail. But I want
you to ask yourself this. Every time you’re with her, making love to her, ask
yourself if it’s you she’s making love to or is it me?”

Ian wasn’t surprised when Pete’s fist connected with his jaw. He’d
expected it and deserved it. But if he was going to succeed in breaking Pete
and Alex apart he had to put the seed of doubt in Pete’s mind and feed the
jealousy that was eating Peter alive. Peter’s nostrils flared with anger and
Ian could tell he found it hard to stop with one blow.

“You are one hell of a son-of-a-bitch and I will never understand what
Lexie ever saw in you.”

“
Sees
in me Petey. What Alex
sees
in me. I hope you feel
better Pete. I’ll let you have that punch because I know I deserved it because
I deliberately provoked you. But the gloves are off now Pete. I intend to make
Alex mine. You can roll over and accept the inevitable or fight me. Believe me;
I’m up for a good fight.”

“Well a fight is what you got Foster. And don’t worry Foster. I’ll take
good care of your child for you. Lauren will never have to know what a bastard
you are.”

Peter stormed out of the conference room and through the courthouse doors
to some fresh air. He could hardly breathe he was so consumed with anger. Anger
and doubt. Ian was right. Alex and he had a long history together; especially a
sexual history and they had a child together. Hell, he’d never even gotten to
first base with Alex. That was going to change and change soon. She was his
fiancée now. Didn’t he have a right to expect more from her in that area now?
Didn’t he have a right to demand some kind of affection from Alex? If he was
ever going to win Alex’s love and stave off Ian he was going to have to make
some strides in the bedroom with Alex and he would start tonight.

***

Back at the office, Alex greeted Peter’s return with a warm smile as he
entered her office. She could tell something was troubling him.

“How did your hearing go Peter?” she asked.

“Fine. Just fine,” he said as he bent over to kiss Alex hello.

“Okay, so what’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”

Alex spotted the bruises forming on Peter’s knuckles and gently raised
his hand to inspect it.

“And what in the world did you do to your hand?”

Peter sat down on the corner of her desk not sure how to approach this
subject with Alex. She had made it very clear to him when she had accepted his
proposal that she was not yet ready for a physical relationship. But damn it he
was only human and he had waited for her for so long.

“Lex, I don’t know where to start. You’re right. I’m not happy. I’m
engaged to the most wonderful, gorgeous woman in the world but she’s never even
kissed me properly.”

“Peter I...”

“No, Alex let me finish. You know how attracted I am to you, how much I
want you, and I know you were honest with me that it may be awhile before you
were ready for a physical relationship, but Alex I’m going crazy! Honey, I need
to know how much longer you expect me to wait. I’m not getting any sleep. I’m
up all night fantasizing about making love to you. About
you
making love
to me. Damn it Alex I don’t even know what it’s like to kiss you other than a
simple peck on the lips. Give me that much Alex, please!”

Alex knew their relationship had been building to the point where she
could no longer deny Peter. He had been so patient and understanding. More than
she could possibly ask of any man. He was right. They were engaged to be
married. She couldn’t keep him at arms length for too much longer. It wasn’t
fair to Peter. And she hadn’t exactly been truthful to Peter. It wasn’t that
she wasn’t ready for a physical relationship. It was that she was not ready for
a physical relationship with Peter. She wanted Ian. Dreamed of Ian every night.
Remembered how easily he pleasured her and brought her to such glorious
climaxes. Her first time with Peter she wanted to be ready for only Peter. She
was afraid if she made love to Peter now before she was over Ian she would be
wishing she was with Ian. That’s not what Peter deserved but how could she
explain that to him without hurting his feelings? It was time to simply grow up
and give Peter what he needed. It was her job now to make Peter happy if she
was going to be his wife.

“Peter I know. I understand and you’re right. I haven’t been fair to you.
I’m just a little scared. I want things to work out for us so badly. I’m afraid
starting a physical relationship will disappoint you. I don’t want to ruin the
way things are. I don’t want our relationship to be based on sex. I want more. I
know what it’s like to have an affair with a man who could give me nothing but
a physical relationship and I don’t want that again. Surely you can understand that
Peter.”

“Yes, Alex I do understand. But what you have to understand and remember
is I’m not Ian. Your relationship with him may have been based on nothing but
sex but Alex you know I’ve loved you for years without ever having kissed or
made love to you. My love for you has nothing to do with sex. But Alex if I
can’t satisfy these urges I have for you I’ll go nuts. I’m a normal, healthy
male. I need you Alex.”

Alex stared into Peter’s bright green eyes and saw the desire burning.
Desire was burning in her too. It’d been so long since she had made love. She
was a normal, healthy woman too. Why did she feel as though desiring Peter was
being unfaithful? Ian didn’t want her and she was engaged to the man for gods
sake! He was so very sexy and attractive and she had felt a twinge of jealousy
this morning when she had watched Angie and Peter laughing and talking
together. Peter was right. There would be nothing wrong in making love to Peter
and she could not expect him to wait forever; especially if the beautiful Angie
was hanging around encouraging Peter’s attention. Maybe her feelings for Peter
were starting to change. Maybe moving on with that part of their relationship
could help her to forget Ian.

“Peter, kiss me.”

“Alex?”

“I want you to kiss me Peter. You said you’ve never kissed me. Show me
what it’s like to kiss you Peter. I want to know. Show me.”

Peter eased himself off the corner of the desk and grabbed Alex’s hands
and pulled her up from her chair bringing their bodies together. He entwined
both hands in her golden curls grasping both sides of her head.

“God Alex you are so beautiful. I’ve waited for this for so long. I...”

Alex flinched as Peter closed his eyes and lowered his lips to hers.

Peter opened his eyes and froze.

“I don’t think you were trembling with passion just now Alex. Does the
thought of my kiss disgust you that much? You really don’t want to kiss me.”

 He turned away from her and began pacing the floor.

Alex was horrified at what she had done. She hated to see the hurt on
Peter’s face but she was still hopelessly in love with Ian.

“Peter I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. It’s just that for so long
I…”

“That’s enough Alex. I’d like to say I’m surprised but I’m not. I’ve just
been fooling myself that a marriage between us could ever work. I’ve gotta get
out of here. I won’t be back the rest of the day.”

Peter stormed from her office.

“I’ll call you later.” He threw the words over his shoulder as he stalked
out.

***

He didn’t call her and he’d deliberately not picked up her calls. Peter
was restless and couldn’t stop pacing and rehearsing the words he planned to
say to Alex once she got to the office this morning. He loved Alex but he knew
where her heart would always lie and it wouldn’t be with him. He was dreading
facing her this morning. He dragged his hands through his hair as he paced his
office. He’d been so sure when Alex had finally said yes that things would all
work out as he had dreamed for so long.

Alex walked into Grainger & Anderson dreading the conversation she
knew she had to have with Peter. She had to break their engagement and allow
Peter to move on with his life and find someone who loved him as much as she
loved Ian.

Alex braced herself and gently knocked on Peter’s door.

“Come in.”

Alex slowly opened the door and peered in and smiled.

“Good morning Peter. Is it safe to come in?”

“Yes, Lex. Please come on in. I won’t bite.”

She pushed the door the rest of the way open and went inside leaving the
door ajar.

“Well, that’s good to know. You were so angry with me yesterday I didn’t
think you’d ever talk to me again. I don’t know what to say Peter except that
I’m sorry and I know that doesn’t mean much right now.”

Peter rose from his desk to stand before Alex. He grabbed her at the
waist and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“It’s okay Alex. I don’t want to fight with you. What happened yesterday
finally opened my eyes. I know you’ll never love anyone but Ian and I was
foolish to think you could love me.”

“But Peter...”

“Please Alex let me finish before I lose my nerve. I’m trying to be
gallant as much as it’s killing me. I’m through chasing you Alex. All I want is
for you to be happy and if Foster makes you happy I understand. He’s Lauren’s
father and as much as I hate to admit it he’ll be a good father and a good
husband. He truly loves you Alex and I can’t understand what has taken him so
long to realize that.”

“Peter you act as though he
has
realized it. If so it’s news to
me. I haven’t talked to him in months other than the insulting conversation we
had the other night when the Mayor announced our engagement.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you this Alex for obviously selfish reasons but I
had a talk with Ian yesterday. He told me he was not going to allow me to take
his family away from him and that he was going to fight to win you back. But
he’s not going to get a fight from me Alex. Not anymore.”

Relief washed over Alex’s body.

“Peter I think we both knew when you stormed out of here yesterday that our
engagement was over. I’m not sure that things will ever work out with Ian
either but I do appreciate you telling me that.” Alex was afraid to read too
much into what Peter had told her. She knew all too well how Ian’s feelings ran
hot and cold.

“Ian’s not a dumb man Lex. He’ll come around. I think seeing that he
could actually lose you forever has finally sunk in.  If you don’t mind, I’m going
to see if Angie can go with me to the fundraiser tonight.” Peter left the
office in search of Angie.

The fundraiser for Ian. She had forgotten all
about that party tonight. She may not have a date now but there was no way she
wasn’t going to be there. Regardless of their history together Alex wanted to
be there to support Ian for his candidacy. He was an excellent attorney and
would do great things for the county in the position of
County Prosecutor. Even though Peter said Ian had told him he was not going to let Peter steal
his family, it still didn’t mean he loved her. She would accept no less from
him. To marry or be with him simply because of Lauren would make her miserable.
But what Peter had told her gave her some hope again. She was going shopping
this afternoon to find the perfect dress to grab Ian’s attention tonight. She
laid Peter’s ring on his desk before heading back to work.

Ian had a lot of running around to do today to prepare for the fundraiser
tonight but he knew if he didn’t see Lauren today he’d go crazy. He missed her
gorgeous little smile and the smell of baby that was so comforting. He was
hooked on her now just like her beautiful mother. The two ladies had him
whipped and he wouldn’t rest until he had them tucked safely in his home, night
after night. Just this morning he’d closed on the purchase of a cozy little
home with plenty of bedrooms for Alex and him to fill.

Ian rang the bell of the Fairchild home and Thomas quickly answered.

“Hello Thomas. I’m here to see the littlest, lovely lady of the house. Is
she available for visitors?” he teased.

“Why certainly Mr. Foster. She’s just about to be put down for her nap
however. Mrs. Fairchild is in the nursery with her now.”

“Thanks Thomas. I’ll just run on up.”

Ian ran up the stairs with a lively step. Even having to see Julia
wouldn’t dampen his spirits. He was getting closer and closer to making his
dreams come true. Besides, Julia had been a bit more congenial to him since
Lauren’s birth.