Chapter Five

The sun had set, and Anton was finally free to move. After Sabryn had driven away, he wandered the streets, thinking about what she had said. She was right in a way. There was a lot of lust involved in their relationship. Perhaps too much. But she was also wrong. Between lovers there had been women he had lusted after, even if he hadn't acted on the impulse. But he hadn't felt drawn to them the way he was drawn to her.

By the time he had realized the sun was coming up, he knew he was too far away from Sabryn's house to make it there. So he hurried back to the hotel, extended their room reservation for one more day, and told himself that he'd get a good day's sleep before tackling the new problem in their relationship. He wouldn't call them, thinking to give them all some time apart to think.

After making sure the 'Do Not Disturb' sign was on the door and the curtains were securely fastened, he collapsed on the bed. [It was a mistake to give in to them,] he thought. Sabryn thought he loved Lindy, and Lindy was probably going through hell right now. [That's what you get for thinking with your cock instead of your brain.] He had no idea how he was going to be able to repair either relationship, or even if he could.

He spent the day dozing restlessly. As soon as it was dark, he left the hotel and hailed a cab. He gave the driver directions to Sabryn's house and then sat back, half dreading the reception he was about to receive. When the cab pulled up at the house, he saw a figure sitting dejectedly on the porch. He paid the cabbie, got out, and walked towards Sabryn.

He'd barely gotten a few steps up the driveway before she stood up and started running towards him. He braced himself, expecting her to start hurling accusations or worse, punches, at him...instead, she raced to within an inch from where he stood and launched herself into his arms. If he hadn't braced himself, he would've fallen on his ass. Stunned, he held on tight, rocking slightly on his heels, feeling her wrap around him like suction cup. Her legs tightened around his waist, arms gripping his shoulders and neck so tight he could barely breathe. And when he belatedly noticed her sobbing, he nearly dropped to his knees.

"I'm going to be so mad at you later," she said, in a weak voice.

Holding her with one hand under her butt and the other tightly across her back, he nodded. "I know."

"Where've you been?"

"At the hotel."

"I oughta kick your ass."

"I just might let you."

She pulled back slightly, dropping desperate kisses all over his face. "Don't you ever dare do that to me again, damn you. Do you hear me?"

He couldn't help but grin. [Hell yes, I hear you.]

"Wipe that smile off your face, Anton! Do you know how scared I was that I'd never see you again? Step outside and find a little pile of ash on my doorstep?"

He held her tighter, nuzzling where her neck met her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bryn. So sorry. I didn't even think about that."

"What the hell were you thinking? Certainly not about calling me!"

"I thought you needed some time--"

"Uggh!" She smacked him hard enough on the shoulder to make him wince. "Damn it, I don't need any time. I'm not the one who's always asking for time. If it were up to me, you'd marry me tomorrow. Screw waiting six months, damn you. Do you have any idea--"

He cut off her tirade by smothering her lips with his. Luckily, she didn't protest too much. Threading her fingers through his hair, she kissed him back with equaled passion, little moaning sounds leaving her throat. By the time he pulled away from her mouth, she stared at him stupidly, having completely forgotten what the hell she wanted to say.

"I told you he'd come back!" they heard someone yell from the door.

Turning her head, Sabryn shouted, "Shut up, Johnny!"

Chuckling softly, Anton watched John shake his head before leaving them once again to the relative privacy of the driveway.

He leaned his forehead against hers. "Ah Bryn, I'm sorry. I should never have let things happen the way they did last night. I didn't mean to hurt you so badly. Please, forgive me."

Her expression softened before she pressed a lingering kiss to his mouth. "I'm not the one you have to worry about. I certainly feel sorry for you when Lindy gets a hold of you." She couldn't hide her laugh at the sudden look of dread on his face as he peered up at the sky. Catching his attention again, she said, "I guess you'd better take me upstairs now and have your way with me, while you still can."

He gave her a long stare. "What about what you said last night--"

"Screw what I said last night, I was drunk. You can fuck me from here to eternity and I won't stop you." Grinning ferally, she nodded towards the door. "Hurry up, I don't think I can wait much longer. And I want you on top...that's my favorite."

"Yes ma'am." Unwilling to relinquish his hold on her, he set her on her feet and started walking her backwards towards the house. "Is there anything else you like? You'd better put in any requests now, before Lindy gets her claws into me."

"Hmm...an 'I'll-never-do-something-so-stupid-again, Sabryn, oh-Goddess-of-my- heart' would be nice."

He nearly snorted. "All right. I swear I'll never do something so stupid and foolish ever again, Sabryn, oh Goddess of my heart and keeper of my soul."

"Oooh, even better!" She licked her lips. "If there's time before she gets back, I'll even let you worship me on your knees."

Grinning, he rushed her into the house, barely stopping to acknowledge the curious looks of her family as he pushed her up the stairs. They were both laughing obnoxiously by the time he closed the bedroom door, but all laughter cut off abruptly as she grabbed his head and pulled him down for a deep kiss. She pulled him with her, backing towards the bed, all the while stripping off her jeans and panties. She didn't even bother with her sweater. Kicking free of her shoes and bundled clothing, she reached eagerly for his zipper, yanking it down, unbuttoning his slacks and shoving them off his hips. He boxers quickly followed, and when she was lying on her back at the edge of her bed, her lower body bare and spread quite wantonly before him, he could barely breathe.

"Now, Anton. I want you so much."

He hovered over her for a moment, before sinking into her. She was so wet and gripped his cock so tight he wasn't certain he'd be able to last at all. He nuzzled her ear, growling deep in his throat. "Bryn..." Sabryn wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him in tighter. His thrusts were short and rapid, not the drawn out strokes he liked to tease her with.

It didn't seem to matter in the slightest. He didn't need to coax her at all. The minute he'd started thrusting, she began moaning and moving along with him, pulling him tighter against her with each move he made. He could feel the light- headed, tingly sensations starting almost immediately, drawing his balls up tight against his body, radiating swirls of heat throughout his groin. He began thrusting faster, hearing her moans grow louder and sharper against his ear. Just as he was about to cum, she threw her head back and cried out so loud the sound echoed off her walls. She clamped down hard around him, seeming to squeeze his orgasm right out of him. It shook him so hard and fast he lost his breath, little starbursts popping around his gaze.

He laid on her limply, stroking her hair as she quivered with aftershocks. He wished he could stop time, leaving them in this moment for eternity. No outside world to face. No emotional baggage. Just hazy bliss.

"Mmmm..." She gave a little snicker, before her laughter turned into full blown giggles. He could feel her contracting around him, still lingering in a state of semi-orgasmic pleasure. "I've never cum so hard in my life."

"I should hope not." He realized her still-sock-covered feet were leisurely sliding over his bare ass. "Nice socks."

"You like those? Wore 'em just for you."

"Perfect." Scooting her closer to the center of the bed, he buried his face against the side of her neck. "I don't want to move."

"Then don't."

"Have to...unless you want Lindy to walk in on us."

"Nothing she hasn't already seen," she murmured. "But I suppose you're right. You should get up."

He groaned. "Thanks for the reminder."

She was quiet for a while, content to keep him exactly where he was, drowsy after not having slept for over 24 hours. As the thought passed over her mind, her eyes popped open. "Anton, when was the last time you fed?"

He sighed heavily. "You were there."

"Damn it!" He pushed himself up to look at her, meeting her angry gaze. "You're making yourself sick. I told you to stop doing that!"

"I didn't have a chance--"

"You're such an ass," she muttered. "You'd better go feed, now."

"I can't. Lindy will be here--"

Glaring at him, she pushed her hair away from her neck. "Then do it."

[Feed from her, again?] "No. Not a chance."

"Anton, damn it...I don't want you to get sick, especially when she comes back here to rip you to shreds. Just do it. I trust you to stop. You can take a little now, and go find someone else later--"

"I said no, Bryn. I'm not doing it." He emphasized his words by shaking his head. "You may trust me to stop, but I don't."

"You were able last time."

"I was showing you what I was last time. I wasn't hungry."

"Damn it, Anton--"

"Bryn, no!" He knelt on the bed. "If I take too much from you, my only options will to be to Transform you or hold you while you die. Don't ask me to make that choice."

"So what am I supposed to do? Stand by while you get sick?" She sat up. "Help me understand why."

"Because she used to ask me to feed on her all the time."

[She? Who...oh.] The unspoken name Natasha hung heavy in the air between them.

She sighed heavily, letting herself fall back to the bed in frustration. "I hate her."

"She has nothing to do with us."

"I know...on some level at least. But it seems like she's always on the tip of your tongue." Before he could respond, she put a hand up in surrender. "Forget I said that. I don't want to fight with you. I just don't want you to get sick."

"I've got all night to do something about it. Don't worry."

She pulled him back down on top of her, holding him tightly and kissing his forehead. "I'm so sorry I messed things up last night, Anton. I didn't mean for that to happen. I've been going crazy worrying about you all day."

He shook his head, covering her lips with his finger. "It's no one's fault. I guess it was something that needed to happen."

"It seems like all we ever do is fight and make up...not that I'm complaining about the last part." She stretched leisurely beneath him, before wrapping herself around him once more. "You think we'll ever have a normal week together?"

He gave her a half smile. "Eventually."

They were both quiet for moment. When she spoke again, her sleepy voice was more than a little hesitant. "I'm not asking you to...but would it be so awful if you did Transform me?"

"No," he said softly, placing a kiss in her hair. "It would be wonderful. It's just not a decision to be made lightly."

She couldn't help but feel a little bit hurt at that statement. If he loved her so much, what was there to think about? But she slowly realized that he wasn't talking about his own decision. Becoming inhuman wasn't the glamorous lifestyle she'd once imagined. And the idea of what she'd be giving up made her feel a little sick.

Deciding it wasn't a topic they needed to hash out at the moment, she crept out from beneath him and unbuttoned her sweater. Dropping it and her bra to the floor, she followed by stripping off Anton's shirt.

"I think we still have some time until she gets back. If you're up to it." She gave him a saucy grin. "Maybe something a little different?"

"Different?" He cocked an eyebrow at her.

With a slight blush on her cheeks, she lifted herself up on to her hands and knees, turning around, looking at him over her shoulder. "Any objections?"

"None at all." Anton knelt at the base of her spine, licking a wet stripe along it. He rubbed his chest along her back, sliding one hand up her torso. His cock bumped against her thigh as he started massaging first one breast and then the other.

She practically purred, backing against him, trying in vain to hurry him along. Shuddering slightly, she reached behind her to stroke his solid erection, smiling at the groans she drew out of him. Letting her fingers slip lower, she cupped his balls, rolling them lightly, teasing the place where his scrotum attached to his body. He jerked suddenly at the sensation, a shaky exhale leaving his mouth.

Sitting up slightly, she met his kiss over her shoulder. "I certainly hope you never get sick of this, 'cause you're stuck with me now."

"Not a chance, my dear."

He grabbed her hips, holding her still as he pressed against her. She twisted backwards, but he held firm. Slowly he breached her body, breathing heavily. He pushed forward until her ass was cradled against his groin, and he held still, just savoring the sensation.

Bryn looked back over her shoulder. "You gonna move or what?"

"Patience, my dear," he said a bit hoarsely. "Good things come to those who wait."

Giving him a funny face, she wiggled her ass against him, shifting him back and forth inside of her. Anton's brow furrowed, his whole face darkening in exquisite pain. He gave her light smack on the butt, only enough to make her giggle. Pulling at him with her inner muscles, she leaned forward, bracing her weight on her forearms, shifting him once more...and the resulting angle made her gasp. She felt fully spread open before him, completely exposed, and when he started thrusting in long, slow sweeps, her fingers clenched in the bedspread.

Hooking her ankles behind his thighs, she curled her toes and bit her lip. "Ohh, my God, that feels good. Mmm...Anton, fuck me."

"I thought that was what I was doing," he murmured in her ear. He slid a hand down between her legs, but didn't move his fingers. Each thrust dragged her clit across them. He began nipping at her ear. "Like that, my dear?"

She nodded her head frantically, rolling her hips against him, backing into each thrust. She could feel herself getting so wet, could hear the little slapping sounds their bodies made against each other, and she could barely hold in the whimpers as she chewed on her lip. Pressing her cheek against the bedspread, she grabbed the hand he had holding her hip and laced her fingers together with his. Each rubbing pass of friction against her clit made her convulse beneath him, and within seconds she opened her mouth and started moaning uncontrollably.

"Ah--A-Anton...mmm...I'm coming!"

"Ugh..." he groaned. She was clenching his cock tightly and arching up against him. He sped up his thrusts, moving erratically as he started coming. Determined to have Sabryn orgasm at the same time, only now he began rubbing his fingers against her. When she turned back to look at him, he sealed his lips over hers.

She wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling his head down, deepening the kiss. Her other hand pressed down over his, fingers directing his movements, her hips still moving back against him. He felt her convulse around him again, not as strong this time, but still quite powerfully. They both slowed their swaying, muscles unclenching, fluttering a bit, before relaxing in post-coital bliss. Still kissing her mouth, he gave her a lingering rub with his fingers before gently easing them both down to the comforter.

Not quite having caught her breath, Sabryn closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, whispering, "I love you, Anton."

"I love you too, Bryn, my dear." Reaching for each of the sides of the comforter, he wrapped it around their cooling bodies. He nuzzled at her neck, lips brushing the scar. Sabryn made a sleepy sound of contentment and snuggled a little deeper into the bed.

[She's exhausted,] Anton thought. He lay there quietly, watching Sabryn drift off to sleep. It was maybe an hour later he heard the front door open and shut. Focussing on the voices down stairs, he could just hear Caroline say, "Yes, he's upstairs with Bryn right now."

He made a face. Lindy was back, and probably fit to be tied. [Time to face the music.] Trying not to disturb Bryn, he climbed off the bed and got dressed. Sabryn, realizing he wasn't in bed any longer, made a noise and started moving. "Go back to sleep, my dear. My executioner has arrived." He placed a quick kiss on her cheek and then left the room.

He wasn't halfway down the stairs before he spotted Lindy. Arms crossed over her chest, her eyes were red from tears, her scowl set firmly in stone. He made gesture towards the den. "In there." Without a word, she turned around and walked into it, Anton close behind. "Should I bend over and grab my ankles?" he joked as he closed the door.

"Please do," she growled, nowhere close to laughing.

Frowning, he reached out a hand to touch her...unprepared for the moment she lashed out and grabbed his wrist, nearly pulling him off his feet as she dragged him closer. For a moment, he thought Sabryn had been right—Lindy was going to tear him to shreds. But she shocked the hell out of him when her arms wrapped around him instead. He stood in stunned silence for a moment, before hastily returning her awkward embrace.

"I guess your being upstairs means she's forgiven you?" she asked, her voice scratchy, somewhere between rage and absolute relief.

"Yes."

"You're not getting off so easily from me, Anton."

"I know."

She practically pushed him away from her, angrily pacing the floor like a wild wolf trapped in a cage. He even thought he saw her bare her teeth at him for a moment, but he couldn't be absolutely certain.

"How long have you been here?"

"A couple of hours."

"And before that?"

"I was at the hotel."

She stopped to stare at him, and the look on her face made him take an involuntary step backwards. It was a sobering thought that she could scare even him. He didn't take to frightening often. He could only imagine what she'd do to a human male.

Something clicked in place in his mind. The scent was very faint, but it was there. "You smell like men's cologne, Lindy."

The sudden change in her demeanor was startling. She tried to sound nonchalant as she said, "So?"

"It's not one I wear." Seeing a possible way to deflect attention from him, he took it. "Don't tell me you have already gotten over me? Lindy, I'm crushed."

"No, I met Bryn's drinking buddy, Nate. Spent most of the night talking. We have to warn her to be more cautious. She told him what you and I are during her drunken confession."

"She did?" That could be potential cause for concern. "And did he believe her?"

"No..." she lied. She wasn't certain if there was some obscure territorial issues that would come into play, and she liked Nate. The older a vampire became, the stronger, and she wasn't certain if Anton or Nate would be the elder. She really didn't want to see the two of them face off. [Wait a minute, I'm supposed to be chewing Anton out.] "So why did you put both of us through hell by not calling? And when was the last time you fed?"

He groaned, sinking down on to the couch. "I've already been through all of this with Bryn. I thought I was giving you both some time to think, but obviously I was foolish. I should have called," he said, apologetically. "And I was waiting for you to come back before I left again...I'll feed before morning."

"Sometimes I wonder why I bother with you. You're such a pain in the ass."

"I don't think I have to remind you why," he murmured, grinning devilishly. "So, you like this Nate?"

"He's...interesting." An understatement, that was for sure. "I think you have him to thank for your life, actually. If not for his distraction, I believe I would've been murderous by now."

"He's that interesting? You ever plan on bringing him around?"

"And subject him to you? No thank you."

He smirked, casually bumping her arm with his elbow as she sat down beside him. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"You should be."

"And about last night...I should've handled things better."

She shrugged. "I'm sure we all could have."

He leaned his head back against the cushion of the couch. "So now what?"

Lindy slapped his knee as she got up. "You go feed. Me, I'm going to Change and go for a run."

Anton raised an eyebrow. "You haven't Changed yet tonight? No wonder you're in such a bitchy mood."

"Someone had to be around to reassure Bryn. And besides, I thought it would make my ass kicking all more effective."

"What ass kicking?" He winced the moment he said it. Why the hell had he reminded her? She stalked after him menacingly, but he didn't give her the time to catch him. Chuckling, he hurried through the door. "Stay out of trouble."

"La fregna che te ceca."

"You have a foul mouth," Nathaniel muttered, meeting the woman's stare in the mirror. She stood scowling in the doorway, her arms crossed, red hair wild about her shoulders, eyes blazing. "And no, pussy doesn't blind me. I know exactly what I'm doing."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Musse."

He turned around, becoming quite annoyed. "Will you speak English, damn it? You haven't been in Venice for nearly two hundred years."

"And what difference does it make?" she asked, sneering at him. "You pay no attention to me in either language. You do exactly as you please...seducing your little whore. Have you any idea what it was like for me to wait here all alone, knowing you were with that bitch?"

Tucking in his shirt, he stepped past her. "No, I don't, and honestly I couldn't care less."

"That is not what you said the other night." Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around him to pinch his nipples through his crisp shirt. She grinned to herself at the shudders her touch produced. "Which one was it, Nathaniel. Anton's puttana, or the blond?"

"It's none of your business." She couldn't help but notice his voice didn't have quite the same conviction as before. He was wilting against her...or at least most of him was. She slid her hand down to stroke his swelling cock through his dark slacks. "Damn it...I thought I told you to keep your hands off of me?"

"Your body is saying differently, minchione. You like what I do to you."

"I like a lot of things that aren't good for me." Pushing her hands away from him, he stepped to the door and grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"To her?"

"Maybe." Smiling slightly at her vicious glare, he said, "Have a good night, Tasha."

He turned around and walked to his car. [Damn bitch,] he thought. [The way she treats me, you'd think she Transformed me, not the other way around.] He had tried to leave her before, but always was drawn back, like a moth to a flame.

He got into the Viper and just drove, not particularly caring where he ended up. It was like this every time Anton got a new girlfriend. Natasha would watch from a distance, plotting and scheming jealously. One time she had been able to wreck a relationship, but it seemed that Anton inspired a high level of fidelity in the women he coupled with, with a few exceptions, most notably herself.

He snapped out of it in time to realize that he had practically parked in front of where Lindy was staying. [Damn!] he thought, pulling away and parking several houses down. [If Anton saw me...] He didn't want to face Anton, not yet anyway.

But he was drawn to Lindy. The werewolf intrigued him. She clearly knew what he was [but not who] and didn't seem to care.

Casually stepping out of the car, he walked back a few feet towards the house...staying just far enough away that no one would see him from the windows. He had an urge to walk right up to the door, Anton be damned, but he didn't move. The house had grown dark, save the front room. He could see a figure moving past the curtains, and curiously stepped a bit closer.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Lindy since he drove away that morning. He could still smell her in his car, could hear her voice in his head. And he'd wanted so badly to kiss her...but she was in love with another man. The thought sobered him up really quick.

Slipping back into the shadows, he watched a figure step out of the front door, look left and right, and then step back beside the house into the bushes. Intrigued, he walked a few steps closer...and damned near gasped out loud. Standing only a few feet away, hidden between the bushes and the street, Lindy stripped off her shirt and dropped it to the ground.

[She's going to Change. Right in front of me.] He could feel himself getting hard.

She had her back to him, and he desperately wished she would turn around. Especially when Lindy unhooked and dropped her bra. He was trembling as her hands moved to the fly of her jeans. She peeled them off and he had to bite his lip to hold in a groan.

She looked to the sky, blond hair spilling down her back. He could see her hands clench and then the Change begin. Her skin furred over as her tail punched out from between the perfect globes of her ass. She dropped to all fours, muzzle growing out from her face.

He couldn't help but stare. She looked sleek and deadly as a wolf. He stepped back further into the shadows, hoping that she wouldn't see or smell him. He didn't know if he could explain his way out of it.

Especially as he stood there, shifting uncomfortably, with a raging hard-on. He remained as silent as night itself as she lifted her nose and smelled the air. Luckily, he must have been downwind, because she didn't turn in his direction. Instead, she bounded out of the shadows and off down the street, never pausing once. And damn she could run. If he'd even tried to follow, he would've needed his car to keep up with her.

Leaning his head back against the wall of the neighbor's garage, he slipped his hand down to the front of his pants and adjusted himself. He had the urge to linger for more intense stroking, but finally pushed his hand into his jacket pocket instead. There was really no reason to be caught masturbating in the suburbs, especially right next to home where his nemesis was staying.

Walking rather stiffly back to his car, he sat for moment in utter silence and willed himself to calm down. There wasn't a chance he'd see her again until the following night, if even that soon. It was possible she'd never want to see him again, he had to admit. But he sure as hell hoped that wasn't the case. He wasn't quite sure he could handle it if she didn't.

He'd never had a strictly monogamous relationship in his life. And yet, somehow, the thought wasn't quite so frightening anymore.

He jumped when the passenger door of the car opened. Cursing himself for being lost in his thoughts, he looked over, half expecting to have to do battle with Anton. He almost wished it was the male vampire when he saw who was sitting there. "I hate it when you follow me."

"No you don't, mentitore. So it's Anton's pet wolf you're interested in." She leaned over to whisper in his ear as her hand strayed to the bulge in his slacks. "Do you need a hand with this?"

He seized her wrist, throwing her hand back to her own lap. "Touch me again, and I'll rip your arm out of the socket."

"Oooh, you know I like it when you play rough."

He turned his head and glared at her. "Get out of my car."

"You can always close your eyes and pretend I'm her, Nathaniel. I'll even howl for you when I cum."

His eyes flashed menacingly, and he gritted his teeth. "Get out!"

With a smirk, she did as she was told...watching him drive away. Turning back to the houses behind her, she walked closer to one in particular. So this was where Anton was staying. She could smell him as clearly as if he were standing next to her. Something told her he'd had sex recently, and she squirmed slightly as she stood there staring at the upstairs window. He'd always been so good in bed. Always one of her favorites. And if she'd been a mere peasant girl instead of a well-born countess, she might have been tempted to stay in his bed. But the lure of richer men and bigger cocks hadn't kept her faithful for long.

Still, she kept coming back. And sooner or later, Natasha knew she'd have him again.

End Chapter Five