Runs in the Blood, Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight
She looked out the window, admiring the play of lights on the skyline. She could pick out the Bay Bridge [Or is it the San Mateo Bridge?] in the near distance.
She didn't know what exactly to expect when she arrived at the San Francisco Airport. They had taken a redeye flight, leaving and arriving in darkness. Lindy had seemed calm during the flight, but Anton had been a bundle of nerves until he was certain they wouldn't arrive before sunset. From there it had been an easy drive up the coast to where Anton ran his business. She had expected it to be some sort of trendy store in the heart of the tourist district. Nothing like a converted three story warehouse full of windows he showed her around.
Lindy had disappeared almost as soon as she put down her luggage to talk to some of the employees who were still in the building. Anton had given Bryn a quick guided tour, arm around her shoulder. "First floor is where we do a lot of our shipping and receiving, restoration and assessing pieces brought in. Second floor is mostly offices, but some of the smaller pieces are worked on there."
"And the third floor?" she asked.
He gave her a wicked grin and tightened his arm around her. "Our quarters." He guided her to the industrial elevator at the back of the building, pointing out the emergency stairwell. After stepping into the elevator, he pulled the grate shut. "I can show you the second floor, but that's mostly cubicles, offices, and whatnot. Or we can go directly to our rooms..."
The smile on Sabryn's face made him hit the third floor button. The elevator began a smooth ascent. "Mostly I stay on the third floor during the day. Or if I'm needed or can't sleep, I'll come down to the second floor and continue the paperwork. Those floors have the best shutters on the windows. The first floor windows are always unshuttered, because some of the restorations need to be done in natural light." The elevator stopped and he opened the grate. "Here we are." He guided her to the largest of the rooms on the floor, pointing out a kitchen, den, and a few guest rooms on their way. He opened the door to it with a key.
Sabryn gasped when she saw his room. The bed was a king sized four-poster with a canopy and curtains. A large bookcase took up one wall, almost completely filled. A stereo with speakers built into the wall was on the same wall as the bed, and a television had been placed where it could easily be seen from the bed. A computer terminal sat on a modern style desk in one corner. But what caught her eye was the painting that was hung opposite the bed in a simple gold frame. It was the one she had sent him.
She walked over to the painting, resisting the urge to touch it. She could barely remember creating it, and the thought made her sad. One year ago, none of this might have happened. Turning back to face him, she walked over to where he stood and wrapped her arms around him.
"I love you."
He made a soft sound of contentment, kissing her on the top of her head. "You like it?"
"It's absolutely beautiful...although, the rest of the rooms definitely need more artwork. Are you going to let me work for you, so I can pay for some paintings? Aside from the ones I make myself, that is."
"You definitely have to make some yourself," he said, leaning back to look her in the eye. "And you don't need to work for me. You can have as many paintings as you want."
"No way, Anton. I'm at least going to do some sort of work around here." She gave him a grin, before reaching up to kiss his lips. "You'd probably spoil me rotten otherwise."
"That was my general plan," Anton admitted. He stroked a hand up and down her back. "You sure you want to work here? Doing what? And I hear the guy who owns the place can be a real mean son of a bitch."
"Oh, I don't know. Was thinking of doing a little book keeping." She ran a finger up his chest. "And I'll bet I'll have the owner wrapped around my little finger before the week is out."
"I'm sure you will," Anton grinned, moving towards the bed.
She giggled as he pushed her down onto the bed, nipping and kissing her neck. She stretched her arms above her, breathing in deeply. The heady scent of Anton surrounded her, seemingly more concentrated on his bed than anywhere else. And when she realized he'd never had another woman in this bed, she felt all the more giddy to be here with him.
As he moved up to kiss her mouth, she wrapped herself around him, rubbing her hands on his back, moaning softly. She reached for the buttons on his shirt, managing to open two of them before she heard the ringing sound. She didn't stop even then, until she realized Anton had frozen above her. Meeting his gaze, she noticed the irritation on his face. Growling, he pushed away from her and grabbed the phone on the nightstand.
He spoke in terse, clipped sentences before saying, "Fine. I'll be down in a few minutes." Sighing heavily, he hung up the phone and looked at her. "We're going to have to cut this short, my dear."
"Go ahead. I'll start unpacking, if you don't mind." Sliding her hand over his thigh, she added, "Or maybe I'll just roll around in your bed...naked."
He took a deep breath, his hand tightening on the comforter. "Hold that thought for half an hour? I'd love to watch."
Sabryn sat up and placed a peck on his lips. "The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back."
"I'll be back shortly," he said, lightly caressing her cheek. Reluctantly, he climbed off the bed. "Make yourself at home, my dear," he said, walking to the door.
"Oh, I intend to." He turned back to look at her in time to see her blouse come flying at his head. Laughing, he ducked and slipped out the door.
His good mood evaporated when he stepped out of the elevator.

It was almost dawn by the time he had made it back to their room. He paused as he looked over at his bed. Sabryn had curled up in the middle of the bed, and for a moment he thought he was only imagining it.
Quietly he walked over to check the double shutters, making sure they were tightly shut. Satisfied that there would be no sunlight coming into the room, he pulled off his clothes as he walked back to the bed.
Sabryn stirred when he slipped under the covers. "Where've you been?" she murmured sleepily
"Sorry," he said. "A couple of items were sent to us damaged, and the paperwork to get it straightened out was hell. Plus a few of my employees wanted consultations about things that happened while I was gone."
She stretched, before scooting back against him. "Hope you don't mind, but I kind of requisitioned some of your dresser drawers."
"That's fine," he murmured, wrapping his arm around her and burying his nose in her hair.
"Just wanted to let you know, in case you wake up groggy and go to get dressed...only to find lace panties where your boxers were."
"How do you know I wouldn't look good in lace panties?"
She snickered. "Actually, I'm sure you would. I think you'd look good even in a cardboard box."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mmhmm..." She turned over to face him, pulling him close as she kissed his mouth. "Everything settled downstairs? No more interruptions?"
"Nope. They know only to bother me for emergencies after dawn." One of his hands slipped down to caress her ass. He nipped at her neck, her chin, her lips before taking her mouth in a passionate kiss. "What do you say we christen this bed?"
"You know, we could even christen the kitchen floor if we wanted to..."
"That is true." He pulled her earlobe into his mouth, sucking gently, before moving leisurely towards her collarbone.
"Although, I must admit I feel a certain affection for this bed...seeing as you've never had any other woman in here." Reaching her hand down to his groin, she took his swelling cock in her grip. "Is this where you used to lie awake, touching yourself?"
"Yeah..." He clearly wasn't quite focussed on what she was saying.
"I'd like to see that...you, touching yourself..."
A shudder ran through him at her words. "Really?" he purred into her ear. "Then can I invest in a detachable showerhead for you?"
She laughed as she pushed away from him. "Maybe." She gave his cock a gentle squeeze before withdrawing her hand. "Now show me."
He smiled and closed his eyes. He could feel Sabryn pull the sheet down his body as he rolled onto his back. Trying to ignore the woman in bed next to him, but keenly aware of her eyes on him, he brought his hands to his shoulders and worked at massaging his shoulder muscles. Slowly his fingers slid down to stroke along his breastbone before either hand veered to his nipples.
Lying on her stomach, watching with interest, Sabryn licked her lips. She had expected this to be a turn-on, but not this much of one. She squeezed her thighs together, squirming slightly on the bed, trying to keep from touching him. It was damned near impossible. Just to be safe, she tangled her fingers in the sheet.
Biting back a moan, Anton rubbed little circles around his areolas before flicking at his erect nipples. After a few minutes of sweet torture both hands moved further down to explore his abdomen, tracing along the muscles and swirling around his navel. Palms flat on his hips, he avoided his swelling cock and instead ran his fingers up and down his waist. Digging in slightly with his nails, he moaned Sabryn's name as he stroked the inside of his thighs.
She sucked in a shaky breath at the sound of her name spilling from his lips.
Damn. Now it wasn't necessarily him she was thinking of touching. Lifting herself up onto her forearm, she carefully sat up, climbing up to kneel next to him, watching him from above. And while he grew closer and closer to his destination, she went straight for hers. Slipping her fingers between her legs, she bit her lip as she lightly teased her throbbing clit. Her fingers slid over the slick surface with maddeningly slow circles.
Unable to hold back any longer, he cupped his balls in one hand, rolling them and trembling. His other hand lightly stroked up the prominent vein on his cock. After licking his palm, he grasped his cock tightly, pumping himself slowly. "Bryn," he moaned, speeding up his movements.
Gasping slightly, she shifted on her knees, rotating her hips in little swivels as she sped up the movements of her fingers. At the sight of the precum leaking from his cock, she spread her legs slightly. And as she pushed the middle finger of her other hand inside of her, he finally opened his eyes.
"Oh God," he groaned. His hand sped up as he watched Sabryn's finger move in and out of her. "Bryn!" he cried, arching his hips. He felt the sweet tremors wrack his body and the warmth of his cum splashing onto stomach.
She bit down savagely on her lip, her head falling back on her shoulders. Pressing her fingers hard against her clit, she started shaking all over...breathing heavily, little pants escaping her lips. Just seconds later her thighs tightened, quivering, her hips locked in place, her mouth opened, and a little squeak escaped her. Not nearly enough sound for the cataclysmic tremors that shook her as she met his gaze. Whimpering, she slowed her movements, drawing out the climax, before going limp on her knees.
Wiping her sticky fingers on her thighs, she gave him a dazed look, and whispered, "Wow."
"Yeah," he sighed as he sat up on one elbow. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"No, you haven't."
"Shame on me, my dear. I love you, Sabryn." He looked down at his stomach. "I'm a mess. How about we go take a shower?"
Sabryn nodded and followed Anton as he climbed out of the bed. Taking her hand, he guided her to a side door she hadn't noticed earlier. He opened it, gesturing her in first. "After you, my dear."
She stepped into the open room, amazed at the size. She'd imagined a little closet-like bathroom, given how tucked away the door had been, but it was nearly as large as the bedroom itself. Along one wall, two sinks reflected in the mirrored backsplash. Next to those, a large shower stall with frosted glass walls was framed in gold. A large walk-in closet comprised the opposite wall, filled with plush towels and sheets. In the very center, all by itself, stood the bath. Marble stairs led up to a sunken tub with jets in its sides. Looking with longing at the tub, she bit down her disappointment as he walked over to the shower and began running the water.
Through the steam she could see that it was no ordinary shower. Instead of one shower head, there were six...anyone standing in the center would be drenched from nearly every angle. Suddenly a shower didn't seem so bad.
"Why don't you get in? I'll get some towels," he said, holding open the door.
Shivering, she took his offer, stepping into the mist-like spray coming from every direction but the doorway. As he shut the door and headed for the closet, she wet her hair and reached for his shampoo. She was pleasantly surprised by the cologne-like smell.
She felt a draft of cold air as he opened and shut the shower door. "Let me do that, my dear," he said, taking the shampoo from her. Pouring some into his cupped hand, he lathered her hair, working his fingers against her scalp. She leaned back against him, relaxing in the heat of shower.
Anton smiled to himself. It had been a long time since he had felt this content. He was back home with the woman he loved, and all seemed right with the world. Once he finished with her hair, he gently cleaned her body, his touch lingering lovingly.
Eventually he shut the water off, almost afraid of what the next month's heating bill would be. Opening the shower door, he shivered a bit at the blast of cool air that greeted him as he reached for one of the towels. "Don't you dare snap one of those at me, my dear," he said, handing her one.
Bryn pouted as she wrapped it around her. "Aww... you never let me have any fun." Her skin was flushed and she still felt warm from the shower. A little too warm. She stumbled, putting her hand against the sink to steady herself. "Whoa..."
Anton was by her side instantly, taking hold of her shoulders. "What is it, Bryn? Are you okay?"
She swayed slightly, black bursts of unconsciousness forming in front of her eyes. She blinked a few times, clearing them away, and said, "I need to sit down for a minute."
He led her over to the marble steps surrounding the tub, lowering her carefully as he hovered over her. She took a few deep breaths and heard sounds become clearer in the room. Running her hand over her wet hair, she glanced up at him. "Haven't done that in a long time."
"This has happened before?"
"Only once, when I was sick. I fainted that time. I probably just got overheated." She tried to give him a sly grin, but it was a little shaky. "Apparently you get me hot enough all by yourself."
He laughed quietly, but there was a tinge of worry to the sound. "Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"
"I'll be fine, Anton. Nothing to worry about." She took a spare towel he had and rubbed at her hair with it. "You know you're cute when you're concerned."
"Don't give me a reason to be concerned. I'll find other ways to look cute." He cocked his head at her. "You're sure..."
"Anton, I'm fine," Sabryn said firmly. "I'm tired from the flight, got a little overheated and felt dizzy. That's all."
He nodded. "In that case, let's get you to bed." He scooped her up in his arms and walked back into the bedroom.
"Anton!" she squealed. "I can walk, you know. And my hair's wet--"
"Too late, my dear, and wet hair won't hurt the bed." He placed her on the bed and climbed in before pulling the sheets over them both.
Still dismayed by her wet hair, she pushed the heavy mass out of the way and curled herself up against his side. "I love being in your bed."
"Our bed."
She smiled. "Am I the only one who finds this weird?" He gave her a questioning look. "Well, I guess back in Maryland it kind of felt like we were pretending to be engaged. Now it feels very real. Kind of scary and exciting at the same time."
Pressing his lips against her hairline, he smiled. "Hopefully more exciting than scary?"
"Of course." Scooting closer, she rested her cheek on his chest. "Are you going to give me a job tomorrow? Or should I say tonight?"
"Yes, we'll figure out something for you to do tonight. Introduce you to everyone at the same time." He paused to yawn. "I'll have to go out to feed tomorrow, but we'll have most of the evening and all of the day to ourselves. Maybe also see about finding us rings?"
"Rings?" She shook her head. "Like I said, this is weird. But I love it." Lifting herself up slightly, she pressed a kiss to his mouth. "Go to sleep, my love."
He purred contentedly at the endearment, kissing her in return. "Sweet dreams."
"Sweet dreams."

Lindy walked into the second floor offices. It was 7:45 PM, about half an hour before sunset. Hearing voices and glancing at her watch, she started back towards some of the cubicles, curious who would still be working so late. Most of the people who worked late were the ones who did the restorations, not the people filling the administrative positions. She should have known. Sabryn was sitting at her desk, laughing at something George, the office flirt, had just said.
They both turned their heads, becoming curiously quiet as she walked closer.
"Hey," Bryn said, standing up and walking around her desk. Beckoning with her hand, she walked towards Lindy's office. "You got something today."
"What?"
"You'll see. I managed to get it out of the main office before Anton saw it and starting nosing around," she said, opening the door and flipping on the light. As the overhead fluorescent lights slowly glowed into brightness, Lindy gasped at the huge multicolored arrangement of lilies sitting on her desk. Their perfume was so strong it filled the room. "Of course, he might notice anyway, if this smell gets out."
"Oh my God..." Walking over to the desk, Lindy set her purse down and reached for the little white envelope nestled amongst the lilies and greenery. Quickly pulling it open, she read:
So, I lied...I couldn't stay away any longer. My flight gets in at 11:20 on the 14th. Care to meet me at the airport? Can't wait to see you again, gorgeous.
Nate.
Hand to her chest, she looked up at Bryn and grinned. She took a deep breath before saying, "He's going to be here tonight."
"Nathaniel?"
"Yeah."
George leaned over the desk, trying to see what was on the note. "Is this someone I should be jealous of?"
As Lindy tucked the note away from prying eyes, Sabryn laughed. "Don't worry, George. I'll always love you."
Lindy looked curiously at Sabryn. George had a notorious reputation for lighthearted flirting, and she had a feeling that Anton would not see it as harmless. Something about her scent was a little off, but she didn't know her well enough yet to place what it was. It wasn't that she was lying, it wasn't that she was upset, it was just... different.
"Guess I better get back to work," Bryn muttered, "before the boss decides to punish me."
As she walked back towards to main office, Lindy could hear George saying "I'll offer to do any spankings," followed by Sabryn's laughter. She couldn't help but hope Anton didn't take it too seriously.
Sitting down at her desk, she touched one of the satiny petals of the flowers before glancing at the clock. Only about three hours to go. She could feel her heart pounding. Just days ago she'd chickened out of introducing Nate to her family, making a lame excuse about them being on vacation. She hated lying to him, but she dreaded making such a rash step in their relationship without thinking. Meeting the in-laws was a huge step...and although marrying Nathaniel was an appealing idea, she could still change her mind. She was just playing it safe. She hoped.
Hearing Anton's voice down the hall, she hurried up and closed the door to her office. Hoping the smell hadn't already given her away.
She walked back to Bryn's office. Anton was there standing, his arm around Sabryn. He was questioning George about a restoration he was working on. "And you're sure the hall tree has been cobbled together?"
"Yes. No question about it. It's a good job, but there's at least four pieces I can count. All the parts do date to the Victorian age, for what it's worth."
"Do the best with it you can then. We'll find a buyer for it somewhere." Anton pulled Sabryn a little tighter against his side. "Why don't you finish up for the night, George, and head on?"
Looking a little reluctant to go, George nodded and said good night.
"Good night, George," Bryn said, smiling. Waiting until he'd walked out of sight, she extracted herself from Anton's grip. "What was that all about?"
"What?" he said, looking innocent.
"If you'd held on to me any tighter, I'd be bruised by now."
"So now I'm not allowed to touch you at work?"
She sighed, rolling her eyes at Lindy as she sat down behind her desk. "Never mind." Reaching behind her head, she pulled the comb out of her French twist and let her hair fall around her shoulders. Trying to take some of the focus off of herself, she asked, "So, Lindy, how was your day?"
"Tiring. I drove down to Saratoga today. About an hour south of here, Bryn. I checked out that estate sale you were interested in, Anton. Everything was either cheap reproductions or so badly damaged as to not be worth our time."
Anton shrugged. "Very well. Any plans for tonight?"
"Actually, yes I do." Lindy flushed slightly as she said the next words. "Someone is coming into town tonight, and I'm going to go meet them at the airport."
He nodded, looking in the direction of her office. "Is that lilies I smell? Might this someone be your mystery boyfriend?"
Seeing the look on Lindy's face, Bryn stood up once more. "Anton, why don't you show me the piece George is working on?"
"You're trying to distract me, aren't you?"
She grinned, running her hands over his stomach. "Is it working?"
Chewing on his lip, he finally nodded. "All right, I'll leave her alone."
Grabbing Bryn's hand, he started back down the hallway towards the elevator. Leaning against the desk, Lindy breathed a sigh of relief. She'd grown more curious as to just how Nate and Anton knew each other, but she hadn't yet asked. And she didn't think it was a good idea to mention anything to Anton until she knew just what the problem was. Glancing at the clock once more, she groaned. Still nearly three hours. And there was probably no way she'd be able to concentrate on work, even if she tried.
Anton waited until he had Sabryn in the elevator before leaning over to nuzzle her neck. "You weren't in bed when I woke up this evening."
"Sorry, Anton," she answered, kissing his cheek. "I couldn't sleep and thought I should actually get some work done."
"I understand. It's a rough schedule to adapt to. I just don't like waking up alone." He opened the gate when it reached the first floor. "What do you know about this person Lindy is dating? She seems rather smitten, but hesitant to talk about him." He cocked an eyebrow at Sabryn. "I'm assuming that she's dating a him."
"Oh, didn't I tell you?" She shook her head. "She married Madonna while you were sleeping."
"Very funny. I'm serious."
"I know you are, and that's what worries me. Why does it matter who this guy is?"
"Doesn't it seem a little strange to you that he'd follow her all the way here?"
"Maybe...but maybe he's interested in more than just a good time."
He didn't look very pleased with that hypothesis. "What do you know about him?"
"Not much more than you do...except that he's a nice guy, and he's good to her. What else do you need to know?"
"Nothing, I guess." But he didn't stop worrying.

Lindy ran into the terminal mentally cursing. She had forgotten that the construction of a new terminal at San Francisco International had snarled both traffic and parking even at this late hour. She paused to study the screens for incoming flights. There was his, at the far end of the terminal. If she hurried, she'd be able to meet him at the gate. Making it though the security checkpoint with minimal fuss, she made it to the gate just as the plane pulled up. Taking a place near the disembarking area, she scanned the crowd of incoming passengers.
It seemed to take forever for everyone to get off the plane. She was beginning to think she'd missed him when she finally spotted him walking out the doors. Wow. Even after a long flight Nate still managed to look delicious. She could feel her heart pounding as he scanned the crowd, looking for her. Finally his gaze met hers and a devastating smile crossed his face. It felt as if her knees were going to give out. Luckily, he pushed his way through the crowd, dropped his carry-on luggage at her feet and scooped her up into his arms. She squeaked slightly, her feet leaving the ground, his arms wrapped so tightly around her waist that she could barely breathe. And it didn't matter in the slightest. After a second or two of shock, she wrapped her own arms around his neck and closed her eyes. Melting against him.
"God, you have no idea how much I've missed you," he said, in a low whisper. "I've been waiting for this all day."
She pressed her nose to his neck, inhaling deeply. "You could have given me a little more advance notice."
"Didn't know if I would be able to make it or not." He kissed her cheek. "I didn't want to raise any false hopes."
She smiled, echoing his own slightly goofy grin. "You're not mad at me about not being able to meet my parents?"
He shook his head. "Nah, they'll be at the wedding."
"Being optimistic again?"
"You bet." Putting her back on her feet, he bent down and gathered his stuff. "Let's go get my suitcases and get out of here. I hate airports."
She felt a little thrill go through her as he grabbed her hand and started walking.

They pulled to a stop before the townhouse he'd bought, sight unseen. He frowned slightly as he got out of the car. Leaving his belongings in the car, he walked up to the front door and used the combination he'd been given to open the realtor's key box. Once he opened the door and flipped on the lights, he gestured for Lindy to enter ahead of him.
The place smelled sickeningly strong of paint fumes. Drop cloths still littered the floor or the front room. Paint spattered on the hard wood floor of the entryway, along with scrape marks from people moving furniture. Several light fixtures had bare electrical wires hanging loose. One wall of the dining area was stained rusty brown from water damage. And the stairs to the second floor looked as if elephants had been run up them.
Nate made a face, crossing his arms. "I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next couple of weeks or so."
"Won't the realtor take care of this?"
He shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I got a deal on the place for buying it as- is. Pretty smart, huh?"
He stepped over a roller-brush pan, walking towards the back room. "I was at least hoping they would've delivered some furniture by now. Guess I was being optimistic again." He shrugged. "Mind taking me to a hotel, instead?"
She opened her mouth to say 'sure' but was shocked when she heard what came out. "You could always stay at my place until you get sorted out here."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, gorgeous."
"Why not? I'll be out most of the time you're asleep, and I can crash while you deal with stuff here. Besides, you made a promise to me about when our first time would be. I intend to hold you to that."
"Is that so?" he asked, grinning.
Deliberately misunderstanding his meaning, she said, "Yes. I trust you."
"Nice to know." He walked over to where she stood and kissed her. "As long as you know I'm only agreeing to this if you can manage to keep your hands off of me. If you end up ravishing me in the middle of the night, all bets are off."
She smirked. "I'll do my best."
"In that case, let's get out of here. This place is creeping me out." Taking her hand, he opened the door and led her out into the crisp night air.
Inside the darkened townhouse, at the top of the stairs, Natasha stared at the closing door and growled.

As long as she didn't think about food, she was fine. But thinking about food was a little like thinking about pink elephants - the harder you tried not to, the stronger the image was in your mind. She gave a slight moan and was aware of eyes on her. Sabryn gave Anton a weak smile as he looked at her across the evening paper they were reading. "Is there something wrong, my dear?" he asked, frowning.
She opened her mouth to say something, but turned a distinct shade of green. Without a word, she bolted for the bathroom.
She barely made it to the toilet in time before her stomach contracted violently, spilling its contents in the bowl below. The bitter, burning acid in her throat brought tears to her eyes. Twice more she vomited, barely anything but liquid, but her whole body ached just the same. Shuddering she sat back against the wall, trying not to sob. She could hear movement just outside the door, water running, and then a knock.
"I'll be out in a minute," she said, weakly.
Not hesitating, Anton opened the door just as she closed the toilet lid. He reached over and flushed the bowl, before kneeling down in front of her. Wet washcloth in hand, he wiped away tear tracks before pressing it against her forehead.
"Are you all right?"
She nodded slightly. "I guess I am sick."
"We should get you in to see a doctor."
"No, it's probably just the flu...I should lay down for a while."
"Okay." Helping Sabryn to her feet, he guided her to the bed and tucked her in. Anton gently smoothed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes. "Is there anything you need?" He hated it when his lovers took ill. He didn't know exactly what to do, how to make it better.
"Will you lay here with me, for a few minutes...or until I fall asleep?"
"All right." Walking around to the other side of the bed, he sat down beside her, wrapping himself around her, placing his hand gently on her stomach. "Better?"
She nodded, letting out a breath. "I'll tell you one thing, I'm never eating airplane food again."
He smiled, resting his chin on top of her hair. If she still had a sense of humor, he knew she'd be OK.

"We're here."
Nathaniel looked out at the small, one story house on the corner of the block. He couldn't tell in the darkness if it was painted white or a light beige. Lindy popped the trunk and opened her door. "Looks... cozy," he said dubiously.
"It is. It's little more than a bedroom, bathroom, living room and a kitchen," she said. "But you gotta love the view." She pointed back opposite the way he was facing. Turning around, he could see the lights of southern San Francisco twinkling in the darkness and the running lights of ships in the bay. Pulling out her house keys, she led him to the porch.
She hadn't been kidding when she described it. The kitchen and living room were separated only by the fact that carpet ended and linoleum began. A short hall led to the bathroom with it's single shower, and what could only be jokingly referred to as a 'master bedroom' was little more than large closet. "Why do you stay here? There have got to be apartments you can rent for the same price as whatever you're paying for here that are double the space."
Lindy shrugged. "It's easier on full moon nights to be out here away from the city. Anton's been trying to convince me to move for a while. Even offered to help with the rent. But I don't want to give it up. This place is mine. I'm paying for it, and don't owe anyone anything." She smiled a bit shyly. "Does that make any sense?"
"Yes it does." He sat down on the couch, and stood up again as he heard an ungodly screech. "What the hell is that?"
He turned around to see a pair of baleful copper eyes staring at him from a gray feline body positioned where he had been about to sit. The cat hissed at Nathaniel, clearly not pleased. "Montel, no!" Lindy admonished. The cat slunk back down and fled to the safety of the bedroom. "I'm sorry, Nate. I didn't think to warn you about him. He doesn't like it when I have company."
"I take it that beast is yours?"
"As much as you can own any cat. He's a stray that seems to have adopted me."
"He's, uh...sweet."
She laughed at the look on his face. "He has his moments."
Safely sitting down on the couch, he looked around. "So."
"So."
"What now?"
"I suppose it's a little early for you to be sleeping, huh?"
"Uh-huh." He glanced at the television. "I suppose I could watch some mindless drivel, if you'd like to go to bed."
"Well, I'm not all that tired just yet..."
He looked like he'd been hoping she'd say that, with the smile that sprang to his face. "All right...what do you say both put on some comfy sweats, some big warm socks, cuddle up in a blanket, and watch a cheesy movie while we eat buttery, salted popcorn?"
She had to smile. Suddenly she couldn't think of a single thing she'd like to do more.

Sabryn woke up the next day around 3 in the afternoon. Although not feeling as sick as the day before, she still hadn't adjusted to the new sleep schedule. Careful not to disturb Anton, she got out of bed and took a quick shower. She remembered George saying something the day before about going to an auction this evening at 4, and if she hurried she hoped she could tag along.
Pulling on some nylons and a black skirt, she walked into the bathroom to finish braiding her hair. Just as she'd fastened the end of the braid, she heard rustling in the other room and walked back to the door to see Anton looking for her.
"Hey," she said, softly, drawing his groggy attention. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back when you get up."
"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice scratchy.
Pulling on her blouse, she fastened the buttons as she stepped into her high heels. "I'm going to an auction." She walked around the bed and leaned down to give him a quick kiss before leaving. "We'll be back in a few hours."
"'Kay." He was silent as she was walking towards the door. Just before she got out of sight, he said, "Who's we?"
"George is taking me along. I was hoping I could learn something. Go back to sleep."
He rolled onto his back blinking as she shut the door. He wasn't sure quite what to think of her going out with George. If she wished to learn something of his business and help out, that was fine. But he would have felt a lot more comfortable if she had gone out with Lindy instead.
[This is silly,] he told himself sternly. [She wants to learn, and George is a good teacher. It was your bed she's been sleeping in.] But still there was a nagging thought, remembering how George seemed to take pleasure in flirting with every new female employee. Even Lindy, whose reputation for moodiness was almost as bad as his, hadn't been considered out of bounds...
Then again, it was just flirting. And this was legitimate business...he'd set up the arrangement himself, before he'd known Bryn would be tagging along. Groaning, he rolled over and glanced at the clock. His last thought before closing his eyes in exhaustion once more was that she would be back in a few hours. Well before he would get up, anyway.

She hadn't been so excited in quite a while. Auctions were interesting to watch, and finding hidden treasures felt a bit like breaking into King Tut's tomb. She sat nervously next to George, listening absently as he commented on each piece and gave her tips on gauging the other bidders' body language. She even got to watch him get into a few bidding wars with other zealous participants. The excitement was addictive. So far, however, he'd yet to make a deal.
As the auctioneer began describing the next item, she flipped through her guide until she found coinciding number. Biting her lip, she looked up at the auctioneer's block.
"Isn't that pretty?" she whispered, careful that others couldn't hear her.
"It's lovely." He cast her a sideways glance. "You should bid on it."
"No, I could never afford something like that."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a platinum card. "You really think the boss would mind?"
Feeling a bit naughty, she grabbed his numbered card and held it up in the air.

It was nearly 9:40 when Lindy pulled to a stop in front of Nate's townhouse. She could see lights glowing inside...an improvement from the day before, at least. Opening her door, she swore as her cell phone started ringing. Grabbing the phone, she shut her door and started walking towards the front stairs.
"This is Lindy," she said.
"Hi...this is Bryn," she heard on the other end. "I was wondering if you're going to be home tonight?"
"Um, later on." Lindy paused half way up the walkway. "What did you need, Bryn?"
"I was wondering if I could keep something at your house. I don't want Anton to see it...it's kind of a surprise."
She could hear voices in the background, glasses clinking and soft music, and a low baritone that she knew didn't belong to Anton. Frowning slightly, she said, "Is this going to get me into trouble?"
"No, not at all. So, you'll be home in about an hour?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so."
"Great. I'll meet you then. Bye."
"Bye..." She shook her head, absently wondering what that was all about as she looked up to see Nathaniel standing in the open doorway. "Hi."
He was a mess. Paint splattered, with what looked like chalk dust in his hair, he smiled lopsidedly at her. "You're early. I'm still working on painting the den."
"That's ok." She could smell him, as she stepped up the stairs. He smelled like sweat, but underlying it was scent all his own. Undeniably male. She licked her lips as she drew nearer. "I can wait."
Glancing inside, she could see that the carpenter he'd hired had shown up during the day. All of the stairs were torn up and in the process of being reframed. He stepped back to let her pass, and she was amazed at the progress that had been made. The plumbing had been fixed behind the water damaged wall...which was still torn open and awaiting new drywall. New light fixtures graced the walls and ceilings, with nary a bare wire in sight.
He looked her, nearly bouncing in excitement. "My new kitchen appliances came today. You've gotta see this. They're so cool!"
She couldn't help but giggle at his enthusiasm. Grabbing her hand, he led her to the kitchen and proceeded to show off his new purchases. All the appliances were in brushed chrome, giving the room a slightly futuristic appearance.
"An espresso machine?" Lindy looked from the counter top to Nate. "Do you even drink espresso?"
"No," he said a little sheepishly. "But it just completed the look!"
She laughed, shaking her head. "This would drive me nuts. I'd have to polish everything any time I cooked. I mean, you barely touch it and it shows fingerprints..." When she caught his gaze, she was surprised to see a slightly embarrassed look in his eyes. She gestured around the kitchen. "This is you being optimistic about us, right?"
He nodded, blushing slightly. "Yeah," he said softly.
She bit the inside of her lip. Holding his eyes with hers, she stepped into his personal space. "It's perfect, Nathaniel." Her arms went around his neck and she kissed him.
He quivered against her, reminding her slightly of a wiggly puppy. She tried not to laugh as she stepped back once more. "Let me help you finish up. We have to meet Bryn back at my place in an hour."
He stood there for a moment, staring at her, before realizing what she'd said. "Oh yeah, the den. I'll just clean up the roller and brushes, and finish up tomorrow night."
He brushed past her and walked through the doorway. She couldn't help but be amused. As much as the idea unnerved her, she was also very flattered by the infatuation he couldn't seem to hide. She just hoped that wasn't all he was feeling. Shedding her coat, she helped him clean the brushes...not an easy task, since he'd yet to buy soap. About fifteen minutes or so later, he turned off the lights and locked the front door. She had to admit, it was going to be a nice house when it was done.

Lindy pulled into the driveway at about 10:30. "Hmm. Looks like Bryn's already here," she said gesturing at the Jeep Wrangler.
Nathaniel shifted uneasily when he saw the second shape in the car. "Yeah, but who's that with her?"
"Him? Oh that's George. He works with us." Lindy got out of the car. "Okay, Bryn. What are you dragging me into this time?"
Bryn laughed, climbing out of the Jeep. "It's not as if I'm asking you to hide some pot for me, Lindy." She blushed, looking over at her companion. "Hi, Nathaniel."
He gave her a wave, looking down self-consciously at his paint-splattered clothes.
Reaching into the back seat of the Jeep, she pulled out a huge box...which George quickly climbed out to help her carry. "It's kind of heavy," she said. "Then again, I guess it should be." They both shared a conspiratorial laugh, that made Lindy wrinkle her nose.
Walking ahead of them to unlock the door, she allowed them to put the box on her kitchen table. "What is it."
"Well, you know how you helped me buy that wedding dress in Baltimore?"
Lindy nodded.
"I think I might be returning it." She pulled open the top of the box. There wasn't much Lindy could see, other than an enormous pile of fabric. "Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but I saw this dress tonight and got a little nuts at an auction. I just hope Anton doesn't kill me when he finds out."
Hiding a snicker, Nate sat down on the couch and watched them with interest.
"Would you mind keeping it here, for now?" Bryn asked.
"Of course not." Lindy was already closely examining the fabric. She inhaled lightly. "The craftsmanship on the embroidery is wonderful. Nineteenth century Romanian if I'm not mistaken. You got this at the auction?"
George nodded. "Yup. Real steal too at 20K."
She looked up at the price. "Did you put this on the credit card?"
"Yeah. I signed off on it."
"And this is supposed to be a surprise, right?" When Sabryn nodded, she looked at George and sighed. "Make sure the bill comes to me to authorize for payment. Especially since nothing else was purchased. We'll deal with the reimbursement issues later."
Bryn squealed, hugging Lindy. "Thank you so much." She glanced at George. "We should go. I should have been back hours ago."
They said their goodbyes, and Lindy sighed as the door closed behind them. Nate stood up, walking over to inspect the dress himself. "This isn't a good situation, is it?"
Lindy shook her head. "That's an understatement."

It was after eleven when the Jeep pulled to a stop in front of the warehouse. Bryn hurriedly climbed out, but not before kissing George on the cheek. She was smiling as she walked back towards the main entrance. She didn't see Anton until she was right in front of him.
"Hi," she said, a little stunned. "I didn't mean to be this late."
"I've been worried, my dear" he said, voice clipped. "Have you been out with George the whole time?" he asked, watching the Jeep drive out of the parking lot.
"Yeah. We were hungry after the end of the auction, so we got something to eat. I hope you don't mind."
She had said that just a little to fast for his liking. But still, if the auction did go late as they sometimes could, she would only be arriving home now. "A call would have been nice, Bryn," he said, trying to shake his unease.
"You didn't get my message." She frowned, tugging the elastic band off of her braid. "I did call, Anton. I don't know who answered, but I left a message. I thought someone would've given it to you."
He sighed heavily. "There's too much going on around here...it could've been on my desk and I would have missed it. Next time, call my cell phone."
"I didn't have the number, or I would have."
"I'll give it to you."
"All right." She stepped forward, placing her hand over his. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. I thought everything was fine."
"S'okay, my dear." The message was probably sitting on his desk and he had missed it. "So, how did you enjoy the auction? Did you buy anything?"
"No, nothing at all," she said with a nervous shake of her head. "So what do you want to do tonight?"
Anton looked at her a bit curiously. Now he was certain she was hiding something. [Stop being paranoid, old boy,] he thought. [If there were a problem, she'd tell you,] he tried to reassure himself. "Actually, there was a place I wanted to take you. Have you ever heard of the Cliff House?"

She was out of the car and moving before he even put it in park. Grinning, he shut off the headlights and stepped out the door. He hurried after her as she kicked off her shoes and climbed on top of a nearby stone, close to the ledge overlooking the Cliff House. The wind was blowing pretty stiffly, sending her hair flying out behind her, and he had a moment of d�ja vu. He could so clearly see her standing in the foamy surf, curling her toes in wet sand, over a year ago, in Santa Cruz. The thought made his chest squeeze a bit.
She stretched her arms out in the breeze, her face luminous as she stared at the dark ocean beyond. "I bet you could fly here."
"Yeah, well let's not try it."
She grinned, putting her arms down and meeting his gaze. "This place is amazing."
"You haven't even seen anything yet. Wait till we get closer."
She leaned over, making him flinch at the way she teetered on the edge, and whispered, "I think we should get married here."
"How about we settle for getting off the edge first?" He reached for her waist. "Come on, I'm serious. You're making me nervous."
She turned around, placing her hands on his shoulders, allowing him to help her back to the ground. But she didn't let go once she got there. Pulling him closer, she softly kissed his lips. "Thank you, for bringing me here."
"Mmm. I thought you might want to relax after your long day." She once again got that nervous look in her eyes, and he had to wonder what it was she was hiding. It was making him worry, and that wasn't an easy task to pull off. Gesturing at her discarded shoes, he said, "Ready to see the rest, my dear?"
She pulled on her shoes and took his hand. Together they walked up the path that lead towards the house, pausing to read the historical marker. "This is the third Cliff House?"
"Yes, but it was the second one that made this place famous." He tapped the inset picture of a large Victorian house filled with spires. "Look at how the back part is braced on the side of the cliff over the water. You couldn't get a building permit to do that today." He read a little further in the description. "It even survived the 1906 earthquake. Pity that a fire destroyed it a year later."
She studied him as he looked thoughtfully at the picture. For the first time, it sank in that he was a witness to almost a millennium of history. "Did you see it before it burnt down?" she asked.
"No," he answered. "I was in London, or was it Paris, at the time."
She wandered a few steps away, not able to concentrate on the history of the location...or her fianc�, for that matter. It was true that this place would be lovely for a wedding, but not of the kind she'd imagined. She felt slightly ill at the thought. What had ever possessed her to buy that dress? It was far too fancy. She'd seen it and immediately imagined a royal wedding, with a gown fit for a princess and a grand cathedral full of guests. And although she was technically marrying nobility, she suddenly didn't feel like a princess at all. She'd lied to him, spent an outrageous sum of his money without even asking, and now she was pretending to be happy while she really miserable.
Worse yet, she wasn't quite sure what to do about it. If she told him, she risked everything. He might find it hard to ever trust her again. And yet, if she waited, trying to quietly replace the missing funds by any means necessary, it might take months, even years to accomplish. She took a quiet inventory of her assets. All she really owned was her car, and she doubted she'd get more than two or three thousand dollars for it. She could always have John ship her paintings here, to sell, but even that was no guarantee. The most she'd ever sold a painting for was $975.
Shivering slightly, she looked back to see him walking towards her, and tried to wipe the worried look off her face. If all else failed, she could still wear the other dress. It was just as lovely as it had been when she first bought it. Maybe reselling the antique would take some of the weight off her shoulders.
Turning to face him, she plastered on a smile. "I don't think I would want to get married here after all. Maybe something more simple, like at a park or on a friend's lawn or...something."
"Okay." There was definitely something wrong with her, and he wasn't sure what it was. "I think we should set a date before deciding on a place," he said trying to lighten the mood. A thought crossed his mind that almost stopped him cold. "You still do want to get married?"
She looked startled. "Of course I do, Anton. I just--I feel guilty about you spending all of this money on me and having nothing to show for it. I mean, I barely have anything to do at work, and I don't feel like I'm helping much at all. And I--" [I just spend $20,000 of your money on a piece of clothing...] "I don't want you to go to a bunch of trouble. I want to be able to help, somehow." [It'll just take me a couple of years, is all.]
He felt the tension drain out of his shoulders. "Is that what's bothering you, my dear?" He pulled her against him, stroking Sabryn's hair. "I told you I intended to spoil you rotten, Bryn. If you want more to do at work, I'm sure that Lindy would appreciate the help."
She pushed herself away from him, tears coming to her eyes. "That's--it's--no." She put her hand up to her face, feeling it turn brilliant red with shame. "I did something horrible, and I--"
She turned around and started walking, regardless of whether or not he followed. Wrapping her arms around herself, she said, "I spent twenty-thousand dollars without even asking you." When he didn't say anything, she turned around to see him staring at her, looking quite a bit stunned. She couldn't meet his gaze. "I'll pay it all back. I'll sell the dress, I'll do whatever I have to do...just...just please don't hate me."
"Hate you? Over a dress? Bryn, what are you talking about?"
"I bought a wedding dress at the auction. It cost twenty-thousand dollars."
"Where did you come up with that kind of money?" He walked towards her. "George put it on the card, didn't he?" Bryn nodded shamefacedly. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise.... and then I started feeling bad about it... I didn't know how to tell you--"
Anton pulled her against his chest, holding her tight. "Is it beautiful?"
She sniffled. "What?"
"The dress. Is it beautiful?"
"Yes."
"Then it's worth whatever you paid for it. We can always sell it after the wedding."
"But--but I--" She shook her head, burying her face against his neck. She could feel the tears leak out of her tightly closed eyelids. "I could have bought a car with that much money, or fed a homeless shelter for months, or...any number of things." She stared up at him, blinking rapidly. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why aren't you yelling at me?"
He shook his head. "Why would I yell at you? Ever?"
She closed her eyes, pulling herself tighter against him. "I just don't want you to think that you can't trust me. I won't ever do anything like this again, I promise."
She pulled back once more, meeting his gaze, as if to make sure she hadn't missed some spark of anger in his gaze. Shivering slightly, she went back to hugging him again. Afraid to let go.
He held her tight, stroking her hair. "Just tell me next time. The money isn't a problem, my dear." He leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I was just afraid..."
"Afraid?" She pushed back to look at him.
"Afraid you changed your mind about marrying me."
"No. My God, Anton, I was afraid you wouldn't want to marry me after this." She swallowed heavily. "Why would you think that?"
"You've been acting strangely ever since you came back tonight."
"Guilty conscience," she murmured. "I've always been a compulsive spender...but I never spent thousands of dollars before."
"I guess I'll have to remember that," he teased, earning him the first shaky smile since her confession began. Glancing over at the Cliff House, he said, "So, are you still deciding against getting married here?"
Wiping her eyes, she nodded. "I think you might need to see the dress. For one thing, I'm not sure it'll fit through a normal doorway, once I have it on. It's kind of...elaborate."
"I thought it was supposed to be unlucky to see the bride in her dress before the wedding. Speaking of which, where is the dress?"
"At Lindy's."
"You managed to drag her into this as well?"
She nodded, unable to help blushing. "Yes, but she didn't know what she was getting herself in for." She was about to suggest they go look at the dress, when she remembered Lindy's house guest. The guest she didn't want Anton to know about just yet. "Would you mind if we went home? I know you wanted to show me more here, but I'm freezing and I can't think of anything better than a warm bath and your arms around me."
"That does sound appealing," he murmured. He slipped his hand down to cup her ass. "If you're ready to go?"
She nodded, taking his offered hand as they walked back to the car.

She took off her clothes slowly, watching the mound of bubbles grow as hot water filled the oversized tub. She couldn't quite understand why she was so emotional lately, other than the fact that he just seemed to do that to her. Letting loose one emotion, deep and strong love, and every other emotion jumbled out along with it.
She started to wonder if it was PMS...until she realized she hadn't yet had her period this month. That worried her even more, for a moment or two. But since she couldn't possibly get pregnant, she pinned it down to stress. The move to San Francisco, meeting with her parents, and a new and rapidly developing relationship...it was no wonder she was off kilter.
She watched him walk into the bathroom and felt another surge of adrenaline, like every other time she looked at him. She'd never felt anything like this, for anyone else in her life. After bottling up love and vulnerability for so many years, it shouldn't have been at all surprising that his presence overwhelmed her with joy. She met his gaze and smiled, feeling a little bit like a kid with her first crush. She was so in love with this man she could just burst.
Anton smiled. He had stripped down to his shorts before coming into the bathroom. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, my dear?" He pulled her into his arms. "Tell me, what do you want, Bryn?"
She giggled as he began to nip at her neck. "Actually, some ice cream would be nice."
He pulled back to look at her in surprise. "Ice cream?" He grinned at her eager nod. "Okay. Let me see what I've got." Before he let her go, he placed a kiss along her hairline. "Why don't you get into the tub and I'll join you shortly."
She grabbed a clip from the drawer next to sink and pinned her hair up on top of her head. Walking over to the tub, she climbed the marble stairs and tested the temperature with her toes before stepping into liquid warmth. She shuddered slightly, sinking down into bubbles up her shoulders. She made a sound of pure contentment, all the more resounding as Anton walked back in the room carrying a familiar carton. He didn't let her see the flavor, setting it on the counter as he stripped out of his boxers. As he started walking back to her, she gave him a low whistle of appreciation. Leaning her chin on her crossed arms, on the rim of the tub, she murmured, "And you think *I'm* the beautiful one. Apparently you haven't looked in the mirror lately, Anton."
He chuckled at that. "Move over, my dear." He stepped into the tub and sat down next to Bryn. "No," he said as she reached for the ice cream. He pulled her onto his lap, her back to his chest, and reached for the carton and spoon. Scooping out a generous spoonful, he placed it to Sabryn's lips.
He practically purred watching her lick the ice cream off of her spoon. The heat from the tub started the ice cream melting faster than usual. "Whoops," he said as a drip landed on her, making her jump. "Let me clean that up, my dear," he whispered before running his tongue over shoulder.
She squirmed against him, but he wasn't quite sure if it was intentional or not. "That tickles."
"You aren't ticklish, are you?"
"No," she said, a little too quickly. He smirked, scooping out another spoonful of ice cream. As he started to bring it towards her mouth, she shook her head. "It's your turn."
"Just open your mouth."
She did as she was told, closing her mouth around the spoon. Just as he pulled it out of her mouth, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss...stealing some of her ice cream as well. She nearly started giggling as a drip escaped from between them, dribbling down his chin, but she quickly pushed his hand away before he could wipe it off. Swallowing what was in her mouth, she leaned closer and slowly lapped away the stray drip with her tongue, holding his gaze. He stared at her few a seconds more before grabbing the back of her neck and kissing her more passionately...dropping the spoon back into the container.
Her arms went around his neck as his tongue invaded her mouth. She shuddered as he ran his hands up and down her sides, thumbs dragging against her breasts. She whimpered, feeling his stiffening cock press against her thigh. When the kiss broke, he wore a very satisfied smirk, until she dumped the carton of half melted ice cream down the back of his neck.
She had to cover her mouth to keep from shouting with laughter as he bolted out of the tub. Gasping, he stood knee deep in hot water, dripping melted ice cream all over the place. He swiped at his neck, pulling his hands away covered with brown goo.
"I can't believe you did that!"
Giggling, she stood up. "Let me help you with that..."
Leaning closer, she was prepared to start licking the ice cream off his back...when he suddenly turned and planted two brown hand prints right on her breasts. Sabryn shrieked, her nipples becoming painfully hard against his cold fingers.
Glancing down, and then back up at his devilish grin, she muttered, "Oh man...this is war!"
He swore, already heading for the marble steps, as she grabbed the discarded ice cream carton.
"Yeah, you better run, because the rest of this is going down your front side!"
He reached for the other item he brought from the kitchen. Popping off the cap, he held the whipped cream can in front of him defensively. "I'd like to see you try!"
She started to laugh, until she realized what he was holding. "Oooh, whipped cream." She thought for a moment. "Trade ya?"
"What? No, I'm not falling for that!"
"I'm serious." She reached into the ice cream container, pulling out her finger covered in melted chocolate fudge ripple. Seductively licking off every little drop, she whispered, "It's really good."
"If it's so good, why trade?"
"OK, I won't trade, but you have to give me some." She held the carton out of the way, giving him an innocent look. "Please?"
He narrowed his eyes, cautiously edging closer.
"Just squirt it in my mouth," she said, dropping her mouth open, making him groan at the thoughts that suddenly jumped to mind.
With quick movements, he shook the can and squeezed a burst of whipped cream into her mouth...but not fast enough to escape the remaining melted ice cream she dumped on his stomach.
He yelped, jumping back and almost slipping. "That wasn't a smart move, my dear." He advanced towards her in mock menace, shaking the whipped cream can. "You've just disarmed yourself."
"Have I? she said, smiling sweetly. She waited until he was ready to squirt her again and scooped up a carton full of water. Anton ducked, but Sabryn still managed to dump most of the water over his head.
She laughed soundlessly, shaking, and sat down on the stairs. With his hair plastered to his head, and dripping everywhere, he took one look at her and decided to show no mercy.
Before she could even move, he knocked the carton out of way and doused her in whipped cream. She squealed, putting her hands up to block her face, laughing in spite of herself. From her hair to her knees, there was barely an inch he missed. The only reason she didn't run, given the water and mess all over the floor, was because she knew she'd fall on her ass.
Standing up, she grappled with him, pushing his hand away, and managed to seize him by the wrist. Breathing heavily, they stared at each other, unwilling to relent. Until she leaned forward and licked a stray drip off his left nipple.
The can dropped out suddenly nerveless fingers. He leaned down to lick a blob of cream off her shoulder. Slowly dropping to his knees, he lapped at her skin. cleaning a path around and eventually over her right breast. He let go of her wrist when she started to move closer him and grabbed her hips, halting her. He concentrated on licking off every last bit, and then sucked her nipple into his mouth.
She cried out, her fingers clenching on this shoulders. Watching him with his lips clamped down on her breast made her knees weak. Grabbing hold of his hand, she brought it up to her mouth and slipped a finger inside. She swirled her tongue around his index finger, sucking softly, before moving on to his thumb. When she'd finished with all five fingers, she lapped at the palm of his hand, making his other hand tighten on her hip. He lifted his head from sucking clean her other nipple and stared at her with heavy-lidded eyes.
"I want you inside me, Anton."
A low groan escaped his throat. He pulled her back down into the cooling water. His fingers scraped over her lower stomach before teasing over her clit. Sabryn shifted, moaning. Pushing her down on to her back, he hovered over her. "Look at me, Bryn." Holding her eyes with his, he pressed his aching cock into her.
She whimpered, lifting her legs to press her heels against his thighs. She couldn't seem to stop shaking. Either she was more sensitive than usual, or he was doing something different, because he felt huge. She wrapped her hands around his neck, kissing him softly as he moved, trying in vain to lift herself up against him. Water sloshed around them, lifting her breasts, spilling over the edge of the tub. As he shifted inside of her, searching for a better angle, she heard a noise escape her mouth that she'd never heard before.
"Oh, Anton...right there..."
"Like this, Bryn?" He continued to thrust slowly. He nuzzled the spot behind her ear that always seemed to make her shudder.
"Mmm...that feels so good." Her legs were shaking, sending little ripples through the water. She arched her back, rolling her head against the rim of the tub, squeezing him as he moved inside of her. She gave him a weak smile as he groaned, touching his face. "I love watching your face when we make love. You're so beautiful, Anton."
"Not compared, to you, my dear." Supporting his weight on one hand, he stroked her cheek, and then ran his fingers down to circle her breast. "Do you have any idea how your skin glows, how your eyes sparkle when you cum?" He tweaked her nipple gently. "Show me, Bryn. Please."
"I need--harder..." She slid her hands down his sides, cupping his ass, pulling him tighter against her spread legs. As subtle movement of his hips pressed his pelvis harder against her clit, making her mouth fall open. She cried out louder, the sound echoing off the walls. Just as she was about to climax, she held his gaze and whispered, "I love you so much, Anton."
"I love you too, Bryn." He twitched his hips again. His thrusts were becoming more erratic. "Now let go," he whispered, doing the same himself.
She grabbed the rim of the tub behind her shoulder, clamping down hard around him, shuddering and shaking as her orgasm swept over her. Holding his gaze, she watched his beautiful face as he came, a look of such exquisite ecstasy passing over him. Rocking her hips just slightly, as they both came down off the high, she reached for him, and lovingly kissed his mouth, running her wet hands over the sticky expanse of his back.
He nipped at her lips, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. After thoroughly kissing her, Anton lifted his head to look at her, a goofy grin on his face. "You know, my dear, I think we're going to have to take a shower to clean up from the bath."
"Yeah, but who's gonna clean the floor?"
He glanced over at the sticky mess, making a face. "Think we should hire a maid?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me." She turned his head back to meet her gaze. "You get to help me wash the whipped cream out of my hair."
"Only if you scrub my back."
"Deal."
End Chapter Eight

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