Chapter One Hundred Twenty-nine They had spent a pleasurable day together. They had treated themselves to a leisurely breakfast/dinner out, and picked up a rental movie to watch. Now they had settled back home, snuggled together on the couch, watching "Return to Me." Anton squinted at the screen. "Is it me, or does the lead actor resemble Mr. Mulder vaguely?" Bryn nodded. "Yeah, kind of...but his nose is too big." She took another hand full of popcorn and spilled it in to her mouth. Then, looking for a piece with no shell on it, she gave it to Max. The baby immediately began sucking the butter flavor and salt off, dissolving the kernel in his mouth. Leaning her head on Anton's shoulder, Bryn pushed the blanket off her lap. "Is it hot in here, or is it just me? I feel like I'm having hot flashes." He looked at her and grinned. "My dear, I'm the wrong person to ask. I always think you're hot." He placed the bowl of popcorn in her lap. "Do you want me to go adjust the temperature?" She smiled at his compliment and then shook her head. "No. Then Max might be cold. I'll just wait for it to pass." Taking a deep breath, and then another, she willed herself to cool down. Even with air conditioning running, pregnancy did weird things to her physical comfort. Every once in a while, for seemingly no reason, her belly started to itch like crazy. Her skin would become overly sensitive, to the point that even her clothing was an irritation. Luckily, Anton didn't seem to mind when she felt the need to strip herself nude. Licking her lips, she glanced over at him. "I don't suppose you feel like having a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake?" "No," Anton said, turning to face her. "But I could be convinced. Is this a pregnancy craving, my dear?" Although it didn't seem to have happened much with Max, he had read that each pregnancy was a unique experience and the same rules didn't necessarily hold. "Would you like me to make you one?" "Yes it is a craving," she said, taking exception to his teasing. "You're lucky I didn't ask you to drive in to town and get one from McDonald's. Although, that does sound awfully good." Resettling Max on her lap, she kissed his soft puffy cheek. "And yes, please, would you make me one?" She batted her eyelashes at him. Anton grinned, knowing he was a sucker for her fluttering eyelashes. And she knew it too. "Yes, my dear." He leaned over to give her a brief kiss and then stood up. "Pause the movie for me?" he asked as he ambled off to the kitchen in search of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. Grabbing the remote control, Bryn hit the pause button and turned slightly to watch Anton in the kitchen. He was adorably domestic at home and it warmed her heart to watch him be the doting husband and father. Away from home, however, he played either the competent, charming business man...or the devastating and somewhat perverted lover. That warmed an entirely different part of her body. "I'm keeping your spot warm for you," she said, extending her legs down the length of the couch. He dropped in a scoop of chocolate ice cream, a generous spoonful of peanut butter, and poured the milk into the blender. Anton flipped it on and turned back to look at Bryn. She was lounging over the length of the couch, managing to look sexy and motherly at the same time. He turned back to the blender when the shake was well mixed and poured it into a glass. Adding some whipped cream to it, he picked up a straw and a spoon and started back to the living room. "Here you are, my dear." Bryn made a soft moaning sound, looking longingly at the soda-shop-style glass. She reached out for it before he'd even gotten to the couch and greedily tugged it close to her, immediately latching on to the straw. In her lap, Max reached out his little hands as well, clinging to the glass...almost as if he thought he wouldn't get any if he didn't stake his claim early. He was probably right. As Anton sat back down, Bryn leaned against his side. "This is excellent, sugar!" She pressed her cold lips to his cheek. "Thank you." A shiver ran through him from the contact of her cold lips. But she was warm against his side as he held her close. Max did seem to have the right idea, trying to claim some of Bryn's shake. Now he was wondering why he hadn't brought some for himself. "Can I convince you to share, my dear?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "I suppose so." Handing over her shake, she grabbed Max and settled him between them so he could get his fair share, too. "You know what's weird? I used to be a stingy person. John and I were always fighting over things, and I hated sharing. But now that I have Max and you, I would rather go without something just so one of you doesn't have to go without. You know what I mean?" "Yeah," Anton said. "I can understand what you mean." He took a long swallow and then gave Bryn back the shake. "Of course, as a child you are naturally a bit more selfish. Face it Bryn," he said, wiping a bit of melting whipped cream off the edge of the glass and smearing it on her nose. "You're growing up." She wrinkled her nose, and then smiled at him. "I guess you'd better Transform me before I do too much more of that." Lowering the glass down to Max's level, she carefully took out a spoonful and fed it to him. He messily smacked his lips and got chocolate shake all over his cheeks and chin, but he seemed to like what little amount was left to swallow. Giggling, Bryn wiped him off with her sleeve. "You know, you're going to have to do something about my nose." "If you insist, my dear." Instead of bending over to lick off the blob, as Bryn appeared to expect, he added a smear of chocolate to her nose. "Have you heard of the saying, 'I may grow old, but I refuse to grow up' my dear?" Bryn narrowed her eyes, but she couldn't keep from smiling, especially when Max raised a finger towards her nose. "Can you believe Daddy did that?" she asked him, bending closer. "He's a nut, isn't he?" The baby reached out for the whipped cream and chocolate, but his aim was a little off, and he ended up poking her in the nostril instead. "Icky!" Wiping his finger off, Bryn used her own finger to wipe off the mess and then fed it to him. Taking a drink of her shake, she glanced at Anton out of the corner of her eye. "Just you wait until later, Daddy. Mommy may not be so nice with the placement of her ice cold shake." "Oooh...a threat." But one he knew she would follow through on. Although the thought of him tied up helplessly on the bed, Bryn teasing him by cooling his cock and balls with the cold shake, and then warming him with the touch of her hand or mouth. He leaned over close to whisper in her ear. "So is that a threat or a promise, my dear?" "I don't think I'd be smiling if I were you, mister." Gathering Max a little closer, she fed him another spoonful of ice cream. Smiling at Anton, she said, "Shh. Watch the movie." He placed one kiss on her neck behind her ear and then did as she said. He snuggled close to Max and Bryn, trying to concentrate on the movie and not wonder what devious plans Bryn might be formulated. She knew he was thinking about it, and the wondering would drive him nuts. And she was having fun making him wonder. In fact, she lost interest in the movie after a while. Between the three of them, the shake was nearly gone. She saved a bit in the glass, just because. What she'd do with it, not even she knew. Leaning against her, bored and well-fed, Max eventually fell asleep. She settled him in a more comfortable position and rubbed his back. And when the movie was finally over, her eyelids were starting to droop, too. Anton had managed to keep his eyes on the movie. But he did notice that she had held back a bit of the shake. Wondering exactly what she was going to do with it, he turned to speak, and noticed that she was falling asleep, and Max was already out like a light. He nudged her cheek lightly with his nose. "You want me to put him to bed and then we'll head up?" "Hmm?" Oh. I'll come with you." Picking up the heavy, limp weight that was their son, she handed him over to Anton, and then grabbed the remains of her shake. Although not as cold as before, it still felt chilly inside the glass. Noticing Anton's glance, she smirked at him. "You didn't think I'd forget, did you?" He grinned back at her, albeit a bit nervously. "My dear, I was counting on it." He settled Max onto his shoulder and carried him up the stairs. He was very aware of Bryn staying a few steps behind so she'd have a good view of his ass. Once in Max's room, he kissed his son's forehead and held him out for Bryn to kiss before settling him in his crib. He then turned to his wife. "Where do you want me?" he asked, keeping his voice pitched low to avoid waking their son. "In our room. Grab a towel from the bathroom and lay it out over your side of the bed. Then you can start stripping. I'll watch." She gave him a pleasant smile. "Yes, my dear," he said with a submissive nod of his head. Somehow, the affectionate title 'my dear' didn't quite fit right for the situation. He quietly padded to the bathroom as Bryn went to the bedroom. Obediently, he returned with a towel and spread it out over his side of the bed. Then he turned to Bryn, who was also spread out on the bed, and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. Watching him, she'd already taken a drink of the shake before remembering that she wanted to save it. Problem was, she was getting very warm as he was stripping out of his clothes. It wouldn't be long before she had to shimmy out of hers just to stay cool. "Turn around when you take your pants off. I want to see your ass." Anton was feeling a bit flushed as he saw her squirm on the bed, staring at him intently. Almost demurely, he dropped his gaze to the ground as he undid the belt and lowered his zipper. He wiggled his hips as he turned his back to her and let his jeans fall down his legs. Smirking, although he didn't think she could see his expression, he hooked his thumbs into the kiss covered boxers that Bryn had given him and shimmied them down his legs. He bent over, making sure she had a good view of his ass like she had requested before he straightened up. Bryn bit her lip, barely managing to stifle a heartfelt moan. Struggling to keep her face expressionless, she said, "You can turn around again. This time, I'm going to stand up and I want you to undress me. But no fondling, and no kissing. You may not rub your body against me, either." Anton nodded, keeping his eyes downcast. It was amazing how easily they had fallen into the roles of mistress and slave, almost without intending to. There had been some role playing with his previous wives, but nothing that had made him want to be the submissive party the same way he did when Bryn gave an order. Still, it was hard to obey the letter of her law as he pulled her shirt off of her and undid the clasp of her bra. His fingers brushed the sides of her breasts, daring to finding out exactly how much he could get away with. She didn't slap at his hand or admonish him. Instead she took a step backwards and raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't do that again if I were you. Unless you don't want me to touch you tonight." Moving back next to him, she nodded towards her body. "Continue. Carefully." Deciding that he didn't want to see if it was an idle threat, his hands dropped to her waist. Carefully, avoiding touching her more than necessary, he undid her pants. He knelt before her as he pulled the fabric down her legs, waiting patiently for her to lift each foot to pull them free. Her socks followed as well. And he remained kneeling, waiting for her next order. She tried not to smile, but it was very hard. She was having entirely too much fun dominating him. Leaving him where he knelt, she sauntered back over to the bed and laid on her side. "Hmm...let's see. I was going to start off with the milkshake, but now that I have you kneeling at my feet--I think I'll have you massage me instead. Nothing below the waist, or above mid-thigh. And no suggestive touches, just a very simple massage. For now." "Yes my de...mistress." The second title seemed more suitable. He rose to his feet in a smooth motion and took his place next to the bed. Grabbing the bottle of lotion, he put some on his hands. He rubbed them slightly to warm the lotion and then placed them on her shoulders. Slowly he started to rub the muscles, seeking out the knots and sore spots. Sweeping her hair out of the way, Bryn glanced at him over her shoulder. The scent of that lotion was making her tingle all over. It was a rare occasion when they actually used the aloe lotion for massages, instead of lubrication. Licking her lips, she settled her head on the pillow and tried to imagine being pampered by a slave boy. In a grand palace, her perfect body glistening--or at least it was perfect in the fantasy--she was treated like a goddess. And in Anton's hands, it wasn't hard to imagine. He leaned one hip against the mattress as he worked below the her shoulders to her upper back. Each muscle was lovingly rubbed and pampered. Slowly he worked his way lower down her back until he reached her waist. It was so tempting to continue southwards and disregard her command. Instead, with a slight sigh, he moved further down the bed and started to rub one foot. Bryn let out a soft moan, biting her lip. His thumbs were digging in to the arch of her foot and she was practically writhing on the bed. It felt wonderful to be his "mistress" and she could wait to feel him worshipping at her...altar. But first there was some unfinished business and the sooner she got to it, the quicker he could help her see paradise. She giggled to herself at the analogy. "Get on the bed, slave. Over the towel, face down. Hands at your sides. And no touching me. Understand?" "Yes, my mistress." He walked over to the other side of the bed and obediently laid down as she had told him. It was strangely freeing to be under her command, to not have to think about what he had to do next. He held still, forcing his hands to relax. Smiling as she looked down at him, she grabbed her milkshake and moved it to his night stand so it was easier to reach. Then she straddled his waist on her knees and slowly backed up until she was sitting on his thighs. He jumped slightly, when she slid her hand up his back, and Bryn grinned. She picked up the glass and held it for a moment, making him wonder what she would do next. Without leaning forward, she carefully dribbled a thin line of cold, watery milkshake down his spine. Until a small pool formed in the small of his back. Anton shivered, trying to hold still. He wasn't certain if he was allowed to move or not, and although taking the 'punishment' may have been enjoyable, he didn't want to make a mess with the melted ice cream in their bed. For that matter, he wasn't certain if he was allowed to speak. But he decided to risk it. "May I ask what you are going to do to me, my mistress? And what I am allowed to do?" "Hmm. You are allowed to ask, but I won't answer...at least not your first question. You may speak and make noise if you want. You can even move around. But you're not allowed to touch me, yet. It might be best, at the moment, to just lie there." With that, she set the glass on the night stand and bent over him. Leaning down, she sipped from the small pool of liquid before using her tongue to follow the thin chocolate line up his back. Anton let out a long moan, trying hard not to wiggle against her ticklish tongue. His breathing deepened as she continued to lap at his spine, not letting any of the chocolate go to waste. His fingers twitched, wanting to reach behind and feel any portion of her flesh, but he had to make do with feeling her nipples press into his skin. Leaning in close, she let her hot breath play across his ear as she rubbed her body against his, her pubic hair teasing his ass, hips writhing. She extended her tongue, flicking his earlobe back and forth before sucking it in to her mouth. Just as he started to moan and enjoy her ministrations, she slid away from his, backing up to sit on her heels. And this time when she poured the cold chocolate mess, it dribbled all over the crack of his ass. Anton gave a loud gasp and jumped, his chest leaving the bed. The cold was a shock, but it did nothing to cool his ardor. His cock was hard and he tried to keep from rubbing it against the towel, but he couldn't help but thrust a little, seeking some relief. She couldn't help snickering a bit as she watched him. [This is too much fun!] Suddenly she couldn't understand why she hadn't tried to be dominant sooner. And this was nothing compare to some of the things she could be doing to him. Still smiling, she set the glass aside and backed up once more. Just like before, she lapped at the melted shake, teasingly wiggling her tongue in to the crevice. No mercy. For a split second, he had thought she wasn't going to do anything. Then her tongue touched him and he let out another loud moan. His hands grabbed the towel, tightening until the his knuckles were white. He spread his legs wider to give her easier access, and then yelped when a trickle of melted ice cream puddled on his balls. Bryn giggled, squirming above him. His moans were making her wet. Wanting to make sure she got every last drop, she spread the cheek of his ass and ran her tongue in between, over his anus and back, pausing to swirl around the puckered flesh, before sliding down to his balls. She paid special attention to his perineum, lick and sucking at the sensitive area until it looked like he might cum. Then she backed off a bit to let him cool down before gently cleaning his scrotum as well. Anton let out a shuddering breath. Tension was still clearly visible in his shoulders as he tried to relax. Bryn's game and the special attention she gave him was an intense turn on. Breathing heavily, he turned his head so he could look back to her as he caught his breath. He licked his lips and then swallowed, clearly waiting for what she would do to him next. Pressing her palms to the insides of his thighs, she lightly scratched her way down to his knees. There, she bent over and none-too-gently bit in to each in turn, making him jump until she was giggling. Anton was squirming almost continuously. But he yelped as she bit him, startled by the pinching and ticklish sensation. He twisted his head around and raised up on his chest to watch her. If he was going to watch her, it only seemed fair to Bryn that he have a good view. She paused for a moment to tickle the bottom of his foot, making him quickly dodge her movements. Grinning, she said, "Turn over. Arms above your head...please." His eyebrow arched at the use of the word please. It seemed slightly out of character for the game they were playing, but he didn't say a word. Instead he did exactly what she asked, stretching his arms above his head and crossing them at the wrist. HIs cock was almost painfully erect, and twitched as if seeking out Bryn. She licked her lips as she stared at him and took a deep breath. It was becoming harder to keep up the foreplay when all she wanted to do was feel him inside her. Still she pressed on, grabbing the glass of milkshake again and pouring a straight line across both nipples. Then one down his belly, stopping just short of his pubic hair. Anton let out a loud gasp, shivering under the cold assault. But his erection didn't diminish one bit. If anything, he got a fraction harder. The chill had made his nipples tighten to hard peaks. He made a soft moan, writhing as if pinned, waiting for the warm touch of her tongue on his skin. She made him wait a moment or two longer than he expected. Hovering over him, she set the glass down and straddled his body again. Starting at his stomach and working her way up, she lapped the chocolate off his skin...saving his nipples for last. By the time she got to the first one, she was lying on his body, his erection trapped between her breasts. Swirling her tongue around the hard bud, she cleaned off the milkshake before sucking his nipple in to her mouth. She held his gaze as she tugged at him, pushing his flesh hard against the roof of her mouth. He arched beneath her, feeling his nipple surrounded by wet warmth. His hips rubbed his cock between her breasts, relishing the pressure and heat surrounding it. "Ah, Bryn," he sighed, squirming beneath her. It was tempting to move his hands and grab her and guide her until she was riding his cock. But he clenched his fists, determined to let her keep control. Bryn saw his aborted movement and smiled, switching over to his other nipple. She knew the loss of power wasn't something he was used to and it had to be killing him. Or would be, if he weren't already dead. Flicking his nipple back and forth with her tongue, she slid off of him and let her hand glide down his belly to teasingly brush over his pubic hair. The torturous look on his face was breathtaking. "I think I want you to fuck me now. Roughly, from behind. And make it good. I want to feel my eyes roll back in my head." "Yes, my mistress," he said in a breathless whisper. He watched as Bryn climbed off of him. His eyes never left her as she turned away from him, presenting her ass. And in a blink of an eye, he was on his knees behind her, positioning his cock. He grunted as he shoved into her. Breathing heavily, he leaned close over her back, smearing her with traces of the melted shake, as he began to thrust hard and fast. If he had been in better control, he would have eased off the pace. But she had started a fire in his blood that wouldn't be easily doused. She was squeezing his cock so tightly, and she was so slick that he wasn't certain how long he could last. But she had asked him to make her eyes roll back in her head, and he was going to make damn sure he fulfilled his mistress's every command. He hadn't touched her at all until now, and yet it didn't matter in the slightest. Every inch of her skin was hypersensitive, her nipples painfully hard on her bouncing breasts. Her legs were shaking and her sex felt as if it were getting the workout of a lifetime. No, he didn't need to touch her...she was about to cum already. It was all becoming too much. The pleasurable ache in his groin was threatening to transform into bliss at any second. He let go of her hip to fumble his hand between her legs. He let out a loud cry at how wet she was. His own eyes rolled back in his head as he let out a loud yell and came, shooting deep inside of her. Bryn threw her head back and wailed, crouched on the bed as she shuddered violently. Long after the initial shock, she was still moving against him, still squeezing and trying to keep him inside her as long as possible. She let her arms go limp, her upper body flopping to the mattress. Even her knees were starting to give. But she wasn't about to let go of him for anything. His breath was shuddering as he collapsed against her. Instead of pressing her against the mattress, he tilted to the side, pulling her with them. Spooned together, his cock tucked inside her still, he pressed his lips to the back of her neck. Anton didn't say anything, but instead concentrated on catching his breath. Panting heavily, Bryn closed her eyes. She was finished with having control--she wasn't even sure she could control her own muscles at that point. As far as she was concerned, falling asleep where they lay sounded good to her. Aside from a slight soreness between her legs, the rest of her was as limp as a noodle. He nuzzled the back of her neck, and risked reaching down for the blanket. when she didn't object, he pulled the sheets up and over their bodies to trap in the warmth. "Love you so much, my dear," he whispered in her ear, and then kissed it lightly. "My mistress." She smiled sleepily and snuggled closer, wrapping her arm over his. Tangling their legs together, she let out a contented sigh. "I love you very, very much, sugar. My master and slave, all in one. The one person who fulfills my every wish, every single day." Anton smiled although she couldn't see it. "My dear, I don't have any more wishes. Ever since I met you, they've all been fulfilled." Liam was mad. He tried to get his toy, but every time he got close to it the cat scratched him on the nose. His dad had chased the snotty feline away several times, but Montel was determined that toy was his. Then Mommy had the nerve to feed him strained peas. After making a mess out of his t-shirt, the high chair, and the kitchen in general, Liam had been put in his crib to go to sleep. But he would have none of that. Instead, he stood up and bawled, reaching out for Nate every time he walked past. "Sorry, buddy. You have to take your nap," he'd told him. Infuriated, Liam plopped down and turned his back to both of them, pouting. Quirking an eyebrow in Lindy's direction, Nate murmured, "How long are we going to keep this up?" "Until he turns 18," Lindy responded sourly. She had just finished cleaning peas off the counter, peas off the high chair, peas off the tile floor, and peas off the wall. She was now headed towards the bedroom to so she could change clothes and clean the peas off her white blouse. "Why was I thinking about that scene in the Exorcist while we were trying to feed him?" Then the doorbell rang. Lindy squinted her eyes shut and sighed. It was probably her parents needing something. "Nate, would you get the door so I can get this..." she gestured to the stains on the shirt, "off of me?" Nate made a grunting sound and stood up, once again chasing Montel off Liam's toy. This time he picked up the soft ball and handed it to the boy, wondering if he'd come back to find Montel in the crib with him. Heading towards the door, he glanced up the stairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lindy's ass. Unfortunately she'd already disappeared in to the bedroom. His mind flashing to earlier that evening when she'd stepped out of the shower, all naked and glistening, he smiled as he opened the door...then immediately scowled when he saw who was on the other side. "What the hell are you doing here, and how did you get in?" Marrok scowled as well. He hated dealing with this male vampire, the one who made him feel like a supplicant any time he wanted to see what was rightfully his. "I was hoping to see my son since I had to miss the previous week due to an emergency." "That doesn't explain how you got in, damn it!" Nate glanced back at their security cameras, which still seemed to be working. "This place is wired. You can't just wander up to the front door!" "And I don't have to answer to you," Marrok snarled. He wasn't about to tell Nathaniel that he had slipped inside just as the other werewolves had driven out of the gate. Just then Lindy stepped down the stairway, doing up the lower buttons on her blouse. She looked up and did a double take at who was standing there. "Marrok?" she said, surprise in her voice. "What are you doing here?" "He was just leaving," Nate snarled. "You can't show up here and expect to get whatever you want. You're lucky I don't have you arrested for trespassing. Now get the hell off our property before you're shot." Marrok's eyes narrowed angrily. "Now wait a minute..." "No you wait a minute," Lindy interrupted. "You keep showing up here, expecting to see Liam without any consideration for us. If you want to see him, you've got to give us a call or else don't expect to see him at all." Marrok didn't step forward, but his voice dropped menacingly. "I could just take him." Lindy's eyes flamed. "I'd like to see you try." "Get out," Nate growled. "I'll be watching you on the monitors. If you don't head straight out the front gate, I will hunt you down." Marrok stared at them both, then looked past them, as if wondering what his chances would be of breaking past. "Then I want an appointment," he said, saying the last word with a sneer. "As soon as possible." "Then call my office tomorrow for an appointment." Without saying anything further, she slammed the door in Marrok's face. Shaking in anger, she leaned against it, as if her weight would hold it shut if he tried to break through it. Nostrils flaring, Nate walked over to the monitors on the wall, his arms crossed, watching Marrok's movements. For a moment, the bastard only stood there, staring at the door like a bull ready to charge. Then, finally, he stomped down their driveway towards his motorcycle, his hands fisted and face scowling. Lindy let out a sigh of relief as she heard the roar of a motorcycle engine start, and then recede into the distance. Somewhat numb from standing up to him, she just slid down the door to collapse in a heap at the foot of it. Nate glanced at her, wanting to go pick her up...but he refused to walk away from those monitors until he was sure Marrok was gone. [Damn it, we're leaving this place. I'll be damned if that bastard is just going to come and go as he pleases.] Taking a deep breath, she forced herself back to her feet. She wasn't going to play the victim, she sternly reminded herself. She wasn't going to let him have that power over her. "He's leaving," Nate muttered. "He just drove past the barn." He reached up to press his hand to the wall next to one of the monitors, leaning his weight on it. "Goddamn it, this is not happening again. I don't care if we have to move to a damn island and arm the perimeter with bombs. I'm fucking sick of this bastard trying to run our lives!" "That is sounding better and better, Nate." She walked over to her husband, needing to feel him hold her. "Every time I think things are going to be okay, that I start to lose my fear about Liam being snatched away, that bastard does something that that dredges everything back up." Gathering him close with his free hand, he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead, all the while keeping his eyes on the screens. When Marrok reached the gate, Nate pushed the button to open them, and held his breath until the bastard was through. Then he quickly closed the gate and watched until Marrok was on the road headed away from their property. Even then he didn't relax his tense posture. He wasn't sure he would again all night. "The fucker's gone." "Good." She leaned heavily against her husband. She wished that she was stronger where he was concerned, that Marrok wasn't able to get to her the way he did. She had told herself that she had beaten him, that he wasn't able to control her. But she knew it was a lie. As long as Liam was around, he would exert an amount of control on their lives. Sniffing, Nate pushed back from the wall and triggered the alarm. Now they would know every single time someone approached the gate, when it was opened, when the fence was breached...it was a device he usually left untriggered, because the alarm was loud and very sensitive, sometimes even going off when one of the cows or horses neared the fence. But he wasn't taking any chances this time. If they were interrupted or Liam woke up, so be it. It was better to have a cranky kid than risk having no kid at all. "We need to talk to your parents and my brother when everyone's home. From now on, no one leaves the property until they're sure that gate is closed. It's the only way he could've gotten in, short of lifting his bike over the fence. He's strong, but I doubt he's that strong." Lindy nodded. "You're right. He had to have slipped in when no one was looking." She took a deep breath. "Nate, what are we going to do? We can't go on like this, and if we run away, he's just going to follow and try to get Liam back. It's becoming more obvious that he's never going to respect our wishes. Or respect us, period." "Then maybe he needs to be taught a lesson." He glanced down at her, not a hint of humor on his face. "He's one man, Lindy. There are seven of us. I think it's about time he realized the odds are against him." She looked up at Nate. He was right. There were numbers on their side. Not to mention that between her family and his, they should be able to protect Liam without any difficulties. "What did you have in mind?" "He took you away from me, Lindy. And he was about to do the same damned thing with Liam. I think it's time we threaten something he holds dear." Lindy pulled back, frowning as she thought about what he said. The only thing more dear to Marrok than Liam was... "You mean his daughter? Nate, how could you! She's an innocent in all of this! It's not her fault that her father's a psychopath!" He stared at her, his eyes heavy lidded. "You have to trust me. I know what I'm doing. And I'll have both your fathers' and Anton's help." Her voice was diamond hard. "Nate, you know that I love you. But you have to answer one thing for me. How would it be different from what Marrok did to me?" "Do you really think I care? I could've killed him, Lindy. So many times. And I wouldn't have stopped with draining the bastard, either. If I had my way, the cops would be finding pieces of him all up and down the Pacific coast. And now he's coming back for more. He won't stop, so I'm going to stop him." "And part of me wants that too! I want him dead and gone and out of our lives. And if he didn't have a daughter who loves him so much, I'd do it myself. But every time I think about Viviane, and what that bastard of a werewolf did to my mother, I can't do it." "I'm not asking you to do anything. You're going to stay here and take care of Liam. I'm not even asking your mother or Bryn. If something happens, I don't want you anywhere near us." Lindy just stared at him. It was times like this that she felt she didn't know her husband at all. "I'm not going to be able to convince you this is a bad idea, am I?" She sighed, dropping her shoulders in defeat. "I really hope you know what you're doing Nate. But if that little girl gets hurt..." He stared at her for a moment before the corner of his mouth lifted. Then he turned and headed for the living room. "I'm going to call Anton. The sooner we get this over with, the better." Lindy nodded. "I totally agree." It was awkward, to say the least, to be attending a gallery showing as one of the featured artists, knowing that she would no longer work there after a few short weeks. When she entered the room, on Anton's arm, she was told Justin had yet to make an appearance. That was beyond unusual. Even on nights when her presence wasn't required, she knew he'd always been prompt and attentive. Frowning, Bryn turned to her husband. "I guess I should start introducing myself to people." "Sounds like a good idea, my dear." Even with the beautiful things on display, he had a hard time taking his eyes off of her. She shimmered in the lights of the gallery, as much as a work of art as the paintings she had made. As they stepped forward, he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you are, my dear?" She smiled brightly, blushing a bit. The slight growl in his voice whenever he complimented her took her breath away. "Thank you. You look very beautiful, yourself. Be careful not to stand too close to the wall or someone might think I painted you." He gave her a rakish grin. "Just as long as they don't try to buy me, my dear. Because I already belong to you." He looked at the groups of people gathered in loose knots, talking. "Aren't Nathaniel and Lindy supposed to be attending?" "Yes, they are. She said they might be a little late, because of Marrok's visit." She said the werewolf's name with an absolute sneer. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed his hand. "Come on. There's Alice. Hopefully she'll introduce me and I won't look like I'm forcing myself on the customers." Bryn led him over to a small group, where her coworker did introduce her to the people around them. She smiled politely and shook everyone's hand, then beamed as she introduced her husband. After a few minutes of small talk, mostly about her pregnancy, she started answering questions about her paintings. Unlike the other gallery showing Anton had attended, this time Bryn felt completely at ease and comfortable discussing her technique. Anton watched as Bryn explained her technique, keeping himself in the background. This was her moment to shine, and she was so beautifully. And he was feeling awed at how her self confidence had grown since he had seen her at the first gallery showing. "Actually, I started out with watercolors because they were in ready supply to me when my parents were too busy to take me to an art store," she explaining, neglecting to mention that her parents wouldn't have taken even if they weren't busy. "A lot of times I'd resort to using my mom's food coloring." She smiled when the few people listening laughed. Bryn looped her arm around Anton's and pulled him close, so he didn't feel left out. "It was a challenge to work with, but I was determined. Later on I managed to save up enough money to buy some paints, but even after I switched to acrylics, I still watered them down to begin with. I didn't trust myself with that much paint." "And what happened to those early attempts?" someone asked. "Well, fortunately--or maybe unfortunately, if I ever become famous--I got rid of them. There might be one or two hidden away by my mother somewhere, but I doubt it." "So there is hope that one day an early work of Sabryn Rudenko." Anton nodded. "You might be surprised by your mother, my dear." He smiled at the crowd around them. It was a bit awkward for him, trying to keep from overshadowing Bryn, letting her have her moment in the sun, so to speak. So it was a relief when he saw Lindy and Nathaniel enter the gallery. Nate led Lindy inside the spacious gallery, his head bobbing along with the music playing the background. The Rolling Stones, he noted, finding it a bit odd. But despite the fancy clothes, there was somewhat of a party atmosphere. People chatting animatedly, drinking champagne and eating appetizers. Looking around the room, he noticed Anton gazing in their direction. "Looks like they're over there," he said, to Lindy. "You want to join them or get something to eat first?" "Let's go say hi first," Lindy said, heading towards Anton and Bryn. She noticed that he was looking slightly out of place, not quite certain what to do or how to act since his wife was the star. Which made Lindy grin in secret amusement. It was so rare to see Anton out of his element like she felt when she had started working for him, and she was going to enjoy it as long as she could. Nate noticed the strange look on Anton's face, too. "What's wrong with him?" he asked, quietly. "He looks constipated." "Enjoy it while you can, Nate," Lindy murmured quietly. "It's one of those rare moments when he doesn't quite know what to do." Nate snickered, then cursed. "Damn! Of all times to forget to bring a video camera." As they approached the small crowd where Anton and Bryn were standing, Nate walked up behind his brother and reached out his arm, flicking Anton's opposite ear. He grinned when the vampire turned the other way to look. "What's up, bro?" Anton somehow managed to look slightly annoyed and relieved. "Thank you for coming, Nathaniel, Lindy," he said. His brother's irreverent greeting had put him at ease. But while he was looking for Nathaniel, he had spotted someone. "Bryn, isn't that the critic for 'Art Today' looking at the portrait that you did of me?" "Please excuse me," Bryn said, after waiting a moment to get the couple's attention next to her. Walking over closer to him, she smiled at Lindy and Nate. "Hi. I'm glad you guys could make it." "It's our pleasure," Lindy said. Looking at Anton, Bryn said, "Did you ask me something?" "I said, isn't that the critic for Art Today, over there, looking at the portrait you did of me?" Bryn turned and looked, a little unnerved by the question...and indeed Anton was right. Swallowing heavily, she murmured, "I guess I should go over and talk to him." She grabbed his hand. "You're coming with me, Mr. Subject." "Yes, my dear." Nodding an excuse me to the people they had been talking to earlier, Anton followed Bryn over to where the critic was. The woman appeared to be in her early fifties, hair dark but showing signs of starting to go gray, and was speaking to a small gathering in front of the portrait. "You can see a strong pro-feminist expression in this painting," she said in a highly cultured voice. "The subject, while appearing virile, has been effectively emasculated," she announced, waiving towards the lower half of the painting. The head and torso had been completed, but Bryn had only finished one leg, and the majority of the crotch area was blank canvas. "By doing so, she has deliberately de-emphasized the phallus, rendering the subject a sexual yet safe plaything such as so many other female portraits suggest." He glanced at Bryn, biting his lip to keep from laughing outright, waiting to hear her response. Bryn glanced back at Anton, arching an eyebrow, a devious little smile curving her lips as she thought of all of the possible comebacks. [Actually, I thought I'd probably run out paint if filled in his cock. Besides, it wouldn't have fit on the canvas, anyway...] Instead she merely waited and didn't say anything, until the critic realized the subject of the painting was standing next to her. She opened her mouth to say something when Bryn interrupted. "If I may, the actual reason the piece is unfinished is because I can't paint around my husband. He sees me in my glasses and just attacks me. This particular time, we were both too horny to finish the painting...hence the name, 'Coitus Interrupts Us'." Behind her, Nathaniel broke in to hysterical laughter. Although Bryn had asked him if he would mind if the painting was included in the showing as a demonstration piece, he had never heard its name. Anton blushed a bright red, but not nearly as red as the critic was turning. "I...ah...see," she stammered out. "I guess Freud was right when he said that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Bryn didn't like what that phrase brought to mind, an image of Monica Lewinsky among them. "No, it's really much bigger than a cigar. I wouldn't have needed my glasses for that part." She heard Lindy make a choking sound, and saw Nate hurry outside, out of the corner of her eye, his face red and body shaking. At that point, she didn't even want to look at Anton. He was going to kill her. Anton had bitten his inside lip to keep from laughing, especially at the look on the critic's face. Ignoring the speculative stares of several people, he started turning over in his mind exactly how he'd be getting back at Bryn when they were alone. Most of his ideas involved using his ties on her in various creative ways. Starting to turn red as the implication of her own words finally sunk in, Bryn decided a quick exit was probably best. "I apologize for not introducing myself sooner," she said, holding out her trembling hand. "I'm Sabryn Rudenko, the artist. It's nice to meet you." "Emilia Vandervoort," the critic replied with a slightly snooty air as she shook Bryn's hand. "Does your husband often model for you?" "Not often. He's a very busy man. He runs his own business, Rudenko's Antiques. But I'm sure I'll be able to convince him to pose more in the future." "I should hope so, given your talents. It is rare to see someone who has a good grasp on composition even with so little experience." She gestured over to the dual paintings of them silhouetted on the beach. "I'm assuming this is you and your husband?" "Yes, it is." She didn't know what to think of the comment about her lack of experience. It sounded like an insult to her. "These two are very meaningful to us. They brought us together. They are my favorite pieces." "Really? How interesting." Emilia glanced around. "If you'll excuse me, I see another artist I need to interview. I do hope we have a chance to talk more in depth later on." Bryn nodded, giving the woman a half smile. She felt dejected as she watched the woman walk away. Turning her gaze back to Anton, she softly said, "Sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed you." Anton shifted his arm from around her shoulders to around her waist. "A little embarrassment is good for the soul, my dear. Keeps you humble." Noticing that they were alone, he slipped around so he was now standing in front of her. "I just loved her look when you told her the name of the painting, my dear." She stared down at his tie, frowning. "I stupidly told her about the warehouse. What if she writes something about this and it affects your business?" "My dear, that doesn't matter." He gently reached out and touched her hair, wishing it were down loose so he could run his finger through it. "And if anything, it might increase business when the see the picture of the handsome owner." He smiled and winked at her. His wink usually made her melt like butter. This time she barely smiled. Glancing over, she noticed Nate come walking over to Lindy, still grinning, the both of them sharing a giggle as he leaned over and said something in her ear. Looking back at Anton, Bryn pulled her light shawl tighter around her shoulders. "I guess I just need a minute to regroup." Frowning, he stepped a little closer, trying to reassure her that everything was well. "It's okay, my dear. Take all the time you need." He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "If you decide to run to Justin's office, I'll follow you there too, just like we did Mr. Trask's office." She smiled a bit at that. "You're forgetting. I have my own office now." "Even better. We won't have to worry about the office's owner complaining that we knocked everything off his desk." Bryn laughed softly, then stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "I love you." Anton smiled down at her. "I love you too, my dear." Bending down, he kissed her chastely on the lips. And in his office, watching on closed circuit television, Justin gritted his teeth in a jealous rage. Bryn hid her yawn behind her hand and watched the trees rush past on the side of the road. They were finally heading home, and she couldn't wait to get out of her dress. As pretty as it was, the undergarments she'd needed to fit in to it were killing her. Squirming again in her seat, she glanced over at Anton as he drove. Something other than her tummy-tucker had been bothering her, ever since she'd seen Nathaniel whispering conspiratorially in Anton's ear. The look on both their faces had been too tense for her liking. Reaching over to turn the radio down, Bryn casually said, "What did Nate want to talk to you about?" Anton forced his tense shoulders to relax. It had been an awkward position to be put in, but he understood Nate's sense of urgency. "He wanted to talk about Marrok's visit tonight. And the fact that he's been pushing the boundaries too far and too often for his comfort." He glanced over at Bryn before returning his eyes to the road. "He wants to do something, to send a message to Marrok that he's willing to let him see Liam, but there needs to be a change in attitude." "So...what? He wanted your advice?" She hoped that was all the problem was. But she got a bad feeling that it wasn't. "I hope you told him it's a bad idea." "I did, but he's not going to be convinced otherwise." Anton sighed, his hands tightening and relaxing on the steering wheel. "He was asking for my advice, and my help." "And you turned him down." "No, I didn't." He looked over at Bryn, his expression grim. "Marrok attacked you, could have killed you and Max. He kidnapped Lindy, and I wouldn't put it past him trying to kidnap Liam if he felt threatened enough. He needs to be taught a lesson." Bryn sighed heavily, turning her attention back to the road. This was a phenomenally bad idea...but Nate's ideas usually were. She didn't want Anton involved at all. But chances were, he wouldn't turn his back on Nathaniel now. "What happens if you get in trouble? I don't even know your lawyer's name, Anton." "Do you really think, if this goes bad, that a lawyer will be any good?" Anton let out a sigh as he shook his head. "If something goes wrong, given what Marrok is and what we are, that it won't end in a fatality. Preferably his." "And what if it's yours?" she asked, raising her voice. "It's not like this guy's going to shoot you. He knows better. He knows exactly how to kill you. What am I supposed to do if you don't come home?" "That's the only reason I'm going along, Bryn. To make sure we all come back." He shook his head. "You know how impulsive Nathaniel can be. I'm hoping that I can temper some of that out of him. Hopefully Alex and Walter will be able to assist in that as well." Bryn crossed her arms, going silent. She wasn't in the mood to argue with him, and he wasn't going to change his mind. His stubborn streak was still alive and kicking, despite any evidence to the contrary. Staring out the window, she didn't say another word until they were pulling in to the driveway. "I want you to take me home. You can walk over to Nate's house." "Okay, Bryn." She was upset at him, and to be honest, he couldn't blame her. He wanted to talk Nate out of this direct plan, but he doubted he'd have any success. And he felt between a rock and a hard place - If he went along with Nate, Bryn would be unhappy. But he was also risking Nate's displeasure if he didn't assist his brother. And then there was Max to consider... "I'm going over to advise him on his plan, Bryn. But I'm not going along on the raid." She looked over at him, her expression awkwardly shifting from anger to relief and then happiness. "Thank you." Bryn swallowed, resisting the urge to say she was sorry. A small part of her was sorry. But a good deal of her guilt was habit. "I didn't want to come off as a bitch, but I don't want you in danger." Licking her lips, she twisted in her seat. "If you can wait for me to change my clothes, I'll go with you. We'll need to pick up Max, anyway." "Okay, my dear." He leaned over and kissed her cheek lightly. "You're right. I do need to think first of you and Kat and Max. I shouldn't be taking any unnecessary risks. So let's go inside, change, and go get Max. I'll talk to Nate and then we can spend the rest of the day snuggled in bed." She smiled at him, kissing him in return as her hand pulled the door handle. When he turned to get out of the car, she did the same, meeting him as he hurried around to open her door. "Sorry, beat you to it." Lifting up on to her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I love you to death, Anton...and beyond." Anton hugged her tightly and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You already have, my dear. And so do I." End Chapter One Hundred Twenty-nine <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->