Chapter One Hundred Thirty Bryn waddled in the door ahead of Anton, already heading for the stairs up to Nate and Lindy's foyer. She was now perfectly comfortable...which wasn't surprising given her flannel full-body pajamas with the footies on them. She was a couple of pigtails short of looking like a little girl. "Might as well be comfortable," she said, noticing Anton's amused glance. "Besides, I have a feeling this may take a while." Anton followed, wearing comfortable sweats. "Do you want to take Max and get home? Out of the line of fire?" He knew that Nate wouldn't be happy with him. Part off him was worried. Would this lead to another rift between them? He hoped not, but Anton couldn't be sure. "No. I'm not afraid of Nate, and I've listened to his ranting before. I'll just snuggle up with Max on the couch and get comfy. But you'll all have to excuse me if I fall asleep." She grinned back at him as she climbed the stairs. He smiled, a bit comforted by the joke. Anton opened the door, and they stepped out of the slightly darker tunnel into the brighter lights of Nate and Lindy's home. "We're here," he called out, not certain where everyone else was gathered. The first thing they heard was Max's squeal of excitement at his daddy's voice. Then Jess saying, "We're in here," from the living room. Following the voices and brighter light, Bryn and Anton walked in to join everyone. Instead of waiting impatiently, Nate was already scribbling something on a pad of paper as Walter and Mulder followed along. Alex was busy hovering over them, his arms crossed and frowning, as he glanced between Nate's paper and where Lindy was sitting next to her mother. Bryn smiled widely as she saw Max on Jess's lap, reaching out for them with both arms. "Hi sweetpea!" Jess stood up and carried Max over. "Careful, he's been restless all night. I think he's been missing you all night." She handed Max to his mommy, leaning in close. "Help me convince them that this is a very bad idea," she muttered for Bryn's ear's only. Anton, meanwhile had joined the other men, standing in front of Nate. He tried to make sense of the scribbling on the pad from his upside down vantage point. "So what has been decided so far?" "Nothing yet," Alex muttered, looking none-too-happy about the situation. "Nathaniel is trying to give us a floor plan." "Which isn't much, given that he's never been inside the home," Mulder added. Nate glowered. "Look, I told you, this part doesn't matter! Once his boyfriend is taken care of, all we have to deal with is Marrok, and there are five of us. One stays outside, one gets the girl, so that leaves three people to take on Marrok. We're not going in until all the lights are out, and after we've done some surveillance to find out which bedroom is his." "And what if he's not in his bedroom?" Bryn asked, standing behind Anton as she bounced Max in her arms. "Or what if he's not even home? Or has a guest? Or an escape route? This is the worst idea I've ever heard of." Nate narrowed his eyes to thin slits. "Who the hell asked you?" Anton's eyes narrowed as well. "She's trying to help by keeping you from getting staked, Nathaniel." He gestured to the vague outline. "Think for a moment. You never attack an enemy without knowing both his strengths and weaknesses as well as your own. A wolf doesn't lair in a place where there's only one route in and out. What makes you think a werewolf will be any different?" "Not to mention he probably has been expecting some sort of retribution since he returned Lindy. For this to be the safest for us, we'd have to wait until the new moon in," he paused to make a mental calculation, "three weeks. The moon is waxing, and he's getting stronger and more ferocious. I've seen it happen to Lindy while she could Change." "And there will only be two to handle Marrok. I will advise you, Nathaniel, but I can't risk my neck with Max here and Katerina on the way. It's not going to be as simple as scaring him like a frightened puppy, Nathaniel. You saw how he got when you first had Liam, and you were taking good care of him. How do you think he'll react if you threaten his daughter?" "If you're not here to help, why don't you just leave?" Bryn glanced at Anton, who clearly didn't like being dismissed, and then around the room, watching the discomfort on the others' faces. "Who here actually thinks this is a good idea? Other than Nate?" Jess shook her head, as did Walter. Alex and Mulder looked noncommittal. Lindy, however, was the one who spoke. "I want to see Marrok hurt for what he did to me," she said slowly. "I want him to at least respect the agreements we made about when he can see Liam. He does need to be taught a lesson. I'm just not sure that this is the best way to do it." She raised her head, a thought crossing her mind. "Denise is technically his alpha, right? He's still part of that pack as far as we know. Maybe she can help us get through to him." "At least she's got numbers on her side," Bryn added. Quietly handing Max over to Anton, she leaned against her husband. "If you ask me, Marrok should have to meet you both in a public place to visit with Liam. Letting him on the property is a really bad idea. Besides, he's less likely to try something with a lot of people around." "She's right, Nathaniel," Anton said softly. "Don't let your desire for revenge blind you to your safety. You may convince Marrok to leave you alone, but what will happen if, God forbid, you don't come back? At least, let's contact Denise and get her council before we do anything." Nate let out a loud sigh, slapping his notepad down on the coffee table. He got up from where he stood and walked over to the window, looking out at the dark, early morning sky, leaning his arm on the window. He didn't say anything for a long time, making the others look at each other questioningly. Bryn stood up on her tiptoes, quietly whispering, "I'm proud of you, sugar," in Anton's ear. Anton reached over and squeezed Bryn's shoulder. Then he walked over to behind his brother, eyes on Nate's reflection in the glass. "It's not that we don't agree with you that something has to be done, Nathaniel. It's that we don't want the cost of it to be you getting killed." Exhaling heavily through his nose, Nate braced his elbow on the window and roughly combed his fingers through his hair. He wanted to scream at them that they were wrong--that Marrok had to be taken care of now, or it would be too late. But they weren't going to listen to him. And it was because of *her*...Anton's pushy little bitch of a wife. Until they'd entered the room, no one had uttered a single objection. Not until she showed up. Gritting his teeth, Nate kept his gaze trained outside so they couldn't see the anger on his face. "Fine. I'll wait." There hadn't been much talk after Nate's announcement. Eventually the werewolves and Anton and Bryn did head to their homes. Which left Lindy with Nate. And she wasn't sure what to do. Nate was clearly angry and frustrated about having the plans for his raid thwarted." Still at the window, Nate glanced at Lindy's reflection. She was still sitting behind him on the couch, watching his back. He had expected her to defend his idea more; in a way he understood why she didn't. Her family was a strong influence on her, and if her fathers weren't going in on the plan, she most likely wouldn't either. That was part of her life as a member of a pack that he would never be a part of. And he couldn't help but resent it. "Do we still have her number?" Caught off guard by the question, Lindy frowned. "What?" "Denise. Do we still have her number." "Uh...she doesn't have a phone, but there is a way to get in contact with her." "Then do it. I'm not waiting longer than a week. If she doesn't call or show up before the week is up...I'll go alone if I have to." She walked over to her purse sitting on the table and dug into it, searching for her dayplanner. The number of Denise's friend who could contact her was written down in it. "I know you're not happy about Anton's decision not to go with you, Nate. But he's doing it because he's worried about you. He doesn't want to see you get hurt." "I know why Anton's doing it,' he said, trying to screen the bitterness from his voice. Lindy wouldn't be happy if she knew what he was thinking. Then again, that was a risk he often took with his deeper thoughts. "I had a feeling all along he'd have that reaction. I don't know why I bothered asking him." "He had that reaction for the same reason you asked him to begin with. Because he's your brother." Lindy walked up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Can you blame him for wanting to protect you? At least he's worried for your safety now instead of caring less." Nate grunted. It seemed like a good, noncommittal response--until Lindy let out an exasperated sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you want me to say, Lindy? The longer we sit here, the bolder Marrok is going to get." He turned and looked at her pointedly. "And what are you going to say when he walks in here and just takes Liam? 'Well, at least your brother was concerned about you'? Bull! You're going to be wondering why we didn't do something sooner!" "And what am I going to say if he drives a stake through your heart? 'At least he did something?'" Lindy yelled back. "I'm scared, Nate. You want to go in there half cocked, without knowing how many people are in there, or what the layout of the place is, or any plan beyond threaten one easily angered werewolf! And we're all supposed to roll over and say 'That's great! Go for it! I'll help!' without hesitation?" "Goddamn it, Lindy, you act like I'm the stupidest fucking idiot you've ever met. You think I'm going to just walk in there blind? Hell no. Anyone with even half a brain knows you have to survey the place first. Your fathers would've been able to sniff around and tell us exactly how many people are there, and where! Besides which, I wouldn't walk in there empty-handed, either. He wouldn't even have been able to get near me before I took him down--if necessary." He scowled at her, shaking his head. "Do you really think I don't have a plan? You may have a job to go to, but I stay here all night with Liam. I watch our son, innocently playing, and I dream up every possible way there is to kill Marrok. Not just in his home, but in ours as well. It would be so easy to lure him over here and make him disappear. But it's to my advantage to confront him in his own house, where he thinks he's safe. When he lets his guard down." "And what if he doesn't? What if he's paranoid enough that he's been *expecting* you ever since you took me? What if he has that place boobytrapped with anti-vampire devices, and Walter and Alex don't find out until too late? I don't want to be raising Liam alone." He let out a heavy sigh, hands braced on his hips. "When exactly was it that you lost faith in my ability to take care of myself? Was it when I decided to stay home and take care of my son...or did you ever have that faith in me to begin with?" Lindy bristled, eyes flaming. "It was when you took your brother's horse and came back with a broken neck," she hissed in a flawless Russian accent. "If I had wanted to talk to Lindara, I would've asked for her." Lindy stared at him, trying to control Lindara, who wanted to continue yelling at him. "*I* don't doubt that you can take care of yourself, Nathaniel," she said, carefully screening out any trace of an accent. "But I'm afraid. I don't want to lose you again. I know what Marrok can do, Nate. I've experienced it." He was about to tell her that she'd never experienced his full power...but Lindara had. And it had almost killed her. It was nothing that she needed to remember or be reminded of at the moment. "I'm not going, Lindy. It's over. Just call Denise. I'm done arguing with you." [Are we?] But Lindy didn't say it. It seemed to her when they fought, it was never resolved. They both went remained angry and sullen until it was agreed unspoken that they stop fighting. But the issue was never resolved. "Okay." She walked over to her purse and started to dig through it. Slumping down on the nearby couch, Nate propped his feet up on the arm rest and crossed his arms over his chest. True, he was acting like a petulant boy, but he didn't really care. He was sick of his ideas getting shot down. And he was definitely sick of Anton's nosy wife. Unable to staunch his annoyance any longer, he muttered. "This is unbelievable. Next time I want to do something, I'll definitely make sure Anton and that woman aren't here." Lindy heard that and rounded on him so quickly her hair flew across her face. "Is that what this is about? That Anton isn't going along with your plan? So you're taking it out on me?" Nate looked at her over the arm of the couch, glaring. "This has something to do with him, yes. But that's not why I'm angry at *you*. You completely didn't support me, Lindy! Do you think that's something I would do to you? Honestly?" "And I'm supposed to support you even if I think it's suicide? Nate, I was a heartbeat away from being killed by him. I *know* what he's capable of. And I'm afraid." She sat down on the couch, seemingly drained. "I know this won't happen, but I keep thinking 'what do I do if he kills you?' Or worse, somehow captures you, and demands Liam? Because I know what my choice would be, but I don't know if I could live with it." His brow furrowed, and he sat up, planting his feet on the floor, and stared at her. Mystified. "What would your choice be?" "You," she said softly, her eyes starting to fill with tears. "But I would always be haunted by the fact that I gave an innocent little boy back to that monster. And I'm afraid that I would come to resent you for it." "So don't. I never asked you to do that." He shook his head. "I'm a very old man, Lindy. I've lived my life. Liam is a little boy and he's going to need all of the love and guidance you can give him. It would be the worst mistake in the world to give him back to Marrok. Why do you think I'm doing this? It's not about me. It's about our son. You should always choose him over me." She blinked up at him, not certain she had heard him right. There was a logic about what she said. "I know that's what I should do. Put his needs above mine. And that's what has me so scared." "Why?" He didn't understand what she was talking about at all. What was so hard about putting Liam's needs first? Maybe she just didn't spend enough time with the little boy. Or maybe she was thinking like Lindara, who'd already had two children. Unlike her, he'd never experienced that. This was the first time he'd ever been able to feel like a proud father, and he knew he'd do anything for his son. Even if it meant sacrificing himself. "Because I should be sacrificing my wants and needs first. And maybe if I were actually in the situation, I would act differently. But I usually know how I'm going to react to a situation. Everything in me tells me to protect Liam. But there's a selfish little voice that keeps saying that I just found you after 800 years and I'm not ready to lose you." His voice softened. "What makes you think you will? No matter when I finally expire, whether it's tomorrow or a billion years from now, I will come back for you. I always will. I'm a pain in the ass that way." Lindy let out a weak laugh. "Yeah, but you're my pain in the ass." She leaned against him, seeking comfort. "I'm sorry I didn't support you Nate. I know you'd come back for me, but I don't want to test that theory any time soon." He wrapped his arm around her and squeezed, pressing his lips to her temple. "Neither do I. Believe me. That's why I would've been extra careful. But it's a moot point now and it's stupid to keep arguing about it. I'm not going. I'll wait for Denise's pack. But I'm not going to wait long. I want something done before Marrok decides to show up here again." Lindy nodded and snuggled closer to her husband. "We'll get a message to her tonight. Hopefully she'll answer right away." Twisting slightly, she looked up and kissed his lips. "I'm sorry, Nate. Forgive me?" He looked down at her with his eyebrow raised. "Hmm...I guess..." he drawled out, deliberately, "if I have to." She recognized his teasing tone, and it warmed her heart immensely. Enough so, that she returned it "Then I guess I'll sleep with you tonight...if I have to." He laughed at that, his face completely transforming from the bitter scowl he'd worn earlier. Pulling her on to his lap, he pressed his lips to hers and held her tightly. "Forgive me for being a shithead?" "Forgiven." She settled onto his lap, arms going equally tightly around him. "I love you so much, Nate," she said with a slight sniffle. "The thought of losing you just terrifies me." Cupping her cheek, he rubbed his thumb over her eyebrow. "You aren't going to. I promise. The last thing I want to do is leave either of you. Everything I do is for you...at the risk of sounding like a song lyric." He kissed her nose. "I will protect my family like a guard dog. All I want to do is keep us safe so we can stay together." They walked through the tunnels back to the safety of their house arm in arm. Anton, despite his worry about his brother, was ready to climb into bed. He glanced down at Max, who was resting peacefully against Bryn. "How do you think it went, my dear?" "I...think you'll be extremely lucky if Nate is still on speaking terms with you tomorrow." She wrinkled her nose. "He didn't look pleased at all. I'm actually a little surprised that he didn't kick us out of the house." "He was thinking it, my dear. And maybe Lindy can talk a little sense into him. Get him to calm down at least." He held open the door to the house for her and then shut it after they were through. Petunia whined and circled them, clearly glad that they were home. "Well, shall we get our babies up to bed, my dear?" Bryn knelt down next to Petunia, letting the dog sniff and lick both her and Max. She grinned when Max sputtered and turned his head away from the flapping tongue. Returning her gaze to Anton, she nodded. "We should. I think Petunia needs a trip outside first. And this little guy," she said, tickling Max's belly until he squealed, "could use a bath. Maybe just a quick one. I can always wash his hair tomorrow when I get home from work." Standing up, she leaned close to Anton and lifted up on her toes to kiss him. "That is...if I don't decide that I just have to visit the warehouse again. You know, I can't seem to stay away from that place. I wonder why." "No idea, my dear. I guess it has to do with your love of antiques and really old things." Petunia at this point made a while and trotted over to the door, pawing at it insistently. "Well, there's no mistaking that, Bryn. I'll take care of Petunia, my dear, and you can start Max's bath. I'll be up in say...ten minutes?" "Okay." She gave him another kiss before heading up the stairs with Max. She walked through his room and in to his bathroom, kneeling on the floor to start the water running. "Are you ready to take a bath? We've got some new bubbles for you," Bryn said, as she plugged the drain. "Let's get you undressed...then get you nice and warm in the water." Tugging off his pajamas and giggling as he tried to play with the foot on her own, she wiggled her toes under the flannel fabric. A quick check to his diaper confirmed that he was just lightly wet, and she could remove it. Making sure his tub seat was firmly suctioned to the bottom, and the water was warm, she lifted him in to the tub. Max slapped his hands on the water as she added the bubble gel. Meanwhile, Anton had opened the door and let Petunia out onto the back lawn. He watched as she sniffed first one spot and then another and then another. He wished that she would just pick a spot and do her business so he could get back in to where Bryn and Max were waiting. Back in the bathroom, Max was reaching out to Bryn as if he was ready to get out of the tub. "No way, mister. You're not even washed yet." She thought for a moment as she grabbed the wash cloth. "You wanna stand up, so Mommy can wash you?" He'd started pulling himself to his feet with the help of a nearby couch or someone's hands. Standing up by himself was still a challenge though. Reaching in to pick him up, she waited for the splashing baby to plant his feet on the floor of the tub. "Stand up...that's it. See, you can do it." Still holding his hands in one of her, she quickly wiped the wet wash cloth over a bar of soap. "What a big boy you are. Daddy better get up here so he can see--" Before she could begin washing him, he reached out for her other hand--and his wet body slipped right out of her grip. She heard the 'thunk' sound half a second before he started to shriek. And when she lifted him up, he had blood all over him. "An-ton!" He had just let in Petunia and was shutting the door when he heard Bryn's shriek and Max's cries. Reacting on instinct, he bolted for the sound, taking the stairs two at a time as he ran to the bathroom. And when he got to the doorway, he could see blood dripping down Max's chin, and blood on Bryn's pajama top. Max was crying at the top of his lungs, and Bryn looked about to do the same. "Bryn, what's wrong?" he asked as he hurried over and knelt beside her. "Did he bite you?" "He fell," she said, in a high-pitched, shaky voice. "He slipped...and I couldn't catch him..." She bounced Max continuously, trying to soothe him, which seemed be having the opposite effect. But it was all she could think to do. "He's...there's..." She shoved her hand towards Anton, her palm nearly covered in blood. In the center was a tiny baby tooth. "It came out!" Anton looked at the small tooth that Bryn was holding. He told himself not to panic, but to think this through as he picked up the tooth and placed it on the sink. "Let's stop bouncing him for a moment, Bryn, so I can look at his mouth." Which still wasn't easy to do given Max's squirming and crying. He didn't wince when he ran his finger along Max's gums and his son chomped down on it. "Look, Bryn," he said as he slipped an arm around her in an attempt to comfort her. "You can see another one growing in. It's okay." She shook her head rapidly, her chin wobbling as she held Max closer. The baby was still crying loud enough fill the bathroom with endless echoing. His tears combined with his shaking, and the wobbling of his own chin, broke her heart. He wouldn't want to go back in that bath ever again. "I was just trying to get him to stand up so I could wash him. And he slipped." Bryn pressed her face against his hair, sniffling as he tried to push away from her. "It's okay," he tried to soothe both of them. He squeezed Bryn tighter against his side and gently rocked Max. "Shhh...it's okay. You're both startled and Max will be fine. He'll grow a new tooth before the hour is over." "But he'll be in pain until it's in." She carefully rubbed her hand over Max's cheeks, wiping away his tears, making sure not to bump his jaw. Sniffling again, she leaned heavily on Anton. "I'm such a klutz. This stuff always happens when he's with me." "Bryn, it's not your fault,": he said, tightening his arm around her further. "This could have happened just as easily with me. And then I'd be the one panicking and you'd be the one telling me it's okay. And look," he said, gently pushing Max's lip to one side. The new tooth was in place. "In an hour or two, he won't have remembered it happened." She sucked in a shuddering breath, looking at the new tooth. When Anton wiped the blood away, there wasn't a gush of more like there had been before. And although Max was still crying, it wasn't the terrified, painful wails he'd let out earlier. Swallowing heavily, Bryn looked at Anton. "He'd have to remember it. Wouldn't he?" "I'll bet in two hours, he'll be wondering why we're fussing over him so much. And by the time he's two, he'll only remember it as a story we tell him." Anton shifted so he was no longer kneeling, but now sitting next to her. He leaned forward and kissed her temple as he caressed the side of Max's head. Settling her head on Anton's shoulder, Bryn squeezed her eyes shut and thanked God that Max's injury wasn't much worse. She was also thankful their baby was part vampire, so he was able to heal so quickly. Her parents had probably never thought about that fact. There were advantages to Max's vampirism. Rubbing her belly, she knew that Katerina would have them, too. "We're so blessed it's almost unbelievable." "Yes we are," Anton said softly. Bryn had finally calmed down, and Max would be in a moment or two, if the hiccups between his cries were to be believed. "Do you want me to finish giving Max his bath so you can change into something else?" he asked, gesturing at her stained top. Bryn nodded. It wasn't so much that she was worried about the blood on her. She thought it would probably be better if Anton bathed Max anyway. It would be awful if she tried to do it and Max started screaming again. Pushing herself to her feet, she squeezed Anton's shoulder before walking out of the room. By the time she got to the master bedroom, her shaking was worse. And when she finally reached the walk-in closet, her silent tears had returned. [I'm so sorry, sweet pea. Mommy didn't mean to let go...] After watching Bryn leave, Anton lowered Max into the water. The boy seemed uncertain, but Anton gently scrubbed the tiny body, making soothing noises. Eventually, Max's whimpers stopped. "Here, we'll let Mommy wash your hair tomorrow. You've had enough drama for tonight," he said, remembering how Max hated to get his head wet. Drying him off with and then wrapping him into a big, fluffy towel, Anton returned to the bedroom. "Bryn, do you have pajamas and a diaper here for him?" Wiping at her face, Bryn sniffed and walked back to the bedroom without her clothes. "Um...no, but I'll get some out." She headed for Max's dresser, picking out the right stuff. "It sounds like he's feeling better, finally." "He was just a bit startled, my dear. And it's not comfortable growing a new tooth like that. I should let him feed a little extra tonight." Laying Max down on the bed, he slipped the diaper on and started fastening it. He pulled Max into a sitting up position. "There." He looked over at Bryn. "Would you like to put the pajamas on him, my dear?" She hesitated for a moment and mentally chastised herself for it. It wasn't Max's fault that she was a walking disaster area. She couldn't pull away from him or she'd end up making him think it was his fault. Reaching out to take the pajamas from Anton's hand, she pulled Max in to her lap. Unaware that she was holding her breath to make sure he wouldn't start to cry Max looked up at his mother and reached up, patting her cheek. Anton smiled. "See, no harm done." He settled onto the bed next to her. "And it wasn't your fault, my dear. It was an accident. One that could have as easily happened to me." She gave him a soft smile, then leaned in and kissed Max's forehead. "I'm just very glad that he was able to heal from it. I think I would've been completely hysterical by now if he hadn't." Pulling his pajama top over his head, Bryn said, "Peek a boo!" to Max when he looked up at her face. "I see you!" Anton's smile grew wider as Max made a sound between a giggle and a raspberry. "See, everything is fine. No lasting damage." He bent down and kissed the downy top of his son's head, and then the silky one of his wife. He lifted Max just under the underarms as Bryn tugged up his bottoms over his diaper. "And now that he's all clean and dressed, it will be time to change his diaper." Bryn laughed, tickling Max's sides until he squealed. "Daddy's silly, huh?" Picking him up, she pulled him close and hugged him tightly. "I love you so much, sweet pea. And I'm sorry you fell." She kissed him again, then was rewarded by another pat on her face with a slobbery hand. Anton noted Max's drooping eyes even as Max tried to pat his mommy. "Shall we put him to bed, my dear? It looks like he's fine, and probably this excitement has worn him out." Bryn nodded, kissing Max's soft cheek. "I think Jess said he already had his bottle, so he should be okay...for a little while anyway." Scooting towards the edge of the bed, she got to her feet and headed for the door--only to stop a few feet away. "All of this talk about Marrok makes me nervous. I think I'd feel better if he slept in here, in the cradle. Would you mind getting his blankie?" He was sure that Marrok wasn't the only reason that she wanted Max close, but Anton didn't say it. "Okay, my dear." He got up and padded towards Max's room in search of the blanket. Pulling the light blue blanket from the cradle, Anton returned to the bedroom. Settling Max down on his side, Bryn stroked his hair gently until Anton returned. He was still so little, despite being nine-months old. It wasn't that he was undersized...he just seemed so innocent and defenseless. She had to protect him, to be more careful with him. But even as she thought it, Max tried to grab her finger and chomp down on it. "You forgot--you were going to feed him." "Ah yes," Anton said. He took Max from Bryn and offered him his finger. He couldn't help the surge of pride that went through him as Max's eyes glowed and his son bit down on his finger. He sat down on the bed next to Bryn. "Are you okay, my dear? I don't mean about what happened in the bathroom, but what went on over at Nate and Lindy's?" "Yeah...why wouldn't I be?" She frowned a bit. "I'm very glad you're not going with him. And that he's not going. I know he's angry and frustrated, but that was a very stupid idea for four people to do. Even if they are vampires and werewolves. I'm very surprised Lindy wasn't putting up more of a fuss." Anton leaned against Bryn slightly. "Don't count Lindy out yet. I bet once we were gone, Lindy raised a fuss then." He rocked Max in his arms. "To be honest, I completely understand why Nathaniel wants to do this. To protect Liam. But he can be reckless, and that worries me." Moving a bit closer as well, Bryn wrapped her arm around his waist and settled her chin on his shoulder. "Exactly. And whether you agreed with me or not, I wasn't about to let you go with him. I would've gladly knocked you over the head with a frying pan before got out the door." He grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Did you know how sexy you look when you threaten domestic violence, my dear?" Realizing that there was no suction on his finger, he looked down at Max, who was now sound asleep. "And it looks like he's down for the night, my dear." Still giggling at his comment, she let go of him so he could get up and settle Max in the crib. She couldn't seem to stop smiling now. Leave it to Anton to lift her mood--he rarely ever failed. Scooting back on the bed until she was full length upon it, she settled on to her side. Waiting. The view, as he was bending over, was very nice indeed. He straightened up and turned around. The smile on his face was for a completely different reason than earlier as he took in his naked wife. His eyes caressed her body, lingering on the swell of her stomach before sliding up to her breasts and higher. Walking around to his side of the bed, he climbed onto it and leaned one arm over her so his face hovered just over hers. He drank in the sight and scent of her and then pulled her upper lip between his. Bryn grinned against his mouth, her hand lifting to slide in to his hair. She moaned as he kissed her, her tongue coming out to play with his. Pulling him down next to her, she slid her leg over his and pressed her hand to his ass, wanting him as close as possible. Although she was getting to the point where having him on top of her was uncomfortable, she still needed to feel him pressed against her from head to toe He molded his body to her every curve. One hand glided down to the small of her back, fingers teasingly dipping into the cleft of her ass. With a heavy breath, he pulled away from her mouth to whisper in her ear. "Bryn, undress me," he breathed out before nipping her earlobe. [Gladly,] she thought to herself, leaning closer to his mouth as she started to unbutton his shirt. Her fingers fumbled a bit in her haste, and she let out a soft sound of amusement, rubbing her hand over the warm skin she uncovered. She squeaked, when he playfully bit her neck, and tugged his shirt over his shoulders nearly hard enough to rip it. "Easy there, my dear," he whispered against her skin, hearing a pop as seam gave in his shirt. "You'll want to be a bit more gentle there," he said as she undid his belt. His hips were squirming as she started to unzip his fly, seeking firmer contact with her hand. "You wouldn't want to frighten or injure Moby, would you? "No...of course not. I want him to come out and play with me." She was more careful with his pants...deliberately so. Taking her time and making him wait. All the while kissing and nipping at his chest. making red circles with her teeth on his flesh. Anton moaned. "He definitely wants to come out and play with you, my dear." From her playfulness, he could tell she was doing a lot better now. She was now focused on him, and he was enjoying it immensely. The fingers resting in the crease of her ass lightly rubbed against her anus before dipping lower. Bryn squeezed one of his thighs between hers, whimpering softly as she kissed his mouth. Sliding his zipper down all the way, she slipped her hand inside his slacks and wrapped her hand around his silk-encased cock. She felt him flinch a bit and grinned against his mouth, stroking him slowly, leisurely, moaning in approval as his hips followed her hand. His eyes fluttered shut, as he concentrated on his hips moving with her hand and her lips roamed over his chest. He pressed closer against her, which was getting harder to curve around her belly. But he savored the difficulty, knowing that he wouldn't have this opportunity again. Panting softly, Bryn pulled her hand out of his pants, concentrating on pushing them and his boxers off his hips. His cock was straining towards her and her hands were shaking with her erratic movements. She wanted--no, needed him inside her. Her bites to his flesh became more frantic and forceful, making him wince, but she was paying little attention to his face. Jerking his pants down the rest of the way with her foot, she dragged him closer and returned her mouth to his with a searching kiss. His own kiss matched hers in intensity. Anton's hands went to her hips and he shifted, rolling onto his back. He helped settle her onto his thighs, just in front of his straining cock. His hands wandered up her sides before gliding around to the front to cup her breasts and squeeze lightly. Bryn quickly scooted forward, pressing his cock against his belly and settling lightly on top of it. Sitting on his thighs wasn't any fun compared to this. As he squeezed her, she moaned softly and lazily shifted her hips back and forth. Her thighs had little tremors running through them from the friction of his cock against her clit. "Mmmmmm..." He pushed his hips against hers in counter rhythm as he kneaded her breasts like a large cat. "You look like a goddess, Bryn. Soft skin, silky hair, laser bright eyes..." Reverently, his hands slid down to her stomach, resting lightly over where Kat would be. "Fertile belly." She grinned at him, planting her hands on either side of his head and leaning down to kiss his lips. "Sugar...that's because I am one. I'm damned hot and everybody knows it." "That's right," Anton agreed. He lifted his head to kiss her. "And you're all mine. Everybody may know it, but I'm the only one who will experience it." His hands slipped to her hips and he lifted her up. Shifting slightly, the head of his cock caressed her entrance, but he held her still, not letting her sink down on him just yet. Bryn squirmed, fighting his grip. "Goddesses don't get treated like this! I object. You should be kissing my feet and bowing, damn it--" She gasped when he abruptly pulled her down hard on to his cock. "Ohhh...never mind..." Anton chuckled, his eyes squinted shut and his head thrown at the sensation of her squeezing his cock. "I'll do that after you cum, my dear." Planting his feet flat against the mattress, he started heaving upwards, thrusting deep in side of her. "You are definitely a goddess, Sabryn, because you feel divine." Bryn nodded, as if agreeing with him, all the while backing in to his thrusts, her eyes closed in concentration. He felt divine and she wanted to tightly caress his cock all day long. She loved every nudge of his cock head against her cervix, especially the fact that he could please her so effectively and be so gentle at the same time. He bit his lower lip in concentration as he lifted into her again and again and again. He let out a sharp gasp as she squeezed him at the apex of each thrust. Giving her a devious smile, he slipped his finger between her legs to rub against her clit with every move he made. Bryn whimpered, leaning forward even further to add to the pressure. Her mouth dropped open, a long moan escaping her throat. Every slap of his hips against her ass, every bounce of his balls, felt like a bolt of electricity, and she couldn't seem to stop trembling. "Feels so good..." Anton let out a long hiss. Every twitch, every squeeze was sending a shock of pure pleasure up his spine. The finger on her clit moved back and forth faster and faster. He wanted to feel the trembling of her body become convulsions pleasure, which would trigger his. Sweating, her legs tiring from the endless movements, Bryn reached back and grabbed his knees, letting her body go limp for the last few thrusts it took to make her cum. Her head falling back on her shoulders, she let out a soft wail and started contracting around him, shuddering heavily upon him. She felt her belly jiggle and suddenly thought of Santa Claus...which made her laugh...and in turn, made her shudder even harder. He wasn't sure why she was laughing, but he loved the sensation it produced. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down even harder on him, his hips giving short, abrupt thrusts. "Ahhhh..." he whispered as colored lights exploded behind his eyelids. But after a few moments, he relaxed his grip on her and sank back against the bed, panting lightly. Bryn leaned back against his thighs, grateful for the support against her back. Her chest rising and falling rapidly, she closed her eyes as she waited to catch her breath. After a moment, she leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss before moving to lower herself on to her side next to him. She smiled as he twisted with her, his hands holding her hips close to keep them joined as long as possible. Lying on his side of the bed, she nuzzled his pillow and breathed in deeply. "I want to sleep over here today. I want to be able to smell you everywhere." Anton smiled pulled himself next to her, nose brushing her soft hair. She seemed to have completely forgotten the incident with the tooth. And Anton felt a surge of gratitude that his son did take after him, that he had vampiric traits. This incident, and other's like it, wouldn't leave lasting marks on Max or reminders of unnecessary guilt for Bryn. He smiled softly as he kissed the top of her head. Snuggling close to him, she was quiet as she drew little circles on his chest with her fingertip. She was tired, but didn't want to go to sleep just yet. Instead she settled her head on his upper arm and contented herself with touching him. "Was there anything that you used to do...that's maybe different from us, after making love to your other wives?" "Afterwards?" Anton said, thinking for a moment. He gathered her close and rubbed her shoulders. "Well, it depends. Brinley and I snuggled close like this. Annaliese and I would indulge in a snack. And Diane," he added with a slightly sheepish grin, "would untie me." She smirked at him and rubbed her nose against his chest. "Every time you talk about Annaliese, you mention food. I take it she was a big eater. Did it show?" "Somewhat, my dear. She was...what would now be called voluptuous. But at the time, it was considered attractive for a woman to be more than skin and bones like most aspire to be today." He nuzzled her temple with the tip of his nose. "And to tell you the truth, I prefer a woman with a bit of padding." Bryn narrowed her eyes and pulled back to look at him. "Did you just call me fat without actually saying it?" "No, there is a difference. I like a little bit of padding, but not too much..." Anton squirmed a bit. "No matter how I explain, it's going to sound like I did, isn't it?" he said with a bit of a laugh. She nodded, her eyebrow arched. But she smiled at him. "It doesn't matter. Just as long as you still like me anyway. I'm never going to look like Lindy. I'm not built like she is. And she hasn't had a baby, with another one on the way...as much as I'm sure she'd like to." Bryn licked her lips. "But I would like it if you'd warn me before I go from voluptuous to fat. I at least want to know that I'm going over the line." "Okay, I'll warn you, I promise." His hand caressed over her stomach, resting just below her navel. "But you have nothing to worry about, my dear. I don't want you to look like Lindy. I want you to look like you, because that's the woman I fell in love with." She gave him another small smile and turned over in his arms, pressing her back against his belly. Settling her head on his pillow, she let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes. She believed he meant what he said...and she meant what she'd said, about it not mattering. Her body would never be "thin". It hadn't been since she hit puberty. It was as if one night she went to bed a skinny girl and woke up the next day with women's hips and thighs. With breasts that were so embarrassingly big on her frame that everyone stared. As if she wasn't enough of a freak already. No, it didn't really matter if she was called voluptuous or fat. But it still hurt a little bit coming from him. [He didn't call you fat. He just said he didn't prefer skinny girls.] Truly, it wasn't his fault and she couldn't be mad at him. She'd led him right in to the question in the first place. Maybe she'd been waiting for him to say that...hoping for a little heart ache. It was what she knew best. And no matter how good life seemed to get, she never really felt normal unless she was hurting a bit. Finally, the proverbial "other shoe" had fallen, and she could relax--no longer wondering when happiness would come to a crashing halt. Anton was a bit puzzled by how relaxed she felt against him. He had expected her to pull away entirely, sulking and angry at him. Or to keep accusing him of calling her fat without using those exact words. He raised up on one elbow so he could sort of see her face. "Bryn? What is it?" She met his gaze over her shoulder, pulling in a deep breath. "I'm...not happy with myself. I think I asked you that question on purpose, hoping that you would say that. Because then I could be sad." She turned slightly, aware that he didn't understand. "When I start feeling really happy, I get worried...because it's not something I'm completely used to. And I've always believed that happiness is balanced with an equal amount of grief. So when I feel good about myself and my family, I start to wonder when the bad stuff is coming." Bryn swallowed. "Sometimes I think I make the bad stuff happen myself, just so I can stop being afraid and I won't be surprised by it." He kissed her forehead, trying to understand what she said. "I think I understand what you mean, Bryn," he said softly. "You bring some of this on yourself as a way to control it." He pulled back a bit so he could look at her. "Have you ever thought how much energy you're putting into making bad stuff happen? Energy that could be put towards your painting, or playing with Max, or enjoying being with me?" Anton gently stroked her hair. "Do you want to talk to Mr. Mulder about this?" She nodded rapidly. "I need to. I don't like it. I think...my rationalization is that the stuff I create is never as bad as the things that *could* happen. But I just realized that it is as bad--to you. I treat you very unfairly and I hate that." Her eyes moistening, she looked up at him. "I can think of so many times we've fought, that I've blamed you for things that were really my fault. And I'm so sorry. I'm not even sure you should forgive me for that. I would be so mean to you, so angry. And you didn't do anything wrong." "And there were times when I deserved it, my dear." He gently cupped her chin, not allowing her to look away. "So now we've got this out in the open, and we're going to deal with it. When you start feeling scared, when you start looking for something wrong because everything is too right, I want you to tell me. So we can work on it together and keep you from having to go to that painful place to relieve your stress." Chin wobbling, she nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry, Anton. I didn't know I was doing it, consciously. I know that's no excuse, but I didn't set out to intentionally hurt you." "I know, my dear." He kissed her eyes shut and then her nose lightly. "I know you don't mean to hurt me, and that you weren't aware you were doing it. Just as I kept saying I didn't understand why you love a blood sucking vampire. But now that we both know that we're doing that, we're going to take steps to stop it. I'm going to help you, and you're going to help me. Do we have a deal?" She nodded, giving him a genuine smile. Turning completely on her side to face him, she wrapped her arms tightly around him and squeezed him close. Rubbing her cheek against his chest affectionately. "I always do feel better after talking to you about stuff. I don't know how, but you always manage to make me feel less neurotic." Anton smirked at her. "It's a gift." His fingers gently combed through her hair, reveling in its silkiness. "And I feel better after talking to you also, my dear. It's not always easy, but you remind me that there's more to me than the desire to drink blood." He kissed her lips. "Ya tebya lyublyu, Sabryn. So much." "Ya tebya lyublyu," she said in reply, smiling. "So much. And there are a billion ways you're more than a vampire. But don't ask me to name every single one of them." She grinned. Bryn stroked his cheek, holding his gaze. "The vampire is the last part of you I fell in love with, Anton. You showed me your soul first. And I was helpless from then on." Anton smiled. "I could argue that I showed you a few things before you saw my soul." He tucked her head under his chin and snuggled closer to her. "I think our souls recognized each other the moment we met, my dear. And that's why we ended up going to bed together so quickly - our spirits were tired of going through the preliminaries and wanted to get to the good stuff. That was so unlike me, my dear, and that's the only reason I can think of to explain my actions that night." Rubbing her hands over his broad back, Bryn smiled. "Well, you know for sure that it was unlike me to do something like that. I'm actually a little surprised that I managed to hold out long enough to walk along the beach. I think that was my conscience talking...because the rest of me wanted you from the second I saw you. I would've gladly disappeared in to a dark alley to have you, if you'd asked me to." "Ah, but you deserve so much more than a quick fuck in the back of an alley, especially that night." He bent down to whisper in her ear, breath tickling her lobe lightly. "If I had known ahead of time, I would have had flowers filling the room. The finest silk sheets. Scented candles softly glowing everywhere. Massage oils. Decadent chocolates to feed you. And I would have made you understand what I was so you wouldn't have panicked afterwards." Bryn closed her eyes and smiled, imagining it. "I know you would have. You would've made it perfect. Maybe we could do that some time in the future." Turning her head, she met his gaze. "But that night...it was perfect just the way it was. All of my senses were heightened, and I was so in awe of you. Long before you ever revealed your vampirism to be real. You were--still are, the most beautiful man I've ever seen. The kindest and most attentive man. And when you slid inside me, I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. If you'd asked me to stay right then, I would've said yes." Her expression sobered. "That's the only thing I'll ever regret about that night. I never, ever should've walked away from you. It's the stupidest thing I've ever done." "And it's over with, and turned out for the best, my dear. I don't want to hear you beating yourself up about it anymore." He softly kissed her cheek and neck before moving to her mouth. "You were so beautiful that night, and have been every night after. And when you told me it was your first time, I couldn't help but want to make sure it was heavenly for you." She smiled at him, squeezing him gently. "Do you ever wonder about what you might be doing now if you hadn't been able to find me? If either of us managed to survive it, that is." "I would probably be doing the same thing. Just living day to day. Running the business. Just...existing." He gently stroked her hair back from her head. "How about you, my dear?" She ignored his question for the moment, wanting to know something else first. "Would you have tried to meet someone else?" "If that opportunity arose, yes. But we've talked about this before. I have dated between times, but it's never really worked. And I doubt that it would work until we found out way to each other, my dear." She wasn't sure she liked that response--the thought that he might just give up until she came along again. At the same time, the idea of him dating other women wasn't exactly to her liking either. "What did you do on these dates? There were really none of them that you dated more than once?" "Once or twice usually. Maybe three or four times for a couple of them. And we, well, dated. Dinners, movies, plays, courting, carriage rides, whatever was appropriate for the age. But most of the time, it just didn't click." She wanted to ask him if he'd kissed them, or possibly more, but she knew that would be exactly the type of question she now needed to avoid. Even if she was curious. "I just...wanted to know. You know, that you wouldn't have given up entirely. You never know. There could be--could've been--someone out there who is just the kind of girl you'd like to spend time with...between, or whatever." She nibbled on the corner of her lip. "I don't like the idea of you being lonely. It makes me sad. There are so many women out there who would love to love you...and be loved by you. Even if only for a little while." "I never gave up...no, that's not quite right, Bryn. When Brinley died, I was ready to end it. I thought that was the end of my life, and the end of my chances to love. But unlike when Mother died, I couldn't bring myself to suicide. So I moved on. Eventually I did find other friends and found you again. I did try to date, was social, but it just never clicked until I met you again. But I never fully gave up. Especially when I learned that there would always be another chance." She nodded, settling her head on his arm again. "I honestly don't know what I would've done if you hadn't found me. Maybe I'd be a world famous artist by now. But even if I was, I wouldn't have been happy. I would've felt very empty without you. And although I doubt I'd know why, I'd be able to feel a loss without Max and Kat, too. I'd just feel very hollow inside." He gently trailed his fingers through her hair. "Do you think you would have found a lover, Bryn? Or would you be hiding from everyone still?" Anton looked into her eyes deeply. "I wouldn't want to think of you as lonely either." "I would like to think so...that after being with you, I'd get enough courage to meet other people eventually. But it would've taken a while. Then again, I could have met someone in my college classes." She shrugged her shoulders. "I felt so inexperienced, even after being with you. I think it would've taken years for anything to change." "And I'm glad that it didn't. I'm glad that we found each other again, and didn't have to spend more time apart." He kissed her forehead and her eyes, inhaling her scent deeply. "And I wouldn't change a moment of it." Bryn snuggled closer to him, pressing her cheek to his chest. "I guess it's pretty silly of me to jealous of girls you dated, huh?" "No more than me being jealous of that jerk you dated in high school. Yes," he said as she jerked up to look at him in surprise. "Yes. He didn't deserve you, but I'm jealous at the thought that he had his hands on you, that he kissed you, even if he was being a selfish bastard trying to get off without caring if her hurt you." Bryn smiled brightly and pushed up to kiss his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck. Maybe it was a sick, psychotic sort of thing, but she loved it when he told her he was jealous. It didn't just make her feel beautiful; it made her feel loved. Hugging him tightly, she whispered against his lips, "I'm glad. I wish I'd known that sooner." "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, my dear," he whispered back. His eyes took on a lusty twinkle. "Especially if you're willing to show me exactly how glad you are." She laughed, nodding. "Of course. When have I not?" Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him eagerly, parting his lips with her tongue and exploring deeply. Her hands came up to frame his face and she moaned softly as his hands cupped her ass. Pulling away from his mouth with a soft sucking sound, she met his gaze, panting. "I don't ever want to imagine you with another woman again. It makes me want to scream." "Mmmm... The only screams I want to hear are as you cum." He took her head in his hands and kissed her again, his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth. His body rubbed sensually against hers, his leg working its way between hers again. Whimpering, she scooted lower on the bed, hoping to get closer to his leg, wanting to feel his thigh pressed tight against her crotch. Threading her fingers in to hair, she sucked at his tongue. She still felt a little uneasy from their recent conversation and needed to feel his reassuring touches, to see how eager he was to touch her, to hold her. As much as she wanted sex, that wasn't going to do it for her. Bryn wanted all of him, his body, heart, and soul. His hands moved down to cup her shoulders and then splay against her back. He caressed her skin as he sucked on her lips, gently nipping. "What would you like, Bryn?" he whispered in her ear? "How do you want me?" She simply held on to him for a little while, enjoying his closeness and warmth of his skin. Then she sucked his earlobe in to her mouth and let it slowly slide from between her lips. "I want to turn around on my side, so you're behind me. And I want you really tight against my back. I want to be able to feel you everywhere." He had been hoping that she would say that. "Then roll over, my dear." Anton helped move her into position, but he didn't enter her just yet. With his erection cradled in the cleft of her ass, he pressed closer to her, moaning as his hands slipped up her stomach to cup both full breasts. "Like this, my dear?" he whispered in her ear. Bryn nodded vigorously, reaching back to grip the back of his thighs. "Just like this. You're so warm. Especially right here," she said, wiggling her ass. His fingers gently plucked at her nipples. "Keep that up, my dear, and I'll be warm and wet." He nipped at her neck, jumping slightly as she wiggled her ass again. "You are incorrigible, my dear." She smiled, leaning her head back on his shoulder. "You asked what I wanted. Now what do you want? Anything special?" "No," he said without any hesitation. "I have everything I could ever want right here." A hand curved down her stomach, pausing as Katerina kicked it. "Yes, definitely everything I could ever want." Bryn giggled. "She's reminding you not to hog up all the space in there." Still grinning, she turned her head and met his gaze, then kissed him, lingering against his lips. "I love you. And I want you to hold me really tight today. I don't want to feel even a centimeter of space between us. I need you so much." "You have me, Bryn," he said as he kissed her lips lightly. "I'm yours." He rolled his hips so his erection rubbed against her perineum, seeking entrance. His hand continued to stroke down her belly, coming to rest lightly with a finger between the lips of her sex. He kissed the back of her neck. "I love you so much, Bryn." Whimpering again, Bryn pushed back against his cock to bring him even closer to entering her. She turned her head again to kiss him, holding the back of his neck and enjoying the soft sucking sound their mouths made. Sometime she thought she could tape record their lovemaking and orgasm all over again just listening to the noises they made. They'd have to try that some time. Squeezing her muscles, she tried to capture the head of his cock, only to have it pop free at the last moment. Letting out a soft grunt of disappointment, she tried again and was rewarded by a shallow thrust of his hips. He pushed a few inches inside her, making her breath catch. "Ohhhmmmyessss.... su-gar... I love you so much...so much." He nipped at the back of her neck as he held his position, wanting to tease them both. But eventually he gave into the squeezing muscles, wanting to feel them along his length and not just the head of his cock. But he still teased, letting his finger lightly rest on her clit as he shoved inside of her. Panting softly, clutched his arm and urged him to hold still. She wanted to concentrate on that feeling of fullness, on being completed by him. He was everything to her, and if it took forever, she'd find every way she could to show him. No more blaming him for stupid things her fear invented. From that moment on, she was going to do her best to be a wife he could be proud of--someone whose pictures he'd show to business clients, who took care of his home and well as his professional interests. She would be someone who made him forget every other woman he'd ever encountered. Now she was determined to please him. Anton kissed the back of her head, nuzzling her hairline. As tense as her muscles were, she seemed more relaxed now. His hand gently squeezed her breast. Lightly his lips explored the back of her neck, inhaling her scent. Now that she had her mind on more pleasant things, he was going to do his best to keep it there. She let out a soft moan, backing her ass against his hips. As he lazily began thrusting, she shuddered lightly and turned her head to smile at him. She held his gaze for a long minute before, rubbing her nose against his and then leaning in closer for a kiss. Pressing her foot against his calf, she used the leverage to tilt and rotate her hips, varying the angle of his thrusts, opening her legs up wider to give him more room. He let out a soft moan as his eyes drifted shut. Anton kissed her and then let his thrusts become a little more forceful. His finger on her clit also began to circle it, lightly manipulating it. He let out a contented rumble at how she squeezed and pushed against his groin. Straining against him, Bryn lifted her arm to wrap it around the back of his neck. She nipped and pulled at his lips, sucking the lower in to her mouth and lazily letting it escape. The firm slap of his groin against her ass made her entire body shake, her breasts bouncing, which he found too enticing to ignore. Squeeze one large globe in his hand, he pinched at her sensitive nipple until she gasped. Anton moved even faster against her, adding a circular motion to his thrusts. His fingers countered with an opposing circular motion on both her breast and her clit. His mouth nipped at her lips, trying to pull on them and sucking greedily. He inhaled her scent deeply groaning as her muscles squeezed his cock intensely. Whining, Bryn stopped all motions except the tightening of her sex, squeezing him unmercifully, her body trembling with force. When he pushed down hard on her clit, she squealed, immediately releasing him as her orgasm shook through her hips and nearly pulled her right out of his grasp. Bryn gave a shocked moan, digging her fingernails in to his arm to hold on. He let out a sharp yelp, belatedly remembering that Max was in the room with them. But that thought didn't stop him from flooding her sex. He shook against her holding her tight against his body, not wanting her to move an inch away from him. Her chest rising and falling rapid, she reached back to tug him close as well. His breath was hot against her skin, but she loved the feel of it--loved knowing that she'd worn him out. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, she felt exhausted and satisfied, her sex continuing to gently grip and release him as he softened. "I don't want to move all day." "Neither do I." His breathing slowed eventually, but he kept his mouth pressed against her neck. "And hopefully Max will stay asleep so we won't have to." He planted soft kisses, feather brushes of his lips against skin. "I love you so much, my dear." Hugging him awkwardly from the front, Bryn smiled. "I love you so much, too, sugar." She paused for a moment, savoring his words. "Say it again, please? I could never hear that enough." "And I could never say it enough. Because I do, my dear. I love you so very, very much." He gently squeezed her breast again. "And I will forever and ever." Bryn let out a deep sigh, letting the tension seep out of every muscle in her body. Her round belly was pressing uncomfortably on her bladder and her back hurt, but she wasn't about to complain. She hadn't felt better in weeks. "I love you so very, very much, too, Anton," she murmured, her drooping eyelids slipping closed. "And I always will. Even in my dreams." End Chapter One Hundred Thirty <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->