Chapter One Hundred Forty-two

Bryn walked around the kitchen with a baby on her hip and her son hugging her leg, feeling perfectly content for the first time in a long while. They had been home for almost two weeks and it finally felt as if things weren't going to change at a moment's notice. She took sublime pleasure in the simple things, like feeding the horses, playing with the dog, and spending time with the children. But best of all was every second with Anton.

Having woken up from his nap, Anton watched her from the doorway. He was relieved that things were returning to normal for them. And although he was grateful for the time alone with Bryn and the children, it was time for him to take another step towards normalcy. "Hey there, my dear."

Bryn smiled at him, and watched as Max started to walk over to where he stood. "Hi, sugar. I was just about to start dinner. Anything special you want for a vegetable?"

"Hmmm... scalloped potatoes sound good, my dear. Why don't you hand me some and I'll start peeling?" Walking around the island to join her, he gave the dog a pat. "And maybe I'll drop a scrap or two for Petunia."

Reaching in to the pantry, Bryn grabbed the bag of potatoes and handed it to him. "I think Max would rather you play with him." Bouncing Kat a bit, she added, "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to put her down now. Get ready for the tears of rage."

"Oh dear," Anton said as he knelt down and held his arms out to Max. The boy eagerly toddled over to him and put his arms around his father's neck. Standing up, he winced as Bryn put Kat down on table and she voiced her displeasure. Anton reached over and put his hand on her stomach. "It's okay, Kat."

Bryn let out a soft groan. "Maybe I should just fix the dinner while you sit with them. Less stress all around."

"Sounds like a good idea, my dear." Anton sat down on a chair by the table. He continued to rub Kat's belly as Max laid limply against him. "I was thinking my dear, we've made some good progress since we've come home." He took a deep breath. "Perhaps it's time I take it to the next step."

Bryn froze, worried he was about to say he was going to take her hunting. She swallowed heavily, turning to face him. "I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

"I know, my dear," Anton said gently. He knew that Bryn enjoyed having him close, and that going back to work would be a bit traumatic. "It can be tough the first few times. That was why I was thinking that maybe I should start with a week of four hour shifts instead of full nights."

She frowned. "Huh? Four-hour shifts? I don't think we're talking about the same thing." Walking a step closer, she sat down in the chair next to his. "You want to go back to work?"

Anton nodded. "Yes. I was thinking that I should start going back to the warehouse. Why? What are you not sure you're ready for?"

She let out a sigh. "Hunting." She smiled. "Not nearly ready for that. But I'm not so sure I'm ready for you to go back to work, either."

"Yeah, we were talking about two different things," he chuckled. "I think that the sooner I go back to work, that things are more like they used to be, the better it will be for all of us. We can't keep hiding, living like we're still on the run from Lilith."

"And as for hunting, I think you're right. You're not ready for that yet. And thankfully, you won't have to be ready for a while. But you're closer to it than you think."

She reached out and grabbed hold of his hand. "I wish I could keep you here forever. Not because I want to hide, but because I love you and want to be with you." She lowered her gaze. "It's hard to let you out of my sight, still. It makes me nervous. But if this is something you want to do, I'm not going to stop you."

Anton squeezed her hand. "I love you, my dear. And it's very tempting to just stay here and hide from the rest of the world. But there is a part of me that needs things to be like they were before. I know they won't be exactly, but I need to try to make it like it was."

Bryn rubbed her hand over her eyes. "Okay."

He was surprised that she gave in so quickly. "Bryn, if you're not comfortable with me going, tell me and I'll stay."

"No, because then it will be my fault that you're unhappy." She stood up and walked back in the kitchen. "Just go. I'll deal with it. I won't be happy about it, but I'll deal with it."

Anton sighed heavily. "Bryn," he said standing up. And was reminded by a wail that Katerina did not want to be alone. Shifting both babies onto a shoulder each, he followed Bryn into the kitchen. "If you're not comfortable with this, I'll wait."

Grabbing a few potatoes, she started washing them in the sink. She knew she was being a brat, but she couldn't help it. It was too soon. "I'm not going to be comfortable with this for a long time. We have two small children at home. I'm not sure if I'm all that ready to watch them by myself. But I'm never going to find out if I never do it."

"We also have family that is willing to help us, my dear." Anton reminded her. "And if this doesn't work, if I'm at all uncomfortable, I'll come home and wait a while before I try again. And if I think you're too uncomfortable, or are not able to handle the kids on your own, I'll stay home. I promise."

She stopped her scrubbing and turned off the faucet. "Okay. When are you going?"

Anton took a deep breath. "I was thinking maybe on Monday. Give us a few more days together."

She nodded. "We can go shopping on Saturday and get you some new shoes."

"That would be nice, my dear." Stepping closer to her, Anton nuzzled her cheek. "Thank you for letting me do this, my dear."

She wanted to tell him she didn't have a choice, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she turned her head and kissed him softly before returning to her task. "I need to finish dinner."

"Okay." Anton took a deep breath. He knew she wasn't happy about the fact that he was going back to work. But he felt the sooner they got back to a normal routine, the better.

She could see his disappointment out of the corner of her eye and it made her feel ashamed. "I'm sorry, Anton. I'm just going to miss you. And I hate that feeling. Especially these days."

"It's okay, my dear. Because I'm going to let you in on a secret." He leaned over to whisper in her ear, shifting the babies carefully out of the way. "I'm going to miss you, too. And these little ones."

She wanted to tell him that was all the more reason he shouldn't go, but she didn't. "Promise it's only going to be four-hour days?"

"I promise." He nuzzled her ear again. "In fact, you can tell Seth just to make sure that I don't work over a four hour day."

She smiled at that. Seth probably would have him timed down to the second. But that wasn't the only reason she was smiling. His flirtatious nuzzling was making her quiver. "Okay, then."

Anton pressed his lips to the top of her ear. "Thank you, my dear." He started to lower Kat and Max so he could kiss further down along Bryn's neck, but both babies cried in protest. "Well, so much for showing you how thankful I am."

Bryn smirked at him. "Why don't you show me by reading them a story while I fix dinner?"

"Okay, my dear." Carrying the kids over to the living room, his voice floated back as he talked with the kids. "Which story would you like to hear? Jack and the Bean Stalk? Or Goldilocks and the Three Bears?"

"Beaw," Max chirped, patting the bears on the book. Kat was far more concerned with staring adoringly at her daddy. Smiling to herself, Bryn started slicing the potatoes in to a glass pan.

"Goldilocks and the Three Bears it is then." Anton picked up the book and tucked both children against his stomach. Settled in, he began to read the story to his children. And everything felt right with the world.

He stepped back into the office like he had only been gone five hours instead of five months.

Lindy had kept his office dust free and the paperwork out of his hair. The only major crisis Anton had to deal with was explaining to concerned employees why he had left suddenly and then reappeared. "Family trouble overseas," was all he would say, and most of his employees seemed to accept that without question.

Still it felt strange to be back in the warehouse, somewhere he had never expected to be again. Anton sat down and started up his computer, wondering if he could remember his password.

The intercom buzzed a second before Michelle's voice sounded. "Boss, your wife is on line one." There was a pause. "And what should I do about Mr. Christos?"

"Give him something to file," Anton said, recognizing a frazzled tone in her voice. "Or send him in here. He can work on organizing some of the permits while I talk to Bryn. Thank you." He hadn't expected her to call so soon, but was pleased. Picking up the phone, he settled the receiver between his ear and shoulder, barely getting out his hello before she started talking.

"You didn't answer my email. Is everything okay?"

"I just got here, my dear," Anton said. The log in screen just popped up, and he typed in his password. The computer seemed to consider it for a moment before the network initialization message scrolled past. "In fact, I'm booting up my computer right now."

"And how is Seth doing? Any problems so far?" she asked, sounding amused.

"Not yet, but I haven't given him free rein of the building yet. I think I'm going to have to reassure Michelle that he's not going to be taking over her job. Or telling her how to do it." There had been a mostly relaxed working atmosphere, one that was probably alien to Seth's endless organization and schedules. Hopefully, Anton would come up with a way to mesh the two successfully.

Waiting for him to come into his office, he turned the conversation to a more pleasant subject. He leaned back in the chair. "So how are you doing, my dear? How are the kids?"

"Max is watching Finding Nemo, and Kat's just about due for her mid-evening snack. As for me, I'm seriously considering narcolepsy. I know it's not something you can turn on or off like alcoholism, but it should be." She let out a sigh, and then a yawn. "So is it good to be back?"

"Yes, my dear. It's been a little awkward repeating the cover story about family troubles in Europe, but it's nice to know that there are so many people concerned about us." His voice dropped to a whisper. "They seem to think that Seth is a bastard brother of Nathaniel's and mine, and that's why I'm giving him a job here." Anton smiled in amusement as his computer finished booting. He opened his email program and found not one, but a dozen emails from her. "My dear, you've been busy I see."

Bryn giggled. "Had this been a month ago, I would've said they got the bastard part right. Good thing we know better, now. As for the emails...Kat was asleep for once and I was bored. I didn't want to hover over her or I'd wake her up, so I went and read my mail. Of course, I only had mail from my mom, wondering where we were, and I didn't feel like calling her yet, so I wrote to you instead. A couple of times."

"You're lucky you weren't put on our spamblock list," Anton teased. "It's funny my dear, but I already miss you," he said as he opened her emails, reading each one. "I think if you hadn't called, I would be calling you right now."

"You're lucky you weren't put on our spamblock list," Anton teased. "It's funny my dear, but I already miss you," he said as he opened her emails, skimming each one. A more leisurely reading would happen when he wasn't expecting Seth to be in the room. "I think if you hadn't called, I would be calling you right now."

Lazily wandering in to Anton's office, Seth took a seat across from him and tapped his fingers on the armrests.

"Aww," Bryn said, over the phone. He could hear a quavering cry start up in the background, the sound of a hungry infant waking from sleep. "The princess is awake. Hold on a minute while I get set up here." She put down the phone, but he could still hear the muffled sounds of her fixing a bottle for Katerina and getting her ready to eat. Their daughter was growing like a weed. It wasn't long before her crying stopped and Bryn picked up the phone once more. "So, how long do you have to talk before you actually have to start working?"

"Well, Seth just arrived, so I should get working to get him settled. As to my actual job, if the notes that Lindy have left are any indication, I won't have to start working for....two months." Lindy had been diligent and efficient, so much to the point he wondered what he was doing here. "I'm going to take about five minutes to get settled and then start making the rounds."

She let out a wistful sigh. "I wish that meant you could come home. We miss you. 'specially me. I don't have my favorite mattress-slash-blanket here to snuggle up with. The kids are fun, but they squirm around too much when I try to lay on them."

Anton chuckled and bit back his first response since Seth was in the room. And was looking rather fidgety. "Hopefully I'll be able to come home soon, my dear."

"I can't wait to see you. I guess I should let you get to work, huh? The quicker you finish, the better. But don't be surprise if you get some more emails. I miss our dirty IM sessions."

Anton laughed. "Let's save those for tomorrow, my dear. Give us both something to look forward to." He glanced at the online calendar and saw that there was a shipment scheduled to come in that very evening, the perfect thing to help Seth cut his teeth on. He would have to do some actual work shortly. But that didn't mean he couldn't play a little too. "Don't be surprised if you see an email or two from me."

"Yay!" She smiled so bright she was sure he could hear it over the phone. "Did you know that I have a massive crush on you? And every time you do something sweet, I swear I could just float away. I love you so very much."

He could hear a background rumble, the sound of the warehouse doors being lifted to start unloading the truck. And Seth was shifting in the chair impatiently, clearly agitated without something to do. So it was time to get to work for him. "I love you too, my dear." Anton made a kissing noise into the phone. "I have to go now. Give my love to the little ones, but also especially to yourself, Bryn. I'll be home as soon as possible."

"You better...because I'll be here loving myself for you, and you probably won't want to miss out on that."

Anton swallowed, his mouth gone dry at the image playing in his head. Bryn, naked, legs spread wide as she reclined on their bed, long fingers stroking herself...

He shook his head to clear it. "Hold that thought. I'll be home as quickly as possible." And then his cheeks went bright red as he remembered that there was someone in the room with him.

She giggled. "I'll see you later, sugar." She made her own kissy noise in to the phone. "Bye."

"Good bye, my dear." Figuring he couldn't be any more embarrassed than he already was, Anton made a kissy noise into the phone and hung it up. Then he looked across the desk evenly at Seth.

Grinning widely, Seth puckered his lips and made a kissy noise of his own.

"Get used to it Seth," Anton said with a grin. "And don't ever do that around Bryn. She'll kill you in a jealous rage."

It had only been four hours at work, but it seemed much longer than that.

He really hadn't done that much. Lindy had kept the paperwork up to date, and he had a general idea of what was going on. But there were things that kept tripping him up, such as what had been sold since his absence, and what was still out on consignment. Or which employees had changed schedules and were now on the day shift, or on leave of absence.

One thing he had accomplished was showing Seth around the warehouse. It would take some time for everyone to adapt. Seth was used to being in charge of a more high powered, constantly on the go atmosphere than the laid back approach that most of his workers had. There would be some of the inevitable clashes, but hopefully they would be smoothed over quickly.

But for now, Anton was more than glad to be home with Bryn and the kids. He could hear Bryn's voice as he opened the door, talking animatedly. It wasn't until he put away his keys and coat that he realized she was on the phone.

"No, and I can't believed you missed it. But just wait until tomorrow. The previews look so good. Jack is getting arrested, and Erica faints in the courtroom. I think it's a ploy to help him escape." She turned to see Anton standing there and smiled widely. "Yeah, I know you told me. Look, I've got to go. Anton's here. I'll see you tomorrow. Okay. Bye."

Quickly hanging up the phone, she stood up and walked over to kiss him hello. "Hi there. You just missed Nate. We were comparing notes on our soap opera."

Anton smiled and returned the kiss. "I'll try to talk to him later. Lindy asked me to tell him that she'd be home regular time." He lingered close to her. "I missed you, my dear. Thank you for all the emails. And the flowers." He had been surprised when the bouquet of roses arrived for him, but touched when he read the card. "Or were they a bribe for Seth?"

"You'll never know for sure." She smiled enigmatically. "I missed you a lot." She lifted up on to her toes to kiss him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Mmm. And lucky for you, the kids are both sleeping for once, so you have a chance to relax before the madness resumes. So...are you hungry?"

"Very," Anton said, making a show of rubbing his stomach. "I only did a half day, but it seemed to be one of the longest I've done in a while." He took a seat at the counter, glad to be off his feet. "So...whatcha gonna feed me?"

"Dinner. Of course, it also depends on what you want. We have pizza, or I could make some chicken fettucini Alfredo. What do you think? The chicken might taste better, but the pizza is easier. It's up to you, though."

His stomach rumbled. "I think that's our answer my dear. Let's go for the pizza." He kissed her forehead again. "And maybe for dessert we can have each other?" he said with a waggle of his eyebrows. "Assuming the kids are still asleep, of course."

She grinned, setting the oven temperature. "I think we can have each other as an appetizer. Assuming that you don't mind rushing it to twenty minutes." Walking to the freezer, she pulled out the frozen pizza and ripped open the box, placing it on a cookie sheet before heading back to Anton as the oven heated. "Let's make out while the oven gets ready."

"No arguments from me, my dear." He slipped off the chair and stepped towards her, arms reaching out to pull Bryn closer. "So how much do you miss our dirty IM sessions, my dear? Hopefully I'll be able to resume them shortly."

"I'll have to bring the laptop in here so I don't have to worry about the kids." Grabbing hold of his shirt, she started lazily unbuttoning it as she stood up tall to nibble at his chin. "Because I miss them a lot. I miss you a lot. I know it's only been one day, but it feels like weeks already. I've been very spoiled having you here with me."

Anton purred as his hands wandered over her back. "You've always spoiled me, my dear." He bent down and nuzzled her neck softly. "And I look forward to spoiling you for a very, very long time to come." He then nibbled on her earlobe, letting out a soft sigh. He bent down to kiss her mouth gently, and then with more passion.

She squirmed lightly at the ticklish sensation, her hands bunching up the back of his shirt to tug it loose from his belt. His skin was hot underneath as she slid her hands inside to keep them warm, dipping her fingers under the waist of his slacks.

Leaning in to his kiss, she let out a soft moan, then jumped when the buzzer on the oven signaled that it had reached its temperature. "Hold that thought," she murmured, quickly hurrying over to pop the pizza in the oven. As soon as she'd set the timer, she grabbed Anton's hand and started tugging him towards the living room. "Come on. That couch has our name on it."

Squeezing her hand tightly, Anton allowed himself to be pulled to the couch. Grabbing her by the waist, Anton settled on the couch, pulling Bryn onto his lap. He resumed kissing her, hand now stroking around to caress her breasts and stomach.

Squirming around until she found a comfortable position, Bryn leaned in to his kiss and gently sucked on his tongue. The more of his shirt she unbuttoned, she more she played with his chest, her hands sliding over firm muscle and the hard nubs of his nipples. He was definitely a sight for sore eyes and she kept hers open, not wanting to miss a thing. "Love you so much, sugar."

"Love you so much, my dear." He had always been verbal and physical about expressing his love for her, even before the execution. But coming so close to dying had shaken him deeply. So now Anton wasn't going to miss an opportunity to show or tell Bryn how he felt about her. His fingers continued to stroke her breasts, teasing the nipples into hardness.

Sitting in his lap was as much a treat as sitting in Santa's. [Although definitely more rewarding when it comes to kisses.] She almost laughed aloud at that thought, squirming against his mouth. [Not as hairy, either. Hmm...I wonder if Anton would ever consider dressing up like Santa?]

Anton pulled back, eyes sparkling in curiosity. "And what did I do to make you laugh?" he asked. "Did I hit a ticklish spot?" His fingers danced up and down her side, seeing if he could encourage her to produce that lovely sound again.

She let out a squeal, giggling much louder than before. "Stop that! I was just thinking about making out with Santa Claus!"

"Santa Claus?" He looked at her with a slightly dumbfounded expression. "My dear, I knew you had a crush on Brad Pitt, but...Santa Claus?"

She blushed slightly. "Well, only if you're the one wearing the whiskers. I don't know why the thought popped in my head. I just thought it would be fun to sit on Santa's lap, if he were really horny and gorgeous underneath that fake belly and beard."

Anton laughed. "Does that mean you'll dress up as one of the elves? With the shoes with the curly toes, hat with a jingle ball on it, and a short, short green dress?"

"I think I could manage that. I'll start shopping for the right outfit right away. Then you can practice jingling my bells." Stroking his cheek, she leaned in and kissed him gently, pulling at his lips with hers. "Of course, you have other things you'll need to practice first, like beating the timer on the oven."

"Beat the time? My dear, some things are worth the wait." Anton bent his head to nibble along the column of her neck as his hand lightly squeezed one breast. "There is something to be said about anticipation, wouldn't you say my dear?"

"Depends, sugar...on how long you're going to make me wait." Tilting her head to the side to give him more room, she giggled softly as his nibbling sped up. Sliding her hands up, she pushed his shirt off his shoulders and gently pulled the sleeves down his arms. Breathing in deeply, she moaned at the scent of his cologne and skin, and intoxicating blend she could never get enough of.

Anton tilted his head back, letting her worry the base of his throat. Lovemaking was something they were still regaining rhythm, but they were almost back to where they had been. Still, he was slightly hesitant as his hand moved from her breast to pull her blouse from her.

Her fingernails skimmed up his sides as sucked at his throat, pulling his blood to the surface for a very temporary hickey. If she could've figure out how to make them last longer, she would've marked his entire body. Nipping her way up to his chin, she nibbled there for a moment before kissing his mouth again, delving in deeply to play with tongue.

His hand had returned to her breast, cupping the nipple and massaging her. His tongue delved into her mouth, dueling with hers. Slowly he started angling her back, gently pushing her down onto the couch. Anton let a soft moan out as he felt his body cushioned by hers.

Bryn let out a moan of her own, cradling him between her legs. Although he was still a bit reluctant to have her on top of him, she didn't mind at all. In fact, she preferred it this way. He was the best blanket she could think of. Scooting around until she got cozy, she slid her hands down to squeeze his ass, tucking him tighter between her legs. Sucking at his tongue, she kneaded his ass in time with each pull.

His hips flexed as she gripped him, pushing his groin firmly against hers. Anton's arms went around her shoulders, arms crossing to cradle her head. Even though he was on top, he felt so warm and protected when in her loving arms, as if no one could ever harm him again. And for that alone he would love her always.

Kissing her way across his face, she pulled his earlobe in to her mouth and sucked firmly, loving the way he squirmed on her. Pushing her hands between them, she started lazily unbuckling his belt, tugging at his pants and growling in his ear.

A shiver ran through him as he purred back, hands still holding her tight. "Bryn," he whispered in her ear. "There's something I'd like you to do." The next words took a lot of courage for him. "I want you to suck my cock."

She stopped pulling for a moment and digested his words. She wasn't going to ask him if he was sure. It was probably hard enough for him to admit it in the first place. "Okay, sugar." Turning her head, she kissed his cheek. "You want to sit up or stand up?"

"Sit up." Standing up would be too similar to what Lilith had done to him. He pushed up and then helped Bryn sit up as they rearranged themselves on the couch. Anton stood up as Bryn helped him strip off his slacks and boxers, leaving him fully naked as he sat down, sinking against the cushions.

Settling close to him, she rubbed her hand over his chest and leaned in to softly kiss his lips. Plucking at his lower lip gently, she let her hand slide down his belly to lightly rake through his pubic hair, wrapping her fingers around his cock and testing his hardness. She could feel his breath speed up against her face, and hoped it was from excitement rather than nervousness. Pulling back to look at his face, she slid off the couch and knelt before him, massaging his thighs with both hands. All the while, holding his gaze. "You know you can tell me to stop at any time and I will."

"I know, my dear," Anton said quietly. He gently reached down and stroked her hair back behind her shoulders. As much as he like the feel of her silken hair caressing his thighs, he needed to be able to see her face for the moment. He was trembling with need, but there was just a hint of fear in his eyes he was fighting to overcome. Anton trusted Bryn, and loved it when she kissed him there, and needed to be reminded of the pleasure to displace the memories of pain.

She repressed a sad sigh, squeezing his thighs comfortingly. "I love you, sugar." [I won't ever hurt you.] Turning her head, she bent and kissed the inside of his thigh, first one and then the other, back and forth, working her way in towards his groin. She could see his muscles tense and gently massaged them, wanting to give him whatever comfort she could. "I love you so much, Anton."

Anton gently caressed the top of her head. "I love you too, my dear." His fingers gently combed through her hair. His head tilted back and he gave a soft sigh, relaxing as she worked her way higher. "Love you so much, Sabryn."

The closer she got to his groin, the more aware of his breathing she became. Bypassing the area for now, she nibbled and kissed at his belly, stroking her hands over his chest and lightly rubbing his nipples under her thumbs. He smelled wonderful and the sounds he made were enough to make her squirm. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't completely banish the memory of her bandaging his penis as he bled from Lilith's bite.

His hand continued to caress her head an cheeks, his breathing remaining slow and steady. His stomach twitched under the slightly ticklish sensation. Before she could withdraw her hand from his chest, Anton caught it in his grip and pressed a kiss to her fingertips before pressing it over his heart.

She looked at him with slightly misty eyes, her fingers curving over his chest. She stroked his sternum with her thumb as she lowered her, rubbing her cheek against his erection. Nuzzling and caressing him with her face, she pressed soft kisses everywhere she could reach, not yet trying to arouse him as much as she was worshipping him. Telling him, physically, that she was so sorry he'd been hurt and it would never happen again.

Anton let out a soft moan. His hand lightly squeezed her fingers as he squirmed against her. She may not have been deliberately trying to arouse him, but he was becoming harder all the same. "You always spoil me, my dear," he whispered, relaxing against the cushions of the couch.

Her kisses slowly melted in to hot strokes of her tongue, each a little longer than the first, along the length of his shaft. She lapped at him like a cat in cream, covering every inch of him, as if she could pull the flavor right out of him. All the while she continued the same soothing massages with her free hand, first on his thigh, and then closer, until she was gently rolling his balls in their sack.

Anton let out another moan. He squirmed beneath her knowing touches, his hips starting to push against her mouth. Her tongue was velvety wet and little shivers ran through his body. He was quickly losing any hesitation that he had. "Yes..."

By the time she started lightly sucking on him, his ass was leaving the couch, hips pushing him insistently closer, trying to get her to take more of him. She was careful about how much of him she pulled in to her mouth--she didn't want there to be any chance he would accidentally feel her teeth. There was no telling what might remind him of bad things. Pulling her other hand out from under his, she firmly grasped him and stroked the length of his cock that her mouth couldn't reach.

Anton's legs were tense as he tried to get closer to her mouth. "Please Bryn," he said, needing more. There were no traces of memories of Lilith's treatment. Instead all he could feel was the heat of her mouth and her silken skin caressing him.

Scooting even closer to him, she slid her hands under his ass and opened her mouth wide, breathing heavily through her nose as she swallowed him completely. Even though she was able to breathe, she still gagged a little bit, bit tightened her fingers on his ass to keep from pulling away. Forming a tight circle with her lips, she started moving up and down the length of his cock, her fingernails lightly digging in to his skin with each plunge.

This was what he had wanted, what he had needed. "Yes...." Anton let out a loud his as his hips continued to pump into her mouth. His balls were drawing up tight against his ass, but he tried to hold off, tried to make the pleasure last longer...

She didn't want him to wait. He'd waited long enough to feel something like his old self, and the sooner he experienced that bliss the better. Sucking hard, she slid her fingers in to rub hard against his perineum, urging him with her eyes to let go and cum hard.

Anton let out a gasp and began shaking. It wasn't the warmth of her mouth, the rubbing of her fingers, or the smoldering lust in her eyes. It was a combination of all three that made him cum in her mouth, an intense orgasm that he hadn't experienced since before the execution attempt.

Swallowing heavily and quickly, Bryn sat back on her heels and tried to catch her breath, surprisingly more winded than he was. Pressing her forehead to his thigh, she gently stroked his calves with both hands, torn between exhausted and energized, thrilled that she could give him that much pleasure.

Anton let out a soft sigh, a smile gracing his lips. It took some effort since his muscles were lax from pleasure, but he lifted his head and smiled down at her. "I love you so much, my dear." He gently stroked her head, encouraging her to lift it. "Come up here so I can kiss you."

She let out a soft sigh and pushed herself to her feet, crawling in to his lap. But she only allowed him a quick kiss on the lips before she pulled her mouth away and hugged him tightly. Whether it was his trust and love of her, or the simple fact that he was moving on, she felt so deeply moved by what had happened that her eyes were swimming in tears. Sniffling softly, she squeezed him hard to her and didn't think she was ever going to let him go.

Anton hugged her tightly, burying his face in the side of her neck, placing soft kisses there. But when he felt her tears against his cheek, he lifted his head and looked at her face. "Hey, it's okay," he said, gently wiping her tears away.

Eyes still leaking, she sniffled again and leaned in to his touch. She couldn't seem to get close enough to him and scooted around in his lap to find a better spot. Settling against his chest, she tugged his arms tighter around her and pressed her face to his neck, and squeezed her arms around his waist. "'Love you," she said, her voice thick.

His own eyes were filling with tears now as he held her closely and tight against him. "I love you, Sabryn. You are too good to me, my dear. And I love you so, so much." He kissed her eyes, trying to soothe away her tears. "You spoil me, Bryn. And I love you for it."

Swallowing, she lifted her head, keeping her eyes closed against the gentle kisses, and finally surging up to meet his mouth with her own. She wiped at his eyes as well, holding his gaze as she tugged at his lips. Smooching his mouth repeatedly, she started leaning to the side and pulled him with her, until they were both lying on their sides on the couch. Then she wrapped herself around him like she was clutching a big pillow, letting out a contented sigh as his warmth penetrated her body.

He caressed her side, gently trailing his hand against her skin. His hand slipped down over her waist and along her hip, following her curves to the inside of her thigh. Slowly it then started creeping upwards, gently caressing her skin.

She continued to hold his gaze as he touched her, feeling oddly shy for some reason. Reaching up, she gently caressed his face, smoothing her thumb over his cheekbone and softly kissing his lips once more. "I don't spoil you," she murmured. "I just give you what you deserve. You should be loved like this every day for eternity."

"I thought that was my line." Anton's fingers were now probing her slit, delving between the plump lips and spreading the moisture he found there. "Because you should be loved like this every day from now on. And I'm going to make sure that you are."

Whimpering softly, Bryn lifted her hips to help his progress. Turning her head, she pressed her face against his neck again, but instead of trying to hide this time, she gently bit down on his skin.

Anton jumped at the sensation of her fangs breaking his skin, but his fingers never faltered. They gently circled her clit, coming very close but not touching it. After a few squirming moment of teasing, he lightly strummed his fingers over her.

Quivering, she panted softly and opened up her legs a little wider. Her eyes slipped closed as his fingers continued to play, plucking at her body like pulling the strings of a harp. She vibrated just the same, a soft gasp escaping her with each sweep. Lifting, dipping, and swiveling her hips to follow the movement, she released his skin with her teeth and started sucking on the area instead, raising another temporary hickey.

He pressed harder against her mouth, relishing the feel of her sucking on him. Turning his head, he kissed her forehead, the only part of her he could reach in this position. The tempo of his hand changed slightly, speeding up as his thumb rubbed her clit in little circles and two fingers plunged in and out of her.

Pushing her foot against the couch cushions, Bryn lifted her hips and let out a soft whine. She didn't want him to stop for a second, but the sensations were almost too intense. Her nerves felt super-wired, hypersensitive. Nipping at his neck again, she dug her fingernails in to his forearm and held on tightly.

His fingers continued to stroke her, hooking slightly to rub against her g-spot as well. Anton scooted closer and kissed her, pulling at her mouth lightly. Much to his surprise, his fangs extended. Delicately, he scratched the inside of her lip and sucked on the droplets of blood that welled up.

Squeezing at his fingers, Bryn fought the urge to toss her head in frustration. Her body was moving like it had a mind of its own, undulating and shivering as it moved in contrast to the thrusts of his fingers. The suction of his mouth was lovely and she couldn't help nibbling at his upper lip in turn.

He shivered against her, sucking harder. Ignoring her moan of disappointment, he pulled his hand away from her groin and rolled Bryn onto her back. Breaking the kiss so he could look into her eyes, he pushed his cock inside of her. Instead of lingering and letting her adjust, he began thrusting immediately.

Arching up beneath him, Bryn gasped. This was what she really wanted, and she was so excited to feel him inside her that she came almost immediately. Shuddering hard around him, she squeezed him repeatedly, eager to pull him along with her in to climax.

He cupped the back of her head in one hand as his lips traveled to her ear. "Cum for me, my dear. I need to feel you," he whispered. Anton resumed kissing her, sucking on her mouth the same way her sex sucked on his cock.

She let out a soft squeal, clenching around him, squeezing him as tight as she could. Sliding her hands down to his ass, she dug her fingernails in to the soft flesh, pulling him hard between her legs. The last of her shudders finally ceasing, she sank back in to the pillow but didn't release him.

Anton continued to kiss her as he started shaking with release. His kisses turned from hard sucks to soft pecks on her mouth. He felt like he was floating, could hear bells ringing....

And then he realized what it was. "I think the pizza's ready, my dear."

She let out a soft laugh, relaxing her grip on him. "I guess we should get up and get it. Unfortunately, I don't think I can move." A soft whimper sounded over the baby monitor, and Bryn tensed in anticipation. "Sounds like we might not have a choice, though."

Anton kissed her forehead. "Tell you what. I'll give you a choice. You can either check on the kids, or get the pizza." He nuzzled her neck. He didn't want to move either, but she was right. They wouldn't have a choice. "So which do you want to do."

"I'll get the pizza. The kids will be excited to see you. Besides, I think Kat needs to feed. She kept trying to nibble me tonight." She smiled at him, lifting her head to kiss his lips. "Maybe I'll nibble you later."

Anton gave her a wicked smile. "Promise?" he said as he started to sit up.

Bryn grinned. "Sure." Grabbing on to him, she let him pull her upright as well. "Anton...I'm very proud of you. I hope you know that."

He gently kissed her cheek. "I know, my dear." He stroked her hair, letting his fingers caress scalp. "I'm not going to take the easy way out. I know I'm not quite back to where I was, but I'm going to do my best to get there."

"You'll get there. In fact, you'll be even better. I'm sure of it." Kissing his mouth again, she pushed her feet to the floor. "Come on. That buzzer is driving me nuts."

Anton grabbed his jeans and stuck his legs in them. He pulled them on and reluctantly zipped up. "Thank you, my dear. For your faith in me." He pulled her close for one more kiss. "I'll go check on Max and Kat. Then we'll put in a movie and enjoy the pizza."

"And each other."

She sat awake in their bed, the lights out, with only the dim glow of the laptop to illuminate her writing. Anton slept peacefully next to her, just hours away from having to leave for work once again. Glancing at him, she paused in the middle of typing and let out a soft sigh. It was easier at the moment to write her feelings down, so she wouldn't forget anything when she looked him in the eye. Her dreams, although not nightmares, had prompted this little confession and once she started listing her sins she couldn't seem to stop.

Anton stretched in his sleep, reaching out to pull Bryn closer against him. His eyes opened when he thought the spot next to him was empty. Blinking in surprise when he realized she was sitting up Anton raised up on one arm to watch her type. Sitting up a bit more, he gently stroked her back. "What are you doing, Bryn? Trouble sleeping?"

She nodded, quietly adding, "I wanted to get this stuff down while it was still fresh in my head. And before I could chicken out and not say it." Looking back to the lines she'd written, she let out another soft sigh and finally closed the notebook, setting it on the floor. "I was remembering some things that happened to us, a long time ago...and some of it not so long ago. And I owe you an apology. For a lot of things."

"Apology?" Anton said. He sat up and started to stroke her back comfortingly. "What are you talking about, my dear?" he said as he pulled her close to him, trying to shake off the last of the sleep from his eyes. "Bryn, I don't understand."

"There are things I realize now that were completely ridiculous for me to have believed, but I did. Like...I fought with you so many times about Natasha. I accused you of being with me, but being in love with her. I said that you were being loyal to her, when you wouldn't go to Lilith after the things she had done." Bryn dipped her chin, ashamed. "I don't know how I ever could have believed that you cared anything for her, or that you didn't love me one hundred percent. I was so completely wrong and blind...and I'm so sorry you had to endure that. Not just once but over and over again. I was so stupidly jealous and not thinking at all. It had to have broken your heart."

His hands rubbed her shoulders, trying to reassure her. "Bryn, it's okay. We both had some growing up to do then. And things I did didn't help the situation." He brushed her hair aside and placed a soft kiss against the back of her neck. "What brought this on?"

She didn't brush him away, but moved away from his touch all the same. "I'm not finished. This is only the beginning. I wanted to apologize for running away from you the night we met, and almost doing the same thing the first time I saw you feed. I never meant to make you feel ashamed for being who you are, but I probably did and I'm sorry. You are an amazing man, human or vampire, and everything you do is beautiful to me.

"I'm sorry for the times we fought and I ran away again. I had no right to flee from you, when you were just trying to love me. I should have understood, when I told you I was pregnant with Max, that there was more to your reaction than what I saw. I should have asked you about Alexandra and your other wives long before then, and I would have known why you were so scared. I thought at the time that you were just angry, but you were hurting too, and I'm sorry I didn't see that."

Although he didn't move forward, Anton gently started stroking her hair. "Bryn, you had every right to flee. You are my wife and lover, not my prisoner. I could have done a lot to make things easier for you as well. I could have told you so much more so much sooner."

She shook her head, giving him a benevolent smile. "You're making excuses for me, and I don't need them. I know what I did was wrong. I was wrong to be so angry at you, that night at Somerwind. All you wanted was to be with the wife you loved so very much. And even if she hadn't been me in a past life, I never should've gotten as upset as I did. She couldn't hurt me anymore. She was gone, and you had promised yourself to me. You've always given all of yourself to me, right down to the core, and I was so foolish each and every time I questioned that. No one has ever given to me as selflessly as you have. And I love you so much for it."

"But that wasn't fair to you," Anton pointed out. "That part of my life was over and done with, and I shouldn't have asked you to recreate it." He reached out to gently stroke her face. "But I've forgiven you of all this, a long time ago. I don't want you to punish yourself for any of this, rightly or wrongly."

"I just want it said, Anton. I don't want any regrets. I hate that feeling. And I don't ever want you to look back on any of this and still be hurting because I was too insensitive to say anything. I'm sorry for any time I ever made you feel less than worthy, or that you weren't appreciated, because it's so far from the truth. And I'm sorry for every single time I didn't realize just how much you love me...because I know it now. I can feel it. And it fills me so full I could explode. But I love you just as much, if not more, and I hope you know it."

"I know it, my dear. Because you've shown it to me every day. When you call me at work, kiss me good evening, slip a love not into the lunch I take with me, email me for no other reason but to say 'I love you.' Unable to put up with the distance between them, he pulled her against him, cradling her against his chest. "No regrets, my dear. Absolutely none. And I don't want you to have any regrets either."

Squeezing him tightly, she closed her eyes and let out a slow breath, relief flooding her even though she hadn't realized how worried she'd been. "No regrets," she affirmed. "We're going to have so much time together than even if we did have regrets, we'd probably get a chance to do everything over again about a hundred times. Like maybe going out to breakfast. Does that sound good? We could go before you have to go to work."

"That sounds good my dear," he said, still holding her tight. "How about that place that sells breakfast twenty-four hours a day over by the warehouse? Though we've got a few hours, so we have time to bundle up the kids and have a nice leisurely breakfast. Then we could go show off Max and Kat at the warehouse."

She grinned. They hadn't had much of a chance to show off Kat yet, and everyone would be surprised how much Max had grown. "It sounds perfect." Glancing at the clock, she noticed that it was about time for their daughter to be waking up anyway. "Why don't you go get in the shower and I'll get Kat fed and wake Max."

"You sure, my dear? I could help you with Max or I could feed Kat. Well, feed her certain things," he said with a grin.

"Okay." Straightening up a bit more, she kissed him softly. "I think we can let Max sleep for a few more minutes. I'll go get Kat." With one more lingering kiss, she pulled back the covers and carefully got out of bed, making sure she stashed the laptop away safely before heading for Katerina's crib.

Anton also got up, grabbing a terry robe and wrapping it around himself. No point in getting dressed if he would be stepping into the shower. He looked over the side of the bed where Bryn had stashed the laptop. He was curious what she had written, and was tempted to pick up the computer and start reading.

When Bryn came back, she caught his gaze as she tucked Katerina closer to her. "You can look if you want. I think I said everything I wrote down, though."

"In that case, I have no need to read it." He held out his arms to take either Kat or Bryn or both. "I'd much rather hold both my favorite girls in all the world."

Bryn smiled, sinking in to his embrace. Settling Kat on to her back once more, she looked down at their daughter's sleepy eyes. "I don't know that she's ready to wake up yet. There's a first, huh? Usually it's me blinking like I just woke up from a coma."

"Yeah," Anton said. "Turn about is fair play, my dear. Isn't it Kat?"" He reached down and gently stroked Kat's cheek and kissed Bryn's. "Maybe if she knew that there will be a lot of people ooohing and aaahing over her, she'd wake up faster."

Bryn laughed. "I think you're right." Adjusting the blanket she was carrying the baby in, she tried to tempt Kat with a pink finger. Cooing softly, the baby merely stared and waved her arms. "Maybe you'll have more luck trying to get her to feed?"

Kat may have been ignoring her, but she had definitely piqued Anton's interest. "Hmm? Oh, yeah," he said. His eyes gleamed as he bit down on his finger and offered it to Kat. "Here you go, Kat. You hungry?"

Bryn laughed softly, handing the baby over as Kat latched on to his finger. She was more enthusiastic about the blood and drank eagerly, grunting softly with each swallow. Leaning against Anton, Bryn stretched and relaxed, very content. She felt much better now that they'd talked. Still, she almost wished he hadn't been so nice about it. It felt as if she was being let off the hook too easily. But she wasn't going to complain about it. They'd done enough living in the past. From there on out, the future was looking incredibly bright.

Anton smiled as Bryn laughed. It was a beautiful sound that he could never get enough of hearing. He kissed Bryn's cheek again as Kat stopped nursing and he pulled his finger out of her mouth. "You want to burp her or shall I?"

"Go ahead. I just got comfy." Turning her head, she nuzzled his neck a bit and leaned even closer to gently blow in his ear. "In fact, I'm not all that sure I'm ready to get up yet. We might have to take a less leisurely breakfast than you had in mind."

"Oh? Do tell." Squirming from what he considered an unfair assault, Anton shifted Kat carefully from Bryn to his shoulder. It was a bit awkward, but he patted the baby on the back until he felt more than heard Kat burp. "Should I take our little kitten back to her crib then and let her get more sleep?"

"Depends on what you plan to do after that. If you're just going to take that shower, you might as well let her stay up. But if you're going to stay here in bed...or take me in to that shower with you, then by all means, let her get some more sleep."

"Hmmm....how about we go take that shower, my dear. That way we won't need to shower afterwards." He bent his head to nip at her ear. "Although you know this means you will have to get off my lap."

She groaned. "If I have to." With another loud groan, she pushed herself off his lap and stood up, reaching for his hand. "Grab the monitor. Hopefully they won't wake up the minute the water is turned on, like last time."

"Hopefully, my dear." Anton allowed her to pull him to his feet. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss before picking up the baby monitor. "See you in a few minutes, my dear." Anton grinned at her as he walked into the bathroom and switched on the monitor. He also started the shower so the room would be nice and steamy when Bryn stepped in. Then they'd generate some steam of their own.

She felt like she was floating instead of walking. After making sure Kat was comfortable in her bed once again, Bryn hurried back to the bathroom, eager to be surrounded by the warmth that was five-percent hot water and ninety-five-percent Anton. Trying to be as silent as she could, she snuck up behind him and goosed his ass, laughing when he jumped.

He let out an undignified squawk as he turned to face her. "For that, my dear, see if I use the detachable shower head on you." Anton held the stall door open, hoping she didn't notice the playful gleam in his eye.

"Oh no!" she said, raising her hands in mock reproach. "Whatever will I do? I guess I'll just have to suffer through it."

"Oh, I'm sure there will be a lot of moaning and screaming going on." He swatted lightly at her ass as she passed by, and then stepped in. "You know what I think we need, my dear?" he asked as he closed the door. "A nice, big sauna."

"Hmm. That sounds nice. While we're at it, can we can a pair of masseuses with the massage tables and all the goodies? Facials, manicures, that sort of thing? We could be rubbed and scrubbed before we ever even saw each other. Then again, maybe that's not such a good thing. It's more fun with your hands on me."

"Ditto, my dear. And these hands," he lifted her fingers to his mouth and kissed the tips. "Are the only ones I want touching me." Adjusting the temperature of the water, Anton turned his back on her for a second. "Shall we start the rubbing and scrubbing, my dear?"

Bryn nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Yes. I'll scrub your back if you wash my hair." Snuggling closer to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. "Or you could just stand here and hold me for a little while. Give me soft kisses and tell me you love me. That's all I need in the whole wide world."

Anton turned carefully in her arms. "How about we do both in turns, starting with the hugging and kissing." His arms went around her slim shoulders, holding her tightly to him. "I love you so much, my dear. And I want you to know that I have forgiven you for everything. I don't look back and see the pain and hurt. I look back and feel grateful that we came through it together and stronger for it." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and then one to her lips.

Leaning her weight against him, Bryn let out a deep sigh and squeezed him tightly. "Me too. Especially when I think about what could have happened. Some people don't even make it to their first anniversary...and here we are planning on forever. We're very blessed."

"Very blessed, indeed." He gently kissed her forehead again and then rested his cheek against her. "May I ask a question, my dear?" Anton pulled back to look down at her. "What brought this confession on?"

"I had just been thinking, about the last time we saw John. And then Caroline's funeral, and how I was so emotionally wacko at the time. I realized that this past Christmas was John and the kids first without Caroline...and I felt bad that I wasn't able to be there for them. And that I pretty much forgot about it entirely." She shook her head. "My thoughts just kept jumping back and forth, and I remembered being so angry at you around the time of her funeral, and it was for such a stupid thing. It really had nothing to do with you. It was my emotions going haywire. There have just been too many times that I took things out on you when I shouldn't have. And I didn't want to look back on it later and feel bad. Like John probably does with Caroline."

"No regrets, Bryn. I have no regrets, and I certainly don't want you to have any either." Anton bent down to kiss her again. "But it wasn't entirely your fault, Bryn. And I'm not trying to excuse you. I did not make things easy on you, trying to protect you, rightly or wrongly."

Bryn lifted her fingers to cover his mouth. "Don't. You don't need to excuse yourself either. You did whatever you could. And that's all I need. Now, let's just forget about it and put it all behind us. I just want to be here with you, right now."

Anton nodded, catching her hand and holding it against his mouth. He pressed soft kisses to her finger tip. The kisses became more sensual and drew in more of her finger until he was sucking on it. His other hand wrapped tighter around her waist, pulling her tighter against him.

She let out a soft whimper as she watched him, her eyes glazed and heavy-lidded. Sliding her other hand up his chest, she lazily kneaded his pectoral muscles and scratched at his skin with her fingernails. The warm water sluicing over his shoulders spilled on to her and made her cling to him to feel more of the delicious heat.

Anton let out a soft rumble, nipping her finger lightly. Slowly he drew his lips off of her finger, flicking his tongue against the tip. His mouth then moved to hers, tongue delving deep inside and tangling with hers. His hands slipped down her back to massage and knead her ass.

Purring softly, she lifted up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, sealing her mouth against his. Tangling her fingers in his hair, she urged him to back up a bit until the spray was on his hair, wetting it thoroughly, and combing it away from his face. She pulled away from his kiss with a soft sucking sound, remaining on her toes as she reached for the shampoo bottle and poured some of the gel in to her hand. Then she started working a lather in to his hair, inhaling appreciatively and smiling as he groaned in pleasure.

Anton stooped so she could reach the top of his head. He almost purred like a large cat as Bryn's fingers scratched against his scalp. And since he was crouching, that put parts of her closer to his mouth. He began kissing her shoulders and neck as his hands kneaded her ass.

She smiled down at him, thrusting her chest forward to tempt him. Despite sometimes having sore nipples and heavy breasts, he always seemed to make her feel better, whether it was completely mental or not. Pressing her lips to his forehead, she gently tipped his head back and started rinsing the shampoo from his hair. "I sure love you."

"I love you too, my dear." His mouth started to work further down her shoulder and chest until he reached a pert nipple. Softly his lips wrapped around it and sucked lightly. One hand lifted from her ass to cup her other breast, gently stroking and kneading.

Shivering lightly, she leaned in to his touch, her eyes closing as her fingers continued to work through his hair. He smelled wonderful and she wasn't ready to stop pampering him yet. Grabbing a small amount of conditioner, she worked it through his hair as well before reaching for the soap. He was going to be squeaky clean by the time she was finished, and then she'd just have to dirty him up again.

He smiled around her nipple, tugging lightly with his teeth. He let out another soft moan feeling her fingers working through his hair. Letting his lips pop off of her breast, Anton looked up at her, chin lightly resting on her sternum. "Is there anything in particular you'd like me to do, my dear?"

"I think you were already doing it. Just keep sucking harder."

He grinned up at her impishly. "So you're telling me that the fact that I suck is a good thing?"

"Very. And you can keep sucking as long as you'd like." She grinned. "Well, at least until the kids cry or the water turns cold."

"Hopefully not for a long, long time." Anton nuzzled a full breast, tip of his nose circling lightly before he kissed her there. He took the pink nipple between his lips and sucked lightly. The water was warm rushing over his back, and he rubbed his hands over her body, exploring every curve.

"Mmm." Scrubbing her hands over his shoulders and chest, she rubbed the soap in little circles along the lines of his muscles. She rubbed under his arms, making him squirm and laugh, and then had him lift them so she could rinse him. All the while, the perfect suction of his mouth was sending a current of energy straight to her crotch.

He continued to nurse from her, sucking and moaning as he felt himself stiffen in anticipation. Lightly he continued exploring her body, hands concentrating on caressing her thighs and her hips and her ass. He let out a groan as Bryn ran his fingers through his scalp, massaging and scratching it lightly.

She grinned at the little sounds he made, grunts and moans of pleasure he might not even have been aware of. "If you stand up, I can wash you from the waist down."

"Sounds good my dear," Anton said, pulling off of her nipple. Slowly he stood up, blocking most of the spray of water from hitting her. "And when you're done, it'll be my turn to wash you all over."

"Ooh, can't wait." Stepping closer, she wrapped her arms around him and started by rubbing her soapy hands all over his ass. The soap bar slipped and slid all over the round globes and in between, her fingers following shortly after. She couldn't help squeezing him a few times, a wide grin on her face as she looked up at him. "Nice."

Anton squirmed under the ticklish assault. "And it's all yours," he moaned. He wiggle his hips, trying to draw her attention to his upright cock. The purplish head was dripping and pointing right at what it wanted. "Not to mention what's in the front as well."

She glanced down at his erection, arching an eyebrow. "I wou