Chapter Twenty Bryn stepped back a few paces, looking at the wall she had just finished stenciling with zoo animals. This room had formerly been a study of sorts with built in bookshelves that Anton had kept odds and ends in - old books and furniture that he hadn't wanted to put into storage, but didn't want in the living room. Both of them agreed that it would make a perfect nursery. So the furniture had been cleared out and the books were now boxed up in an unused office on the second floor. She'd originally wanted to do something more original like a flower garden or a jungle, but since they didn't yet know what the sex of the baby was, and they couldn't get an appointment for an amniocentesis for a few weeks yet, she decided the animals were good enough. She didn't want to wait to paint the room. She was restless. The week had been hell so far. Only seven days had progressed since the no-sex-a-month-before- the-wedding plan went into effect, and she was already feeling a little crazy. She'd finished painting the ceiling at Nate's townhouse. Impressed with the work she'd done, he offered to pay her more but she didn't accept it. After making him wait almost two weeks for the job to get done, it just didn't feel right. She'd also gotten the wedding invitations mailed, the plane chartered, the destinations chosen, the tuxedos ordered, the Macy's registration completed, the caterer's hired, and the church booked. Not being able to sleep during the day did have its benefits after all. Hearing the front door of the apartment open, she looked down at her paint- splattered self and sighed. She looked like hell. Luckily, since the objective was not to have sex, her outfit was perfect. Anton stepped into apartment wearily. The last week of so being so close to Sabryn, but unable to touch her was driving him nuts. He had always prided himself on his self control, and it was frustrating him to no end that he couldn't seem to rein in his body's impulses. He took a deep breath. "Bryn?" "I'm in the baby's room. Be out in a minute." Anton turned around, trying not to look at the bed. He had cleared his office of all the paperwork and assessing he could, reorganized his files, even defragmented his computer's hard drive twice. If he could have gone downstairs after dawn, he would have, just so he could work himself to the point of exhaustion and hopefully be able to sleep without the temptation. He turned around when he heard Bryn step into their bedroom. She had been painting. He could tell by the fresh stains on her sweats. She even had paint in her hair. "You look tired, my dear. Why don't you go take a shower?" Mentally he winced. Now he was thinking of his lover, naked and wet, not something he really should be doing if he wanted to keep their mutual pre- wedding promise. She stood in the doorway and stared at him, her eyes taking a leisurely stroll up and down his body. Her heavy-lidded stare was having a desperately unwanted effect on him. Licking her lips, she said, "Shower...yeah. Good idea." It wasn't until she turned and practically raced into the bathroom that he realized just what she'd most likely be doing in there. Getting clean sure as hell wasn't at the top of the list. Closing the door behind her, Bryn leaned heavily against the wood and sighed. Why the hell did he have to wear those slacks? Loose enough to be mysterious and yet clinging to all the right places. That shirt, open at the collar, revealing his luscious neck, with the buttons that would pull loose so easily beneath her fingers...or her teeth. The boxers underneath, doing very little to conceal his cock when he was excited... [Oh God.] Ripping off her clothes, she hurried towards the shower, turned on the water, and climbed right in. Heedless of the temperature. Still staring at the door, Anton swallowed hard. It took all his self-control not to follow Bryn into the bathroom. Trying not to think of her stripping or the other times they had been naked together in the bathroom, he looked at his personal computer. Maybe its hard drive needed defragging too...? In the shower, Bryn leaned back against the wall weakly, letting the water beat down on her, temporarily soothed by the coldness. But it wasn't long before even more treacherous thoughts ran naked through her brain, making her swallow heavily. She could feel herself trembling. Not like before when she'd been overheated and almost passed out. This was different. Her nipples tightened, reacting to the stimulation as the water pounded down on her. Her sex throbbed, seeping moisture as she imagined Anton undressing in the bedroom. She lowered her hand, biting her lip as her fingers slipped between her legs. At first she only pressed down on her quivering flesh, hoping to end the nearly painful aching. But it quickly became apparent, that wasn't nearly enough. The computer's hard drive was perfectly fine. Anton sighed and realized that he should try to get some sleep. Grabbing the sweats he had been sleeping in the last few days, he started unbuttoning his shirt, moaning a bit as the air hit his sensitive skin. [It's only a month,] he reminded himself. [I can make it through this.] But part of him wasn't so sure. Bryn pressed her left hand against the shower wall, bracing herself, her feet splayed wide on the floor. Her fingers moved in slow circles, gently moving her entire pubic mound to relieve the ache. [Damn these hormones.] She'd never cried more, or been hornier in her entire life. The great majority of her mind wanted to run out of the bathroom and tell Anton the deal was off, that she couldn't take it anymore. But there was still a nagging bit of pride that told her to stick it out, that it would be worth it in the end. That the fourth of July fireworks wouldn't be the only stars popping before her eyes on their wedding night. Brushing her palm lightly against her clit, she let out a little moan. [God, Anton, I wish you would touch me. Forget what I said, forget we ever made this stupid vow. Just open the door, walk in the here, and touch me. That's all I ask...] He undid his belt and slid his trousers off. He wished desperately that it were Bryn's hands skimming over his body. Anton's cock had been hard for most of the last few days, and he had gotten little relief. All he wanted to do was grab Sabryn, wrap her legs around his waist and sink into her depths. But she had requested they do this, and unless she said otherwise, he'd obey her wishes. Sabryn leaned her forehead against the shower wall, the hot water beating down on her back. With her left hand free, she teased her nipples, rolling them slowly, pinching the sensitive peaks. In her head, it wasn't her touch she was feeling but her lover's. Soothing and taunting at the same time, making her want more. With a low moan she sank two fingers inside of her. A pitiful replacement for what she really wanted, but it would have to do. Lazily rubbing her thumb over her clit, she closed her eyes and shuddered. [Yes, Anton...right there.] His head jerked up when he heard the moan coming from the bathroom. His hand strayed to his groin, tracing over the bulge through the silk of his boxers. [Come on Bryn, end this! We're both going nuts already, and it's only going to get worse.] He could almost see her, damp hair clinging to her bare back, water sluicing down her legs, nipples tightening as he leaned down to taste them... [Stop it!] Breathing heavily, he forced himself to pull on the sweatpants, desperately seeking something else to occupy his mind before he broke down the door to the bathroom. The little shriek she let out seemed to echo off the walls. Bryn broke into a slow grin, feeling her entire body rock on her feet as her orgasm spilled over her. Breathing heavily, she continued to stroke herself as she came down from her high. When the shudders finally ceased, she felt so much better that her legs had stopped shaking. Reaching for the shampoo, she decided to finish her shower before climbing into bed. Maybe now she'd be able to get some sleep. He recognized the high pitched yelp she gave out. That cry was the one she gave when she came. Anton closed his eyes, trying to fend off memories of her writhing beneath him. He was aching hard now, and the sweats were doing nothing to hide that fact. Eventually Bryn came out of the bathroom, wearing a thick terry robe and hair wrapped up in a towel. "Almost ready for bed, sugar?" "No." Anton's voice was hoarse. "Now I need to take a shower." He practically ran past her, and Bryn realized that he'd be spending the time in the bathroom the way she had. [Here we go again.] By the time evening had fallen, Lindy had already left for work and Nathaniel lazily crawled out of bed. He made his way downstairs, had something to eat, and then quickly got dressed and left the house to feed. He didn't bother taking his car. It was too conspicuous. Instead he pulled his coat tighter about his shoulders and walked a few blocks to a nearby park. It was a secluded place, a family place during the day, and if he was careful there wouldn't be any little children stumbling over the corpse of his latest supper. He was never quite as quick to kill as some vampires he'd met. He always bided his time, watching his prey before moving in for the strike. Cautious and selective. And just as he'd found a human he liked, a late-night jogger in too- short shorts, he felt someone brush past him and rush towards the man instead. Nate stood in stunned silence, watching the figure drop his prey to his knees...it wasn't until the man's body fell limply to the ground that he realized just who had stolen his dinner. "Natasha." Before she could move, he had her by the throat, slamming her against a nearby tree. "What the hell do you think you're doing, bitch?" Eyes still flaming and fangs bared, Natasha smiled calmly at him. "Having a snack. What did you think I was doing?" She pressed forward against him. "I've missed you, Nathaniel. And I know you've missed me, or at least the things I'm willing to do that Anton's pet bitch isn't." Tightening his fingers around her throat, he scowled at her. "The only thing I want you to do is burn in hell." "Funny you should mentioning burning--" She couldn't finish her sentence. His grip on her had tightened so much that he'd cut off her air. Scraping at his hands with her fingernails, she blinked at him. "You evil little bitch!" He looked up at the tree he was holding her to, reaching up to break free a nearby branch. "You ever mess with Lindy again, and I'll stake you myself. You got that? I'm not fucking around with you, Natasha. One false move and I'll hunt you down. I don't care how long it takes. You will pay." He released her, stalking away, leaving her gasping and limp on the ground. "Nathaniel," she called out in a sing-song voice. "We've been in each others lives for almost a millennium. You can't expect me to just disappear overnight without a fight." She waited for Nathaniel to turn back to face her. "I know you too well, Nathaniel. She's nothing more than one of your little crushes. We both know that once you tire of waiting for access to her bed, or she starts showing a wrinkle or two, you'll come back to me. You always have before." Grinning, he walked back to where she stood and stripped off his coat. Unbuttoning his shirt, he met her gaze. Her eyes were wild with desire and excitement. And then he pulled his shirt to the side and pointed to his tattoo...making sure she also noticed the ring on his finger. "Don't bet on it, Natasha. I know very well that you don't understand. You wouldn't know a real emotion if it bit you on the ass. But this isn't a crush. It's not a phase, or an affair, or something I'm going to get over tomorrow or a million years from now. She's mine. In less than a week, she'll be my wife. And nothing you do or say will ever come between us." Pulling his shirt and coat back into place, he sneered at her over his shoulder as he walked away. "Get a life, why don't you? Maybe if you have one of your own, you'll stop interfering in mine." Natasha stood up, flipping her long red hair back over her shoulders. "Oh, you may say that I will not be able to come between the two of you, but what about Anton? I'm sure he's happy that his best friend is engaged to the man who helped murder his father. I'll bet he was first in line, volunteering to be the best man at your wedding. Oh, will you be throwing rice at the wedding, or Milkbones?" He didn't even bother turning around this time. "You're the last person in the world who should be lecturing me about Anton. You let me worry about him. If Lindy's anyone's best friend, she's mine. If he doesn't like it, he can shove it." "Oh, and I'm sure you told him this to his face. But then maybe his standards have dropped a bit. He is still sleeping with a woman who's obviously been whoring around on him." "Considering that you're the first woman he ever slept with, I'd say his standards have raised." He smirked. "And I dare you to say that to his face, Natasha. I'd love to see what he'd do to you if he heard it. Go slink back into your cave. I'm hungry, and I sure as hell don't need a dinner companion." She watched him stalk off into the darkness without throwing any more verbal barbs. [Damn that blond bitch!] she fumed. [Fine, Nathaniel. You want me to say that to Anton's face, I'll be more than happy to oblige.] Her smirk became a cruel smile as her eyes glowed. [And I'll be happy to tell him more.] There seemed to be a palpable current of electricity in the air. Something unspoken and unnerving, making them both unnaturally quiet as they sat in the office together, going over expense reports, in the middle of the night. Lindy sat stiffly in the chair across from him, glancing up every once in a while, looking away as soon as his gaze met hers. On the other side of the desk, Anton sat with his head propped up on his hand, eyelids drooping, somewhere between exhaustion and high-strung jitters. His hand shook as he flipped through the pages, eyes darting rapidly across the page, and he damned near jumped out of his skin when the door opened. Lindy turned to see Bryn standing there, not looking much better than Anton did. She had to wonder if she'd put that outfit together on purpose. Yellow shirt, red shorts, and black socks...in blue Keds. Stifling a yawn, she said, "Anton, I need your ring." "Huh? My ring?" "Yeah, I wanted to get it engraved, remember?" She held out her hand, palm up. "The size is okay, right?" "Oh yeah, I remember." Anton slipped the ring off his hand and placed it in Bryn's, his fingers lingering in her palm. "The size is fine, my dear." He was worried about the effect just brushing her skin was having on his libido. Bryn jerked away, obviously having the same problem herself. "I'll be back in a while, sugar." She backed out of the room, practically slamming the door behind her. Eyes following her route, Anton sighed, trying to get his lust back under control. He looked back at Lindy, who was staring at him with an arched eyebrow. "What?" he snapped. "Actually, Anton, I was going to ask you that myself." Lindy frowned concerned. "You've been jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof, and it looks like you haven't slept for the last few days. Is something wrong between you and Bryn?" He shook his head, clearing his mind of the way those shorts clung to Bryn's ass. "No, uh, everything's fine." Her frown deepened. "Okay...sugar." His head snapped up at that. "Don't even think about calling me that." "Fine, if you tell me what's going on." She set down her paper work on the desk, staring him down. "I can sit here all day waiting...can you?" "You're not going to let go of this, are you?" "Anton, to be frank, you look like hell, and Bryn doesn't look that much better. Is there something wrong with the baby?" "No, the baby's fine." Anton leaned back in the chair, tilting his head back until it rested on top of the seat. "Bryn asked that we do something one month before the wedding, and I agreed. Neither of us realized how hard it would be." Lindy frowned. "Do what, Anton?" She didn't hear his mumbled response. "Sorry, could you repeat that?" "Bryn asked that we don't make love for one month before the wedding." Lindy's jaw dropped. "And you agreed? The way you two go at it like rabbits?" "Yeah, in a moment of stupidity, I agreed." He gave a deep sigh. "Do you know how hard it is to be in bed with someone and want to roll over and screw them senseless, but not be able to do it?" Lindy swallowed, thinking of Nathaniel. "Yeah, I've got an idea." His expression darkened, but he didn't say anything. She had to admit, she was a little shocked. "So, you've got until July fourth? You've barely even started. It's been what-- eight days?" He groaned. "Eight days from hell." She didn't mean to, but she laughed. She couldn't help it. Once the giggles bubbled out, they wouldn't stop. The scowl on his face only made her laugh more. There was some sort of strange satisfaction in knowing that while he'd been suffering over the last week, she'd almost had more orgasms than she could count. If that wasn't strange, she didn't know what was. She'd once been jealous of his relationship with Bryn. Now it seemed her life was the one that was cause for envy. And it felt damned good. Anton's frown grew even darker. "And what do you find so damn funny?" Lindy clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to regain control. "I'm sorry, Anton, I really am, but..." She shook her head, clearing it. "I'm sorry." "It's okay, Lindy. I know I haven't been in the best mood for this last week." He picked up another set of papers, and tried to change the subject. "You all set to leave tomorrow?" "Yeah. My parents, and my aunt and uncle are going to meet us at the airport, and we're off." "Your parents are meeting you? I'd assumed you be going to D.C. Just where is this family gathering, if you don't mind me asking?" "Uh...we decided to get together for a little vacation of sorts. That way we wouldn't be imposing in anyone's home." She swallowed heavily. "We're going to Hawaii." He raised his eyebrows. "Wow. That should be nice. Maui?" "No, we'll be staying at a ranch on Oahu." "Well, no wonder you're so eager to go. Can't say I blame you. I'm looking forward to Europe, myself...and not just for the obvious reasons." "I'll bet. I've never managed to get over to Europe. Probably a bit like going home for you." Anton nodded. "What are you planning on doing on Hawaii?" Lindy shifted a bit uncomfortably. "Oh, you know, see the volcanoes, lay out on the beach, visit the tourist traps." [Get married,] she mentally added a bit guiltily. Anton seemed too distracted to pick up on her unease. "Sounds like fun. Say hi to your parents for me." He carefully avoided any mention of Nathaniel. He started gathering the reports into a pile. "We're done here, Lindy. Why don't you go on home and get ready for the trip?" "You sure, Anton?" "Yeah. We're caught up, and anything else can keep until you're back." Lindy stood up. "Thanks, Anton." He nodded. "Just be careful, okay?" She knew that he was referring to more than traveling. "I always am." She walked towards the office door. "See you in a week" "Oh, and Lindy? A postcard would be nice." She nodded as she paused halfway out of the office. "Sure. I'll send you one." She walked away, feeling more than a bit guilty. [As well as a wedding announcement.] Nate was busy packing when he heard the front door open. Setting down what was in his hands, he walked out of the bedroom and to the top of the stairs. He looked down at Lindy as she put her coat away, frowning at the look on her face. "What's wrong?" She looked up, just noticing him. "I--nothing. I just feel a little guilty." "Anton?" She nodded. "Did you feed?" When he said yes, she climbed the stairs, stopped in front of him, and kissed his jaw. That was when she smelled her. Immediately backing away, nearly tumbling down the stairs in the process, she glared at him. "You smell like Natasha." He reached for her, to pull her away from the edge, but she held on tight to the railing and shrugged off his grip. Nate sighed. "I saw her in the park. I didn't go looking for her, she came looking for me. I told her to leave us the hell alone and get lost." "And do you think she's going to listen to you?" "No, but we'll deal with her together." He reached out to take one of her hands. "Come on, Lindy, you know I'm telling the truth." "I know." She let him pull her close. "I'm sorry I'm a jealous bitch. Just the thought of you and her..." "Shhh." Nate kissed her forehead. "It's actually nice to know that you're ready to go to war over this." "Yeah, 'cry havoc' and all that stuff." She reached up to kiss his jaw, nose wrinkling. "Do me a favor and take a shower? Or put on more cologne or something?" He gave her a wry grin. "I'll take a shower, if you help dry me off afterwards?" "Deal." She followed him back into the bedroom, resuming packing while he was in the shower. It was the first time she'd ever packed a suitcase with more than just her own belongings in it. It was odd to be putting her own underwear in next to his--but there was also something oddly exhilarating about it. Of knowing that when she put her clothes on, she'd have the mingled scent of him on her. Then again, she'd have the scent of him on much more than just her clothes pretty soon. Smiling to herself, she picked up the bottle of his cologne and inhaled. [Mmm. Much better.] In the bathroom, she could hear Nate singing as he splashed around. "Big wheel keep on turnin'...Proud Mary keep on burnin'..." She let out a little snort, wincing as he hit a high note. God, she really hoped he didn't plan on doing that every day. Thankfully Nate stopped singing, and shortly thereafter the water shut off. Lindy was zipping the suitcase shut when he stepped out of the bathroom, towel around his waist. "All packed, gorgeous?" "Yeah. All but the stuff I need when I wake up tomorrow." She walked over to him, sniffing. "Much better," she said, kissing his chin. "It's a good thing I'm not a garbage man...I'd be taking ten showers a day before you'd get in bed with me." He grinned as she arched an eyebrow at him. "Care to dry me off? It's getting cold in here." With a nod, she tugged at the towel on his waist and pulled it free. Even all this time later, she still caught her breath when she saw him completely nude. But in a good way, instead of panicking. Rubbing the towel across his chest, she smiled at him as he purred in approval. She couldn't resist lapping away a drip or two with her tongue. She squealed as he shook his head like a wet dog, spraying water droplets all over her. "Nate!" "Just thought I'd share," he said, smirking. "I was hoping you'd ask me to dry you off, too." "Mmmm. You could have just asked me." "Yeah, but you would have been bone dry." She gave him a smirk. "I can assure you I would be very, very wet." She wrapped the towel around his waist, pulling him closer using it. His arms came around her shoulders as she reached up to kiss him. Their tongues dueled, delving into each other's mouths, exploring and tasting. She was breathing heavily by the time they broke apart. She could feel the length of him pressing against her stomach. "God, I wish it were Friday night." "You're not the only one," he murmured, his voice slightly hoarse. Clearing his throat, he nodded at the suitcase. "Why don't we move that out of the way and take this show on the bed?" She nodded, and moved to help him maneuver the heavy suitcase to the floor. Once it was moved, he dropped down onto the comforter on his back, pulling her on top of him, bringing her head down to kiss her. The towel was nearly forgotten as she wriggled against him, making him groan into her mouth. She had an overwhelming urge to rip her clothes off and impale herself on him, and for a moment she felt bad for laughing at Anton's plight. Hers didn't seem to be much better at the moment. Reaching between them, she stroked the underside of his cock with her palm, making him pull away from her mouth to catch his breath. "Oh God, this is going to be the longest week of my life, Lind." She nodded in agreement. "But if you think this is bad, wait until you hear what Bryn's talked Anton into." His hand slipped under her blouse to trace over her nipples. "Yeah, what?" Lindy moaned and arched into his touch, shifting to grip his cock. "She's somehow convinced him to hold off on sex *completely* for a month until they're married." His laugh echoed in the room. His chest shook below her as he grinned at her. "The guy's gonna be dead within a week." "He's gone through eight days so far." He arched an eyebrow. "Just wait. I give him forty-eight hours before he cracks. There's no telling what he'd be capable of that situation." "We managed to hold off, Nate." "Lindy, we haven't even done it yet. Believe me, once I get inside you, nothing will stop me from having you every day." Lindy practically purred at his statement and Nate grinned. She had come so far from that shy, scared woman of less than a week ago. He leaned up to nip at the base of her neck. He felt his smile grow wider as her hand began moving on his cock. Her face was framed by the sun painted on the ceiling, and he thought her touch would sear him as badly. "Keep doing that, baby." He sucked in a sharp breath as her hand slipped down to tease his balls. He couldn't help the little thrust his hips gave, pressing himself more firmly into her grip. He let his head sink back to the comforter, his eyes closed, his mouth opened and moaning. Unlike the rest of him, his hands stayed active, pinching and teasing her nipples, lifting her breasts against the palms of his hands. "Why don't you take your pants off," he murmured. "That still being dressed, isn't it?" "I guess so," she moaned. Not without a noise of protest on both parts, she backed off the bed. Legs apart, her hands moved to the fly of her slacks. Watching the expression on Nate's face, she slowly unzipped and slid off her pants. Then in a swift movement, she pulled her blouse over her head. Nate's breath caught in his throat. "Lindy?" She shrugged, coloring slightly. "Everything's still covered, right? Just like I was wearing a bikini, right?" He gave a nod, his expression dumbstruck, letting out a shaky breath. Reaching his hand out, he waited until she took it and then pulled her back on top of him. His entire body shuddered as she settled down against him. Sure she still had clothes on, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel every part of her pressed against him. That didn't mean his cock wasn't pressed against her bare stomach. Her legs slid along side and between his, her thigh brushing his balls. And his hands shook as he lowered them to her skin. "Damn, you feel so good." He slid his hands over her back, before skimming his fingers over her panties to cup her ass. "I want you to ride me." She whimpered and nodded. He gave her ass one last squeeze before moving his hands to her hips, helping guide her into position. He groaned as he felt the soaked cotton come into contact with his cock as she squatted above him. One hand slid up her belly to cup her breast, squeezing as Lindy settled her weight a little firmer on him. "That's right, baby. Now start moving and make us both feel good." She braced her hands on his shoulders, slowly shifting her hips forward, shuddering as she felt the head of his cock bump her clit, then moved back once again. His entire body felt braced below her, muscles clenched, breath panting out of his mouth. He clamped his fingers around her hips, helping her along, and bucked his own pelvis against her, driving the head of his cock deeper into her damp flesh. A wet flimsy layer of fabric separated them, but it might as well have been gone. It didn't keep either of them from feeling everything. And although he couldn't thrust inside of her, he came as close to doing so as he could get. Lindy whimpered, almost keening as she moved her hips faster. "Oh God, Nate." She wanted to rip off her panties off and impale herself on him. She bent down began kissing his mouth. If she couldn't get his cock inside of her, she'd settle for his tongue. The movement pressed her sex full length up on him, jamming the shaft of his cock against her. They both shuddered, and Nate's hands moved to press down on her ass, settling himself even deeper between her legs, his thrusts becoming more rapid against her. He tangled his tongue with hers, moaning into her mouth, trying his damnedest to fuck her from below. With a few last rapid-fire thrusts, he shouted, his cum shooting out between their bellies, rubbing a sticky mess over both of them. Shaking violently, Lindy kept moving until she hit her peak, whimpering, shrieking against his lips as she came. Breathing heavily, they held on tight to each other, waiting for the trembling and aftershocks to pass. "Good God, that was incredible," Nate said, breathlessly. Lindy lay limply on him, just trying to catch her breath. When she didn't respond, he shook her shoulder a little. "Lindy, you alive?" "I think so," she whispered. "God, Nate, is it always that intense?" He shook below her with silent laughter. "I sure as hell hope so. With us, anyway." She moved slightly, looking down at the mess that nearly glued them together. "Looks like we both need a shower now." "Want to take one together?" At her dubious expression, he added, "Hell, I couldn't get it up again right now if I wanted to. I think you're safe...for the next ten minutes, anyway." He felt her smile against his neck. "I guess so then. But to be safe, we'd better make it a cold shower." He mock winced. "Ouch, Lind." She smiled, pushing up on his elbows to look in his eyes. "Nate, have I told you lately how much I love you?" "I don't believe you have," he said, grinning. "Shame on me. I love you, Nate. Very much." "Mmm." He wriggled beneath her. "That's nice." "That's nice?" She scowled at him. "I tell you I love you, and I get 'that's nice'?" He snickered. "You're impatient. I love you, too, gorgeous. Now get off me before any more of those ten minutes are up. I want you naked." With a slight moan, she got up and started walking towards the bathroom. Half way there, she glanced back at him. "You coming, Nate?" He gave her a slow grin. "I already have, gorgeous. And do you know bright your eyes sparkle when you blush?" He pushed off the bed lazily. "Let's get that shower so we can get back to bed and be bright eyed for that flight tomorrow." It was nearly 8am, long past the time they'd gone to bed, and Bryn stared at the ceiling in agony. She wanted so much to wrap herself around Anton and never let go. She missed his touch. She missed his kisses. The most they'd allowed themselves lately was a brief peck on the cheek. She tossed and turned each night, wanting to reach out to him, knowing he was doing the same. She couldn't believe she was torturing Anton like this, let alone herself. They were both exhausted, crabby, and jittery. So this was what overcoming an addiction was like. Kicking the covers off, she sighed. She was too hot. Seconds later, she was too cold. Gritting her teeth, she turned onto her side. About five minutes later, still wide awake, she grabbed her pillow, got off the bed, and left the room. Anton opened one eye in time to see the door shut. He rolled from his side to his back, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. It was talking all his self- control not to reach out and kiss her. But he knew that kissing would lead to caressing, which would lead to... With a frustrated growl, he got out of the bed, curious as to where Bryn had gone. She curled up on the couch, shivering. Pulling the blanket loose from the back, she draped it over herself and snuggled into her pillow. It was quiet in the living room, the only sound coming from the ticking of a clock in the kitchen. She didn't have to listen to Anton's breathing, knowing he was so close but untouchable. She didn't have to feel the heat of him nearby, all the while knowing she couldn't creep closer. Closing her eyes, she turned over and faced the back of the couch, hugging her pillow, willing her mind to believe she was hugging something--someone--else. He so badly wanted to go to her and tell her that this was stupid, that they were accomplishing nothing but torturing themselves. He wanted to pull her close, run his hands over her body, thrust himself in her until they were both screaming from release. [This is one of the few things she's asked for,] he thought, watching her settle on the couch. [Can't you hold out a little longer and see if you can give it to her?] She sniffled, blinking moisture out of her eyes. She felt so stupid. He was handling this just fine. Although they were both obviously horny, he had no problem going through his day. He went to work and accomplished things, while she spent countless hours daydreaming. She didn't feel like she was making any progress on the baby's room. It looked nearly the same now as it had a few days ago. She couldn't sleep. Not because of the need for sex, like she was sure Anton was feeling. More than anything, she couldn't sleep because she couldn't touch him. She'd grown so used to sleeping draped across his chest, or with his body spooned around her, and it wasn't the same sleeping alone. It was horrible and lonely, miserable. And she knew she'd feel like a world-class ass if she called off the deal now...they would've gone through all of this for nothing. He couldn't stop staring at her, wanting to go to her so badly. His eyes traveled over her long, silky hair, down her smooth spine, across the sweet dip in her waist to rest on her beautiful ass. He bit back a moan. He wanted so badly to feel that ass pressed against his groin, arms wrapped around her waist to cup a full breast. This was driving him mad. He stood there trembling before turning away, walking heavily back to his bed. She heard the footsteps walking away and lifted her head to see Anton heading towards the bedroom. She wondered how long he'd been standing there. As he disappeared into the room beyond, she sat up. She was jittery with the need to follow him, to rip off her clothes and tackle him on the bed. Her thighs shook as her feet bounced on the floor. She knew she was going to feel stupid telling him they'd gone through hell for nothing, but at this point she didn't really care. Shoving down her shorts, she stood up and stepped out of them, stripping off her shirt as she headed towards the bedroom. He'd never know what hit him. Anton lay back down on his side of the bed. He scooted over to the middle, caressing the space where Bryn would be laying. He sighed heavily, rolling onto his back. His head lifted from his pillow when he heard the door to the bedroom open. Blinking, he was certain he was having a sleep deprivation hallucination when he saw her standing in the doorway, naked. His cock throbbed, but he tried to remain cautious. "Bryn, my dear? What's wrong?" She stood there staring at him for a moment, breathing heavily, her mouth open, before practically running to the bed and pouncing. She let out a little squeal when he moved just as swiftly, meeting her in the middle of the bed, dragging her against him to ravish her mouth. She placed her hands on his face, moaning as she tangled her tongue with his. She could feel his erection pressing against her and shivered with anticipation. As his hands slid down her back, grabbing her ass to hold her tight against his groin, she pulled back to meet his dilated eyes. "I'm sorry, Anton." "Sorry? Sorry for what, Bryn?" "Sorry for putting us both through hell for the last eight days. God, Anton, I don't ever want to do that again." Anton shivered against her. He couldn't stop kissing her face, her neck, her lips even as he tried to get the words out. "Bryn... my dear... my precious one... I should... have stopped... this myself.... Wanted you... but wanted to... do what you asked... forgive me?" She seemed to wilt against him. "Ohhh...Anton, I love you so much." "I love you, too, Bryn." He pushed his fingers into her hair, kissing her deeply, groaning as she sucked on his lower lip. "So glad this is over." She rubbed her hands over his chest, more to stimulate herself than him. God, she'd missed the feel of his skin. The warmth of him, and the way he smelled. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his neck, opening her mouth to lick his flesh and taste him. "I hate sleeping next to you when you're not touching me. It's torture. I wanted so badly to hold you, Anton." "It's no fun for me either." He pushed back far enough to be able to run his hands over her breasts. Bryn shivered and arched forward into his touch. "I have been going nuts trying to keep my hands off of you. I didn't dare touch you, even just to hold you, because I knew if I did, I'd end up fucking you through the mattress." He pressed his lips to her ear, whispering. "I need to hear you say the deal's off, Bryn. I think I'm reading the situation right, but I need to hear you say it." Bryn turned her head. "The deal's off, Anton," she whispered, sticking her tongue into his ear. She felt Anton shiver beneath her. "Good." She smiled, and then squealed when he flipped her onto her back and climbed on top of her, hips thrusting. The sweats he still wore did nothing to hide his erection, which was rubbing against her stomach almost with a life of its own. She couldn't help but giggle at the ineffectiveness of his efforts. She reached down to help him as he started shoving at his sweatpants, pushing them down to his thighs before settling between her legs once more. She gasped as he stabbed inside of her, his eyes rolling back in his head before his eyelids closed altogether. She wrapped her legs around him and held on tight. "God, Bryn! I've missed this." He continued thrusting into her, relishing how her wet heat engulfed his cock. He held her tight kissing her face, her neck, her shoulders, whatever he could get his lips on. He slipped one hand down to her breast to roll a taut nipple between his fingers. "Let's never hold back from each other again, Bryn. This was worse than the year we spent apart." She nodded, unable to say much at the moment. It felt so damned good. She slid her hands down his back, covering his ass, feeling him contract and relax as he thrust inside her. She squeezed him between her thighs, quivering as she lowered her feet to the bed so she could lift herself against him. She cried out as the resulting angle pushed him deeper inside of her, grating his cock against the sensitive spot that made her jolt in his arms. Whimpering, she pulled his head down and met his lips. "I missed you so much. God, I love you, sugar." "I love you too, my dear." His thrusts were coming faster, and the rhythm became slightly erratic. Desperately he tried to stave off his orgasm until she came, but the sensations were too much after having abstained for over a week. "Can't hold back, Bryn. Oh, God!" He could feel her arching up to meet his hips as he began shuddering, her hands squeezing his ass tighter. He let out a low moan. She squealed, arching frantically beneath him, digging her fingernails into his ass. She tightened around him, squeezing him unbelievably hard inside of her as she came. She seemed to ripple around him, bathing him in liquid release, before she went limp and sank back to the bed beneath him. Tears leaked from her closed eyes, rolling across her temples to disappear into her hair. Breathing heavily through her open mouth, she pulled him tight against her. "I'll be ready to go again when you are." Anton shook with silent laughter. "Give me a little time to recover, my dear." He stroked her hair, frowning at the tears. "You okay, my dear?" "Yeah. Just needed that so badly." She nuzzled his hairline. "I'm sorry I put us both through that." "It's okay, my dear. If I had any idea how rough it would be on both of us, I never would have agreed." He kissed her cheek. "I should have known better." Bryn nuzzled him back. "So when will you be ready to go again?" Again he laughed silently. "Can I at least take a nap first? I haven't slept for the last eight days." Bryn nodded, yawning herself. A nap did sound like a good idea. "I love you, sugar booger." Anton held her a little closer. He had no intention of letting her go now. "I love you too, my dear." End Chapter Twenty <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->